485BPOS 1 ovaf485bpos.htm

 

 

 

Registration No. 2-93177
File No. 811-04108
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pre­Effective Amendment No.
Post­Effective Amendment No. 86
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 81
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
6803 South Tucson Way, Centennial, Colorado 80112-3924
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(303) 768-3200
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Cynthia Lo Bessette, Esq.
OFI Global Asset Management, Inc.
225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
□ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
☒ on April 30, 2019 pursuant to paragraph (b)
□ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
□ on                                      pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
□ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
□ on                                      pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
□ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

 

 

OFI Pictet Global Environmental Solutions Fund

Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund

Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund

Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund

Oppenheimer Discovery Fund

Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund

Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Dividend Opportunity Fund

Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Innovators Fund

Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund

Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer ESG Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer Fundamental Alternatives Fund

Oppenheimer Global Allocation Fund

Oppenheimer Global ESG Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer Global Fund

Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Global High Yield Fund

Oppenheimer Global Multi-Asset Growth Fund

Oppenheimer Global Multi-Asset Income Fund

Oppenheimer Global Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund

Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Global Unconstrained Bond Fund

Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Government Money Market Fund

Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund

Oppenheimer Intermediate Income Fund

Oppenheimer International Bond Fund

Oppenheimer International Equity Fund

Oppenheimer International Growth Fund

Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

Oppenheimer International Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer International Small-Mid Company Fund

Oppenheimer International Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer Limited-Term Bond Fund

Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund

Oppenheimer Macquarie Global Infrastructure Fund

Oppenheimer Main Street All Cap Fund®

Oppenheimer Main Street Fund®

Oppenheimer Main Street Fund®/VA

Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund®

Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA

Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Active Allocation Fund

Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Conservative Investor Fund

Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Growth Investor Fund

Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Moderate Investor Fund

Oppenheimer Preferred Securities and Income Fund

Oppenheimer Real Estate Fund

Oppenheimer Rising Dividends Fund

Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF

Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Low Volatility Factor ETF

Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Momentum Factor ETF

Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Quality Factor ETF

Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Size Factor ETF

Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Value Factor ETF

Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Yield Factor ETF

Oppenheimer Russell 2000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF

Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Fund

Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Plus Fund

Oppenheimer Small Cap Value Fund

Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund

Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Plus Fund

Oppenheimer SteelPath Panoramic Fund

Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund

Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA

Oppenheimer Ultra-Short Duration Fund

Oppenheimer Value Fund

 

Supplement dated April 25, 2019 to the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information

 

 

This supplement amends the summary prospectus, prospectus and statement of additional information of the above referenced funds (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”) and is in addition to any other supplement(s).

 

On October 18, 2018, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, an indirect corporate parent of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and its subsidiaries OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., OFI SteelPath, Inc. and OFI Advisors, LLC, announced that it has entered into an agreement whereby Invesco Ltd. (“Invesco”), a global investment management company, will acquire OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Transaction”). In connection with the Transaction, on January 11, 2019 the Board of Trustees of each trust (each, a “Trust”) governing the Trust’s respective Fund(s) unanimously approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Agreement”), which provides for the transfer of the assets and liabilities of each Fund to a corresponding, newly formed fund (each, an “Acquiring Fund,” and collectively the “Acquiring Funds”) in the Invesco family of funds (the “Reorganization”) in exchange for shares of the corresponding Acquiring Fund of equal value to the value of the shares of the respective Fund as of the close of business on the closing date, and with respect to those Funds that are exchange-traded funds (an “ETF”), shares of the corresponding Acquired Fund (and cash with respect to any fractional shares) of equal value to the value of the respective Fund as of the close of business on the closing date.

 

Although each Acquiring Fund will be managed by either Invesco Advisers, Inc. (for those Acquiring Funds that are not ETFs) or Invesco Capital Management, LLC (for those Acquiring Funds that are ETFs), each Acquiring Fund will, as of the closing date, have the same investment objective (or in the case of the Acquiring Funds that are ETFs, a substantially similar investment objective) and substantially similar principal investment strategies and risks as the corresponding Fund. After each Reorganization, Invesco Advisers, Inc. will be the investment adviser to each Acquiring Fund that is a mutual fund, and Invesco Capital Management, LLC will be the investment adviser to each Acquiring Fund that is an ETF, and each Fund will be liquidated and dissolved under applicable law and terminate its registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Each Reorganization is expected to be a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

As of 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 12, 2019, each Reorganization has been approved by shareholders of record of each Fund as of January 14, 2019. Accordingly, if certain other closing conditions are satisfied or waived, each Reorganization is currently expected to close on or about May 24, 2019, or as soon as practicable thereafter. This is subject to change.

 

You should read this supplement in conjunction with the summary prospectus, prospectus and statement of additional information and retain it for future reference.

 

 

April 25, 2019 PX0000.074.0419

 

 

 

 

 

OFI Pictet Global Environmental Solutions Fund Oppenheimer Main Street Fund®/VA
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Oppenheimer Main Street Mid Cap Fund®
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund®
Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA Oppenheimer Mid Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund Oppenheimer Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Active Allocation Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund

Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Conservative Investor

Fund

Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Equity Investor Fund
Oppenheimer Dividend Opportunity Fund Oppenheimer Portfolio Series: Moderate Investor Fund
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Innovators Fund Oppenheimer Preferred Securities and Income Fund
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund Oppenheimer Real Estate Fund
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Revenue ETF Oppenheimer Rising Dividends Fund
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF Oppenheimer Rochester® AMT-Free Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund

Oppenheimer Rochester® AMT-Free New York Municipal

Fund

Oppenheimer ESG Revenue ETF Oppenheimer Rochester® California Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Fundamental Alternatives Fund Oppenheimer Rochester® Fund Municipals
Oppenheimer Global Allocation Fund Oppenheimer Rochester® High Yield Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Global ESG Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer Rochester® Limited Term California

Municipal Fund

Oppenheimer Global Focus Fund Oppenheimer Rochester® Limited Term New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Global Fund Oppenheimer Rochester® New Jersey Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA Oppenheimer Rochester® Pennsylvania Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Global High Yield Fund

Oppenheimer Rochester® Short Duration High Yield

Municipal Fund

Oppenheimer Global Multi-Alternatives Fund/VA Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF
Oppenheimer Global Multi-Asset Growth Fund Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Low Volatility Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Momentum Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Global Opportunities Fund Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Quality Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Global Revenue ETF Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Size Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Value Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Yield Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Global Unconstrained Bond Fund Oppenheimer Russell 2000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Fund Oppenheimer S&P 500 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Government Cash Reserves Oppenheimer S&P Financials Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA Oppenheimer S&P MidCap 400 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Government Money Market Fund Oppenheimer S&P SmallCap 600 Revenue ETF

Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market

Fund

Oppenheimer S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF
  Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Fund
Oppenheimer Intermediate Income Fund Oppenheimer Intermediate Term Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Plus Fund
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund Oppenheimer Short Term Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer International Diversified Fund Oppenheimer Small Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer International Equity Fund Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Fund
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Plus Fund
Oppenheimer International Revenue ETF Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Income Fund
Oppenheimer International Small-Mid Company Fund Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Select 40 Fund
Oppenheimer International Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF Oppenheimer SteelPath Panoramic Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Bond Fund Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Macquarie Global Infrastructure Fund Oppenheimer Ultra-Short Duration Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street All Cap Fund® Oppenheimer Value Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund®  

Supplement dated January 18, 2019 to the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information

 

 

This supplement amends the summary prospectus, prospectus and statement of additional information of the above referenced funds (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”) and is in addition to any other supplement(s) except as indicated immediately below.

 

This supplement supersedes the supplement dated January 14, 2019 (the “January 14th Supplement”) and is intended to delete entirely the last paragraph of the January 14th Supplement regarding the anticipation that the Funds will close to new investors as soon as practicable following shareholder approval.

 

On October 18, 2018, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, an indirect corporate parent of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and its subsidiaries OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., OFI SteelPath, Inc. and OFI Advisors, LLC, announced that it has entered into an agreement whereby Invesco Ltd. (“Invesco”), a global investment management company, will acquire OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Transaction”). In connection with the Transaction, on January 11, 2019 the Board of Trustees of each trust (each, a “Trust”) governing the Trust’s respective Fund(s) unanimously approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Agreement”), which provides for the transfer of the assets and liabilities of each Fund to a corresponding, newly formed fund (each, an “Acquiring Fund,” and collectively the “Acquiring Funds”) in the Invesco family of funds (the “Reorganization”) in exchange for shares of the corresponding Acquiring Fund of equal value to the value of the shares of the respective Fund as of the close of business on the closing date, and with respect to those Funds that are exchange-traded funds (an “ETF”), shares of the corresponding Acquired Fund (and cash with respect to any fractional shares) of equal value to the value of the respective Fund as of the close of business on the closing date.

Although each Acquiring Fund will be managed by either Invesco Advisers, Inc. (for those Acquiring Funds that are not ETFs) or Invesco Capital Management, LLC (for those Acquiring Funds that are ETFs), each Acquiring Fund will, as of the closing date, have the same investment objective (or in the case of the Acquiring Funds that are ETFs, a substantially similar investment objective) and substantially similar principal investment strategies and risks as the corresponding Fund. After each Reorganization, Invesco Advisers, Inc. will be the investment adviser to each Acquiring Fund that is a mutual fund, and Invesco Capital Management, LLC will be the investment adviser to each Acquiring Fund that is an ETF, and each Fund will be liquidated and dissolved under applicable law and terminate its registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Each Reorganization is expected to be a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Each Reorganization is subject to the approval of shareholders of each Fund. Shareholders of record of each Fund on January 14, 2019 will be entitled to vote on the Reorganization and will receive a combined prospectus and proxy statement describing the Reorganization, the shareholder meeting, and a discussion of the factors the Trusts’ Boards of Trustees considered in approving the Agreement. The combined prospectus and proxy statement is expected to be distributed to shareholders of record on or about February 28, 2019. The anticipated date of the shareholder meeting is on or about April 12, 2019.

If shareholders approve the Agreement and certain other closing conditions are satisfied or waived, each Reorganization is expected to close during the second quarter of 2019, or as soon as practicable thereafter. This is subject to change.

 

You should read this supplement in conjunction with the summary prospectus, prospectus and statement of additional information and retain it for future reference.

 

 

January 18, 2019 PS0000.201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks capital appreciation. It invests primarily in common stocks of “growth” companies.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.71% 0.71%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.14% 0.14%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.85% 1.10%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement* (0.05)% (0.05)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 0.80% 1.05%  
* After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding any applicable dividend expense, taxes, interest and fees from borrowing, any subsidiary expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage commissions, unusual and infrequent expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to annual rates of 0.80% for Non-Service Shares and 1.05% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $82 $267 $468 $1,049  
...
Service Shares $108 $347 $605 $1,343  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 27% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund mainly invests in common stocks of “growth companies.” Growth companies are companies whose earnings and stock prices are expected to increase at a faster rate than the overall market. These may be newer companies or established companies of any capitalization range that the portfolio manager believes may appreciate in value over the long term. Currently, the Fund primarily focuses on established companies that are similar in size to companies in the S&P 500 Index or the Russell 1000 Growth Index. The Fund primarily invests in securities of U.S. issuers but may also invest in foreign securities. The portfolio manager looks for growth companies with stock prices that he believes are reasonable in relation to overall stock market valuations. In seeking broad diversification of the Fund’s portfolio among industries and market sectors, the portfolio manager focuses on a number of factors that may vary in particular cases and over time. Currently, the portfolio manager looks for:
companies in business areas that have above-average growth potential
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 1

 

companies with growth rates that the portfolio manager believes are sustainable over time
stocks with reasonable valuations relative to their growth potential.
The Fund may sell the stocks of companies that the portfolio manager believes no longer meet the above criteria, but is not required to do so.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of stocks of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Who is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies, for investors seeking capital appreciation. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of short-term share price fluctuations that are typical for a fund focusing on stocks. Because of its focus on long-term growth, the Fund may be more appropriate for investors with longer-term investment goals. The Fund is not designed for investors needing an assured level of current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/CapitalAppreciationFundVA
2 Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

 

During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 19.10% (2nd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -16.61% (4th Qtr 18).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 4/3/1985) (5.73)% 6.92% 12.45%  
...
Service Shares (inception 9/18/2001) (5.96)% 6.66% 12.17%  
...
S&P 500 Index (4.38)% 8.49% 13.12%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
...
Russell 1000 Growth Index (1.51)% 10.40% 15.29%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Manager. Paul Larson has been portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since October 2016.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 3

 

More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Common Stock. Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. Common stocks may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities. Over-the-counter securities may be less liquid than exchange-traded securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized, (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-sized companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Growth Investing. Growth companies are companies whose earnings and stock prices are expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall market. Growth companies can be new companies or established companies that may be entering a growth cycle in their business. Their anticipated growth may come from developing new products or services or from expanding into new or growing markets. Growth companies may be applying new technologies, new or improved distribution methods or new business models that could enable them to capture an important or dominant market position. They may have a special area of expertise or the ability to take advantage of changes in demographic or other factors in a more profitable way. Newer growth companies generally tend to invest a large part of their earnings into research, development or capital assets. Although newer growth companies may not pay any dividends for some time, their stocks may be valued because of their potential for price increases.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
4 Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

 

Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Investing in Small- and Mid-Sized Companies. The Fund currently focuses on securities of issuers with large capitalizations. They may pay higher dividends than small- and mid-cap companies and their stock prices have tended to be less volatile than securities of smaller issuers. However, the Fund can buy stocks of issuers in all capitalization ranges. At times the Sub-Adviser might increase the relative emphasis of securities of issuers in a particular capitalization range if the Sub-Adviser believes they offer greater opportunities for total return.
Other Equity Securities. In addition to common stocks, the Fund can invest in other equity or “equity equivalents” securities such as preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights or warrants.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
A convertible security can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities are subject to credit and interest rate risk, however credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 5

 

  value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Options, futures, options on futures, and forward contracts are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund may use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
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The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 7

 

have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of
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the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% of the next $200 million, and 0.58% of average annual net assets over $1 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.71% of average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding (i) interest, taxes, dividends tied to short sales, brokerage commissions, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles; (iii) certain other expenses attributable to, and incurred as a result of, a Fund’s investments; and (iv) other unusual and infrequent expenses (including litigation expenses) not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to annual rates of 0.80% for Non-Service Shares and 1.05% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the indirect management fees incurred through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average annual net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Manager. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by Paul Larson, who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Larson has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since October 2016.
Mr. Larson has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser and portfolio manager of the Main Street Team since January 2013. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, he was a portfolio manager and Chief Equity Strategist at Morningstar. He was previously an analyst at Morningstar covering the energy sector and oversaw the firm’s natural resources analysts. Prior to joining Morningstar in 2002, Mr. Larson was an analyst with The Motley Fool. Mr. Larson is a portfolio manager and officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset value for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade on an exchange and are valued based on the official closing price of each security’s principal exchange, or if not available, at the last sale price or fair value, as described below.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
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How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 11

 

Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
12 Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

 

Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 13

 

distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
14 Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $55.70 $48.36 $55.49 $64.87 $57.88  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.09 0.15 0.12 0.22 0.09  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.71) 12.33 (1.57) 2.25 8.64  
Total from investment operations (2.62) 12.48 (1.45) 2.47 8.73  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.19) (0.13) (0.22) (0.06) (0.27)  
Distributions from net realized gain (4.39) (5.01) (5.46) (11.79) (1.47)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (4.58) (5.14) (5.68) (11.85) (1.74)  
Net asset value, end of period $48.50 $55.70 $48.36 $55.49 $64.87  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (5.73)% 26.83% (2.20)% 3.54% 15.41%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $460,708 $556,227 $501,756 $564,514 $616,862  
Average net assets (in thousands) $542,971 $539,255 $514,525 $601,110 $614,272  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 0.16% 0.29% 0.25% 0.36% 0.15%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.85% 0.82% 0.83% 0.81% 0.80%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 0.85% 0.82% 0.83% 0.81% 0.80%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.80% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80%6  
Portfolio turnover rate 27% 26% 114% 60% 61%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.85%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.82%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.83%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.81%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.80%
6. Waiver less than 0.005%.
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA 15

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $54.89 $47.73 $54.80 $64.30 $57.37  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income (loss)1 (0.05) 0.02 0.002 0.07 (0.06)  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.67) 12.16 (1.55) 2.22 8.57  
Total from investment operations (2.72) 12.18 (1.55) 2.29 8.51  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income 0.00 (0.01) (0.06) 0.00 (0.11)  
Distributions from net realized gain (4.39) (5.01) (5.46) (11.79) (1.47)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (4.39) (5.02) (5.52) (11.79) (1.58)  
Net asset value, end of period $47.78 $54.89 $47.73 $54.80 $64.30  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value3 (5.96)% 26.50% (2.43)% 3.27% 15.13%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $141,790 $316,864 $295,226 $317,737 $337,318  
Average net assets (in thousands) $232,457 $314,506 $287,933 $332,468 $343,254  
Ratios to average net assets:4            
Net investment income (loss) (0.09)% 0.04% 0.00%5 0.12% (0.10)%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.10% 1.07% 1.08% 1.06% 1.05%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%  
Total expenses6 1.10% 1.07% 1.08% 1.06% 1.05%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.05% 1.05% 1.05% 1.05% 1.05%7  
Portfolio turnover rate 27% 26% 114% 60% 61%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Less than $0.005 per share.
3. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
4. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
5. Less than 0.005%.
6. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.10%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.07%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.08%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.06%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.05%
7. Waiver less than 0.005%.
16 Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA

 

        
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0610.001.0419

 

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks total return. It invests in both equity and debt securities.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks total return.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.75% 0.75%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.23% 0.23%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.98% 1.23%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement* (0.31)% (0.31)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 0.67% 0.92%  
* After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding any applicable dividend expense, taxes, interest and fees from borrowing, any subsidiary expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage commissions, unusual and infrequent expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to annual rates of 0.67% for Non-Service Shares and 0.92% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $69 $282 $514 $1,179  
...
Service Shares $94 $362 $650 $1,470  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 60% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund invests in both equity and debt securities of domestic and foreign issuers in different capitalization ranges and in developed or developing countries. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 65% of its total assets in equity and debt securities that are expected to generate income. Additionally, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 25% of its assets in fixed income securities and at least 25% of its assets in equity securities. The percentages of equity and debt securities the Fund holds may vary from time to time. There is no limit on the Fund’s investments in foreign securities.
Equity Securities. In selecting equity securities, the portfolio managers use fundamental research to select securities for the Fund’s portfolio. While the process may change over time or vary in particular cases, in general the selection process currently employs a fundamental approach in analyzing issuers on factors such as a company’s financial performance, competitive strength and prospects, industry position, and business model and management strength. Industry outlook, market trends and general economic conditions may also be considered. The portfolio managers aim to maintain a broad
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 1

 

diversification across all major economic sectors. The Fund’s equity portfolio is constructed and regularly monitored based upon several analytical tools, including quantitative investment models. Quantitative models are used as part of the idea generation process to rank equity securities within each sector to identify potential buy and sell candidates for further fundamental analysis.
Debt Securities. The portfolio managers look for high current yields and typically search for corporate and government debt securities that offer: attractive relative value, more income than U.S. treasury obligations, a balance of risk and return, high income potential and portfolio diversification.
The Fund can invest up to 25% of its total assets in below investment grade securities, also referred to as “junk bonds,” but cannot invest more than 10% of its assets in below investment grade non-convertible securities. These restrictions are applied at the time of purchase and the Fund may continue to hold a security whose credit rating has been downgraded or, in the case of an unrated security, after the Fund’s sub-adviser (the “Sub-Adviser”) has changed its assessment of the security’s credit quality. As a result, credit rating downgrades or other market fluctuations may cause the Fund’s holdings of below-investment-grade securities to exceed, at times significantly, this restriction for an extended period of time. Investment-grade securities are rated within one of the four highest rating categories of a nationally recognized statistical rating organization such as S&P Global Ratings (AAA, AA, A or BBB) (or in the case of unrated securities, determined by the Sub-Adviser to be comparable to securities rated investment-grade).
The Fund may also invest in unrated securities, in which case the Fund’s Sub-Adviser internally assigns ratings to those securities, after assessing their credit quality and other factors, in investment-grade or below-investment-grade categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the Sub-Adviser’s credit analysis process is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization.
Derivative Securities. The Fund may also use derivative instruments to seek income or to try to manage investment risks, including: options, futures, swaps, “structured” notes, mortgage-related securities and equity-linked debt securities.
The Fund may sell securities that no longer meet the above criteria.
The Fund’s holdings may at times differ significantly from the weightings of the indices comprising its reference index (the “Reference Index”). The Fund’s Reference Index is a customized weighted index currently comprised of the following underlying broad-based security indices: 65% of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and 35% of the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund is not managed to be invested in the same percentages as those indices comprising the Reference Index.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Risks of Other Equity Securities. Most convertible securities are subject to the risks and price fluctuations of the underlying stock. They may be subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Some convertible preferred stocks have a conversion or call feature that allows the issuer to redeem the stock before the conversion date, which could diminish the potential for capital appreciation on the investment. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If interest rates rise, the value of preferred stock having a fixed dividend rate tends to fall. Preferred stock generally ranks behind debt securities in claims for dividends and assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The price of a warrant does not necessarily move parallel to the price of the underlying security and is generally more volatile than that of the underlying security. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a shorter duration. The market for rights or warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
Risks of Investing in Debt Securities. Debt securities may be subject to interest rate risk, duration risk, credit risk, credit spread risk, extension risk, reinvestment risk, prepayment risk and event risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that when prevailing interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise; and when prevailing interest rates
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rise, the values of already-issued debt securities generally fall, and therefore, those debt securities may be worth less than the amount the Fund paid for them or valued them. When interest rates change, the values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities will be more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, in a rising interest rate environment than shorter-duration debt securities. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. If an issuer fails to pay interest or repay principal, the Fund’s income or share value might be reduced. Adverse news about an issuer or a downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating, for any reason, can also reduce the market value of the issuer’s securities. “Credit spread” is the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality. There is a risk that credit spreads may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price. Extension risk is the risk that an increase in interest rates could cause prepayments on a debt security to occur at a slower rate than expected. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer may redeem the security prior to the expected maturity or that borrowers may repay the loans that underlie these securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to the expected maturity. The Fund may need to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, reducing its income. Event risk is the risk that an issuer could be subject to an event, such as a buyout or debt restructuring, that interferes with its ability to make timely interest and principal payments and cause the value of its debt securities to fall.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity may decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books and could experience a loss. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices, particularly for lower-rated and unrated securities. An unexpected increase in redemptions by Fund shareholders (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by general market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. As of the date of this prospectus, interest rates in the U.S. are near historically low levels, increasing the exposure of bond investors to the risks associated with rising interest rates.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets. Under some circumstances, those concerns may cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. As compared to investment-grade debt securities, below-investment-grade debt securities (also referred to as “junk” bonds), whether rated or unrated, may be subject to greater price fluctuations and increased credit risk, as the issuer might not be able to pay interest and principal when due, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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. The market for below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Because the Fund can invest up to 25% of its total assets in below-investment-grade securities, the Fund’s credit risks are greater than those of funds that buy only investment-grade securities. This restriction is applied at the time of purchase and the Fund may continue to hold a security whose credit rating has been downgraded or, in the case of an unrated security, after the Fund’s Sub-Adviser has changed its assessment of the security’s credit quality. As a result, credit rating downgrades or other market fluctuations may cause the Fund’s holdings of below-investment-grade securities to exceed, at times significantly, this restriction for an extended period of time. 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
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risk. If the Fund has more than 25% of its total assets invested in below-investment-grade securities, the Sub-Adviser will not purchase additional below-investment-grade securities until the level of holdings in those securities no longer exceeds the restriction.
Risks of Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund can buy interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgages in the form of “pass-through” mortgage securities. They may be issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, or its agencies and instrumentalities, or by private issuers. The prices and yields of mortgage-related securities are determined, in part, by assumptions about the rate of payments of the underlying mortgages and are subject to the risks of unanticipated prepayment and extension risks. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to interest rate risk, and the market for mortgage-backed securities may be volatile at times and may be less liquid than the markets for other types of securities. The liquidity of mortgage-backed securities may change over time. Mortgage-related securities issued by private issuers are not U.S. government securities, and are subject to greater credit risks than mortgage-related securities that are U.S. government securities. In addition, a substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be subject to “forward roll” transactions (also referred to as “mortgage dollar rolls”) at any given time, which subject the Fund to the risk that market value of the mortgage-related securities involved might decline, and that the counterparty might default in its obligations.
Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The Fund can buy asset-backed securities, which are fractional interests in pools of loans and are collateralized by the loans, other assets or receivables. They are typically issued by trusts and special purpose corporations that pass the income from the underlying pool to the purchasers. These securities are subject to the risk of default by the issuer as well as by the borrowers of the underlying loans in the pool, and to interest rate and prepayment risks.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Foreign securities are subject to special risks. Securities traded in foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than those traded in U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are usually not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to, which may make it difficult for the Fund to evaluate a foreign company’s operations or financial condition. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in that foreign currency and in the value of any income or distributions the Fund may receive on those investments. The value of foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, delays in the settlement of transactions, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, or other political and economic factors. In addition, due to the inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets, changes in political and economic factors in one country or region could adversely affect conditions in another country or region. Investments in foreign securities may also expose the Fund to time-zone arbitrage risk. Foreign securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares. As a result, the value of the Fund’s net assets may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares. At times, the Fund may emphasize investments in a particular country or region and may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that country or region. Foreign securities and foreign currencies held in foreign banks and securities depositories may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging markets are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges that may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed markets. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, and governments of developing or emerging market countries may also be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. Such countries’ economies may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries also may be subject to social, political or economic instability. The value of developing or emerging market countries’ currencies may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets. Investments in developing or emerging market countries may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, including confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, restrictions on withdrawing assets from the country, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking. In addition, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs of certain developing or emerging market countries may be limited by local law. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative.
Eurozone Investment Risks. Certain of the regions in which the Fund may invest, including the European Union (EU), currently experience significant financial difficulties. Following the global economic crisis that began in 2008, some of these countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the European Central Bank (ECB) or other governments or institutions, and failure to implement reforms as a condition of assistance could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. In addition, countries that have adopted the euro are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit the ability to implement their own economic policies, and could voluntarily abandon, or be forced out of, the euro. Such events could impact the market values of Eurozone and various other securities and currencies, cause redenomination of certain securities into less valuable local currencies, and create more volatile and illiquid markets. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom
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and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time.
Risks of Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have typically been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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. Small- and mid-cap companies’ securities may trade in lower volumes 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-cap 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-cap 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. Small- and mid-cap 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. It may take a substantial period of time before the Fund realizes a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if it realizes any gain at all.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may involve significant risks. Derivatives may be more volatile than other types of investments, may require the payment of premiums, may increase portfolio turnover, may be illiquid, and may not perform as expected. Derivatives are subject to counterparty risk and the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from its investment, or a hedge might be unsuccessful. In addition, under new rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction with a clearinghouse may entail further risks and costs.
Risks of Quantitative Models. The portfolio managers use quantitative models as part of the idea generation process. Quantitative models are based upon many factors that measure individual securities relative to each other. Such models, which can be adversely affected by errors or imperfections in the factors or the data on which measurements are based, any technical issues with construction or implementation of the model, or a failure to perform as expected, may not identify securities that perform well in the future.
Who is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking total return. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of short-term share price fluctuations and losses that are typical for a fund that has substantial investments in equity and debt securities. Although the Fund seeks total return, it is not designed for investors needing an assured level of current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table, compare with those of broad measures of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/ConservativeBalancedFundVA
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During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 14.27% (2nd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -7.78% (3rd Qtr 11).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 2/9/1987) (5.32)% 3.50% 7.67%  
...
Service Shares (inception 5/1/2002) (5.53)% 3.25% 7.40%  
...
Russell 3000 Index (5.24)% 7.91% 13.18%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
...
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index 0.01% 2.52% 3.48%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
...
Reference Index (1.51)% 4.63% 7.19%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. Krishna Memani and Magnus Krantz are co-portfolio managers of the Fund. Mr. Memani has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2009 and Vice President of the Fund since March 2009. Mr. Krantz has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since April 2013.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Common Stock and Other Equity Investments. Equity securities include common stock, preferred stock, rights, warrants and certain securities that are convertible into common stock. Equity investments may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of equity securities generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry) their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for that type of security.
Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
Convertible securities can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. The conversion feature of convertible securities generally causes the market value of convertible securities to increase when the value of the underlying common stock increases, and to fall when the stock price falls. The market value of a convertible security reflects both its “investment value,” which is its expected income potential, and its “conversion value,” which is its anticipated market value if it were converted. If its conversion value exceeds its investment value, the security will generally behave more like an equity security, in which case its price will tend to fluctuate with the price of the underlying common stock or other security. If its investment value exceeds its conversion value, the security will generally behave more like a debt security, in which case the security’s price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Most convertible securities will vary, to some extent, with changes in the price of the underlying common stock and are therefore subject to the risks of that stock. In addition, convertible securities may be subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. However, credit ratings
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  of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities. Some convertible preferred stocks have a mandatory conversion feature or a call feature that allows the issuer to redeem the stock on or prior to a mandatory conversion date. Those features could diminish the potential for capital appreciation on the investment.
Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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-cap 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-cap 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 in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “small-cap,” “mid-cap” or “large-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys the security of an individual company, that company may expand or contract and no longer fall within the designated capitalization range. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown or decreased beyond the Fund’s capitalization-range definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to adjust the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; or foreign sovereigns; and foreign and domestic corporate bonds, notes and debentures. The Fund may select debt securities for their income possibilities, capital appreciation or to help cushion fluctuations in the value of its portfolio. Debt securities may be subject to the following risks:
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that rising interest rates, or an expectation of rising interest rates in the near future, will cause the values of the Fund’s investments in debt securities to decline. The values of debt securities usually change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates rise, the values of outstanding debt securities generally fall, and those securities may sell at a discount from their face amount. Additionally, when interest rates rise, the decrease in values of outstanding debt securities may not be offset by higher income from new investments. When interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise and the Fund’s investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the Fund’s income. The values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities when interest rates change; thus, interest rate risk is usually greater for securities with longer maturities or durations. “Zero-coupon” or “stripped” securities may be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Interest rate changes may have different effects on the values of mortgage-related securities because of prepayment and extension risks.
Duration Risk. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities are more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, than shorter-duration debt securities, in a rising interest-rate environment. “Effective duration” attempts to measure the expected percentage change in the value of a bond or portfolio resulting from a change in prevailing interest rates. The change in the value of a bond or portfolio can be approximated by multiplying its duration by a change in interest rates. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to increase 3%. The duration of a debt security may be equal to or shorter than the full maturity of a debt security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. U.S. government securities generally have lower credit risks than securities issued by private issuers or certain foreign governments. If an issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund’s income might be reduced,
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  and if an issuer fails to repay principal, the value of the security might fall and the Fund could lose the amount of its investment in the security. The extent of this risk varies based on the terms of the particular security and the financial condition of the issuer. A downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating or other adverse news about an issuer, for any reason, can reduce the market value of that issuer’s securities.
Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, if interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments on certain debt securities may occur at a slower rate than expected, and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall, the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds.
Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities (in particular mortgage-related securities) are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, the issuer will redeem the security prior to the security’s expected maturity, or that borrowers will repay the loans that underlie these fixed-income securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to 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 the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. 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 repayment assumptions about those investments.
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.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to unusual volatility and illiquidity. Volatility and illiquidity may be more pronounced in the case of lower-rated and unrated securities. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity may be caused by a rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates), which are near historic lows in the U.S. and in other countries. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. An unexpected increase in Fund redemption requests (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. Similarly, the prices of the Fund’s holdings could be adversely affected if an investment account managed similarly to the Fund was to experience significant redemptions and that account was required to sell its holdings at an inopportune time. The liquidity of an issuer’s securities may decrease as a result of a decline in an issuer’s credit rating, the occurrence of an event that causes counterparties to avoid transacting with the issuer, or an increase in the issuer’s cash outflows, as well as other adverse market and economic developments. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns could cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets.
Following the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve sought to stabilize the economy by keeping the federal funds rate near zero percent. The Federal Reserve has also purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, pursuant to its monetary stimulus program known as “quantitative easing.” As the Federal Reserve has completed the tapering of its securities purchases pursuant to quantitative easing, it has
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recently raised interest rates on multiple occasions, and continues to consider future raises to the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates may rise and cause fixed-income investors to move out of fixed-income securities, which may also increase redemptions in fixed-income mutual funds.
In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
Credit Quality. The Fund can invest in securities that are rated or unrated. “Investment-grade” securities are those rated within the four highest rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations such as Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) (or, in the case of unrated securities, determined by the investment adviser to be comparable to securities rated investment-grade). “Below-investment-grade” securities are those that are rated below those categories, which are also referred to as “junk bonds.” While securities rated within the fourth highest category by S&P (meaning BBB+, BBB or BBB-) or by Moody’s (meaning Baa1, Baa2 or Baa3) are considered “investment-grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. If two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations have assigned different ratings to a security, the investment adviser uses the highest rating assigned.
Credit ratings evaluate the expectation that scheduled interest and principal payments will be made in a timely manner. They do not reflect any judgment of market risk. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer. Rating organizations might not change their credit rating of an issuer in a timely manner to reflect events that could affect the issuer’s ability to make timely payments on its obligations. In selecting securities for its portfolio and evaluating their income potential and credit risk, the Fund does not rely solely on ratings by rating organizations but evaluates business, economic and other factors affecting issuers as well. Many factors affect an issuer’s ability to make timely payments, and the credit risk of a particular security may change over time. The investment adviser also may use its own research and analysis to assess those risks. If a bond is insured, it will usually be rated by the rating organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. The rating categories are described in an appendix to the Statement of Additional Information.
Unrated Securities. Because the Fund purchases securities that are not rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, the investment adviser may internally assign ratings to those securities, after assessing their credit quality and other factors, in categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the investment adviser’s credit analysis process is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Unrated securities are considered “investment-grade” or “below-investment-grade” if judged by the investment adviser to be comparable to rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade securities. The investment adviser’s rating does not constitute a guarantee of the credit quality. In addition, some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
In evaluating the credit quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the investment adviser will normally take into consideration a number of factors such as, if applicable, the financial resources of the issuer, the underlying source of funds for debt service on a security, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of the facility financed by the obligation, the degree of community support for the financed facility, the capabilities of the issuer’s management, and regulatory factors affecting the issuer or the particular facility.
A reduction in the rating of a security after the Fund buys it will not require the Fund to dispose of the security. However, the investment adviser will evaluate such downgraded securities to determine whether to keep them in the Fund’s portfolio.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. Below-investment-grade securities (also referred to as “junk bonds”) generally have higher yields than investment-grade securities but also have higher risk profiles. Below-investment-grade securities are considered to be speculative and entail greater risk 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 securities, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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 below-investment-grade securities. The major risks of below-investment-grade securities include:
Prices of below-investment-grade securities may be subject to extreme price fluctuations, even under normal market conditions. Adverse changes in an issuer’s industry and general economic conditions may have a greater impact on the prices of below-investment-grade securities than on the prices of investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers and may be more likely to default than investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may have more outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing.
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In the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, claims of other creditors may have priority over the claims of the holders of below-investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid than investment-grade securities, even under normal market conditions. There are fewer dealers in the below-investment-grade securities market and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of the Fund’s securities than is the case with securities trading in a more liquid market.
Below-investment-grade securities typically contain redemption provisions that permit the issuer of the securities containing such provisions to redeem the securities at its discretion. If the issuer redeems below-investment-grade securities, the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields and may lose income.
Below-investment-grade securities markets may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse credit, economic, or market conditions than investment-grade securities.
The Fund can invest up to 25% of its total assets in below-investment-grade securities. This restriction is applied at the time of purchase and the Fund may continue to hold a security whose credit rating has been downgraded or, in the case of an unrated security, after the Fund’s Sub-Adviser has changed its assessment of the security’s credit quality. As a result, credit rating downgrades or other market fluctuations may cause the Fund’s holdings of below-investment-grade securities to exceed, at times significantly, this restriction for an extended period of time. 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. If the Fund has more than 25% of its total assets invested in below-investment-grade securities, the Sub-Adviser will not purchase additional below-investment-grade securities until the level of holdings in those securities no longer exceeds the restriction. Below-investment-grade securities are subject to greater credit risks than investment-grade securities.
U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities. Some of those securities are directly issued by the U.S. Treasury and are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. “Full faith and credit” means that the taxing power of the U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of principal on a security.
Some securities issued by U.S. government agencies, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through mortgage obligations (“Ginnie Maes”), are also backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Others are supported only by the credit of the agency that issued them (for example, obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, “Fannie Mae” bonds issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association and “Freddie Mac” obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). In September 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency placed the Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation into conservatorship.
Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund can buy interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgages in the form of “pass-through” mortgage securities. They may be issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, or its agencies and instrumentalities, or by private issuers, such as corporations, banks, savings and loans, mortgage bankers and other non-governmental issuers. Mortgage-related securities may be issued in different series, each having different interest rates and maturities. The prices and yields of mortgage-related securities are determined, in part, by assumptions about the rate of payments of the underlying mortgages and are subject to the risks of unanticipated prepayment and extension risks. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to interest rate risk, and the market for mortgage-backed securities may be volatile at times and may be less liquid than the markets for other types of securities. The liquidity of mortgage-backed securities may change over time.
Mortgage-Related Government Securities. Mortgage-related securities that are U.S. government securities have collateral to secure payment of interest and principal. The collateral is either in the form of mortgage pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by a U.S. agency or instrumentality or mortgage loans insured by a U.S. government agency.
Mortgage-Related Private Issuer Securities. Primarily these investments include multi-class debt or pass-through certificates secured by mortgage loans, which may be issued by private issuers. Private-issuer mortgage-backed securities may include loans on residential or commercial properties. Mortgage-related securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), issued by private issuers are not U.S. government securities, making them subject to greater credit risks than U.S. government securities. Private issuer securities are subject to the credit risks of both the issuers and the underlying borrowers, although in some cases they may be supported by insurance or guarantees.
Forward Rolls. The Fund can enter into “forward roll” transactions (also referred to as “mortgage dollar rolls”) with respect to mortgage-related securities. In this type of transaction, the Fund sells a mortgage-related security to a buyer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security at a later date at a set price. 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. The Fund will bear the risk that the market value of the securities might decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase them or that the counterparty might default in its obligations.
A substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be subject to forward roll transactions at any given time.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are fractional interests in pools of loans, receivables or other assets. They are issued by trusts or other special purpose vehicles and are collateralized by the loans, receivables or other assets that make up the pool. The trust or other issuer passes the income from the underlying asset pool to the investor.
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Neither the Fund nor the investment adviser selects the loans, receivables or other assets that are included in the pools or the collateral backing those pools. Asset-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. These securities are subject to the risk of default by the issuer as well as by the borrowers of the underlying loans in the pool. Certain asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment and extension risks.
Zero-Coupon and Stripped Securities. Some of the debt securities the Fund may invest in are zero-coupon or stripped securities. They may be issued by the U.S. government or private issuers. Zero-coupon securities pay no interest prior to their maturity date or another specified date in the future but are issued at a discount from their face value. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of a debt security. One component might receive all the interest and the other all the principal payments. The securities that are entitled to only the principal payments may be sold at a substantial discount from the market value of the initial security.
Zero-coupon and stripped securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates and may be subject to greater price fluctuations as a result of interest rate changes than interest bearing securities. The Fund may be required to pay a dividend of the imputed income on a zero-coupon or principal-only security at a time when it has not actually received the income. The values of interest-only and principal-only securities are also very sensitive to prepayments of underlying obligations. When prepayments tend to fall, the timing of the cash flows to principal-only securities increases, making them more sensitive to interest rates. The market for zero-coupon and stripped securities may be limited, making it difficult for the Fund to value them or dispose of its holdings quickly at an acceptable price.
Foreign Investing. The Fund can buy securities issued by companies or governments in any country, including in developing or emerging market countries.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
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Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
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, collectively known as “member states.” 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 member states, pushing some 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. Some of those countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the ECB, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or other governments and institutions to address those issues. Failure by one or more EU member states to implement reforms or attain a certain performance level imposed as a condition of assistance, or an insufficient level of assistance, could deepen or prolong the economic downturn which could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. By adopting the euro as its currency, members of the EMU are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit to some degree the ability to implement their own economic policies. Additionally, EMU member states could voluntarily abandon the euro or involuntarily be forced out of the euro, including by way of a partial or complete dissolution of the EMU. 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
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euro-denominated securities may be significantly impaired and the value of euro-denominated investments may decline significantly and unpredictably. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time. Uncertainty relating to the withdrawal procedures and timeline may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of current trade agreements, as well as an increase in financial regulation of United Kingdom banks. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, market disruption in the EU and globally may have a negative effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. Additionally, the risks related to Brexit could be more pronounced if one or more additional EU member states seek to leave the EU.
Quantitative Models. Quantitative models are based upon many factors that measure individual securities relative to each other. Quantitative models may be highly reliant on the gathering, cleaning, culling and analysis of large amounts of data from third parties and other external sources. Any errors or imperfections in the factors, or the data on which measurements of those factors are based, could adversely affect the use of the quantitative models. The factors used in models may not identify securities that perform well in the future, and the securities selected may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Options, futures, forward contracts, swaps, “structured” notes, and certain mortgage-related securities are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund may use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Foreign Currency Forwards and Options. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future delivery at a fixed price. They are used to lock in the U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or to protect against possible losses from changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar against a foreign currency. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted, which could result in losses on those contracts and additional transaction costs. The use of forward contracts could reduce performance if there are unanticipated changes in currency prices. Options on foreign currencies may be used to try to protect against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign securities the Fund owns and against increases in the dollar cost of foreign securities the Fund anticipates buying. Options on foreign currencies are affected by the factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally. The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on foreign currency options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market, and there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time.
Interest Rate Futures. The Fund may use interest rate futures to manage exposure to interest rate risk or protect the Fund from fluctuations in the value of securities. An interest rate future is a contract for the future delivery of a debt security for a price based on the current value of the security. An interest rate future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) cash or the specified type of debt security to settle the futures transaction at its maturity. Either party could also enter into an offsetting contract to close out the position. For example, to seek to mitigate the risk that increasing prevailing interest rates may decrease the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, the Fund might sell a U.S. Treasury bond future obligating it to sell a U.S. Treasury bond on a future date for an amount based on the current value of the bond. If prevailing interest rates rise, the Fund would be expected to be able to enter into an offsetting contract at a gain.
Risks of Interest Rate Futures. Interest rate futures expose the Fund to price fluctuations resulting from interest rate changes. If interest rates rise when the Fund has purchased an interest rate future, the Fund could suffer a loss in its futures positions. If interest rates fall when the Fund has sold an interest rate future, the Fund could similarly suffer a loss. The market value of interest rate futures may not move in concert with the value of the securities the Fund wishes to hedge or intends to purchase. Further, a lack of market liquidity could make it difficult to close out futures positions.
Risks of Futures Contracts. The volatility of futures contracts prices has been historically greater than the volatility of stocks and bonds. 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. In addition, futures exchanges often impose a maximum permissible price movement on each futures contract for each trading session. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement.
Swap Transactions. Under recent financial reform legislation, certain types of swaps are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may affect counterparty risk and other risks faced by the Fund, and could result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. Swap agreements may be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market or executed on a swap execution facility and may be a bilateral contract or may be centrally cleared. In a cleared swap, immediately following execution of the swap agreement, the swap agreement is submitted for clearing to a clearing house, and the Fund faces the clearinghouse by means of an account with a futures
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commission merchant that is a member of the clearinghouse. Because the regulations regarding centrally cleared swaps are new and evolving, the scope of potential risks, including risks relating to the use of clearinghouses and futures commission merchants, is unclear.
“Structured” Notes. “Structured” notes are specially-designed derivative debt instruments. The terms of the instrument may be determined or “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, a commodity or 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 obligor.
Risks of “Structured” Notes. Structured notes are subject to interest rate risk. They 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 structured note might pay less interest than the stated coupon payment or repay less principal upon maturity. The price of structured notes may be very volatile and they may have a limited trading market, making it difficult to value them or sell them at an acceptable price. In some cases, the Fund may enter into agreements with an issuer of structured notes to purchase a minimum amount of those notes over time.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Risks of Leverage. Derivatives may involve leverage. Leverage occurs when an investor has the right to a return on an investment that exceeds the return that the investor would be expected to receive based on the amount contributed to the investment. The Fund’s use of certain leveraged derivatives can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. When the Fund uses derivatives that entail leverage, the Fund’s share price will tend to be more volatile, resulting in larger gains or losses in response to the fluctuating prices of the Fund’s investments. The Fund has limits on the leverage ratio of its overall portfolio. The Fund is also subject to legal requirements that it must identify liquid assets on its books with respect to certain derivatives or engage in other measures to seek to reduce derivatives risks.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be
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invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Special Considerations of Senior Loans and Other Loans. The Fund may invest in loans, and in particular, in floating rate loans (sometimes referred to as “adjustable rate loans”) that hold (or in the judgment of the investment adviser, hold) a senior position in the capital structure of U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities that, under normal circumstances, allow them to have priority of claim ahead of (or at least as high as) other obligations of a borrower in the event of liquidation. These investments are referred to as “Senior Loans.”
Senior loans typically have higher recoveries than other debt obligations that rank lower in the priority of payments for a particular debtor, because in most instances they take preference over those subordinated debt obligations, with respect to payment of interest and principal, and over stock. However, the Fund is still subject to the risk that the borrower under a loan will default on scheduled interest or principal payments and that the assets of the borrower to which the Fund has recourse will be insufficient to satisfy in full the payment obligations that the borrower has to the Fund. The risk of default will increase in the event of an economic downturn or, in the case of a floating rate loan, a substantial increase in interest rates (because the cost of the borrower’s debt service will increase as the interest rate on its loan is upwardly adjusted). The Fund may own a debt obligation of a borrower that becomes, or is about to become, insolvent. The Fund can also purchase debt obligations that are extended to a bankrupt entity (so called debtor-in-possession or ‘DIP’ financing) or debt obligations that are issued in connection with a restructuring of the borrower under bankruptcy laws.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities, and in the event of fraud or misrepresentation by a borrower or an arranger, lenders will not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, as would be the case for bonds or stocks. Instead, in such cases, lenders generally rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement itself, and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
How the Fund Invests in Loans. The Fund may invest in loans in one or more of three ways: the Fund may invest directly in a loan by acting as an original lender; the Fund may invest directly in a loan by purchasing a loan by an assignment; or the Fund may invest indirectly in a loan by purchasing a participation interest in a loan. The Fund may also gain exposure to loans indirectly using certain derivative instruments, which is described elsewhere in this prospectus.
Original Lender. The Fund can invest in loans, generally “at par” (a price for the loan equal approximately to 100% of the funded principal amount of the loan, minus any original issue discount) as an original lender. When the Fund is an original lender, it is entitled to receive a return at the full interest rate for the loan.
Loan Assignments. The Fund may also purchase a loan by assignment. In a loan assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to the rights and obligations of the assigning lender under the loan agreement and becomes a “lender” under the loan agreement, entitled to the same rights (including, but not limited to, enforcement or set-off rights) that are available to lenders generally. When the Fund buys an assignment, it may be required to pay a fee, or cede a portion of the interest and fees that accrued prior to settlement of the assignment, to the lender selling the assignment. Occasionally, the selling lender 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 interest and fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to. In addition, the Fund may be required to pay a transfer fee to the lending agent.
Participation Interests. The Fund may invest in participation interests in loans. Participation interests represent an undivided fractional interest in a loan. They are typically purchased from banks or dealers that have made the loan or have become members of the loan syndicate by purchasing the loan by assignment. When the Fund invests in a loan via a participation, the participation seller remains the lender of record under the loan agreement, and the Fund typically becomes the beneficial owner of the loan, and is entitled to receive from the participation seller any payments or other property or distributions received by the participation seller from or on behalf of the borrower of the loan. When the Fund buys a participation, it may be required to pay a fee, or cede a portion of the interest and fees that accrued prior to settlement of the participation, to the lender selling the participation. Occasionally, the selling lender pays a fee to the participant. If the Fund sells a participation, it may be required to pass along to a buyer a portion of any interest and fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to.
Recourse. When the Fund invests in loans as an original lender it will have direct recourse against the borrower in the event of a failure to pay scheduled principal or interest. When it purchases a loan by assignment, it typically succeeds to whatever rights the assigning lender had under the loan agreement, and will therefore be entitled to the same rights (including, but not limited to, enforcement or set-off rights) that are available to lenders generally. When the Fund buys a participation interest, it assumes the credit risk of the borrower and the counterparty risk of the lender selling the participation interest (and, in certain circumstances, such lender’s credit risk), and the terms of the participation may not entitle the Fund to all rights of a direct lender under the loan (for example, with respect to consent, voting or enforcement rights). Therefore, the Fund’s rights under a participation interest for a particular loan may be more limited than the rights of the original lender or an investor who acquires an assignment of that loan. Where the Fund invests in a loan via a participation, the Fund generally will have no right of direct recourse against the borrower or ability to otherwise directly enforce the terms of the loan agreement.
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Investments in Pooled Investment Entities that Invest in Loans. The Fund can also buy interests in trusts and other pooled entities (including other investment companies) that invest primarily or exclusively in loan obligations, including entities sponsored or advised by the Manager or an affiliate. The Fund will be subject to the pooled entity’s credit risks as well as the credit risks of the underlying loans. The loans underlying these investments may include loans to foreign or U.S. borrowers, may be collateralized or uncollateralized and may be rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade or may be unrated. These investments are subject to the risk of default by the borrower, interest rate and prepayment risk, as well as credit risks of the pooled entity that holds the loan obligations.
Interest Rates and Floating or Adjustable Rate Loans. The loans in which the Fund invests typically have floating or adjustable interest rates. For that reason, the Sub-Adviser expects that when interest rates change, the values of these floating rate loans will fluctuate less than the values of fixed-rate debt securities, and that the net asset values of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate less than the shares of funds that invest mainly in fixed-rate debt obligations. However, the interest rates of some floating rate loans adjust only periodically. Between the times that interest rates on floating rate loans adjust (which is most often quarterly, but may be monthly, every six months, or some other period), the interest rates on those floating rate loans may not correlate to prevailing interest rates. That will affect the value of the loans and may cause the net asset values of the Fund’s shares to fluctuate.
The base rate usually is a benchmark that “floats” or changes to reflect current interest rates, such as:
the prime rate offered by one or more major U.S. banks (referred to as the “Prime Rate”), or
the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).
The applicable rate is defined in the loan agreement. Borrowers tend to select the base lending rate that results in the lowest interest cost, and the benchmark selected by a borrower for its loans may change from time to time (but the benchmark selected for a particular loan will remain the same for the life of that loan). If the benchmark interest rate on a floating rate loan changes, the rate payable to lenders under the floating rate loan will, in turn, change at the next scheduled adjustment date. If the benchmark rate increases, the Fund would earn interest at a higher rate on that floating rate loan after the next scheduled adjustment date. If the benchmark rate decreases, the Fund would earn interest at a lower rate on that floating rate loan after the next scheduled adjustment date.
The Fund may use interest rate swap agreements and other hedging practices to mitigate fluctuations in value when the interest rate under the loan is periodically reset.
The Fund may invest in loans having a fixed rate of interest; however, it is unlikely to do so because fixed rate loans are uncommon in the loan market generally.
Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on LIBOR, which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on a fund or the financial instruments in which a fund invests cannot yet be determined.
Prepayment. The Fund has no limits as to the maturity of loans it may purchase. Senior Loans in general have a stated term of between five and seven years, and other types of loans in which the Fund may invest may have shorter or longer maturities. Notwithstanding their stated maturity, loans may be prepaid prior to their stated terms for reasons including, but not limited to, high market demand for loans, refinancing by the borrower, mandatory prepayment requirements or desire of the borrower to repay outstanding debt. If a borrower prepays a loan, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other loans or financial assets that may pay lower rates of return. However, any prepayment and facility fees the Fund receives may help reduce any adverse impact on the Fund’s yield. Because the interest rates on floating rate loans adjust periodically, the Sub-Adviser believes that the Fund should generally be able to reinvest prepayments in floating rate loans that have yields similar to those that have been prepaid.
Subordination. Senior loans typically hold the most senior position in a borrower’s capital structure. They may include loans that hold the most senior position alone, loans that hold an equal ranking with other senior debt, or loans that are, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser, in the category of senior debt of the borrower. Borrowers typically are required contractually to pay the holders of senior loans before they pay the holders of subordinated debt and preferred or common shareholders and give the holders of senior secured loans a claim on some or all of the borrower’s assets that is senior to that of subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock of the borrower in the event that the borrower defaults or becomes bankrupt. Senior loans are subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior loan to presently existing or future indebtedness or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans.
That senior position in the borrower’s capital structure typically gives the holders of senior loans a claim on some or all of the borrower’s assets that is senior to that of subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock of the borrower in the event that the borrower defaults or becomes bankrupt. This means in the event the assets of the borrower are insufficient in value to satisfy all its creditors, senior debt will be satisfied in priority to debt that is subordinate to senior debt.
Lien Position. Loans that are collateralized may have multiple lenders or other creditors that take different lien positions. While second lien loan positions generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in first lien loan positions, second lien loan positions have the additional risk that if the borrower defaults on its obligations under the loan and the loan creditors enforce their security interest or if the borrower becomes bankrupt, the secured claims of the creditors in the first lien position will be satisfied prior to the secured claims of the creditors in the second lien position. If
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the cash flow and assets of the borrower are insufficient to satisfy both the first lien loans and the second lien loans in full, the creditors in the second lien position may not be satisfied in full. If a loan has first and second lien positions, typically the Fund will invest in the first lien position; however, it may invest in the second lien position. Second lien positions generally pay a higher margin than first lien positions to compensate second lien creditors for the greater risk they assume.
Collateral. Loans may be fully collateralized with one or more of (1) working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory, (2) tangible fixed assets, such as real property, buildings and equipment, (3) intangible assets such as trademarks or patents, or (4) shares of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates. A loan agreement may or may not require the borrower to pledge additional collateral to secure a loan if the value of the initial collateral declines, or if additional assets are acquired by the borrower. Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of those assets would satisfy a borrower’s obligations under a loan in full. A borrower’s subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders or owners may provide collateral in the form of secured guarantees and/or security interests in assets that they own. However, the value of the collateral may decline after the Fund invests in the loan, particularly if the collateral consists of equity securities of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
If a borrower defaults, insolvency laws may limit the Fund’s access to the collateral, or the lenders may be unable to liquidate the collateral. A bankruptcy court might find that the lenders’ security interest or their enforcement of their security under the loan to be invalid, or a bankruptcy court may require the borrower to use the collateral to pay other outstanding obligations prior to satisfying the lenders in full. If the collateral consists of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries, the stock may lose all of its value in the event of a bankruptcy, which would leave the Fund exposed to greater potential loss. In addition, in the event of a borrower default on a collateralized loan, the Fund may receive assets other than cash or securities in full or partial satisfaction of the borrower’s obligation under the loan. Those assets may be illiquid, and the Fund might not be able to realize the benefit of the assets for legal, practical or other reasons. The Fund might hold those assets until the Sub-Adviser determines it is appropriate to dispose of them. If the collateral becomes illiquid or loses some or all of its value, the collateral may not be sufficient in value to compensate the Fund in full in the event of a default of scheduled interest or principal payments.
The Fund can invest in loans that are not secured by any specific collateral of the borrower. If the borrower is unable to pay interest or defaults in the payment of principal, there will be no collateral on which the Fund can foreclose. Therefore, these loans present greater risks than collateralized loans because the recourse of the Fund to the borrower’s assets in the case of a default would be as a general unsecured creditor. The Fund applies the same investment and credit standards to unsecured loans as to secured loans, except for collateral requirements.
Highly Leveraged Transactions and Insolvent Borrowers. The Fund can invest in loans made in connection with highly leveraged transactions. These transactions may include operating loans, leveraged buyout loans, leveraged capitalization loans and other types of acquisition financing. Those loans are subject to greater credit risks than other loans. Highly leveraged loans and loans in default also may be less liquid than other loans. If the Fund voluntarily or involuntarily sold those types of loans, it might not receive the full value it expected.
The Fund can also invest in loans of borrowers that are experiencing, or are likely to experience, financial difficulty. In addition, the Fund can invest in loans of borrowers that have filed for bankruptcy protection or that have had involuntary bankruptcy petitions filed against them by creditors. Various laws enacted for the protection of debtors may apply to loans. A bankruptcy proceeding against a borrower could delay or limit the ability of the Fund to collect the principal and interest payments on that borrower’s loans. If a lawsuit is brought by creditors of a borrower under a loan, a court or a trustee in bankruptcy could take certain actions that would be adverse to the Fund.
Restrictive Loan Covenants. Borrowers must comply with various restrictive covenants typically contained in loan agreements. They may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to stockholders, provisions requiring the borrower to maintain specific financial ratios, and limits on total debt. They may include requirements that the borrower prepay the loan with any free cash flow. A break of a covenant that is not waived by the agent bank (or the lenders) is normally an event of default that provides the agent bank or the lenders the right to call the outstanding amount on the loan. If a lender accelerates the repayment of a loan because of the borrower’s violation of a restrictive covenant under the loan agreement, the borrower might default in payment of the loan.
Limited Secondary Market for Loans. Due to restrictions on transfers in loan agreements and the nature of the private syndication of loans, some loans are not as easily purchased or sold as publicly-traded securities. As a result, some loans are illiquid, which means that the Fund may be limited in its ability to sell those loans at an acceptable price when it wants to in order to generate cash, avoid losses or to meet repurchase requests. The market for illiquid financial assets is more volatile than the market for liquid investments and it may be more difficult to obtain accurate valuations for the Fund’s investments.
Possible Limited Availability of Loans. Direct investments in loans and, to a lesser degree, investments in participation interests in or assignments of loans may be limited. The limited availability may be due to a number of factors. Direct lenders may allocate only a small number of loans to new investors, including the Fund. There may be fewer loans available for investment that meet the Fund’s credit standards, particularly in times of economic downturns. Also, lenders or agents may have an incentive to market the less desirable loans to investors such as the Fund while retaining attractive loans for themselves. This would reduce the amount of attractive investments for the Fund. If market demand for loans increases, the interest paid by loans that the Fund holds may decrease.
Delayed Settlement. Compared to securities and to certain other types of financial assets, purchases and sales of loans take relatively longer to settle. This is partly due to the nature of loans, which require a written assignment agreement and
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various ancillary documents for each transfer, and frequently require discretionary consents from both the borrower and the administrative agent. In addition, dealers frequently insist on matching their purchases and sales, which can lead to delays in the Fund’s settlement of a purchase or sale in circumstances where the dealer’s corresponding transaction with another party is delayed. Dealers will also sometimes sell loans short, and hold their trades open for an indefinite period while waiting for a price movement or looking for inventory to purchase. This extended settlement process can (i) increase the counterparty credit risk borne by the Fund; (ii) leave the Fund unable to timely vote, or otherwise act with respect to, loans it has agreed to purchase; (iii) delay the Fund from realizing the proceeds of a sale of a loan; (iv) inhibit the Fund’s ability to re-sell a loan that it has agreed to purchase if conditions change (leaving the Fund more exposed to price fluctuations); (v) prevent the Fund from timely collecting principal and interest payments; and (vi) expose the Fund to adverse tax or regulatory consequences. To the extent the extended loan settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, such as the need to satisfy redemption requests, the Fund may hold cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks or other lenders. If the Fund undertakes such measures, the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds in a timely manner, as well as the Fund’s performance, may be adversely affected.
Credit Quality Standards for Loans. Rating organizations, such as S&P or Moody’s, rate debt obligations by rating the issuer, after evaluating the issuer’s financial soundness. Generally, the lower the investment rating, the more risky the investment. Debt securities rated below “BBB-” by S&P or “Baa3” by Moody’s are commonly referred to as “high risk” securities or, in the case of bonds, “junk bonds.” Loans rated “B” are below investment grade and are regarded by rating organizations as predominantly speculative with respect to the borrower’s ability to repay interest and principal when due over a long period. While securities rated Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P are considered to be “investment grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. The Fund may invest in loans that are rated both investment grade and below-investment grade by different rating organizations. An appendix to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes the definitions of the rating categories of the principal rating organizations.
Many loans are not rated by rating organizations. The lack of a rating does not necessarily imply that a loan is of lesser investment quality.
While the Fund expects to have access to financial and other information regarding the borrower that has been made available to the lenders under a loan, it may not have such information in connection with participation interests and certain loan assignments. Additionally, the amount of public information available with respect to loans generally will be less extensive than what is available for exchange-listed or otherwise registered securities.
The Sub-Adviser will normally seek to avoid receiving material, non-public information about the issuers of loans being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser’s decision not to receive material, non-public information under normal circumstances may place the Fund at a disadvantage relative to other investors in loans, and could adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance. In certain cases, the Sub-Adviser may nevertheless receive material, non-public information regarding loans, and its ability to trade in such loans for the account of the Fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.
Master Limited Partnerships. The Fund may invest in publicly traded limited partnerships known as “master limited partnerships” or MLPs. MLPs issue units that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are freely tradable on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. An MLP consists of one or more general partners, who conduct the business, and one or more limited partners, who contribute capital. The Fund, as a limited partner, normally would not be liable for the debts of the MLP beyond the amounts the Fund has contributed, but 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 return of capital distributed to a limited partner. This right of an MLP’s creditors would continue after the Fund sold its investment in the MLP.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances,
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come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Fund can also invest in the securities of other investment companies, which can include open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts and business development companies subject to the limits of the Investment Company Act of 1940. One reason the Fund might do so is to gain exposure to segments of the markets represented by another fund, at times when the Fund might not be able to buy the particular type of securities directly. As a shareholder of an investment company, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless it is believed that the potential benefits of the investment justify the expenses. The Fund’s investments in the securities of other investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to those types of investments under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that
20 Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA

 

an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, and 0.60% of average annual net assets over $800 million, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. Under the sub-advisory agreement, the Manager
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 21

