ROPES & GRAY PRUDENTIAL TOWER 800 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02199-3600 WWW.ROPESGRAY.COM |
James Forbes T +1 617 235 4765 james.forbes@ropesgray.com |
September 14, 2020
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, NE Washington, DC 20549 Attn: Ms. Mindy Rotter |
Re: GMO Trust (File Nos. 002-98772 and 811-04347) (the “Registrant”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On August 28, 2020, Mindy Rotter (the “Staff Reviewer”) of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) provided oral comments to James Forbes of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel to the Registrant, regarding GMO Trust’s Registration Statement filed on Form N-14 on August 10, 2020 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the proposed reorganization of each series of GMO Series Trust (each, a “Selling Fund”) with and into the corresponding series of the Registrant (each, an “Acquiring Fund”).
The Staff Reviewer requested that responses to the comments be provided via EDGAR correspondence. Accordingly, responses to the Staff Reviewer’s comments are set forth below. These responses will be reflected in the final forms of the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information included in the Registration Statement to be filed under Rule 497(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Rule 497”). For convenience of reference, I have summarized the Staff Reviewer’s comments before the Registrant’s responses. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Registration Statement.
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Securities and Exchange Commission |
Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus
1. | Please confirm that the fees disclosed in each “Annual Fund operating expenses” table appearing in the section “OTHER COMPARATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH SELLING FUND AND ACQUIRING FUND—Fund-Specific Information” reflect current fees. |
Response: The Registrant confirms that the fees disclosed in the “Annual Fund operating expenses” tables referenced in the comment reflect current fees.
2. | In the “Current and Pro Forma Capitalization of each Selling Fund and each Acquiring Fund” table appearing in the section “CAPITALIZATION”, please include information for all share classes of the Funds, not just those share classes with capitalizations that will change as a result of the Reorganizations. Please provide a revised capitalization table reflecting this information and confirm that the revised capitalization table will be included in the final form of Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed under Rule 497. |
Response: Please see the updated “Current and Pro Forma Capitalization of each Selling Fund and each Acquiring Fund” table included in the Appendix, which includes information for all share classes of the Funds. The Registrant confirms that the final form of the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed under Rule 497 will include the updated table.
Statement of Additional Information
3. | The amounts listed in the first six rows of the “Percentage” column of the table relating to GMO Climate Change Fund in Note 3 to Appendix B—Pro Forma Financial Information of the Acquiring Funds do not sum to the amount shown in the “Total Pro Forma Net Expense Adjustment” row of that column. Please review those amounts and confirm that correct amounts will be included in the final form of Statement of Additional Information filed under Rule 497. |
Response: The Registrant confirms that the amounts listed in the “Percentage” column of the table referenced in the comment are accurate. The apparent discrepancy identified in the comment is the result of rounding each line item. The Registrant will add disclosure in a footnote to the table to clarify that the amounts shown in the table may not sum to the totals shown due to rounding, which will be reflected in the final form of Statement of Additional Information filed under Rule 497.
* * * * * *
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ James Forbes | |
James Forbes |
cc: | Douglas Y. Charton, Esq., Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC Sarah Clinton, Esq., Ropes & Gray LLP |
-3- | September 14, 2020 | |
Securities and Exchange Commission |
APPENDIX
Current and Pro Forma Capitalization of each Selling Fund and each Acquiring Fund1
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO Benchmark-Free Allocation Series Fund | GMO Benchmark-Free Allocation Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 98,452,962 | 275,141,724 | 373,594,686 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 275,126,187 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 335,260,808 | 0 | 335,279,955 | 335,279,955 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 3,785,568,012 | (603,683,059 | ) | 3,181,884,953 | |||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 2,085,323,723 | 0 | 2,085,323,723 | ||||||||||||
Class MF | N/A | 2,827,442,422 | 0 | 2,827,442,422 | ||||||||||||
Total | 610,386,995 | 8,796,787,119 | 6,738,620 | 8,803,525,739 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 25.52 | N/A | 25.52 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 9.87 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 9.87 | N/A | N/A | 25.53 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 25.53 | N/A | 25.53 | ||||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 25.53 | N/A | 25.53 | ||||||||||||
Class MF | N/A | 25.55 | N/A | 25.55 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 3,857,988 | 10,781,416 | 14,639,404 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 27,886,855 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 33,959,073 | 0 | 13,132,783 | 13,132,783 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 148,253,303 | (23,642,683 | ) | 124,610,620 | |||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 81,684,502 | 0 | 81,684,502 | ||||||||||||
Class MF | N/A | 110,648,283 | 0 | 110,648,283 | ||||||||||||
Total | 61,845,928 | 344,444,076 | 271,516 | 344,715,592 |
1 Although each Selling Fund currently offers Class R4, Class R5, Class R6, and Class PS shares, each Selling Fund has outstanding only (i) Class R6 shares (GMO International Developed Equity Allocation Series Fund, and GMO International Equity Allocation Series Fund); (ii) Class PS shares (GMO Climate Change Series Fund and GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Series Fund); or (iii) Class R6 and Class PS shares (GMO Benchmark-Free Allocation Series Fund, GMO Emerging Markets Series Fund, GMO Global Asset Allocation Series Fund, GMO Quality Series Fund, and GMO Resources Series Fund). Each Acquiring Fund offers multiple share classes, including Class R6 and Class I shares, which are the share classes into which the corresponding Selling Fund’s Class R6 and Class PS shares will effectively be converted.
