485APOS 1 e432051_485apos.htm 485APOS

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2016

 

1933 Act File No. 033-11387

1940 Act File No. 811-04984

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
  Pre-Effective Amendment No. ¨  
  Post-Effective Amendment No. 246 x  
       
and/or
   
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x
  Amendment No. 247 x  
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

 

 AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200

Irving, Texas 75039

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (817) 391-6100

 

Gene L. Needles, Jr., President With copies to:
220 East Las Colinas  Boulevard Kathy K. Ingber, Esq.
Suite 1200 K&L Gates LLP
Irving, Texas 75039 1601 K Street, NW
 (Name and Address of Agent for Service) Washington, D.C. 20006-1600

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box) 

  ¨ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
  ¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
  ¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  ¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  x 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
  ¨ on (date) 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.

 

 

 



American Beacon

PROSPECTUS

xxx xx, 20xx

 

Share Class

A

C

Y

Institutional

Investor

Ultra

American Beacon GLG Total Return Fund

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

This Prospectus contains important information you should know about investing, including information about risks. Please read it before you invest and keep it for future reference.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Table of Contents


American Beacon
GLG Total Return FundSM



Investment Objective

The Fund's investment objective is to seek high current income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales discounts if you and your eligible family members invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in all classes of the American Beacon Funds on an aggregated basis. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "Choosing Your Share Class" on page xx of the Prospectus and "Additional Purchase and Sale Information for A Class Shares" on page xx of the statement of additional information ("SAI").

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Share Class

A

C

Y

Institutional

Investor

Ultra

Maximum sales charge imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

4.75

%

None

None

None

None

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (as a percentage of the lower of original offering price or redemption proceeds)

0.50

1

1.00

%

None

None

None

None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Share Class

A

C

Y

Institutional

Investor

Ultra

Management Fees

0.95

%

0.95

%

0.95

%

0.95

%

0.95

%

0.95

%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

0.25

%

1.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Other Expenses 2

0.79

%

0.79

%

0.74

%

0.64

%

1.02

%

0.64

%

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 2

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

0.01

%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

2.00

%

2.75

%

1.70

%

1.60

%

1.98

%

1.60

%

Fee Waiver and/or expense reimbursement 3

(0.42

%)

(0.42

%)

(0.42

%)

(0.42

%)

(0.42

%)

(0.61

%)

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement

1.58

%

2.33

%

1.28

%

1.18

%

1.56

%

0.99

%

1

A contingent deferred sales charge (''CDSC'') of 0.50% will be charged on certain purchases of $1,000,000 or more of A Class shares that are redeemed in whole or part within 18 months of purchase.

2

Other Expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year.

3

The Manager has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund's A Class, C Class, Y Class, Institutional Class, Investor Class and Ultra Class shares, as applicable, through February 28, 2018 to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses exceed 1.57% for the A Class, 2.32% for the C Class, 1.27% for the Y Class, 1.17% for the Institutional Class, 1.55% for the Investor Class and 0.98% for the Ultra Class (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, securities lending fees, expenses associated with securities sold short, litigation, and other extraordinary expenses). The contractual expense reimbursement can be changed only with the approval of a majority of the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Manager can be reimbursed by the Fund for any contractual fee waivers or expense reimbursements if reimbursement to the Manager (a) occurs within three years after the Manager's own waiver or reimbursement and (b) does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of a class to exceed the contractual percentage limit in effect at the time of the waiver/reimbursement.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same, except that the example reflects the fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangement for each share class through February 28, 2018. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Share Class

1 Year

3 Years

A

$628

$993

C

$336

$771

Y

$130

$451

Institutional

$120

$420

Investor

$159

$538

Ultra

$101

$382

Assuming no redemption of shares:

 

Share Class

1 Year

3 Years

C

$236

$771

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 and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate for the Fund's last fiscal year is not provided because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.

 

Prospectus – Fund Summary

1


Table of Contents

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund seeks to achieve high current income and capital appreciation by investing in assets (excluding U.S. Dollar denominated cash and cash equivalents) primarily in instruments of issuers that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The Fund's strategy is managed in an absolute-return style, concentrating on high current income and capital appreciation, and is not managed with reference to a benchmark.  The Fund may achieve capital appreciation when stronger macroeconomic and political circumstances in emerging market countries lead to lower interest rates, lower credit spreads, or stronger currencies. The Fund may invest in instruments including debentures, corporate obligations, investment-grade securities, high-yield securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"), unrated securities, callable securities, sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt, restricted securities, variable and floating-rate securities, separate trading of registered interest and principal of securities ("STRIPS") and zero-coupon securities, equities, equity equivalents and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs").