 

pays the Sub-Adviser a percentage of the net investment advisory fee (after all applicable waivers) that it receives from the Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.75% of average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding (i) interest, taxes, dividends tied to short sales, brokerage commissions, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles; (iii) certain other expenses attributable to, and incurred as a result of, a Fund’s investments; and (iv) other unusual and infrequent expenses (including litigation expenses) not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to annual rates of 0.67% for Non-Service Shares and 0.92% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. Krishna Memani and Magnus Krantz are co-portfolio managers of the Fund. Mr. Memani has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2009 and Vice President of the Fund since March 2009. Mr. Krantz has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since April 2013.
Mr. Memani has been President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2013, Executive Vice President of the Manager since January 2014 and Chief Investment Officer of the OppenheimerFunds advisory entities since January 2014. He was Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser from January 2013 to December 2013; Head of the Investment Grade Fixed Income Team of the Sub-Adviser from March 2009 to January 2014; Director of Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser from October 2010 through December 2012 and Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from March 2009 through December 2012. He was also Senior Vice President of OFI Global Institutional, Inc. from April 2009 through December 2012. Mr. Memani is a portfolio manager and an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Krantz has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009 and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since November 2012. He has served as 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 Investments 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. Mr. Krantz served as a portfolio manager and analyst at Citigroup Asset Management from 1998 to 2005 and as a consultant at Price Waterhouse from 1997 to 1998. He also served as product development engineer at Newbridge Networks from 1993 to 1996 and as a software engineer at Mitel Corporation from 1990 to 1993. Mr. Krantz is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio investments determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”), except if there is an NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset values based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s investments generally trade on an exchange or in the over-the-counter market. The Fund’s investments that trade on a securities exchange are valued based on the official closing price of each security’s principal exchange, or if not available, at the last sale price. The Fund’s investments that trade in the over-the-counter market rather than on a securities exchange are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices as determined by a pricing service or by utilizing evaluated prices provided by a pricing service. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, but the Fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lot trades.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 23

 

that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under
24 Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA

 

common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds,
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 25

 

including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
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Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 27

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $15.92 $14.86 $14.46 $14.67 $13.84  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.32 0.27 0.26 0.31 0.29  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.13) 1.09 0.49 (0.18) 0.83  
Total from investment operations (0.81) 1.36 0.75 0.13 1.12  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.31) (0.30) (0.35) (0.34) (0.29)  
Distributions from net realized gain (0.37) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (0.68) (0.30) (0.35) (0.34) (0.29)  
Net asset value, end of period $14.43 $15.92 $14.86 $14.46 $14.67  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (5.32)% 9.25% 5.26% 0.83% 8.20%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $140,290 $166,015 $172,573 $182,406 $203,684  
Average net assets (in thousands) $155,024 $170,438 $177,368 $194,208 $208,556  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 2.05% 1.74% 1.78% 2.09% 2.03%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.98% 0.94% 0.94% 0.91% 0.90%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 0.98% 0.94% 0.94% 0.91% 0.90%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.67% 0.67% 0.67% 0.67% 0.67%  
Portfolio turnover rate6 60% 76% 68% 68% 98%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.98%  
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.94%  
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.94%  
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.91%  
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.90%  
6. The portfolio turnover rate excludes purchase and sale transactions of To Be Announced (TBA) mortgage-related securities as follows:
   
28 Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
  Purchase Transactions Sale Transactions
Year Ended December 31, 2018 $685,887,902 $703,549,464
Year Ended December 31, 2017 $729,295,309 $711,803,922
Year Ended December 31, 2016 $737,550,642 $742,753,245
Year Ended December 31, 2015 $829,988,104 $849,696,153
Year Ended December 31, 2014 $697,503,637 $678,765,376
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 29

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $15.71 $14.67 $14.28 $14.49 $13.66  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.27 0.23 0.22 0.27 0.25  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (1.10) 1.07 0.48 (0.18) 0.84  
Total from investment operations (0.83) 1.30 0.70 0.09 1.09  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.27) (0.26) (0.31) (0.30) (0.26)  
Distributions from net realized gain (0.37) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (0.64) (0.26) (0.31) (0.30) (0.26)  
Net asset value, end of period $14.24 $15.71 $14.67 $14.28 $14.49  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (5.53)% 8.95% 4.96% 0.57% 8.02%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $43,029 $51,633 $51,743 $52,226 $63,880  
Average net assets (in thousands) $48,109 $51,345 $53,914 $59,085 $65,450  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 1.80% 1.49% 1.53% 1.84% 1.78%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.23% 1.19% 1.19% 1.16% 1.15%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 1.23% 1.19% 1.19% 1.16% 1.15%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.92% 0.92% 0.92% 0.92% 0.92%  
Portfolio turnover rate6 60% 76% 68% 68% 98%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.23%  
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.19%  
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.19%  
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.16%  
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.15%  
6. The portfolio turnover rate excludes purchase and sale transactions of To Be Announced (TBA) mortgage-related securities as follows:
   
30 Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
  Purchase Transactions Sale Transactions
Year Ended December 31, 2018 $685,887,902 $703,549,464
Year Ended December 31, 2017 $729,295,309 $711,803,922
Year Ended December 31, 2016 $737,550,642 $742,753,245
Year Ended December 31, 2015 $829,988,104 $849,696,153
Year Ended December 31, 2014 $697,503,637 $678,765,376
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 31

 

        
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0670.001.0419

 

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks capital appreciation. It primarily invests in equity securities of companies that, at the time of purchase, are within the range of the market capitalization of the Russell Midcap® Growth Index.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.71% 0.71%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.15% 0.15%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.86% 1.11%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement* (0.06)% (0.06)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 0.80% 1.05%  
* After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding any applicable dividend expense, taxes, interest and fees from borrowing, any subsidiary expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage commissions, unusual and infrequent expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to annual rates of 0.80% for Non-Service Shares and 1.05% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $82 $270 $473 $1,060  
...
Service Shares $108 $349 $609 $1,354  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 104% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund mainly invests in common stocks of U.S. companies that the portfolio managers expect to have above-average growth rates. The Fund seeks to invest in newer companies or in more established companies that are in the early growth phase of their business cycle, which is typically marked by above-average growth rates. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of “mid-cap” issuers. The Fund defines mid-cap issuers as those issuers that are within the range of market capitalizations of the Russell Midcap® Growth Index. This range is subject to change at any time due to market activity or changes in the composition of that index. The range of the Russell Midcap Growth Index is reconstituted annually to preserve its capitalization characteristics. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in companies in other market capitalization ranges. The Fund measures a company’s capitalization at the time the Fund buys a security, and is not required to sell a security if the issuer’s capitalization moves outside of the Fund’s definition of mid-cap issuers.
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 1

 

The Fund invests primarily in U.S. companies but may also purchase securities of issuers in any country, including developed countries and emerging markets. The Fund has no limits on the amount of its assets that can be invested in foreign securities.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the portfolio managers look for companies with high growth potential using a “bottom-up” stock selection process. The “bottom-up” approach focuses on fundamental analysis of individual issuers before considering the impact of overall economic, market or industry trends. This approach includes analysis of a company’s financial statements and management structure and consideration of the company’s operations, product development, and its industry position.
The portfolio managers currently focus on high-growth companies that are characterized by industry leadership, market share growth, high caliber management teams, sustainable competitive advantages, and strong growth themes or new innovative products or services. The portfolio managers monitor individual issuers for changes in the factors above, which may trigger a decision to sell a security, but does not require a decision to do so. The factors considered by the portfolio managers may vary in particular cases and may change over time.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of stocks of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Risks of Mid-Cap Companies. Mid-cap companies generally involve greater risk of loss than larger companies. The prices of securities issued by mid-sized companies may be more volatile and their securities may be less liquid and more difficult to sell than those of larger companies. They may have less established markets, fewer customers and product lines, less management depth and more limited access to financial resources. Mid-cap companies may not pay dividends for some time, if at all.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Foreign securities are subject to special risks. Securities traded in foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than those traded in U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are usually not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to, which may make it difficult for the Fund to evaluate a foreign company’s operations or financial condition. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in that foreign currency and in the value of any income or distributions the Fund may receive on those investments. The value of foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, delays in the settlement of transactions, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, or other political and economic factors. In addition, due to the inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets, changes in political and economic factors in one country or region could adversely affect conditions in another country or region. Investments in foreign securities may also expose the Fund to time-zone arbitrage risk. Foreign securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares. As a result, the value of the Fund’s net assets may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares. At times, the
2 Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

 

Fund may emphasize investments in a particular country or region and may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that country or region. Foreign securities and foreign currencies held in foreign banks and securities depositories may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
Cyclical Opportunities. At times, the Fund might seek to take advantage of short-term market movements or changes in the business cycle by investing in companies or industries that are sensitive to those changes. For example, when the economy is expanding, companies in consumer durables and the technology sector might benefit. There is a risk that, if a cyclical event does not have the anticipated effect or when the issuer or industry is out of phase in the business cycle, the value of the Fund’s investment could fall.
Who Is The Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking capital appreciation over the long term. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of short-term share price fluctuations and losses that are typical for an aggressive growth fund emphasizing mid-cap stock investments. The Fund does not seek current income and is not designed for investors needing current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/DiscoveryMidCapGrowthFundVA
During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 16.47% (1st Qtr 12) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -18.69% (4th Qtr 18).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 8/15/1986) (6.08)% 6.90% 14.21%  
...
Service Shares (inception 10/16/2000) (6.31)% 6.63% 13.93%  
...
Russell Mid Cap Growth Index (4.75)% 7.42% 15.12%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. Ronald J. Zibelli, Jr., CFA, has been Vice President and the lead portfolio manager of the Fund since November 2008. Justin Livengood, CFA, has been Vice President and a co-portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2014.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 3

 

Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
4 Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

 

More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Common Stock. Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. Common stocks may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities. Over-the-counter securities may be less liquid than exchange-traded securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized, (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-sized companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Mid-Cap Companies. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned management teams. While mid-cap companies might offer greater opportunities for gain than larger companies, they also 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 than larger companies. Mid-cap 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 mid-cap companies may be subject to wider price fluctuations and may be less liquid than securities of larger exchange-traded issuers, meaning it might be harder for the Fund to dispose of those holdings at an acceptable price when it wants to sell them. Mid-cap companies may have less established markets for their products or services and may have fewer customers and product lines than larger companies. 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 mid-cap 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. Mid-cap 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 unseasoned companies may be particularly volatile, especially in the short term and in periods of market instability, and may have limited liquidity in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a mid-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “mid-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys their securities, individual companies may grow and no longer fall within the Fund’s definition of a “mid-cap” issuer. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown beyond the Fund’s mid-cap definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to lower the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 5

 

arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Growth Investing. Growth companies are companies whose earnings and stock prices are expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall market. Growth companies can be new companies or established companies that may be entering a growth cycle in their business. Their anticipated growth may come from developing new products or services or from expanding into new or growing markets. Growth companies may be applying new technologies, new or improved distribution methods or new business models that could enable them to capture an important or dominant market position. They may have a special area of expertise or the ability to take advantage of changes in demographic or other factors in a more profitable way. Newer growth companies generally tend to invest a large part of their earnings into research, development or capital assets. Although newer growth companies may not pay any dividends for some time, their stocks may be valued because of their potential for price increases.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
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Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
Cyclical Opportunities. At times, the Fund might seek to take advantage of short-term market movements or changes in the business cycle by investing in companies or industries that are sensitive to those changes. For example, when the economy is expanding, companies in consumer durables and the technology sector might benefit. There is a risk that if a cyclical event does not have the anticipated effect, or when the issuer or industry is out of phase in the business cycle, the value of the Fund’s investment could fall.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies,
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 7

 

or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Other Equity Securities. In addition to common stocks, the Fund can invest in other equity or “equity equivalents” securities such as preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights or warrants.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
A convertible security can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities are subject to credit and interest rate risk, however credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities.
The Fund will not invest more than 5% of its net assets in convertible securities that are rated below investment-grade by a nationally recognized rating organization.
Small-Cap Companies. Small-cap 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 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. Smaller 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 smaller 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 in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “small-cap,” “mid-cap” or “large-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys the security of an individual company, that company may expand or contract and no longer fall within the designated capitalization range. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown or decreased beyond the Fund’s capitalization-range definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to adjust the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio
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and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Investing in Special Situations. At times, the Fund may seek to benefit from what it considers to be “special situations,” such as mergers, reorganizations, restructurings or other unusual events that are expected to affect a particular issuer. There is a risk that the expected change or event might not occur, which could cause the price of the security to fall, perhaps sharply. In that case, the investment might not produce the expected gains or might cause a loss. This is an aggressive investment technique that may be considered speculative.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Options, futures and forward contracts are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund can use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring,
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 9

 

default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer
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Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. Shareholders will receive 60 days’ advance notice of any change in the 80% investment policy described in “Principal Investment Strategies.” The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy or restriction is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% of the next $700 million, and 0.58% of average annual net assets over $1.5 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.71% of average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding (i) interest, taxes, dividends tied to short sales, brokerage commissions, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles; (iii) certain other expenses attributable to, and incurred as a result of, a Fund’s investments; and (iv) other unusual and infrequent expenses (including litigation expenses) not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to annual rates of 0.80% for Non-Service Shares and 1.05% for Service Shares, as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn until one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
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The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by Ronald J. Zibelli, Jr., CFA, and Justin Livengood, CFA, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Zibelli has been the lead portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since November 2008. Mr. Livengood has been Vice President and a co-portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2014.
Mr. Zibelli has been a Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2014 and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser since May 2006. He was a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from May 2006 to January 2014. 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. Mr. Zibelli is a portfolio manager and officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Livengood has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2006 and a Senior Portfolio Manager since January 2014. He was a Senior Research Analyst of the Sub-Adviser from May 2006 to January 2014, responsible for the health care, energy and financial services sectors for mid- and small-cap growth accounts. Before joining the Sub-Adviser in May 2006, Mr. Livengood was a vice president and fund analyst with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, where he specialized in financial services, health care, energy and basic materials for the Merrill Lynch Small Cap Growth Fund. During his tenure at Merrill Lynch he also worked as an investment banking analyst in the Global Media Group and as an associate with Merrill Lynch Ventures. Mr. Livengood is a portfolio manager and officer of another portfolio in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
12 Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

 

More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset value for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade on an exchange and are valued based on the official closing price of each security’s principal exchange, or if not available, at the last sale price or fair value, as described below.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 13

 

How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
14 Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

 

Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 15

 

Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
16 Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

 

distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 17

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $84.21 $72.65 $76.85 $78.82 $74.51  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income (loss)1 (0.19) (0.10) 0.03 (0.19) (0.29)  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (3.07) 20.08 1.69 5.67 4.60  
Total from investment operations (3.26) 19.98 1.72 5.48 4.31  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income 0.00 (0.03) 0.00 0.00 0.00  
Distributions from net realized gain (12.30) (8.39) (5.92) (7.45) 0.00  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (12.30) (8.42) (5.92) (7.45) 0.00  
Net asset value, end of period $68.65 $84.21 $72.65 $76.85 $78.82  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (6.08)% 28.79% 2.34% 6.61% 5.78%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $586,273 $694,675 $603,708 $660,450 $682,515  
Average net assets (in thousands) $690,497 $661,192 $621,110 $695,736 $688,259  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income (loss) (0.23)% (0.12)% 0.04% (0.24)% (0.39)%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.86% 0.84% 0.84% 0.83% 0.83%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 0.86% 0.84% 0.84% 0.83% 0.83%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.80% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80%  
Portfolio turnover rate 104% 105% 141% 81% 113%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.86%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.84%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.84%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.83%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.83%
18 Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $79.87 $69.43 $73.88 $76.21 $72.22  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment loss1 (0.37) (0.28) (0.15) (0.38) (0.46)  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.79) 19.11 1.62 5.50 4.45  
Total from investment operations (3.16) 18.83 1.47 5.12 3.99  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  
Distributions from net realized gain (12.30) (8.39) (5.92) (7.45) 0.00  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (12.30) (8.39) (5.92) (7.45) 0.00  
Net asset value, end of period $64.41 $79.87 $69.43 $73.88 $76.21  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (6.31)% 28.46% 2.08% 6.35% 5.53%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $35,054 $39,599 $32,252 $37,029 $30,964  
Average net assets (in thousands) $40,815 $35,753 $33,797 $32,812 $32,927  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment loss (0.48)% (0.37)% (0.21)% (0.49)% (0.64)%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.11% 1.09% 1.09% 1.08% 1.08%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 1.11% 1.09% 1.09% 1.08% 1.08%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.05% 1.05% 1.05% 1.05% 1.05%  
Portfolio turnover rate 104% 105% 141% 81% 113%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.11%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.09%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.09%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.08%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.08%
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA 19

 

        
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0620.001.0419

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Global Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks capital appreciation. It invests mainly in common stocks of U.S. and foreign issuers.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.63% 0.63%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.15% 0.15%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.78% 1.03%  
Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $80 $250 $435 $970  
...
Service Shares $106 $329 $571 $1,266  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund invests mainly in common stock of U.S. and foreign companies. The Fund can invest without limit in foreign securities and can invest in any country, including countries with developing or emerging markets. However, the Fund currently emphasizes its investments in developed markets such as the United States, Western European countries and Japan. The Fund does not limit its investments to companies in a particular market capitalization range, but primarily invests in mid- and large-cap companies.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest in at least three different countries (one of which may be the United States). Typically, the Fund invests in a number of different countries. The Fund is not required to allocate its investments in any set percentages in any particular countries.
The portfolio manager primarily looks for quality companies, regardless of domicile, that have sustainable growth. This investment approach combines a thematic approach to idea generation with bottom-up, fundamental company analysis. The portfolio manager seeks to identify secular changes in the world and looks for pockets of durable change that he believes will drive global growth for the next decade. These large scale structural themes are referred to collectively as MANTRA®: Mass Affluence, New Technology, Restructuring, and Aging. The portfolio manager does not target a fixed allocation with regard to any particular theme, and may choose to focus on various sub-themes within each theme. Within each sub-theme, the portfolio manager employs fundamental company analysis to select investments for the Fund’s portfolio. The economic characteristics he seeks include a combination of high return on invested capital, good cash flow characteristics, high barriers to entry, dominant market share, a strong competitive position, talented management, and
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balance sheet strength that the portfolio manager believes will enable the company to fund its own growth. These criteria may vary. The portfolio manager also considers how industry dynamics, market trends and general economic conditions may affect a company’s earnings outlook.
The portfolio manager has a long-term investment horizon of typically three to five years. He also has a contrarian buy discipline; he buys high quality companies that fit his investment criteria when their valuations underestimate their long-term earnings potential. For example, a company’s stock price may dislocate from its fundamental outlook due to a short-term earnings glitch or negative, short-term market sentiment, which can give rise to an investment opportunity. The portfolio manager monitors individual issuers for changes in earnings potential or other effects of changing market conditions that may trigger a decision to sell a security, but do not require a decision to do so.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of stocks of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Foreign securities are subject to special risks. Securities traded in foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than those traded in U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are usually not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to, which may make it difficult for the Fund to evaluate a foreign company’s operations or financial condition. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in that foreign currency and in the value of any income or distributions the Fund may receive on those investments. The value of foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, delays in the settlement of transactions, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, or other political and economic factors. In addition, due to the inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets, changes in political and economic factors in one country or region could adversely affect conditions in another country or region. Investments in foreign securities may also expose the Fund to time-zone arbitrage risk. Foreign securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares. As a result, the value of the Fund’s net assets may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares. At times, the Fund may emphasize investments in a particular country or region and may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that country or region. Foreign securities and foreign currencies held in foreign banks and securities depositories may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging markets are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges that may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed markets. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be
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significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, and governments of developing or emerging market countries may also be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. Such countries’ economies may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries also may be subject to social, political or economic instability. The value of developing or emerging market countries’ currencies may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets. Investments in developing or emerging market countries may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, including confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, restrictions on withdrawing assets from the country, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking. In addition, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs of certain developing or emerging market countries may be limited by local law. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative.
Eurozone Investment Risks. Certain of the regions in which the Fund may invest, including the European Union (EU), currently experience significant financial difficulties. Following the global economic crisis that began in 2008, some of these countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the European Central Bank (ECB) or other governments or institutions, and failure to implement reforms as a condition of assistance could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. In addition, countries that have adopted the euro are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit the ability to implement their own economic policies, and could voluntarily abandon, or be forced out of, the euro. Such events could impact the market values of Eurozone and various other securities and currencies, cause redenomination of certain securities into less valuable local currencies, and create more volatile and illiquid markets. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time.
Risks of Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have typically been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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. Small- and mid-cap companies’ securities may trade in lower volumes 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-cap 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-cap 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. Small- and mid-cap 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. It may take a substantial period of time before the Fund realizes a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if it realizes any gain at all.
Investing in Special Situations. At times, the Fund may seek to benefit from what it considers to be “special situations,” such as mergers, reorganizations, restructurings or other unusual events that are expected to affect a particular issuer. There is a risk that the expected change or event might not occur, which could cause the price of the security to fall, perhaps sharply. In that case, the investment might not produce the expected gains or might cause a loss. This is an aggressive investment technique that may be considered speculative.
Who is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking capital appreciation over the long term. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of short-term share price fluctuations that are typical for a fund that focuses on stocks and foreign securities. Because of its focus on long-term growth, the Fund may be more appropriate for investors with longer term investment goals. The Fund is not designed for investors needing current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the
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Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/GlobalFundVA
During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 22.81% (2nd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -20.00% (3rd Qtr 11).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 11/12/1990) (13.18)% 4.77% 11.23%  
...
Service Shares (inception 7/13/2000) (13.39)% 4.52% 10.94%  
...
MSCI All Country World Index (9.41)% 4.26% 9.46%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Manager. John Delano, CFA, has been portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since April 2017.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Common Stock. Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. Common stocks may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities. Over-the-counter securities may be less liquid than exchange-traded securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized, (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-sized companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy stocks and other equity securities of companies that are organized under the laws of a foreign country or that have a substantial portion of their operations or assets in a foreign country or countries, or that derive a substantial portion of their revenue or profits from businesses, investments or sales outside of the United States.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign
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  currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
The Fund may purchase American Depositary Shares (“ADS”) as part of American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) issuances, which are negotiable certificates issued by a U.S. bank representing a specified number of shares in a foreign stock traded on a U.S. exchange. ADS and ADRs are subject to some of the special considerations and risks that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad.
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, collectively known as “member states.” 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 member states, pushing some 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. Some of those countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the ECB, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or other governments and institutions to address those issues. Failure by one or more EU member states to implement reforms or attain a certain performance level imposed as a condition of assistance, or an insufficient level of assistance, could deepen or prolong the economic downturn which could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. By adopting the euro as its currency, members of the EMU are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit to some degree the ability to implement their own economic policies. Additionally, EMU member states could voluntarily abandon the euro or involuntarily be forced out of the euro, including by way of a partial or complete dissolution of the EMU. 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. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty
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about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time. Uncertainty relating to the withdrawal procedures and timeline may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of current trade agreements, as well as an increase in financial regulation of United Kingdom banks. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, market disruption in the EU and globally may have a negative effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. Additionally, the risks related to Brexit could be more pronounced if one or more additional EU member states seek to leave the EU.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
Growth Investing. Growth companies are companies whose earnings and stock prices are expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall market. Growth companies can be new companies or established companies that may be entering a growth cycle in their business. Their anticipated growth may come from developing new products or services or from expanding into new or growing markets. Growth companies may be applying new technologies, new or improved distribution methods or new business models that could enable them to capture an important or dominant market position. They may have a special area of expertise or the ability to take advantage of changes in demographic or other factors in a more profitable way. Newer growth companies generally tend to invest a large part of their earnings into research, development or capital assets. Although newer growth companies may not pay any dividends for some time, their stocks may be valued because of their potential for price increases.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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-cap companies may not have established markets for their products or services and may have fewer customers and product lines. They may have
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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-cap 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 in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “small-cap,” “mid-cap” or “large-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys the security of an individual company, that company may expand or contract and no longer fall within the designated capitalization range. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown or decreased beyond the Fund’s capitalization-range definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to adjust the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
The Fund currently focuses on securities of issuers that have mid-to-large capitalizations. They may pay higher dividends than small-capitalization companies and their stock prices have tended to be less volatile than securities of smaller issuers. However, the Fund can buy stocks of issuers in all capitalization ranges. At times the Sub-Adviser might increase the relative emphasis of securities of issuers in a particular capitalization range if the Sub-Adviser believes they offer greater opportunities for total return.
Investing in Special Situations. At times, the Fund may seek to benefit from what are considered to be “special situations,” such as mergers, reorganizations, restructurings or other unusual events, that are expected to affect a particular issuer. There is a risk that the anticipated change or event might not occur, which could cause the price of the security to fall, perhaps sharply. In that case, the investment might not produce the expected gains or might cause a loss. This is an aggressive investment technique that may be considered speculative.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Other Equity Securities. In addition to common stocks, the Fund can invest in other equity or “equity equivalents” securities such as preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights or warrants.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
A convertible security can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they
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  generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities are subject to credit and interest rate risk, however credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities.
Rights and Warrants. Warrants basically are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
Technology Stocks. The Fund may invest in technology companies and companies having significant investments in technology. These companies are particularly vulnerable to the risks of technology markets and economic events that affect those markets. The technology sector has historically exhibited great fluctuation in valuations. The stock prices of technology companies have been highly volatile, largely due to the rapid pace of product changes and developments within the sector. That price volatility may be expected to continue into the future.
Some technological developments may never become commercially successful or may rapidly become obsolete. Technologies that are dependent on consumer demand may also be more sensitive to changes in consumer spending patterns. Technology companies focusing on the information and telecommunications sectors may be adversely affected by international, federal and state regulations.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Options, futures and forward contracts are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund can use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting
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that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
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Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus shows the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
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The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% of the next $4.2 billion, and 0.58% of average annual net assets in excess of $5 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, was 0.63% of average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Manager. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by John Delano, CFA, who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Delano has been portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since April 2017.
Mr. Delano has been a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser since January 2017, and a Vice President and Director of Equity Research, Global Team, of the Sub-Adviser since October 2010. Prior to that, he served as Director of Equity Research, Growth Team, of the Sub-Adviser from April 2007 to October 2010. He is a portfolio manager and an officer of another portfolio in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset value for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade on an exchange and are valued based on the official closing price of each security’s principal exchange, or if not available, at the last sale price or fair value, as described below.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
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How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
14 Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA

 

Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA 15

 

Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
16 Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA 17

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $47.42 $35.02 $38.00 $39.50 $40.86  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.37 0.29 0.26 0.372 0.522  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (5.99) 12.50 (0.42) 1.382 0.442  
Total from investment operations (5.62) 12.79 (0.16) 1.75 0.96  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.47) (0.39) (0.38) (0.54) (0.46)  
Distributions from net realized gain (3.33) 0.00 (2.44) (2.71) (1.86)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (3.80) (0.39) (2.82) (3.25) (2.32)  
Net asset value, end of period $38.00 $47.42 $35.02 $38.00 $39.50  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value3 (13.18)% 36.66% 0.08% 3.94% 2.29%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,160,317 $1,479,034 $1,245,070 $1,406,001 $1,468,107  
Average net assets (in thousands) $1,401,836 $1,379,895 $1,270,049 $1,502,338 $1,532,383  
Ratios to average net assets:4            
Net investment income 0.81% 0.69% 0.75% 0.92%2 1.30%2  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.78% 0.76% 0.77% 0.76% 0.76%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%  
Total expenses6 0.78% 0.76% 0.77% 0.76% 0.76%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.78%7 0.76%7 0.77%7 0.76%7 0.76%7  
Portfolio turnover rate 16% 9% 14% 14% 13%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Net investment income per share, net realized and unrealized gain (loss) per share and the net investment income ratio include an adjustment for a prior period reclassification for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.
3. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
4. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
5. Less than 0.005%.
6. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.78%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.76%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.77%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.76%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.76%
7. Waiver was less than 0.005%.
18 Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $46.88 $34.64 $37.59 $39.10 $40.47  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.26 0.18 0.17 0.282 0.422  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (5.92) 12.36 (0.41) 1.362 0.422  
Total from investment operations (5.66) 12.54 (0.24) 1.64 0.84  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.36) (0.30) (0.27) (0.44) (0.35)  
Distributions from net realized gain (3.33) 0.00 (2.44) (2.71) (1.86)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (3.69) (0.30) (2.71) (3.15) (2.21)  
Net asset value, end of period $37.53 $46.88 $34.64 $37.59 $39.10  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value3 (13.39)% 36.32% (0.16)% 3.67% 2.06%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $911,848 $1,309,590 $1,065,147 $1,081,711 $1,204,379  
Average net assets (in thousands) $1,215,299 $1,207,002 $1,016,772 $1,219,501 $1,265,528  
Ratios to average net assets:4            
Net investment income 0.56% 0.43% 0.49% 0.70%2 1.05%2  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.03% 1.01% 1.02% 1.01% 1.01%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%  
Total expenses6 1.03% 1.01% 1.02% 1.01% 1.01%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.03%7 1.01%7 1.02%7 1.01%7 1.01%7  
Portfolio turnover rate 16% 9% 14% 14% 13%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Net investment income per share, net realized and unrealized gain (loss) per share and the net investment income ratio include an adjustment for a prior period reclassification for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.
3. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
4. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
5. Less than 0.005%.
6. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.03%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.01%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.02%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.01%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.01%
7. Waiver was less than 0.005%.
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA 19

 

        
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0485.001.0419

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks total return.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks total return.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees1 0.62% 0.62%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses      
...
Other Expenses of the Fund 0.26%   0.26%    
...
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.02%   0.02%    
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90% 1.15%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 (0.07)% (0.07)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 0.83% 1.08%  
1. “Management Fees” reflects the gross management fees paid to the Manager by the Fund and the gross management fee of the Subsidiary for its most recent fiscal year.
2. After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investment in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board. The Manager has also contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee it receives from the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue to be in effect for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary and may not be terminated unless approved by the Fund’s Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $85 $281 $494 $1,106  
...
Service Shares $111 $360 $630 $1,399  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 68% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund invests mainly in debt securities in three market sectors: Foreign governments and issuers, U.S. government securities, and lower-grade, high-yield securities of U.S. and foreign issuers (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). A debt security is a security representing money borrowed by the issuer that must be repaid. The terms of a debt security specify the amount of principal, the interest rate or discount, and the time or times at which payments are due.
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA 1

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests in each of the three market sectors. However, the Fund is not required to invest in all three sectors at all times, and the amount of its assets in each of the three sectors will vary over time. The Fund can invest up to 100% of its assets in any one sector at any time, if the Fund’s portfolio managers believe that it offers the best investment opportunity. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest a substantial portion of its assets in a number of different countries, including the U.S. The Fund is not required to allocate its investments in any set percentages in any particular countries. The Fund may also invest in securities outside of these three market sectors, as further described in the prospectus and the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
The Fund’s foreign investments may include debt securities issued by foreign governments or companies in both developed markets and emerging markets. The Fund has no limitations regarding the range of maturities of the debt securities it can buy or the market capitalization of the issuers of those securities.
The Fund’s debt investments typically include: U.S. and foreign government bonds and notes, collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and other mortgage-related securities, domestic and foreign corporate debt obligations, “structured” notes, “zero coupon” and “stripped” securities, participation interests in loans, investments in pooled investment entities (including those that invest in loans), and asset-backed securities. The Fund normally invests a substantial amount of its assets in lower-grade, high-yield debt securities, and can do so without limit.
The Fund can invest in investment grade or lower-grade, high-yield debt securities. “Investment grade” debt securities are rated in one of the top four rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations such as Moody’s Investors Service or S&P Global Ratings. The Fund may also invest in unrated securities, in which case the Fund’s Sub-Adviser, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., may internally assign ratings to certain of those securities, after assessing their credit quality, in investment-grade or below-investment-grade categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the Sub-Adviser’s credit analysis is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Although the Fund normally invests a substantial portion of its assets in lower-grade, high-yield debt securities, it can buy investment-grade debt securities without limit.
The Fund may also use certain types of derivative instruments for investment purposes or for hedging, including: options, futures, forward contracts, swaps, certain mortgage-related securities, “structured”notes, and event-linked bonds.
The Fund actively manages foreign currency exposure to seek to reduce risk and enhance return. To do so, the Fund may invest in foreign exchange derivatives, including forwards and options that reference foreign currencies, including currencies of developing and emerging market countries.
The portfolio managers analyze the overall investment opportunities and risks among the three market sectors in which the Fund invests and seek to moderate the special risks of investing in lower-grade, high-yield debt instruments and foreign securities by building a broadly diversified portfolio. The Fund’s diversification strategies are intended to help reduce share price volatility while seeking current income. The portfolio managers currently focus on securities offering a balance of income and total return, securities whose market prices tend to move in different directions (to seek overall portfolio diversification), and relative values among the three market sectors in which the Fund invests. These factors may vary in particular cases and may change over time.
The Fund may sell securities that the portfolio managers believe are no longer favorable based on these factors.
The Fund has established a Cayman Islands exempted company that is wholly-owned and controlled by the Fund (the “Subsidiary”). The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary invests primarily in Regulation S securities. Regulation S securities are securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that are issued through private offerings without registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933. The Fund applies its investment restrictions and compliance policies and procedures, on a look-through basis, to the Subsidiary. Since the Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in the Subsidiary, which may hold certain of the investments described in this prospectus, the Fund may be considered to be investing indirectly in those investments through its Subsidiary. Therefore, references in this prospectus to investments by the Fund also may be deemed to include the Fund’s indirect investments through the Subsidiary.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Debt Securities. Debt securities may be subject to interest rate risk, duration risk, credit risk, credit spread risk, extension risk, reinvestment risk, prepayment risk and event risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that when prevailing interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise; and when prevailing interest rates rise, the values of already-issued debt securities generally fall, and therefore, those debt securities may be worth less than the amount the Fund paid for them or valued them. When interest rates change, the values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities will be more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, in a rising interest rate environment than shorter-duration debt securities. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal
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payments on the security as they become due. If an issuer fails to pay interest or repay principal, the Fund’s income or share value might be reduced. Adverse news about an issuer or a downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating, for any reason, can also reduce the market value of the issuer’s securities. “Credit spread” is the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality. There is a risk that credit spreads may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price. Extension risk is the risk that an increase in interest rates could cause prepayments on a debt security to occur at a slower rate than expected. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer may redeem the security prior to the expected maturity or that borrowers may repay the loans that underlie these securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to the expected maturity. The Fund may need to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, reducing its income. Event risk is the risk that an issuer could be subject to an event, such as a buyout or debt restructuring, that interferes with its ability to make timely interest and principal payments and cause the value of its debt securities to fall.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity may decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books and could experience a loss. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices, particularly for lower-rated and unrated securities. An unexpected increase in redemptions by Fund shareholders (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by general market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. As of the date of this prospectus, interest rates in the U.S. are near historically low levels, increasing the exposure of bond investors to the risks associated with rising interest rates.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets. Under some circumstances, those concerns may cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. As compared to investment-grade debt securities, below-investment-grade debt securities (also referred to as “junk” bonds), whether rated or unrated, may be subject to greater price fluctuations and increased credit risk, as the issuer might not be able to pay interest and principal when due, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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. The market for below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Because the Fund can invest without limit in below-investment-grade securities, the Fund’s credit risks are greater than those of funds that buy only investment-grade securities.
Risks of Sovereign Debt. Sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse, or otherwise be unable, to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of such sovereign debt may be collected. A restructuring or default of sovereign debt may also cause additional impacts to the financial markets, such as downgrades to credit ratings, a flight to quality debt instruments, disruptions in common trading markets or unions, reduced liquidity, increased volatility, and heightened financial sector, foreign securities and currency risk, among others.
Risks of Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund can buy interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgages in the form of “pass-through” mortgage securities. They may be issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, or its agencies and instrumentalities, or by private issuers. The prices and yields of mortgage-related securities are determined, in part, by assumptions about the rate of payments of the underlying mortgages and are subject to the risks of unanticipated prepayment and extension risks. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to interest rate risk, and the market for mortgage-backed securities may be volatile at times and may be less liquid than the markets for other types of
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA 3

 

securities. The liquidity of mortgage-backed securities may change over time. Mortgage-related securities issued by private issuers are not U.S. government securities, and are subject to greater credit risks than mortgage-related securities that are U.S. government securities. In addition, a substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be subject to “forward roll” transactions (also referred to as “mortgage dollar rolls”) at any given time, which subject the Fund to the risk that market value of the mortgage-related securities involved might decline, and that the counterparty might default in its obligations.
Sector Allocation Risk. In allocating investments among its three principal market sectors, the Fund seeks to take advantage of the potential lack of performance correlation between those sectors. There is the risk that the evaluations regarding the sectors’ relative performance may be incorrect and those sectors may all perform in a similar manner under certain market conditions.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Foreign securities are subject to special risks. Securities traded in foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than those traded in U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are usually not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to, which may make it difficult for the Fund to evaluate a foreign company’s operations or financial condition. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in that foreign currency and in the value of any income or distributions the Fund may receive on those investments. The value of foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, delays in the settlement of transactions, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, or other political and economic factors. In addition, due to the inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets, changes in political and economic factors in one country or region could adversely affect conditions in another country or region. Investments in foreign securities may also expose the Fund to time-zone arbitrage risk. Foreign securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares. As a result, the value of the Fund’s net assets may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares. At times, the Fund may emphasize investments in a particular country or region and may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that country or region. Foreign securities and foreign currencies held in foreign banks and securities depositories may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging markets are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges that may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed markets. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, and governments of developing or emerging market countries may also be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. Such countries’ economies may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries also may be subject to social, political or economic instability. The value of developing or emerging market countries’ currencies may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets. Investments in developing or emerging market countries may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, including confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, restrictions on withdrawing assets from the country, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking. In addition, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs of certain developing or emerging market countries may be limited by local law. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative.
Eurozone Investment Risks. Certain of the regions in which the Fund may invest, including the European Union (EU), currently experience significant financial difficulties. Following the global economic crisis that began in 2008, some of these countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the European Central Bank (ECB) or other governments or institutions, and failure to implement reforms as a condition of assistance could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. In addition, countries that have adopted the euro are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit the ability to implement their own economic policies, and could voluntarily abandon, or be forced out of, the euro. Such events could impact the market values of Eurozone and various other securities and currencies, cause redenomination of certain securities into less valuable local currencies, and create more volatile and illiquid markets. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may involve significant risks. Derivatives may be more volatile than other types of investments, may require the payment of premiums, may increase portfolio turnover, may be illiquid, and may not perform as expected. Derivatives are subject to counterparty risk and the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from its investment, or a hedge might be unsuccessful. In addition, under new rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through
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a clearinghouse. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction with a clearinghouse may entail further risks and costs.
Risks of Investments in the Fund’s Wholly-Owned Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not subject to its investor protections (except as otherwise noted in this prospectus). As an investor in the Subsidiary, the Fund does not have all of the protections offered to investors by the Investment Company Act of 1940. However, the Subsidiary is wholly-owned and controlled by the Fund and managed by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. Therefore, the Fund’s ownership and control of the Subsidiary make it unlikely that the Subsidiary would take actions contrary to the interests of the Fund or its shareholders. In addition, changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands (where the Subsidiary is incorporated) could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information and could adversely affect the Fund. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could adversely affect the performance of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose certain taxes on exempted companies like the Subsidiary, including income and capital gains tax, among others. If Cayman Islands laws were changed to require such entities to pay Cayman Islands taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.
Risks of Investing in Regulation S Securities. Regulation S securities may be less liquid than publicly traded securities and may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if they were publicly traded. Accordingly, Regulation S securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses.
Risks of Senior Loans and Other Loans. The Fund may invest in loans, and in particular, in floating rate loans (sometimes referred to as “adjustable rate loans”) that hold (or in the judgment of the investment adviser, hold) a senior position in the capital structure of U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities that, under normal circumstances, allow them to have priority of claim ahead of (or at least as high as) other obligations of a borrower in the event of liquidation. These investments are referred to as “Senior Loans.” Loans may be collateralized or uncollateralized. They typically pay interest at rates that are reset periodically based on a reference benchmark that reflects current interest rates, plus a margin or premium. In addition to the risks typically associated with debt securities, such as credit and interest rate risk, senior loans are also subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior loan, which typically holds a senior position in the capital structure of a borrower, to presently existing or future indebtedness or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans. Loans usually have mandatory and optional prepayment provisions. If a borrower prepays a loan, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other loans or financial assets that may pay lower rates of return.
Loans are subject to the risk that the value of the collateral, if any, securing a loan may decline, be insufficient to meet the obligations of the borrower, or be difficult to liquidate. In the event of a default, the Fund may have difficulty collecting on any collateral and would not have the ability to collect on any collateral for an uncollateralized loan. In addition, the lenders’ security interest or their enforcement of their security under the loan agreement may be found by a court to be invalid or the collateral may be used to pay other outstanding obligations of the borrower. The Fund’s access to collateral, if any, may be limited by bankruptcy, other insolvency laws, or by the type of loan the Fund has purchased. As a result, a collateralized loan may not be fully collateralized and can decline significantly in value.
Loan investments are often issued in connection with highly leveraged transactions. Such transactions include leveraged buyout loans, leveraged recapitalization loans, and other types of acquisition financing. These obligations are subject to greater credit risks than other investments including a greater possibility that the borrower may default or enter bankruptcy.
Due to restrictions on transfers in loan agreements and the nature of the private syndication of loans including, for example, the lack of publicly-available information, some loans are not as easily purchased or sold as publicly-traded securities. Some loans are illiquid, which may make it difficult for the Fund to value them or dispose of them at an acceptable price when it wants to. The market price of investments in floating rate loans is expected to be less affected by changes in interest rates than fixed-rate investments because floating rate loans pay a floating rate of interest that will fluctuate as market interests rates do and therefore should more closely track market movements in interest rates.
Compared to securities and to certain other types of financial assets, purchases and sales of loans take relatively longer to settle. This extended settlement process can (i) increase the counterparty credit risk borne by the Fund; (ii) leave the Fund unable to timely vote, or otherwise act with respect to, loans it has agreed to purchase; (iii) delay the Fund from realizing the proceeds of a sale of a loan; (iv) inhibit the Fund’s ability to re-sell a loan that it has agreed to purchase if conditions change (leaving the Fund more exposed to price fluctuations); (v) prevent the Fund from timely collecting principal and interest payments; and (vi) expose the Fund to adverse tax or regulatory consequences.
To the extent the extended loan settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, such as the need to satisfy redemption requests, the Fund may hold cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks or other lenders. If the Fund undertakes such measures, the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds in a timely manner may be adversely affected, as well as the Fund’s performance.
If the Fund invests in a loan via a participation, the Fund will be exposed to the ongoing counterparty risk of the entity providing exposure to the loan (and, in certain circumstances, such entity’s credit risk), in addition to the exposure the Fund has to the creditworthiness of the borrower.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities, and in the event of fraud or misrepresentation by a borrower or an arranger, lenders will not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, as
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would be the case for bonds or stocks. Instead, in such cases, lenders generally rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement itself, and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
Risks of Investments in Other Investment Companies. As an investor in another investment company, the Fund would be subject to the risks of that investment company’s portfolio. Investing in another investment company may also involve paying a premium above the value of that investment company’s portfolio securities and is subject to a ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless it is believed that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any premiums, expenses or sales charges. The Investment Company Act of 1940 also imposes limitations on mutual funds’ investments in other investment companies.
The Fund may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are subject to all the risks of investing in investment companies as described above. Because ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and are traded like stocks listed on an exchange, shares of ETFs potentially may trade at a discount or a premium to their net asset value. Investments in ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund.
Who is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking total return from a fund that invests in a variety of domestic and foreign debt securities, including government and lower-grade debt securities. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of short-term share price fluctuations and the special credit risks that are typical for a fund that invests mainly in lower-grade fixed-income securities and foreign securities. The Fund is not designed for investors needing an assured level of current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table, compare with those of broad measures of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/GlobalStrategicIncomeFundVA
During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 10.00% (2nd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -5.55% (3rd Qtr 11).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 5/3/1993) (4.40)% 1.70% 5.45%  
...
Service Shares (inception 3/19/2001) (4.54)% 1.46% 5.18%  
...
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index 0.01% 2.52% 3.48%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. Hemant Baijal, the lead portfolio manager, has been a Vice President and portfolio manager of the Fund since January 2018. Krishna Memani has been a Vice President and portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2009.
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Ruta Ziverte has been a Vice President and portfolio manager of the Fund since January 2017. Chris Kelly, CFA has been a Vice President and portfolio manager of the Fund since January 2017.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities, including, but not limited to: U.S. and foreign government bonds and notes, collateralized mortgage obligations and other mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities, participation interests in loans, investments in pooled investment entities (including those that invest in loans), “structured” notes, corporate debt obligations, including below-investment-grade, high-yield domestic and foreign corporate debt obligations, and zero-coupon and stripped securities.
Debt securities may be subject to the following risks:
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that rising interest rates, or an expectation of rising interest rates in the near future, will cause the values of the Fund’s investments in debt securities to decline. The values of debt securities usually change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates rise, the values of outstanding debt securities generally fall, and those securities may sell at a discount from their face amount. Additionally, when interest rates rise, the decrease in values of outstanding debt securities may not be offset by higher income from new investments. When interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise and the Fund’s investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the Fund’s income. The values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities when interest rates change; thus, interest rate risk is usually greater for securities with longer maturities or durations. “Zero-coupon” or “stripped” securities may be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Interest rate changes may have different effects on the values of mortgage-related securities because of prepayment and extension risks.
Duration Risk. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities are more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, than shorter-duration debt securities, in a rising interest-rate environment. “Effective duration” attempts to measure the expected percentage change in the value of a bond or portfolio resulting from a change in prevailing interest rates. The change in the value of a bond or portfolio can be approximated by multiplying its duration by a change in interest rates. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to increase 3%. The duration of a debt security may be equal to or shorter than the full maturity of a debt security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. U.S. government securities generally have lower credit risks than securities issued by private issuers or certain foreign governments. If an issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund’s income might be reduced, and if an issuer fails to repay principal, the value of the security might fall and the Fund could lose the amount of its investment in the security. The extent of this risk varies based on the terms of the particular security and the financial condition of the issuer. A downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating or other adverse news about an issuer, for any reason, can reduce the market value of that issuer’s securities.
Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, if interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments on certain debt securities may occur at a slower rate than expected, and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall, the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds.
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Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities (in particular mortgage-related securities) are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, the issuer will redeem the security prior to the security’s expected maturity, or that borrowers will repay the loans that underlie these fixed-income securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to 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 the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. 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 repayment assumptions about those investments.
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.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to unusual volatility and illiquidity. Volatility and illiquidity may be more pronounced in the case of lower-rated and unrated securities. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity may be caused by a rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates), which are near historic lows in the U.S. and in other countries. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. An unexpected increase in Fund redemption requests (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. Similarly, the prices of the Fund’s holdings could be adversely affected if an investment account managed similarly to the Fund was to experience significant redemptions and that account was required to sell its holdings at an inopportune time. The liquidity of an issuer’s securities may decrease as a result of a decline in an issuer’s credit rating, the occurrence of an event that causes counterparties to avoid transacting with the issuer, or an increase in the issuer’s cash outflows, as well as other adverse market and economic developments. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns could cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets.
Following the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve sought to stabilize the economy by keeping the federal funds rate near zero percent. The Federal Reserve has also purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, pursuant to its monetary stimulus program known as “quantitative easing.” As the Federal Reserve has completed the tapering of its securities purchases pursuant to quantitative easing, it has recently raised interest rates on multiple occasions, and continues to consider future raises to the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates may rise and cause fixed-income investors to move out of fixed-income securities, which may also increase redemptions in fixed-income mutual funds.
In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
Credit Quality. The Fund can invest in securities that are rated or unrated. “Investment-grade” securities are those rated within the four highest rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations such as Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) (or, in the case of unrated securities, determined by the investment adviser to be comparable to securities rated investment-grade). “Below-investment-grade” securities are those that are rated below those categories, which are also referred to as “junk bonds.” While securities rated within the fourth highest category by S&P (meaning BBB+, BBB or BBB-) or by Moody’s (meaning Baa1, Baa2 or Baa3) are considered “investment-grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. If two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations have assigned different ratings to a security, the investment adviser uses the highest rating assigned.
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Credit ratings evaluate the expectation that scheduled interest and principal payments will be made in a timely manner. They do not reflect any judgment of market risk. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer. Rating organizations might not change their credit rating of an issuer in a timely manner to reflect events that could affect the issuer’s ability to make timely payments on its obligations. In selecting securities for its portfolio and evaluating their income potential and credit risk, the Fund does not rely solely on ratings by rating organizations but evaluates business, economic and other factors affecting issuers as well. Many factors affect an issuer’s ability to make timely payments, and the credit risk of a particular security may change over time. The investment adviser also may use its own research and analysis to assess those risks. If a bond is insured, it will usually be rated by the rating organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. The rating categories are described in an appendix to the Statement of Additional Information.
Unrated Securities. Because the Fund purchases securities that are not rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, the investment adviser may internally assign ratings to those securities, after assessing their credit quality and other factors, in categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the investment adviser’s credit analysis process is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Unrated securities are considered “investment-grade” or “below-investment-grade” if judged by the investment adviser to be comparable to rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade securities. The investment adviser’s rating does not constitute a guarantee of the credit quality. In addition, some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
In evaluating the credit quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the investment adviser will normally take into consideration a number of factors such as, if applicable, the financial resources of the issuer, the underlying source of funds for debt service on a security, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of the facility financed by the obligation, the degree of community support for the financed facility, the capabilities of the issuer’s management, and regulatory factors affecting the issuer or the particular facility.
A reduction in the rating of a security after the Fund buys it will not require the Fund to dispose of the security. However, the investment adviser will evaluate such downgraded securities to determine whether to keep them in the Fund’s portfolio.
Risks of Sovereign Debt. Sovereign debt instruments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay, refuse, or otherwise be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay, and there are no bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of such sovereign debt may be collected. A restructuring or default of sovereign debt may also cause additional impacts to the financial markets, such as downgrades to credit ratings, a flight to quality debt instruments, disruptions in common trading markets or unions, reduced liquidity, increased volatility, and heightened financial sector, foreign securities and currency risk, among others. Sovereign debt securities issued by certain “supra-national” entities, such as the World Bank, are subject to the risk that the supra-national entity is unable to repay its borrowings and that the governmental members of such supra-national entity are unable or unwilling to make capital contributions to enable the supra-national entity to do so.
U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities. Some of those securities are directly issued by the U.S. Treasury and are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. “Full faith and credit” means that the taxing power of the U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of principal on a security.
Some securities issued by U.S. government agencies, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through mortgage obligations (“Ginnie Maes”), are also backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Others are supported only by the credit of the agency that issued them (for example, obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, “Fannie Mae” bonds issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association and “Freddie Mac” obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). In September 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency placed the Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation into conservatorship.
U.S. Treasury Securities. Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for payment of interest and repayment of principal and have relatively little credit risk. Some of the securities that are issued directly by the U.S. Treasury are: Treasury bills (having maturities of one year or less when issued), Treasury notes (having maturities of from one to ten years when issued), Treasury bonds (having maturities of more than ten years when issued) and Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities (TIPS). While U.S. Treasury securities have relatively little credit risk, they are subject to price fluctuations from changes in interest rates prior to their maturity.
Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund can buy interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgages in the form of “pass-through” mortgage securities. They may be issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, or its agencies and instrumentalities, or by private issuers, such as corporations, banks, savings and loans, mortgage bankers and other non-governmental issuers. Mortgage-related securities may be issued in different series, each having different interest rates and maturities. The prices and yields of mortgage-related securities are determined, in part, by assumptions about the rate of payments of the underlying mortgages and are subject to the risks of unanticipated prepayment and extension
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risks. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to interest rate risk, and the market for mortgage-backed securities may be volatile at times and may be less liquid than the markets for other types of securities. The liquidity of mortgage-backed securities may change over time.
Mortgage-Related Government Securities. Mortgage-related securities that are U.S. government securities have collateral to secure payment of interest and principal. The collateral is either in the form of mortgage pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by a U.S. agency or instrumentality or mortgage loans insured by a U.S. government agency.
Mortgage-Related Private Issuer Securities. Primarily these investments include multi-class debt or pass-through certificates secured by mortgage loans, which may be issued by private issuers. Private-issuer mortgage-backed securities may include loans on residential or commercial properties. Mortgage-related securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), issued by private issuers are not U.S. government securities, making them subject to greater credit risks than U.S. government securities. Private issuer securities are subject to the credit risks of both the issuers and the underlying borrowers, although in some cases they may be supported by insurance or guarantees.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are fractional interests in pools of loans, receivables or other assets. They are issued by trusts or other special purpose vehicles and are collateralized by the loans, receivables or other assets that make up the pool. The trust or other issuer passes the income from the underlying asset pool to the investor.
Neither the Fund nor the investment adviser selects the loans, receivables or other assets that are included in the pools or the collateral backing those pools. Asset-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. These securities are subject to the risk of default by the issuer as well as by the borrowers of the underlying loans in the pool. Certain asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment and extension risks.
Forward Rolls. The Fund can enter into “forward roll” transactions (also referred to as “mortgage dollar rolls”) with respect to mortgage-related securities. In this type of transaction, the Fund sells a mortgage-related security to a buyer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security at a later date at a set price. 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. The Fund will bear the risk that the market value of the securities might decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase them or that the counterparty might default in its obligations.
A substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be subject to forward roll transactions at any given time.
Zero-Coupon and Stripped Securities. Some of the debt securities the Fund may invest in are zero-coupon or stripped securities. They may be issued by the U.S. government or private issuers. Zero-coupon securities pay no interest prior to their maturity date or another specified date in the future but are issued at a discount from their face value. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of a debt security. One component might receive all the interest and the other all the principal payments. The securities that are entitled to only the principal payments may be sold at a substantial discount from the market value of the initial security.
Zero-coupon and stripped securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates and may be subject to greater price fluctuations as a result of interest rate changes than interest bearing securities. The Fund may be required to pay a dividend of the imputed income on a zero-coupon or principal-only security at a time when it has not actually received the income. The values of interest-only and principal-only securities are also very sensitive to prepayments of underlying obligations. When prepayments tend to fall, the timing of the cash flows to principal-only securities increases, making them more sensitive to interest rates. The market for zero-coupon and stripped securities may be limited, making it difficult for the Fund to value them or dispose of its holdings quickly at an acceptable price.
High-Yield, Below-Investment-Grade Debt Securities. The Fund can invest in high-yield, below-investment-grade fixed-income securities of U.S. and foreign issuers. Those securities may include, among others: bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock, loan participation interests, “structured” notes, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. There are no limits on the amount of the Fund’s assets that can be invested in securities rated below-investment-grade. These securities are generally considered speculative.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. Below-investment-grade securities (also referred to as “junk bonds”) generally have higher yields than investment-grade securities but also have higher risk profiles. Below-investment-grade securities are considered to be speculative and entail greater risk 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 securities, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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 below-investment-grade securities. The major risks of below-investment-grade securities include:
Prices of below-investment-grade securities may be subject to extreme price fluctuations, even under normal market conditions. Adverse changes in an issuer’s industry and general economic conditions may have a greater impact on the prices of below-investment-grade securities than on the prices of investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers and may be more likely to default than investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may have more outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing.
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In the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, claims of other creditors may have priority over the claims of the holders of below-investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid than investment-grade securities, even under normal market conditions. There are fewer dealers in the below-investment-grade securities market and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of the Fund’s securities than is the case with securities trading in a more liquid market.
Below-investment-grade securities typically contain redemption provisions that permit the issuer of the securities containing such provisions to redeem the securities at its discretion. If the issuer redeems below-investment-grade securities, the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields and may lose income.
Below-investment-grade securities markets may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse credit, economic, or market conditions than investment-grade securities.
Price Arbitrage. Because the Fund can invest in below-investment-grade bonds that may trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Event-Linked Securities. The Fund may invest in “event-linked” securities (including “catastrophe” bonds and other insurance-linked securities) or in interests in trusts and other pooled entities that invest primarily or exclusively in event-linked securities, including entities sponsored and/or advised by the investment adviser or an affiliate. Event-linked securities 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 it 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, the Fund may lose all or a portion of its principal and additional interest.
Event-linked securities 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 securities 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 securities may expose the Fund 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 the Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. Event-linked securities are typically rated by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations and the Fund will only invest in event-linked securities that meet the credit quality requirements for the Fund.
Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy debt securities of issuers that are organized under the laws of a foreign country or that have a substantial portion of their operations or assets in a foreign country or countries, or that derive a substantial portion of their revenue or profits from businesses, investments or sales outside of the United States. The Fund may also invest in foreign securities that are represented in the United States securities markets by American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) or similar depository arrangements. The Fund’s foreign debt investments can be denominated in U.S. dollars or in foreign currencies. Debt securities issued by a foreign government may not be supported by the “full faith and credit” of that government.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and
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  brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
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Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
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, collectively known as “member states.” 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 member states, pushing some 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. Some of those countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the ECB, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or other governments and institutions to address those issues. Failure by one or more EU member states to implement reforms or attain a certain performance level imposed as a condition of assistance, or an insufficient level of assistance, could deepen or prolong the economic downturn which could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. By adopting the euro as its currency, members of the EMU are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit to some degree the ability to implement their own economic policies. Additionally, EMU member states could voluntarily abandon the euro or involuntarily be forced out of the euro, including by way of a partial or complete dissolution of the EMU. 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. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time. Uncertainty relating to the withdrawal procedures and timeline may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of current trade agreements, as well as an increase in financial regulation of United Kingdom banks. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, market disruption in the EU and globally may have a negative effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. Additionally, the risks related to Brexit could be more pronounced if one or more additional EU member states seek to leave the EU.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Options, futures, forward contracts, swaps, “structured” notes, certain mortgage-related securities and event-linked bonds are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund may use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
“Structured” Notes. “Structured” notes are specially-designed derivative debt instruments. The terms of the instrument may be determined or “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, a commodity or 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 obligor.
Risks of “Structured” Notes. Structured notes are subject to interest rate risk. They 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 structured note might pay less interest than the stated coupon payment or repay less principal upon maturity. The price of structured notes may be very volatile and they may have a limited trading market, making it difficult to value them or sell them at an acceptable price. In some cases, the Fund may enter into agreements with an issuer of structured notes to purchase a minimum amount of those notes over time.
In some cases, the Fund may invest in structured notes that pay an amount based on a multiple of the relative change in value of the underlying investment or index. This type of note increases the potential for income but at a greater risk of loss than a typical debt security of the same maturity and credit quality.
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Credit Default Swaps. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event with respect to an issuer, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal on its debt obligations, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument.
Generally, if the Fund buys credit protection using a credit default swap, the Fund will make fixed payments to the counterparty and if a credit event occurs with respect to the applicable issuer, the Fund will deliver the issuer’s defaulted bonds underlying the swap to the swap counterparty and the counterparty will pay the Fund par for the bonds. If the Fund sells credit protection using a credit default swap, generally the Fund will receive fixed payments from the counterparty and if a credit event occurs with respect to the applicable issuer, the Fund will pay the swap counterparty par for the issuer’s defaulted bonds and the swap counterparty will deliver the bonds to the Fund. Alternatively, a credit default swap may be cash settled and the buyer of protection would receive the difference between the par value and the market value of the issuer’s defaulted bonds from the seller of protection. If the credit default swap is on a basket of issuers, the notional value of the swap is reduced by the amount represented by that issuer, and the fixed payments are then made on the reduced notional value.
Risks of Credit Default Swaps. Credit default swaps are subject to credit risk of the underlying issuer and to counterparty credit risk. If the counterparty fails to meet its obligations, the Fund may lose money. Credit default swaps are also subject to the risk that the Fund will not properly assess the risk of the underlying issuer. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Interest Rate Swaps. In an interest rate swap, the Fund and another party exchange the right to receive interest payments. For example, they might swap the right to receive floating rate payments based on a reference rate for the right to receive fixed rate payments. An interest rate swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against changes in an interest rate. An interest rate swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument.
Risks of Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. An interest rate swap transaction could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference rate does not perform as anticipated. Interest rate swaps are also subject to counterparty risk. If the counterparty fails to meet its obligations, the Fund may lose money.
Total Return Swaps. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return on a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference during a specified period of time. The underlying asset might be a security or asset or basket of securities or assets or a non-asset reference such as a securities or other type of index. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference.
Risks of Total Return Swaps. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Total return swaps can have the potential for unlimited losses. They are also subject to counterparty risk. If the counterparty fails to meet its obligations, the Fund may lose money.
Volatility Swap Contracts. Volatility is a measure of the magnitude of fluctuations in the value of a security, currency, index or other financial instrument over a specified period of time. The Fund may enter into types of volatility swaps to hedge the volatility of a particular security, currency, index or other financial instrument, or to seek to increase its investment return. In volatility swaps, counterparties agree to buy or sell volatility at a specific level over a fixed period. For example, to hedge the risk that the value of an asset held by the Fund may fluctuate significantly over the Fund’s period of investment, the Fund might enter into a volatility swap pursuant to which it will receive a payment from the counterparty if the actual volatility of the asset over a specified time period is greater than a volatility rate agreed at the outset of the swap. Alternatively, if the investment adviser believes that a particular security, currency, index or other financial instrument will demonstrate more (or less) volatility over a period than the market’s general expectation, to seek to increase investment return the Fund might enter into a volatility swap pursuant to which it will receive a payment from the counterparty if the actual volatility of that underlying instrument over the period is more (or less) than the volatility rate agreed at the outset of the swap.
Risks of Volatility Swaps. Volatility swaps are subject to credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations), and the risk that the investment adviser is incorrect in its forecast of volatility for the underlying security, currency, index or other financial instrument that is the subject of the swap. If the investment adviser is incorrect in its forecast, the Fund would likely be required to make a payment to the counterparty under the swap. Volatility swaps can have the potential for unlimited losses.
Currency Swaps. In a currency swap, the Fund and another party agree to exchange different currencies at contract inception that are equivalent to a notional value, or agree to exchange periodic payments that are based on interest rates available in the respective currencies at contract inception. In an agreement to exchange currencies at contract inception, the contract also includes an agreement to reverse the exchange of the same notional values of those currencies at contract termination. Other currency swap contracts may not provide for exchanging the different currencies at all, and only for exchanging interest cash flows based on the notional value in the contract.
Risks of Currency Swaps. Currency swaps entail both credit risk and liquidity risk. A loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the agreement. It may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in losses to the Fund.
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Swap Transactions. Under recent financial reform legislation, certain types of swaps are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may affect counterparty risk and other risks faced by the Fund, and could result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. Swap agreements may be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market or executed on a swap execution facility and may be a bilateral contract or may be centrally cleared. In a cleared swap, immediately following execution of the swap agreement, the swap agreement is submitted for clearing to a clearing house, and the Fund faces the clearinghouse by means of an account with a futures commission merchant that is a member of the clearinghouse. Because the regulations regarding centrally cleared swaps are new and evolving, the scope of potential risks, including risks relating to the use of clearinghouses and futures commission merchants, is unclear.
Foreign Currency Forwards and Options. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future delivery at a fixed price. They are used to lock in the U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or to protect against possible losses from changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar against a foreign currency. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted, which could result in losses on those contracts and additional transaction costs. The use of forward contracts could reduce performance if there are unanticipated changes in currency prices. Options on foreign currencies may be used to try to protect against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign securities the Fund owns and against increases in the dollar cost of foreign securities the Fund anticipates buying. Options on foreign currencies are affected by the factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally. The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on foreign currency options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market, and there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly, the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Risks of Investing in Regulation S Securities. Regulation S securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers are offered through private offerings without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. Offerings of Regulation S securities may be conducted outside of the United States, and Regulation S securities may be relatively less liquid as a result of legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Although Regulation S securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the price realized from these sales could be less than that originally paid by the Fund. Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Accordingly, Regulation S securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses.
Investments in the Fund’s Wholly-Owned Subsidiary. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary invests primarily in Regulation S securities. Investments in the Subsidiary are expected to provide the Fund with exposure to Regulation S securities. In addition, changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information and could adversely affect the Fund. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could adversely affect the performance of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose certain taxes on exempted companies like the Subsidiary, including income and capital gains tax, among others. If Cayman Islands laws were changed to require such entities to pay Cayman Islands taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.
Under proposed regulations, the annual net profit realized by the Subsidiary and treated as received by the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be considered “qualifying income” for purposes of the Fund’s qualification as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M only to the extent such net profit is currently and timely distributed to the Fund. If such proposed regulations are finalized in their current form, the Fund generally expects that it would cause the Subsidiary to currently and timely distribute such amounts. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, it would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital
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gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, and the Fund could be required to pay substantial taxes, penalties and interest and to make substantial distributions, in order to re-qualify for such special treatment.
Special Considerations of Senior Loans and Other Loans. The Fund may invest in loans, and in particular, in floating rate loans (sometimes referred to as “adjustable rate loans”) that hold (or in the judgment of the investment adviser, hold) a senior position in the capital structure of U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities that, under normal circumstances, allow them to have priority of claim ahead of (or at least as high as) other obligations of a borrower in the event of liquidation. These investments are referred to as “Senior Loans.”
Senior loans typically have higher recoveries than other debt obligations that rank lower in the priority of payments for a particular debtor, because in most instances they take preference over those subordinated debt obligations, with respect to payment of interest and principal, and over stock. However, the Fund is still subject to the risk that the borrower under a loan will default on scheduled interest or principal payments and that the assets of the borrower to which the Fund has recourse will be insufficient to satisfy in full the payment obligations that the borrower has to the Fund. The risk of default will increase in the event of an economic downturn or, in the case of a floating rate loan, a substantial increase in interest rates (because the cost of the borrower’s debt service will increase as the interest rate on its loan is upwardly adjusted). The Fund may own a debt obligation of a borrower that becomes, or is about to become, insolvent. The Fund can also purchase debt obligations that are extended to a bankrupt entity (so called debtor-in-possession or ‘DIP’ financing) or debt obligations that are issued in connection with a restructuring of the borrower under bankruptcy laws.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities, and in the event of fraud or misrepresentation by a borrower or an arranger, lenders will not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, as would be the case for bonds or stocks. Instead, in such cases, lenders generally rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement itself, and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
How the Fund Invests in Loans. The Fund may invest in loans in one or more of three ways: the Fund may invest directly in a loan by acting as an original lender; the Fund may invest directly in a loan by purchasing a loan by an assignment; or the Fund may invest indirectly in a loan by purchasing a participation interest in a loan. The Fund may also gain exposure to loans indirectly using certain derivative instruments, which is described elsewhere in this prospectus.
Original Lender. The Fund can invest in loans, generally “at par” (a price for the loan equal approximately to 100% of the funded principal amount of the loan, minus any original issue discount) as an original lender. When the Fund is an original lender, it is entitled to receive a return at the full interest rate for the loan.
Loan Assignments. The Fund may also purchase a loan by assignment. In a loan assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to the rights and obligations of the assigning lender under the loan agreement and becomes a “lender” under the loan agreement, entitled to the same rights (including, but not limited to, enforcement or set-off rights) that are available to lenders generally. When the Fund buys an assignment, it may be required to pay a fee, or cede a portion of the interest and fees that accrued prior to settlement of the assignment, to the lender selling the assignment. Occasionally, the selling lender 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 interest and fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to. In addition, the Fund may be required to pay a transfer fee to the lending agent.
Participation Interests. The Fund may invest in participation interests in loans. Participation interests represent an undivided fractional interest in a loan. They are typically purchased from banks or dealers that have made the loan or have become members of the loan syndicate by purchasing the loan by assignment. When the Fund invests in a loan via a participation, the participation seller remains the lender of record under the loan agreement, and the Fund typically becomes the beneficial owner of the loan, and is entitled to receive from the participation seller any payments or other property or distributions received by the participation seller from or on behalf of the borrower of the loan. When the Fund buys a participation, it may be required to pay a fee, or cede a portion of the interest and fees that accrued prior to settlement of the participation, to the lender selling the participation. Occasionally, the selling lender pays a fee to the participant. If the Fund sells a participation, it may be required to pass along to a buyer a portion of any interest and fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to.
Recourse. When the Fund invests in loans as an original lender it will have direct recourse against the borrower in the event of a failure to pay scheduled principal or interest. When it purchases a loan by assignment, it typically succeeds to whatever rights the assigning lender had under the loan agreement, and will therefore be entitled to the same rights (including, but not limited to, enforcement or set-off rights) that are available to lenders generally. When the Fund buys a participation interest, it assumes the credit risk of the borrower and the counterparty risk of the lender selling the participation interest (and, in certain circumstances, such lender’s credit risk), and the terms of the participation may not entitle the Fund to all rights of a direct lender under the loan (for example, with respect to consent, voting or enforcement rights). Therefore, the Fund’s rights under a participation interest for a particular loan may be more limited than the rights of the original lender or an investor who acquires an assignment of that loan. Where the Fund invests in a loan via a participation, the Fund generally will have no right of direct recourse against the borrower or ability to otherwise directly enforce the terms of the loan agreement.
Investments in Pooled Investment Entities that Invest in Loans. The Fund can also buy interests in trusts and other pooled entities (including other investment companies) that invest primarily or exclusively in loan obligations, including entities sponsored or advised by the Manager or an affiliate. The Fund will be subject to the pooled entity’s credit risks as well as the credit risks of the underlying loans. The loans underlying these investments may include loans to foreign or U.S.
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borrowers, may be collateralized or uncollateralized and may be rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade or may be unrated. These investments are subject to the risk of default by the borrower, interest rate and prepayment risk, as well as credit risks of the pooled entity that holds the loan obligations.
Interest Rates and Floating or Adjustable Rate Loans. The loans in which the Fund invests typically have floating or adjustable interest rates. For that reason, the Sub-Adviser expects that when interest rates change, the values of these floating rate loans will fluctuate less than the values of fixed-rate debt securities, and that the net asset values of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate less than the shares of funds that invest mainly in fixed-rate debt obligations. However, the interest rates of some floating rate loans adjust only periodically. Between the times that interest rates on floating rate loans adjust (which is most often quarterly, but may be monthly, every six months, or some other period), the interest rates on those floating rate loans may not correlate to prevailing interest rates. That will affect the value of the loans and may cause the net asset values of the Fund’s shares to fluctuate.
The base rate usually is a benchmark that “floats” or changes to reflect current interest rates, such as:
the prime rate offered by one or more major U.S. banks (referred to as the “Prime Rate”), or
the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).
The applicable rate is defined in the loan agreement. Borrowers tend to select the base lending rate that results in the lowest interest cost, and the benchmark selected by a borrower for its loans may change from time to time (but the benchmark selected for a particular loan will remain the same for the life of that loan). If the benchmark interest rate on a floating rate loan changes, the rate payable to lenders under the floating rate loan will, in turn, change at the next scheduled adjustment date. If the benchmark rate increases, the Fund would earn interest at a higher rate on that floating rate loan after the next scheduled adjustment date. If the benchmark rate decreases, the Fund would earn interest at a lower rate on that floating rate loan after the next scheduled adjustment date.
The Fund may use interest rate swap agreements and other hedging practices to mitigate fluctuations in value when the interest rate under the loan is periodically reset.
The Fund may invest in loans having a fixed rate of interest; however, it is unlikely to do so because fixed rate loans are uncommon in the loan market generally.
Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on LIBOR, which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on a fund or the financial instruments in which a fund invests cannot yet be determined.
Prepayment. The Fund has no limits as to the maturity of loans it may purchase. Senior Loans in general have a stated term of between five and seven years, and other types of loans in which the Fund may invest may have shorter or longer maturities. Notwithstanding their stated maturity, loans may be prepaid prior to their stated terms for reasons including, but not limited to, high market demand for loans, refinancing by the borrower, mandatory prepayment requirements or desire of the borrower to repay outstanding debt. If a borrower prepays a loan, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other loans or financial assets that may pay lower rates of return. However, any prepayment and facility fees the Fund receives may help reduce any adverse impact on the Fund’s yield. Because the interest rates on floating rate loans adjust periodically, the Sub-Adviser believes that the Fund should generally be able to reinvest prepayments in floating rate loans that have yields similar to those that have been prepaid.
Subordination. Senior loans typically hold the most senior position in a borrower’s capital structure. They may include loans that hold the most senior position alone, loans that hold an equal ranking with other senior debt, or loans that are, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser, in the category of senior debt of the borrower. Borrowers typically are required contractually to pay the holders of senior loans before they pay the holders of subordinated debt and preferred or common shareholders and give the holders of senior secured loans a claim on some or all of the borrower’s assets that is senior to that of subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock of the borrower in the event that the borrower defaults or becomes bankrupt. Senior loans are subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior loan to presently existing or future indebtedness or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans.
That senior position in the borrower’s capital structure typically gives the holders of senior loans a claim on some or all of the borrower’s assets that is senior to that of subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock of the borrower in the event that the borrower defaults or becomes bankrupt. This means in the event the assets of the borrower are insufficient in value to satisfy all its creditors, senior debt will be satisfied in priority to debt that is subordinate to senior debt.
Lien Position. Loans that are collateralized may have multiple lenders or other creditors that take different lien positions. While second lien loan positions generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in first lien loan positions, second lien loan positions have the additional risk that if the borrower defaults on its obligations under the loan and the loan creditors enforce their security interest or if the borrower becomes bankrupt, the secured claims of the creditors in the first lien position will be satisfied prior to the secured claims of the creditors in the second lien position. If the cash flow and assets of the borrower are insufficient to satisfy both the first lien loans and the second lien loans in full, the creditors in the second lien position may not be satisfied in full. If a loan has first and second lien positions, typically the Fund will invest in the first lien position; however, it may invest in the second lien position. Second lien positions generally pay a higher margin than first lien positions to compensate second lien creditors for the greater risk they assume.
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Collateral. Loans may be fully collateralized with one or more of (1) working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory, (2) tangible fixed assets, such as real property, buildings and equipment, (3) intangible assets such as trademarks or patents, or (4) shares of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates. A loan agreement may or may not require the borrower to pledge additional collateral to secure a loan if the value of the initial collateral declines, or if additional assets are acquired by the borrower. Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of those assets would satisfy a borrower’s obligations under a loan in full. A borrower’s subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders or owners may provide collateral in the form of secured guarantees and/or security interests in assets that they own. However, the value of the collateral may decline after the Fund invests in the loan, particularly if the collateral consists of equity securities of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
If a borrower defaults, insolvency laws may limit the Fund’s access to the collateral, or the lenders may be unable to liquidate the collateral. A bankruptcy court might find that the lenders’ security interest or their enforcement of their security under the loan to be invalid, or a bankruptcy court may require the borrower to use the collateral to pay other outstanding obligations prior to satisfying the lenders in full. If the collateral consists of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries, the stock may lose all of its value in the event of a bankruptcy, which would leave the Fund exposed to greater potential loss. In addition, in the event of a borrower default on a collateralized loan, the Fund may receive assets other than cash or securities in full or partial satisfaction of the borrower’s obligation under the loan. Those assets may be illiquid, and the Fund might not be able to realize the benefit of the assets for legal, practical or other reasons. The Fund might hold those assets until the Sub-Adviser determines it is appropriate to dispose of them. If the collateral becomes illiquid or loses some or all of its value, the collateral may not be sufficient in value to compensate the Fund in full in the event of a default of scheduled interest or principal payments.
The Fund can invest in loans that are not secured by any specific collateral of the borrower. If the borrower is unable to pay interest or defaults in the payment of principal, there will be no collateral on which the Fund can foreclose. Therefore, these loans present greater risks than collateralized loans because the recourse of the Fund to the borrower’s assets in the case of a default would be as a general unsecured creditor. The Fund applies the same investment and credit standards to unsecured loans as to secured loans, except for collateral requirements.
Highly Leveraged Transactions and Insolvent Borrowers. The Fund can invest in loans made in connection with highly leveraged transactions. These transactions may include operating loans, leveraged buyout loans, leveraged capitalization loans and other types of acquisition financing. Those loans are subject to greater credit risks than other loans. Highly leveraged loans and loans in default also may be less liquid than other loans. If the Fund voluntarily or involuntarily sold those types of loans, it might not receive the full value it expected.
The Fund can also invest in loans of borrowers that are experiencing, or are likely to experience, financial difficulty. In addition, the Fund can invest in loans of borrowers that have filed for bankruptcy protection or that have had involuntary bankruptcy petitions filed against them by creditors. Various laws enacted for the protection of debtors may apply to loans. A bankruptcy proceeding against a borrower could delay or limit the ability of the Fund to collect the principal and interest payments on that borrower’s loans. If a lawsuit is brought by creditors of a borrower under a loan, a court or a trustee in bankruptcy could take certain actions that would be adverse to the Fund.
Restrictive Loan Covenants. Borrowers must comply with various restrictive covenants typically contained in loan agreements. They may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to stockholders, provisions requiring the borrower to maintain specific financial ratios, and limits on total debt. They may include requirements that the borrower prepay the loan with any free cash flow. A break of a covenant that is not waived by the agent bank (or the lenders) is normally an event of default that provides the agent bank or the lenders the right to call the outstanding amount on the loan. If a lender accelerates the repayment of a loan because of the borrower’s violation of a restrictive covenant under the loan agreement, the borrower might default in payment of the loan.
Limited Secondary Market for Loans. Due to restrictions on transfers in loan agreements and the nature of the private syndication of loans, some loans are not as easily purchased or sold as publicly-traded securities. As a result, some loans are illiquid, which means that the Fund may be limited in its ability to sell those loans at an acceptable price when it wants to in order to generate cash, avoid losses or to meet repurchase requests. The market for illiquid financial assets is more volatile than the market for liquid investments and it may be more difficult to obtain accurate valuations for the Fund’s investments.
Possible Limited Availability of Loans. Direct investments in loans and, to a lesser degree, investments in participation interests in or assignments of loans may be limited. The limited availability may be due to a number of factors. Direct lenders may allocate only a small number of loans to new investors, including the Fund. There may be fewer loans available for investment that meet the Fund’s credit standards, particularly in times of economic downturns. Also, lenders or agents may have an incentive to market the less desirable loans to investors such as the Fund while retaining attractive loans for themselves. This would reduce the amount of attractive investments for the Fund. If market demand for loans increases, the interest paid by loans that the Fund holds may decrease.
Delayed Settlement. Compared to securities and to certain other types of financial assets, purchases and sales of loans take relatively longer to settle. This is partly due to the nature of loans, which require a written assignment agreement and various ancillary documents for each transfer, and frequently require discretionary consents from both the borrower and the administrative agent. In addition, dealers frequently insist on matching their purchases and sales, which can lead to delays in the Fund’s settlement of a purchase or sale in circumstances where the dealer’s corresponding transaction with another party is delayed. Dealers will also sometimes sell loans short, and hold their trades open for an indefinite period
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while waiting for a price movement or looking for inventory to purchase. This extended settlement process can (i) increase the counterparty credit risk borne by the Fund; (ii) leave the Fund unable to timely vote, or otherwise act with respect to, loans it has agreed to purchase; (iii) delay the Fund from realizing the proceeds of a sale of a loan; (iv) inhibit the Fund’s ability to re-sell a loan that it has agreed to purchase if conditions change (leaving the Fund more exposed to price fluctuations); (v) prevent the Fund from timely collecting principal and interest payments; and (vi) expose the Fund to adverse tax or regulatory consequences. To the extent the extended loan settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, such as the need to satisfy redemption requests, the Fund may hold cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks or other lenders. If the Fund undertakes such measures, the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds in a timely manner, as well as the Fund’s performance, may be adversely affected.
Credit Quality Standards for Loans. Rating organizations, such as S&P or Moody’s, rate debt obligations by rating the issuer, after evaluating the issuer’s financial soundness. Generally, the lower the investment rating, the more risky the investment. Debt securities rated below “BBB-” by S&P or “Baa3” by Moody’s are commonly referred to as “high risk” securities or, in the case of bonds, “junk bonds.” Loans rated “B” are below investment grade and are regarded by rating organizations as predominantly speculative with respect to the borrower’s ability to repay interest and principal when due over a long period. While securities rated Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P are considered to be “investment grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. The Fund may invest in loans that are rated both investment grade and below-investment grade by different rating organizations. An appendix to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes the definitions of the rating categories of the principal rating organizations.
Many loans are not rated by rating organizations. The lack of a rating does not necessarily imply that a loan is of lesser investment quality.
While the Fund expects to have access to financial and other information regarding the borrower that has been made available to the lenders under a loan, it may not have such information in connection with participation interests and certain loan assignments. Additionally, the amount of public information available with respect to loans generally will be less extensive than what is available for exchange-listed or otherwise registered securities.
The Sub-Adviser will normally seek to avoid receiving material, non-public information about the issuers of loans being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser’s decision not to receive material, non-public information under normal circumstances may place the Fund at a disadvantage relative to other investors in loans, and could adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance. In certain cases, the Sub-Adviser may nevertheless receive material, non-public information regarding loans, and its ability to trade in such loans for the account of the Fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.
Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Fund can also invest in the securities of other investment companies, which can include open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts and business development companies subject to the limits of the Investment Company Act of 1940. One reason the Fund might do so is to gain exposure to segments of the markets represented by another fund, at times when the Fund might not be able to buy the particular type of securities directly. As a shareholder of an investment company, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless it is believed that the potential benefits of the investment justify the expenses. The Fund’s investments in the securities of other investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to those types of investments under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). The Fund can invest in ETFs, which are typically open-end funds or unit investment trusts listed on a stock exchange and traded like stocks. The Fund might do so as a way of gaining exposure to securities represented by the ETF’s portfolio at times when the Fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or it might do so in order to equitize cash positions. As a shareholder of an ETF, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that ETF’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. At the same time, the Fund would bear its own management fees and expenses. Similar to a mutual fund, the value of an ETF can fluctuate based on the prices of the securities owned by the ETF. Because ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and traded like stocks listed on an exchange, shares of ETFs potentially may trade at a discount or a premium to their net asset value. An active market for the ETF may not develop. Additionally, market trading in the ETF may be halted under certain circumstances. Furthermore, investments in ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. The Fund’s investments in the shares of ETFs are subject to the limits that apply to investments in investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any exemptive relief therefrom. The Fund does not intend to invest in ETFs unless the investment adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the expenses.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies,
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or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Common Stock and Other Equity Investments. Equity securities include common stock, preferred stock, rights, warrants and certain securities that are convertible into common stock. Equity investments may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of equity securities generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry) their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for that type of security.
Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
Convertible securities can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. The conversion feature of convertible securities generally causes the market value of convertible securities to increase when the value of the underlying common stock increases, and to fall when the stock price falls. The market value of a convertible security reflects both its “investment value,” which is its expected income potential, and its “conversion value,” which is its anticipated market value if it were converted. If its conversion value exceeds its investment value, the security will generally behave more like an equity security, in which case its price will tend to fluctuate with the price of the underlying common stock or other security. If its investment value exceeds its conversion value, the security will generally behave more like a debt security, in which case the security’s price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Most convertible securities will vary, to some extent, with changes in the price of the underlying common
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA 21