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Securities and Exchange Commission |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO Climate Change Series Fund | GMO Climate Change Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 962,118 | 11,983,814 | 12,945,932 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 11,985,820 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | N/A | 1,129,392 | 0 | 1,129,392 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 121,062,271 | (12,014,304 | ) | 109,047,967 | |||||||||||
Total | 11,985,820 | 123,153,781 | (30,490 | ) | 123,123,291 | |||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 22.36 | N/A | 22.36 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 10.56 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | N/A | 22.36 | N/A | 22.36 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 22.36 | N/A | 22.36 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 43,031 | 535,949 | 578,980 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 1,134,531 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | N/A | 50,513 | 0 | 50,513 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 5,413,505 | (537,312 | ) | 4,876,193 | |||||||||||
Total | 1,134,531 | 5,507,049 | (1,363 | ) | 5,505,686 |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Series Fund | GMO Emerging Domestic Opportunities Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | N/A | 5,069,180 | 5,069,180 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 5,072,804 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class II | N/A | 292,418,414 | 0 | 292,418,414 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 103,062,890 | (5,021,072 | ) | 98,041,818 | |||||||||||
Class V | N/A | 565,384,230 | 0 | 565,384,230 | ||||||||||||
Total | 5,072,804 | 960,865,534 | 48,108 | 960,913,642 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | N/A | N/A | 21.14 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 9.76 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class II | N/A | 21.14 | N/A | 21.14 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 21.13 | N/A | 21.13 | ||||||||||||
Class V | N/A | 21.12 | N/A | 21.12 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | N/A | 239,791 | 239,791 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 520,021 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class II | N/A | 13,834,093 | 0 | 13,834,093 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 4,877,796 | (237,628 | ) | 4,640,168 | |||||||||||
Class V | N/A | 26,764,520 | 0 | 26,764,520 | ||||||||||||
Total | 520,021 | 45,476,409 | 2,163 | 45,478,572 |
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Securities and Exchange Commission |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO Emerging Markets Series Fund | GMO Emerging Markets Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 16,157,605 | 10,972,195 | 27,129,800 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 10,973,660 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 13,969,981 | 0 | 13,967,310 | 13,967,310 | ||||||||||||
Class II | N/A | 397,797,611 | 0 | 397,797,611 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 333,779,029 | (24,589,714 | ) | 309,189,315 | |||||||||||
Class V | N/A | 204,614,768 | 0 | 204,614,768 | ||||||||||||
Class VI | N/A | 2,182,893,056 | 0 | 2,182,893,056 | ||||||||||||
Total | 24,943,641 | 3,135,242,069 | 349,791 | 3,135,591,860 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 30.75 | N/A | 30.75 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 9.17 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 9.18 | N/A | N/A | 30.84 | ||||||||||||
Class II | N/A | 30.75 | N/A | 30.75 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 30.84 | N/A | 30.84 | ||||||||||||
Class V | N/A | 30.52 | N/A | 30.52 | ||||||||||||
Class VI | N/A | 30.52 | N/A | 30.52 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 525,480 | 356,819 | 882,299 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 1,196,082 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 1,521,089 | 0 | 452,896 | 452,896 | ||||||||||||
Class II | N/A | 12,937,923 | 0 | 12,937,923 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 10,821,473 | (797,332 | ) | 10,024,141 | |||||||||||
Class V | N/A | 6,704,011 | 0 | 6,704,011 | ||||||||||||
Class VI | N/A | 71,517,920 | 0 | 71,517,920 | ||||||||||||
Total | 2,717,171 | 102,506,807 | 12,383 | 102,519,190 |
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Securities and Exchange Commission |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO Global Asset Allocation Series Fund | GMO Global Asset Allocation Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 0 | 17,941,450 | 17,941,450 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 17,940,700 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 146,762,057 | 17,888,470 | 146,768,909 | 164,657,379 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 1,539,521,588 | (163,019,214 | ) | 1,376,502,374 | |||||||||||
Total | 164,702,757 | 1,557,410,058 | 1,691,145 | 1,559,101,203 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | N/A | N/A | 31.50 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 9.23 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 9.24 | 31.50 | N/A | 31.50 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 31.50 | N/A | 31.50 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 0 | 569,570 | 569,570 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 1,943,822 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 15,890,783 | 567,906 | 4,659,330 | 5,227,236 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 48,876,858 | (5,175,213 | ) | 43,701,645 | |||||||||||