 

  stock and are therefore subject to the risks of that stock. In addition, convertible securities may be subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. However, credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities. Some convertible preferred stocks have a mandatory conversion feature or a call feature that allows the issuer to redeem the stock on or prior to a mandatory conversion date. Those features could diminish the potential for capital appreciation on the investment.
Municipal Securities. The Fund may invest in municipal securities. Municipal securities are fixed-income securities primarily issued by states, cities, counties and other governmental entities in the United States to raise money for a variety of public or private purposes, including financing state or local governments, financing specific projects, or financing public facilities. The interest received from most municipal bonds is exempt from federal, state or local income taxes in the municipalities where the bonds are issued, however the Fund can invest in municipal securities because the investment adviser believes they offer attractive yields relative to the yields and risks of other debt securities, rather than to seek tax-exempt interest income for distribution to shareholders.
Risks of Investing in Municipal Securities. Municipal securities may be subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. The value of the Fund’s investment in municipal securities will be highly sensitive to events affecting the fiscal stability of the states, municipalities, agencies, authorities and other instrumentalities that issue the municipal securities. In particular, economic, legislative, regulatory or political developments affecting the ability of a state’s issuers to pay interest or repay principal may significantly affect the value of the Fund’s investments in these securities. These developments can include or arise from, for example, insolvency of an issuer, uncertainties related to the tax status of municipal securities, tax base erosion, state constitutional limits on tax increases, budget deficits and other financial difficulties, or changes in the credit ratings assigned to the state’s municipal issuers. Other occurrences, such as catastrophic natural disasters, can also adversely affect a state’s fiscal stability. National economic crises, such as occurred in the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, may cause deterioration in the economies of many states, resulting in an adverse impact on states’ spending, revenues and state budgets that can cause many states to operate under significant financial stress.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions. The Fund may purchase securities on a “when-issued” basis and may purchase or sell such securities on a “delayed-delivery” basis. When-issued and delayed-delivery securities are purchased at a price that is fixed at the time of the transaction, with payment and delivery of the security made at a later date. When purchasing securities in this manner, during the period between purchase and settlement, the Fund makes no payment to the issuer (or seller) of the security and no interest accrues to the Fund from the investment.
The securities are subject to changes in value from market fluctuations during the period until settlement and the value of the security on the delivery date may be more or less than the Fund paid. The Fund may lose money if the value of the security declines below the purchase price.
Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase transaction, a Fund buys a security and simultaneously sells it back 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 investment adviser from time to time. Repurchase agreements must be fully collateralized. However, if the seller fails to pay the repurchase price on the delivery date, a Fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay in its ability to do so. If the default on the part of the seller is due to its bankruptcy, a Fund’s ability to liquidate the collateral may be delayed or limited.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Distressed Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities issued by companies that are involved in reorganizations, financial restructurings or bankruptcy. Such distressed debt securities are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in below-investment-grade debt securities. The Fund will generally not receive interest payments on the distressed securities and may also incur costs to protect its investment. In addition, distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise
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other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Defaulted Securities. The Fund may purchase defaulted securities if the investment adviser believes that there is potential for resumption of income payments or realization of income on the sale of the securities or the collateral or other advantageous developments appear likely in the near future. Notwithstanding the investment adviser’s belief about the resumption of income payments or realization of income, the purchase of defaulted securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of a substantial or complete loss of the Fund’s investment.
Subordinated Debt Obligations. The Fund can purchase fixed-rate and adjustable-rate subordinated debt obligations issued by U.S. or foreign entities. The Fund has no requirements as to the maturity of the debt securities it can buy, or as to the market capitalization range of the issuers of those securities. The Fund can invest a variable amount of its net assets in investments, including subordinated debt obligations, rated below “B.” See “Credit Quality Standards for Senior Loans”
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above. Subordinated debt obligations do not have the same level of priority as Senior Loans and accordingly involve more risk than Senior Loans. If a borrower becomes insolvent, the borrower’s assets may be insufficient to meet its obligations to the holders of its subordinated debt.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory
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agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% on the next $200 million, 0.50% of the next $4 billion, and 0.48% of average annual net assets over $5 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, was 0.62% of average annual net assets, before any Subsidiary advisory fees or any applicable waivers.
The Manager also receives advisory fees directly from the Fund’s wholly-owned Subsidiary. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee it receives from the Subsidiary. This waiver will continue to be in effect for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, and may not be terminated unless termination is approved by the Fund’s Board.
After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees indirectly incurred through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by Hemant Baijal, the lead portfolio manager, Krishna Memani, Ruta Ziverte and Chris Kelly, CFA, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Baijal has been a portfolio manager and a Vice President of the Fund since January 2018. Mr. Memani has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since April 2009. Ms. Ziverte has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since January 2017. Mr. Kelly has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since January 2017.
Mr. Baijal has been a Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2016 and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser since July 2011. He was a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from July 2011 through January 2016 and Co-Head of the Global Debt Team since January 2015. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Baijal co-founded Six Seasons Global Asset Management, where he served as Partner and Portfolio Manager from January 2009 to December 2010. Mr. Baijal was also a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Aravali Partners, LLC from September 2006 to December 2008, and a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Havell Capital Management, LLC from November 1996 to August 2006. Mr. Baijal is a portfolio manager and an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Memani has been President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2013, Executive Vice President of the Manager since January 2014 and Chief Investment Officer of the OppenheimerFunds advisory entities since January 2014. He was Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser from January 2013 to December 2013; Head of the Investment Grade Fixed Income Team of the Sub-Adviser from March 2009 to January 2014; Director of Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser from October 2010 through December 2012 and Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from March 2009 through December 2012. He was also Senior Vice President of OFI Global Institutional, Inc. from April 2009 through December 2012. Mr. Memani is a portfolio manager and an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Ms. Ziverte has been a Senior Portfolio Manager for the Sub-Adviser’s Multi-Sector Fixed Income Team and a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since July 2015. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, she was Senior Vice President and high yield portfolio manager at GE Asset Management from June 2009 to June 2015. Ms. Ziverte is a portfolio manager and an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Kelly has been a Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2016 and a Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser and Co-Head of the Global Debt Team since March 2015. He was a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from March 2015 through January 2016. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Kelly was at BlackRock Inc., where he was Deputy Head of Emerging Markets Fixed Income from June 2012 to January 2015. Mr. Kelly was also a portfolio manager and Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Emerging Markets at Fisher Francis Trees and Watts, a BNP Paribas Investment Partner, from February 2008 to April 2012. Mr. Kelly is a portfolio manager and an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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ABOUT THE FUND’S WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY. The Subsidiary is an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands and is overseen by its own board of directors. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, and it is currently expected that shares of the Subsidiary will not be sold or offered to other investors.
The Manager is responsible for the Subsidiary’s day-to-day business pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Subsidiary and the Sub-Adviser selects the Subsidiary’s investments pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager. Under these agreements, the Manager and Sub-Adviser provide the Subsidiary with the same type of management and sub-advisory services, under the same terms, as are provided to the Fund. The investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements regarding the Subsidiary provide for their automatic termination upon the termination of the Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement or Sub-Advisory Agreement, respectively. The Subsidiary has also entered into separate contracts for the provision of custody, transfer agency, and audit services with the same service providers as those engaged by the Fund.
The Subsidiary is managed pursuant to compliance policies and procedures that are the same, in all material respects, as those adopted by the Fund. As a result, in managing the Subsidiary’s portfolio, the Manager and Sub-Adviser are subject to the same investment policies and restrictions that apply to the management of the 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. The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer oversees implementation of the Subsidiary’s policies and procedures, and makes periodic reports to the Fund’s Board regarding the Subsidiary’s compliance with its policies and procedures.
The Fund pays the Manager a fee for its services, and the Manager pays a sub-advisory fee to the Sub-Adviser. The Manager has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Manager by the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Fund invests in the Subsidiary, and may not be terminated by the Manager unless the Manager first obtains the prior approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The rate of the management fee paid directly or indirectly by the Fund, calculated by aggregating the fees paid to the Manager by the Fund (after the waiver described above) and the Subsidiary, may not increase without the prior approval of the Board and a majority of the Fund’s shareholders. The Subsidiary also bears the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the custody, transfer agency, and audit services that it receives. The Fund expects that the expenses borne by the Subsidiary will not be material in relation to the value of the Fund’s assets. It is also anticipated that the Fund’s expenses will be reduced to a certain extent as a result of the payment of such expenses at the Subsidiary level. It is therefore expected that the Fund’s investment in the Subsidiary will not result in the Fund’s paying duplicative fees for similar services provided to the Fund and Subsidiary.
The consolidated financial statements of the Subsidiary and the Fund are included in the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports provided to shareholders. Copies of the reports are provided without charge upon request as indicated on the back cover of this prospectus. Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about the organization and management of the Subsidiary.
26 Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

 

More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio investments determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset values for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade in the over-the-counter market rather than on a securities exchange and are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices as determined by a pricing service or by utilizing evaluated prices provided by a pricing service. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, but the Fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lot trades.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA 27

 

foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
Pricing of the Subsidiary. The valuation procedures described above for the Fund are the same used in valuing the Subsidiary’s portfolio investments and shares of the Subsidiary.
How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may
28 Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

 

review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA 29

 

Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
30 Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

 

Consolidated Financial Highlights
The Consolidated Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s consolidated financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA 31

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $5.13 $4.94 $4.88 $5.30 $5.38  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.25 0.22 0.20 0.23 0.26  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.47) 0.09 0.11 (0.34) (0.11)  
Total from investment operations (0.22) 0.31 0.31 (0.11) 0.15  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.25) (0.12) (0.25) (0.31) (0.23)  
Net asset value, end of period $4.66 $5.13 $4.94 $4.88 $5.30  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (4.40)% 6.27% 6.53% (2.26)% 2.84%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $346,707 $393,337 $401,308 $429,710 $586,951  
Average net assets (in thousands) $385,157 $400,945 $416,054 $510,765 $707,673  
Ratios to average net assets:3,4            
Net investment income 5.07% 4.40% 4.00% 4.51% 4.73%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.88% 0.82% 0.79% 0.76% 0.74%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%  
Total expenses6 0.88% 0.82% 0.79% 0.76% 0.74%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.81% 0.76% 0.74% 0.73% 0.71%  
Portfolio turnover rate7 68% 74% 80% 79% 93%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Includes the Fund’s share of the allocated expenses and/or net investment income from the master funds.
5. Less than 0.005%.
6. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.90%  
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.83%  
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.80%  
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.77%  
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.75%  
7. The portfolio turnover rate excludes purchase and sale transactions of To Be Announced (TBA) mortgage-related securities as follows:
   
  Purchase Transactions Sale Transactions
Year Ended December 31, 2018 $2,370,164,194 $2,399,236,376
Year Ended December 31, 2017 $2,271,944,419 $2,153,905,799
Year Ended December 31, 2016 $1,798,210,272 $1,766,445,159
Year Ended December 31, 2015 $1,225,140,927 $1,266,426,777
Year Ended December 31, 2014 $1,348,552,640 $1,337,346,996
32 Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $5.27 $5.07 $5.00 $5.42 $5.50  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.24 0.22 0.19 0.23 0.25  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.48) 0.08 0.12 (0.35) (0.11)  
Total from investment operations (0.24) 0.30 0.31 (0.12) 0.14  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.23) (0.10) (0.24) (0.30) (0.22)  
Net asset value, end of period $4.80 $5.27 $5.07 $5.00 $5.42  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (4.54)% 6.04% 6.27% (2.49)% 2.49%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,081,833 $1,277,689 $1,284,022 $1,375,143 $1,551,247  
Average net assets (in thousands) $1,196,988 $1,295,999 $1,332,343 $1,496,350 $1,646,615  
Ratios to average net assets:3,4            
Net investment income 4.82% 4.15% 3.75% 4.26% 4.48%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.13% 1.07% 1.04% 1.01% 0.99%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%5 0.00%  
Total expenses6 1.13% 1.07% 1.04% 1.01% 0.99%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.06% 1.01% 0.99% 0.98% 0.96%  
Portfolio turnover rate7 68% 74% 80% 79% 93%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Includes the Fund’s share of the allocated expenses and/or net investment income from the master funds.
5. Less than 0.005%.
6. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.15%  
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.08%  
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.05%  
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.02%  
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.00%  
7. The portfolio turnover rate excludes purchase and sale transactions of To Be Announced (TBA) mortgage-related securities as follows:
   
  Purchase Transactions Sale Transactions
Year Ended December 31, 2018 $2,370,164,194 $2,399,236,376
Year Ended December 31, 2017 $2,271,944,419 $2,153,905,799
Year Ended December 31, 2016 $1,798,210,272 $1,766,445,159
Year Ended December 31, 2015 $1,225,140,927 $1,266,426,777
Year Ended December 31, 2014 $1,348,552,640 $1,337,346,996
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited consolidated financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0265.001.0419

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Government Money Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA is a money market mutual fund. It seeks income consistent with stability of principal.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Class:
Non-Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks income consistent with stability of principal.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.42%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None  
...
Other Expenses 0.14%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.56%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement* (0.06)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 0.50%  
* After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding any applicable dividend expense, taxes, interest and fees from borrowing, any subsidiary expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage commissions, unusual and infrequent expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to the annual rate of 0.50% as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $51 $174 $308 $698  
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund is a money market fund that intends to qualify as a “government money market fund,” in connection with the amendments adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to Rule 2a-7 and other rules governing money market funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. As a government money market fund, the Fund must invest at least 99.5% of its total assets in cash, government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are “collateralized fully” (i.e., backed by cash or government securities). The securities in which the Fund invests may have fixed, floating or variable interest rates. The Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated government money market funds. Additionally, as a government money market fund, the Fund is not required to impose a liquidity fee and/or temporary redemption gate if the Fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below 30% of its total assets. While the Fund’s Board may elect to subject the Fund to liquidity fee and gate requirements in the future, it has not elected to do so at this time.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings, if any, for investment purposes) in government securities and repurchase agreements that are collateralized by government securities. The 80% investment policy is a non-fundamental investment policy and will not be changed without 60 days’ advance notice to shareholders.
Principal Risks. All investments carry risks to some degree. The Fund’s investments are subject to changes in their value from a number of factors. However, the Fund’s investments must meet the special rules under federal law for money market
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA 1

 

funds. Those requirements include maintaining high credit quality, a short average maturity and diversification of the Fund’s investments among issuers. Those provisions are designed to help minimize credit risks, to reduce the effects of changes in prevailing interest rates and to reduce the effect on the Fund’s portfolio of a default by any one issuer. Since income on short-term securities tends to be lower than income on longer-term debt securities, the Fund’s yield will likely be lower than the yield on longer-term fixed-income funds.
Even so, there are risks that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall. Also, there is the risk that the value of your investment could be eroded over time by the effects of inflation, or that poor security selection could cause the Fund to underperform other funds that have a similar objective. If there is an unexpectedly high demand for the redemption of Fund shares, the Fund might need to sell portfolio securities prior to their maturity, possibly at a loss. As a result, there is a risk that the Fund’s shares could fall below $1.00 per share.
You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time.
Risks of Money Market Instruments. Money market instruments may be subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, extension risk, reinvestment risk, prepayment risk, and event risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that when prevailing interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise; and when prevailing interest rates rise, the values of already-issued debt securities generally fall, and they may be worth less than the amount the Fund paid for them. When interest rates change, the values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. If an issuer fails to pay interest or repay principal, the Fund’s income or share value might be reduced. Adverse news about an issuer or a downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating, for any reason, can also reduce the market value of the issuer’s securities. Extension risk is the risk that an increase in interest rates could cause principal payments on a debt security to be repaid at a slower rate than expected. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer may redeem the security prior to the expected maturity or that borrowers may repay the loans that underlie these securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to the expected maturity. The Fund may need to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, reducing its income. Event risk is the risk that an issuer could be subject to an event, such as a buyout or debt restructuring, that interferes with its ability to make timely interest and principal payments and cause the value of its debt securities to fall.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity may decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell securities at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books and could experience a loss. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of securities to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the securities’ prices, particularly for lower-rated and unrated securities. An unexpected increase in redemptions by Fund shareholders, (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares) which may be triggered by general market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable distributions, if applicable. As of the date of this prospectus, interest rates in the U.S. are near historically low levels, increasing the exposure of bond investors to the risks associated with rising interest rates.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets. Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns could cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Government Securities Risk. The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) or
2 Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA

 

other Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs)). U.S. government securities are subject to market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. U.S. government securities include zero coupon securities, which tend to be subject to greater market risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities.
Risks of Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase transaction, the Fund buys a security and simultaneously sells it back to the vendor for delivery at a future date. If the seller fails to pay the repurchase price on the delivery date, the Fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay in its ability to do so. If the default on the part of the seller is due to its bankruptcy, the Fund’s ability to liquidate the collateral may be delayed or limited.
Net Asset Value Risk. There is no assurance that the Fund will maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share on a continuous basis. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s affiliates will purchase distressed assets from the Fund, make capital infusions, enter into capital support agreements or take other actions to ensure that the Fund maintains a net asset value of $1.00 per share. The failure of any money market fund to maintain a stable net asset value, could place increased redemption pressure on other money market funds, including the Fund.
Regulatory Risk. Changes to the monetary policy by the Federal Reserve or other regulatory actions could expose fixed income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity and reduced liquidity, which may impact the Fund’s operations, universe of potential investment options, and return potential.
Yield Risk. During periods of extremely low short-term interest rates, the Fund may not be able to maintain a positive yield. The rate of the Fund’s income will vary from day to day, generally reflecting changes in short-term interest rates and in the fixed-income securities market. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Cash Risk. As a government money market fund, the Fund will likely hold some of its assets in cash, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Maintaining cash positions may also subject the Fund to additional risks and costs, such as increased exposure to the custodian bank holding the assets and any fees imposed for large cash balances.
Risk of Investing in Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. Some fixed-income securities have variable or floating interest rates that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the securities. The rate adjustment intervals may be regular and range from daily up to annually, or may be based on an event, such as a change in the stated prevailing market rate. Floating and variable rate securities may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt securities, meaning that there may be limitations on the Fund’s ability to sell the securities at any given time. Such securities also may lose value.
Large Shareholder Transactions Risk. Large transactions by shareholders can impact the Fund’s expense ratio, yield and potentially its net asset value. A large redemption of Fund shares by a large shareholder may have a negative effect on the Fund’s net asset value and yield, as the Fund may be forced to sell a large portion of its portfolio holdings at an inopportune time. A large redemption of Fund shares may also result in an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio, since a large redemption may result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base. In order to be able to meet reasonably foreseeable requests for redemptions of Fund shares, the Fund may be required to consider factors that could affect the Fund’s liquidity needs, including characteristics of the Fund’s investors and their likely redemptions. This may require the Fund to maintain sufficiently liquid assets in lower-yielding securities that are easier to sell, which may have a negative impact on the Fund’s yield. Similarly, a large purchase of Fund shares by a large shareholder may have a negative effect on the Fund’s yield, as the Fund may be unable to deploy a larger cash position into new investments as quickly as it could with a smaller cash position. Large transactions may also increase transaction costs.
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed for investors who want to earn income at money market rates while maintaining easy access to their investment and seeking to preserve its value. The Fund will invest in a variety of money market instruments to seek income consistent with stability of principal and to try to maintain a stable share price of $1.00. Since income on short-term securities tends to be lower than income on longer-term debt securities, the Fund’s yield will likely be lower than the yield on longer-term fixed income funds. The Fund does not invest for the purpose of seeking capital appreciation or gains and is not a complete investment program.
    
You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The Fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the Fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the Fund at any time.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from calendar year to calendar year. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Prior to April 29, 2016, the Fund was operated as a prime money market fund. On April 29, 2016, the Fund began operating as a government money market fund and, as such, invests at least 99.5% of its total assets in cash government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are “collateralized fully” (i.e., backed by cash or government securities). More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/GovernmentMoneyFundVA
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA 3

 

During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 0.44% (4th Qtr 18) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 0.00% (4th Qtr 16).

The following table shows the average annual total returns for the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 4/3/1985) 1.35% 0.35% 0.22%  
The Fund’s performance reflects reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains distribution.

The total returns are not the Fund’s current yield. The Fund’s yield more closely reflects the Fund’s current earnings. To obtain the Fund’s current 7-day yield information, please call the Transfer Agent toll-free at 1.800.988.8287.
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. Christopher Proctor, CFA, has been a Vice President and portfolio manager of the Fund since May 2010 and Adam Wilde, CFA, has been a Vice President and portfolio manager of the Fund since July 2013.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
4 Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA

 

More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Money Market Instruments. As a government money market fund, the Fund invests 99.5% of its total assets in cash, government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are “collateralized fully” (i.e., backed by cash or government securities). As a government money market fund, the Fund invests in securities meeting the quality, maturity, diversification and other standards that apply to money market funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall. Also, there is the risk that the value of your investment could be eroded over time by the effects of inflation, or that poor security selection could cause the Fund to underperform other funds that have a similar objective. If there is an unexpectedly high demand for the redemption of Fund shares, the Fund might need to sell portfolio securities prior to their maturity, possibly at a loss. As a result, there is a risk that the Fund’s shares could fall below $1.00 per share.
The Fund’s investments in U.S. government securities include obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. Some are direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury and are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Securities issued by some agencies and instrumentalities of the government are also supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Securities issued by certain other U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities are supported only by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury and some are supported only by the credit of the particular instrumentality.
Government Securities Risk. The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) or other Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs)). U.S. government securities are subject to market risk, interest rate risk and credit risk. Securities, such as those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury, that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Although these securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that would prevent the payment of interest or principal. This would result in losses to the Fund. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support. Therefore, U.S. government related organizations may not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. U.S. government securities include zero coupon securities, which tend to be subject to greater market risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities.
Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase transaction, a Fund buys a security and simultaneously sells it back 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 investment adviser from time to time. Repurchase agreements must be fully collateralized. However, if the seller fails to pay the repurchase price on the delivery date, a Fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay in its ability to do so. If the default on the part of the seller is due to its bankruptcy, a Fund’s ability to liquidate the collateral may be delayed or limited.
The Fund will not enter into a repurchase agreement that will cause more than 5% of its total assets to be subject to repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. There is no limit on the amount of the Fund’s assets that may be subject to repurchase agreements of seven days or less.
Risks of Money Market Instruments. In addition to the risks described elsewhere in this prospectus, money market instruments may be subject to the following risks:
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that rising interest rates, or an expectation of rising interest rates in the near future, will cause the values of the Fund’s investments in debt securities to decline. The values of debt securities usually change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates rise, the values of outstanding debt securities generally fall, and those securities may sell at a discount from their face amount. When interest rates rise, the decrease in values of outstanding debt securities may not be offset by higher income from new investments. When interest rates
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA 5

 

  fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise. However, when interest rates fall, the Fund’s investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the Fund’s income. The values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities when interest rates change; thus, interest rate risk is usually greater for securities with longer maturities or durations. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. If an issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund’s income might be reduced, and if an issuer fails to repay principal, the value of the security might fall and the Fund could lose the amount of its investment in the security. The extent of this risk varies based on the terms of the particular security and the financial condition of the issuer. A downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating or other adverse news about an issuer, for any reason, can reduce the market value of that issuer’s securities.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, 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. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall, the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds.
Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, the issuer will redeem the security prior to the security’s expected maturity, or that borrowers will repay the loans that underlie these fixed-income securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to 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 the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. The impact of prepayments on the price of a security may be difficult to predict and may increase the security’s price volatility.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to unusual volatility and illiquidity. Volatility and illiquidity may be more pronounced in the case of lower-rated and unrated securities. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity may be caused by a rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates), which are near historic lows in the U.S. and in other countries. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. An unexpected increase in Fund redemption requests (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable distributions, if applicable. Similarly, the prices of the Fund’s holdings could be adversely affected if an investment account managed similarly to the Fund was to experience significant redemptions and that account was required to sell its holdings at an inopportune time. The liquidity of an issuer’s securities may decrease as a result of a decline in an issuer’s credit rating, the occurrence of an event that causes counterparties to avoid transacting with the issuer, or an increase in the issuer’s cash outflows, as well as other adverse market and economic developments. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns could cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets.
Following the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve sought to stabilize the economy by keeping the federal funds rate near zero percent. The Federal Reserve has also purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, pursuant to its monetary stimulus program known as “quantitative easing.” As the Federal Reserve has completed the tapering of its securities purchases pursuant to quantitative easing, it has recently raised interest rates on multiple occasions, and continues to consider future raises to the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates may rise and cause fixed-income investors to move out of fixed-income securities, which may also increase redemptions in fixed-income mutual funds.
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In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
Credit Quality, Maturity and Liquidity Standards. The Fund’s investments must meet the risk-limiting standards applicable to “government for money market funds” under the Investment Company Act.
Credit Quality. In general, the Fund buys only eligible securities that the investment adviser, as delegee of the Board, determines present minimal credit risks to the Fund. In making this determination, the investment adviser considers the capacity of an issuer or guarantor to meet its financial obligations. Such analysis must include, to the extent appropriate, the issuer’s or guarantor’s: (i) financial condition; (ii) sources of liquidity; (iii) ability to react to future events (e.g., the ability to repay debt in a highly adverse situation); and (iv) competitive position within its industry.
Maturity. A security’s maturity must not exceed 397 days (13 months), unless it is subject to an agreement or demand feature that permits the Fund to recover the principal amount of the security at specified times not exceeding 397 days from purchase. Variable or floating rate obligations that are government securities enable the Fund to purchase instruments with a stated maturity in excess of 397 days in accordance with Rule 2a-7, which allows the Fund to consider certain of such instruments as having maturities that are less than the maturity date on the face of the instrument. The Fund must maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of not more than 60 days and a weighted average life to maturity of portfolio securities of not more than 120 days.
Liquidity. The Fund will seek to maintain at least 10% of its total assets measured on a daily basis, and 30% of its total assets measured on a weekly basis, in cash or securities that can be sold and settled for cash within either one business day or five business days, respectively.
Net Asset Value Risk. There is no assurance that the Fund will maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share on a continuous basis. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s affiliates will purchase distressed assets from the Fund, make capital infusions, enter into capital support agreements or take other actions to ensure that the Fund maintains a net asset value of $1.00 per share. In the event any money market fund fails to maintain a stable net asset value, other money market funds, including the Fund, could face a universal risk of increased redemption pressures, potentially jeopardizing the stability of their net asset values. In general, certain other money market funds have in the past failed to maintain stable net asset values and there can be no assurance that such failures and resulting redemption pressures will not occur in the future.
Regulatory Risk. Changes to monetary policy by the Federal Reserve or other regulatory actions could expose fixed income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity and reduced liquidity, which may impact the Fund’s operations, universe of potential investment options, and return potential.
Yield Risk. During periods of extremely low short-term interest rates, the Fund may not be able to maintain a positive yield.
Cash Risk. As a government money market fund, the Fund will likely hold some of its assets in cash in an account with its custodian bank. Holding uninvested cash positions may affect the Fund’s performance negatively. In addition, maintaining cash balances may also subject the Fund to additional risks and costs, such as increased exposure to the custodian bank holding the assets and fees imposed for large cash balances.
Floating Rate and Variable Rate Obligations. Some fixed-income securities have variable or floating interest rates. The interest rate on a floating rate 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 rates on variable rate obligations are adjusted at stated periodic intervals. Generally, the changes in the interest rate on floating and variable rate obligations 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. A floating rate or variable rate obligation may meet the required credit quality standards by reason of being backed by a letter of credit or guarantee issued by a bank that meets those quality standards.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 5% of its total assets in illiquid securities. The Sub-Adviser monitors the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those securities to maintain adequate liquidity.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA 7

 

invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
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Investments in Other Money Market Funds. The Fund may invest in affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of any money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by an affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. However, if the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in cash, that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would hold cash during interim periods pending the availability of eligible securities for investment. To the extent the Fund holds large amounts of cash, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. Shareholders will receive 60 days’ advance notice of any change in the 80% investment policy described in “Principal Investment Strategies.” The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy or restriction is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: the Fund pays 0.450% of the first $500 million of average annual net assets, 0.425% of the next $500 million, 0.400% of the next $500 million, and 0.375% of average annual net assets in excess of $1.5 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.42% of the Fund’s average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding (i) interest, taxes, dividends tied to short sales, brokerage commissions, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles; (iii) certain other expenses attributable to, and incurred as a result of, a Fund’s investments; and (iv) other unusual and infrequent expenses (including litigation expenses) not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to the annual rate of 0.50% as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This waiver and/or reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board. The Manager has also voluntarily undertaken to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to assist the Fund in attempting to maintain a positive yield. There is no guarantee that the Fund will maintain a positive yield. The Manager is permitted to recapture previously waived and/or reimbursed fees in any given fiscal year if the recapture would not: (1) cause the Fund to generate a negative daily yield, and (2) exceed amounts previously waived and/or reimbursed under this arrangement during the current and prior three fiscal years. The reimbursement to the Manager of such previous waivers and reimbursements would not include any portion of distribution and/or service fees. This recapture could negatively affect each share class’s future yield. This fee waiver and/or reimbursement may be amended or withdrawn at any time without prior notice to shareholders.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates.
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During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by Christopher Proctor, CFA, and Adam Wilde, CFA, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Proctor has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since May 2010. Mr. Wilde has been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since July 2013.
Mr. Proctor has been the Head of the Cash Strategies Team and a Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since July 2013 and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser since January 2010. Mr. Proctor was a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from August 2008 to July 2013. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Proctor was a Vice President at Calamos Asset Management from January 2007 through March 2008 and at Scudder-Kemper Investments from 1999 through 2002. Mr. Proctor was a Managing Director and Co-Founder of Elmhurst Capital Management from June 2004 through January 2007 and was a Senior Manager of Research for Etrade Global Asset Management from 2002 through 2004. Mr. Proctor is an officer and portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Wilde has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2011 and a Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser since July 2013. He served as the head of credit research for the cash strategies team of the Sub-Adviser from 2011 to 2013, and as an Assistant Vice President and senior research analyst of the Sub-Adviser from 2008 to 2011. Mr. Wilde served as an intermediate research analyst of the Sub-Adviser from 2007 to 2008 and served in other analyst roles of the Sub-Adviser since 2002. Mr. Wilde joined the Sub-Adviser in 2001. Mr. Wilde is an officer and portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers only one class of shares, referred to as Non-Service Shares. The Fund has authorized Service Shares but those are not currently offered for sale and there are no shares outstanding. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value per share will normally remain fixed at $1.00 per share. However, there is no guarantee that the Fund will maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share. Shares are also redeemed at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase or redemption order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”), except in the case of a NYSE scheduled early closing, in which case the Fund will calculate the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”).
The Fund’s securities are valued at cost adjusted by the amortization of discount or premium to maturity (amortized cost), which approximates market value. If amortized cost is determined not to approximate market value, the fair value of the portfolio securities will be determined under procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The net asset value per share is determined by dividing the Fund’s net assets by the number of outstanding shares.
Fair Value Pricing. If an event occurs that the Sub-Adviser 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 Sub-Adviser are subject to review, approval and ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Fund’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.
How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Redemption of Fund shares may be suspended by the Board if it determines that it is in the best interest of shareholders to liquidate the Fund. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the
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Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Payment Delays. Payment for redeemed shares is usually made within seven days after the Transfer Agent receives redemption instructions in proper form. For accounts registered in the name of a broker-dealer, payment will normally be forwarded to the broker-dealer within two business days. The Transfer Agent may delay processing redemption payments for recently purchased shares until the purchase payment has cleared. That delay may be as much as five business days from the date the shares were purchased. That delay may be avoided if you purchase shares by Federal Funds wire or certified check. Under unusual circumstances, the right to redeem shares or the payment of redemption proceeds may be delayed or suspended as permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy
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to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan. The Fund has not adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for the Non-Service Shares offered in this prospectus.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA 13

 

other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare dividends from net investment income each regular business day and to pay those dividends monthly. To maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share, the Fund might withhold dividends or make distributions from capital or capital gains. Daily dividends will not be declared or paid on newly purchased shares until Federal Funds are available to the Fund from the purchase payment for such shares.
The Fund normally holds its securities to maturity and therefore will not usually pay capital gains distributions. The Fund may realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, however, in which case it will make distributions out of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
14 Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
  Year Ended December 31, 2018 Year Ended December 31, 2017 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2014  
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.01 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 0.002 (0.00)2 (0.00)2 0.002 0.002  
Total from investment operations 0.01 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.01) (0.00)2 (0.00)2 (0.00)2 (0.00)2  
Net asset value, end of period $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 $1.00  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value3 1.35% 0.39% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $3,055,726 $425,604 $541,970 $2,648,636 $515,297  
Average net assets (in thousands) $952,018 $488,532 $1,470,447 $1,144,581 $329,045  
Ratios to average net assets:4            
Net investment income 1.54% 0.39% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%  
Total expenses5 0.56% 0.59% 0.55% 0.53% 0.57%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.50% 0.50% 0.35% 0.19% 0.15%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Less than $0.005 per share.
3. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
4. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.56%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.59%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.55%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.53%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.57%
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0660.001.0419

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
International Growth Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks capital appreciation. It mainly invests in common stocks and other equity securities of foreign companies.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.94% 0.94%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.16% 0.16%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.10% 1.35%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement* (0.10)% (0.10)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 1.00% 1.25%  
* After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding any applicable dividend expense, taxes, interest and fees from borrowing, any subsidiary expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage commissions, unusual and infrequent expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to annual rates of 1.00% for Non-Service Shares and 1.25% for Service Shares, as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $103 $342 $600 $1,338  
...
Service Shares $128 $420 $735 $1,626  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 25% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities of issuers that are domiciled or that have their primary operations in at least three different countries outside of the United States and may invest 100% of its total assets in foreign companies. The Fund mainly invests in “growth companies,” which are companies whose earnings and stock prices are expected to increase at a faster rate than the overall market.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in emerging markets. It considers an issuer to be located in an emerging market if it is organized under the laws of an emerging country; its principal securities trading market is in an emerging market; or at least 50% of the issuer’s non-current assets, capitalization, gross revenue or profit is derived from assets or activities located in emerging markets (directly or indirectly). From time to time, the Fund may place greater emphasis on investing in one or more particular industries, countries, or regions, such as Asia, Europe or Latin America.
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 1

 

The Fund’s portfolio managers look primarily for high growth potential using a “bottom up” investment approach on a company-by-company basis. That approach looks at the investment performance of individual stocks before considering the impact of general or industry specific economic trends. It includes fundamental analysis of a company’s financial statements and management structure and consideration of the company’s operations and product development, as well as its position in its industry.
The portfolio managers currently focus on the following factors: companies that enjoy a strong competitive position and high demand for their products or services; companies with accelerating earnings growth and cash flow; and diversity among countries, companies and industries to seek to reduce the risks of foreign investing, such as currency fluctuations and market volatility. The consideration of those factors may vary in particular cases and may change over time.
The portfolio managers also consider the effects of worldwide trends on the growth of particular business sectors and looks for companies that may benefit from those trends. The trends currently considered include: mass affluence, new technologies, restructuring and aging. The portfolio managers do not invest any fixed amount of the Fund’s assets according to these criteria, which may change over time. The portfolio managers monitor individual issuers for changes in these factors, which may trigger, but does not require, a decision to sell a security.
The Fund does not limit its investments to issuers within a specific market capitalization range and at times may invest in both smaller, less-well-known companies and larger, more established companies that the portfolio managers believe have favorable prospects for capital growth relative to the market. The Fund currently invests a substantial portion of its assets in stocks of small- to mid-sized companies. The price of those stocks may be more volatile than the price of stocks issued by larger companies.
The Fund primarily invests in common stock but may also buy preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and other securities having equity features. The Fund typically does not invest in debt securities to a significant degree but can invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities when the portfolio managers believe that it is appropriate to do so in order to seek the Fund’s objective. The Fund can invest up to 15% of its total assets in debt securities that are below investment grade, commonly referred to as “junk bonds.”
The Fund can also use derivative instruments, such as options, futures, forwards and swaps, to seek higher investment returns or to try to manage investment risks.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of stocks of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Foreign securities are subject to special risks. Securities traded in foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than those traded in U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are usually not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to, which may make it difficult for the Fund to evaluate a foreign company’s operations or financial condition. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in that foreign currency and in the value of any income or distributions the Fund may receive on those investments. The value of foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, delays in the settlement of transactions, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, or other political and economic factors. In addition, due to the inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets, changes in political and economic factors in one country or region could adversely affect conditions in another country or region. Investments in foreign securities may also expose the Fund to time-zone arbitrage risk. Foreign securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares. As a result, the value of the
2 Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

 

Fund’s net assets may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares. At times, the Fund may emphasize investments in a particular country or region and may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that country or region. Foreign securities and foreign currencies held in foreign banks and securities depositories may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging markets are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges that may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed markets. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, and governments of developing or emerging market countries may also be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. Such countries’ economies may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries also may be subject to social, political or economic instability. The value of developing or emerging market countries’ currencies may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets. Investments in developing or emerging market countries may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, including confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, restrictions on withdrawing assets from the country, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking. In addition, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs of certain developing or emerging market countries may be limited by local law. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative.
Eurozone Investment Risks. Certain of the regions in which the Fund may invest, including the European Union (EU), currently experience significant financial difficulties. Following the global economic crisis that began in 2008, some of these countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the European Central Bank (ECB) or other governments or institutions, and failure to implement reforms as a condition of assistance could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. In addition, countries that have adopted the euro are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit the ability to implement their own economic policies, and could voluntarily abandon, or be forced out of, the euro. Such events could impact the market values of Eurozone and various other securities and currencies, cause redenomination of certain securities into less valuable local currencies, and create more volatile and illiquid markets. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Risks of Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have typically been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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. Small- and mid-cap companies’ securities may trade in lower volumes 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-cap 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-cap 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. Small- and mid-cap 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. It may take a substantial period of time before the Fund realizes a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if it realizes any gain at all.
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking capital appreciation primarily from foreign equity investments. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of share price fluctuations
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 3

 

that are typical for a fund focusing on growth stocks and the risks of investing in both developed and emerging foreign countries. Because of its focus on capital appreciation, the Fund may be appropriate for some portion of an investment plan for investors with a high risk tolerance. The Fund is not designed for investors needing income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/InternationalGrowthFundVA
During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 22.02% (2nd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -18.00% (3rd Qtr 11).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018*
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 5/13/1992) (19.42)% (0.90)% 8.11%  
...
Service Shares (inception 3/19/2001) (19.55)% (1.08)% 7.87%  
...
Morgan Stanley Capital International All Country World Ex- U.S. Index (14.20)% 0.68% 6.57%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
* Prior to April 30, 2014, the Fund was a series of Panorama Series Fund. Performance reflects that of the predecessor series.

Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. George R. Evans, CFA, has been a Vice President of the Fund since December 1999 and lead portfolio manager of the Fund since October 1999. Robert B. Dunphy, CFA, has been a Vice President and co-portfolio manager of the Fund since March 2012.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest
4 Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

 

by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 5

 

More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Common Stock and Other Equity Investments. Equity securities include common stock, preferred stock, rights, warrants and certain securities that are convertible into common stock. Equity investments may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of equity securities generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry) their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for that type of security.
Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
Convertible securities can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. The conversion feature of convertible securities generally causes the market value of convertible securities to increase when the value of the underlying common stock increases, and to fall when the stock price falls. The market value of a convertible security reflects both its “investment value,” which is its expected income potential, and its “conversion value,” which is its anticipated market value if it were converted. If its conversion value exceeds its investment value, the security will generally behave more like an equity security, in which case its price will tend to fluctuate with the price of the underlying common stock or other security. If its investment value exceeds its conversion value, the security will generally behave more like a debt security, in which case the security’s price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Most convertible securities will vary, to some extent, with changes in the price of the underlying common stock and are therefore subject to the risks of that stock. In addition, convertible securities may be subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. However, credit ratings
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  of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities. Some convertible preferred stocks have a mandatory conversion feature or a call feature that allows the issuer to redeem the stock on or prior to a mandatory conversion date. Those features could diminish the potential for capital appreciation on the investment.
Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy stocks and other equity securities of companies that are domiciled or that have their primary operations in a foreign country or countries. The Fund considers securities traded primarily on foreign securities exchanges or in foreign over-the-counter markets, and securities of foreign issuers that are represented in the United States securities markets by American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) or similar depository arrangements, to be “foreign securities” for purposes of its investment allocations. The Fund may also buy debt securities, primarily convertible debt securities, issued by foreign companies. It may buy debt securities issued by foreign governments or their agencies, but debt securities are not expected to be a main investment strategy of the Fund.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than
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  others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
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, collectively known as “member states.” 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 member states, pushing some 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. Some of those countries have depended on, and may continue to be dependent on, the assistance from others such as the ECB, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), or other governments and institutions to address those issues. Failure by one or more EU member states to implement reforms or attain a certain performance level imposed as a condition of assistance, or an insufficient level of assistance, could deepen or prolong the economic downturn which could have a significant adverse effect on the value of investments in those and other European countries. By adopting the euro as its currency, members of the EMU are subject to fiscal and monetary controls that could limit to some degree the ability to implement their own economic policies. Additionally, EMU member states could voluntarily abandon the euro or involuntarily be forced out of the euro, including by way of a partial or complete dissolution of the EMU. 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. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s intended withdrawal from the EU, known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time. Uncertainty relating to the withdrawal procedures and timeline may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of current
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trade agreements, as well as an increase in financial regulation of United Kingdom banks. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, market disruption in the EU and globally may have a negative effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. Additionally, the risks related to Brexit could be more pronounced if one or more additional EU member states seek to leave the EU.
Growth Investing. Growth companies are companies whose earnings and stock prices are expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall market. Growth companies can be new companies or established companies that may be entering a growth cycle in their business. Their anticipated growth may come from developing new products or services or from expanding into new or growing markets. Growth companies may be applying new technologies, new or improved distribution methods or new business models that could enable them to capture an important or dominant market position. They may have a special area of expertise or the ability to take advantage of changes in demographic or other factors in a more profitable way. Newer growth companies generally tend to invest a large part of their earnings into research, development or capital assets. Although newer growth companies may not pay any dividends for some time, their stocks may be valued because of their potential for price increases.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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-cap 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-cap 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 in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “small-cap,” “mid-cap” or “large-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys the security of an individual company, that company may expand or contract and no longer fall within the designated capitalization range. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown or decreased beyond the Fund’s capitalization-range definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to adjust the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
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Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Investing in Special Situations. At times, investment benefit may be sought from what a portfolio manager considers to be “special situations,” such as mergers, reorganizations, restructurings or other unusual events, that are expected to affect a particular issuer. There is a risk that the expected change or event might not occur, which could cause the price of the security to fall, perhaps sharply. In that case, the investment might not produce the expected gains or might cause a loss. This is an aggressive investment technique that may be considered speculative.
Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; or foreign sovereigns; and foreign and domestic corporate bonds, notes and debentures. The Fund may select debt securities for their income possibilities, capital appreciation or to help cushion fluctuations in the value of its portfolio. Debt securities may be subject to the following risks:
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that rising interest rates, or an expectation of rising interest rates in the near future, will cause the values of the Fund’s investments in debt securities to decline. The values of debt securities usually change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates rise, the values of outstanding debt securities generally fall, and those securities may sell at a discount from their face amount. Additionally, when interest rates rise, the decrease in values of outstanding debt securities may not be offset by higher income from new investments. When interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise and the Fund’s investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the Fund’s income. The values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities when interest rates change; thus, interest rate risk is usually greater for securities with longer maturities or durations. “Zero-coupon” or “stripped” securities may be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Interest rate changes may have different effects on the values of mortgage-related securities because of prepayment and extension risks.
Duration Risk. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities are more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, than shorter-duration debt securities, in a rising interest-rate environment. “Effective duration” attempts to measure the expected percentage change in the value of a bond or portfolio resulting from a change in prevailing interest rates. The change in the value of a bond or portfolio can be approximated by multiplying its duration by a change in interest rates. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to increase 3%. The duration of a debt security may be equal to or shorter than the full maturity of a debt security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. U.S. government securities generally have lower credit risks than securities issued by private issuers or certain foreign governments. If an issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund’s income might be reduced, and if an issuer fails to repay principal, the value of the security might fall and the Fund could lose the amount of its investment in the security. The extent of this risk varies based on the terms of the particular security and the financial condition of the issuer. A downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating or other adverse news about an issuer, for any reason, can reduce the market value of that issuer’s securities.
Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, if interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments on certain debt securities may occur at a slower rate than expected, and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an
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  increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall, the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds.
Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities (in particular mortgage-related securities) are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, the issuer will redeem the security prior to the security’s expected maturity, or that borrowers will repay the loans that underlie these fixed-income securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to 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 the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. 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 repayment assumptions about those investments.
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.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to unusual volatility and illiquidity. Volatility and illiquidity may be more pronounced in the case of lower-rated and unrated securities. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity may be caused by a rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates), which are near historic lows in the U.S. and in other countries. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. An unexpected increase in Fund redemption requests (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. Similarly, the prices of the Fund’s holdings could be adversely affected if an investment account managed similarly to the Fund was to experience significant redemptions and that account was required to sell its holdings at an inopportune time. The liquidity of an issuer’s securities may decrease as a result of a decline in an issuer’s credit rating, the occurrence of an event that causes counterparties to avoid transacting with the issuer, or an increase in the issuer’s cash outflows, as well as other adverse market and economic developments. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns could cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets.
Following the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve sought to stabilize the economy by keeping the federal funds rate near zero percent. The Federal Reserve has also purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, pursuant to its monetary stimulus program known as “quantitative easing.” As the Federal Reserve has completed the tapering of its securities purchases pursuant to quantitative easing, it has recently raised interest rates on multiple occasions, and continues to consider future raises to the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates may rise and cause fixed-income investors to move out of fixed-income securities, which may also increase redemptions in fixed-income mutual funds.
In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. Below-investment-grade securities (also referred to as “junk bonds”) generally have higher yields than investment-grade securities but also have higher risk profiles. Below-investment-grade
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securities are considered to be speculative and entail greater risk 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 securities, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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 below-investment-grade securities. The major risks of below-investment-grade securities include:
Prices of below-investment-grade securities may be subject to extreme price fluctuations, even under normal market conditions. Adverse changes in an issuer’s industry and general economic conditions may have a greater impact on the prices of below-investment-grade securities than on the prices of investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers and may be more likely to default than investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may have more outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing.
In the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, claims of other creditors may have priority over the claims of the holders of below-investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid than investment-grade securities, even under normal market conditions. There are fewer dealers in the below-investment-grade securities market and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of the Fund’s securities than is the case with securities trading in a more liquid market.
Below-investment-grade securities typically contain redemption provisions that permit the issuer of the securities containing such provisions to redeem the securities at its discretion. If the issuer redeems below-investment-grade securities, the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields and may lose income.
Below-investment-grade securities markets may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse credit, economic, or market conditions than investment-grade securities.
Credit Quality. The Fund can invest in securities that are rated or unrated. “Investment-grade” securities are those rated within the four highest rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations such as Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) (or, in the case of unrated securities, determined by the investment adviser to be comparable to securities rated investment-grade). “Below-investment-grade” securities are those that are rated below those categories, which are also referred to as “junk bonds.” While securities rated within the fourth highest category by S&P (meaning BBB+, BBB or BBB-) or by Moody’s (meaning Baa1, Baa2 or Baa3) are considered “investment-grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. If two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations have assigned different ratings to a security, the investment adviser uses the highest rating assigned.
Credit ratings evaluate the expectation that scheduled interest and principal payments will be made in a timely manner. They do not reflect any judgment of market risk. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer. Rating organizations might not change their credit rating of an issuer in a timely manner to reflect events that could affect the issuer’s ability to make timely payments on its obligations. In selecting securities for its portfolio and evaluating their income potential and credit risk, the Fund does not rely solely on ratings by rating organizations but evaluates business, economic and other factors affecting issuers as well. Many factors affect an issuer’s ability to make timely payments, and the credit risk of a particular security may change over time. The investment adviser also may use its own research and analysis to assess those risks. If a bond is insured, it will usually be rated by the rating organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. The rating categories are described in an appendix to the Statement of Additional Information.
Unrated Securities. Because the Fund purchases securities that are not rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, the investment adviser may internally assign ratings to those securities, after assessing their credit quality and other factors, in categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the investment adviser’s credit analysis process is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Unrated securities are considered “investment-grade” or “below-investment-grade” if judged by the investment adviser to be comparable to rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade securities. The investment adviser’s rating does not constitute a guarantee of the credit quality. In addition, some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
In evaluating the credit quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the investment adviser will normally take into consideration a number of factors such as, if applicable, the financial resources of the issuer, the underlying source of funds for debt service on a security, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of the facility financed by the obligation, the degree of community support for the financed facility, the capabilities of the issuer’s management, and regulatory factors affecting the issuer or the particular facility.
A reduction in the rating of a security after the Fund buys it will not require the Fund to dispose of the security. However, the investment adviser will evaluate such downgraded securities to determine whether to keep them in the Fund’s portfolio.
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Investing in Domestic Securities. The Fund can invest in common and preferred stocks and debt securities of U.S. companies. It can also hold U.S. corporate and government debt securities for defensive and liquidity purposes. Under normal market conditions, the Fund does not expect to invest more than 10% of its total assets in securities of U.S. issuers.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Because some foreign countries limit or prohibit all direct foreign investment in companies domiciled there, government authorized or organized funds may be the primary or only way to invest in those countries. Subject to the limits under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund may invest in foreign mutual funds to gain exposure to the securities of companies in countries that limit or prohibit direct foreign investment. Foreign mutual funds are generally deemed to be passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), since nearly all of the income of a mutual fund is passive income. Some of the other foreign corporations that the Fund may invest in may also be considered PFICs.
Under U.S. tax laws, 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 taxable year is passive income or if 50% or more of its assets during a taxable year are assets that produce, or are held to produce, passive income.
Unless the Fund makes an election with respect to its investment in a PFIC, which election may not always be possible, income from the disposition of a PFIC investment and from certain PFIC distributions may be subject to adverse tax treatment. The application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition of income with respect to PFIC shares, and may subject the Fund itself to tax on certain income from PFIC shares. Federal tax laws impose severe tax penalties for failure to properly report investment income from PFICs. The Fund makes every effort to ensure compliance with federal tax reporting of these investments; however, foreign corporations that are PFICs for federal tax purposes may not always be recognized as such or may not provide the Fund with all information required to report, or make an election with respect to, such investment.
Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase transaction, a Fund buys a security and simultaneously sells it back 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 investment adviser from time to time. Repurchase agreements must be fully collateralized. However, if the seller fails to pay the repurchase price on the delivery date, a Fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay in its ability to do so. If the default on the part of the seller is due to its bankruptcy, a Fund’s ability to liquidate the collateral may be delayed or limited.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Options, futures and forward contracts are some of the types of derivatives the Fund may use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly, the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 13

 

can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt
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instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 15

 

Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 1.00% of the first $250 million of average annual net assets, 0.90% of the next $250 million, 0.85% of the next $500 million, and 0.82% of average annual net assets above $1 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.94% of average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding (i) interest, taxes, dividends tied to short sales, brokerage commissions, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles; (iii) certain other expenses attributable to, and incurred as a result of, a Fund’s investments; and (iv) other unusual and infrequent expenses (including litigation expenses) not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to annual rates of 1.00% for Non-Service Shares and 1.25% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by George R. Evans, CFA, and Robert B. Dunphy, CFA, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Evans has been a Vice President of the Fund since December 1999 and lead portfolio manager of the Fund since October 1999. Mr. Dunphy has been a Vice President and co-portfolio manager of the Fund since March 2012.
Mr. Evans has been the Chief Investment Officer, Equities, of the Sub-Adviser since January 2013 and Senior Vice President and Director of International Equities of the Sub-Adviser since July 2004. He was Director of Equities of the Sub-Adviser from October 2010 through December 2012, Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from October 1993 through July 2004 and Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation from July 1994 through November 2001. Mr. Evans is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Dunphy has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2011 and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser since May 2011. He was a Senior Research Analyst and Assistant Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from May 2009 to January 2011, and an Intermediate Research Analyst of the Sub-Adviser from January 2006 to May 2009. Mr. Dunphy is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
16 Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

 

More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset value for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade on an exchange and are valued based on the official closing price of each security’s principal exchange, or if not available, at the last sale price or fair value, as described below.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 17

 

How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
18 Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

 

Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 19

 

Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
20 Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

 

distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA 21

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $2.59 $2.08 $2.20 $2.31 $2.57  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.51) 0.52 (0.08) 0.06 (0.21)  
Total from investment operations (0.49) 0.54 (0.05) 0.09 (0.18)  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.02) (0.03) (0.02) (0.03) (0.03)  
Distributions from net realized gain (0.05) 0.00 (0.05) (0.17) (0.05)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (0.07) (0.03) (0.07) (0.20) (0.08)  
Net asset value, end of period $2.03 $2.59 $2.08 $2.20 $2.31  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (19.42)% 26.29% (2.12)% 3.43% (7.22)%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $267,220 $360,417 $301,559 $317,547 $358,756  
Average net assets (in thousands) $325,080 $339,999 $305,269 $343,347 $400,556  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 0.83% 0.87% 1.24% 1.08% 1.13%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.10% 1.08% 1.09% 1.08% 1.07%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 1.10% 1.08% 1.09% 1.08% 1.07%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%  
Portfolio turnover rate 25% 27% 15% 24% 41%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.10%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.08%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.09%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.08%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.07%
22 Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $2.70 $2.16 $2.29 $2.40 $2.66  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.52) 0.56 (0.08) 0.06 (0.21)  
Total from investment operations (0.51) 0.57 (0.06) 0.08 (0.19)  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.02) (0.03) (0.02) (0.02) (0.02)  
Distributions from net realized gain (0.05) 0.00 (0.05) (0.17) (0.05)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (0.07) (0.03) (0.07) (0.19) (0.07)  
Net asset value, end of period $2.12 $2.70 $2.16 $2.29 $2.40  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (19.55)% 26.44% (2.72)% 3.11% (7.15)%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $199,636 $239,042 $175,633 $169,292 $145,515  
Average net assets (in thousands) $231,130 $213,440 $174,834 $165,226 $128,694  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 0.58% 0.60% 0.99% 0.79% 0.85%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.35% 1.33% 1.34% 1.33% 1.32%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 1.35% 1.33% 1.34% 1.33% 1.32%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25%  
Portfolio turnover rate 25% 27% 15% 24% 41%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.35%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.33%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.34%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.33%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.32%
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0616.001.0419

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Main Street Fund®/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks capital appreciation. It emphasizes investments in common stocks based on analyses using fundamental research.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.66% 0.66%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.14% 0.14%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.80% 1.05%  
Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $82 $256 $446 $994  
...
Service Shares $108 $336 $582 $1,289  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 65% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. The Fund mainly invests in common stocks of U.S. companies of different capitalization ranges. The Fund currently focuses on “larger capitalization” issuers, which are considered to be companies with market capitalizations equal to the companies in the Russell 1000 Index. The portfolio managers use fundamental research to select securities for the Fund’s portfolio, which is comprised of both growth and value stocks. While the process may change over time or vary in particular cases, in general the selection process currently uses a fundamental approach in analyzing issuers on factors such as a company’s financial performance, company strength and prospects, industry position, and business model and management strength. Industry outlook, market trends and general economic conditions may also be considered.
The portfolio is constructed and regularly monitored based upon several analytical tools, including quantitative investment models. Quantitative models are used as part of the idea generation process to rank securities within each sector to identify potential buy and sell candidates for further fundamental analysis. The Fund aims to maintain a broadly diversified portfolio across major economic sectors by applying investment parameters for both sector and position size. The portfolio managers use the following sell criteria: the stock price is approaching its target, deterioration in the company’s competitive position, poor execution by the company’s management, or identification of more attractive alternative investment ideas.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA 1

 

will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of stocks of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Risks of Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have typically been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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. Small- and mid-cap companies’ securities may trade in lower volumes 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-cap 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-cap 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. Small- and mid-cap 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. It may take a substantial period of time before the Fund realizes a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if it realizes any gain at all.
Risks of Quantitative Models. The portfolio managers use quantitative models as part of the idea generation process. Quantitative models are based upon many factors that measure individual securities relative to each other. Such models, which can be adversely affected by errors or imperfections in the factors or the data on which measurements are based, any technical issues with construction or implementation of the model, or a failure to perform as expected, may not identify securities that perform well in the future.
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking capital appreciation. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of short-term share price fluctuations that are typical for a fund that focuses on stocks. The Fund is not designed for investors needing current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/MainStreetFundVA
2 Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA

 

During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 18.50% (2nd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -13.77% (4th Qtr 18).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 7/5/1995) (7.89)% 6.58% 12.17%  
...
Service Shares (inception 7/12/2000) (8.10)% 6.31% 11.89%  
...
S&P 500 Index (4.38)% 8.49% 13.12%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. Manind (“Mani”) Govil, CFA, has been a Vice President and lead portfolio manager of the Fund since May 2009 and Benjamin Ram has been a Vice President and co-portfolio manager of the Fund since May 2009. Paul Larson has been a Vice President and co-portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2014.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Common Stock. Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. Common stocks may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities. Over-the-counter securities may be less liquid than exchange-traded securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized, (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-sized companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Quantitative Models. Quantitative models are based upon many factors that measure individual securities relative to each other. Quantitative models may be highly reliant on the gathering, cleaning, culling and analysis of large amounts of data from third parties and other external sources. Any errors or imperfections in the factors, or the data on which measurements of those factors are based, could adversely affect the use of the quantitative models. The factors used in models may not identify securities that perform well in the future, and the securities selected may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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-cap 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-cap 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
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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 in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small- or mid-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “small-cap,” “mid-cap” or “large-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys the security of an individual company, that company may expand or contract and no longer fall within the designated capitalization range. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown or decreased beyond the Fund’s capitalization-range definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to adjust the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Value Investing. Value investing seeks stocks that are priced below their intrinsic or prospective worth. Value investing uses fundamental analysis and research to seek to identify issuers whose securities are undervalued in the marketplace in relation to factors such as their earnings potential, assets, industry position, management strength and cash flows. Undervalued companies may have lower stock prices because the market is not aware of their intrinsic value or does not yet fully recognize their future potential. The price of those securities may increase if other investors recognize a company’s current or potential worth.
Risks of Value Investing. Value investing entails the risk that if the market does not recognize that a selected security is undervalued, the prices of that security might not appreciate as anticipated. A value investing approach could also lead to acquiring fewer securities that might experience rapid price increases during times of market advances. This could cause the investments to underperform strategies that seek capital appreciation by employing only a growth or other non-value approach. Value investing has also gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when value investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, the securities of “value” companies may underperform the securities of “growth” companies.
Growth Investing. Growth companies are companies whose earnings and stock prices are expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall market. Growth companies can be new companies or established companies that may be entering a growth cycle in their business. Their anticipated growth may come from developing new products or services or from expanding into new or growing markets. Growth companies may be applying new technologies, new or improved distribution methods or new business models that could enable them to capture an important or dominant market position. They may have a special area of expertise or the ability to take advantage of changes in demographic or other factors in a more profitable way. Newer growth companies generally tend to invest a large part of their earnings into research, development or capital assets. Although newer growth companies may not pay any dividends for some time, their stocks may be valued because of their potential for price increases.
Risks of Growth Investing. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
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Other Equity Securities. In addition to common stocks, the Fund can invest in other equity or “equity equivalents” securities such as preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights or warrants.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
A convertible security can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities are subject to credit and interest rate risk, however credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities.
Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Fund can also invest in the securities of other investment companies, which can include open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts and business development companies subject to the limits of the Investment Company Act of 1940. One reason the Fund might do so is to gain exposure to segments of the markets represented by another fund, at times when the Fund might not be able to buy the particular type of securities directly. As a shareholder of an investment company, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless it is believed that the potential benefits of the investment justify the expenses. The Fund’s investments in the securities of other investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to those types of investments under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Master Limited Partnerships. The Fund may invest in publicly traded limited partnerships known as “master limited partnerships” or MLPs. MLPs issue units that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are freely tradable on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. An MLP consists of one or more general partners, who conduct the business, and one or more limited partners, who contribute capital. The Fund, as a limited partner, normally would not be liable for the debts of the MLP beyond the amounts the Fund has contributed, but 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 return of capital distributed to a limited partner. This right of an MLP’s creditors would continue after the Fund sold its investment in the MLP.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). The Fund can invest in ETFs, which are typically open-end funds or unit investment trusts listed on a stock exchange and traded like stocks. The Fund might do so as a way of gaining exposure to securities represented by the ETF’s portfolio at times when the Fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or it might do so in order to equitize cash positions. As a shareholder of an ETF, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that ETF’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. At the same time, the Fund would bear its own management fees and expenses. Similar to a mutual fund, the value of an ETF can fluctuate based on the prices of the securities owned by the ETF. Because ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and traded like stocks listed on an exchange, shares of ETFs potentially may trade at a discount or a premium to their net asset value. An active market for the ETF may not develop. Additionally, market trading in the ETF may be halted under certain circumstances. Furthermore, investments in ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. The Fund’s investments in the shares of ETFs are subject to the limits that apply to investments in investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any exemptive relief therefrom. The Fund does not intend to invest in ETFs unless the investment adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the expenses.
Debt Securities. The Fund does not focus on debt securities as a principal investment strategy; however, debt securities are one of the other investments that the Fund may use. The Fund may invest in debt securities to seek income, for liquidity or for hedging purposes.
The debt securities the Fund buys may be of any maturity. The Fund can invest up to 25% of its total assets in debt securities that are rated below-investment-grade. The Fund cannot invest more than 10% of its assets in below-investment-grade non-convertible debt securities and currently does not intend to invest more than 10% of its assets in below-investment-grade debt securities of any type.
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Debt securities may be subject to the following risks:
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that rising interest rates, or an expectation of rising interest rates in the near future, will cause the values of the Fund’s investments in debt securities to decline. The values of debt securities usually change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates rise, the values of outstanding debt securities generally fall, and those securities may sell at a discount from their face amount. Additionally, when interest rates rise, the decrease in values of outstanding debt securities may not be offset by higher income from new investments. When interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise and the Fund’s investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the Fund’s income. The values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities when interest rates change; thus, interest rate risk is usually greater for securities with longer maturities or durations. “Zero-coupon” or “stripped” securities may be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Interest rate changes may have different effects on the values of mortgage-related securities because of prepayment and extension risks.
Duration Risk. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities are more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, than shorter-duration debt securities, in a rising interest-rate environment. “Effective duration” attempts to measure the expected percentage change in the value of a bond or portfolio resulting from a change in prevailing interest rates. The change in the value of a bond or portfolio can be approximated by multiplying its duration by a change in interest rates. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to increase 3%. The duration of a debt security may be equal to or shorter than the full maturity of a debt security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. U.S. government securities generally have lower credit risks than securities issued by private issuers or certain foreign governments. If an issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund’s income might be reduced, and if an issuer fails to repay principal, the value of the security might fall and the Fund could lose the amount of its investment in the security. The extent of this risk varies based on the terms of the particular security and the financial condition of the issuer. A downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating or other adverse news about an issuer, for any reason, can reduce the market value of that issuer’s securities.
Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, if interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments on certain debt securities may occur at a slower rate than expected, and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall, the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds.
Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities (in particular mortgage-related securities) are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, the issuer will redeem the security prior to the security’s expected maturity, or that borrowers will repay the loans that underlie these fixed-income securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to 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 the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. 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 repayment assumptions about those investments.
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.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to unusual volatility and illiquidity. Volatility and illiquidity may be more pronounced in the case of lower-rated and unrated securities. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity may be caused by a rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates), which are near historic lows
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in the U.S. and in other countries. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. An unexpected increase in Fund redemption requests (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. Similarly, the prices of the Fund’s holdings could be adversely affected if an investment account managed similarly to the Fund was to experience significant redemptions and that account was required to sell its holdings at an inopportune time. The liquidity of an issuer’s securities may decrease as a result of a decline in an issuer’s credit rating, the occurrence of an event that causes counterparties to avoid transacting with the issuer, or an increase in the issuer’s cash outflows, as well as other adverse market and economic developments. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns could cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets.
Following the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve sought to stabilize the economy by keeping the federal funds rate near zero percent. The Federal Reserve has also purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, pursuant to its monetary stimulus program known as “quantitative easing.” As the Federal Reserve has completed the tapering of its securities purchases pursuant to quantitative easing, it has recently raised interest rates on multiple occasions, and continues to consider future raises to the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates may rise and cause fixed-income investors to move out of fixed-income securities, which may also increase redemptions in fixed-income mutual funds.
In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. Below-investment-grade securities (also referred to as “junk bonds”) generally have higher yields than investment-grade securities but also have higher risk profiles. Below-investment-grade securities are considered to be speculative and entail greater risk 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 securities, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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 below-investment-grade securities. The major risks of below-investment-grade securities include:
Prices of below-investment-grade securities may be subject to extreme price fluctuations, even under normal market conditions. Adverse changes in an issuer’s industry and general economic conditions may have a greater impact on the prices of below-investment-grade securities than on the prices of investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers and may be more likely to default than investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may have more outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing.
In the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, claims of other creditors may have priority over the claims of the holders of below-investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid than investment-grade securities, even under normal market conditions. There are fewer dealers in the below-investment-grade securities market and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of the Fund’s securities than is the case with securities trading in a more liquid market.
Below-investment-grade securities typically contain redemption provisions that permit the issuer of the securities containing such provisions to redeem the securities at its discretion. If the issuer redeems below-investment-grade securities, the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields and may lose income.
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Below-investment-grade securities markets may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse credit, economic, or market conditions than investment-grade securities.
Credit Quality. The Fund can invest in securities that are rated or unrated. “Investment-grade” securities are those rated within the four highest rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations such as Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) (or, in the case of unrated securities, determined by the investment adviser to be comparable to securities rated investment-grade). “Below-investment-grade” securities are those that are rated below those categories, which are also referred to as “junk bonds.” While securities rated within the fourth highest category by S&P (meaning BBB+, BBB or BBB-) or by Moody’s (meaning Baa1, Baa2 or Baa3) are considered “investment-grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. If two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations have assigned different ratings to a security, the investment adviser uses the highest rating assigned.
Credit ratings evaluate the expectation that scheduled interest and principal payments will be made in a timely manner. They do not reflect any judgment of market risk. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer. Rating organizations might not change their credit rating of an issuer in a timely manner to reflect events that could affect the issuer’s ability to make timely payments on its obligations. In selecting securities for its portfolio and evaluating their income potential and credit risk, the Fund does not rely solely on ratings by rating organizations but evaluates business, economic and other factors affecting issuers as well. Many factors affect an issuer’s ability to make timely payments, and the credit risk of a particular security may change over time. The investment adviser also may use its own research and analysis to assess those risks. If a bond is insured, it will usually be rated by the rating organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. The rating categories are described in an appendix to the Statement of Additional Information.
Unrated Securities. Because the Fund purchases securities that are not rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, the investment adviser may internally assign ratings to those securities, after assessing their credit quality and other factors, in categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the investment adviser’s credit analysis process is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Unrated securities are considered “investment-grade” or “below-investment-grade” if judged by the investment adviser to be comparable to rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade securities. The investment adviser’s rating does not constitute a guarantee of the credit quality. In addition, some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
In evaluating the credit quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the investment adviser will normally take into consideration a number of factors such as, if applicable, the financial resources of the issuer, the underlying source of funds for debt service on a security, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of the facility financed by the obligation, the degree of community support for the financed facility, the capabilities of the issuer’s management, and regulatory factors affecting the issuer or the particular facility.
A reduction in the rating of a security after the Fund buys it will not require the Fund to dispose of the security. However, the investment adviser will evaluate such downgraded securities to determine whether to keep them in the Fund’s portfolio.
Foreign Investing. The Fund can buy securities issued by companies or governments in any country, including in developing or emerging market countries. While there is no limit on the Fund’s foreign investments, the Fund does not currently plan to invest a significant amount of its assets in securities of foreign issuers but may do so in the future.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
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Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
The Fund may purchase American Depositary Shares (“ADS”) as part of American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) issuances, which are negotiable certificates issued by a U.S. bank representing a specified number of shares in a foreign stock traded on a U.S. exchange. ADS and ADRs are subject to some of the special considerations and risks that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
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Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Options, futures, options on futures, options on indices, and forward contracts are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund may use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA 11

 

debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might
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also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% of the next $200 million, 0.58% of the next $4 billion, and 0.56% of average annual net assets over $5 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.66% of average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
The Manager has voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by Manind (“Mani”) Govil, CFA, Benjamin Ram and Paul Larson, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Govil has been a Vice President and lead portfolio manager of the Fund since May 2009 and Mr. Ram has been a Vice President and co-portfolio manager of the Fund since May 2009. Mr. Larson has been a Vice President and a co-portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2014.
Mr. Govil has been a Senior Vice President, the Main Street Team Leader and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Govil was a portfolio manager with RS Investment Management Co. LLC from October 2006 until March 2009. He served as the head of equity investments at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America from August 2005 to October 2006 when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC. He served as the lead portfolio manager - large cap blend/core equity, co-head of
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equities and head of equity research, from 2001 to July 2005, and was lead portfolio manager - core equity, from April 1996 to July 2005, at Mercantile Capital Advisers, Inc. Mr. Govil is a portfolio manager and officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Ram has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009 and a Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser since January 2011. Mr. Ram was a Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser from May 2009 to January 2011. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Ram was 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 from October 2006 to May 2009. He served as Portfolio Manager Mid Cap Strategies, Sector Manager Financials at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America from January 2006 to October 2006 when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC. He was a financial analyst, from 2003 to 2005, and co-portfolio manager, from 2005 to 2006, at Mercantile Capital Advisers, Inc. Mr. Ram was a bank analyst at Legg Mason Securities from 2000 to 2003 and was a senior financial analyst at the CitiFinancial division of Citigroup, Inc. from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Ram is a portfolio manager and officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Larson has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser and portfolio manager of the Main Street Team since January 2013. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, he was a portfolio manager and Chief Equity Strategist at Morningstar. He was previously an analyst at Morningstar covering the energy sector and oversaw the firm’s natural resources analysts. Prior to joining Morningstar in 2002, Mr. Larson was an analyst with The Motley Fool. Mr. Larson is a portfolio manager and officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset value for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade on an exchange and are valued based on the official closing price of each security’s principal exchange, or if not available, at the last sale price or fair value, as described below.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA 15

 

How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
16 Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA

 

Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA 17

 

Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
18 Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA

 

distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA 19

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $32.25 $28.41 $29.24 $33.61 $31.24  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.32 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.28  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.55) 4.41 2.76 0.80 3.01  
Total from investment operations (2.23) 4.75 3.09 1.13 3.29  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.38) (0.39) (0.34) (0.32) (0.27)  
Distributions from net realized gain (2.82) (0.52) (3.58) (5.18) (0.65)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (3.20) (0.91) (3.92) (5.50) (0.92)  
Net asset value, end of period $26.82 $32.25 $28.41 $29.24 $33.61  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (7.89)% 16.91% 11.62% 3.33% 10.70%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $485,230 $561,555 $485,196 $518,456 $559,933  
Average net assets (in thousands) $543,152 $535,770 $502,522 $541,020 $554,449  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 1.03% 1.12% 1.16% 1.05% 0.86%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.80% 0.78% 0.79% 0.78% 0.77%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 0.80% 0.78% 0.79% 0.78% 0.77%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.80%6 0.78%6 0.79%6 0.78%6 0.77%6  
Portfolio turnover rate 65% 35% 33% 44% 43%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.80%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.78%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.79%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.78%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.77%
6. Waiver was less than 0.005%.
20 Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $31.91 $28.12 $28.98 $33.33 $30.99  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.24 0.26 0.26 0.25 0.19  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.53) 4.37 2.72 0.80 2.99  
Total from investment operations (2.29) 4.63 2.98 1.05 3.18  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.29) (0.32) (0.26) (0.22) (0.19)  
Distributions from net realized gain (2.82) (0.52) (3.58) (5.18) (0.65)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (3.11) (0.84) (3.84) (5.40) (0.84)  
Net asset value, end of period $26.51 $31.91 $28.12 $28.98 $33.33  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (8.10)% 16.63% 11.30% 3.11% 10.40%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $631,398 $785,379 $772,594 $715,328 $806,023  
Average net assets (in thousands) $740,691 $788,342 $725,836 $757,218 $856,467  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 0.78% 0.87% 0.94% 0.80% 0.61%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.05% 1.03% 1.04% 1.03% 1.02%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 1.05% 1.03% 1.04% 1.03% 1.02%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.05%6 1.03%6 1.04%6 1.03%6 1.02%6  
Portfolio turnover rate 65% 35% 33% 44% 43%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.05%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.03%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.04%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.03%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.02%
6. Waiver was less than 0.005%.
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA 21

 

        
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0650.001.0419

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks capital appreciation. The Fund uses fundamental research to invest mainly in common stocks of companies that are within the market capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Index.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.68% 0.68%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.15% 0.15%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.83% 1.08%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement* (0.03)% (0.03)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 0.80% 1.05%  
* After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding any applicable dividend expense, taxes, interest and fees from borrowing, any subsidiary expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage commissions, unusual and infrequent expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to annual rates of 0.80% for Non-Service Shares and 1.05% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $82 $263 $459 $1,027  
...
Service Shares $108 $342 $596 $1,321  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 45% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of “small-cap” companies. A company’s “market capitalization” is the value of its outstanding common stock. The Fund considers small-cap companies to be those having a market capitalization in the range of the Russell 2000® Index. The capitalization range of that index is subject to change at any time due to market activity or changes in the composition of the index. The range of the Russell 2000® Index generally widens over time and it is reconstituted annually to preserve its market cap characteristics. The Fund measures a company’s capitalization at the time the Fund buys a security and is not required to sell a security if the company’s capitalization moves outside of the Fund’s capitalization definition. Although the Fund mainly invests in U.S. companies, it can invest in securities issued by companies or governments in any country. The Fund primarily invests in common stock but may also invest in other types of securities that are consistent with its investment objective.
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA 1

 

The portfolio managers use fundamental research to select securities for the Fund’s portfolio. While the process may change over time or vary in particular cases, in general the selection process currently uses a fundamental approach in analyzing issuers on factors such as a company’s financial performance, competitive strength and prospects, industry position, and business model and management strength. Industry outlook, market trends and general economic conditions may also be considered.
The Fund aims to maintain a broad diversification across all major economic sectors. The portfolio is constructed and regularly monitored based upon several analytical tools, including quantitative investment models. Quantitative models are used as part of the idea generation process to rank securities within each sector to identify potential buy and sell candidates for further fundamental analysis.
In constructing the portfolio, the Fund seeks to limit exposure to so-called “top-down” or “macro” risks, such as overall stock market movements, economic cycles, and interest rate or currency fluctuations. Instead, the portfolio managers seek to add value by selecting individual securities with superior company-specific fundamental attributes or relative valuations that they expect to outperform their industry and sector peers. This is commonly referred to as a “bottom-up” approach to portfolio construction.
The portfolio managers consider stock rankings, benchmark weightings and capitalization outlooks in determining security weightings for individual issuers. The portfolio managers might sell a security if the price is approaching their price target, if the company’s competitive position has deteriorated or the company’s management has performed poorly, or if they have identified more attractive investment prospects.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of stocks of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Risks of Small-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have typically been in operation for less than three years. While smaller companies might offer greater opportunities for gain than larger companies, they also 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 it might be harder for the Fund to dispose of its holdings at an acceptable price when it wants to sell them. Small-cap 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-cap 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. Small-cap 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. It may take a substantial period of time before the Fund realizes a gain on an investment in a small-sized company, if it realizes any gain at all.
Risks of Quantitative Models. The portfolio managers use quantitative models as part of the idea generation process. Quantitative models are based upon many factors that measure individual securities relative to each other. Such models, which can be adversely affected by errors or imperfections in the factors or the data on which measurements are based, any technical issues with construction or implementation of the model, or a failure to perform as expected, may not identify securities that perform well in the future.
2 Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

 

Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking capital appreciation. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of short-term share price fluctuations that are typical for a fund focusing on long-term capital appreciation of stocks of small sized companies. The Fund is not designed for investors needing current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/MainStreetSmallCapFundVA
During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 31.71% (2nd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -21.16% (3rd Qtr 11).

The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 5/1/1998) (10.32)% 4.94% 13.37%  
...
Service Shares (inception 7/16/2001) (10.54)% 4.69% 13.09%  
...
Russell 2000 Index (11.01)% 4.41% 11.97%  
(reflects no deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. Matthew P. Ziehl, CFA, Raymond Anello, CFA, Raman Vardharaj, CFA, Joy Budzinski, Kristin Ketner, Magnus Krantz and Adam Weiner are each a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund. Mr. Ziehl and Mr. Vardharaj have each been a portfolio manager and Vice President of the Fund since May 2009. Mr. Anello has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since April 2011 and Vice President of the Fund since May 2011. Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Ketner, Mr. Krantz and Mr. Weiner have been portfolio managers and Vice Presidents of the Fund since April 2013. Mr. Ziehl and Mr. Weiner serve as co-lead portfolio managers of the Fund.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Common Stock. Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. Common stocks may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities. Over-the-counter securities may be less liquid than exchange-traded securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized, (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-sized companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.
Industry and Sector Focus. At times the Fund may increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. To some extent that risk may be limited by the Fund’s policy of not concentrating its investments in any one industry.
Small-Cap Companies. Small-cap 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 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. Smaller 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 smaller 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 in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “small-cap,” “mid-cap” or “large-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys the security of an individual company, that company may expand or contract and no longer fall within the designated capitalization range. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown or decreased beyond the Fund’s capitalization-range definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to adjust the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio
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and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Quantitative Models. Quantitative models are based upon many factors that measure individual securities relative to each other. Quantitative models may be highly reliant on the gathering, cleaning, culling and analysis of large amounts of data from third parties and other external sources. Any errors or imperfections in the factors, or the data on which measurements of those factors are based, could adversely affect the use of the quantitative models. The factors used in models may not identify securities that perform well in the future, and the securities selected may perform differently from the market as a whole or from their expected performance.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Mid-Cap Companies. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned management teams. While mid-cap companies might offer greater opportunities for gain than larger companies, they also 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 than larger companies. Mid-cap 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 mid-cap companies may be subject to wider price fluctuations and may be less liquid than securities of larger exchange-traded issuers, meaning it might be harder for the Fund to dispose of those holdings at an acceptable price when it wants to sell them. Mid-cap companies may have less established markets for their products or services and may have fewer customers and product lines than larger companies. 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 mid-cap 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. Mid-cap 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 unseasoned companies may be particularly volatile, especially in the short term and in periods of market instability, and may have limited liquidity in a declining market. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a mid-cap company, if any gain is realized at all.
The Fund measures the market capitalization of an issuer at the time of investment. Because the relative sizes of companies change over time as the securities market changes, the Fund’s definition of what is a “mid-cap” company may change over time as well. After the Fund buys their securities, individual companies may grow and no longer fall within the Fund’s definition of a “mid-cap” issuer. Although the Fund is not required to sell the securities of companies whose market capitalizations have grown beyond the Fund’s mid-cap definition, it might sell some of those holdings to try to lower the dollar-weighted median capitalization of its portfolio.
When the Fund invests in smaller company securities that might trade infrequently, investors might seek to trade Fund shares based on their knowledge or understanding of the value of those securities (this is sometimes referred to as “price arbitrage”). If such price arbitrage were successful, it might interfere with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio and the Fund may be required to sell securities at disadvantageous times or prices to satisfy the liquidity requirements created by that activity. Successful price arbitrage might also dilute the value of fund shares held by other shareholders.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
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Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Other Equity Securities. In addition to common stocks, the Fund can invest in other equity or “equity equivalents” securities such as preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights or warrants.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
A convertible security can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities are subject to credit and interest rate risk, however credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities.
Other Capitalization Ranges. If the Manager believes they offer opportunities for growth, up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in securities of mid-cap and large-cap companies.
Foreign Investing. The Fund can buy securities issued by companies or governments in any country, including in developing or emerging market countries. While there is no limit on the Fund’s foreign investments, the Fund does not currently plan to invest a significant amount of its assets in securities of foreign issuers but may do so in the future.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA 7

 

  change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
Risks of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). The Fund has no limit on the amount of its assets that can be invested in IPOs. By definition, securities issued in IPOs have not traded publicly until the time of their offerings. Special risks associated with IPOs may include, among others, the fact that there may be only a limited number of shares available for trading. The market for those securities may be unseasoned. The issuer may have a limited operating history. These factors may contribute to price volatility. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may also make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. In addition, some companies initially offering their shares publicly are involved in relatively new industries or lines of business, which
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may not be widely understood by investors. Some of the companies involved in new industries may be regarded as developmental stage companies, without revenues or operating income, or the near-term prospects of them. Many IPOs are by small- or micro-cap companies that are undercapitalized.
Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Fund can also invest in the securities of other investment companies, which can include open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts and business development companies subject to the limits of the Investment Company Act of 1940. One reason the Fund might do so is to gain exposure to segments of the markets represented by another fund, at times when the Fund might not be able to buy the particular type of securities directly. As a shareholder of an investment company, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless it is believed that the potential benefits of the investment justify the expenses. The Fund’s investments in the securities of other investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to those types of investments under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). The Fund can invest in ETFs, which are typically open-end funds or unit investment trusts listed on a stock exchange and traded like stocks. The Fund might do so as a way of gaining exposure to securities represented by the ETF’s portfolio at times when the Fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or it might do so in order to equitize cash positions. As a shareholder of an ETF, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of that ETF’s expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses. At the same time, the Fund would bear its own management fees and expenses. Similar to a mutual fund, the value of an ETF can fluctuate based on the prices of the securities owned by the ETF. Because ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and traded like stocks listed on an exchange, shares of ETFs potentially may trade at a discount or a premium to their net asset value. An active market for the ETF may not develop. Additionally, market trading in the ETF may be halted under certain circumstances. Furthermore, investments in ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. The Fund’s investments in the shares of ETFs are subject to the limits that apply to investments in investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any exemptive relief therefrom. The Fund does not intend to invest in ETFs unless the investment adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the expenses.
Master Limited Partnerships. The Fund may invest in publicly traded limited partnerships known as “master limited partnerships” or MLPs. MLPs issue units that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are freely tradable on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. An MLP consists of one or more general partners, who conduct the business, and one or more limited partners, who contribute capital. The Fund, as a limited partner, normally would not be liable for the debts of the MLP beyond the amounts the Fund has contributed, but 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 return of capital distributed to a limited partner. This right of an MLP’s creditors would continue after the Fund sold its investment in the MLP.
Investments in Real Estate Securities. The Fund may invest in shares of real estate investment trusts (REITs), real estate operating companies (REOCs) and other real estate related securities. REITs can generally be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs or Hybrid REITs.
Equity REITs. Equity REITs are companies that primarily invest in real property and derive income mainly from the collection of rents. Equity REITs may also realize capital gains by investing in and selling properties that have appreciated in value.
Mortgage REITs. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments.
Hybrid REITs. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs.
Because the Fund can invest in the real estate industry, its performance may be linked to the performance of the real estate markets. Property values or revenues from real estate investments may fall due to many different factors, including: disruptions to real estate sales markets, increased vacancies or declining rents, negative economic developments affecting businesses or individuals, increased real estate operating costs, lower real estate demand, oversupply, obsolescence, competition, uninsured casualty losses, condemnation losses, environmental liabilities, the failure of borrowers to repay loans in a timely manner, changes in prevailing interest rates or rates of inflation, lack of available credit or changes in federal or state taxation policies affecting real estate. The price of a real estate company’s securities may also drop because of dividend reductions, lowered credit ratings, poor company management, or other factors that affect companies in general. Smaller REIT companies may be subject to greater risks than larger REIT companies. The Fund’s investments in real estate securities could cause it to perform poorly during a downturn in that industry.
Derivative Investments. The Fund may at times invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks for hedging purposes or to seek investment return.
Options, futures, options on futures, options on indices, and forward contracts are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund may use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA 9

 

derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit
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the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. Shareholders will receive 60 days’ advance notice of any change in the 80% investment policy described in “Principal Investment Strategies.” The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy or restriction is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
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Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.75% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million, 0.69% of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% of the next $200 million, 0.58% of the next $4 billion, and 0.56% of average annual net assets over $5 billion calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.68% of average annual net assets, before any applicable waivers.
After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding (i) interest, taxes, dividends tied to short sales, brokerage commissions, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles; (iii) certain other expenses attributable to, and incurred as a result of, a Fund’s investments; and (iv) other unusual and infrequent expenses (including litigation expenses) not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to annual rates of 0.80% for Non-Service Shares and 1.05% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. The Fund’s portfolio is team managed by Matthew P. Ziehl, CFA, Raymond Anello, CFA, Raman Vardharaj, CFA, Joy Budzinski, Kristin Ketner, Magnus Krantz and Adam Weiner, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio since its inception. Mr. Ziehl and Mr. Weiner serve as co-lead portfolio managers.
Mr. Ziehl has been a Vice President and senior portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Ziehl was a portfolio manager with RS Investment Management Co. LLC from October 2006 to May 2009 and served as a managing director at The Guardian Life Insurance Company from December 2001 to October 2006 when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC. Mr. Ziehl served as a portfolio manager and team leader at Salomon Brothers Asset Management, Inc. from January 2001 to December 2001. Mr. Ziehl is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Anello has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009 and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since April 2011. He has served as sector manager for energy and utilities for the Sub-Adviser’s Main Street Investment Team since May 2009. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Anello was portfolio manager of the RS All Cap Dividend product from its inception in July 2007 through April 2009 and served as a sector manager for energy and utilities for various other RS Investments products. Mr. Anello joined Guardian Life Insurance Company in October 1999 and transitioned to RS
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Investments in October 2006 in connection with Guardian Life Insurance Company’s acquisition of an interest in RS Investments. Mr. Anello served as an equity portfolio manager/analyst and high yield analyst at Orion Capital from 1995 to 1998 and an assistant portfolio manager at the Garrison Bradford portfolio management firm from 1988 to 1995. Mr. Anello is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Vardharaj has been a Vice President and portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Vardharaj was 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 from October 2006 to May 2009. He served as quantitative analyst at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America from 1998 to October 2006 when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investment Management Co. LLC. Mr. Vardharaj is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Ms. Budzinski has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009 and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since November 2012. She has served as sector manager for healthcare for the Sub-Adviser’s Main Street Investment Team since May 2009. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Ms. Budzinski was a healthcare sector manager at RS Investments and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Ms. Budzinski joined Guardian Life Insurance Company in August 2006 and transitioned to RS Investments in October 2006 in connection with Guardian Life Insurance Company’s acquisition of an interest in RS Investments. Ms. Budzinski served as senior equity analyst at Bank of New York BNY Asset Management from 2001 to 2006 and as a portfolio manager at Allianz of America from 1999 to 2001. Ms. Budzinski also served as a portfolio manager and analyst at JP Morgan Chase from 1993 to 1997 and as an analyst at Prudential Investments from 1997 to 1998. Ms. Budzinski is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Ms. Ketner has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since June 2009 and portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since November 2012. She has served as sector manager for consumer discretionary and consumer staples for the Sub-Adviser’s Main Street Investment Team since May 2009. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Ms. Ketner was a sector manager at RS Investments and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Ms. Ketner 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. Ms. Ketner served as portfolio manager at Solstice Equity Management from 2002 to 2005 and as a retail analyst at Goldman Sachs from 1999 to 2001. Ms. Ketner also served as a Director of Strategy and Integration at Staples from 1997 to 1999 and as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch from 1987 to 1992 and 1995 to 1997 and at Montgomery Securities from 1994 to 1995. Ms. Ketner is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Krantz has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009 and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since November 2012. He has served as 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 Investments 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. Mr. Krantz served as a portfolio manager and analyst at Citigroup Asset Management from 1998 to 2005 and as a consultant at Price Waterhouse from 1997 to 1998. He also served as product development engineer at Newbridge Networks from 1993 to 1996 and as a software engineer at Mitel Corporation from 1990 to 1993. Mr. Krantz is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Weiner has been a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since May 2009 and a portfolio manager of the Sub-Adviser since November 2012. He has served as sector manager for industrials and materials for the Sub-Adviser’s Main Street Investment Team since May 2009. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Weiner was a sector manager at RS Investments for industrials and materials. Prior to joining RS Investments in January 2007, Mr. Weiner was a Director and senior equity analyst at Credit Suisse Asset Management (CSAM). Mr. Weiner served as an equity analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston from 2004 to 2006 (buy-side) and 1999 to 2004 (sell-side) and Morgan Stanley from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Weiner also served as an internal auditor at Dun and Bradstreet from 1992 to 1996 and as a budget analyst, Information Resources Division of the Executive Office of the President from 1990 to 1992. Mr. Weiner is a portfolio manager of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset value for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade on an exchange and are valued based on the official closing price of each security’s principal exchange, or if not available, at the last sale price or fair value, as described below.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
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How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA 15

 

Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds, including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
16 Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

 

Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA 17

 

distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
18 Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $25.79 $24.08 $21.32 $26.56 $27.80  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.07 0.07 0.16 0.12 0.26  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.07) 3.22 3.55 (1.28) 2.74  
Total from investment operations (2.00) 3.29 3.71 (1.16) 3.00  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.08) (0.22) (0.11) (0.23) (0.25)  
Distributions from net realized gain (3.35) (1.36) (0.84) (3.85) (3.99)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (3.43) (1.58) (0.95) (4.08) (4.24)  
Net asset value, end of period $20.36 $25.79 $24.08 $21.32 $26.56  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (10.32)% 14.15% 18.05% (5.90)% 11.93%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $123,962 $152,617 $145,428 $129,104 $136,402  
Average net assets (in thousands) $150,279 $150,376 $130,889 $134,932 $133,864  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 0.28% 0.28% 0.74% 0.49% 0.99%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.83% 0.80% 0.81% 0.80% 0.80%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 0.83% 0.80% 0.81% 0.80% 0.80%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.80% 0.80%6 0.80% 0.80%6 0.79%  
Portfolio turnover rate 45% 42% 65% 43% 65%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.83%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.80%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.81%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.80%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.80%
6. Waiver was less than 0.005%.
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA 19

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $25.42 $23.75 $21.05 $26.26 $27.53  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.01 0.01 0.10 0.06 0.19  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (2.03) 3.18 3.49 (1.25) 2.71  
Total from investment operations (2.02) 3.19 3.59 (1.19) 2.90  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.02) (0.16) (0.05) (0.17) (0.18)  
Distributions from net realized gain (3.35) (1.36) (0.84) (3.85) (3.99)  
Total dividends and/or distributions to shareholders (3.37) (1.52) (0.89) (4.02) (4.17)  
Net asset value, end of period $20.03 $25.42 $23.75 $21.05 $26.26  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (10.54)% 13.91% 17.67% (6.09)% 11.66%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $735,969 $935,793 $922,037 $856,719 $968,637  
Average net assets (in thousands) $911,784 $919,475 $850,883 $927,514 $957,874  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 0.03% 0.03% 0.49% 0.24% 0.75%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.08% 1.05% 1.06% 1.05% 1.05%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 1.08% 1.05% 1.06% 1.05% 1.05%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.05% 1.05%6 1.05% 1.05%6 1.04%  
Portfolio turnover rate 45% 42% 65% 43% 65%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.08%
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.05%
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.06%
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.05%
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.05%
6. Waiver was less than 0.005%.
20 Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA

 

        
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0297.001.0419

 

 

 

 

Oppenheimer
Total Return Bond Fund/VA
A series of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

Prospectus dated April 30, 2019
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA is a mutual fund that seeks total return.
Shares of the Fund are sold only as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other insurance company separate accounts. A prospectus for the insurance product you have selected accompanies this prospectus and explains how to select shares of the Fund as an investment under that insurance product, and which share class or classes you are eligible to purchase.
This prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s objective, investment policies, strategies and risks. Please read this prospectus (and your insurance product prospectus) carefully before you invest and keep them for future reference about your account.
Share Classes:
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the Fund’s securities nor have they determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent otherwise.

 


 

The Fund Summary
Investment Objective. The Fund seeks total return.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold or redeem shares of the Fund. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information on initial or contingent deferred sales charges, exchange fees or redemption fees for that variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product. The fees and expenses of those products are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in this table. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
  Non-Service Service  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on purchases (as % of offering price) None None  
...
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds) None None  
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
  Non-Service Shares Service Shares  
Management Fees 0.60% 0.60%  
...
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None 0.25%  
...
Other Expenses 0.27% 0.27%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.87% 1.12%  
...
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement* (0.12)% (0.12)%  
...
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 0.75% 1.00%  
* After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding any applicable dividend expense, taxes, interest and fees from borrowing, any subsidiary expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage commissions, unusual and infrequent expenses and certain other Fund expenses) to annual rates of 0.75% for Non-Service Shares and 1.00% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.

Example.The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Sales charges and fees for the variable life insurance policy, variable annuity or other investment product offered by participating insurance companies are not charged by the Fund and are not reflected in the Example. Expenses would be higher if those fees were included. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Any applicable fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are reflected in the below examples for the period during which such fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements are in effect. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your expenses would be as follows, whether or not you redeemed your shares:
  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares $77 $267 $472 $1,066  
...
Service Shares $103 $346 $609 $1,360  
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 64% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in investment-grade debt securities (generally referred to as “bonds”). A debt security is a security representing money borrowed by the issuer that must be repaid. The terms of a debt security specify the amount of principal, the interest rate or discount, and the time or times at which payments are due. Debt securities can include:
Domestic and foreign corporate debt obligations;
Domestic and foreign government debt obligations, including U.S. government securities;
Mortgage-related securities;
Asset-backed securities; and
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA 1

 

Other debt obligations.
The portfolio managers’ overall strategy is to build a diversified portfolio of corporate and government bonds. The Fund’s investments in U.S. government securities may include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by its agencies or federally-chartered entities referred to as “instrumentalities.” There is no required allocation of the Fund’s assets among the classes of securities, but the Fund focuses mainly on U.S. government securities and investment-grade corporate debt securities. When market conditions change, the portfolio managers might change the Fund’s relative asset allocation.
The Fund can invest up to 20% of its total assets in lower-grade, high-yield debt securities that are below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). “Investment-grade” debt securities are rated in one of the top four rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations such as Moody’s or S&P Global Ratings. The Fund may also invest in unrated securities, in which case the Fund’s sub-adviser, OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”), may internally assign ratings to certain of those securities, after assessing their credit quality, in investment-grade or below-investment-grade categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the Sub-Adviser’s credit analysis is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
The Fund has no limitations on the range of maturities of the debt securities in which it can invest and may hold securities with short-, medium- or long-term maturities. The maturity of a security differs from its effective duration, which attempts to measure the expected volatility of a security’s price to interest rate changes. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decrease about 3%. To try to decrease volatility, the Fund seeks to maintain a weighted average effective portfolio duration of three to seven years, measured on a dollar-weighted basis using the effective duration of the securities included in its portfolio and the amount invested in each of those securities. However, the duration of the portfolio might not meet that target due to market events or interest rate changes that cause debt securities to be repaid more rapidly or more slowly than expected.
The Fund may invest in foreign debt securities, including securities issued by foreign governments or companies in both developed and emerging markets.
The Fund may also use derivatives to seek increased returns or to try to manage investment risks. Futures, swaps, forward contracts and “structured” notes are examples of some of the types of derivatives the Fund can use.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the Fund’s portfolio managers analyze the overall investment opportunities and risks in different sectors of the debt securities markets by focusing on business cycle analysis and relative values between the corporate and government sectors. The Fund mainly seeks income earnings on the Fund’s investments plus capital appreciation that may arise from decreases in interest rates, from improving credit fundamentals for a particular sector or security or from other investment techniques.
The Fund may sell securities that the portfolio managers believe no longer meet the above criteria.
Principal Risks. The price of the Fund’s shares can go up and down substantially. The value of the Fund’s investments may fall due to adverse changes in the markets in which the Fund invests or because of poor investment selection, which could cause the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risks of Investing in Debt Securities. Debt securities may be subject to interest rate risk, duration risk, credit risk, credit spread risk, extension risk, reinvestment risk, prepayment risk and event risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that when prevailing interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise; and when prevailing interest rates rise, the values of already-issued debt securities generally fall, and therefore, those debt securities may be worth less than the amount the Fund paid for them or valued them. When interest rates change, the values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities will be more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, in a rising interest rate environment than shorter-duration debt securities. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. If an issuer fails to pay interest or repay principal, the Fund’s income or share value might be reduced. Adverse news about an issuer or a downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating, for any reason, can also reduce the market value of the issuer’s securities. “Credit spread” is the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality. There is a risk that credit spreads may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price. Extension risk is the risk that an increase in interest rates could cause prepayments on a debt security to occur at a slower rate than expected. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally
2 Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA

 

subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer may redeem the security prior to the expected maturity or that borrowers may repay the loans that underlie these securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to the expected maturity. The Fund may need to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, reducing its income. Event risk is the risk that an issuer could be subject to an event, such as a buyout or debt restructuring, that interferes with its ability to make timely interest and principal payments and cause the value of its debt securities to fall.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity may decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books and could experience a loss. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices, particularly for lower-rated and unrated securities. An unexpected increase in redemptions by Fund shareholders (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by general market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. As of the date of this prospectus, interest rates in the U.S. are near historically low levels, increasing the exposure of bond investors to the risks associated with rising interest rates.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets. Under some circumstances, those concerns may cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. As compared to investment-grade debt securities, below-investment-grade debt securities (also referred to as “junk” bonds), whether rated or unrated, may be subject to greater price fluctuations and increased credit risk, as the issuer might not be able to pay interest and principal when due, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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. The market for below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Because the Fund can invest up to 20% of its total assets in lower-grade securities, the Fund’s credit risks are greater than those of funds that buy only investment grade securities. This restriction is applied at the time of purchase and the Fund may continue to hold a security whose credit rating has been downgraded or, in the case of an unrated security, after the Fund’s Sub-Adviser has changed its assessment of the security’s credit quality. As a result, credit rating downgrades or other market fluctuations may cause the Fund’s holdings of below-investment-grade securities to exceed, at times significantly, this restriction for an extended period of time. 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. If the Fund has more than 20% of its total assets invested in below-investment-grade securities, the Sub-Adviser will not purchase additional below-investment-grade securities until the level of holdings in those securities no longer exceeds the restriction.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Foreign securities are subject to special risks. Securities traded in foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than those traded in U.S. markets. Foreign issuers are usually not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to, which may make it difficult for the Fund to evaluate a foreign company’s operations or financial condition. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of investments denominated in that foreign currency and in the value of any income or distributions the Fund may receive on those investments. The value of foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, delays in the settlement of transactions, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, or other political and economic factors. In addition, due to the inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets, changes in political and economic factors in one country or region could adversely affect conditions in another country or region. Investments in foreign securities may also expose the Fund to time-zone arbitrage risk. Foreign securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares. As a result, the value of the Fund’s net assets may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares. At times, the Fund may emphasize investments in a particular country or region and may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that country or region. Foreign securities and foreign currencies held in foreign banks and securities depositories may be subject to only limited or no regulatory oversight.
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Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging markets are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges that may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed markets. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, and governments of developing or emerging market countries may also be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. Such countries’ economies may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries also may be subject to social, political or economic instability. The value of developing or emerging market countries’ currencies may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets. Investments in developing or emerging market countries may be subject to greater risks of government restrictions, including confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, restrictions on withdrawing assets from the country, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking. In addition, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs of certain developing or emerging market countries may be limited by local law. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may involve significant risks. Derivatives may be more volatile than other types of investments, may require the payment of premiums, may increase portfolio turnover, may be illiquid, and may not perform as expected. Derivatives are subject to counterparty risk and the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from its investment, or a hedge might be unsuccessful. In addition, under new rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction with a clearinghouse may entail further risks and costs.
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund’s shares are available only as an investment option under certain variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment plans offered through insurance company separate accounts of participating insurance companies. The Fund is designed primarily for investors seeking total return from a fund that invests mainly in investment-grade debt securities but which can also hold high-yield, below investment-grade securities. Those investors should be willing to assume the risks of a fund that typically invests a significant amount of its assets in corporate-debt securities and the changes in debt securities prices that can occur when interest rates change. The Fund is intended to be a long-term investment, not a short-term trading vehicle. Because the Fund’s income will fluctuate, it is not designed for investors needing an assured level of current income. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. You should carefully consider your own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.
    
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Fund’s Past Performance. The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Non-Service Shares performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the periods of time shown in the table compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Charges imposed by the insurance accounts that invest in the Fund are not included and the returns would be lower if they were. The Fund’s past investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available by calling the toll-free number on the back of this prospectus and on the Fund’s website at: https://www.oppenheimerfunds.com/fund/TotalReturnBondFundVA
During the period shown, the highest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was 8.52% (3rd Qtr 09) and the lowest return before taxes for a calendar quarter was -8.99% (1st Qtr 09).