Total | 17,834,605 | 49,444,764 | 53,687 | 49,498,451 |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO International Developed Equity Allocation Series Fund | GMO International Developed Equity Allocation Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 10,385,667 | N/A | 10,386,117 | 10,386,117 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 297,463,345 | (10,258,259 | ) | 287,205,086 | |||||||||||
Total | 10,385,667 | 297,463,345 | 127,858 | 297,591,203 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class R6 | 9.35 | N/A | N/A | 14.52 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 14.52 | N/A | 14.52 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class R6 | 1,110,729 | 0 | 715,297 | 715,297 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 20,487,388 | (706,492 | ) | 19,780,896 | |||||||||||
Total | 1,110,729 | 20,487,388 | 8,805 | 20,496,193 |
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Securities and Exchange Commission |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO International Equity Allocation Series Fund | GMO International Equity Allocation Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 10,473,825 | 210,223,281 | 10,474,285 | 220,697,566 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 646,621,926 | (10,409,210 | ) | 636,212,716 | |||||||||||
Total | 10,473,825 | 856,845,207 | 65,075 | 856,910,282 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class R6 | 8.92 | 27.44 | N/A | 27.44 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 27.45 | N/A | 27.45 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class R6 | 1,173,992 | 7,661,149 | 381,716 | 8,042,865 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 23,558,902 | (379,206 | ) | 23,179,696 | |||||||||||
Total | 1,173,992 | 31,220,051 | 2,510 | 31,222,561 |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO Quality Series Fund | GMO Quality Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 80,110,437 | 46,197,039 | 126,307,476 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 46,197,050 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 59,512,545 | 77,375,185 | 59,512,529 | 136,887,714 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 3,195,240,130 | (104,822,140 | ) | 3,090,417,990 | |||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 852,866,250 | 0 | 852,866,250 | ||||||||||||
Class VI | N/A | 2,077,276,686 | 0 | 2,077,276,686 | ||||||||||||
Total | 105,709,595 | 6,282,868,688 | 887,428 | 6,283,756,116 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 22.75 | N/A | 22.75 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 10.51 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 10.51 | 22.76 | N/A | 22.76 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 22.77 | N/A | 22.77 | ||||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 22.82 | N/A | 22.82 | ||||||||||||
Class VI | N/A | 22.77 | N/A | 22.77 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 3,521,394 | 2,030,639 | 5,552,033 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 4,394,154 | N/A | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 5,663,285 | 3,399,746 | 2,614,786 | 6,014,532 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 140,322,327 | (4,603,520 | ) | 135,718,807 | |||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 37,379,147 | 0 | 37,379,147 | ||||||||||||
Class VI | N/A | 91,211,777 | 0 | 91,211,777 | ||||||||||||
Total | 10,057,439 | 272,312,997 | (1,988,734 | ) | 270,324,263 |
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Securities and Exchange Commission |
Net Assets ($) (Unaudited) | GMO Resources Series Fund | GMO Resources Fund | Pro Forma Adjustment | Combined Fund - Pro Forma | ||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 0 | 147,084,890 | 147,084,890 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 147,083,984 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 285,529 | 0 | 285,531 | 285,531 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 201,320,320 | (146,277,387 | ) | 55,042,933 | |||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 311,515,234 | 0 | 311,515,234 | ||||||||||||
Total | 147,369,513 | 512,835,554 | 1,093,034 | 513,928,588 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share ($) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | N/A | N/A | 18.11 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 8.36 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 8.36 | N/A | N/A | 18.11 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 18.11 | N/A | 18.11 | ||||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 18.06 | N/A | 18.06 | ||||||||||||
Shares Outstanding (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Class I | N/A | 0 | 8,121,750 | 8,121,750 | ||||||||||||
Class PS | 17,592,665 | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 | 34,148 | 0 | 15,766 | 15,766 | ||||||||||||
Class III | N/A | 11,115,058 | (8,076,093 | ) | 3,038,965 | |||||||||||
Class IV | N/A | 17,250,357 | 0 | 17,250,357 | ||||||||||||
Total | 17,626,813 | 28,365,415 | 61,423 | 28,426,838 |