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The following table shows the average annual total returns before taxes for each class of the Fund’s shares.
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years  
Non-Service Shares (inception 4/3/1985) (1.02)% 2.97% 5.37%  
...
Service Shares (inception 5/1/2002) (1.31)% 2.71% 5.09%  
...
Bloomberg Barclays Credit Index (2.11)% 3.22% 5.52%  
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
...
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index 0.01% 2.52% 3.48%  
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
...
FTSE Broad Investment Grade Bond Index (0.01)% 2.51% 3.36%  
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)        
Investment Adviser. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) is its sub-adviser.
Portfolio Managers. Krishna Memani and Peter A. Strzalkowski, CFA, are Vice Presidents of the Fund and have been portfolio managers for the Fund since April 2009.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. The accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company provides information about how to select the Fund as an investment option.
Taxes. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends and capital gains distributions will be taxable to the participating insurance company, if at all. Special tax rules apply to life insurance companies, variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts. For information on federal income taxation of a life insurance company with respect to its receipt of distributions from the Fund and federal income taxation of owners of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying prospectus for the applicable contract.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. The Fund, the Sub-Adviser, or their related companies may make payments to financial intermediaries, including to insurance companies that offer shares of the Fund as an investment option. These payments for the sale of Fund shares and related services may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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More About The Fund
About the Fund’s Investments
The allocation of the Fund’s portfolio among different types of investments will vary over time and the Fund’s portfolio might not always include all of the different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Risks. The following strategies and types of investments are the ones that the Fund considers to be the most important in seeking to achieve its investment objective and the following risks are those the Fund expects its portfolio to be subject to as a whole.
Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities, including: securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; or foreign sovereigns; and foreign and domestic corporate bonds, notes and debentures. The Fund may select debt securities for their income possibilities, capital appreciation or to help cushion fluctuations in the value of its portfolio. Debt securities may be subject to the following risks:
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that rising interest rates, or an expectation of rising interest rates in the near future, will cause the values of the Fund’s investments in debt securities to decline. The values of debt securities usually change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates rise, the values of outstanding debt securities generally fall, and those securities may sell at a discount from their face amount. Additionally, when interest rates rise, the decrease in values of outstanding debt securities may not be offset by higher income from new investments. When interest rates fall, the values of already-issued debt securities generally rise and the Fund’s investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the Fund’s income. The values of longer-term debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-term debt securities when interest rates change; thus, interest rate risk is usually greater for securities with longer maturities or durations. “Zero-coupon” or “stripped” securities may be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows. Interest rate changes may have different effects on the values of mortgage-related securities because of prepayment and extension risks.
Duration Risk. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities are more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, than shorter-duration debt securities, in a rising interest-rate environment. “Effective duration” attempts to measure the expected percentage change in the value of a bond or portfolio resulting from a change in prevailing interest rates. The change in the value of a bond or portfolio can be approximated by multiplying its duration by a change in interest rates. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to increase 3%. The duration of a debt security may be equal to or shorter than the full maturity of a debt security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make interest and principal payments on the security as they become due. U.S. government securities generally have lower credit risks than securities issued by private issuers or certain foreign governments. If an issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund’s income might be reduced, and if an issuer fails to repay principal, the value of the security might fall and the Fund could lose the amount of its investment in the security. The extent of this risk varies based on the terms of the particular security and the financial condition of the issuer. A downgrade in an issuer’s credit rating or other adverse news about an issuer, for any reason, can reduce the market value of that issuer’s securities.
Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market expects lower-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of the Fund’s lower-rated and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, if interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments on certain debt securities may occur at a slower rate than expected, and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall, the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds.
Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities (in particular mortgage-related securities) are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, the issuer will redeem the security
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  prior to the security’s expected maturity, or that borrowers will repay the loans that underlie these fixed-income securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to 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 the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. 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 repayment assumptions about those investments.
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.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to unusual volatility and illiquidity. Volatility and illiquidity may be more pronounced in the case of lower-rated and unrated securities. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity may be caused by a rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates), which are near historic lows in the U.S. and in other countries. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. An unexpected increase in Fund redemption requests (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. Similarly, the prices of the Fund’s holdings could be adversely affected if an investment account managed similarly to the Fund was to experience significant redemptions and that account was required to sell its holdings at an inopportune time. The liquidity of an issuer’s securities may decrease as a result of a decline in an issuer’s credit rating, the occurrence of an event that causes counterparties to avoid transacting with the issuer, or an increase in the issuer’s cash outflows, as well as other adverse market and economic developments. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all). Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns could cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets.
Following the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve sought to stabilize the economy by keeping the federal funds rate near zero percent. The Federal Reserve has also purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, pursuant to its monetary stimulus program known as “quantitative easing.” As the Federal Reserve has completed the tapering of its securities purchases pursuant to quantitative easing, it has recently raised interest rates on multiple occasions, and continues to consider future raises to the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates may rise and cause fixed-income investors to move out of fixed-income securities, which may also increase redemptions in fixed-income mutual funds.
In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
Credit Quality. The Fund can invest in securities that are rated or unrated. “Investment-grade” securities are those rated within the four highest rating categories by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations such as Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) (or, in the case of unrated securities, determined by the investment adviser to be comparable to securities rated investment-grade). “Below-investment-grade” securities are those that are rated below those categories, which are also referred to as “junk bonds.” While securities rated within the fourth highest category by S&P (meaning BBB+, BBB or BBB-) or by Moody’s (meaning Baa1, Baa2 or Baa3) are considered “investment-grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. If two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations have assigned different ratings to a security, the investment adviser uses the highest rating assigned.
Credit ratings evaluate the expectation that scheduled interest and principal payments will be made in a timely manner. They do not reflect any judgment of market risk. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer. Rating organizations might not change their credit rating of
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA 7

 

an issuer in a timely manner to reflect events that could affect the issuer’s ability to make timely payments on its obligations. In selecting securities for its portfolio and evaluating their income potential and credit risk, the Fund does not rely solely on ratings by rating organizations but evaluates business, economic and other factors affecting issuers as well. Many factors affect an issuer’s ability to make timely payments, and the credit risk of a particular security may change over time. The investment adviser also may use its own research and analysis to assess those risks. If a bond is insured, it will usually be rated by the rating organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. The rating categories are described in an appendix to the Statement of Additional Information.
Unrated Securities. Because the Fund purchases securities that are not rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, the investment adviser may internally assign ratings to those securities, after assessing their credit quality and other factors, in categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the investment adviser’s credit analysis process is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Unrated securities are considered “investment-grade” or “below-investment-grade” if judged by the investment adviser to be comparable to rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade securities. The investment adviser’s rating does not constitute a guarantee of the credit quality. In addition, some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.
In evaluating the credit quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the investment adviser will normally take into consideration a number of factors such as, if applicable, the financial resources of the issuer, the underlying source of funds for debt service on a security, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of the facility financed by the obligation, the degree of community support for the financed facility, the capabilities of the issuer’s management, and regulatory factors affecting the issuer or the particular facility.
A reduction in the rating of a security after the Fund buys it will not require the Fund to dispose of the security. However, the investment adviser will evaluate such downgraded securities to determine whether to keep them in the Fund’s portfolio.
Risks of Below-Investment-Grade Securities. Below-investment-grade securities (also referred to as “junk bonds”) generally have higher yields than investment-grade securities but also have higher risk profiles. Below-investment-grade securities are considered to be speculative and entail greater risk 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 securities, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. 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 below-investment-grade securities. The major risks of below-investment-grade securities include:
Prices of below-investment-grade securities may be subject to extreme price fluctuations, even under normal market conditions. Adverse changes in an issuer’s industry and general economic conditions may have a greater impact on the prices of below-investment-grade securities than on the prices of investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers and may be more likely to default than investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may have more outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment-grade securities. Issuers of below-investment-grade securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing.
In the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, claims of other creditors may have priority over the claims of the holders of below-investment-grade securities.
Below-investment-grade securities may be less liquid than investment-grade securities, even under normal market conditions. There are fewer dealers in the below-investment-grade securities market and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted by the dealers. Because they are less liquid, judgment may play a greater role in valuing certain of the Fund’s securities than is the case with securities trading in a more liquid market.
Below-investment-grade securities typically contain redemption provisions that permit the issuer of the securities containing such provisions to redeem the securities at its discretion. If the issuer redeems below-investment-grade securities, the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields and may lose income.
Below-investment-grade securities markets may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse credit, economic, or market conditions than investment-grade securities.
Duration. The Fund expects that under normal market conditions it will seek to maintain a weighted average effective portfolio duration of three to seven years. While the Fund seeks to maintain a weighted average effective portfolio duration of three to seven years, the weighted average maturity of the Fund’s portfolio can differ from its duration target, and the Fund can hold securities having long, medium and short maturities.
Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. “Effective duration” attempts to measure the expected percentage change in the value of a bond or portfolio resulting from a change in prevailing interest rates. The change in the value of a bond or portfolio can be approximated by multiplying its duration by a change in interest rates. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to increase 3%.
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The “maturity” of a security (the date when its principal repayment is due) differs from its effective duration, which attempts to measure the expected volatility of the security’s price to interest rate changes. The Fund measures the duration of its entire portfolio of securities on a dollar-weighted basis using the effective duration of the securities included in the portfolio and the amount invested in each of those securities, and tries to maintain a weighted average effective duration of its portfolio of three to seven years, under normal market conditions (that is, when financial markets are not in an unstable or volatile state). However, duration cannot be relied on as an exact prediction of future volatility. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its targeted portfolio duration.
Duration calculations rely on a number of assumptions and variables based on the historic performance of similar securities. Therefore, duration can be affected by unexpected economic events or conditions relating to a particular security. In the case of mortgage-related securities, duration calculations are based on historic rates of prepayments of underlying mortgages. If the mortgages underlying the Fund’s investments are prepaid more rapidly or more slowly than expected, the duration calculation for that security may not be correct.
U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities. Some of those securities are directly issued by the U.S. Treasury and are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. “Full faith and credit” means that the taxing power of the U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of principal on a security.
Some securities issued by U.S. government agencies, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through mortgage obligations (“Ginnie Maes”), are also backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Others are supported only by the credit of the agency that issued them (for example, obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, “Fannie Mae” bonds issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association and “Freddie Mac” obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). In September 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency placed the Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation into conservatorship.
U.S. Treasury Securities. Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for payment of interest and repayment of principal and have relatively little credit risk. Some of the securities that are issued directly by the U.S. Treasury are: Treasury bills (having maturities of one year or less when issued), Treasury notes (having maturities of from one to ten years when issued), Treasury bonds (having maturities of more than ten years when issued) and Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities (TIPS). While U.S. Treasury securities have relatively little credit risk, they are subject to price fluctuations from changes in interest rates prior to their maturity.
Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund can buy interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgages in the form of “pass-through” mortgage securities. They may be issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, or its agencies and instrumentalities, or by private issuers, such as corporations, banks, savings and loans, mortgage bankers and other non-governmental issuers. Mortgage-related securities may be issued in different series, each having different interest rates and maturities. The prices and yields of mortgage-related securities are determined, in part, by assumptions about the rate of payments of the underlying mortgages and are subject to the risks of unanticipated prepayment and extension risks. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to interest rate risk, and the market for mortgage-backed securities may be volatile at times and may be less liquid than the markets for other types of securities. The liquidity of mortgage-backed securities may change over time.
Mortgage-Related Government Securities. Mortgage-related securities that are U.S. government securities have collateral to secure payment of interest and principal. The collateral is either in the form of mortgage pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by a U.S. agency or instrumentality or mortgage loans insured by a U.S. government agency.
Mortgage-Related Private Issuer Securities. Primarily these investments include multi-class debt or pass-through certificates secured by mortgage loans, which may be issued by private issuers. Private-issuer mortgage-backed securities may include loans on residential or commercial properties. Mortgage-related securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), issued by private issuers are not U.S. government securities, making them subject to greater credit risks than U.S. government securities. Private issuer securities are subject to the credit risks of both the issuers and the underlying borrowers, although in some cases they may be supported by insurance or guarantees.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. 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:
pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”);
unsecuritized mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
unsecuritized conventional mortgages;
other mortgage-related securities; or
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 tranches may have coupon rates that reset
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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.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are fractional interests in pools of loans, receivables or other assets. They are issued by trusts or other special purpose vehicles and are collateralized by the loans, receivables or other assets that make up the pool. The trust or other issuer passes the income from the underlying asset pool to the investor.
Neither the Fund nor the investment adviser selects the loans, receivables or other assets that are included in the pools or the collateral backing those pools. Asset-backed securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. These securities are subject to the risk of default by the issuer as well as by the borrowers of the underlying loans in the pool. Certain asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment and extension risks.
Foreign Investing. The Fund can buy a variety of securities issued by foreign governments and other foreign issuers, as well as “supra-national” entities, such as the World Bank. The Fund’s foreign investments primarily include bonds, debentures and notes. The Fund’s foreign investments can be denominated in U.S. dollars or in foreign currencies and may be in both developed and emerging markets. Debt securities issued by a foreign government may not be supported by the “full faith and credit” of that government.
Risks of Foreign Investing. Securities traded in foreign markets often involve special risks not present in U.S. investments that can increase the chances the Fund will lose money. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with foreign investing is provided below.
Foreign Market Risk. If there are fewer investors in a particular foreign market, securities traded in that market may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities and more difficult to price. Foreign markets may also be subject to delays in the settlement of transactions and difficulties in pricing securities. If the Fund is delayed in settling a purchase or sale transaction, it may not receive any return on the invested assets or it may lose money if the value of the security declines. It may also be more expensive for the Fund to buy or sell securities in certain foreign markets than in the United States, which may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Economy Risk. Foreign economies may be more vulnerable to political or economic changes than the U.S. economy. They may be more concentrated in particular industries or may rely on particular resources or trading partners to a greater extent. Certain foreign economies may be adversely affected by shortages of investment capital or by high rates of inflation. Changes in economic or monetary policy in the U.S. or abroad may also have a greater impact on the economies of certain foreign countries.
Foreign Governmental and Regulatory Risks. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements as U.S. companies. As a result there may be less accurate information available regarding a foreign company’s operations and financial condition. Foreign companies may be subject to capital controls, nationalization, or confiscatory taxes. There may be less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the United States. Some countries also have restrictions that limit foreign ownership and may impose penalties for increases in the value of the Fund’s investment. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be affected if it experiences difficulties in enforcing legal judgments in foreign courts.
Foreign Currency Risk. A change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. If the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth less in U.S. dollars and if the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, a security denominated in that currency will be worth more in U.S. dollars. The dollar value of foreign investments may also be affected by exchange controls. Foreign currency exchange transactions may impose additional costs on the Fund. The Fund can also invest in derivative instruments linked to foreign currencies. The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of derivatives linked to that foreign currency. The investment adviser’s selection of foreign currency denominated investments may not perform as expected. Currency derivative investments may be particularly volatile and subject to greater risks than other types of foreign-currency denominated investments.
Foreign Custody Risk. There may be very limited regulatory oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and foreign currency and the laws of certain countries may limit the ability to recover such assets if a foreign bank or depository or their agents goes bankrupt. There may also be an increased risk of loss of portfolio securities.
Time Zone Arbitrage. If the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in foreign securities, it may be exposed to “time-zone arbitrage” attempts by investors seeking to take advantage of differences in the values of foreign securities that might result from events that occur after the close of the foreign securities market on which a security is traded and before the close of the New York Stock Exchange that day, when the Fund’s net asset value is calculated. If such time zone arbitrage were successful, it might dilute the interests of other shareholders. However, the Fund’s use of “fair value pricing” under certain circumstances, to adjust the closing market prices of foreign securities to reflect what the investment adviser and the Board believe to be their fair value, may help deter those activities.
Globalization Risks. The growing inter-relationship of global economies and financial markets has increased the effect of conditions in one country or region on issuers of securities in a different country or region. In particular, the adoption or
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  prolongation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries, changes in economic or monetary policy in the United States or abroad, or a slowdown in the U.S. economy, could lead to a decrease in demand for products and reduced flows of capital and income to companies in other countries.
Regional Focus. At times, the Fund might increase the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular region of the world. Securities of issuers in a region might be affected by changes in economic conditions or by changes in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that region more than others. If the Fund has a greater emphasis on investments in a particular region, it may be subject to greater risks from adverse events that occur in that region than a fund that invests in a different region or that is more geographically diversified. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region may adversely affect the values of the Fund’s holdings.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Investments in developing and emerging market countries are subject to all the risks associated with foreign investing, however, these risks may be magnified in developing and emerging markets. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information regarding certain of the risks associated with investing in developing and emerging markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries and may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets, and settlement delays may result in the inability to invest assets or to dispose of portfolio securities in a timely manner. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. The governments of developing or emerging market countries may be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Developing or emerging market countries may be subject to social, political, or economic instability. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking.
Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. However, in certain developing or emerging market countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in “derivative” instruments. A derivative is an instrument whose value depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying security, asset, interest rate, index or currency. Derivatives may allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to certain markets or risks.
The Fund may use derivatives to seek to increase its investment return or for hedging purposes. The Fund is not required to use derivatives in seeking its investment objective or for hedging and might not do so.
Futures, swaps and “structured” notes are some of the types of derivatives that the Fund can use. The Fund may also use other types of derivatives that are consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
Total Return Swaps. In a total return swap transaction, one party agrees to pay the other party an amount equal to the total return on a defined underlying asset or a non-asset reference during a specified period of time. The underlying asset might be a security or asset or basket of securities or assets or a non-asset reference such as a securities or other type of index. In return, the other party would make periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or on the total return from a different underlying asset or non-asset reference.
Risks of Total Return Swaps. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Total return swaps can have the potential for unlimited losses. They are also subject to counterparty risk. If the counterparty fails to meet its obligations, the Fund may lose money.
Interest Rate Futures. The Fund may use interest rate futures to manage exposure to interest rate risk or protect the Fund from fluctuations in the value of securities. An interest rate future is a contract for the future delivery of a debt security for a price based on the current value of the security. An interest rate future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) cash or the specified type of debt security to settle the futures transaction at its maturity. Either party could also enter into an offsetting contract to close out the position. For example, to seek to mitigate the risk that increasing prevailing interest rates may decrease the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, the Fund might sell a U.S. Treasury bond future obligating it to sell a U.S. Treasury bond on a future date for an amount based on the current value of the bond. If prevailing interest rates rise, the Fund would be expected to be able to enter into an offsetting contract at a gain.
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Risks of Interest Rate Futures. Interest rate futures expose the Fund to price fluctuations resulting from interest rate changes. If interest rates rise when the Fund has purchased an interest rate future, the Fund could suffer a loss in its futures positions. If interest rates fall when the Fund has sold an interest rate future, the Fund could similarly suffer a loss. The market value of interest rate futures may not move in concert with the value of the securities the Fund wishes to hedge or intends to purchase. Further, a lack of market liquidity could make it difficult to close out futures positions.
Credit Default Swaps. A credit default swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a credit event with respect to an issuer, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal on its debt obligations, bankruptcy or restructuring. A credit default swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument.
Generally, if the Fund buys credit protection using a credit default swap, the Fund will make fixed payments to the counterparty and if a credit event occurs with respect to the applicable issuer, the Fund will deliver the issuer’s defaulted bonds underlying the swap to the swap counterparty and the counterparty will pay the Fund par for the bonds. If the Fund sells credit protection using a credit default swap, generally the Fund will receive fixed payments from the counterparty and if a credit event occurs with respect to the applicable issuer, the Fund will pay the swap counterparty par for the issuer’s defaulted bonds and the swap counterparty will deliver the bonds to the Fund. Alternatively, a credit default swap may be cash settled and the buyer of protection would receive the difference between the par value and the market value of the issuer’s defaulted bonds from the seller of protection. If the credit default swap is on a basket of issuers, the notional value of the swap is reduced by the amount represented by that issuer, and the fixed payments are then made on the reduced notional value.
Risks of Credit Default Swaps. Credit default swaps are subject to credit risk of the underlying issuer and to counterparty credit risk. If the counterparty fails to meet its obligations, the Fund may lose money. Credit default swaps are also subject to the risk that the Fund will not properly assess the risk of the underlying issuer. If the Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that the Fund will have to pay the counterparty. If the Fund is buying credit protection, there is a risk that no credit event will occur and the Fund will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
Interest Rate Swaps. In an interest rate swap, the Fund and another party exchange the right to receive interest payments. For example, they might swap the right to receive floating rate payments based on a reference rate for the right to receive fixed rate payments. An interest rate swap enables an investor to buy or sell protection against changes in an interest rate. An interest rate swap may be embedded within a structured note or other derivative instrument.
Risks of Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. An interest rate swap transaction could result in losses if the underlying asset or reference rate does not perform as anticipated. Interest rate swaps are also subject to counterparty risk. If the counterparty fails to meet its obligations, the Fund may lose money.
“Structured” Notes. “Structured” notes are specially-designed derivative debt instruments. The terms of the instrument may be determined or “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, a commodity or 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 obligor.
Risks of “Structured” Notes. Structured notes are subject to interest rate risk. They 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 structured note might pay less interest than the stated coupon payment or repay less principal upon maturity. The price of structured notes may be very volatile and they may have a limited trading market, making it difficult to value them or sell them at an acceptable price. In some cases, the Fund may enter into agreements with an issuer of structured notes to purchase a minimum amount of those notes over time.
In some cases, the Fund may invest in structured notes that pay an amount based on a multiple of the relative change in value of the underlying investment or index. This type of note increases the potential for income but at a greater risk of loss than a typical debt security of the same maturity and credit quality.
Foreign Currency Forwards and Options. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future delivery at a fixed price. They are used to lock in the U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or to protect against possible losses from changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar against a foreign currency. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted, which could result in losses on those contracts and additional transaction costs. The use of forward contracts could reduce performance if there are unanticipated changes in currency prices. Options on foreign currencies may be used to try to protect against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign securities the Fund owns and against increases in the dollar cost of foreign securities the Fund anticipates buying. Options on foreign currencies are affected by the factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally. The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on foreign currency options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market, and there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time.
The Fund may take positions in foreign currency and forward contracts consistent with its investment strategies or for hedging purposes.
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Hedging. Hedging transactions are intended to reduce the risks of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. At times, however, a hedging instrument’s value might not be correlated with the investment it is intended to hedge, and the hedge might be unsuccessful. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly the strategy could reduce its return or create a loss.
Risks of Derivative Investments. Derivatives may be volatile and may involve significant risks. The underlying security, obligor or other instrument on which a derivative is based, or the derivative itself, may not perform as expected. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative investment. In addition, some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid, making it difficult to close out an unfavorable position. Derivative transactions may require the payment of premiums and may increase portfolio turnover. Derivatives are subject to credit risk, since the Fund may lose money on a derivative investment if the issuer or counterparty fails to pay the amount due. As a result of these risks, the Fund could realize little or no income or lose money from the investment, or the use of a derivative for hedging might be unsuccessful.
In addition, under rules enacted under financial reform legislation, certain over-the-counter derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, are required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is unclear how these regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk, and entering into a derivative transaction that is cleared may entail further risks and costs, including the counterparty risk of the clearinghouse and the futures commission merchant through which the Fund accesses the clearinghouse.
Other Investment Strategies and Risks. The Fund can also use the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Fund might not use all of these techniques or strategies or might only use them from time to time.
Special Portfolio Diversification Requirements. To enable a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract based on an insurance company separate account to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, the underlying investments must follow special diversification requirements that limit the percentage of assets that can be invested in securities of particular issuers. The Fund’s investment program is managed to meet those requirements, in addition to other diversification requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and the Investment Company Act of 1940 that apply to publicly-sold mutual funds.
Failure by the Fund to meet those special requirements could cause earnings on a contract owner’s interest in an insurance company separate account to be taxable income. Those diversification requirements might also limit, to some degree, the Fund’s investment decisions in a way that could reduce its performance.
Forward Rolls. The Fund can enter into “forward roll” transactions (also referred to as “mortgage dollar rolls”) with respect to mortgage-related securities. In this type of transaction, the Fund sells a mortgage-related security to a buyer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security at a later date at a set price. 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. The Fund will bear the risk that the market value of the securities might decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase them or that the counterparty might default in its obligations.
A substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be subject to forward roll transactions at any given time.
Zero-Coupon and Stripped Securities. Some of the debt securities the Fund may invest in are zero-coupon or stripped securities. They may be issued by the U.S. government or private issuers. Zero-coupon securities pay no interest prior to their maturity date or another specified date in the future but are issued at a discount from their face value. Stripped securities are the separate income or principal components of a debt security. One component might receive all the interest and the other all the principal payments. The securities that are entitled to only the principal payments may be sold at a substantial discount from the market value of the initial security.
Zero-coupon and stripped securities are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates and may be subject to greater price fluctuations as a result of interest rate changes than interest bearing securities. The Fund may be required to pay a dividend of the imputed income on a zero-coupon or principal-only security at a time when it has not actually received the income. The values of interest-only and principal-only securities are also very sensitive to prepayments of underlying obligations. When prepayments tend to fall, the timing of the cash flows to principal-only securities increases, making them more sensitive to interest rates. The market for zero-coupon and stripped securities may be limited, making it difficult for the Fund to value them or dispose of its holdings quickly at an acceptable price.
The Fund can invest up to 50% of its total assets in zero-coupon securities issued by either the U.S. Treasury or by private issuers.
Special Considerations of Senior Loans and Other Loans. The Fund may invest in loans, and in particular, in floating rate loans (sometimes referred to as “adjustable rate loans”) that hold (or in the judgment of the investment adviser, hold) a senior position in the capital structure of U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities that, under normal circumstances, allow them to have priority of claim ahead of (or at least as high as) other obligations of a borrower in the event of liquidation. These investments are referred to as “Senior Loans.”
Senior loans typically have higher recoveries than other debt obligations that rank lower in the priority of payments for a particular debtor, because in most instances they take preference over those subordinated debt obligations, with respect to payment of interest and principal, and over stock. However, the Fund is still subject to the risk that the borrower under a
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loan will default on scheduled interest or principal payments and that the assets of the borrower to which the Fund has recourse will be insufficient to satisfy in full the payment obligations that the borrower has to the Fund. The risk of default will increase in the event of an economic downturn or, in the case of a floating rate loan, a substantial increase in interest rates (because the cost of the borrower’s debt service will increase as the interest rate on its loan is upwardly adjusted). The Fund may own a debt obligation of a borrower that becomes, or is about to become, insolvent. The Fund can also purchase debt obligations that are extended to a bankrupt entity (so called debtor-in-possession or ‘DIP’ financing) or debt obligations that are issued in connection with a restructuring of the borrower under bankruptcy laws.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities, and in the event of fraud or misrepresentation by a borrower or an arranger, lenders will not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, as would be the case for bonds or stocks. Instead, in such cases, lenders generally rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement itself, and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
How the Fund Invests in Loans. The Fund may invest in loans in one or more of three ways: the Fund may invest directly in a loan by acting as an original lender; the Fund may invest directly in a loan by purchasing a loan by an assignment; or the Fund may invest indirectly in a loan by purchasing a participation interest in a loan. The Fund may also gain exposure to loans indirectly using certain derivative instruments, which is described elsewhere in this prospectus.
Original Lender. The Fund can invest in loans, generally “at par” (a price for the loan equal approximately to 100% of the funded principal amount of the loan, minus any original issue discount) as an original lender. When the Fund is an original lender, it is entitled to receive a return at the full interest rate for the loan.
Loan Assignments. The Fund may also purchase a loan by assignment. In a loan assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to the rights and obligations of the assigning lender under the loan agreement and becomes a “lender” under the loan agreement, entitled to the same rights (including, but not limited to, enforcement or set-off rights) that are available to lenders generally. When the Fund buys an assignment, it may be required to pay a fee, or cede a portion of the interest and fees that accrued prior to settlement of the assignment, to the lender selling the assignment. Occasionally, the selling lender 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 interest and fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to. In addition, the Fund may be required to pay a transfer fee to the lending agent.
Participation Interests. The Fund may invest in participation interests in loans. Participation interests represent an undivided fractional interest in a loan. They are typically purchased from banks or dealers that have made the loan or have become members of the loan syndicate by purchasing the loan by assignment. When the Fund invests in a loan via a participation, the participation seller remains the lender of record under the loan agreement, and the Fund typically becomes the beneficial owner of the loan, and is entitled to receive from the participation seller any payments or other property or distributions received by the participation seller from or on behalf of the borrower of the loan. When the Fund buys a participation, it may be required to pay a fee, or cede a portion of the interest and fees that accrued prior to settlement of the participation, to the lender selling the participation. Occasionally, the selling lender pays a fee to the participant. If the Fund sells a participation, it may be required to pass along to a buyer a portion of any interest and fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to.
Recourse. When the Fund invests in loans as an original lender it will have direct recourse against the borrower in the event of a failure to pay scheduled principal or interest. When it purchases a loan by assignment, it typically succeeds to whatever rights the assigning lender had under the loan agreement, and will therefore be entitled to the same rights (including, but not limited to, enforcement or set-off rights) that are available to lenders generally. When the Fund buys a participation interest, it assumes the credit risk of the borrower and the counterparty risk of the lender selling the participation interest (and, in certain circumstances, such lender’s credit risk), and the terms of the participation may not entitle the Fund to all rights of a direct lender under the loan (for example, with respect to consent, voting or enforcement rights). Therefore, the Fund’s rights under a participation interest for a particular loan may be more limited than the rights of the original lender or an investor who acquires an assignment of that loan. Where the Fund invests in a loan via a participation, the Fund generally will have no right of direct recourse against the borrower or ability to otherwise directly enforce the terms of the loan agreement.
Investments in Pooled Investment Entities that Invest in Loans. The Fund can also buy interests in trusts and other pooled entities (including other investment companies) that invest primarily or exclusively in loan obligations, including entities sponsored or advised by the Manager or an affiliate. The Fund will be subject to the pooled entity’s credit risks as well as the credit risks of the underlying loans. The loans underlying these investments may include loans to foreign or U.S. borrowers, may be collateralized or uncollateralized and may be rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade or may be unrated. These investments are subject to the risk of default by the borrower, interest rate and prepayment risk, as well as credit risks of the pooled entity that holds the loan obligations.
Interest Rates and Floating or Adjustable Rate Loans. The loans in which the Fund invests typically have floating or adjustable interest rates. For that reason, the Sub-Adviser expects that when interest rates change, the values of these floating rate loans will fluctuate less than the values of fixed-rate debt securities, and that the net asset values of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate less than the shares of funds that invest mainly in fixed-rate debt obligations. However, the interest rates of some floating rate loans adjust only periodically. Between the times that interest rates on floating rate loans adjust (which is most often quarterly, but may be monthly, every six months, or some other period), the interest rates on those floating rate loans may not correlate to prevailing interest rates. That will affect the value of the loans and may cause the net asset values of the Fund’s shares to fluctuate.
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The base rate usually is a benchmark that “floats” or changes to reflect current interest rates, such as:
the prime rate offered by one or more major U.S. banks (referred to as the “Prime Rate”), or
the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).
The applicable rate is defined in the loan agreement. Borrowers tend to select the base lending rate that results in the lowest interest cost, and the benchmark selected by a borrower for its loans may change from time to time (but the benchmark selected for a particular loan will remain the same for the life of that loan). If the benchmark interest rate on a floating rate loan changes, the rate payable to lenders under the floating rate loan will, in turn, change at the next scheduled adjustment date. If the benchmark rate increases, the Fund would earn interest at a higher rate on that floating rate loan after the next scheduled adjustment date. If the benchmark rate decreases, the Fund would earn interest at a lower rate on that floating rate loan after the next scheduled adjustment date.
The Fund may use interest rate swap agreements and other hedging practices to mitigate fluctuations in value when the interest rate under the loan is periodically reset.
The Fund may invest in loans having a fixed rate of interest; however, it is unlikely to do so because fixed rate loans are uncommon in the loan market generally.
Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on LIBOR, which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on a fund or the financial instruments in which a fund invests cannot yet be determined.
Prepayment. The Fund has no limits as to the maturity of loans it may purchase. Senior Loans in general have a stated term of between five and seven years, and other types of loans in which the Fund may invest may have shorter or longer maturities. Notwithstanding their stated maturity, loans may be prepaid prior to their stated terms for reasons including, but not limited to, high market demand for loans, refinancing by the borrower, mandatory prepayment requirements or desire of the borrower to repay outstanding debt. If a borrower prepays a loan, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other loans or financial assets that may pay lower rates of return. However, any prepayment and facility fees the Fund receives may help reduce any adverse impact on the Fund’s yield. Because the interest rates on floating rate loans adjust periodically, the Sub-Adviser believes that the Fund should generally be able to reinvest prepayments in floating rate loans that have yields similar to those that have been prepaid.
Subordination. Senior loans typically hold the most senior position in a borrower’s capital structure. They may include loans that hold the most senior position alone, loans that hold an equal ranking with other senior debt, or loans that are, in the judgment of the Sub-Adviser, in the category of senior debt of the borrower. Borrowers typically are required contractually to pay the holders of senior loans before they pay the holders of subordinated debt and preferred or common shareholders and give the holders of senior secured loans a claim on some or all of the borrower’s assets that is senior to that of subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock of the borrower in the event that the borrower defaults or becomes bankrupt. Senior loans are subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior loan to presently existing or future indebtedness or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans.
That senior position in the borrower’s capital structure typically gives the holders of senior loans a claim on some or all of the borrower’s assets that is senior to that of subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock of the borrower in the event that the borrower defaults or becomes bankrupt. This means in the event the assets of the borrower are insufficient in value to satisfy all its creditors, senior debt will be satisfied in priority to debt that is subordinate to senior debt.
Lien Position. Loans that are collateralized may have multiple lenders or other creditors that take different lien positions. While second lien loan positions generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in first lien loan positions, second lien loan positions have the additional risk that if the borrower defaults on its obligations under the loan and the loan creditors enforce their security interest or if the borrower becomes bankrupt, the secured claims of the creditors in the first lien position will be satisfied prior to the secured claims of the creditors in the second lien position. If the cash flow and assets of the borrower are insufficient to satisfy both the first lien loans and the second lien loans in full, the creditors in the second lien position may not be satisfied in full. If a loan has first and second lien positions, typically the Fund will invest in the first lien position; however, it may invest in the second lien position. Second lien positions generally pay a higher margin than first lien positions to compensate second lien creditors for the greater risk they assume.
Collateral. Loans may be fully collateralized with one or more of (1) working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory, (2) tangible fixed assets, such as real property, buildings and equipment, (3) intangible assets such as trademarks or patents, or (4) shares of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates. A loan agreement may or may not require the borrower to pledge additional collateral to secure a loan if the value of the initial collateral declines, or if additional assets are acquired by the borrower. Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of those assets would satisfy a borrower’s obligations under a loan in full. A borrower’s subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders or owners may provide collateral in the form of secured guarantees and/or security interests in assets that they own. However, the value of the collateral may decline after the Fund invests in the loan, particularly if the collateral consists of equity securities of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
If a borrower defaults, insolvency laws may limit the Fund’s access to the collateral, or the lenders may be unable to liquidate the collateral. A bankruptcy court might find that the lenders’ security interest or their enforcement of their
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security under the loan to be invalid, or a bankruptcy court may require the borrower to use the collateral to pay other outstanding obligations prior to satisfying the lenders in full. If the collateral consists of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries, the stock may lose all of its value in the event of a bankruptcy, which would leave the Fund exposed to greater potential loss. In addition, in the event of a borrower default on a collateralized loan, the Fund may receive assets other than cash or securities in full or partial satisfaction of the borrower’s obligation under the loan. Those assets may be illiquid, and the Fund might not be able to realize the benefit of the assets for legal, practical or other reasons. The Fund might hold those assets until the Sub-Adviser determines it is appropriate to dispose of them. If the collateral becomes illiquid or loses some or all of its value, the collateral may not be sufficient in value to compensate the Fund in full in the event of a default of scheduled interest or principal payments.
The Fund can invest in loans that are not secured by any specific collateral of the borrower. If the borrower is unable to pay interest or defaults in the payment of principal, there will be no collateral on which the Fund can foreclose. Therefore, these loans present greater risks than collateralized loans because the recourse of the Fund to the borrower’s assets in the case of a default would be as a general unsecured creditor. The Fund applies the same investment and credit standards to unsecured loans as to secured loans, except for collateral requirements.
Highly Leveraged Transactions and Insolvent Borrowers. The Fund can invest in loans made in connection with highly leveraged transactions. These transactions may include operating loans, leveraged buyout loans, leveraged capitalization loans and other types of acquisition financing. Those loans are subject to greater credit risks than other loans. Highly leveraged loans and loans in default also may be less liquid than other loans. If the Fund voluntarily or involuntarily sold those types of loans, it might not receive the full value it expected.
The Fund can also invest in loans of borrowers that are experiencing, or are likely to experience, financial difficulty. In addition, the Fund can invest in loans of borrowers that have filed for bankruptcy protection or that have had involuntary bankruptcy petitions filed against them by creditors. Various laws enacted for the protection of debtors may apply to loans. A bankruptcy proceeding against a borrower could delay or limit the ability of the Fund to collect the principal and interest payments on that borrower’s loans. If a lawsuit is brought by creditors of a borrower under a loan, a court or a trustee in bankruptcy could take certain actions that would be adverse to the Fund.
Restrictive Loan Covenants. Borrowers must comply with various restrictive covenants typically contained in loan agreements. They may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to stockholders, provisions requiring the borrower to maintain specific financial ratios, and limits on total debt. They may include requirements that the borrower prepay the loan with any free cash flow. A break of a covenant that is not waived by the agent bank (or the lenders) is normally an event of default that provides the agent bank or the lenders the right to call the outstanding amount on the loan. If a lender accelerates the repayment of a loan because of the borrower’s violation of a restrictive covenant under the loan agreement, the borrower might default in payment of the loan.
Limited Secondary Market for Loans. Due to restrictions on transfers in loan agreements and the nature of the private syndication of loans, some loans are not as easily purchased or sold as publicly-traded securities. As a result, some loans are illiquid, which means that the Fund may be limited in its ability to sell those loans at an acceptable price when it wants to in order to generate cash, avoid losses or to meet repurchase requests. The market for illiquid financial assets is more volatile than the market for liquid investments and it may be more difficult to obtain accurate valuations for the Fund’s investments.
Possible Limited Availability of Loans. Direct investments in loans and, to a lesser degree, investments in participation interests in or assignments of loans may be limited. The limited availability may be due to a number of factors. Direct lenders may allocate only a small number of loans to new investors, including the Fund. There may be fewer loans available for investment that meet the Fund’s credit standards, particularly in times of economic downturns. Also, lenders or agents may have an incentive to market the less desirable loans to investors such as the Fund while retaining attractive loans for themselves. This would reduce the amount of attractive investments for the Fund. If market demand for loans increases, the interest paid by loans that the Fund holds may decrease.
Delayed Settlement. Compared to securities and to certain other types of financial assets, purchases and sales of loans take relatively longer to settle. This is partly due to the nature of loans, which require a written assignment agreement and various ancillary documents for each transfer, and frequently require discretionary consents from both the borrower and the administrative agent. In addition, dealers frequently insist on matching their purchases and sales, which can lead to delays in the Fund’s settlement of a purchase or sale in circumstances where the dealer’s corresponding transaction with another party is delayed. Dealers will also sometimes sell loans short, and hold their trades open for an indefinite period while waiting for a price movement or looking for inventory to purchase. This extended settlement process can (i) increase the counterparty credit risk borne by the Fund; (ii) leave the Fund unable to timely vote, or otherwise act with respect to, loans it has agreed to purchase; (iii) delay the Fund from realizing the proceeds of a sale of a loan; (iv) inhibit the Fund’s ability to re-sell a loan that it has agreed to purchase if conditions change (leaving the Fund more exposed to price fluctuations); (v) prevent the Fund from timely collecting principal and interest payments; and (vi) expose the Fund to adverse tax or regulatory consequences. To the extent the extended loan settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, such as the need to satisfy redemption requests, the Fund may hold cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks or other lenders. If the Fund undertakes such measures, the Fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds in a timely manner, as well as the Fund’s performance, may be adversely affected.
Credit Quality Standards for Loans. Rating organizations, such as S&P or Moody’s, rate debt obligations by rating the issuer, after evaluating the issuer’s financial soundness. Generally, the lower the investment rating, the more risky the
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investment. Debt securities rated below “BBB-” by S&P or “Baa3” by Moody’s are commonly referred to as “high risk” securities or, in the case of bonds, “junk bonds.” Loans rated “B” are below investment grade and are regarded by rating organizations as predominantly speculative with respect to the borrower’s ability to repay interest and principal when due over a long period. While securities rated Baa by Moody’s or BBB by S&P are considered to be “investment grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. The Fund may invest in loans that are rated both investment grade and below-investment grade by different rating organizations. An appendix to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes the definitions of the rating categories of the principal rating organizations.
Many loans are not rated by rating organizations. The lack of a rating does not necessarily imply that a loan is of lesser investment quality.
While the Fund expects to have access to financial and other information regarding the borrower that has been made available to the lenders under a loan, it may not have such information in connection with participation interests and certain loan assignments. Additionally, the amount of public information available with respect to loans generally will be less extensive than what is available for exchange-listed or otherwise registered securities.
The Sub-Adviser will normally seek to avoid receiving material, non-public information about the issuers of loans being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. The Sub-Adviser’s decision not to receive material, non-public information under normal circumstances may place the Fund at a disadvantage relative to other investors in loans, and could adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance. In certain cases, the Sub-Adviser may nevertheless receive material, non-public information regarding loans, and its ability to trade in such loans for the account of the Fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.
Common Stock and Other Equity Investments. Equity securities include common stock, preferred stock, rights, warrants and certain securities that are convertible into common stock. Equity investments may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter securities.
The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stocks and other equity securities fluctuate in price in response to changes to equity markets in general. Stock markets may experience significant short-term volatility and may fall sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed-income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.
The prices of equity securities generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small- or mid-cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry) their share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for that type of security.
Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and in claims for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy.
Preferred stock has a set dividend rate and ranks ahead of common stocks and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative (they remain a liability of the company until paid) or non-cumulative. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If prevailing interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive, which may cause the price of preferred stock to decline.
Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at specific prices that are valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities, and can be more volatile than the price of the underlying securities. If the market price of the underlying security does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless and any amount paid for the warrant will be lost. The market for warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell a warrant promptly at an acceptable price. 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.
Convertible securities can be converted into or exchanged for a set amount of common stock of an issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or according to a price formula. Convertible debt securities pay interest and convertible preferred stocks pay dividends until they mature or are converted, exchanged or redeemed. Some convertible debt securities may be considered “equity equivalents” because of the feature that makes them convertible into common stock. The conversion feature of convertible securities generally causes the market value of convertible securities to increase when the value of the underlying common stock increases, and to fall when the stock price falls. The market value of a convertible security reflects both its “investment value,” which is its expected income potential, and its “conversion value,” which is its anticipated market value if it were converted. If its conversion value exceeds its investment value, the security will generally behave more like an equity security, in which case its price will tend to fluctuate with the price of the underlying common stock or other security. If its investment value exceeds its conversion
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  value, the security will generally behave more like a debt security, in which case the security’s price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Convertible securities may offer the Fund the ability to participate in stock market movements while also seeking some current income. Convertible securities may provide more income than common stock but they generally provide less income than comparable non-convertible debt securities. Most convertible securities will vary, to some extent, with changes in the price of the underlying common stock and are therefore subject to the risks of that stock. In addition, convertible securities may be subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. However, credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on the value of the securities than they do for non-convertible debt securities. Some convertible preferred stocks have a mandatory conversion feature or a call feature that allows the issuer to redeem the stock on or prior to a mandatory conversion date. Those features could diminish the potential for capital appreciation on the investment.
Diversification and Concentration. The Fund is a diversified fund. It attempts to reduce its exposure to the risks of individual securities by diversifying its investments across a broad number of different issuers. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in issuers in any one industry. At times, however, the Fund may emphasize investments in some industries or sectors more than others. The prices of securities of issuers in a particular industry or sector may go up and down in response to changes in economic conditions, government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that affect that industry or sector more than others. To the extent that the Fund increases the relative emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector. The Securities and Exchange Commission staff 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; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Illiquid and Restricted Investments. Investments that do not have an active trading market, or that have legal or contractual limitations on their resale, are generally referred to as “illiquid” investments. Illiquid investments may be difficult to value or to sell promptly at an acceptable price or may require registration under applicable securities laws before they can be sold publicly. Securities that have limitations on their resale are referred to as “restricted securities.” Certain restricted investments that are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers may not be regarded as illiquid.
The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. The Fund’s holdings of illiquid investments are monitored on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any of those investments to maintain adequate liquidity.
Conflicts of Interest. The investment activities of the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates with respect to other funds and accounts they manage may present potential conflicts of interest that could, under certain circumstances, disadvantage or adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates advise other funds and accounts that have investment objectives and strategies that differ from, and may be contrary to, those of the Fund. That may result in another fund or account holding investment positions that are adverse to the Fund’s investment strategies or activities. Other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may also have conflicting interests arising from investment objectives and strategies that are similar to those of the Fund. For example, those funds and accounts may engage in, and compete for, the same types of investment opportunities as the Fund or invest in securities of the same issuers that have different features and interests as compared to securities held by the Fund. These features (such as seniority, guarantees and differential voting rights) may, under certain circumstances, come into conflict with or disadvantage securities held by the Fund. In addition, other funds or accounts advised by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates may invest in the Fund’s shares. Because the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may carry out the investment activities of those other funds or accounts without regard to the investment objectives or performance of the Fund, it is possible that the value of investments held by the Fund (or shares of the Fund itself, if applicable) or the Fund’s investment strategies may be adversely affected.
The Fund’s investment performance will usually differ from the performance of other funds or accounts that are also advised by the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates even in cases where the investment objectives and strategies of the relevant funds or accounts are similar. When managing multiple funds or accounts, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may make decisions with respect to investment positions held by certain funds or accounts that may cause the Fund to experience losses during periods in which other funds or accounts achieve gains. This may include causing another fund or account to take actions with respect to an issuer’s liquidation, restructuring, default or corporate actions that may conflict with the interests of the Fund. Similar conflicts may also arise when the Fund and other funds or accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund holds equity or debt obligations of an issuer, and another fund or account holds more senior (or junior) debt obligations of the same issuer, or when the Fund and other funds or accounts hold securities of different issuers that have competing claims to the same assets or sources of payment. In such circumstances, decisions regarding whether to trigger an event of default, the terms of any potential workout or restructuring of a distressed issuer, liquidating or selling an investment, corporate actions, litigation or other investment decisions may, and often do, result in conflicts of interest. The Fund may receive lower returns on its investment in an issuer as a result of actions taken with respect to the same or related issuers by other investors, including other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates.
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The Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may manage funds or accounts with different fee rates and/or fee structures, including funds or accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”). Such differences in fee arrangements may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. For example, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates could potentially allocate the most attractive investments to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts, or the trading of higher-fee accounts could potentially be favored as to timing and/or execution price.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate where possible potential conflicts of interest identified by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. However, such policies and procedures may also limit the Fund’s investment activities and affect its performance. For example, the investment activities of such funds or accounts may result in the Manager’s, the Sub-Adviser’s or their affiliates’ receipt of material non-public information concerning certain securities, which could lead to restrictions in the trading of such securities or other investment activities of the Fund or other funds or accounts managed by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates. In certain cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may avoid certain investment opportunities or actions that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could also have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities and performance. In other cases, the Fund’s Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates may choose not to or fail to avoid investment opportunities or action that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other funds or accounts, which could under certain circumstances disadvantage the Fund while advantaging other funds or accounts or vice versa.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the information above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist when simultaneously managing the Fund and other funds and accounts.
The Fund offers its shares to separate accounts of different insurance companies, as an investment for their variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies and other investment products. While the Fund does not foresee any disadvantages to contract owners from these arrangements, it is possible that the interests of owners of different contracts participating in the Fund through different separate accounts might conflict. For example, a conflict could arise because of differences in tax treatment.
Investments in Money Market Instruments. The Fund can invest its free cash balances in money market instruments to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. Money market instruments are short-term, U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued or guaranteed by domestic and foreign corporations and financial institutions, the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities and other entities. Money market instruments include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, treasury bills, certain asset-backed securities and other short term debt obligations that have a final maturity, as defined under rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940, of 397 days or less. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates. Money market instruments are subject to certain risks, including the risk that an issuer of an obligation that the Fund holds might have its credit rating downgraded or might default on its obligations, or that interest rates might rise sharply, causing the value of the Fund’s investments to fall.
The Fund may invest in money market instruments by investing in Class E shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund. It may also invest in money market instruments directly, or in other affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds. The Fund may invest in such other money market funds, such as Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund is a registered open-end management investment company, regulated as a money market fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and is part of the Oppenheimer family of funds. At the time of an investment, the Fund cannot always predict what will be the yield of the Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or any other money market fund it may hold, because of the wide variety of instruments that such fund may hold in its portfolio. The return on those investments may, in some cases, be lower than the return that would have been derived from other types of investments that would provide liquidity. As a shareholder, the Fund will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of any other money market fund it may hold, including its advisory fee. However, the Manager will waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee to the extent of the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid to the Manager by Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund, or to any other similar affiliated money market fund of which the Fund is a shareholder. If the Fund invests in an unaffiliated money market fund, the Manager will not waive a portion of the Fund’s advisory fee representing the Fund’s share of the advisory fee paid by such unaffiliated fund to any unaffiliated manager.
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. For temporary defensive purposes in times of adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its total assets in investments that may be inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. Generally, the Fund would invest in shares of Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund or in the types of money market instruments in which Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund invests or in other short-term U.S. government securities. The Fund might also hold these types of securities as interim investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund shares or the sale of Fund portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund shares. To the extent the Fund invests in these securities, it might not achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Turnover. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading to try to achieve its investment objective and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees, dealer mark-ups or other transaction costs, which can adversely affect performance. The Financial Highlights tables at the end of this prospectus show the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates during past fiscal years.
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Changes To The Fund’s Investment Policies. The Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares, however, the Fund’s Board can change non-fundamental policies without a shareholder vote. Significant policy changes will be described in supplements to this prospectus. Shareholders will receive 60 days’ advance notice of any change in the 80% investment policy described in “Principal Investment Strategies.” The Fund’s investment objective is not a fundamental policy and may be changed without shareholder approval. Investment restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. An investment policy or restriction is not fundamental unless this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information states that it is.
Portfolio Holdings. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are included in its semi-annual and annual reports that are distributed to its shareholders within 60 days after the close of the applicable reporting period. The Fund also discloses its portfolio holdings in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q, which is a public filing that is required to be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. Therefore, the Fund’s portfolio holdings are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the end of each of its fiscal quarters. Beginning in April 2019, the Fund will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose its portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website no sooner than 30 days after the end of each calendar month.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
How the Fund is Managed
THE MANAGER AND THE SUB-ADVISER. OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., the Manager, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. The Manager oversees the Fund’s investments and its business operations. OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Sub-Adviser, chooses the Fund’s investments and provides related advisory services. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies established by the Fund’s Board, under an investment advisory agreement with the Fund that states the Manager’s responsibilities. The agreement sets the fees the Fund pays to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Sub-Adviser has a sub-advisory agreement with the Manager and is paid by the Manager.
The Manager has been an investment adviser since 2012. The Sub-Adviser has been an investment adviser since 1960. The Manager and the Sub-Adviser are located at 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008.
Advisory Fees. Under the investment advisory agreement, the Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on additional assets as the Fund grows: 0.60% on the first $1 billion of the average annual net assets, and 0.50% of average annual net assets in excess of $1 billion, calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. 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 Fund as compensation for the provision of the investment advisory services. The Fund’s advisory fee for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was 0.60% of the Fund’s average annual net assets for each class of shares, before any applicable waivers.
After discussions with the Fund’s Board, the Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse the Fund for certain expenses in order to limit “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursement” (excluding (i) interest, taxes, dividends tied to short sales, brokerage commissions, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) expenses incurred directly or indirectly by the Fund as a result of investments in other investment companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries and pooled investment vehicles; (iii) certain other expenses attributable to, and incurred as a result of, a Fund’s investments; and (iv) other unusual and infrequent expenses (including litigation expenses) not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to annual rates of 0.75% for Non-Service Shares and 1.00% for Service Shares as calculated on the daily net assets of the Fund. This fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement may not be amended or withdrawn for one year from the date of this prospectus, unless approved by the Board.
The Manager has also voluntarily agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses in an amount equal to the management fees incurred indirectly through the Fund’s investments in funds managed by the Manager or its affiliates. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, those indirect expenses were less than 0.01% of average daily net assets and are therefore not shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table earlier in this prospectus.
The Fund’s annual operating expenses may vary in future years. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreements is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Portfolio Managers. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by Krishna Memani and Peter A. Strzalkowski, CFA, who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. Mr. Memani and Mr. Strzalkowski have been portfolio managers and Vice Presidents of the Fund since April 2009.
Mr. Memani has been President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2013, Executive Vice President of the Manager since January 2014 and Chief Investment Officer of the OppenheimerFunds advisory entities since January 2014. He was Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser from January 2013 to December 2013; Head of the Investment Grade Fixed Income Team of the Sub-Adviser from March 2009 to January 2014; Director of Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser from October 2010 through December 2012 and Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from March 2009 through
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December 2012. He was also Senior Vice President of OFI Global Institutional, Inc. from April 2009 through December 2012. Mr. Memani is a portfolio manager and an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
Mr. Strzalkowski has been a Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser since January 2016 and has been a Senior Portfolio Manager since August 2007. He was a Vice President of the Sub-Adviser from August 2007 to January 2016, and has been a co-Team Leader for the Sub-Adviser’s Investment Grade Fixed Income Team since January 2014. Mr. Strzalkowski was a Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Vector Capital Management, LLC, a structured products money management firm he founded, from July 2006 through August 2007. He was a Senior Portfolio Manager at Highland Capital Management, L.P. from June 2005 through July 2006 and a Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Microsoft Corp. from June 2003 through June 2005. He was a Vice President and Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at First Citizens Bank Trust, Capital Management Group, from April 2000 through June 2003 and a Vice President and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Centura Banks from November 1998 through April 2000. Mr. Strzalkowski is a portfolio manager and an officer of other portfolios in the OppenheimerFunds complex.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of Fund shares.
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More About Your Investment
How to Buy and Sell Shares
You may only submit instructions for buying or selling shares of the Fund to your insurance company or its servicing agent, not directly to the Fund or its Transfer Agent. Information about your investment in the Fund can only be obtained from your participating insurance company or its servicing agent. The Fund’s Transfer Agent does not hold or have access to those records.
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund currently offers two different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and will usually have different share prices. The Service Shares are subject to a distribution and service plan. The expenses of that plan are described below. The Non-Service Shares are not subject to a service and distribution plan.
The Price of Fund Shares. Fund shares are sold to participating insurance companies, and are redeemed, at their net asset value per share. The net asset value that applies to a purchase order is the next one calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. Fund shares are redeemed at the next net asset value calculated after the insurance company (as the Fund’s designated agent to receive purchase orders) receives the order from its contract owner, in proper form. The Fund’s Transfer Agent generally must receive the purchase or redemption order from the insurance company by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next regular business day.
The Fund does not impose any sales charge on purchases of its shares. If there are any charges imposed under the variable annuity, variable life or other contract through which Fund shares are purchased, they are described in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company. The participating insurance company’s prospectus may also include information regarding the time you must submit your purchase and redemption orders.
The sale and redemption price for Fund shares will change from day to day because the value of the securities in its portfolio and its expenses fluctuate. The redemption price will normally differ for different classes of shares. The redemption price of your shares may be more or less than their original cost.
Net Asset Value. The Fund calculates the net asset value of each class of shares based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio investments determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading (referred to in this prospectus as a “regular business day”) except, if there is a NYSE scheduled early closing, the Fund will calculate its net asset values for each share class based on the value of the Fund’s portfolio determined as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation Time”). The net asset value per share for each share class is determined by dividing the net assets of the class by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The Fund’s securities generally trade in the over-the-counter market rather than on a securities exchange and are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices as determined by a pricing service or by utilizing evaluated prices provided by a pricing service. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, but the Fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lot trades.
Fair Value Pricing. If the investment adviser determines that a value for any of the Fund’s assets is not readily available or the value normally obtained for it, such as from a pricing service, is not reliable when the Fund’s net asset value is to be calculated, the investment adviser will determine a fair value for the asset in good faith, pursuant to valuation procedures for the Fund adopted by the Board, and will incorporate that fair value in its net asset value calculation. These fair value determinations are intended to reflect values for the Fund’s assets that the investment adviser and the Board believe to be more reliable. However, the Fund’s fair value determinations involve subjective judgments and there can be no assurance that the Fund will receive the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security. Fair value determinations are subject to review, approval or ratification by the Board at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
The Board has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to the investment adviser who has established a valuation committee to oversee those responsibilities. In determining whether a value is not readily available or reliable, the investment adviser monitors the information it receives in the ordinary course of its investment management responsibilities to identify significant events that the investment adviser believes, in good faith, will affect the value of the investment. Those may include, but are not limited to, information or events affecting or related to specific issuers, securities, or markets; consideration of recent transactions in comparable securities; price movements in futures contracts, appropriate market indices, ADRs or exchange-traded funds; the bid/ask quotes of brokers; or other market or trading trends or information.
Fair Value Pricing of Foreign Securities. Many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign investments. As a result, significant events, including events affecting a specific issuer or security, broad market movements or volatility that occurs in U.S. markets after the close of foreign securities markets, may occur during that time that could affect the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund uses fair value pricing more frequently for
22 Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA

 

foreign securities to take those factors into account. Because some foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy or redeem Fund shares.
How Can You Buy Fund Shares? Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by separate investment accounts of participating insurance companies as an underlying investment for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts or other investment products. Individual investors cannot buy shares of the Fund directly. Please refer to the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company for information on how to select the Fund as an investment option. That prospectus will indicate which share class you may be eligible to purchase.
Suspension of Share Offering. The offering of Fund shares may be suspended during any period in which the determination of net asset value is suspended, and may be suspended by the Board at any time the Board believes it is in the Fund’s best interest to do so.
How Can You Redeem Fund Shares? Only the participating insurance companies that hold Fund shares in their separate accounts can place orders to redeem shares. Contract holders and policy holders should not directly contact the Fund or its transfer agent to request a redemption of Fund shares. The Fund normally sends payment by Federal Funds wire to the insurance company’s account on the next business day after the Fund receives the order (and no later than seven days after the Fund’s receipt of the order). Under unusual circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment may be delayed or suspended. Contract owners should refer to the withdrawal or surrender instructions in the accompanying prospectus of the participating insurance company.
Redemptions “In-Kind.” Shares may be “redeemed in-kind” under certain circumstances (such as redemptions of substantial amounts of shares by shareholders that have consented to such in kind redemptions). That means that the redemption proceeds will be paid to the participating insurance companies in securities from the Fund’s portfolio. If the Fund redeems shares in-kind, the insurance company accounts may bear transaction costs or the risk of not being able to sell illiquid securities, and will bear market risks until such securities are converted into cash.
Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to time, the Transfer Agent, in its discretion, may waive certain of the requirements for redemptions stated in this prospectus.
Frequent Purchase and Redemption Limitations
The Board has adopted a policy to discourage and seek to limit or eliminate frequent purchases or redemptions of shares of the Fund by shareholders or authorized broker-dealer representatives of shareholders, in order to prevent the negative impacts, if any, that this activity may impose on other shareholders of the Fund. Negative impacts may include, without limitation, interference with portfolio management, increased taxes on portfolio securities, diminishment of Fund performance due to the need to sell portfolio securities at less favorable prices, increases in portfolio and administrative transaction costs resulting from large volumes of frequent purchase or redemption activity, and the possible dilution of Fund yields as a result of such activity. In addition, if the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it may be subject to the risk that an investor may seek to take advantage of a delay between the change in value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the determination of the Fund’s net asset value as a result of different closing times of U.S. and non-U.S. markets by buying or selling Fund shares at a price that does not reflect their true value. A similar risk exists if the Fund invests in securities of small capitalization companies, securities of issuers located in emerging markets or high yield securities (junk bonds) that are thinly traded and therefore may have actual values that differ from their market prices. This short-term arbitrage activity can reduce the return received by long-term shareholders. The Fund will seek to eliminate these opportunities by using fair value pricing, as described in “Fair Value Pricing” above.
There is no guarantee that this policy, described below, will be sufficient to identify and prevent all frequent purchases or redemptions that may have negative impacts to the Fund. In addition, the implementation of the Fund’s policy involves judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Fund, however, seeks to make judgments that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. No matter how the Fund defines frequent purchases or redemptions, other purchases and sales of Fund shares may have adverse effects on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and its performance. Additionally, due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying certain frequent trading and the volume of Fund shareholder transactions, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify violations of the policy or to reduce or eliminate all detrimental effects of frequent purchases or redemptions.
The Fund may from time to time use other methods that it believes are appropriate to deter market timing or other trading activity that may be detrimental to the Fund or its long-term shareholders.
The Fund does not offer an exchange privilege.
Right to Refuse Any Purchase Orders. The Fund may refuse, or cancel as permitted by law, any purchase order in its discretion for any reason at any time, and is not obligated to provide notice before rejecting or canceling an order.
Right to Terminate or Suspend Account Privileges. The Fund may, in its discretion, limit or terminate trading activity by any person, group or account that it believes would be disruptive, even if the activity has not exceeded the policy described in this prospectus. As part of the Fund’s policy to detect and deter frequent purchases and redemptions, the Fund may review and consider the history of frequent trading activity in all accounts in the Oppenheimer funds known to be under common ownership or control. The Fund may send a written warning to a shareholder that it believes may be engaging in
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA 23

 

disruptive or excessive trading activity; however, the Fund reserves the right to suspend or terminate the ability to purchase shares, with or without warning, for any account that the Fund determines, in the exercise of its discretion, has engaged in such trading activity.
Monitoring the Policy. The Fund does not have the ability to directly monitor trading activity in the accounts of policy or contract owners (“contract owner accounts”) within the participating insurance companies’ accounts. Participating insurance companies will generally enter into written agreements which require the participating insurance company to provide underlying shareholder or account data at the Fund’s reasonable request. The Fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term trading in insurance company accounts ultimately depends on the capability and diligence of each participating insurance company, under its agreement with the Fund, in monitoring and controlling the trading activity of the policy or contract owners in the insurance company’s accounts. Overall purchase and redemption activity in contract owner accounts will be monitored to identify patterns that may suggest frequent trading by the underlying owners. Participating insurance companies will be permitted to apply the Fund’s policy or their own frequent trading policy if the latter is more restrictive. In cases where a participating insurance company’s more restrictive policy is applied, the Fund will rely on the participating insurance company to monitor frequent trading activity in accordance with its policy. The Fund may request individual account or transaction information, and based on the information and data it receives, will apply its policy to review transactions that may constitute frequent purchase or exchange activity. The Fund may prohibit, in its sole discretion, purchases of Fund shares by a participating insurance company or by some or all of its clients.
You should refer to the prospectus for your insurance company variable annuity contract for specific information about the insurance company’s policies. Under certain circumstances, policy or contract owners may be required to transmit purchase or redemption orders only by first class U.S. mail.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12b-1) PLANS
Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Service Shares to pay the Distributor for distribution related services, personal services and account maintenance for those shares. Under the Plan, the Fund pays the Distributor quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the daily net assets of the Fund’s Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time they will increase the operating expenses of the Service Shares and may cost you more than other types of fees or sales charges. As a result, the Service Shares may have lower performance compared to the Fund’s shares that are not subject to a service fee.
Use of Plan Fees: The Distributor currently uses all of those fees to compensate sponsor(s) of the insurance product for providing personal services and account maintenance for variable contract owners that hold Service Shares.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Service Providers. The Sub-Adviser and/or the Distributor, Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent, at their discretion, may also make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries, including the insurance companies that offer the Fund as an investment option, or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, shareholder servicing, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking or administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Payments for distribution or promotional and marketing support are made out of the Sub-Adviser’s and/or the Distributor’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of the Fund. Such payments, which may be substantial, are paid to financial intermediaries who perform services for the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, and are in addition to payments made pursuant to an applicable 12b-1 plan. Such payments are separate from any commissions the Distributor pays to financial intermediaries out of the sales charges paid by investors.
Payments for distribution-related expenses and asset retention items, paid by the Sub-Adviser or the Distributor, such as marketing or promotional expenses, are often referred to as “revenue sharing.” Revenue sharing payments may be made on the basis of the sales of shares attributable to that financial intermediary, the average net assets of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds attributable to the accounts of that financial intermediary and its clients, negotiated lump sum payments for distribution services provided, or similar fees. In some circumstances, revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds to its customers. These payments also may give a financial intermediary an incentive to cooperate with the Distributor’s marketing efforts. A revenue sharing payment may, for example, qualify the Fund for preferred status with the financial intermediary receiving the payment or provide representatives of the Distributor with access to representatives of the financial intermediary’s sales force, in some cases on a preferential basis over funds of competitors. Additionally, as firm support, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may reimburse expenses, including, but not limited to, educational seminars and “due diligence” or training meetings (to the extent permitted by applicable laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) designed to increase sales representatives’ awareness about Oppenheimer funds,
24 Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA

 

including travel and lodging expenditures. However, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor does not consider a financial intermediary’s sale of shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds when selecting brokers or dealers to effect portfolio transactions for the funds.
Various factors are used to determine whether to make revenue sharing payments. Possible considerations include, without limitation, the types of services provided by the financial intermediary, sales of Fund shares, the redemption rates on accounts of clients of the financial intermediary or overall asset levels of Oppenheimer funds held for or by clients of the financial intermediary, the willingness of the financial intermediary to allow the Distributor to provide educational and training support for the financial intermediary’s sales personnel relating to the Oppenheimer funds, the availability of the Oppenheimer funds on the financial intermediary’s sales system, as well as the overall quality of the services provided by the financial intermediary. The Sub-Adviser and Distributor have adopted guidelines for assessing and implementing each prospective revenue sharing arrangement. To the extent that financial intermediaries receiving distribution-related payments from the Sub-Adviser or Distributor sell more shares of the Oppenheimer funds or retain more shares of the funds in their client accounts, the Sub-Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees they receive with respect to those assets.
Payments may be made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund. Financial intermediaries that may receive these fees for providing services may include, but are not limited to, retirement plan administrators, qualified tuition program sponsors, banks and trust companies, broker-dealers, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products, and other financial intermediaries. These fees may be used by the financial intermediary to offset or reduce fees that would otherwise be paid directly to them by certain account holders, such as retirement plans.
Payments made by the Sub-Adviser, and/or the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and Sub-Transfer Agent are not reflected in the tables in the “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” section of this prospectus because they are not paid by the Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more information about revenue sharing payments made by the Sub-Adviser and/or Distributor and operational and recordkeeping, networking and sub-accounting payments made by the Transfer Agent and/or Sub-Transfer Agent. Your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Sub-Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent, or any other fees or expenses it charges.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends annually from any net investment income. The Fund may also realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio securities, in which case it will make distributions of any net short-term capital gains and it may make distributions out of any net long-term capital gains annually. The Fund may also make supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end of its fiscal year. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or capital gains distributions in a particular year.
Dividends and distributions are paid separately for each share class. Because of the higher expenses on Service Shares, the dividends paid on those shares will generally be lower than for other Fund shares.
Receiving Dividends and Distributions. Any dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares for the account of the participating insurance company, unless the insurance company elects to have dividends or distributions paid in cash.
Taxes. For a discussion of the tax status of a variable annuity contract, a variable life insurance policy or other investment product of a participating insurance company, please refer to the variable contract prospectus of your participating insurance company. Because shares of the Fund may be purchased only through insurance company separate accounts for variable annuity contracts, variable life insurance policies or other investment products, provided certain requirements are met, any dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains will be taxable, if at all, to the participating insurance company.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code by satisfying certain income, asset diversification and income distribution requirements, but might not so qualify. In each year that it qualifies as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes on its income that it distributes to shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal income tax information about your investment. You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser about the effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation and about any changes to the Internal Revenue Code that may occur from time to time. Additional information about the tax effects of investing in the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA 25

 

Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by KPMG LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG LLP’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
26 Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA

 

Financial Highlights
Non-Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.83 $7.67 $7.71 $7.96 $7.83  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.25 0.19 0.23 0.27 0.30  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.33) 0.16 0.02 (0.19) 0.26  
Total from investment operations (0.08) 0.35 0.25 0.08 0.56  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.26) (0.19) (0.29) (0.33) (0.43)  
Net asset value, end of period $7.49 $7.83 $7.67 $7.71 $7.96  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (1.02)% 4.59% 3.27% 0.96% 7.27%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $74,929 $81,481 $83,405 $85,160 $90,757  
Average net assets (in thousands) $77,723 $83,239 $87,039 $89,919 $94,336  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 3.35% 2.38% 2.96% 3.46% 3.72%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 0.87% 0.85% 0.84% 0.82% 0.80%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 0.87% 0.85% 0.84% 0.82% 0.80%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 0.75% 0.75% 0.75% 0.75% 0.75%  
Portfolio turnover rate6 64% 86% 79% 73% 127%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 0.87%  
Year Ended December 31, 2017 0.85%  
Year Ended December 31, 2016 0.85%  
Year Ended December 31, 2015 0.83%  
Year Ended December 31, 2014 0.81%  
6. The portfolio turnover rate excludes purchase and sale transactions of To Be Announced (TBA) mortgage-related securities as follows:
   
  Purchase Transactions Sale Transactions
Year Ended December 31, 2018 $641,318,699 $653,537,737
Year Ended December 31, 2017 $679,964,368 $662,714,451
Year Ended December 31, 2016 $672,031,328 $673,808,454
Year Ended December 31, 2015 $697,962,198 $709,720,690
Year Ended December 31, 2014 $560,409,975 $543,669,748
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA 27

 

Financial Highlights
Service Shares Year Ended
December 31,
2018
Year Ended
December 31,
2017
Year Ended
December 31,
2016
Year Ended
December 31,
2015
Year Ended
December 31,
2014
 
Per Share Operating Data            
Net asset value, beginning of period $7.73 $7.57 $7.61 $7.86 $7.74  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income1 0.23 0.16 0.21 0.25 0.27  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (0.33) 0.17 0.02 (0.19) 0.26  
Total from investment operations (0.10) 0.33 0.23 0.06 0.53  
Dividends and/or distributions to shareholders:            
Dividends from net investment income (0.24) (0.17) (0.27) (0.31) (0.41)  
Net asset value, end of period $7.39 $7.73 $7.57 $7.61 $7.86  
 
Total Return, at Net Asset Value2 (1.31)% 4.38% 3.05% 0.70% 6.93%  
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data            
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $46,391 $51,030 $53,350 $52,519 $52,675  
Average net assets (in thousands) $47,731 $52,525 $52,738 $54,016 $55,215  
Ratios to average net assets:3            
Net investment income 3.10% 2.13% 2.70% 3.21% 3.47%  
Expenses excluding specific expenses listed below 1.12% 1.10% 1.09% 1.07% 1.04%  
Interest and fees from borrowings 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%4 0.00%  
Total expenses5 1.12% 1.10% 1.09% 1.07% 1.04%  
Expenses after payments, waivers and/or reimbursements and reduction to custodian expenses 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%  
Portfolio turnover rate6 64% 86% 79% 73% 127%  
1. Per share amounts calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2. Assumes an initial investment on the business day before the first day of the fiscal period, with all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the fiscal period. Total returns are not annualized for periods less than one full year. Total return information does not reflect expenses that apply at the separate account level or to related insurance products. Inclusion of these charges would reduce the total return figures for all periods shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.
3. Annualized for periods less than one full year.
4. Less than 0.005%.
5. Total expenses including indirect expenses from affiliated fund fees and expenses were as follows:
    
Year Ended December 31, 2018 1.12%  
Year Ended December 31, 2017 1.10%  
Year Ended December 31, 2016 1.10%  
Year Ended December 31, 2015 1.08%  
Year Ended December 31, 2014 1.05%  
6. The portfolio turnover rate excludes purchase and sale transactions of To Be Announced (TBA) mortgage-related securities as follows:
   
  Purchase Transactions Sale Transactions
Year Ended December 31, 2018 $641,318,699 $653,537,737
Year Ended December 31, 2017 $679,964,368 $662,714,451
Year Ended December 31, 2016 $672,031,328 $673,808,454
Year Ended December 31, 2015 $697,962,198 $709,720,690
Year Ended December 31, 2014 $560,409,975 $543,669,748
28 Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA

 

        
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Information and Services
Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. The Annual Report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and audited financial statements included in its most recent Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon, are incorporated by reference into (are legally considered part of) this prospectus.
How to Request More Information
You can request the above documents, the notice explaining the Fund’s privacy policy, and other information about the Fund, without charge, by:
Telephone: Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1.800.988.8287
Mail: Use the following address for regular mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
  Use the following address for courier or express mail:
OppenheimerFunds Services
6803 S. Tucson Way
Centennial, CO 80112-3924
Internet: You may request documents, and read or download certain documents at www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained after payment of a duplicating fee by electronic request at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer.
The Fund’s SEC File No.: 811-04108
SP0630.001.0419

 

 

 

Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds

April 30, 2019
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, 2019 with respect to each Fund. The 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. Shares of the Funds are sold to provide benefits under the 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 without charge, upon request, 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 10 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
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Global Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Government Money Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Oppenheimer
International Growth Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Main Street Fund®/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
Oppenheimer
Total Return Bond Fund/VA
Non-Service Shares
Service Shares
6803 South Tucson Way, Centennial, Colorado 80112-39241.800.988.8287

 

Contents
Summary Prospectus
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA
Global Fund/VA
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
Government Money Fund/VA
International Growth Fund/VA
Main Street Fund/VA
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA
Total Return Bond 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. Any references in this SAI to the “Investment Company Act” refer to the “Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.” Prior to January 1, 2013, all references in this SAI to the “Sub-Adviser” refer to OppenheimerFunds, Inc. in its capacity as the Manager.
The investment objective, the principal investment policies and the main risks of the Funds are described in the Funds’ 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, Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA, Global Fund/VA, International Growth Fund/VA, Main Street Fund®/VA and Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA can be categorized as “Equity Funds.” Total Return Bond Fund/VA and Global Strategic Income Fund/VA can be categorized as “Fixed Income Funds.” Conservative Balanced Fund/VA, which is categorized as an “Other Fund,” 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. Government Money Fund/VA is categorized as a “Money Market Fund.”
In general, the discussion of particular investments and strategies throughout this SAI 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 of the Funds. Please refer to the prospectus of a particular Fund for an explanation of its principal investment policies and risks. For example, the allocation of Main Street Fund®/VA’s portfolio to equity securities is generally substantially larger than its allocation to fixed-income securities.
Government Money Fund/VA’s investment policies are explained separately in this SAI, including a discussion of fundamental policies under “Investment Restrictions.” However, discussion in this SAI about repurchase agreements and illiquid securities also applies to Government Money Fund/VA.
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Fund Investment Category
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA Equity
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA Equity
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA Equity
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA Equity
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA Equity
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA Equity
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA Fixed-Income
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA Fixed-Income
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA Money Market
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced 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.
Main Street Small Cap Fund®/VA and Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA will invest primarily in securities of small- and mid-cap issuers, respectively; however, 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 Fund’s investment strategy.
While Conservative Balanced Fund/VA does not primarily focus its investments in equity securities, it is expected to invest significantly in them.
Risks of Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. Small-cap companies may be either established or newer companies, including “unseasoned” companies that have typically been in operation for less than three years. Mid-cap companies are generally companies that have completed their initial start-up cycle, and in many cases have established markets and developed seasoned market teams. 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-cap 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-cap 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-cap 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.
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Value Investing. In selecting equity investments, the portfolio managers for the Equity Funds in particular may use a value investing style. In using a value approach, the portfolio managers seek stocks and other equity securities that appear to be temporarily undervalued because the market does not yet recognize its potential or the issuer is temporarily out of favor. Value investing looks for securities with low prices in relation to their real worth or future prospects in the hope that the prices will rise when other investors realize the intrinsic value of the securities.
Value investing uses research into an issuer’s underlying financial condition and prospects to identify potential investments. Some of the criteria that may be used are:
Price/Earnings ratio, which is the stock’s price divided by its (or its long-term earnings potential) per share. A stock that has a price/earnings ratio lower than its historical range, or lower than the market as a whole or than similar companies, or lower than widely expected due to increased earnings potential, may offer an attractive investment opportunity.
Price/book value ratio, which is the stock price divided by the book value per share of the company.
Dividend yield, which is measured by dividing the annual dividend by the stock price per share.
Asset valuation, which compares the stock price to the value of the company’s underlying assets, including their projected value in the marketplace, their liquidation value and their intellectual property value.
Free Cash Flow Yield, which is an overall return evaluation ratio of a stock that standardizes the free cash flow per share a company is expected to earn against its market price per share.
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are debt securities or preferred stocks that are convertible into the issuer’s common stock or other equity securities. While many convertible securities are considered to be mainly debt securities, certain convertible securities are regarded more as “equity equivalents” because of their conversion feature. The market value of a convertible security reflects both its “investment value,” which is its expected income potential, and its “conversion value,” which is its anticipated market value if it were converted. If its investment value exceeds its conversion value, the security will generally 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 its conversion value exceeds its investment value, the security will generally behave more like an equity security. In that case, its price will tend to fluctuate with the price of the underlying common stock or other security.
Convertible debt securities, like other debt securities, are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that when interest rates rise, the values of already-issued convertible debt securities generally fall. When interest rates fall, however, the values of already-issued convertible debt securities generally rise. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security might not make principal or interest payments on the security when they are due. If the issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund’s income might be reduced, and if the issuer fails to pay interest or repay principal, the value of the security might fall. The credit ratings of convertible securities generally have less impact on their price than the credit ratings of other debt securities. 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 an issuer’s bankruptcy or liquidation.
For convertible securities that are considered to be “equity equivalents,” their credit quality generally has less impact on the security’s value than in the case of non-convertible debt securities. To determine whether convertible securities should be regarded as “equity equivalents,” a number of factors may be considered, including:
whether the convertible security can be exchanged for a fixed number of shares of common stock of the issuer or is subject to a “cap” or a conversion formula or other type of limit;
whether the convertible security can be exchanged at a time determined by the investor rather than by the issuer;
whether the issuer of the convertible securities has restated its earnings per share on a fully diluted basis (that is, as if all of the issuer’s convertible securities were converted into common stock); and
the extent to which the convertible security may participate in any appreciation in the price of the issuer’s common stock.
Convertible securities generally sell at a premium over the value of the common stock into which they could be converted. If the Fund buys a convertible security at a premium, and the underlying common stock does not appreciate as expected, the Fund might not realize a gain on the security or may experience a loss.
The conversion feature of convertible securities generally causes the market value of convertible securities to increase when the value of the underlying common stock increases, and to fall when the stock price falls. However, convertible securities generally do not have the same potential for capital appreciation as the underlying stock and may not experience the same decline when the price of the underlying common stock declines. Convertible securities usually only decline to a level called their “investment value,” which is approximately the value of a similar non-convertible debt security.
Rights and Warrants. Rights and warrants may be purchased directly or may be acquired as part of other securities. Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specific price during a specific period of time. The price of a warrant does not necessarily move parallel to the price of the underlying security and is generally more volatile than the price of the underlying security. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a shorter duration and are distributed
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directly by the issuer to its shareholders. The market for rights or warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. 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 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, Conservative Balanced Fund/VA to a significant extent, and the Equity Funds to a lesser degree, can invest in bonds, debentures and other debt securities.
A Fund’s debt investments can include investment-grade and below-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 S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) or that have comparable ratings by another nationally recognized rating organization. In making investments in debt securities, the investment 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 investment adviser to be of comparable quality to bonds rated as investment grade by a national statistical rating organization.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the fluctuations in value of a debt security resulting from the relationship between price and yield. An increase in general interest rates will tend to reduce the market value of already-issued debt securities and a decline in general interest rates will tend to increase their value. Debt securities with longer maturities are usually subject to greater fluctuations in value from interest rate changes than obligations having shorter maturities. Variable rate debt securities pay interest based on an interest rate benchmark. When the benchmark rate changes, the interest payments on those securities may be reset at a higher or lower rate. Except for investments in variable rate debt securities, fluctuations in general interest rates do not affect the amount of interest income received. Fluctuations in the market valuations of debt securities may, however, affect the value of Fund assets. “Zero-coupon” or “stripped” securities may be particularly sensitive to interest rate changes. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the U.S. are near historic lows.
Duration Risk. Duration is a measure of the price sensitivity of a debt security or portfolio to interest rate changes. Duration risk is the risk that longer-duration debt securities are more volatile and thus more likely to decline in price, and to a greater extent, than shorter-duration debt securities, in a rising interest-rate environment. “Effective duration” attempts to measure the expected percentage change in the value of a bond or portfolio resulting from a change in prevailing interest rates. The change in the value of a bond or portfolio can be approximated by multiplying its duration by a change in interest rates. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to decline about 3% while a 1% decrease in general interest rates would be expected to cause the bond’s value to increase 3%. The duration of a debt security may be equal to or shorter than the full maturity of a debt security.
Credit Risk. Credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer to meet interest or principal payments or both as they become due. In general, below-investment-grade, higher-yield bonds are subject to credit risk to a greater extent than lower-yield, investment-grade bonds. In making investments in debt securities, the investment adviser may rely to some extent on the ratings of national statistical rating organizations or it may use its own research to evaluate a security’s credit-worthiness. If securities purchased are unrated, they may be assigned a rating by the investment adviser in categories similar to those of a national statistical rating organization. There are no investment policies establishing specific maturity ranges for investments, and they may be within any maturity range (short, medium or long) depending on the investment adviser’s evaluation of investment opportunities available within the debt securities markets.
Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market expects below-investment-grade bonds to default more frequently. Widening credit spreads may quickly reduce the market values of below-investment-grade and unrated securities. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may trade less actively than rated securities, which means that it might be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price.
Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that, if interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments on certain debt securities may occur at a slower rate than expected, and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.
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Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that when interest rates fall, it may be necessary to reinvest the proceeds from a security’s sale or redemption at a lower interest rate. Callable bonds are generally subject to greater reinvestment risk than non-callable bonds.
Prepayment Risk. Certain fixed-income securities (in particular mortgage-related securities) are subject to the risk of unanticipated prepayment. Prepayment risk is the risk that, when interest rates fall, the issuer will redeem the security prior to the security’s expected maturity, or that borrowers will repay the loans that underlie these fixed-income securities more quickly than expected, thereby causing the issuer of the security to repay the principal prior to expected maturity. It may be necessary to reinvest the proceeds at a lower interest rate, reducing income. Securities subject to prepayment risk generally offer less potential for gains when prevailing interest rates fall. If these securities are purchased at a premium, accelerated prepayments on those securities could cause losses on a portion of the principal investment. 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 repayment assumptions about those investments.
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.
Fixed-Income Market Risks. The fixed-income securities market can be susceptible to unusual volatility and illiquidity. Volatility and illiquidity may be more pronounced in the case of lower-rated and unrated securities. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity may be caused by a rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates), which are near historic lows in the U.S. and in other countries. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not be able to readily sell bonds at the prices at which they are carried on the Fund’s books. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices. An unexpected increase in Fund redemption requests (including requests from shareholders who may own a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares), which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, as well as other adverse market and economic developments, could cause the Fund to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Fund’s share price and increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, Fund expenses and/or taxable capital gain distributions to shareholders, if applicable. Similarly, the prices of the Fund’s holdings could be adversely affected if an investment account managed similarly to the Fund was to experience significant redemptions and that account were required to sell its holdings at an inopportune time. The liquidity of an issuer’s securities may decrease as a result of a decline in an issuer’s credit rating, the occurrence of an event that causes counterparties to avoid transacting with the issuer, or an increase in the issuer’s cash outflows, as well as other adverse market and economic developments. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund’s ability to sell the debt securities in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Economic and other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. At times, participants in debt securities markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt securities to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt securities to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns may impact the market price or value of those debt securities and may cause increased volatility in those debt securities or debt securities markets. Under some circumstances, as was the case during the latter half of 2008 and early 2009, those concerns may cause reduced liquidity in certain debt securities markets, reducing the willingness of some lenders to extend credit, and making it more difficult for borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms (or at all).
Following the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve sought to stabilize the economy by keeping the federal funds rate near zero percent. The Federal Reserve has also purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, pursuant to its monetary stimulus program known as “quantitative easing.” As the Federal Reserve has completed the tapering of its securities purchases pursuant to quantitative easing, it has recently raised interest rates on multiple occasions, and continues to consider future raises to the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates may rise and cause fixed-income investors to move out of fixed-income securities, which may also increase redemptions in fixed-income mutual funds.
In addition, although the fixed-income securities markets have grown significantly in the last few decades, regulations and business practices have led some financial intermediaries to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain debt securities. As a result, dealer inventories of fixed-income securities, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in fixed-income securities, are near historic lows relative to market size. Because market makers help stabilize the market through their financial intermediary services, further reductions in dealer inventories could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
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Preferred Stock. Preferred stock are equity securities that have a dividend rate payable from the company’s earnings. Their stated dividend rate causes preferred stock to have some characteristics of debt securities. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stock may be less attractive and the price of those securities will likely decline. If interest rates fall, their price will likely increase.
Preferred stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or auction rate. “Cumulative” dividend provisions require that all, or a portion of, any unpaid dividends must be paid before the issuer can pay dividends on its common stock. “Participating” preferred stock may be entitled to a larger dividend than the stated dividend in certain cases. “Auction rate” preferred stock has a dividend rate that is set by a Dutch auction process.
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 fall.
Preferred stock do not constitute a liability of the issuer and therefore do not offer the same degree of capital protection or assured income as debt securities. Preferred stock generally rank ahead of common stock and behind debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy.
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 investment adviser believes are of comparable quality. The investment adviser continuously monitors the issuers of below-investment-grade securities held by a Fund for their ability to make required principal and interest payments, as well as in an effort to control the liquidity of a Fund so that it can meet redemption requests. While below-investment-grade securities generally may have a higher yield than securities rated in the investment-grade 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 securities, especially during times of weakening economic conditions or rising interest rates. The risks of below-investment-grade securities include:
Prices of below-investment-grade securities may be 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 investment-grade 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 investment-grade 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, a 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 a 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 investment-grade securities.
There may be less of a market for below-investment-grade 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. A 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 investment-grade 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 a 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 investment-grade 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, a Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain below-investment-grade securities due to the limited 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 a 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 a Fund before it matures. During times of falling interest rates, issuers of these securities are likely to
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  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; a Fund may have to replace the securities with lower yielding securities, which could result in a lower return for a 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 a Fund may not receive the anticipated level of income from these securities, and a Fund’s net asset value may be affected by declines in the value of below-investment-grade securities. Credit rating downgrades of a single issuer or related similar issuers whose securities a Fund holds in significant amounts could substantially and unexpectedly increase a 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 investment adviser if an unrated security, are investment grade, they may be subject to special risks and have some speculative characteristics.
Credit Ratings of Debt Securities. Ratings by ratings organizations such as Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) represent the respective rating agency’s opinions of the credit quality of the debt securities they undertake to rate. However, their ratings are general opinions and are not guarantees of quality or indicative of market value risk. Debt securities that have the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields, while other debt securities that have the same maturity and coupon but different ratings may have the same yield. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer.
“Investment-grade” securities are those rated within the four highest rating categories of S&P’s, Moody’s, Fitch or another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (or, in the case of unrated securities, determined by the investment adviser to be comparable to securities rated investment-grade). While securities rated within the fourth highest category by S&P’s (meaning BBB+, BBB or BBB-) or by Moody’s (meaning Baa1, Baa2 or Baa3) are considered “investment-grade,” they have some speculative characteristics. If two or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations have assigned different ratings to a security, the investment adviser uses the highest rating assigned.
Below-investment-grade securities (also referred to as “junk bonds”) are those rated below investment grade by the S&P, Moody’s, Fitch or other nationally recognized statistical rating organization or unrated securities the investment adviser believes are of comparable quality.
After a Fund buys a debt security, the security may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced. Neither event requires a Fund to sell the security, but the investment adviser will consider such events in determining whether a Fund should continue to hold the security. To the extent that ratings given by Moody’s, S&P, Fitch or another nationally recognized statistical rating organization change as a result of changes in those rating organizations or their rating systems, a Fund will attempt to use similar ratings as standards for investments in accordance with the Fund’s investment policies. The investment adviser continuously monitors the issuers of below-investment-grade securities held by a Fund for their ability to make required principal and interest payments, as well as in an effort to control the liquidity of a Fund so that it can meet redemption requests.
A list of the rating categories of Moody’s, S&P, Fitch and other nationally recognized statistical rating organizations for debt securities is contained in an Appendix to this SAI.
Unrated Securities. Because a Fund may purchase securities that are not rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, the investment adviser may internally assign ratings to those securities, after assessing their credit quality and other factors, in categories similar to those of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. Unrated securities are considered “investment-grade” or “below-investment-grade” if judged by the investment adviser to be comparable to rated investment-grade or below-investment-grade securities. There can be no assurance, nor is it intended, that the investment adviser’s credit analysis process is consistent or comparable with the credit analysis process used by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. The investment adviser’s rating does not constitute a guarantee of the credit quality. In addition, some unrated securities may not have an active trading market, which means that a Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price. In evaluating the credit quality of a particular security, whether rated or unrated, the investment adviser will normally take into consideration a number of factors including, but not limited to, the financial resources of the issuer, the underlying source of funds for debt service on a security, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, any operating history of the facility financed by the obligation, the degree of community support for the financed facility, the capabilities of the issuer’s management, and regulatory factors affecting the issuer or the particular facility.
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Floating Rate and Variable Rate Obligations. The Funds 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 a bank’s prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury Bill rate, the 3-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the federal funds rate, or some other standard. The rate on the investment is adjusted automatically each time the 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 not less than one year. Some variable rate or floating rate obligations in which the Funds may invest have a demand feature entitling the holder to demand payment of an amount approximately equal to the amortized cost of the instrument or the principal amount of the instrument plus accrued interest at any time, or at specified intervals not exceeding 397 days. These notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit.
Variable rate demand notes may include master demand notes, which are obligations that permit the Funds to invest fluctuating amounts in a note. The amount may change daily without penalty, pursuant to direct arrangements between the Funds, as the note purchaser, and the issuer of the note. The interest rates on these notes fluctuate from time to time. The issuer of this type of obligation normally has a corresponding right in its discretion, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligation plus accrued interest. The issuer must give a specified number of days’ notice to the holders of those obligations. Generally, the changes in the interest rate on those 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 having the same maturity.
Because these types of obligations are direct lending arrangements between the note purchaser and issuer of the note, these instruments generally will not be traded. Generally, there is no established secondary market for these types of obligations, although they are redeemable from the issuer at face value. Accordingly, where these obligations are not secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements, the Funds’ right to redeem them is dependent on the ability of the note issuer to pay principal and interest on demand. These types of obligations usually are not rated by credit rating agencies. The Funds may invest in obligations that are not rated only if the investment adviser determines at the time of investment that the obligations are of comparable quality to the other obligations in which the Funds may invest. The investment adviser, on behalf of the Funds, will monitor the creditworthiness of the issuers of the floating and variable rate obligations in the Funds’ portfolios on an ongoing basis.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are fractional interests in pools of loans, receivables or other assets, typically accounts receivable or consumer loans. They are issued by trusts or special-purpose vehicles and are backed by the loans, receivables or other assets that make up the pool. The income from the pool is passed through to the investor in the asset-backed security. These securities are subject to the risk of default by the issuer as well as by the borrowers of the underlying loans in the pool and may also be subject to prepayment and extension risks. 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, a holder 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 assets 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 the underlying loans by the individual borrowers. A purchaser of an asset-backed security would generally have no recourse to the entity that originated the loans in the event of default by a borrower. The underlying loans may be 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-related securities.
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 Conservative Balanced 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.
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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. 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:
pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”);
unsecuritized mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
unsecuritized conventional mortgages;
other mortgage-related securities; or
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 tranches 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 investment 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.
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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”).
Mortgage-Related U.S. Government Securities. A variety of mortgage-related securities are issued by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. Like other mortgage-related securities, they may be issued in different series with different interest rates and maturities. The collateral for these securities may be either in the form of mortgage pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or instrumentality or mortgage loans insured by a U.S. government agency.
Some mortgage-related securities issued by U.S. government agencies, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through mortgage obligations (“Ginnie Maes”), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Others are supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them (for example obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, “Fannie Mae” bonds issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association and “Freddie Mac” obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation).
In September 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship.
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.
Privately-Issued Commercial Mortgage-Related Securities. Commercial mortgage-related securities issued by private entities are generally multi-class debt or pass-through certificates secured by mortgage loans on commercial properties. They are subject to the credit risks of the issuer and of the underlying loans. These securities typically are structured to provide protection to investors in senior classes 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 (TIPS). 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
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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).
Event-Linked Bonds. The Funds may invest in “event-linked” bonds or interests in trusts and other pooled entities that invest primarily or exclusively in event-linked bonds, including entities sponsored and/or advised by the investment adviser or an affiliate.
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, for example, 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, the Fund may lose all or a portion of its principal and additional interest. The Funds may also invest in similar bonds where the 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 the Funds 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 organizations and the Funds will only invest in event-linked bonds that meet the credit quality requirements for the Funds.
The issuers of the event-linked bonds in which the Funds will invest are generally treated as passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”) for U.S. income tax purposes. More information about PFICs is included elsewhere in this SAI.
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 Conservative Balanced Fund/VA, Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Main Street Small Cap 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
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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, Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA expect to have substantial investments in foreign securities. “Foreign securities” include equity and debt securities of issuers organized under the laws of countries other than the United States and debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or by supra-national entities, such as the World Bank, or by their agencies or instrumentalities. They may 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. Securities denominated in foreign currencies issued by U.S. companies may also be considered to be “foreign securities.” 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 Depositary Receipts, or similar depositary arrangements, 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 purposes of the Fund’s investment allocations, because they are not subject to many of the special considerations and risks that apply to foreign securities held and traded 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. The Funds will hold foreign currency only in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign securities.
Investing in foreign securities offers potential benefits that are not available from investing only in the securities of U.S. issuers. Those benefits include the opportunity to invest in a wider range of issuers, in countries with economic policies or business cycles that differ from those in the U.S. and in markets that often do not move parallel to U.S. markets. Because of these features, foreign investments may reduce portfolio volatility.
The percentage of assets allocated to foreign securities may vary over time depending on a number of factors, including the relative yields of foreign and U.S. securities, the economies of foreign countries, the condition of foreign financial markets, the interest rate climate in particular foreign countries, and the relationship of foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar. The investment adviser may analyze fundamental economic criteria, including for example: relative inflation levels and trends, growth rate forecasts, natural resources, reliance on particular industries, balance of payments status, interest rates, market conditions, currency values, international trading patterns, trade barriers, diplomatic developments, social and political factors, and economic policies.
Sovereign Debt. Sovereign debt securities include fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, and securities issued by supranational entities such as the World Bank or the European Union. Investment in sovereign debt can involve a high degree of risk, including the risk that the governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy towards international lenders or agencies and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. government securities, repayment of principal and interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. government. Governmental entities may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and other entities to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on the implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve specified levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to timely service its debts. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt.
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Holders of sovereign debt may be requested to participate in the rescheduling or restructuring of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. Restructuring arrangements have included, among other things, reducing and rescheduling interest and principal payments by negotiation, new or amended credit agreements or converting outstanding principal and unpaid interest to Brady Bonds, and obtaining new credit for finance interest payments. There can be no assurance that foreign sovereign debt securities will not be subject to similar restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit which may have adverse consequences for holders of such debt. Furthermore, certain participants in the secondary market for such debt may be directly involved in negotiating the terms of these arrangements and may therefore have access to information not available to other market participants. In the event of a default by a governmental entity, there may be limited or no effective legal remedies for collecting on such debt. A restructuring or default of sovereign debt may also cause additional impacts to the financial markets, such as downgrades to credit ratings, a flight to quality debt instruments, disruptions in common trading markets or unions, reduced liquidity, increased volatility, and heightened financial sector, foreign securities and currency risk, among others.
Debt securities issued by certain “supra-national” entities 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. A supra-national entity’s lending activities may be limited to a percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. The governmental members of those 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. There can be no assurance that the constituent governments will continue to be able or willing to honor their capitalization commitments.
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 present risks and considerations not usually associated with investments in U.S. securities. Those may include:
a lack of public information about foreign issuers;
lower trading volume and less liquidity in foreign securities markets than in U.S. markets;
greater price volatility in foreign markets than in U.S. markets;
less government regulation of foreign issuers, exchanges and brokers than in the U.S.;
a lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in foreign countries compared to those applicable to U.S. issuers;
fluctuations in the value of foreign investments due to changes in currency rates;
the expense of currency exchange transactions;
greater difficulties in pricing securities in foreign markets;
foreign government restrictions on investments by U.S. and other non-local entities;
higher brokerage commission rates than in the U.S.;
increased risks of delays in clearance and settlement of portfolio transactions;
unfavorable differences between the U.S. economy and some foreign economies;
greater difficulty in commencing and pursuing lawsuits or other legal remedies;
less regulation of foreign banks and securities depositories;
increased risks of loss of certificates for portfolio securities;
government restrictions on the repatriation of profits or capital or other currency control regulations;
the possibility in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political, financial or social instability or adverse diplomatic developments;
the reduction of income by foreign taxes; and
potential for time-zone arbitrage.
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Foreign investments are often denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, which means that changes in the currency exchange rate will affect the value of those investments. Generally, when the U.S. dollar increases in value against a foreign currency, an investment denominated in that currency is worth less in U.S. dollars and when the U.S. dollar decreases in value against a foreign currency, an investment denominated in that currency is worth more in U.S. dollars. The Fund must compute its net asset value and its income in U.S. dollars and a change in the dollar value of a foreign currency will generally result in a change in the Fund’s net asset value or its investment income that is available for distribution to shareholders. Because a portion of the Fund’s investment income may be received in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute its income in U.S. dollars for distribution to shareholders, and therefore the Fund will absorb the cost of currency fluctuations. Foreign currency losses that occur after the Fund has distributed income may result in the Fund having made a distribution that was larger than its investment income during a particular fiscal period. In that case, the additional amount distributed would be classified as a return of capital to shareholders.
In the past, government policies have discouraged investments in certain foreign countries through economic sanctions, trade restrictions, taxation or other government actions. It is possible that such policies could be implemented in the future.
Risks of Developing and Emerging Markets. Emerging and developing markets may offer special opportunities for investing but, in addition to being subject to all the risks of foreign investing, also have greater risks than more mature foreign markets. Emerging and developing market countries may be subject to greater political, social and economic instability; have high inflation rates; experience unfavorable diplomatic developments; have less liquid securities markets with greater price volatility; have additional delays in the settlement of securities transactions; impose exchange controls; be subject to trade barriers; impose differential taxes on foreign investors; have a higher possibility of confiscatory taxes or the expropriation of assets; impose restrictions on direct investments or investments in issuers in particular industries; and lack developed legal or regulatory systems. Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries may be considered speculative. Additional information about certain risks associated with emerging and developing markets is provided below.
Less Developed Securities Markets. Developing or emerging market countries may have less well-developed securities markets and exchanges. Consequently, they have lower trading volume than the securities markets of more developed countries. These markets may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume. Therefore, prompt liquidation of substantial portfolio holdings may be difficult at times. As a result, these markets may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries, and the securities of issuers located in these markets may have limited marketability.
Transaction Settlement. Settlement procedures in developing or emerging markets may differ from those of more established securities markets. Settlements may also be delayed by operational problems. Securities issued by developing countries and by issuers located in those countries may be subject to extended settlement periods. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods during which some assets are uninvested and no return is earned on those assets. The inability to make intended purchases of securities due to settlement problems could cause missed investment opportunities. Losses could also be caused by an inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems. As a result there could be subsequent declines in the value of the portfolio security, a decrease in the level of liquidity of the portfolio or, if there is a contract to sell the security, a possible liability to the purchaser.
Price Volatility. Securities prices in developing or emerging markets may be significantly more volatile than is the case in more developed nations of the world, which may lead to greater difficulties in pricing securities.
Less Developed Governments and Economies. Developing or emerging market countries may have less developed legal and accounting systems, and their governments may also be more unstable than the governments of more developed countries. For example, governments of some developing or emerging market countries have defaulted on their bonds and there is the risk of this happening in the future. These countries may also have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. Developing or emerging market countries also may be subject to social, political or economic instability, and have greater potential for pervasiveness of corruption and crime, armed conflict, the adverse economic impact of civil war and religious or ethnic unrest. In addition, the economies of developing or emerging market countries may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Further, the value of the currency of a developing or emerging market country may fluctuate more than the currencies of countries with more mature markets. Investments in developing or emerging market countries may also be subject to greater potential difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations.
Government Restrictions. In certain developing or emerging market countries, government approval may be required for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Also, a government might impose temporary restrictions on remitting capital abroad if the country’s balance of payments deteriorates, or it might do so for other reasons. If government approval were delayed or refused, income or capital gains may not be able to be transmitted to the United States. Other government restrictions may include confiscatory taxation, expropriation or nationalization of company assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures, and practices such as share blocking. Share blocking is the practice in certain foreign markets where voting rights related to an issuer’s securities are predicated on those securities being blocked from trading at the custodian or sub-custodian level for a period of time around a shareholder meeting. Such restrictions have the effect of prohibiting the purchase and sale of certain
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  voting securities within a specified number of days before, and in certain instances, after a shareholder meeting. The share blocking period can last up to several weeks, typically terminating on a date established at the discretion of the issuer. Share blocking may prevent the Fund from buying or selling securities for a period of time. When shares are blocked, trades in such securities will not settle. Having a blocking restriction lifted can be difficult and onerous, with the particular requirements varying widely by country. In some countries, the block cannot be removed for the duration of time it is effective. Additionally, the imposition of restrictions on investments by foreign entities might result in less attractive investment opportunities or require the sale of existing investments. Investments in developing or emerging market countries may also be subject to greater risks relating to the withdrawal or non-renewal of any license enabling the Fund to trade in securities of a particular country.
Privatization Programs. The governments in some developing or emerging market countries have been engaged in programs to sell all or part of their interests in government-owned or controlled enterprises. Privatization programs may offer opportunities for significant capital appreciation, in the appropriate circumstances. However, in certain developing countries, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs may be limited by local law. Additionally, the terms on which a foreign entity might be permitted to participate may be less advantageous than those afforded local investors. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will be successful.
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, collectively known as “member states.” 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 member states, pushing some 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 member states. 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 (IMF), 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 member states 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 member states may continue to be dependent on assistance from the ECB, the IMF, 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 member states 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 state relinquishes control of its own monetary policies. As a result, EU member states 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 states could voluntarily abandon the euro or involuntarily be forced out of the euro, including by way of a partial or complete dissolution of the EMU. 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. Furthermore, the United Kingdom’s (“UK”) intended withdrawal from the EU, known as “Brexit,” may have significant political and financial consequences for Eurozone markets, including greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in the UK and the EU. It remains unclear whether a negotiated withdrawal agreement can be reached. Uncertainty relating to the withdrawal procedures and timeline may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of current trade agreements, and may cause an increase in financial regulation of UK banks. Brexit has already resulted in significant volatility in European and global financial markets and uncertainty about the integrity and functioning of the EU, both of which may persist for an extended period of time. While the full
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impact of Brexit is unknown, market disruption in the EU and globally may have a negative effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. Additionally, the risks related to Brexit could be more pronounced if one or more additional EU member states seek to leave the EU.
Publicly Traded Partnerships; Master Limited Partnerships. Certain of the Funds, particularly Conservative Balanced Fund/VA, Main Street Fund/VA and Main Street Small Cap 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.
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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.
Limited Liability Company Common Units. Some energy infrastructure companies in which a Fund may invest have been organized as Limited Liability Companies (”LLCs“). Such LLCs are generally treated in the same manner as MLPs for federal income tax purposes. Consistent with its investment objective and policies, a Fund may invest in common units or other securities of such LLCs. LLC common units represent an equity ownership interest in an LLC, entitling the holders to a share of the LLC’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Similar to MLPs, LLCs typically do not pay federal income tax at the entity level and are required by their operating agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. LLC common unitholders generally have first right to a minimum quarterly distribution (“MQD”) prior to distributions to subordinated unitholders and typically have arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, LLC common unitholders have first right to the LLC’s remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders and preferred unitholders, if any, have been paid in full. LLC common units trade on a national securities exchange or OTC. In contrast to MLPs, LLCs have no general partner and there are generally no incentives that entitle management or other unitholders to increased percentages of cash distributions as distributions reach higher target levels. In addition, LLC common unitholders typically have voting rights with respect to the LLC, whereas MLP common units have limited voting rights.
MLP Affiliates. The Fund 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. The Fund may purchase such other MLP equity securities through market transactions, but may also do so through direct placements.
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 are subject to all the risks of investments in common stock, in addition to risks related to MLPs. 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.
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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. The tax benefit expected to be derived from a Fund’s investment in MLPs depends largely on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, an MLP generally 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 business 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 applicable federal corporate tax rate (as well as state and local income taxes). 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 as dividend income. Therefore, treatment of one or more MLPs as a corporation for federal income tax purposes could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective and would reduce the amount of cash available to pay or distribute to the Fund.
MLPs are generally treated as publicly traded partnerships for federal income 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. 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 an investment in a Fund. In addition, there have been proposals for the elimination of tax incentives widely used by oil, gas and coal companies and the imposition of new fees on certain energy producers. The elimination of such tax incentives and imposition of such fees could adversely affect MLPs and other natural resources sector companies in which the Funds invest, and/or the natural resources sector generally.
A Fund will be a limited partner in the MLPs in which it invests that are treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. 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 also may invest in MLPs that are 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 a 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 between shares that the Fund already owns and the new additional shares received. Gain or loss recognized by a 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, a Fund is required to derive at least 90% of its gross income for every taxable year from qualifying income. A Fund may invest in MLPs that are classified as partnerships and qualify as “qualified publicly traded partnerships” for federal tax purposes. Net income and gains from an investment in a qualified publicly traded partnership are qualifying income for purposes of the 90% income test. In order to meet the asset diversification test applicable to regulated investment companies, each Fund is limited to investing no more than 25% of the value of its total assets in one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. A Fund also may invest in MLPs that are taxed as corporations for United States federal tax purposes. Income and gains from MLPs taxed as corporations also generate qualifying income and gains for purposes of the 90% income test and a regulated investment company may invest up to 25% of the value of its total assets in one such corporation.
A Fund may invest in MLPs that are classified as partnerships but are not qualified publicly traded partnerships. Such partnerships may pass through gross income that would not be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% test described above. A Fund may also have non-qualifying assets for purposes of the regulated investment company diversification requirements resulting from the partnership investment.
Energy Infrastructure Industry MLPs. Certain of the Funds 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,
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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
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  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 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 investment 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 investment adviser at the time of purchase. Investments in such securities may not offer the tax characteristics of equity securities of MLPs.
MLP Affiliates. The Funds 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 rate at which a Fund traded its portfolio securities during its last fiscal year. For example, if a Fund sold all of its securities during the year to purchase securities, its portfolio turnover rate would have been 100%. The portfolio turnover rate will fluctuate from year to year.
Increased portfolio turnover creates higher brokerage and transaction costs for a Fund, which could reduce its overall performance.
The following investment policies and instruments apply specifically to Government Money Fund/VA:
Portfolio Quality, Maturity and Liquidity. Under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) Government Money Fund/VA uses the amortized cost method to value its portfolio securities to determine Government Money Fund/VA’s net asset value per share. Rule 2a-7 places restrictions on a money market fund’s investments.
Under that Rule, Government Money Fund/VA may purchase only those securities that the Sub-Adviser, under Board-approved procedures, has determined have minimal credit risks and are “Eligible Securities.”
An “Eligible Security” is one that has a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less that the investment adviser, as delegee of the Board, determines present minimal credit risks to Government Money Fund/VA. In making this
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determination, the investment adviser considers the capacity of an issuer or guarantor to meet its financial obligations. Such analysis must include, to the extent appropriate, the issuer’s or guarantor’s: (i) financial condition; (ii) sources of liquidity; (iii) ability to react to future events (e.g., the ability to repay debt in a highly adverse situation); and (iv) competitive position within its industry.
Under Rule 2a-7, Government Money Fund/VA must maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of not more than 60 days, a weighted average life to maturity of portfolio securities of not more than 120 days, and the maturity of any single portfolio investment may not exceed 397 days. A security’s maturity must not exceed 397 days (13 months), unless it is subject to an agreement or demand feature that permits the Fund to recover the principal amount of the security at specified times not exceeding 397 days from purchase. Variable or floating rate obligations that are government securities enable the Fund to purchase instruments with a stated maturity in excess of 397 days in accordance with Rule 2a-7, which allows the Fund to consider certain of such instruments as having maturities that are less than the maturity date on the face of the instrument. The Board regularly reviews reports from the Sub-Adviser to show the Sub-Adviser’s compliance with Government Money Fund/VA’s procedures and with the Rule.
Government Money Fund/VA will seek to maintain at least 10% of its assets measured on a daily basis, and 30% of its total assets measured on a weekly basis, in cash or securities that can be sold and settled for cash within either one business day or five business days, respectively.
U.S. Government Securities. U.S. government securities are obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. They include Treasury Bills (which mature within one year of the date they are issued) and Treasury Notes and Bonds (which are issued with longer maturities). All Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities that issue or guarantee securities include, but are not limited to, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, Government National Mortgage Association, General Services Administration, Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Maritime Administration, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the District of Columbia Armory Board.
Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are not always backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some, such as securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), are backed by the right of the agency or instrumentality to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. Others, such as securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality and not by the Treasury. If the securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the purchaser must look principally to the agency issuing the obligation for repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States if the issuing agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment.
Among the U.S. government securities that may be purchased by Government Money Fund/VA are “mortgage-backed securities” of Fannie Mae, Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and Freddie Mac. Timely payment of principal and interest on Ginnie Mae pass-through securities are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States. These mortgage-backed securities include “pass-through” securities and “participation certificates.” Both types of securities are similar, in that they represent pools of mortgages that are assembled by a vendor who sells interests in the pool. Payments of principal and interest by individual mortgagors are “passed through” to the holders of the interests in the pool. Another type of mortgage-backed security is the “collateralized mortgage obligation.” It is similar to a conventional bond and is secured by groups of individual mortgages.
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA can engage in the following techniques and strategies with respect to its investment in its wholly-owned subsidiary and the subsidiary’s investment in Regulation S securities. Conservative Balanced Fund/VA and Global Strategic Income Fund/VA can engage in the following techniques and strategies with respect to Senior Loans and where otherwise indicated below:
Investment in the Wholly-Owned Subsidiary. Global Strategic Income Fund/VA may invest up to 25% of its total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”). Its Subsidiary invests primarily in Regulation S securities.
Since the 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, the Fund may be considered to be investing indirectly in those investments through its Subsidiary. Therefore, references in the Fund’s prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information to investments by the Fund may be deemed to include the Fund’s indirect investments through the Subsidiary.
The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act and is therefore not subject to its investor protections, except as noted in the Fund’s prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information. The Fund, as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, does not have all of the protections offered by the Investment Company Act. However, the Subsidiary is wholly-owned and controlled by the Fund and managed by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. 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 Fund’s Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its expected investment in the Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as the sole shareholder of its Subsidiary.
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Also, in managing the Subsidiary’s portfolio, the Manager and Sub-Adviser are subject to the same investment policies and restrictions that apply to the management of the 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 the Fund is organized) and/or the Cayman Islands (where the Subsidiary is organized), could prevent the 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 exempted companies like 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 the Fund would likely decrease.
Risks of Investing in Regulation S Securities. Regulation S securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers are offered through private offerings without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. Offerings of Regulation S securities may be conducted outside of the United States, and Regulation S securities may be relatively less liquid as a result of legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Although Regulation S securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the price realized from these sales could be less than that originally paid by the Fund. Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Accordingly, Regulation S securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses.
Senior Loans and Other Loans. Among other debt securities described elsewhere in this SAI, Conservative Balanced Fund/VA and Global Strategic Income Fund/VA may invest in loans, and in particular, in floating rate loans (sometimes referred to as “adjustable rate loans”) that hold (or in the judgment of the investment adviser, hold) a senior position in the capital structure of U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities that, under normal circumstances, allow them to have priority of claim ahead of (or at least as high as) other obligations of a borrower in the event of liquidation. These investments are referred to as “Senior Loans” in this SAI. Loans typically are arranged through private negotiations between a borrower and one or more financial institutions (“Lenders”). Usually the Lenders are represented by an agent (“Agent”), which usually is one of the Lenders. The borrowers may use the proceeds of loans to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, debt refinancings, or for other purposes.
Agents typically are commercial or investment banks that originate loans and invite other parties to join the lending syndicate. In larger transactions, it is common to have several Agents. However, only one Agent usually has primary responsibility for documentation and administration of the loan. Agents are normally paid fees by the borrower for their services. While the Fund can serve as the Agent or co-agent for a loan, the Fund currently does not intend to act as an Agent or co-Agent. Agents, acting on behalf of the Lenders, generally are primarily responsible for negotiating the loan agreement, which establishes the terms and conditions of the loan and the rights of the borrower and the Lenders. The Fund will rely on Agents to collect payments of principal and interest on a loan. The Fund also will rely in part on Agents to monitor compliance by the borrower with the restrictive covenants in the loan agreement and to notify the Fund (or the Lender from whom the Fund has purchased a participation) of any adverse change in the borrower’s financial condition.
Loans may be secured or unsecured. Where a loan is secured, Agents usually monitor the adequacy of assets that collateralize loans. In reliance upon the opinions of their legal counsel, Agents generally are also responsible for determining that the Lenders have obtained a perfected security interest in the collateral securing loans, if any.
Financial difficulties of Agents can pose a risk to the Fund. If an Agent for a particular loan becomes insolvent, the Fund could incur losses in connection with its investment in that loan. An Agent could declare bankruptcy, and a regulatory authority could appoint a receiver or conservator. Should this occur, the assets that the Agent holds under the loan agreement, if any, should continue to be available to the Lenders, including the Fund. A regulator or a court, however, might determine that any such assets are subject to the claims of the Agent’s general or secured creditors. If that occurs, the Fund might incur costs and delays in realizing final payment on a loan, or the Fund might suffer a loss of principal or interest. The Fund may be subject to similar risks when it buys a participation interest in a loan. Most participations purchased by the Fund are structured to be “true sales” of the underlying loan, in which case the loan should not be included in the bankruptcy estate of the participation seller. However, a court might determine that the participation was not in fact a “true sale”, in which case the Fund would be a general unsecured creditor of the participation seller.
In certain circumstances, loans may not be deemed to be securities, and in the event of fraud or misrepresentation by a borrower or an arranger, lenders will not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, as would be the case for bonds or stocks. Instead, in such cases, lenders generally rely on the contractual provisions in the loan agreement itself, and common-law fraud protections under applicable state law.
How the Fund Invests in Loans. The Fund may invest in loans in one or more of three ways: the Fund may invest directly in a loan by acting as an original Lender; the Fund may invest directly in a loan by purchasing a loan by an assignment
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from the Agent or other Lender; or the Fund may invest indirectly in a loan by purchasing a participation interest in a loan from an Agent or other Lender. The Fund may also gain exposure to loans indirectly using certain derivative instruments, which is discussed elsewhere in this SAI.
Original Lender. The Fund can invest in loans, generally “at par” (a price for the loan equal approximately to 100% of the funded principal amount of the loan, minus any original issue discount) as an original lender. When the Fund is an original lender, it is entitled to receive a return at the full interest rate for the loan. When the Fund is an original lender, it will have a direct contractual relationship with the borrower and will have direct recourse against the borrower in the event the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal or interest.
Assignments. The Fund may also purchase a loan by assignment. When the Fund purchases a loan by assignment, it typically succeeds to whatever rights and obligations the assigning lender had under the loan agreement and becomes a “lender” under the loan agreement, entitled to the same rights (including, but not limited to, enforcement or set-off rights) that are available to lenders generally.
Participation Interests. These investments represent an undivided, indirect interest in a loan obligation of a borrower. They are typically purchased from banks or dealers that have made the loan, or are members of the loan syndicate. The participation seller remains as lender of record, and continues to face the borrower, the agent, and the other parties to the loan agreement, while the Fund generally acquires beneficial ownership of the loan. Participation interests are subject to the ongoing counterparty risk of the participation seller (and, in certain circumstances, such seller’s credit risk) as well as the credit risk of the borrower.
While the Fund expects to have access to financial and other information regarding the borrower that has been made available to the lenders under a loan, it may not have such information in connection with participation interests and certain loan assignments. Additionally, the amount of public information available with respect to loans generally will be less extensive than what is available for exchange-listed or otherwise registered securities.
The Sub-Adviser will normally seek to avoid receiving material, non-public information about the issuers of loans being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. In many instances, borrowers may offer to furnish material, non-public information to existing and prospective investors in the issuer’s loans. The Sub-Adviser’s decision not to receive material, non-public information may place the Sub-Adviser at a disadvantage relative to other investors in loans (such as by having an adverse effect on the price the Fund pays or receives when buying or selling loans). Also, in instances where holders of loans are asked to grant amendments, waivers or consent, the Sub-Adviser’s ability to assess their significance or desirability may be adversely affected. For these and other reasons, it is possible that the Sub-Adviser’s decision not to receive material, non-public information under normal circumstances could adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance.
Notwithstanding its intention generally not to receive material, non-public information with respect to its management of investments in loans, the Sub-Adviser may from time to time come into possession of material, non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held in the Fund’s portfolio. Possession of such information may in some instances occur despite the Sub-Adviser’s efforts to avoid such possession, but in other instances the Sub-Adviser may choose to receive such information (for example, in connection with participation in a creditors’ committee with respect to a financially distressed issuer). The Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade in these loans for the account of the Fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, preventing the Fund from selling a loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.
Participation interests involve risks for the Fund. Participation interests are primarily dependent upon the creditworthiness of the borrower, which is obligated to make payments of principal and interest on the loan. In buying a participation interest, however, the Fund assumes both the credit risk of the borrower and the counterparty risk of the Lender selling the participation interest. As with an assignment or a loan originated by the Fund, 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’s income may be reduced and the value of the investment in the participation interest might also decline. Further, the seller of the participation interest will have no obligation to the Fund other than to pay the Fund the proportionate amount of the principal and interest payments it receives from the borrower. In addition, if the seller of the participation interest fails to perform its obligations, purchasers might incur costs and delays in realizing payment and suffer a loss of principal and/or interest, including in cases where the borrower may have performed its obligation to the Lender that issued the participation (e.g., if the participation seller fails to pass along to the Fund payments received from the borrower). Although most participation interests purchased by the Fund are structured to cause the Fund to become beneficial owner of the relevant loans, and therefore avoid this outcome, if a Lender that sells the Fund a participation interest becomes insolvent, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the Lender. As a general creditor, the Fund will have to share the proceeds of the loan with any other creditors of the Lender. The Fund will acquire a participation interest only if the investment adviser determines that the Lender (or other intermediary Participant) selling the participation interest is creditworthy.
The Fund’s rights under a participation interest with respect to a particular loan may be more limited than the rights of original Lenders or of investors who acquire an assignment of that loan. The Fund has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender selling the participation interest and only when
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the Lender receives the payments from the borrower. In purchasing participation interests, the Fund will usually have a contractual relationship only with the selling institution and not the borrower. The Fund generally will have no right directly to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the related loan agreement, nor will the Fund necessarily have the right to object to certain changes to the loan agreement agreed to by the selling institution.
If the Fund buys a participation interest in a loan, the Fund may be subject to any rights of set-off the borrower has against the selling institution (although recourse to the selling institution may be available in the event of any such set-off). In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the borrower, the obligation of the borrower to repay the loan may be subject to certain defenses that can be asserted by the borrower as a result of any improper conduct of the Lender selling the participation (although recourse to the Lender may be available). As a result, the Fund may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that exist when the Fund is an original Lender or assignee, and therefore a participation may be relatively illiquid as compared to a direct investment in a loan because of a smaller universe of investors who are willing to assume these additional risks present in a participation.
Investments in Pooled Investment Entities that Invest in Loans. The Fund can buy interests in trusts and other pooled entities (including other investment companies) that invest primarily or exclusively in loan obligations, including entities sponsored or advised by the Manager or an affiliate. The loans underlying these investments may include loans to foreign or U.S. borrowers, may be collateralized or uncollateralized and may be rated investment-grade or below, or may be unrated. These investments are subject to risks applicable to loan investments, including the risk of default by the borrower, interest rate and prepayment risk. The Fund will be subject to the pooled entity ‘s credit risks as well as the credit risks of the underlying loans. There is a risk that a borrower of the underlying loan may have difficulty making payments. If a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal payments, the Fund‘s income may be reduced and the value of the investment in the pooled entity might also decline.
Fees. The Fund may be required to pay and may receive various fees and commissions in connection with purchasing, selling and holding interests in loans. Borrowers typically pay three kinds of fees to Lenders: facility fees (which may be structured as original issue discount) when a loan is originated; commitment fees on an ongoing basis based on the unused portion of a loan commitment; and prepayment penalties when a borrower prepays a loan.
The Fund receives these fees directly from the borrower if the Fund is an original Lender or, in the case of commitment fees and prepayment penalties, if the Fund acquires an assignment. Whether the Fund receives a facility fee in the case of an assignment or participation interest depends on negotiations between the Fund and the Lender selling the interests.
When the Fund buys an assignment or a participation, it may be required to pay a fee, or cede a portion of the interest and fees that accrued prior to settlement of the assignment, to the lender selling the assignment or the participant. Occasionally, the selling lender pays a fee to the assignee or the participant. If the Fund assigns a loan or sells a participation, it may be required to pass along to a buyer a portion of any interest and fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to. In addition, in the case of an assignment, the Fund may be required to pay a transfer fee to the lending agent. If the Fund sells a participation interest, the Fund may be required to pay a transfer fee to the Lender that holds the nominal interest in the loan.
Interest Rate Benchmarks for Floating Rate Loans. Interest rates on floating rate loans adjust periodically based on a benchmark rate plus a premium or spread over the benchmark rate. The benchmark rate usually is the Prime Rate, LIBOR, the Federal Reserve federal funds rate, or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders (each as defined in the applicable loan agreement).
The Prime Rate quoted by a major U.S. bank is generally the interest rate at which that bank is willing to lend U.S. dollars to its most creditworthy borrowers, although it may not be the bank’s lowest available rate.
LIBOR usually is an average of the interest rates quoted by several designated banks as the rates at which they pay interest to major depositors in the London interbank market on deposits in a particular currency. Because Senior Loans are U.S. dollar denominated, any applicable LIBOR rate for Senior Loans would be in respect of U.S. dollar deposits. The market views changes in short-term LIBOR rates as closely related to changes in the Federal Reserve federal funds rate, although the two are not officially related.
The Federal Reserve federal funds rate is the rate that the Federal Reserve Bank charges member banks for borrowing money.
The interest rate on Prime Rate-based loans floats daily as the Prime Rate changes, while the interest rate on LIBOR based loans is reset periodically, typically between 30 days and one year. Quarterly interest periods are most common for floating rate loans in which the Fund invests. Certain floating or variable rate loans may permit the borrower to select an interest rate reset period of up to one year (although interest periods longer than six months will often require lender consent). Investing in loans with longer interest rate reset periods or fixed interest rates may increase fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value as a result of changes in market interest rates: falling short-term floating interest rates tend to decrease the income payable to the Fund on its floating rate loan investments, and rising short-term floating interest rates tend to increase that income. However, the Fund may attempt to hedge its fixed rate loans against interest rate fluctuations by entering into interest rate swaps or total return swap transactions. The Fund also will attempt to maintain a dollar-weighted average time period to the next interest rate adjustment of 90 days or less for its portfolio of floating rate loans. Nevertheless, changes in interest rates can affect the value of the Fund’s floating rate loans, especially if rates
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change sharply in a short period, because the resets of the interest rates on the portfolio of floating rate loans occur periodically and will not all happen simultaneously with changes in prevailing rates.
Floating rate loans are generally structured so that borrowers pay higher margins when they elect LIBOR-based borrower options. This permits lenders to obtain generally consistent yields on floating rate loans, regardless of whether borrowers select the LIBOR-based options or the Prime-based option. In market conditions where the differential between the lower LIBOR base rates and the higher Prime Rate base rates prevailing in the commercial bank markets has widened to the point that the higher margins paid by borrowers for LIBOR based pricing options do not compensate for the differential between the Prime Rate and the LIBOR base rates, borrowers may select the LIBOR-based pricing option, resulting in a yield on floating rate loans that is consistently lower than the yield available from the Prime Rate-based pricing option. In sustained periods of such market conditions, this tendency will significantly limit the ability of the Fund to achieve a net return to shareholders that consistently approximates the average published Prime Rate of leading U.S. banks. The Sub-Adviser cannot predict the occurrence of these conditions nor their duration in the event they do occur. On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on the Funds or the financial instruments in which the Funds invest cannot yet be determined.
In addition, in market conditions where short term interest rates are particularly low, certain floating rate loans may be issued with a feature that prevents the relevant benchmark rate from adjusting below a specified minimum level. This is achieved by defining a “floor” to the benchmark rate, so that if downward market movements of the benchmark rate would, absent this feature, cause the benchmark rate to fall below the floor, with this feature, the benchmark rates of these floating rate loans become fixed at the applicable minimum floor level until short term interest rates (and therefore the benchmark rate) rise above that level. Although this feature is intended to result in these floating rate loans yielding more than they otherwise would when short term interest rates are low, the feature might also result in the secondary market prices of these floating rate loans becoming more sensitive to changes in interest rates should short term interest rates rise.
The Fund may invest in loans having a fixed rate of interest, however it is unlikely to do so given fixed rate loans are uncommon in the loan market generally.
Prepayment Risk and Loans. Loans typically have mandatory and optional prepayment provisions. Because of prepayments, the actual remaining maturity of a loan may be considerably less than its stated maturity. The reinvestment by the Fund of the proceeds of prepaid loans could result in a reduction of income to the Fund in falling interest rate environments. Prepayment penalty fees that may be assessed in some cases may help offset the loss of income to the Fund in those cases.
Subordination. Senior loans generally hold the most senior position in a borrower’s capital structure. Borrowers generally are required contractually to pay the holders of senior loans before they pay the holders of corporate bonds or subordinated debt and preferred or common stockholders. Lenders obtain priority liens that typically provide the first right to cash flows or proceeds from the sale of a borrower’s collateral, if any, if the borrower becomes insolvent. That right is subject to the limitations of bankruptcy law, which may provide higher priority to certain other claims such as, for example, employee salaries, employee pensions and taxes. Senior loans are subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior loan to presently existing or future indebtedness or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans.
Lien Position. Loans that are collateralized may have multiple lenders or other creditors that take different lien positions. This means that if the borrower defaults on its obligations under the loan and the loan creditors enforce their security interest or if the borrower becomes bankrupt, the secured claims of the creditors in the first lien position will be satisfied prior to the secured claims of the creditors in the second lien position. If the cash flow and assets of the borrower are insufficient to satisfy both the first lien loans and the second lien loans in full, the creditors in the second lien position may not be satisfied in full. Intercreditor arrangements that are often present where a loan has first and second lien positions typically include ‘standstill’ provisions whereby the enforcement rights of second lien creditors are restricted in favor of the first lien creditors’ rights and give the first lien creditors the right to accept or reject any restructuring plans in the event of the default or insolvency of the borrower. If a loan has first and second lien positions, typically the Fund will invest in the first lien position; however, it may invest in the second lien position. Second lien positions generally pay a higher margin than first lien positions to compensate second lien creditors for the greater risk they assume.
Collateral. Loans, like other debt obligations, are subject to the risk of the borrower’s non-payment of scheduled interest and/or principal. While certain of the Fund’s investments in loans may be secured by collateral that the investment adviser believes to be equal to or in excess of the principal amount of the loan at the time of investment, there can be no assurance that the liquidation of such collateral, if any, would satisfy the borrower’s obligations in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal payments, or that the collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of a borrower’s bankruptcy, the Fund could experience delays or limitations in its ability to realize the benefits of collateral securing a loan.
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For the loans in which the Fund invests that are secured by collateral, that collateral may include the borrower’s tangible assets, such as cash, accounts receivable, inventory, real estate, buildings and equipment, common and/or preferred stock of subsidiaries, and intangible assets including trademarks, copyrights, patent rights and franchise value. The Fund may also receive guarantees or other credit support as a form security. A loan agreement may or may not require the borrower to pledge additional collateral to secure a loan if the value of the initial collateral declines, or if additional assets are acquired by the borrower. Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of those assets would satisfy in full a borrower’s obligations under a loan. If the collateral consists of stock of the borrower or its subsidiaries or affiliates, the stock may lose all of its value in the event of a bankruptcy, which would leave the Fund exposed to greater potential loss.
Generally, the Agent for a particular loan is responsible for monitoring collateral and for exercising remedies available to the Lenders such as foreclosure upon collateral in the event of the borrower’s default. However, the Agent will usually only be liable for its gross negligence or willful misconduct, and not for ordinary negligence. In certain circumstances, the loan agreement may authorize the Agent to liquidate the collateral and to distribute the liquidation proceeds pro rata among the lenders. The Fund may also invest in loans that are not secured by collateral. Unsecured loans involve additional risk because the lenders are general unsecured creditors of the borrower and any secured creditors may have prior rights of recourse to the assets of the borrower, and the assets of the borrower may be insufficient to satisfy in full all obligations owed to its creditors.
Highly Leveraged Transactions and Insolvent Borrowers. The Fund can invest in loans made in connection with highly leveraged transactions. These transactions may include operating loans, leveraged buyout loans, leveraged capitalization loans and other types of acquisition financing. Those loans are subject to greater credit risks than other loans. Highly leveraged loans and loans in default also may be less liquid than other loans. If the Fund voluntarily or involuntarily sold those types of loans, it might not receive the full value it expected.
The Fund can also invest in loans of borrowers that are experiencing, or are likely to experience, financial difficulty. In addition, the Fund can invest in loans of borrowers that have filed for bankruptcy protection or that have had involuntary bankruptcy petitions filed against them by creditors. Various laws enacted for the protection of debtors may apply to loans. A bankruptcy proceeding against a borrower could delay or limit the ability of the Fund to collect the principal and interest payments on that borrower’s loans. If a lawsuit is brought by creditors of a borrower under a loan, a court or a trustee in bankruptcy could take certain actions that would be adverse to the Fund. For example:
Other creditors might convince the court to set aside a loan or the collateralization of the loan as a “fraudulent conveyance” or “preferential transfer.” In that event, the court could recover from the Fund the interest and principal payments that the borrower made before becoming insolvent. There can be no assurance that the Fund would be able to prevent that recapture.
A bankruptcy court may restructure the payment obligations under the loan so as to reduce the amount to which the Fund would be entitled.
The court might discharge the amount of the loan that exceeds the value of the collateral or assets to which the lenders have recourse.
The court could subordinate the Fund’s rights to the rights of other creditors of the borrower under applicable law.
Borrower Covenants and Lender Rights. Loan agreements generally have contractual terms designed to protect Lenders. Loan agreements often include restrictive covenants that limit the activities of the borrower. A restrictive covenant is a promise by the borrower not to take certain actions that might impair the rights of Lenders. Those covenants typically require the scheduled payment of interest and principal and may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to the borrower’s shareholders, provisions requiring the borrower to maintain specific financial ratios or relationships and limits on the borrower’s total debt. In addition, a covenant may require the borrower to prepay the loan or debt obligation with any excess cash flow, proceeds of asset sales or casualty insurance, or other available cash. Excess cash flow generally includes net cash flow after scheduled debt service payments and permitted capital expenditures, among other things, as well as the proceeds from asset dispositions or sales of securities. A breach of a covenant (after the expiration of any cure period) in a loan agreement that is not waived by the Agent and the Lenders normally is an event of default, permitting acceleration of the loan. This means that the Agent has the right to demand immediate repayment in full of the outstanding loan. If a loan is not paid when due, or if upon acceleration of a loan, the borrower fails to repay principal and accrued (but unpaid) interest in full, this failure may result in a reduction in value of the loan (and possibly the Fund’s net asset value).
Lenders typically have certain voting and consent rights under a loan agreement. Action subject to a Lender vote or consent generally requires the vote or consent of the holders of some specified percentage of the outstanding principal amount of a loan. Certain decisions, such as reducing the amount or increasing the time for payment of interest on or repayment of principal of a loan, or releasing collateral for the loan, frequently requires the unanimous vote or consent of all Lenders affected.
If the Fund is not a direct lender under the loan because it has invested via a participation, derivative or other indirect means, the Fund may not be entitled to exercise some or all of the Lender rights described in this section.
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Delayed Draw Loans. The Fund may have obligations under a loan agreement to make disbursements of loans after the initial disbursement in certain circumstances, for example if the loan was partially “unfunded” at the time the Fund invested or if there otherwise is an ongoing commitment from the lenders to disburse further loans. The Fund intends to establish a reserve against such contingent obligations by identifying on its books cash or other liquid assets. The Fund will not purchase a loan that would require the Fund to make additional loans if as a result of that purchase all of the Fund’s additional loan commitments in the aggregate would cause the Fund to fail to meet any applicable asset segregation requirements.
Delayed Settlement. Compared to securities and to certain other types of financial assets, purchases and sales of loans, including via participation, take relatively longer to settle. This is partly due to the nature of loans, which require a written assignment agreement and various ancillary documents for each transfer, and frequently require discretionary consents from both the borrower and the administrative agent. In addition, dealers frequently insist on matching their purchases and sales, which can lead to delays in the Fund’s settlement of a purchase or sale in circumstances where the dealer’s corresponding transaction with another party is delayed. Dealers will also sometimes sell loans short, and hold their trades open for an indefinite period while waiting for a price movement or looking for inventory to purchase.
This extended settlement process can (i) increase the counterparty credit risk borne by the Fund; (ii) leave the Fund unable to timely vote, or otherwise act with respect to, loans it has agreed to purchase; (iii) delay the Fund from realizing the proceeds of a sale of a loan; (iv) inhibit the Fund’s ability to re-sell a loan that it has agreed to purchase if conditions change (leaving the Fund more exposed to price fluctuations); (v) prevent the Fund from timely collecting principal and interest payments; and (vi) expose the Fund to adverse tax or regulatory consequences.
The Loan Syndications and Trading Association (the “LSTA”) has promulgated a “delay compensation” provision in its standard loan documentation that mitigates the direct risk of permanently losing interest payments as a result of delayed settlement by causing interest to begin to accrue for the buyer’s account after the seventh business day following the trade date (for distressed trades, the twentieth business day). However, this does not mitigate the other risks of delayed settlement. In addition, the mechanism itself can result in opportunistic behavior: A seller, having locked in its trade, might delay closing for seven business days in order to maximize its interest collections, even if it could have closed earlier, while a buyer may no longer feel any pressure to close at all, since interest is accruing for its benefit, and may choose to use its cash elsewhere. The LSTA has further attempted to put an outer limit on long, unjustified settlement delays by promulgating “buy-in/sell-out” provisions that allow a party to enter into a “cover” trade if the other party refuses to close. However, these provisions are complicated, time-consuming, and little-used, and are in any event not triggered until the fifteenth business day after the trade date (for distressed trades, the fiftieth business day).
To the extent the extended loan settlement process gives rise to short-term liquidity needs, such as the need to satisfy redemption requests, the Fund may hold cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks or other lenders.
Short Sales. The Funds may make short sales of securities, either as a hedge against the potential decline in value of a security that a Fund owns or to realize appreciation when a security that a Fund does not own declines in value. To effect a short sale, the Fund will borrow the security that it desires to short from a broker and then sell the security. While the Fund is borrowing the security, it will generally pay a fee to the lending broker and reimburse the broker for any dividends or other income paid on the security. Additionally, regulations require that the a Fund provide collateral to the lending broker to secure its obligation to return the borrowed security. Making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes a Fund to risks associated with those securities. If a Fund makes short sales in securities that increase in value, it will likely underperform similar mutual funds that do not make short sales in securities they do not own. A Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund closes the short position. The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates and that decline is greater than the costs of borrowing the security and transaction costs. There can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to close out a short position at any particular time or at an acceptable price. Although a Fund’s gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security, less the price at which the security was sold short and may, theoretically, be unlimited. Additionally, a lending broker may request, or market conditions may dictate, that securities sold short be returned to the broker on short notice, which may result in a Fund having to buy the securities sold short at an unfavorable price. If this occurs, any anticipated gain to a Fund may be reduced or eliminated or the short sale may result in a loss. A Fund’s short selling strategies may limit its ability to fully benefit from increases in the securities markets.
Each Fund will comply with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to asset coverage of short sales. These guidelines may, in certain instances, require earmarking or segregation by a Fund of cash or liquid securities with its custodian or a designated sub-custodian to the extent its obligations with respect to a short sale are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security or by other means consistent with applicable regulatory policies. Earmarking or otherwise segregating a large percentage of a Fund’s assets could impede the Manager’s ability to manage the Fund’s portfolio.
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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. These are companies that have typically been in operation for less than three years, including the operations of any predecessors. Because small, unseasoned companies may be less secure financially, they may rely on borrowing to a greater extent. In that case, they may be more susceptible to adverse changes in interest rates than larger, more established companies. Small, unseasoned companies may also offer fewer products and rely on fewer key personnel. Market or economic developments may have a significant impact on these companies and on the value of their securities. These companies may have a limited trading market and the prices of their securities may be volatile, which could make them difficult to sell in a short period of time at a reasonable price. If other investors that own the security are trading it at the same time, it may have a more significant effect on the security’s price than that trading activity would have on the security price of a larger company. Securities of smaller, newer companies are also subject to greater risks of default than those of larger, more established issuers. These securities may be considered speculative and could increase overall portfolio risks.
Investing in Special Situations. At times, investment benefit may be sought from what a portfolio manager considers to be “special situations,” such as mergers, reorganizations, restructurings or other unusual events, that are expected to affect a particular issuer. There is a risk that the expected change or event might not occur, which could cause the price of the security to fall, perhaps sharply. In that case, the investment might not produce the expected gains or might cause a loss. This is an aggressive investment technique that may be considered speculative.
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 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 and Conservative Balanced 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.
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“ Stripped” Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fixed Income Funds and Conservative Balanced 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.
Municipal Securities. Municipal securities are issued to raise money for a variety of public or private purposes, including financing state or local governments in the United States, financing specific projects or financing public facilities. These debt obligations are issued by the state governments, as well as their political subdivisions (such as cities, towns, and counties) and their agencies and authorities. Municipal securities generally are classified as general or revenue obligations. General obligations are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue obligations are bonds whose interest is payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities, or a specific excise tax or other revenue source. Some revenue obligations are private activity bonds that pay interest that may be a tax preference item for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund can invest in municipal securities because the portfolio managers believe they offer attractive yields relative to the yields and risks of other debt securities, rather than to seek tax-exempt interest income for distribution to shareholders.
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 investment 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 Government Money Fund/VA, 5% of its total assets at the time of purchase) 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 investment adviser or its affiliates, 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. 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. Similar to a borrowing, reverse repurchase agreements provide the Fund with cash for investment and operational purposes. Reverse repurchase agreements that the Fund may engage in also create leverage. When the Fund engages in reverse repurchase agreements, changes in the value of the Fund’s investments will have a larger effect on its share price
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than if it did not engage in these transactions due to the effect of leverage. Reverse repurchase agreements create fund expenses and require that the Fund have sufficient cash available to repurchase the debt obligation when required. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the debt obligation that is the subject of the reverse repurchase agreement could decline significantly below the price at which a Fund is required to repurchase the security. 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 investment adviser determines the liquidity of portfolio investments. The holdings of illiquid and restricted securities are monitored 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 any time and there can be no assurance that the investment 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 Fund under its policies and procedures. Those policies and procedures take into account the trading activity for the securities, 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, except Government Money Fund/VA, can borrow from banks, as permitted by the Investment Company Act. Each Fund also can borrow from banks and other lenders to meet redemption obligations or for temporary and emergency purposes. When the Fund borrows money for investment in other assets, it is using a speculative investment technique known as “leverage,” and changes in the value of the Fund’s investments will have a larger effect on its share price if the investments were acquired using leverage than if the Fund acquired assets without the use of leverage.
Under the Fund’s investment policies, the Fund may not borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption from that Act that applies to the Fund. Currently, under the Investment Company Act, a mutual fund may borrow only from banks (other than for emergency purposes) and the maximum amount it may borrow is up to one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), less all liabilities and indebtedness other than borrowings, meaning that the value of those assets must be at least equal to 300% of the amount borrowed. If the value of the Fund’s assets fails to meet this 300% asset coverage requirement, the Fund will reduce the amount of 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 and for a disadvantageous price.
The Fund may also borrow up to 5% of its total assets for temporary or emergency purposes from any lender, including a non-bank. 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.
The Fund will pay interest and may pay other fees in connection with loans. Interest expense and the amount of any other fees incurred by the Fund in connection with loans will raise the overall expenses of the Fund and may reduce its returns. If the Fund does borrow, its expenses will usually be greater than comparable funds that do not borrow. Additionally, if the Fund does borrow the use of leverage will make the Fund’s share prices more sensitive to changes in the value of its assets and thus might cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to fluctuate more than that of funds that do not borrow. Finally, on the maturity date for any loan, the Fund must have sufficient cash available to pay back the lenders the amount borrowed.
Each Fund, except Government Money Fund/VA, participates in a multi-borrower, unsecured, revolving line of credit along with certain other Oppenheimer funds (the “Line of Credit”) and with a syndicate of banks as lenders. The Line of Credit permits combined borrowings by the Fund and these other Oppenheimer funds of up to a maximum aggregate amount, as negotiated from time to time. Borrowings by a Fund under the Line of Credit may only be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including without limitation, funding of shareholder redemptions, and may not be used for leverage. The Fund’s Board has determined that the Fund’s participation in the Line of Credit is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Under the Line of Credit, interest is charged to the Fund, based on its borrowings, at a floating benchmark rate of interest plus a margin. Additionally, the Fund will pay quarterly its pro rata portion of a loan commitment fee for the Line of Credit,
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and pays an additional fee at each renewal of the facility (which is expected to be annually) to the administrative agent for management and administration of the facility. The Fund can prepay loans and terminate its participation in the Line of Credit at any time upon prior notice to the lenders, however each borrowing under the Line of Credit will have a scheduled maturity of 30 days. As a borrower under the Line of Credit, the Fund has certain rights and remedies under state and federal law comparable to those it would have with respect to a loan from a bank.
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 Government Money Fund/VA is located below under the heading “Investment Restrictions.”
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 a derivative instrument is used 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 objective(s) and are permissible under applicable regulations governing that Fund.
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“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, volatility and currency 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. 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 Total Return Bond Fund/VA, Global Strategic Income Fund/VA and Conservative Balanced 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 and Conservative Balanced 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
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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.
Currency Swaps. The Funds, especially Global Strategic Income Fund/VA, may enter into currency swaps. A currency swap is an agreement between counterparties to exchange different currencies at contract inception that are equivalent to a notional value. The exchange at contract inception is made at the current spot rate. The contract also includes an agreement to reverse the exchange of the same notional values of those currencies at contract termination. The re-exchange at contract termination may take place at the same exchange rate, a specified rate or the then current spot rate. Certain currency swap contracts may have other features. Currency swaps entail both credit risk and liquidity risk. A loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the agreement. It may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in losses to the Funds.
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.
Risks of Swap Transactions. Swaps involve the risk that the value of the instrument will not perform as expected. Swaps also involve credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty might default. If the counterparty defaults, the purchaser might lose the amount of any contractual payments that it has not received. The Sub-Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties to 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 a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
Under financial reform legislation currently being implemented, certain types of swaps are (or soon will be) required to be executed on a regulated market and/or cleared through a clearinghouse, which may affect counterparty risk and other risks faced by a Fund, and could result in increased margin requirements and costs for a Fund. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract or may be centrally cleared. In a cleared swap, immediately following execution of the swap agreement, the swap agreement is submitted for clearing to a clearinghouse, and a Fund faces the clearinghouse by means of a Fund account with a futures commission merchant that is a member of the clearinghouse. Because the regulations regarding cleared swaps have not yet been fully implemented, the scope of potential risks, including risks relating to the use of clearinghouses and futures commission merchants, is unclear.
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,
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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.
Hedging. Although the Funds can use certain hedging instruments and techniques, they are not obligated to use them in seeking their objectives. A Fund’s strategy of hedging with futures and options on futures will be incidental to the Fund’s activities in the underlying cash market. The particular hedging instruments each Fund can use are described below.
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
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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
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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. Put and call options on foreign currencies include puts and calls that trade on a securities or commodities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets or that are quoted by major recognized dealers in such options. 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 investment 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 investment 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.
Limitations on Options Transactions Imposed by Options Exchanges. Options transactions are subject to limitations established by the option exchanges. The exchanges limit the maximum number of options that may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert. Those limits apply regardless of whether the options were purchased, sold or held through one or more different exchanges or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options that can be sold by an investment company advised by the same investment adviser may be affected by options written or held by other investment companies advised by the same investment adviser or affiliated entities. The exchanges and CFTC also impose position limits on futures transactions. An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those limits and may impose certain other sanctions.
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 investment adviser uses a hedging strategy at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly, hedging strategies may reduce a Fund’s return. A 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 may affect its costs.
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.
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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 exchange traded 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.
A 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 a Fund does so the market might decline. If a 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
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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 a decision might be made 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 that Fund believes to be adequate to ensure that it has sufficient liquid assets to meet its obligations under its derivatives contracts, or that 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
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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 that 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., that 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 that Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support such obligations under its derivatives positions.
Segregating or designating a large percentage of a Fund’s liquid assets could impede the Sub-Adviser’s ability to manage that 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 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 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 to limit and monitor, consistent with internal compliance procedures, 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, the Manager will not be subject to the disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the CFTC rules.
Financial reform legislation 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 might 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 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 Derivatives and Hedging Instruments. Futures contracts, non-equity options (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and certain foreign currency exchange contracts are treated as “Section 1256 contracts” under the Internal Revenue Code. In general, gains or losses relating to Section 1256 contracts are characterized as 60%
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long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses under the Internal Revenue 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 Internal Revenue Code.
Certain forward contracts and other derivatives may result in “straddles” for federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character and timing of gains (or losses) recognized on those 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. 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 Internal Revenue Code, 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 interest or other receivables denominated in a foreign currency are accrued or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are accrued 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 Internal Revenue Code for that trade, which may increase or decrease the amount of investment income available for distribution to its shareholders.
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 taxable year is passive income or if 50% or more of its assets during a taxable year 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. Investments in foreign mutual funds 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 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. Unless an election is made with respect to an investment in a PFIC, which election may not always be possible, income from the disposition of a PFIC investment and from certain PFIC distributions may be subject to adverse tax treatment. The application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition of income with respect to PFIC shares, and may subject a regulated investment company itself to tax on certain income from PFIC shares. Federal tax laws impose severe tax penalties for failure to properly report investment income from PFICs. Foreign corporations that are PFICs for federal tax purposes may not always be recognized as such or may not provide investors all information required to report, or make an election with respect to, such investment.
A foreign issuer will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to a shareholder if such issuer is a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“CFC”) and the shareholder holds (directly, indirectly, or constructively) 10% or more of the voting interests in or total value of such issuer. In such a case, the shareholder generally would be required to include in gross income each year, as ordinary income, its share of certain amounts of a CFC’s income, whether or not the CFC distributes such shareholder’s share of such amounts to it. Under proposed regulations, such income will be considered “qualifying income” for purposes of a shareholder’s qualification as a regulated investment company only to the extent such income is timely distributed to that shareholder.
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Additional risks of investing in other investment companies are described under “Investments in Other Investment Companies.”
Temporary Defensive and Interim Investments. When market conditions are unstable, or the investment 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 S&P or a comparable rating by another rating organization), or unrated securities judged by the investment 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.
Loans of Portfolio Securities. Global Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA may lend securities to broker-dealers and other parties to earn income or for other purposes. 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. Global Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA receive collateral from the borrowers consisting of cash or securities of the U.S. government (or its agencies or instrumentalities). On each business day, the amount of collateral that Global Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA have received must at least equal the value of the loaned securities or Global Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA will take steps to terminate the loan. If Global Fund/VA or International Growth Fund/VA receives cash collateral from the borrower, the Sub-Adviser, may cause that cash to be invested in certain high quality, short-term investments, including in money market funds. Each of Global Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA will be subject to its proportional share of the expenses of such money market funds, including management fees. A collateral administration fee will also be charged on the value of cash collateral invested. Global Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA will be responsible for the risks associated with the investment of cash collateral, including the risk that Global Fund/VA and International Growth Fund/VA may lose money on the investment or may fail to earn sufficient income to meet its obligations to the borrower. If a borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned, Global Fund/VA or International Growth Fund/VA could experience delays and costs in recovering the securities or in gaining access to the collateral. The Fund’s participation in loans of securities also may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. With respect to any security subject to a securities loan, any (i) amounts received by Global Fund/VA or International Growth Fund/VA in place of dividends earned on the security during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund may not give rise to qualified dividend income and (ii) withholding taxes accrued on dividends during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund will not qualify as a foreign tax paid by the Fund, and therefore cannot be passed through to shareholders even if the Fund meets the requirements described in “Distributions and Taxes,” below. In addition, although voting rights pass with the securities loaned, if the Fund has knowledge that a material event will occur affecting securities on loan, and in respect to which the holder of the securities will be entitled to vote or consent, the lender must be entitled to call the loaned securities in time to vote or consent.
Cyber Security Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Fund may be prone to operational and informational security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security (“cyber-attacks”). A cyber-attack refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, infection by computer viruses or other malicious software code, gaining unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices that are used to service the Fund’s operations through “hacking” or other means for the purpose of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the Fund’s websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on the Fund’s systems.
Cyber security failures or breaches by the Fund’s affiliates or service providers, may cause disruptions and impact the business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses to both the Fund and shareholder, the inability of fund shareholders to transact business and the mutual funds to process transactions, inability to calculate the Fund’s net asset value, impediments to trading, violations of applicable privacy and other laws (including the release of private shareholder
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information), regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in attempting to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the investment adviser has policies and procedures (and risk management systems) designed to prevent or reduce the impact of such cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such controls, systems and protocols, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified, as well as the rapid development of new threats. These cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value and may result in financial loss for Fund shareholders.
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 Government 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.
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The following investment restrictions are fundamental policies of Government 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.
Non-Fundamental Restrictions. Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA has the following additional operating policy that is not “fundamental” and can be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
The Fund cannot invest in the securities of other registered investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on sub-paragraph (F) or (G) of Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act.
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 a “senior security,” which is generally defined as any bond, debenture, note, or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness, or any stock of a class having priority over any other class of 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 OppenheimerFunds 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 of 1933 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 Fund’s prospectus and this SAI.
Current Securities and Exchange Commission 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.
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The Investment Company Act does not define what constitutes “concentration” in an industry. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff has taken the position that investment of more than 25% of a fund’s total assets in issuers in the same industry or group of industries constitutes concentration in that industry or group of industries. That limit does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities; however, securities issued by any one foreign government are considered to be part of a single “industry.” For the purposes of compliance with its concentration policy, the Fund will consider portfolio investments held by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, to the extent that the Fund has sufficient information about such portfolio investments. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to obtain such information.
Government Money Fund/VA has a fundamental concentration policy that permits it to invest without limit in the obligations of banks. Government Money Fund/VA will retain this fundamental policy as is since the SEC has long taken the position that money market funds may reserve the right to invest without limit in obligations of banks without being deemed to concentrate its investments. As a government money market fund, Government Money Fund/VA will not rely on the policy to invest without limit in obligations issued by banks, and it will retain this policy solely to avoid the expense of an unnecessary shareholder vote, which would be required to remove this fundamental policy.
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). 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.
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA’s Subsidiary will follow the Global Strategic Income Fund/VA’s 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/Sub-Adviser, 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/Sub-Adviser, 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/Sub-Adviser 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 accordance with the Funds', the Manager’s/Sub-Adviser’s, the Distributor’s and the Transfer Agent’s policies and procedures regarding dissemination of information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings.
Public Disclosure. Each Fund’s portfolio holdings, other than Government Money Fund/VA, are made publicly available no later than 60 days after the close of each of the Fund’s fiscal quarters in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in its Schedule of Investments on Form N-Q. Those documents are publicly available at the SEC. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings information, as of the end of each calendar month, may be posted and available on the Fund’s website (at www.oppenheimerfunds.com) no sooner than 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar month to which the information relates. Partial holdings, listed by security or by issuer, may be posted on the Fund’s website no sooner than 5 business days following the month to which the information relates. The Fund may delay posting its holdings or may not post any holdings, if the Manager/Sub-Adviser believes that would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Other general information about the Fund’s portfolio investments, such as portfolio composition by asset class, industry, country, currency, credit rating or maturity, may also be publicly disclosed 5 business days after the end of the calendar month to which the information relates.
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Government Money Fund/VA’s portfolio holdings, as of the most recent prior Valuation Time (defined in “Determination of Net Asset Value Per Share”), are posted on the Government Money Fund/VA’s website at www.oppenheimerfunds.com on the last regular business day of the week. Government 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 semiannual and annual report to shareholders, or in its Schedules 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, within 5 business days of the end of the month, on the Fund’s website and files information on its holdings monthly with the SEC on Form N-MFP, which is available on both the Fund’s website and the SEC’s website.
Beginning in April 2019, the Funds will no longer file Form N-Qs and will instead disclose their portfolio holdings monthly on Form N-PORT.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings (which may include the Fund’s entire portfolio or individual securities therein) may be released to the following categories of individuals or entities pursuant to ongoing arrangements, provided that such individual or entity either (1) has signed an agreement to keep such information confidential and will not use such information in any way that is detrimental to the Fund or (2) as a member of any service provider to the Fund or of the Fund’s 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. For the categories of individuals and entities described below that have ongoing arrangements to receive portfolio holdings information, such information may be furnished as often as appropriate for the purpose for which it is being provided, which may be as frequently as daily and often with no time lag between the date of the information and the date it is furnished.
 Employees of the Fund’s service providers who need to have access to such information;
 The Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm;
 Members of the Fund’s Board and the independent legal counsel to the Board’s independent trustees;
 The Fund’s custodian bank;
 The Fund’s financial printers;
 A proxy voting service designated by the Fund and its Board;
 Rating/ranking organizations (such as Lipper and Morningstar);
 Portfolio pricing services retained by the Manager/Sub-Adviser to provide portfolio security prices;
 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, or to obtain prices for inter-fund trades or similar transactions); and
Other service providers to the Fund, the Manager, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor, and the Transfer Agent, including providers of index services and personal trading compliance services.
Month-end lists of the Fund’s complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed for legitimate business reasons, no sooner than 5 business 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 in the Manager’s/Sub-Adviser’s Investment Operations 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 a 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 use such information in any way that is detrimental to the Fund.
Other than for Government Money Fund/VA, 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);
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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 up to 5 business days prior to making the redemption request, provided that such shareholders have entered into a non-disclosure agreement not to disclose or trade on the basis of such portfolio holdings.
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 Fund’s policy regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings and all material amendments have been reviewed and approved by the Fund’s board. The investment manager conducts periodic reviews of compliance with the policy and provides periodic reports relating to such reviews to the Board. The Fund’s Board reserves the right to amend the Fund’s policy regarding the disclosure of portfolio holdings from time to time without prior notice and in its sole discretion.
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 initially organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Trust was reorganized as a Delaware statutory trust in August 2012 and presently includes 10 series. All references to the Funds’ Board of Trustees and Officers refer to the Trustees and Officers, respectively, of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds.
Effective April 30, 2014, Class 3 Shares and Class 4 Shares of Global Fund/VA were reclassified as Non-Service Shares and Service Shares, respectively.
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
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA 1986 Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2015);
Oppenheimer Balanced Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2013).
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).
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).
Government Money Fund/VA 1983 Oppenheimer Money Fund/VA (prior to April 29, 2016)
International Growth Fund/VA* 1981 N/A
Main Street Fund/VA 1995 Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA (prior to April 30, 2003).
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).
Total Return Bond Fund/VA 1983 Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA (prior to April 28, 2017); Oppenheimer
Bond Fund/VA (prior to April 29, 2005).
*International Growth Fund/VA was established as a series of the Panorama Series Fund in 1981. On or about April 30, 2014, the International Growth Fund/VA merged into the newly formed entity established under the Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds, established for the sole purpose of moving the International Growth Fund/VA from under the Panorama Series Fund to the Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds.
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
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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 (except for Government Money Fund/VA) currently offer two classes of shares. Government Money Fund/VA currently offers one class of shares. 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 Government Money Fund/VA also offer a service share class, subject to a Distribution and Service Plan. Government Money Fund/VA currently only offers the class of non-service shares. 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 Robert J. Malone, 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, 2018, the Audit Committee held 6 meetings, the Review Committee held 4 meetings and the Governance Committee held 3 meetings.
The members of the Audit Committee are Karen L. Stuckey (Chair), Andrew J. Donohue and James D. Vaughn. Subject to the ratification of the Board and shareholders (if applicable), the Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of the independent certified public accountants and auditors of the Fund or registered public accounting firm (also referred to as the “independent Auditors”) for the purpose of preparing or issuing audit reports and for all other services provided by 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 regarding Fund operations that
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relate to accounting and financial reporting from Management’s Internal Audit Department; (iv) maintaining a direct line of communication and meeting with the Fund’s independent Auditors at least annually; (v) reviewing the independence of the Fund’s independent Auditors; and (vi) approving in advance the provision of any audit and/or non-audit services by the Fund’s independent Auditors, including tax services, that are not prohibited by the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, to the Fund, the Manager and certain affiliates of the Manager, as applicable. The Audit Committee also reviews and considers the valuation of portfolio investments, including the procedures for the determination of the fair value of any such investments that do not have readily available market quotations.
The members of the Review Committee are Victoria J. Herget (Chair), Richard F. Grabish and Beverly L. Hamilton. 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 Richard F. Grabish (Chair), Beverly L. Hamilton, 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 recommendations for Trustee nominees. Shareholders may submit such recommendations for the Governance Committee’s consideration by mail to the Governance Committee in care of the Fund. Such recommendations should be accompanied by, at a minimum, (i) the name, address, and business, educational, and/or other pertinent background information of the person being recommended; (ii) a statement concerning whether the person is an “interested person” as defined in the Investment Company Act; (iii) any other information that the Fund would be required to include in a proxy statement concerning the person if he or she was nominated; and (iv) the name and address of the person submitting the recommendation and, if that person is a shareholder, the period for which that person held Fund shares. The recommendation also can include any additional information which the person submitting it believes would assist the Governance Committee in evaluating the recommendation. The Governance Committee has not established specific qualifications that it believes must be met by a Trustee nominee. In evaluating Trustee 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 investment adviser 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. Steinmetz, 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 Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund
Oppenheimer Global High Yield Fund
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Integrity Funds:
Oppenheimer Global Unconstrained Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Preferred Securities and Income Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Intermediate Income Fund
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Funds:
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street All Cap Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Mid Cap Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund
 
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Oppenheimer Master Event-Linked Bond Fund, LLC
Oppenheimer Master Inflation Protected Securities Fund, LLC
Oppenheimer Master Loan Fund, LLC
Money Market Fund:
Oppenheimer Government Cash Reserves
Oppenheimer ETF Trust:
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer ESG Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Global ESG Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Global Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer International Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer International Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Low Volatility Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Momentum Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Quality Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Size Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Value Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Yield Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 2000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF
Oppenheimer S&P 500 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P Financials Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P MidCap 400 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P SmallCap 600 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Fund
Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Plus Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Funds Trust:
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Plus Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Income Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Select 40 Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath Panoramic Fund
OFI SteelPath Series Trust:
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds:
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Ultra-Short Duration Fund
Messrs. Anello, Baijal, Benedetti, Delano, Dunphy, Edwards, Evans, Govil, Kelly, Kennedy, Krantz, Larson, Legg, Livengood, Memani, Petersen, Proctor, Ram, Steinmetz, Strzalkowski, Vardharaj, Weiner, Wilde, Yoder, Zibelli and Ziehl and Mss. Budzinski, Bullington, Burley, Foxson, Ketner, Lo Bessette, Miller, Picciotto and Ziverte, 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 Funds, 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 Funds, 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 April 5, 2019 the Trustees/Directors and officers of each Fund, as a group, owned less than 1% of any class of shares of any 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
Robert J. Malone Chairman of the Board &
Trustee
Since 2016
Since 2002
Andrew J. Donohue Trustee Since 2017
Richard F. Grabish Trustee Since 2012
Beverly L. Hamilton Trustee Since 2002
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Independent Trustees Position(s) Length of Service
Victoria J. Herget Trustee Since 2012
Karen L. Stuckey Trustee Since 2012
James D. Vaughn Trustee Since 2012
Interested Trustee    
Arthur P. Steinmetz Trustee Since 2015
Independent Trustees    
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Past
5 Years; Other Trusteeships/Directorships Held
Portfolios Overseen
in Fund Complex
Robert J. Malone (1944)
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Chairman - Colorado Market of MidFirst Bank (since January 2015); Chairman of the Board (2012-2016) and Director (August 2005-January 2016) of Jones International University (educational organization); Trustee of the Gallagher Family Foundation (non-profit organization) (2000-2016); Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Steele Street Bank Trust (commercial banking) (August 2003-January 2015); Director 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 Member (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. 57
Andrew J. Donohue (1950) Trustee Director, Mutual Fund Directors Forum (since February 2018); Of Counsel, Shearman & Sterling LLP (since September 2017); Chief of Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (regulator) (June 2015-February 2017); Managing Director and Investment Company General Counsel of Goldman Sachs (investment bank) (November 2012-May 2015); Partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP (law firm) (March 2011-October 2012); Director of the Division of Investment Management of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (regulator) (May 2006-November 2010); Global General Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (investment firm) (May 2003-May 2006); General Counsel (October 1991-November 2001) and Executive Vice President (January 1993-November 2001) of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (investment firm) (June 1991-November 2001). Mr. Donohue has served on the Boards of certain Oppenheimer funds since 2017, 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. 57
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 Board’s deliberations. 57
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Independent Trustees    
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Past
5 Years; Other Trusteeships/Directorships Held
Portfolios Overseen
in Fund Complex
Beverly L. Hamilton (1946)
Trustee
Trustee of Monterey Institute for International Studies (educational organization) (2000-2014); Board Member of Middlebury College (educational organization) (December 2005-June 2011); Director of the Board (1991-2016), Vice Chairman of the Board (2006-2009) and Chairman of the Board (2010-2013) 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; 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 Board’s deliberations. 57
Victoria J. Herget (1951)
Trustee
Board Chair (2008-2015) and Director (2004-Present) of United Educators (insurance company); Trustee (since 2000) and Chair (2010-2017) of Newberry Library (independent research library); Trustee, Mather LifeWays (senior living organization) (since 2001); Independent Director of the First American Funds (mutual fund family) (2003-2011 and July 2018-January 2019); former Managing Director (1993-2001), Principal (1985-1993), Vice President (1978-1985) and Assistant Vice President (1973-1978) of Zurich Scudder Investments (investment adviser) (and its predecessor firms); 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, BoardSource (non-profit organization) (2006-2009) and Chicago City Day School (K-8 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 Board’s deliberations. 57
Karen L. Stuckey (1953)
Trustee
Member (since May 2015) of Desert Mountain Community Foundation Advisory Board (non-profit organization); Partner (1990-2012) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (professional services firm) (held various positions 1975-1990); Trustee (1992-2006); member of Executive, Nominating and Audit Committees and Chair of Finance Committee (1992-2006), and Emeritus Trustee (since 2006) of Lehigh University; member, Women’s Investment Management Forum (professional organization) (since inception); and Trustee of Jennies School for Little Children (non-profit) (2011-2014). 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 Board’s deliberations. 57
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Independent Trustees    
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Past
5 Years; Other Trusteeships/Directorships Held
Portfolios Overseen
in Fund Complex
James D. Vaughn (1945)
Trustee
Retired; former managing partner (1994-2001) of Denver office of Deloitte & Touche LLP, (held various positions in Denver and New York offices from 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 Board’s deliberations. 57
Mr. Steinmetz is an “Interested Trustee” because he is affiliated with the Manager and the Sub-Adviser by virtue of his positions as Chairman and director of the Sub-Adviser and officer and director of the Manager. Both as a Trustee and as an officer, Mr. Steinmetz serves for an indefinite term, or until his resignation, retirement, death or removal. Mr. Steinmetz’s address is 225 Liberty Street, 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
Arthur P. Steinmetz (1958)
Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer
Chairman of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (since January 2015); CEO and Chairman of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since July 2014), President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since May 2013), a Director of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2013), Director of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (since July 2014), President, Management Director and CEO of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. (OppenheimerFunds, Inc.'s parent holding company) (since July 2014), and President and Director of OFI SteelPath, Inc. (since January 2013). Chief Investment Officer of the OppenheimerFunds advisory entities (January 2013-December 2013); Executive Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (January 2013-May 2013); Chief Investment Officer of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (October 2010-December 2012); Chief Investment Officer, Fixed-Income, of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (April 2009-October 2010); Executive Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (October 2009-December 2012); Director of Fixed Income of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (January 2009-April 2009); and a Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (March 1993-September 2009). 103
The addresses of the officers in the chart below are as follows: for Messrs. Anello, Baijal, Benedetti, Delano, Dunphy, Edwards, Evans, Govil, Kelly, Krantz, Larson, Livengood, Memani, Ram, Steinmetz, Strzalkowski, Vardharaj, Weiner, Yoder, Ziehl and Zibelli and Mss. Budzinski, Foxson, Ketner, Lo Bessette, Picciotto and Ziverte, 225 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10281-1008, for Messrs. Kennedy, Legg, Petersen, Proctor and Wilde and Mss. Bullington, Burley and Miller, 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.
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Each of the Officers has served the Funds in the following capacities from the following dates:
  Position(s) Length of Service
Raymond Anello Vice President Since 2011
Hemant Baijal Vice President Since 2018
John Delano Vice President Since 2017
Joy Budzinski Vice President Since 2013
Robert Dunphy Vice President Since 2013*
George Evans Vice President Since 2013*
Manind Govil Vice President Since 2009
Christopher Kelly Vice President Since 2017
Kristin Ketner Vice President Since 2013
Magnus Krantz Vice President Since 2013
Paul Larson Vice President Since 2014
Justin Livengood Vice President Since 2014
Krishna Memani Vice President Since 2009
Christopher Proctor Vice President Since 2010
Benjamin Ram Vice President Since 2009
Peter A. Strzalkowski Vice President Since 2009
Raman Vardharaj Vice President Since 2009
Adam Weiner Vice President Since 2013
Adam Wilde Vice President Since 2013
Ronald Zibelli, Jr. Vice President Since 2006
Matthew Ziehl Vice President Since 2009
Ruta Ziverte Vice President Since 2017
Arthur P. Steinmetz President and Principal Executive Officer Since 2014
Jennifer Foxson Vice President and Chief Business Officer Since 2014
Mary Ann Picciotto Chief Compliance Officer and Chief AML Officer Since 2014
Brian Petersen Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Since 2016
Stephanie Bullington Assistant Treasurer Since 2016
Julie Burley Assistant Treasurer Since 2013
James A. Kennedy Assistant Treasurer Since 2011
Jan Miller Assistant Treasurer Since 2013
Cynthia Lo Bessette Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Since 2016
Joseph Benedetti Assistant Secretary Since 2018
Taylor V. Edwards Assistant Secretary Since 2008
Randy Legg Assistant Secretary Since 2008
John Yoder Assistant Secretary Since 2016
*As of April 30, 2014, International Growth Fund/VA, for which George Evans and Robert Dunphy are Vice Presidents and portfolio managers, is no longer a series under the Panorama Series Fund (another registered investment company in the Oppenheimer family of funds), and is a series under Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds. Mr. Evans and Mr. Dunphy had been officers of Panorama Series Fund since 1999 and 2012, respectively.
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Other Information About the Officers of the Funds
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Last 5 Years
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. Mr. Anello served as 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).
Hemant Baijal (1962)
Vice President
Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2016); Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since July 2011); Co-Head of the Global Debt Team (since January 2015); Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (July 2011-January 2016). Co-founder, Partner and Portfolio Manager of Six Seasons Global Asset Management (January 2009-December 2010); Partner and Portfolio Manager of Aravali Partners, LLC (September 2006-December 2008); Partner and Portfolio Manager at Havell Capital Management, LLC (November 1996-August 2006).
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 Investments 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).
John Delano (1972)
Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2017) and Director of Equity Research, Global Team, of the Sub-Adviser (since October 2010); Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (October 2010 - January 2017); Director of Equity Research, Growth Team, of the Sub-Adviser (April 2007 - October 2010).
Robert Dunphy (1979)
Vice President
Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2011); Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2011); Senior Research Analyst and Assistant Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (May 2009-January 2011), and an Intermediate Research Analyst of the Sub-Adviser (January 2006-May 2009).
George Evans (1959)
Vice President
CIO Equities of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2013); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since July 2004). Director of International Equities of the Sub-Adviser (since July 2004); Director of Equities of the Sub-Adviser (October 2010-December 2012); Vice President of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation (July 1994-November 2001) and Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (October 1993-July 2004).
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 Investments 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 Investments 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.
Christopher Kelly (1967)
Vice President
Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2016) and Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser and Co-Head of the Global Debt Team (since March 2015). Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (March 2015 - January 2016). Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Kelly was at BlackRock Inc., where he was Deputy Head of Emerging Markets Fixed Income (June 2012 -January 2015). Mr. Kelly was also a portfolio manager and Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Emerging Markets at Fisher Francis Trees and Watts, a BNP Paribas Investment Partner (February 2008 - April 2012).
Kristin Ketner (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 Investments and Guardian Life Insurance Company. 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).
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Other Information About the Officers of the Funds
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Last 5 Years
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 Investments 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). He also served as product development engineer at Newbridge Networks (1993-1996) and as a software engineer at Mitel Corporation (1990-1993).
Paul Larson (1971)
Vice President
Vice President of the Sub-Adviser and portfolio manager of the Main Street Team (since January 2013). Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, he was a portfolio manager and Chief Equity Strategist at Morningstar. He was previously an analyst at Morningstar covering the energy sector and oversaw the firm’s natural resources analysts. Prior to joining Morningstar in 2002, Mr. Larson was an analyst with The Motley Fool.
Justin Livengood (1974)
Vice President
Vice President (since May 2006) and Senior Portfolio Manager (since January 2014) of the Sub-Adviser. Senior Research Analyst of the Sub-Adviser (May 2006-January 2014), responsible for the health care, energy and financial services sectors for mid- and small-cap growth accounts. Before joining the Sub-Adviser in May 2006, Mr. Livengood was a vice president and fund analyst with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, where he specialized in financial services, health care, energy and basic materials for the Merrill Lynch Small Cap Growth Fund. During his tenure at Merrill Lynch he also worked as an investment banking analyst in the Global Media Group and as an associate with Merrill Lynch Ventures.
Krishna Memani (1960)
Vice President
President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2013); Executive Vice President of the Manager (since January 2014) and Chief Investment Officer of the OppenheimerFunds advisory entities (since January 2014). Chief Investment Officer, Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser (January 2013-December 2013); Head of the Investment Grade Fixed Income Team of the Sub-Adviser (March 2009-January 2014); Director of Fixed Income of the Sub-Adviser (October 2010-December 2012); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (March 2009-December 2012) and Senior Vice President of OFI Global Institutional, Inc. (April 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).
Christopher Proctor (1968)
Vice President
Head of the Cash Strategies Team (since July 2013); Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since July 2013) and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2010). Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (August 2008-July 2013). 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).
Benjamin Ram (1972)
Vice President
Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2011); Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (May 2009 - December 2010). Sector Manager for Financial Investments and co‑Portfolio Manager for mid-cap portfolios with the RS Core Equity Team of RS Investments 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 Investments 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); senior financial analyst at the CitiFinancial division of Citigroup, Inc. (1997-2000).
Peter A. Strzalkowski (1965)
Vice President
Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2016), Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since 2007) and a co-Team Leader for the Sub-Adviser’s Investment Grade Fixed Income Team (since January 2014).  Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (August 2007 - January 2016) and a member of the Sub-Adviser’s Investment Grade Fixed Income Team (April 2009 - January 2014). 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) and a Vice President and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Centura Banks (November 1998 - April 2000).
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Other Information About the Officers of the Funds
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Last 5 Years
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 Investments 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 Investments Management Co. LLC.
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 Investments 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).
Adam Wilde (1978)
Vice President
Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2011) and a Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since July 2013). He served as the head of credit research for the cash strategies team of the Sub-Adviser (from 2011 to 2013), and as an Assistant Vice President and senior research analyst of the Sub-Adviser (from 2008 to 2011). Mr. Wilde served as an intermediate research analyst of the Sub-Adviser (from 2007 to 2008) and served in other analyst roles of the Sub-Adviser (since 2002). Mr. Wilde joined the Sub-Adviser in 2001.
Ronald Zibelli, Jr. (1959)
Vice President
Senior Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (since January 2014); Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2006) and Vice President of the Sub-Adviser (May 2006-January 2014). 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.
Matthew Ziehl (1967)
Vice President
Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (since May 2009). Portfolio manager with RS Investments Management Co. LLC (October 2006-May 2009); Managing Director at The Guardian Life Insurance Company (December 2001-October 2006) when Guardian Life Insurance acquired an interest in RS Investments Management Co. LLC. Team leader and co portfolio manager with Salomon Brothers Asset Management, Inc. for small growth portfolios (January 2001-December 2001).
Ruta Ziverte (1973)
Vice President
Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Sub-Adviser (July 2015). Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, she was Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at GE Asset Management (June 2009 to June 2015).
    
Other Information about the Officers of the Fund
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years
Mary Ann Picciotto (1973)
Chief Compliance Officer and
Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer
Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since March 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of OppenheimerFunds, Inc., OFI SteelPath, Inc., 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 2014); Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and certain of its various affiliated entities; Chief Compliance Officer of various Morgan Stanley Funds (May 2010-January 2014); Chief Compliance Officer of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (April 2007-January 2014).
Jennifer Foxson (1969)
Vice President and Chief Business Officer
Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (since June 2014); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (April 2006-June 2014); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (January 1998-March 2006); Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (October 1991-December 1998).
Brian S. Petersen (1970)
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Senior Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2017); Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (January 2013-January 2017); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (February 2007-December 2012); Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (August 2002-2007).
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Other Information about the Officers of the Fund
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years
Stephanie Bullington (1977)
Assistant Treasurer
Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since February 2014); Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (January 2013-September 2013); Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (January 2010-December 2012); Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (October 2005-January 2010).
Julie Burley (1981)
Assistant Treasurer
Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since October 2013); Previously held the following positions at Deloitte & Touche: Senior Manager (September 2010-October 2013), Manager (September 2008-August 2010), and Audit Senior (September 2005-August 2008).
James A. Kennedy (1958)
Assistant Treasurer
Senior Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2013); Senior Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (September 2006-December 2012).
Jan Miller (1963)
Assistant Treasurer
Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2014); Assistant Vice President of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (January 2013-January 2014); Assistant Vice President of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (2005-December 2012); Assistant Vice President in OppenheimerFunds, Inc.’s Fund Accounting department (November 2004 to March 2006).
Cynthia Lo Bessette (1969)
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since February 2016); Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (March 2015-February 2016); Chief Legal Officer of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (since February 2016); Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. (since February 2016); General Counsel of OFI SteelPath, Inc., OFI Advisors, LLC and Index Management Solutions, LLC (since February 2016); Chief Legal Officer of OFI Global Institutional, Inc., HarbourView Asset Management Corporation, OFI Global Trust Company, Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc., OFI Private Investments Inc., Shareholder Services, Inc. and Trinity Investment Management Corporation (since February 2016); Corporate Counsel (February 2012-March 2015) and Deputy Chief Legal Officer (April 2013-March 2015) of Jennison Associates LLC; Assistant General Counsel (April 2008-September 2009) and Deputy General Counsel (October 2009-February 2012) of Lord Abbett & Co. LLC.
Joseph Benedetti (1965)
Assistant Secretary
Senior Vice President and Managing Counsel of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2017); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of OC Private Capital, LLC (since October 2017); Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (2005-2017).
Taylor V. Edwards  (1967)
Assistant Secretary
Senior Vice President and Managing Counsel of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2017); Vice President and Senior Counsel of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (January 2013-January 2017); Vice President (February 2007-December 2012) and Senior Counsel (February 2012-December 2012) of OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; Associate Counsel (May 2009-January 2012); Assistant Vice President (January 2006-January 2007) and Assistant Counsel (January 2006-April 2009) of OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Randy Legg (1965)
Assistant Secretary
Senior Vice President and Managing Counsel of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2018); Vice President and Senior Associate General Counsel of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (January 2013-January 2018); Vice President (June 2005-December 2012) and Senior Counsel (March 2011-December 2012) of OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; Associate Counsel (January 2007-March 2011) of OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
John Yoder (1975)
Assistant Secretary
Vice President and Associate General Counsel of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (since January 2013); Vice President and Assistant Counsel (July 2011-December 2012) of OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
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”).
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As of December 31, 2018    
  Dollar Range of Shares Beneficially
Owned in the Funds
Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares
Beneficially Owned in Supervised Funds
Independent Trustees    
Robert J. Malone None Over $100,000
Andrew J. Donohue None $10,001-$50,000
Richard F. Grabish None None
Beverly L. Hamilton None Over $100,000
Victoria J. Herget None Over $100,000
Karen L. Stuckey None Over $100,000
James D. Vaughn None Over $100,000
Interested Trustee    
Arthur P. Steinmetz None Over $100,000
Remuneration of the Officers and Trustees. The officers and the Interested Trustee of the Fund, who are associated with the Manager, receive no salary or fee from the Fund. The Independent Trustees’ compensation from the Fund and the fund complex, as described below, 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 for the periods indicated.
  Aggregate Compensation
From the Fund1
Total Compensation From
the Fund and Fund Complex2
Name and Other Fund Position(s) (as applicable) Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018 Year Ended
December 31, 2018
Robert J. Malone
Chairman of the Board
$60,9963 $524,550
Andrew J. Donohue
Audit Committee Member
$40,664 $349,700
Richard F. Grabish
Governance Committee Chair and Review Committee Member
$46,763 $402,158
Beverly L. Hamilton
Governance Committee Member and Review Committee Member
$40,6644 $336,250
Victoria J. Herget
Review Committee Chair
$46,763 $402,158
Karen L. Stuckey
Audit Committee Chair and Governance Committee Member
$48,797 $419,640
James D. Vaughn
Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member
$40,6645 $349,700
1. “Aggregate Compensation From the Fund” includes fees and deferred compensation, if any.
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 $60,996 deferred by Mr. Malone under the “Compensation Deferral Plan” described below.
4. Includes $40,664 deferred by Ms. Hamilton under the “Compensation Deferral Plan” described below.
5. Includes $10,166 deferred by Mr. Vaughn under the “Compensation Deferral Plan” described below.
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 the Fund’s assets, liabilities or net income per share. The plan will not obligate the Fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any particular level of compensation to
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any Trustee. Pursuant to an Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the 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 Government 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 it 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). It can 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.
The Investment Advisory Agreements. 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.
Each 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 2016 2017 2018
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA $5,654,232 $5,959,688 $5,472,543
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA $1,725,757 $1,656,729 $1,522,921
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA $4,685,009 $4,955,861 $5,190,248
Global Fund/VA $14,572,942 $16,347,764 $16,562,044
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA $10,656,474 $10,357,738 $9,817,868
Government Money Fund/VA $6,131,106 $2,196,845 $3,999,278
International Growth Fund/VA $4,574,327 $5,198,559 $5,229,829
Main Street Fund/VA $8,166,529 $8,715,696 $8,493,002
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA $6,726,921 $7,243,026 $7,205,624
Total Return Bond Fund/VA $838,714 $814,494 $752,983
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.
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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 the Manager shall no longer act as investment advisor to the Funds, the Manager may withdraw the right of the Funds to use the name “Oppenheimer” as part of their name.
The Sub-Advisory Agreements. Under the sub-advisory agreements 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 of Global Strategic Income 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 for each Fund’s respective Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Fund invests in its Subsidiary, 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 for such termination.
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.
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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.
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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.
Portfolio Managers. Each Fund’s portfolio is managed by the following:
Fund Portfolio Manager(s)
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA Paul Larson
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA Magnus Krantz, Krishna Memani
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA Ronald Zibelli, Jr., Justin Livengood
Global Fund/VA John Delano
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA Hemant Baijal, Krishna Memani, Christopher Kelly, Ruta Ziverte
Government Money Fund/VA Christopher Proctor, Adam Wilde
International Growth Fund/VA George Evans, Robert Dunphy
Main Street Fund/VA Manind “Mani” Govil, Benjamin Ram, Paul Larson
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA
Matthew Ziehl, Adam Weiner, Raymond Anello, Raman Vardharaj, Joy Budzinski, Kristen Ketner, Magnus Krantz
Total Return Bond Fund/VA Krishna Memani, Peter A. Strzalkowski
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, Baijal, Delano, Dunphy, Evans, Govil, Kelly, Krantz, Larson, Livengood, Memani, Proctor, Ram, Strzalkowski, Vardharaj, Weiner, Wilde, Zibelli and Ziehl and Mss. Budzinski, Ketner and Ziverte 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, 2018 (or as otherwise noted). 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
Managed2
Other
Accounts
Managed
Total Assets
in Other
Accounts
Managed2,3
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA
Paul Larson 8 $16.20 1 $79.12 0 $0
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA
Magnus Krantz 6 $4.73 0 $0 1 $32.48
Krishna Memani 6 $9.40 3 $49.04 0 $0
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA
Ronald J. Zibelli, Jr. 5 $3.64 2 $46.17 0 $0
Justin Livengood 1 $1.21 0 $0 0 $0
Global Fund/VA
John Delano 8 $15.28 2 $229.39 1 $94.58
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
Hemant Baijal 4 $8.50 3 $165.99 0 $0
Krishna Memani 6 $8.14 3 $49.04 0 $0
Christopher Kelly 3 $8.61 2 $29.30 0 $0
Ruta Ziverte 2 $3.49 0 $0 0 $0
Government Money Fund/VA
Christopher Proctor 4 $7.23 0 $0 0 $0
Adam Wilde 4 $7.23 0 $0 0 $0
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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
Managed2
Other
Accounts
Managed
Total Assets
in Other
Accounts
Managed2,3
International Growth Fund/VA
George Evans 5 $24.47 2 $515.11 4 $27.38
Robert Dunphy 4 $20.24 2 $515.11 2 $598.94
Main Street Fund/VA
Manind Govil 7 $13.90 0 $0 1 $79.12
Benjamin Ram 6 $11.32 0 $0 1 $79.12
Paul Larson 8 $15.68 0 $0 1 $79.12
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA
Matthew Ziehl 4 $2.87 0 $0 1 $32.48
Raymond Anello 4 $2.87 0 $0 1 $32.48
Joy Budzinski 5 $3.88 0 $0 1 $32.48
Raman Vardharaj 5 $5.48 0 $0 1 $32.48
Kristin Ketner 4 $2.87 0 $0 1 $32.48
Magnus Krantz 6 $4.06 0 $0 1 $32.48
Adam Weiner 4 $2.87 0 $0 1 $32.48
Total Return Bond/VA
Krishna Memani 6 $9.46 3 $49.04 0 0
Peter A. Strzalkowski 3 $4.64 0 $0 0 $0
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.
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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 Morningstar peer group category selected by senior management. Performance is measured on a pre-tax basis. 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 between 20% and 50% of their annual long-term award component in the form of a deferred cash award indexed to the portfolio(s) and fund(s) managed. These awards settle in cash at the end of a three-year vesting period. Through this long-term award component, the interests of the portfolio managers 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. Performance is measured on a pre-tax basis. 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
Paul Larson
Morningstar Large Growth
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA
Magnus Krantz (Equity Sleeve)
Morningstar Large Blend
Krishna Memani (Fixed Income Sleeve) Morningstar Intermediate Term Bond
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA
Ronald Zibelli, Jr.
Justin Livengood
Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth
Global Fund/VA
John Delano
Morningstar World Large Stock
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
Hemant Baijal
Christopher Kelly
Krishna Memani
Ruta Ziverte
Morningstar Multisector Bond
Government Money Fund/VA
Christopher Proctor
Adam Wilde
iMoney Government Retail Money Market Fund
International Growth Fund/VA
George Evans
Robert Dunphy
Morningstar Foreign Large Growth
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Main Street Fund/VA
Manind “Mani” Govil
Benjamin Ram
Paul Larson
Morningstar Large Blend
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA
Matthew Ziehl
Raymond Anello
Raman Vardharaj
Joy Budzinski
Kristin Ketner
Magnus Krantz
Adam Weiner
Morningstar Small Blend
Total Return Bond Fund/VA
Krishna Memani
Peter A. Strzalkowski
Morningstar Intermediate-Term Bond
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of December 31, 2018, 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. Global Strategic Income Fund/VA may invest up to 25% of its total assets in its Subsidiary. It is expected that Global Strategic Income Fund/VA’s Subsidiary will invest primarily in Regulation S securities.
The 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, 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 serves as an independent director on a wide range of alternative investment funds, including fund of funds, hedge funds, private equity funds and segregated portfolio companies. Ms. Dilbert works at MaplesFS, which she joined in 2012. Prior to joining MaplesFS, Ms. Dilbert was Global Head of Legal at Admiral Administration Ltd. in the Cayman Islands, starting there in 2007, where she was responsible for advising on all legal and regulatory matters. Ms. Dilbert was also responsible for the implementation of global policies and procedures. Prior to that, Ms. Dilbert worked for Stuart Walker Hersant as a senior associate in the Cayman Islands, specializing in investment funds and general corporate law. Ms. Dilbert commenced her career with Maples and Calder where she spent eight years as an associate attorney specializing in capital markets and investment funds. Her area of practice also included general corporate and commercial law, real estate, immigration and employment matters. Ms. Dilbert graduated from the University of Liverpool with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours. She is an Attorney-at-Law and is a member of the Caymanian Bar Association, the Cayman Islands Law Society and the Honourable Society of Middle Temple in the United Kingdom. She is a member of the Cayman Islands Directors Association and a member of the Council of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
Letitia Solomon: Ms. Solomon serves as an independent director on a wide range of alternative investment funds including fund of funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, and segregated portfolio companies. Ms. Solomon works at MaplesFS, which she joined in 2008. Prior to joining MaplesFS, Ms. Solomon worked at Deloitte in the Cayman Islands as a senior manager from 2005 to 2007, where she was 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 as an assistant financial secretary starting there in 1996. During her time there, Ms. Solomon developed regulatory policy and guidelines for the financial services industry, liaised with the financial services associations in considering regulatory issues impacting the industry as well as changes to legislation, regulations, anti-money laundering policies, procedures and guidance notes and provided general administration and oversight of the affairs and business of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”). Ms. Solomon commenced her career with CIMA where she spent nine years providing supervision and regulation of financial services entities and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. She is also a former director of the board of CIMA. Ms. Solomon graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance. She holds a MBA from Edinburgh University, Scotland. Ms. Solomon has also received the Accredited Director designation from the Chartered Secretaries Canada. She is a member of the Cayman Islands Directors Association.
Brian S. Petersen: Mr. Petersen’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
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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.
To the extent that the Subsidiary’s directors are considered “commodity pool operators” subject to registration with the CFTC, each Director has delegated to OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. his or her rights and responsibilities as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Subsidiary.
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.
The Subsidiary has entered into separate contracts with the Manager for the management of the Subsidiary’s portfolio. The Subsidiary has also entered into arrangements with KPMG LLP to perform certain audit procedures for the Subsidiary in conjunction with its consolidation with the Fund. The 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. The Subsidiary has adopted compliance policies and procedures that are substantially similar to the policies and procedures adopted by Global Strategic Income Fund/VA. Global Strategic Income 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 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. The Subsidiary will bear the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the custody, transfer agency, and audit services that it receives. Global Strategic Income 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 the 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 the 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 investment in the Subsidiaries.
Brokerage Policies of the Funds
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreements and the Sub-Advisory Agreements. 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 for that purpose. The Sub-Advisory agreements authorize the Sub-Adviser 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 the “best execution” of the Funds’ portfolio transactions. “Best execution” means executing trades in a manner such that the total costs or proceeds are the most favorable under the circumstances. Some of the circumstances that may influence this decision are: cost (brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of order, and the firm’s ability to provide prompt and reliable execution. 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 their Board of Trustees. The Funds are not required to pay the lowest available commission.
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.
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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. 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
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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, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Fund paid the total brokerage commissions indicated in the chart below.
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Funds*
Fund 2016 2017 2018
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA $587,952 $198,347 $207,861
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA $57,585 $52,683 $57,091
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA $744,140 $588,552 $553,272
Global Fund/VA $560,146 $458,017 $531,491
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA $78,196 $237,441 $98,806
Government Money Fund/VA $0 $0 $0
International Growth Fund/VA $110,601 $256,343 $221,089
Main Street Fund/VA $379,261 $384,604 $603,824
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA $1,068,621 $836,156 $749,823
Total Return Bond Fund/VA $8,190 $7,849 $10,821
* Amounts do not include spreads or commissions on principal transactions on a net trade basis.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, 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 $207,656 $619,388,482
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA $44,764 $81,308,820
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA $546,398 $1,523,491,839
Global Fund/VA $524,747 $1,148,302,723
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA $39,877 $37,003,135
Government Money Fund/VA $0 $0
International Growth Fund/VA $220,411 $292,934,281
Main Street Fund/VA $0 $0
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA $715,185 $962,797,117
Total Return Bond 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, 2018:
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Fund 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, 2018
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA    
  N/A N/A
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA    
  Bank of America Corporation $1,296,270.59
  Goldman Sachs & Company $729,580.77
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC $3,179,552.21
  Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC $502,362.74
  UBS Investment Bank $304,370.90
  TD Securities $199,266.96
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA  
  N/A N/A
Global Fund/VA    
  Goldman Sachs & Company $25,899,432.00
  Credit Suisse $20,104,982.56
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA    
  Bank of America Corporation $1,504,825.70
  Goldman Sachs & Company $1,199,921.03
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC $2,347,946.25
  Credit Suisse $5,609,285.00
  UBS Investment Bank $9,080,275.44
  Barclays Capital Inc. $2,353,143.05
Government Money Fund/VA    
  N/A N/A
International Growth Fund/VA    
  N/A N/A
Main Street Fund/VA    
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC $982,220.51
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA    
  N/A N/A
Total Return Bond Fund/VA    
  Bank of America Corporation $982,220.51
  Goldman Sachs & Company $440,063.29
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC $1,022,976.83
  Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC $477,753.51
  UBS Investment Bank $199,266.96
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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.
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. Each Fund that offers Service 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, 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 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 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, 2018, the Board had set no minimum asset amount. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, all payments made under the Service share Plan were paid by the Distributor, to Recipients (including Recipients affiliated with the Manager).
The Service shares payments during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, for all Funds having Service shares outstanding as of that date, were as follows:
Fund Service Plan Payments by OFDI
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA Service Shares $582,617
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA Service Shares $120,369
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA Service Shares $102,109
Global Fund/VA Service Shares $3,042,370
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA Service Shares $2,994,145
International Growth Fund/VA Service Shares $578,191
Main Street Fund/VA Service Shares $1,853,682
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA Service Shares $2,282,289
Total Return Bond Fund/VA Service Shares $119,367
 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. 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 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.
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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 in the form of 12b-1 distribution and service plan payments as described in the preceding section. They may also receive payments or concessions from the Distributor, derived from sales charges paid by the financial intermediary’s clients, also described in this SAI. In addition, the Sub-Adviser, the Transfer Agent, Sub-Transfer Agent and the Distributor may make payments to broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries or to service providers for some or all of the following services: distribution, promotional and marketing support, operational and recordkeeping, sub-accounting, networking and administrative services.
The types of financial intermediaries that may receive compensation for providing such services include, but are not limited to, broker-dealers, financial advisors, registered investment advisers, sponsors of fund “supermarkets,” sponsors of fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based programs, sponsors of college and retirement savings programs, banks, trust companies, retirement plan or qualified tuition program administrators, third party administrators, financial intermediaries that offer products that hold Fund shares, and insurance companies that offer variable annuity or variable life insurance products.
Types of payments to financial intermediaries may include, without limitation, all or portions of the following:
1. 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).
2. Payments made by the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent to financial intermediaries, to compensate or reimburse them for services provided, such as sub-transfer agency services for shareholders or retirement plan participants, omnibus accounting or sub-accounting, participation in networking arrangements, operational and recordkeeping and other administrative services. These payments are made out of the Transfer Agent’s or Sub-Transfer Agent’s own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the transfer agency fees the Transfer Agent receives from the Fund.Financial intermediaries will not receive any operational and recordkeeping, networking, sub-accounting, administrative or similar types of fees, 12b-1 fees, commission payments, or so called “finder’s fees” for Class I shares.
3. In addition, the Sub-Adviser or Distributor may, at their discretion, make the following types of payments from their own resources and/or assets, including from the revenues or profits derived from the advisory fees the Sub-Adviser receives from the Manager for sub-advisory services on behalf of 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, but are not limited to:
compensation for marketing or promotional support, support provided in offering shares in the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds through certain trading platforms and programs, and other promotional or marketing services; and
other compensation, to the extent the payment is not prohibited by law or by any self-regulatory agency, such as FINRA.
4. The Distributor may also provide, accept and/or cover the cost of certain non-cash compensation items, subject to internal policies and applicable FINRA regulations.
Although an intermediary 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, the Sub-Adviser nor any advisory affiliate considers 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:
charges for setting up access for the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds on particular trading systems;
marketing, promotional support and program support, such as expenses related to including the Oppenheimer funds in retirement plans, college savings plans, fee-based advisory or wrap fee-based 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;
providing representatives of the Distributor with access to a financial intermediary’s sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives; or
firm support, which may include, but is not limited to, business planning assistance, “due diligence” or training meetings, advertising, or educating a financial intermediary’s sales personnel about the Oppenheimer funds.
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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 Transfer Agent, Sub-Transfer Agent, 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, 2018, the following financial intermediaries and/or their affiliates (which in some cases are broker-dealers) offered shares of one or more 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:
1st Global Capital Corp.
Advisor Group
Allianz Life Insurance Company
Allstate Life Insurance Company
American General Annuity Insurance Company
American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Ameritas Life Insurance Company
AXA Advisors, LLC
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Cadaret Grant & Co.
Cambridge Investment Research
CCO Investment Services Corp.
Cetera Financial Group, Inc.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Commonwealth Financial Network
CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc.
CUSO Financial Services, LP
Delaware Life Insurance Company
E*TRADE Financial
Edward Jones and Company
Genworth Financial, Inc.
GWFS Equities, Inc.
H.D. Vest Investment Services, Inc.
Hartford Life Insurance Company
Jefferson National Life Insurance
J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC
Kestra Investment Services, LLC
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation
Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation
Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC
Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
LPL Financial Corporation
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
MetLife Investors Insurance Company
Midland National Life Insurance Company
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.
Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Pacific Life Insurance Company
Park Avenue Securities LLC
Pershing LLC
PNC Investments LLC
Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Prudential Investment Management Services LLC
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Robert W. Baird & Co.
Security Benefit Life Insurance Company
Signator Investors, Inc.
State Farm VP Management Corp.
Stifel Nicolaus & Company Incorporated
The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc.
Thrivent Investment Management
Transamerica Life Insurance Co.
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Union Central Life Insurance Company
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
Voya Financial
Waddell & Reed Inc
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Zurich American Life Insurance Company
 
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the following financial intermediaries and/or their affiliates (which in some cases are broker-dealers) received payments from the Transfer Agent or Sub-Transfer Agent (of at least $2,500) for operational and recordkeeping, networking, sub-accounting or administrative services provided:
1st Global Capital Corp.
ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.
Alerus Retirement Solutions
Allstate Life Insurance Company
American General Annuity Insurance Company
American United Life Insurance Co.
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Ameritas Life Insurance Company
 
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Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
Ascensus, Inc.
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Benefit Consultants Group
Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc.
Benefit Trust Company
BMO Harris Bank, N.A.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
CUNA Mutual Group
Davenport & Company LLC
Delaware Life Insurance Company
Digital Retirement Solutions
Edward Jones and Company
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
Genworth Financial, Inc.
Great-West Life and Annuity Insurance Company
GWFS Equities, Inc.
H.D. Vest Investment Services, Inc.
Hartford Life Insurance Company
Hewitt Associates LLC
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Jefferson National Life Insurance
John Hancock Life Insurance Company
John Hancock Trust Company LLC
J.P. Morgan Broker-Dealer Holdings, Inc.
Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation
Lincoln Investment Planning LLC
Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
LPL Financial Corporation
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Matrix Settlement & Clearance Services
MetLife Investors Insurance Company
Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation
Midland National Life Insurance Company
Milliman, Inc.
Minnesota Life Insurance Company
Mony Life Insurance Company of America
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.
Newport Retirement Services
Northwest Plan Services Inc.
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Pacific Life Insurance Company
PenServ Plan Services, Inc.
Pershing LLC
Phoenix Life Insurance Company
Plan Administrators Inc.
PlanMember Securities Corporation
PNC Bank N.A.
Principal Life Insurance Company
Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Prudential Investment Management Services LLC
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Reliance Trust Co.
Robert W. Baird & Co.
Sammons Financial Network, LLC
Security Benefit Life Insurance Company
Security Financial Resources, Inc.
SEI Private Trust Company
Standard Insurance Company
Stifel Nicolaus & Company Incorporated
T. Rowe Price
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.
The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc.
Tiaa-Cref Individual & Institutional Services, LLC
Transamerica Life Insurance Co.
Transamerica Retirement Services
Trust Company of America
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
Union Central Life Insurance Company
U.S. Bank N.A.
VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc.
Vanguard Group
Voya Financial
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Zurich American Life Insurance Company
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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.
Securities Valuation. The Fund’s Board has adopted valuation procedures for the valuation of the Fund’s assets and has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for valuation, including fair value determinations, under those procedures to the Manager. The Manager has established a valuation committee which oversees those responsibilities. Fair value determinations are subject to review and approval or ratification by the Board at or prior to its next scheduled meeting after the fair valuations are determined.
Depending on the type of asset held by the Fund, assets are generally valued as follows:
Equity securities (both U.S. and foreign) traded on a securities exchange are valued based on the official closing price on the principal exchange on which the security is traded, prior to when the Fund’s assets are valued. If the official closing price is unavailable, the security is valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange on which it is traded. If neither the official closing price nor the last sales price is available, the security is valued based on prices derived from bid and/or asked quotes from the exchange or broker-dealers or at fair value.
Fixed Income securities (both U.S. and foreign and including corporate, government and municipal or tax-exempt securities), event-linked bonds, loans, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and asset-backed securities are valued at the mean between the “bid” and “asked” prices as determined by a pricing service or by utilizing evaluated prices provided by third party pricing services who may use matrix pricing methods to determine the evaluated prices. Standard inputs generally considered by third-party pricing vendors include, but are not limited to, reported trade data, broker-dealer price quotations, benchmark yields, issuer spreads on comparable securities, the credit quality, yield, maturity, as well as other factors. Pricing services generally price fixed income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, but some Fund trades may occur in smaller, “odd lot” sizes, sometimes at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. If a security cannot be valued in the manner stated above, the security is valued based on information derived from bid and/or asked prices for round lots from broker-dealers. If a fixed income security with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less cannot be valued in the manner stated above, the security is valued at cost adjusted by the amortization of discount or premium to maturity.
Exchange-traded derivatives (other than futures and futures options) are valued at the last sale price on their principal exchange. If the exchange-traded derivative cannot be valued at the last sale price, it is valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices on the exchange. Futures and futures options traded on an exchange are generally valued at the official settlement price on their principal exchange. Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives (other than a forward currency exchange contract) are valued by a pricing service or if a value from the pricing service is not available, by one or more prices from dealers, which may be or include the counterparty to the derivative transaction.
Shares of an investment company or a fund’s wholly-owned subsidiary (if applicable) that are not traded on an exchange and shares of OFI Global China Fund LLC are valued at their NAV per share.
Fair Value Pricing. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available or of an issuer or market to which a significant event has occurred that would materially affect the value of the security, are fair valued either (i) by a standardized fair valuation methodology applicable to the security type or the significant event as previously approved by the Valuation Committee and the Fund’s Board or (ii) as determined in good faith by the Manager’s Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee attempts to consider all relevant facts that are reasonably available, through either public information or other reasonably available information, when determining the fair value of a security. Those standardized fair valuation methodologies include, but are not limited to, valuing securities at the last sale price or initially at cost and subsequently adjusting the value based on: changes in company specific fundamentals, changes in an appropriate securities index, or changes in the value of similar securities which may be further adjusted for any discounts related to security-specific resale restrictions. When possible, such methodologies use observable market inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices of similar securities, observable interest rates, currency rates and yield curves. The methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities nor can it be assured that the Fund can obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security.
Allocation of Expenses. The Fund pays expenses related to its daily operations, such as custodian fees, Board fees, transfer agency fees, legal fees and auditing costs. Those expenses are paid out of the Fund’s assets, not directly by shareholders. However, those expenses reduce the net asset value of Fund shares, and therefore are borne indirectly by shareholders.
For calculating the Fund’s net asset value, dividends and distributions, the Fund differentiates between 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. Those expenses are first allocated based on the percentage of the Fund’s total assets that is represented by the assets of each share class. Such general expenses include management fees, legal, bookkeeping and audit fees, Board
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compensation, custodian expenses, share issuance costs, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, such as litigation costs. Then the expenses allocated to a share class are allocated equally to each outstanding share within a given class.
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.
Government Money Fund/VA Determination of Net Asset Valuation Per Share. The net asset value, or “NAV,” per share for each class of shares of Government Money Fund/VA is determined by dividing the value of Government Money Fund/VA’s net assets attributable to a class by the number of shares of that class that are outstanding. The NAV is determined as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open, except in the case of a NYSE scheduled early closing, in which case Government Money Fund/VA will calculate the net asset value of each class of shares as of the NYSE scheduled early closing time (the “Valuation 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.
Government Money Fund/VA’s Board of Trustees has adopted the amortized cost method to value Government Money Fund/VA’s portfolio securities. Under the amortized cost method, a security is valued initially at its cost and its valuation 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 consideration any unrealized capital gains or losses on securities. While this method provides certainty in valuing securities, in certain periods the value of a security determined by amortized cost may be higher or lower than the price Government Money Fund/VA would receive if it sold the security.
Government Money Fund/VA’s Board of Trustees has established procedures reasonably designed to stabilize Government Money Fund/VA’s net asset value at $1.00 per share. Those procedures include a review of by the Manager, at intervals it deems appropriate, to determine whether Government Money Fund/VA’s net asset value calculated by using available market quotations deviates from $1.00 per share based on amortized cost. The Manager will examine the extent of any deviation between Government Money Fund/VA’s net asset value based upon available market quotations and amortized cost. If Government Money Fund/VA’s net asset value based upon available market quotations were to deviate from $1.00 by more than 0.0025%, Rule 2a-7 requires the Manager to provide prompt notice thereof to the Board of Trustees, who shall then consider what action, if any, should be taken. If they find that the extent of the deviation may cause a material dilution or other unfair effects on shareholders, the Board of Trustees shall promptly take such action as it deems appropriate to eliminate or reduce the dilution or unfair results, including, among others, withholding or reducing dividends, paying dividends from capital or capital gains, selling portfolio securities prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten the average maturity of the fund, or calculating net asset value per share by using available market quotations.
During periods of declining or lower interest rates, the daily yield on shares of Government Money Fund/VA may tend to be lower (and net investment income and dividends higher) than those of a fund holding the identical investments as Government Money Fund/VA but which used a method of portfolio valuation based on market prices or estimates of market prices. During periods of rising or higher interest rates, the daily yield of Government Money Fund/VA would tend to be higher and its aggregate value lower than that of an identical portfolio using market price valuation.
Fair Value Pricing. Pursuant to Rule 2a-7, Government Money Fund/VA will also calculate a shadow price for regular review by the Board of Trustees. For purposes of calculating the shadow price, Government Money Fund/VA may if 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 a security held by Government Money Fund/VA, that security may be valued by another method that the Board of Trustees 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 of Trustees at its next scheduled meeting, or more frequently if necessary, after the fair valuations are determined.
Government 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 Subsidiary and its Underlying Investments. The securities valuation procedures for Global Strategic Income Fund/VA is the same used in valuing the 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
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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 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 the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (consisting generally of ordinary income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and 90% of its net tax exempt interest income. 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 investment company taxable 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 or local, 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.
As discussed above, each Fund needs to satisfy certain requirements relating to the source of its income, diversification of assets, and distribution of income, in order to qualify for favorable U.S. federal tax treatment as a regulated investment company. If the Fund enters into derivative financial instrument or similar transactions, it will consider the requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company, the expected tax treatment of such transactions, as well as the applicable regulatory rules and authorities. However, there may be no direct authority specifically addressing the application of the rules applicable to regulated investment companies to certain potential derivative financial instrument activities, including for instance securities lending activities, that may be entered into by the Fund. As a result, in certain cases, the tax treatment of an activity entered into by the Fund may be uncertain, and there can be no assurance that the tax authorities in question or a court of law will agree with the Fund’s characterization of a transaction in applying the qualification requirements for tax treatment as a regulated investment company, or with respect to the recognition of income, deductions, gain, or loss, or any liability for taxes arising from such transaction.
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 thereunder. 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 one issuer) and are in addition to the diversification requirements applicable to such Fund’s qualification 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.
In addition, the IRS has indicated that a degree of investor control over the investment options underlying a variable life insurance contract, a variable annuity contract, or other insurance company separate account (each, a “Variable Contract”) may interfere with the tax-deferred treatment of such a Variable Contract. The IRS has issued rulings addressing the circumstances in which a Variable Contract holder’s control of the investments of the separate account
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may cause the holder, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets held by the separate account. If the holder is considered the owner of the securities underlying the separate account, income and gains produced by those securities would be included currently in the holder’s gross income.
In determining whether an impermissible level of investor control is present, one factor the IRS considers is whether a Fund’s investment strategies are sufficiently broad to prevent a Contract holder from being deemed to be making particular investment decisions through its investment in the separate account. Current IRS guidance indicates that typical fund investment strategies, even those with a specific sector or geographical focus, are generally considered sufficiently broad to prevent a contract holder from being deemed to be making particular investment decisions through its investment in a separate account. For example, the IRS has blessed a separate account offering sub-accounts (each funded through a single regulated investment company) with the following investment strategies: money market, bonds, large company stock, international stock, small company stock, mortgage-backed securities, health care industry, emerging markets, telecommunications, financial services, South American stock, energy, and Asian markets. Most, although not necessarily all, of the Funds have objectives and strategies that are not materially narrower than the investment strategies described in this IRS guidance.
The above discussion addresses only one of several factors that the IRS considers in determining whether a Variable Contract holder has an impermissible level of investor control over a separate account. Variable Contract holders should consult with the insurance company that issued their Variable Contract and their own tax advisors, as well as the prospectus relating to their particular Contract, for more information concerning this investor control issue.
In the event that additional rules, regulations or other guidance is issued by the IRS or the Treasury Department concerning this issue, such guidance could affect the treatment of a Fund as described above, including retroactively. In addition, there can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to continue to operate as currently described, or that the Fund will not have to change its investment objective or investment policies in order to prevent, on a prospective basis, any such rules and regulations from causing Variable Contract owners to be considered the owners of the shares of the Fund.
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, other regulated investment companies that qualify for this exemption, or certain other entities. 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 and gains 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 the Subsidiary. Global Strategic Income Fund/VA may invest a portion of its assets in its Subsidiary, which is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, 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 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 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, the Subsidiary’s securities and commodities trading activities should not constitute a U.S. trade or business. However, if certain of the Subsidiary’s activities were determined not to be of the type described in the Safe
77

 

Harbor or if 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.” Subject to certain exceptions, 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. The Subsidiary intends to comply with the provisions of the Foreign Account tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) and the intergovernmental agreement signed by the Cayman Islands and the United States to avoid being subject to the 30% FATCA withholding tax on certain “withholdable payments” received by the Subsidiary.
The Subsidiary is wholly-owned by Global Strategic Income 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 is a U.S. person that owns all of the stock of the Subsidiary, the Fund is a “U.S. Shareholder” and its Subsidiary is a CFC. As a “U.S. Shareholder,” the 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. The Fund’s recognition of its Subsidiary’s “subpart F income” will increase its tax basis in the Subsidiary.
Distributions by the Subsidiary to Global Strategic Income Fund/VA will be tax-free, to the extent of its previously undistributed “subpart F income,” and will correspondingly reduce the 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. If a net loss is realized by the Subsidiary, such loss is generally not available to offset the income earned by Global Strategic Income Fund/VA.
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. It serves as the Transfer Agent for a fee based on annual net assets. Shareholder Services, Inc., an affiliate of the Transfer Agent, 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.
Under the Sub-Transfer Agency Agreement, the Transfer Agent pays the Sub-Transfer Agent an annual fee in monthly installments, equal to a percentage of the transfer agent fee collected by the Transfer Agent from the Fund, which shall be calculated after any applicable fee waivers. The fee paid to the Sub-Transfer Agent is paid by the Transfer Agent, not by the Fund.
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 cash balances and portfolio securities, except affiliated mutual fund shares. 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
78

 

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 may at times be substantial. The Sub-Transfer Agent records the Fund’s positions in affiliated mutual fund shares that may be held by the Fund.
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.
79

 

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. A withdrawal of a control person’s investment could adversely affect the Fund’s expense ratio and/or lead to an increase in its portfolio turnover. As of April 5, 2019, to the best of our knowledge, the following insurance companies held 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company is organized in the state of Massachusetts. Protective Life Insurance Company is organized in the state of Tennessee. Security Benefit Life Insurance Company is organized in the state of Kansas.
Fund Name of Insurance Company Address of Insurance Company Percent owned
by Insurance Co.
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA    
  Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co. 1295 State Street 26.32%
    Springfield, MA 01111-0001  
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA    
  MassMutual Life Insurance Co.
1295 State St.
Springfield, MA 01111-0001
28.42%
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA    
  MassMutual Life Insurance Company
MM SE2 Variable Products
1295 State St.
Springfield, MA 01111-0001
40.17%
Government Money Fund/VA    
  Protective Life Insurance Co.
2801 Highway 280 South
Birmingham, AL 35202-2606
96.19%
Main Street Fund/VA    
  Security Benefit Life Insurance
1 SW Security Benefit Place
Topeka, KS 66636-1000
26.03%
Total Return Bond Fund/VA    
  Secure Benefit Life Insurance 1 SW Security Benefit Place 25.67%
    Topeka, KS 66636-1000  
Principal Holders of Securities. As of April 5, 2019, 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
Capital Appreciation Fund/VA      
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE CO
PROTECTIVE VA
2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH
PO BOX 2606
BIRMINGHAM AL 35202-2606
35.35% Service
TALCOTT RESOLUTION LIFEAND
ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
PO BOX 5051
HARTFORD CT 06102-5051
15.18% Service
TALCOTT RESOLUTION LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
PO BOX 5051
HARTFORD CT 06102-5051
7.73% Service
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ALLSTATE ADVISOR
544 LAKEVIEW PKWY STE L1B
VERNON HILLS IL 60061-1826
7.46% Service
DELAWARE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
MFS REGATTA MASTERS
1601 TRAPELO RD STE 30
WALTHAM MA 02451-7360
7.27% Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
TRAN SL T2
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
6.43% Service
RIVERSOURCE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
INNOVATIONS VA
222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002
6.13% Service
80

 

Name Address % Owned Share Class
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
TRANS-TS
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
36.31% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
BS VARLIFE SEL
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
24.65% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
CM VUL
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
16.21% Non-Service
GENWORTH LIFE & ANNUITY INS CO
COMMONWEALTH
6620 W BROAD ST BLDG 2
RICHMOND VA 23230-1721
5.73% Non-Service
Conservative Balanced Fund/VA      
GENWORTH LIFE & ANNUITY INS CO
CLASS 2 SHARES
6620 W BROAD ST BLDG 2
RICHMOND VA 23230-1721
40.94% Service
DELAWARE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
MFS REGATTA MASTERS
1601 TRAPELO RD STE 30
WALTHAM MA 02451-7360
24.00% Service
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ALLSTATE ADVISOR
544 LAKEVIEW PKWY STE L1B
VERNON HILLS IL 60061-1826
11.31% Service
COMMONWEALTH ANNUITY & LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
AFLIAC-VA
5801 SW 6TH AVENUE
TOPEKA KS 66636
8.87% Service
GENWORTH LIFE INS CO OF NEW YORK
CLASS 2 SHARES
6620 W BROAD ST BLDG 2
RICHMOND VA 23230-1721
6.27% Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
PANORAMAQ
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
37.14% Non-Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVAII
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
19.54% Non-Service
Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA      
GENWORTH LIFE & ANNUITY INS CO
CLASS 2 SHARES
6620 W BROAD ST BLDG 2
RICHMOND VA 23230-1721
20.35% Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
TRAN SL T2
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
18.97% Service
MM SE2 VARIABLE PRODUCTS
TRANSITION SELECT II
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
13.36% Service
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ALLSTATE ADVISOR
544 LAKEVIEW PKWY STE L1B
VERNON HILLS IL 60061-1826
12.54% Service
TALCOTT RESOLUTION LIFE AND
ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
PO BOX 5051
HARTFORD CT 06102-5051
12.02% Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
VASA 3
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
41.82% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
BS VARLIFE SEL
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
15.65% Non-Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVA9
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
14.39% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
CM VUL
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
11.63% Non-Service
Global Fund/VA      
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE CO
PROTECTIVE VA
2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH
PO BOX 2606
BIRMINGHAM AL 35202-2606
29.83% Service
RIVERSOURCE LIFE INS CO
RAVA
222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002
13.46% Service
81

 

Name Address % Owned Share Class
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVAII
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
13.03% Service
TALCOTT RESOLUTION LIFE AND
ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
PO BOX 5051
HARTFORD CT 06102-5051
9.51% Service
GENWORTH LIFE & ANNUITY INS CO
CLASS 2 SHARES
6620 W BROAD ST BLDG 2
RICHMOND VA 23230-1721
6.31% Service
TALCOTT RESOLUTION LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
PO BOX 5051
HARTFORD CT 06102-5051
5.39% Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVAII
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
33.16% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
VASA 3
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
28.15% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
BS VARLIFE SEL
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
11.28% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
CML ARTISTRY
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
10.25% Non-Service
Global Strategic Income Fund/VA      
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE CO
PROTECTIVE VA
2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH
PO BOX 2606
BIRMINGHAM AL 35202-2606
30.27% Service
GUARDIAN INSURANCE & ANNUITY CO
S/A R B SHARE
RF FINANCE 1W
6255 STERNERS WAY
BETHLEHEM PA 18017-9464
29.20% Service
RIVERSOURCE LIFE INS CO
RAVA
222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002
25.03% Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
TRAN SL T2
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
5.67% Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
TRANS-TS
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
48.88% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
BS VARLIFE SEL
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
20.27% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
CML ARTISTRY
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
13.09% Non-Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVLI-4
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
7.03% Non-Service
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE CO
PROTECT PREM VUL
2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH
PO BOX 2606
BIRMINGHAM AL 35202-2606
6.18% Non-Service
Government Money Fund/VA      
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE CO
PROTECTIVE VA
2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH
PO BOX 2606
BIRMINGHAM AL 35202-2606
96.19% Non-Service
International Growth Fund/VA      
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVAII
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
25.96% Service
MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
MULTIPLE OPTION VA
400 ROBERT ST N
SAINT PAUL MN 55101-2037
25.60% Service
82

 

Name Address % Owned Share Class
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
TRAN SL T2
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
9.10% Service
JEFFERSON NATIONAL LIFE INS CO
SEPARATE ACCOUNT
10350 ORMSBY PARK PL STE 600
LOUISVILLE KY 40223-6175
7.48% Service
CMFG LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CUNA VA
2000 HERITAGE WAY
WAVERLY IA 50677-9208
6.48% Service
LINCOLN LIFE INSURANCE CO
FLEX PREM VL ACCT S
MUTUAL FUND ADMIN AREA 6H-02
1300 S CLINTON ST
FORT WAYNE IN 46802-3506
6.40% Service
PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE CO
SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
700 NEWPORT CENTER DR
NEWPORT BEACH CA 92660-6307
5.78% Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
TRANS-TS
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
17.37% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
FOFM
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
13.85% Non-Service
CMFG LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
GA MADISON
2000 HERITAGE WAY
WAVERLY IA 50677-9208
13.63% Non-Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
PRIVATE PLACEMENT
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
13.63% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
FOFG
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
11.93% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
PANORAMA PLUS
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
11.36% Non-Service
GREAT WEST LIFE & ANNUITY
INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHWAB SIG ANNUITY
8515 E ORCHARD RD
GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002
5.03% Non-Service
Main Street Fund/VA      
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVAII
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
26.76% Service
DELAWARE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
MFS REGATTA MASTERS
1601 TRAPELO RD STE 30
WALTHAM MA 02451-7360
21.85% Service
GENWORTH LIFE & ANNUITY INS CO
CLASS 2 SHARES
6620 W BROAD ST BLDG 2
RICHMOND VA 23230-1721
17.98% Service
PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE CO
PROTECTIVE VA
2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH
PO BOX 2606
BIRMINGHAM AL 35202-2606
12.77% Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVA9
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
25.07% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
PANORAMAQ
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
18.53% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
PPREM
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
15.46% Non-Service
MUTUAL OF AMERICA
SEPARATE ACCOUNT 2
320 PARK AVE
NEW YORK NY 10022-6839
13.54% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
FOFM
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
5.33% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
FOFG
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
5.09% Non-Service
83

 

Name Address % Owned Share Class
Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA      
GUARDIAN INSURANCE & ANNUITY CO
S/A R B SHARE
RF FINANCE 1W
6255 STERNERS WAY
BETHLEHEM PA 18017-9464
28.58% Service
RIVERSOURCE LIFE INS CO
RAVA
222 AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL CTR
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55474-0002
14.08% Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVAII
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
12.47% Service
BRIGHTHOUSE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
BLIC SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
11225 N COMMUNITY HOUSE RD
CHARLOTTE NC 28277-4435
11.88% Service
TALCOTT RESOLUTION LIFE AND
ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
PO BOX 5051
HARTFORD CT 06102-5051
6.47% Service
VOYA RETIREMENT INS & ANNUITY CO
ALIAC-VAA
ATTN: FUND OPERATIONS
1 ORANGE WAY # B3N
WINDSOR CT 06095-4773
33.34% Non-Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVA9
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
21.19% Non-Service
LINCOLN LIFE INSURANCE CO
LVIP US GROWTH ALLOCATION
MANAGED RISK FUND
1300 S CLINTON ST
FORT WAYNE IN 46802-3506
18.94% Non-Service
LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY
VARIABLE LIFE
PO BOX 94210
PALATINE IL 60094-4210
8.30% Non-Service
Total Return Bond Fund/VA      
SECURITY BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
SECURE DESIGNS
1 SW SECURITY BENEFIT PL
TOPEKA KS 66606-2541
62.29% Service
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ALLSTATE ADVISOR
544 LAKEVIEW PKWY STE L1B
VERNON HILLS IL 60061-1826
19.60% Service
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF NEW YORK
HSBC MULTI-MNGR VA
544 LAKEVIEW PKWY STE L1B
VERNON HILLS IL 60061-1826
6.51% Service
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
NWVAII
C/O IPO PORTFOLIO ACCOUNTING
PO BOX 182029
COLUMBUS OH 43218-2029
37.05% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
SL10
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
23.17% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
PPREM
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
13.85% Non-Service
GENWORTH LIFE & ANNUITY INS CO
COMMONWEALTH
6620 W BROAD ST BLDG 2
RICHMOND VA 23230-1721
12.54% Non-Service
MASS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO
VULII 16+ FAV 1
1295 STATE ST
SPRINGFIELD MA 01111-0001
5.77% Non-Service
84

 

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”)
GLOBAL RATING SCALES
Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. 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. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.1,2
Moody’s differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf) to all structured finance ratings.3 The addition of (sf) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody’s aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.
Global Long-Term Rating Scale
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.
Global Short-Term Rating Scale
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.
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U.S. MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM DEBT AND DEMAND OBLIGATION RATINGS
Short-Term Obligation Ratings
While the global short-term ‘prime’ rating scale is applied to US municipal tax-exempt commercial paper, these programs are typically backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities and their short-term prime ratings usually map to the long-term rating of the enhancing bank or financial institution and not to the municipality’s rating. Other short-term municipal obligations, which generally have different funding sources for repayment, are rated using two additional short-term rating scales (i.e., the MIG and VMIG scales discussed below).
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 ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels—MIG 1 through MIG 3—while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.
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 ratings of demand obligations with unconditional liquidity support are mapped from the short-term debt rating (or counterparty assessment) of the support provider, or the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support, with VMIG 1 corresponding to P-1, VMIG 2 to P-2, VMIG 3 to P-3 and SG to not prime. For example, the VMIG rating for an industrial revenue bond with Company XYZ as the underlying obligor would normally have the same numerical modifier as Company XYZ’s prime rating. Transitions of VMIG ratings of demand obligations with conditional liquidity support, as shown in the diagram below, differ from transitions on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.
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.
* For VRDBs supported with conditional liquidity support, short-term ratings transition down at higher long-term ratings to reflect the risk of termination of liquidity support as a result of a downgrade below investment grade.
VMIG ratings of VRDBs with unconditional liquidity support reflect the short-term debt rating (or counterparty assessment) of the liquidity support provider with VMIG 1 corresponding to P-1, VMIG 2 to P-2, VMIG 3 to P-3 and SG to not prime.
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S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), a part of McGraw-Hill Financial
ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS
A S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P analysis of the following considerations:
The likelihood of payment-the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
The nature of and provisions of the financial obligation and the promise we impute;
The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a 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 S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments 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 weaken the obligor’s capacity 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 that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments on the obligation.
CC: An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
C: An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.
D: An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such
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payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
NR: This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
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
A-1: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments 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 weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 that 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 commitments on the obligation.
D: A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
MUNICIPAL SHORT-TERM NOTE RATINGS
An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P 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, S&P 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
An S&P issuer credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about an obligor’s overall creditworthiness. 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. Counterparty credit ratings, corporate credit ratings and sovereign credit ratings are all forms of issuer credit ratings. Issuer credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term.
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 S&P.
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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 weaken the obligor’s capacity 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 that 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. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
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 default on one or more of its financial obligations including rated and unrated obligations but excluding hybrid instruments classified as regulatory capital or in non-payment according to terms. An obligor is considered in default unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days of the due date in the absence of a stated grace period, or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. A ‘D’ rating is assigned when S&P 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 S&P 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. An obligor’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ or ‘SD’ if it is conducting a distressed exchange offer.
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 S&P. 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 weaken the obligor’s capacity 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 that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
C: An obligor rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment that would result in a ‘SD’ or ‘D’ issuer rating, 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.
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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), excluding hybrid instruments classified as regulatory capital or in nonpayment according to terms, when it came due. An obligor is considered in default unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. A ‘D’ rating is assigned when S&P 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 S&P believes that the obligor has selectively defaulted on a specific issue or class of obligations, excluding hybrid instruments classified as regulatory capital, but it will continue to meet its payment obligations on other issues or classes of obligations in a timely manner. An obligor’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ or ‘SD’ if it is conducting a distressed exchange offer.
NR: An issuer designated ‘NR’ is not rated.
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
Fitch Ratings publishes opinions on a variety of scales. The most common of these are credit ratings, but the agency also publishes ratings, scores and other relative opinions relating to financial or operational strength. For example, Fitch also provides specialized ratings of servicers of residential and commercial mortgages, asset managers and funds. In each case, users should refer to the definitions of each individual scale for guidance on the dimensions of risk covered in each assessment.
Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. The agency’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign, financial, bank, insurance, and public finance entities (including supranational and sub-national entities) and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.
The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” have established themselves over time as shorthand to describe the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade). The terms investment grade and speculative grade are market conventions, and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative categories either signal a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.
For the convenience of investors, Fitch may also include issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated on its web page. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’.
Credit ratings express risk in relative rank order, which is to say they are ordinal measures of credit risk and are not predictive of a specific frequency of default or loss. For information about the historical performance of ratings please refer to Fitch’s Ratings Transition and Default studies which detail the historical default rates and their meaning. The European Securities and Markets Authority also maintains a central repository of historical default rates.
Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. In particular, ratings do not deal with the risk of a market value loss on a rated security due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and other market considerations. However, in terms of payment obligation on the rated liability, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay upon a commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of index-linked bonds).
In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument’s documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e., rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).
The primary credit rating scales can be used to provide a rating of privately issued obligations or certain note issuance programs or for private ratings. In this case the rating is not published, but only provided to the issuer or its agents in the form of a rating letter.
The primary credit rating scales may also be used to provide ratings for a more narrow scope, including interest strips and return of principal or in other forms of opinions such as Credit Opinions or Rating Assessment Services. Credit Opinions are either a notch- or category-specific view using the primary rating scale and omit one or more characteristics of a full rating or meet them to a different standard. Credit Opinions will be indicated using a lower case letter symbol combined with either an '*' (e.g., 'bbb+*') or (cat) suffix to denote the opinion status. Credit Opinions will be point-in-time typically but may be monitored if the analytical group believes information will be sufficiently available. Rating Assessment Services are a notch-specific view using the primary rating scale of how an existing or potential rating may be changed by a given set of hypothetical circumstances. Rating Assessments are point-in-time opinions. Rating Assessments are not monitored; they are not placed on Watch or assigned an Outlook and are not published.
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INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING SCALES
The Primary Credit Rating Scales (those featuring the symbols 'AAA'–'D’ and 'F1'–'D') are used for debt and financial strength ratings. This page describes their use for issuers and obligations in corporate, public, structured and infrastructure and project finance debt markets.
Within rating categories, Fitch may use modifiers. The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. For example, the rating category ‘AA’ has three notch-specific rating levels (‘AA+’; ‘AA’; ‘AA–‘; each a rating level). Such suffixes are not added to ‘AAA’ ratings. For corporate finance obligation ratings, they are not appended to rating categories below the ‘CCC’. For all other sectors/obligations, they are not assigned to rating categories below the ‘B’. For the short-term rating category of ‘F1’, a ‘+’ may be appended. For Viability Ratings, the modifiers '+' or '-' may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within categories from 'aa’ to 'b'.
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 (T&C) risk).
Foreign Currency Ratings additionally consider the profile of the issuer or note after taking into account T&C risk. This risk is usually communicated for different countries by the Country Ceiling, which caps the foreign currency ratings of most, though not all, issuers within a given country.
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).
ISSUER DEFAULT RATINGS
Rated entities in a number of sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns, insurance companies and certain sectors within public finance, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs). IDRs are also assigned to certain entities in global infrastructure and project finance. IDRs opine on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default on financial obligations. The “threshold” default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts.
In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency’s view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default.
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 that 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: Near default. A default or default-like process has begun, or the issuer is in standstill, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include:
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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. the formal announcement by the issuer or their agent of a distressed debt exchange.
d. a closed financing vehicle where payment capacity is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default is imminent.
RD: Restricted default. 'RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced:
a. an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but
b. has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure, and
c. has not otherwise ceased operating.
This would include:
i. the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;
ii. 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;
iii. 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; ordinary execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.
D: Default. ‘D’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or that 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. 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.
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. 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. Typically 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 obligation 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.
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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: When the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to D may occur. DBRS may also use SD (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange.”
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 favorable 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: When the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to D may occur. DBRS may also use SD (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange.”
Kroll Bond Rating Agency (“KBRA”)
LONG-TERM CREDIT RATINGS
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.
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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: KBRA defines default as occurring if:
1. There is a missed interest or principal payment on a rated obligation which is unlikely to be recovered.
2. The rated entity files for protection from creditors, is placed into receivership or is closed by regulators such that a missed payment is likely to result.
3. The rated entity seeks and completes a distressed exchange, where existing rated obligations are replaced by new obligations with a diminished economic value.
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
Kroll Bond Rating Agency’s short-term ratings indicate an ability to meet obligations that typically have maturities of thirteen months or less when issued by corporate entities, financial institutions, and in connection with structured finance transactions. When applied to municipal obligations, KBRA’s short-term ratings typically indicate an ability to meet obligations of three years or less. Short-term ratings may be assigned to both issuers and to specific obligations. As compared to long-term ratings, greater emphasis is placed on an obligor’s liquidity profile and access to funding. KBRA appends an (sf) indicator to ratings assigned to structured finance obligations.
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: KBRA defines default as occurring if:
1. There is a missed interest or principal payment on a rated obligation which is unlikely to be recovered.
2. The rated entity files for protection from creditors, is placed into receivership or is closed by regulators such that a missed payment is likely to result.
3. The rated entity seeks and completes a distressed exchange, where existing rated obligations are replaced by new obligations with a diminished economic value.
KBRA may append a + modifier to ratings in the K1 category to indicate exceptional ability to meet short-term obligations.
Footnotes to Appendix B: 
1. For certain structured finance, preferred stock and hybrid securities in which payment default events are either not defined or do not match investors’ expectations for timely payment, long-term and short-term ratings reflect the likelihood of impairment and financial loss in the event of impairment.
2. Supranational institutions and central banks that hold sovereign debt or extend sovereign loans, such as the IMF or the European Central Bank, may not always be treated similarly to other investors and lenders with similar credit exposures. Long-term and short-term ratings assigned to obligations held by both supranational institutions and central banks, as well as other investors, reflect only the credit risks faced by other investors unless specifically noted otherwise.
3. Like other global scale ratings, (sf) ratings reflect both the likelihood of a default and the expected loss suffered in the event of default. Ratings are assigned based on a rating committee’s assessment of a security’s expected loss rate (default probability multiplied by expected loss severity), and may be subject to the constraint that the final expected loss rating assigned would not be more than a certain number of notches, typically three to five notches, above the rating that would be assigned based on an assessment of default probability alone. The magnitude of this constraint may vary with the level of the rating, the seasoning of the transaction, and the uncertainty around the assessments of expected loss and probability of default.
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Financial Statements
The Funds’ audited Financial Statements (including Global Strategic Income Fund/VA’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements) included in each Fund’s Annual Report dated December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and the report of KPMG LLP thereon, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information.
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Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds
Website
www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser
OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. and OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
225 Liberty Street
New York, New York 10281-1008
Distributor
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
225 Liberty Street
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
Legal Counsel
Ropes & Gray LLP
191 North Wacker Drive, 32nd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606
PX0610.001.0419

 

 

 

OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
FORM N-1A
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
(a) (i) Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated 8/15/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) Schedule A, as amended 4/28/17, to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated 8/15/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 82, (4/26/17), and incorporated herein by reference.
(b) By-Laws dated 8/15/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
(c) (i) Article V of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated 8/15/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) Article II of the By-Laws: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
(d) (i) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA dated 11/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 71, (2/7/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iii) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, (4/26/13), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iv) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (v) Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA (formerly, Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA) dated 4/28/17: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 82, (4/26/17), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vi) Amended Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA (formerly, Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA) dated 4/28/17: Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 84, (4/26/18), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vii) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, (4/26/13), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (viii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ix) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA dated 11/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 71, (2/7/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (x) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Global Fund Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
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  (xi) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA dated 11/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 71, (2/7/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xiii) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA dated 11/01/15: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 79, (4/26/16), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xiv) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xv) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA dated 11/01/15: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 79, (4/26/16), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xvi) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xvii) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 66, (4/26/13), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xviii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA dated 1/1/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, (4/28/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xix) Restated Investment Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA dated 11/01/15: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 79, (4/26/16), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xx) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement for Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA dated 11/12/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 70, (11/25/13), and incorporated herein by reference.
(e) (i) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iii) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iv) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (v) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vi) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vii) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
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  (viii) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ix) General Distributors Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA dated 5/1/98: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, (4/29/98), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (x) General Distributors Agreement for Service Shares of Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA dated 11/12/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 70, (11/25/13), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (xi) Form of Participation Agreement: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 52, (4/24/07), and incorporated herein by reference.
(f) Form of Oppenheimer Funds Compensation Deferral Plan, as Amended and Restated Effective 1/1/08: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Portfolio Series Fixed Income Active Allocation Fund (Reg. No. 333-146105), (5/29/09), and incorporated herein by reference.
(g) (i) Global Custody Agreement dated 8/16/02, as amended: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund (Reg. No. 2-69719), (10/23/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) Amendment dated 8/11/17 to the Global Custody Agreement: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Fund (Reg. No. 2-82590), (8/25/17), and incorporated herein by reference.
(h) Not Applicable.
(i) (i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iii) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iv) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (v) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vi) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vii) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (viii) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ix) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA dated 8/21/12: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, (8/21/12), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (x) Opinion and Consent of Counsel for Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 71, (2/7/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
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(j) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent: Filed herewith.
(k) Not applicable.
(l) Investment Letter dated 3/14/85 from Monarch Life Insurance Company to Registrant: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 37, (4/24/02), and incorporated herein by reference.
(m) (i) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (iv) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (v) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vi) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (vii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (viii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ix) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA dated 10/28/05: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 48, (04/28/06), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (x) Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement for Service shares of Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA dated 11/12/13: Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 70, (11/25/13), and incorporated herein by reference.
(n) Oppenheimer Funds Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Global High Yield Fund (Reg. No. 333-176889), (9/25/14), and incorporated herein by reference.
(o) (i) Power of Attorney dated 8/21/18 for all Trustees and Officers except Brian S. Petersen: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund (Reg. No. 333-186810), (8/27/18), and incorporated herein by reference.
  (ii) Power of Attorney dated 8/21/18 for Brian S. Petersen: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund (Reg. No. 333-186810), (8/27/18), and incorporated herein by reference.
(p) Code of Ethics of the Oppenheimer Funds, OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., OFI SteelPath, Inc., OFI Advisors, LLC, OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (including certain other affiliates and subsidiaries) and OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., effective as of 5/26/16, under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Portfolio Series (Reg. No. 333-121449), (5/25/16), and incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 29. – Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund
None.
Item 30. – Indemnification
Reference is made to the provisions of Article VII of Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit 28(a) to the Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference.
Insofar as indemnification for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. – Business and Other Connections of the Investment Advisers
(a) OFI Global Asset Management, Inc. (the “Manager”) is the manager of the Registrant. The information required by this Item 31 about officers and directors of the Manager, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated by reference to Form ADV, filed by the Manager pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (SEC File No. 801-76771).
(b) OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) provides advisory services to the Registrant. The information required by this Item 31 about officers and directors of the Sub-Adviser, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated by reference to Form ADV, filed by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (SEC File No. 801-8253).
Item 32. – Principal Underwriter
(a) OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. is the Distributor of the Registrant’s shares. It is also the Distributor of each of the registered open-end investment companies listed below and for MassMutual Institutional Funds.
OFI Pictet Global Environmental Solutions Fund
OFI SteelPath Series Trust (1 series):
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund
Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund
Oppenheimer Dividend Opportunity Fund
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Innovators Fund
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund
Oppenheimer Global Focus Fund
Oppenheimer Global Fund
Oppenheimer Global High Yield Fund
Oppenheimer Global Multi-Asset Growth Fund
Oppenheimer Global Multi-Asset Income Fund
Oppenheimer Global Opportunities Fund
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Fund
Oppenheimer Government Cash Reserves
Oppenheimer Government Money Market Fund
Oppenheimer Institutional Government Money Market Fund
C-5

 

Oppenheimer Integrity Funds (3 series):
Oppenheimer Global Unconstrained Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Preferred Securities and Income Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Intermediate Income Fund
Oppenheimer Intermediate Term Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Oppenheimer International Diversified Fund
Oppenheimer International Equity Fund
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund
Oppenheimer International Small-Mid Company Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund
Oppenheimer Macquarie Global Infrastructure Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street All Cap Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Funds (1 series):
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Mid Cap Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund
Oppenheimer Master Event-Linked Bond Fund, LLC
Oppenheimer Master Inflation Protected Securities Fund, LLC
Oppenheimer Master Loan Fund, LLC
Oppenheimer Multi-State Municipal Trust (3 series):
Oppenheimer Rochester High Yield Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Rochester New Jersey Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Rochester Pennsylvania Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Portfolio Series (4 series):
Active Allocation Fund
Conservative Investor Fund
Growth Investor Fund
Moderate Investor Fund
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (3 series):
Oppenheimer Fundamental Alternatives Fund
Oppenheimer Global Allocation Fund
Oppenheimer Mid Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer Real Estate Fund
Oppenheimer ETF Trust (20 series):
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Emerging Markets Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer ESG Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Global ESG Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Global Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer International Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer International Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Low Volatility Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Momentum Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Quality Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Size Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Value Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 1000® Yield Factor ETF
Oppenheimer Russell 2000® Dynamic Multifactor ETF
Oppenheimer S&P 500 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P Financials Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P MidCap 400 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P SmallCap 600 Revenue ETF
Oppenheimer S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF
C-6

 

Oppenheimer Rising Dividends Fund
Oppenheimer Rochester AMT-Free Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Rochester AMT-Free New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Rochester California Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Rochester Fund Municipals
Oppenheimer Rochester Limited Term California Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Rochester Short Duration High Yield Municipal Fund (1 series):
Oppenheimer Rochester Short Duration High Yield Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Fund
Oppenheimer Senior Floating Rate Plus Fund
Oppenheimer Series Fund (1 series):
Oppenheimer Value Fund
Oppenheimer Short Term Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Small Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Funds Trust (4 series):
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Alpha Plus Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Income Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Select 40 Fund
Oppenheimer SteelPath Panoramic Fund
Oppenheimer Ultra-Short Duration Fund
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds (10 series):
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Conservative Balanced Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Global Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Global Strategic Income Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Government Money Fund/VA
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA
Oppenheimer Total Return Bond Fund/VA
Rochester Portfolio Series (1 series):
Oppenheimer Rochester Limited Term New York Municipal Fund
(b) The directors and officers of the Registrant’s principal underwriter are:
   
Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
Ryan Adam(2) Vice President None
Rina M. Aligaen(2) Assistant Vice President None
Anthony P. Allocco(2) Assistant Vice President None
Joseph M. Allyn(1) Vice President None
Nicole Andersen(2) Assistant Vice President None
Charles F. Anderson(1) Vice President None
Matthew J. Auer(2) Vice President None
Kevin K. Babikian(2) Assistant Secretary None
Anthony E. Bamonte(2) Vice President None
James P. Barker(2) Vice President None
Todd M. Barney(1) Vice President None
Marina O. Barskaya(2) Assistant Vice President None
Blake M. Bass(1) Vice President None
Erin E. Bedford(1) Vice President None
Leslie A. Bednar(2) Assistant Vice President None
C-7

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
Kathleen M. Beichert(1) Senior Vice President None
Kimberly A. Belsole(2) Vice President None
Rocco Benedetto(2) Senior Vice President None
Ibrahim S. Berete(2) Assistant Vice President None
Emanuele S. Bergagnini(2) Vice President None
Keira D. Berger(2) Vice President None
Christopher E. Bergeron(2) Vice President None
Rhea M. Berglund(1) Vice President None
Rick D. Bettridge(2) Vice President None
Kamal Bhatia(2) Senior Vice President None
Adam L. Bilmes(2) Vice President None
Paul G. Blease(2) Senior Vice President None
Carolyn Boccaccio(2) Vice President None
Maria T. Boingeanu(2) Assistant Vice President None
Christina G. Boris(2) Vice President None
David A. Borrelli(2) Senior Vice President None
Jeffrey R. Botwinick(2) Vice President None
Sarah M. Bourgraf(1) Vice President None
Tara Bracker(1) Vice President None
Matthew Brady(2) Vice President None
Ashish N. Braganza(2) Senior Vice President None
Devinne K. Bravoco(2) Assistant Vice President None
Reginald J. Breaux(1) Vice President None
Joshua H. Broad(2) Vice President None
Kenneth S. Brodsky(2) Senior Vice President None
Garrett Brookes(1) Assistant Vice President None
Gregory L. Brown(2) Vice President None
Matthew G. Brown(1) Vice President None
Gabrielle M. Brundige(2) Assistant Vice President None
Paul T. Brunswick(2) Vice President None
Ryan M. Buckley(2) Vice President None
Megan R. Byrne(2) Assistant Vice President None
Jason A. Campisi(2) Vice President None
Sean T. Carey(2) Vice President None
Robert M. Caruso(2) Vice President None
Rick A. Casagrande(2) Assistant Vice President None
Thomas M. Caulfield(1) Vice President None
Stephane C. Chevrier(2) Vice President None
Andrew S. Chonofsky(2) Senior Vice President None
Angelanto L. Ciaglia(2) Vice President None
Steven F. Cinquino(2) Assistant Vice President None
Nicholas A. Cirbo(1) Vice President None
C-8

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
Adam M. Cohen(2) Vice President None
Ellen L. Comisar(2) Vice President None
Adam M. Conard(1) Assistant Vice President None
John H. Corcoran(2) Vice President None
Cameron T. Cowden(2) Vice President None
Neev Crane(2) Vice President None
Carla F. Cricco-Lizza(2) Assistant Vice President None
Jacquelyn A. Dalbout(3) Assistant Vice President None
Michael Daley(2) Vice President None
Edward Dane(2) Senior Vice President None
Jeffrey N. Davis(3) Vice President None
Stephen D. Degnan(2) Vice President None
Ivan A. DelRio(2) Vice President None
Richard E. DeMarco(2) Assistant Vice President None
Michael R. Dennehy(2) Vice President None
Michelle D. DeWitt(2) Vice President None
Vincent J. Dipaolo(1) Vice President None
Franco Ditri(2) Assistant Vice President None
Stephen P. Donovan(1) Vice President None
Robert U. Duffey(2) Vice President None
Robert B. Dunphy(2) Vice President None
Peter G. Egginton(2) Vice President None
Wendy Hetson Ehrlich(2) Vice President None
Paul F. Eisenhardt(2) Senior Vice President None
Kyle C. Elliott(2) Vice President None
Rickey C. Ernzen(3) Vice President None
Michael J. Eustic(2) Vice President None
Gregg A. Everett(2) Vice President None
George R. Fahey(1) Senior Vice President None
Jason E. Farrell(2) Vice President None
Kristie M. Feinberg(2) Assistant Treasurer None
Jessica M. Fernandez(2) Senior Vice President None
Josean Y. Fernandez(2) Vice President None
Jonathan Ferris(2) Assistant Vice President None
Nicole Filingeri(2) Vice President None
Tristan A. Fischer(2) Vice President None
John Fortuna(2) Senior Vice President None
Mark D. Foster(1) Vice President None
Valeri L. Fox(2) Vice President None
Jennifer L. Foxson(2) Secretary Vice President and Chief Business Officer
George P. Fraser(1) Vice President None
Alice K. Fricke(2) Vice President None
C-9

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
William L. Friebel(2) Vice President None
Joseph T. Friedman(1) Vice President None
Kellen G. Frye(2) Vice President None
Kathryn T. Gallo(2) Vice President None
Christopher R. Gaudio(2) Vice President None
Jay Gentry(1) Senior Vice President None
Nancy J. Girondo(2) Vice President None
Jill E. Glazerman(2) Senior Vice President None
Justin A. Goldstein(2) Vice President None
Michael H. Gottesman(2) Senior Vice President None
Anthony Greco(2) Assistant Vice President None
Samuel J. Groban(2) Vice President None
Eric M. Grossjung(2) Vice President None
Seth E. Guenther(1) Assistant Vice President None
Michael D. Guman(2) Vice President None
Joseph B. Gunderson(2) Vice President None
Jose D. Gutierrez(2) Vice President None
Mahrukh Hameed(2) Assistant Vice President None
William H. Harris(1) Assistant Vice President None
LeaAnna M. Hartman(1) Vice President None
Stacia E. Hatfield(2) Vice President None
Alexander D. Hayes(2) Vice President None
Petter A. Hellstrom-Bialek(1) Vice President None
Richard N. Henn(2) Senior Vice President None
Nicholas M. Henry(2) Vice President None
Terry A. Hermann(2) Assistant Vice President None
Nicole M. Pretzel Holahan(2) Vice President None
Heather L. Holliday-Smith(1) Assistant Vice President None
Eric D. Holquist(2) Vice President None
Timothy B. Horsburgh(2) Vice President None
Cynthia A. Hovanec(2) Vice President None
Alyssa L. Hultman(1) Assistant Vice President None
Keith P. Hylind(2) Vice President None
Errol A. Iachini(2) Vice President None
Vincent R. Iacono(2) Vice President None
Jason F. Israel(2) Assistant Vice President None
Christopher Ivezic(2) Vice President None
Michael C. Jamison(1) Vice President None
Nickie J. Jacobs(1) Assistant Vice President None
Shonda R. Jaquez(2) Vice President None
Allyson M. Jarecky-Freitag(2) Vice President None
Daniel C. Jarema(1) Vice President None
C-10

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
Robert T. Jason(1) Vice President None
Sarah J. Joyce(2) Vice President None
Nikola R. Jurasic(1) Vice President None
Wylie D. Kain(2) Vice President None
Sreepad Kanchanavally(3) Assistant Vice President None
Annie V. Kang(2) Vice President None
Geoffrey M. Keller(1) Vice President None
Scott R. Kelley(1) Vice President None
Gregory Kelly(2) Vice President None
Azadeh Kiai(2) Assistant Vice President None
Brian P. Kiley(2) Senior Vice President None
Susan Kim(2) Assistant Vice President None
Benjamin Kirscht(2) Assistant Vice President None
Matthew J. Kissane(2) Assistant Vice President None
Tom A. Koch(2) Assistant Vice President None
Melissa M. Kretschmer(2) Assistant Vice President None
Eric J. Kristenson(2) Vice President None
David T. Kuzia(1) Vice President None
Michael S. La Tona(2) Vice President None
Lisa Lamentino(2) Vice President None
Thomas M. Landhauser(2) Vice President None
Brian Landy(2) Vice President None
Daniel J. Lee(2) Vice President None
Talley D. Leger(2) Vice President None
John P. Leonard(2) Vice President None
Brian S. Levitt(2) Senior Vice President None
Jesse E. Levitt(2) Vice President None
Craig M. Lieb(2) Vice President None
Lorna A. Lindquist(2) Vice President None
Malissa B. Lischin(2) Vice President None
Susan List(2) Assistant Vice President None
Terrie P. Liu(1) Assistant Vice President None
Cynthia Lo Bessette(2) Chief Legal Officer Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Gordon C. Loetz(2) Vice President None
Michael D. Loftin(1) Assistant Vice President None
Christina J. Loftus(2) Senior Vice President None
David P. Lolli(2) Assistant Vice President None
Thomas Loncar(2) Vice President None
Inna London-Ikhilov(2) Assistant Vice President None
David A. Long(1) Assistant Vice President None
John Luiz(2) Vice President None
Brian Lynch(2) Assistant Vice President None
C-11

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
Joseph M. Macaluso(2) Assistant Vice President None
John W. Mackey(2) Vice President None
Salvatore Maia(2) Assistant Vice President None
Joseph C. Marich(2) Vice President None
Natalie Marin(2) Vice President None
Michael A. Marino(2) Vice President None
Todd A. Marion(2) Vice President None
Sheila M. Masley(1) Assistant Vice President None
Katarina Maxianova(2) Vice President None
Robert D. McClure(2) Vice President None
Ryan T. McCormack(2) Assistant Vice President None
Amanda M. McDonald(2) Assistant Vice President None
John C. McDonough(2) Executive Vice President, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President & Director None
Matthew S. McGee(1) Vice President None
Kent R. McGlincy(1) Assistant Vice President None
Kent C. McGowan(2) Vice President None
Patrick J. McGowan(2) Assistant Vice President None
Courtney McGrory(2) Vice President None
Simon A. McKay(2) Vice President None
Philip J. McKeon(2) Assistant Vice President None
William J. McNamara(2) Vice President None
Christopher S. Mechem(2) Vice President None
Gaurav A. Medhekar(2) Assistant Vice President None
Brian F. Medina(1) Vice President None
Gregory E. Mehok(2) Vice President None
Brian C. Meidlinger(2) Vice President None
Izaak Mendelson(2) Vice President None
Ariella Menegon(2) Assistant Vice President None
Debbie S. Michaelson(1) Vice President None
Charlotte A. Miller(1) Vice President None
David B. Miller(2) Vice President None
Peter L. Mintzberg(2) Executive Vice President None
Clint T. Modler(1) Senior Vice President None
Laurence A. Molinelli(2) Assistant Vice President None
Brandon D. Moore(1) Vice President None
Matthew D. Mulcahy(2) Vice President None
Wendy J. Murray(2) Vice President None
Keith D. Myers(1) Assistant Vice President None
Kyle Najarian(1) Vice President None
Christina M. Nasta(2) Senior Vice President None
C-12

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
Kevin R. Neznek(2) Senior Vice President None
Edward J. Nini(2) Senior Vice President None
Nichola L. Noriega(2) Vice President None
Peter J. Novak(2) Senior Vice President None
Ryan P. O’Carroll(2) Vice President None
Timothy J. O’Connell(2) Vice President None
Patricia O’Connor(2) Vice President None
Tony D. Oh(1) Treasurer None
Ronald M. Ongaro(2) Vice President None
Leonard J. Oremland(2) Senior Vice President None
Kelly C. Orlowski(2) Assistant Vice President None
Leonar G. Palao(2) Assistant Vice President None
Bruce Palm(2) Vice President None
Alan I. Panzer(2) Vice President None
Andrew Y. Park(1) Vice President None
Maria Paster(2) Vice President None
Ashley B. Patten(1) Vice President None
Andrew J. Petersen(1) Vice President None
David M. Pfeffer(2) Director & Chief Financial Officer None
Patrick A. Phalon(2) Vice President None
Andrew W. Phillips(1) Vice President None
Leigh S. Pimsler(2) Assistant Vice President None
Piers A. Platt(2) Vice President None
Scott A. Porter(2) Assistant Vice President None
Yunchang Qiu(2) Senior Vice President None
Michael E. Quinn(2) Vice President None
Michael D. Rabin(2) Vice President None
Michael A. Radon(2) Assistant Vice President None
Richard E. Rath(2) Vice President None
William J. Raynor(2) Vice President None
Brenna D. Rhone(2) Assistant Vice President None
James T. Robinson(1) Vice President None
Ian M. Roche(2) Vice President None
Jason D. Roche(2) Vice President None
Adam T. Rochlin(2) Senior Vice President None
Rachel S. Rodgers(2) Assistant Vice President None
Elisheva S. Roos(2) Assistant Vice President None
Megan P. Rosenblum(2) Vice President None
Francis W. Ross(1) Vice President None
Jonathan J. Ross(2) Vice President None
Kristen M. Ross(2) Vice President None
Benton C. Rowse(1) Vice President None
C-13

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
Adrienne M. Ruffle(2) Vice President None
Thomas F. Sabow(2) Vice President None
Gary Salerno(2) Assistant Vice President None
Gary J. Sanchez(1) Vice President None
John C. Saunders(2) Senior Vice President None
Alex C. Schardt(2) Vice President None
Thomas J. Schmitt(2) Vice President None
Erik M. Schneberger (2) Senior Vice President None
William A. Schories(2) Vice President None
Julie E. Sendelbach(1) Vice President None
Jeffrey D. Sharon(2) Vice President None
Rahul N. Shah(2) Assistant Vice President None
Faiza Sikander(2) Assistant Vice President None
Jessica A. Skolnick(2) Assistant Vice President None
Bryant B. Smith(2) Vice President None
Timothy F. Smith(2) Assistant Vice President None
Mark C. Sokoloff(2) Assistant Vice President None
Haley M. Sorenson(1) Vice President None
Timothy J. Spitz(2) Vice President None
Jesse T. Stackland-Winterer(2) Vice President None
Keith S. Stecker(2) Assistant Vice President None
Bryan D. Stein(2) Vice President None
Benjamin A. Stewart(2) Senior Vice President None
Niklas S. Story(2) Vice President None
Matthew C. Straut(2) Senior Vice President None
Maureen Sullivan Assistant Vice President None
Ryan P. Sullivan(2) Assistant Vice President None
Brian C. Summe(2) Vice President None
Michael E. Sussman(2) Vice President None
George T. Sweeney(2) Senior Vice President None
Adam L. Tabor(2) Vice President None
Leo P. Tallon(2) Vice President None
Paul E. Temple(2) Senior Vice President None
Jay S. Therrien(2) Vice President None
Andrew C. Thomas(1) Assistant Vice President None
David G. Thomas(2) Vice President None
Ian A. Thornton(2) Assistant Vice President None
John B. Thorpe(1) Vice President None
Alejandro Tirso(2) Vice President None
Luz V. Touma(2) Vice President None
Matthew R. Trimble(2) Assistant Vice President None
Catherine L. Tulley(1) Vice President None
C-14

 

Name & Principal
Business Address
Position & Office
with Underwriter
Position and Office
with Registrant
David C. Van Hellemont(2) Vice President None
Wesley R. Vance(2) Vice President None
Kade J. Vasi(1) Vice President None
Vincent C. Vermette(2) Vice President None
Alyse S. Vishnick(2) Vice President None
Courtney E. Vogel(2) Assistant Vice President None
Rohit Vohra(2) Senior Vice President None
Richard Walsh(2) Vice President None
Yu Wang(2) Assistant Vice President None
Teresa M. Ward(2) Vice President None
Taylor Watts(1) Vice President None
Megan N. Weber(1) Assistant Vice President None
Michael J. Weigner(2) Vice President None
Kimberly W. Weinrick(2) Vice President None
Christopher G. Werner(2) Vice President None
Donna M. White (2) Chief Compliance Officer None
Ryan C. Wilde(1) Vice President None
Timothy A. Wilkinson(1) Vice President None
Thomas Winnick(2) Vice President None
Patrick J. Wisneski(1) Vice President None
Kevin P. Woodson(1) Assistant Vice President None
Ryan J. Woolhiser(1) Vice President None
Theodore J. Young(1) Assistant Vice President None
Kristin A. Youngkin(2) Assistant Vice President None
Nataly Zeldin(1) Assistant Vice President None
David T. Zicchinella(2) Vice President None
Steven L. Zito(1) Vice President None
Zhanyi Zhu(2) Assistant Vice President None
(1)6803 South Tucson Way, Centennial, CO 80112-3924
(2)225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281-1008
(3)2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1401, Dallas, TX 75201
(c) Not applicable.
Item 33. – Location of Accounts and Records
The accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and rules promulgated thereunder are in the possession of OFI Global Asset Management, Inc., OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and Shareholder Services, Inc., as applicable, at each entity’s offices at 6803 South Tucson Way, Centennial, Colorado 80112-3924.
Item 34. – Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. – Undertakings
Not applicable.
C-15

 

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York on the 29th day of April, 2019.
 
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
By: Arthur P. Steinmetz*
  Arthur P. Steinmetz
Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities on the dates indicated:
Signatures   Title   Date
Robert J. Malone*
Robert J. Malone
  Chairman of the Board of Trustees   April 29, 2019
         
Arthur P. Steinmetz*
Arthur P. Steinmetz
  Trustee, President and Principal Executive Officer   April 29, 2019
         
Brian S. Petersen*
Brian S. Petersen
  Treasurer, Principal Financial & Accounting Officer   April 29, 2019
         
Andrew J. Donohue*
Andrew J. Donohue
  Trustee   April 29, 2019
         
Richard F. Grabish*
Richard F. Grabish
  Trustee   April 29, 2019
         
Beverly L. Hamilton*
Beverly L. Hamilton
  Trustee   April 29, 2019
         
Victoria J. Herget*
Victoria J. Herget
  Trustee   April 29, 2019
         
Karen L. Stuckey*
Karen L. Stuckey
  Trustee   April 29, 2019
         
C-16

 

Signatures   Title   Date
James D. Vaughn*
James D. Vaughn
  Trustee   April 29, 2019
         
*By: /s/ Taylor V. Edwards
Taylor V. Edwards, Attorney-in-Fact
       
C-17

 

OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
Post-Effective Amendment No. 86
Registration Statement No. 2-93177
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.   Description
28 (j)   Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent
C-18