The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments including futures (such as interest-rate futures), forwards (such as non-deliverable forwards ("NDFs")), options (such as interest-rate options), swaps (such as interest-rate, total-return and cross-currency swaps), and credit default swaps. The Fund may engage in short sales (such as taking short positions on derivatives). The Fund may use derivative instruments to enhance total return, reduce portfolio risk, manage certain investment risks, hedge against fluctuations in security prices, interest rates or currency exchange rates, change the effective duration of the Fund, serve as a substitute for the purchase or sale of the underlying security or currency, or to seek tax-advantaged access to the underlying instruments. Derivatives allow the Fund to obtain economic exposure without directly holding the underlying security in the event that regulatory, transaction cost, or other factors increase the difficultly or reduce the desirability of holding the underlying security.

The Fund may have exposure to foreign currencies for investment or hedging purposes. The fund may make direct investments in non-U.S. currencies and in securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies. Investments in currencies, currency derivatives and currency hedging seek to extract value or reduce risk.

A significant portion of the portfolio may be retained in cash and cash equivalents, including liquid government debt instruments, time deposits, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and money market instruments. The Fund may invest in securities of various maturities and durations.

For purposes of the Fund's investment strategy, an "emerging markets" country is any country:

(i) having an "emerging stock market" as defined by the International Finance Corporation;
(ii) with low- to middle-income economies according to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "World Bank");
(iii) listed in World Bank publications as developing; or
(iv) determined by the sub-advisor to be an emerging market.

Currently, these countries generally include every country in the world except Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

An instrument is economically tied to an emerging market country if:

(i) the issuer is the government (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government) of an emerging market country;
(ii) the instrument is principally traded on an emerging market country's securities markets; or
(iii) the issuer is organized or principally operates in an emerging market country, derives 50% or more of its income from its operation within the country, or has 50% or more of its assets in the country.

With respect to derivatives, generally such instruments are treated as economically tied to emerging market countries if the underlying assets are, or if the performance of the instrument is otherwise determined with reference to, currencies of emerging market countries (or indexes or baskets of such currencies), interest rates of emerging market countries, or securities issued by governments or issuers organized under the laws of emerging market countries.

In making investment decisions for the Fund, the sub-advisor employs a top-down investment process in which country credits, currencies, and local rate curves are analyzed for relative value. The analysis is based on information obtained from dedicated in-house market research, local resources, travel to the region, and a variety of other sources including third-party data providers. The sub-advisor relies on a multi-strategy investment approach using segments of the hard and local currency universe to build a portfolio with an overall volatility target less than that of the Fund's theoretical investment universe. Hard currencies are those from countries whose economic and political stability engenders worldwide confidence, such as the United States, Japan and certain Euro-Based countries. Local currencies are those from the specific countries in which the investments are made. Volatility is defined as the standard deviation of the Fund's total return. The sub-advisor develops rigorous correlation and risk/reward analysis that is intended to capture most of the upside of an investment with less volatility and less potential for downside risk than traditional benchmark-oriented products.

The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers.

Principal Risks

There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and you could lose part or all of your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not designed for investors who need an assured level of income and is intended to be a long-term investment. The Fund is not a complete investment program and may not be appropriate for all investors. Investors should carefully consider their own investment goals and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

Allocation Risk
The sub-advisor's judgments about, and allocations among, asset classes and market exposures may adversely affect the Fund's performance. This risk may be increased by the use of derivatives to increase allocations to various market exposures.

Callable Securities Risk
The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities with call features. A call feature allows the issuer of the security to redeem or call the security prior to its stated maturity date. In periods of falling interest rates, issuers may be more likely to call in securities that are paying higher coupon rates than prevailing interest rates. In the event of a call, the Fund would lose the income that would have been earned to maturity on that security, and the proceeds received by the Fund may be invested in securities paying lower coupon rates. Thus, the Fund's income could be reduced as a result of a call.

Counterparty Risk
The Fund is subject to the risk that a party or participant to a transaction, such as a broker or derivative counterparty, will be unwilling or unable to satisfy its obligation to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments or to otherwise honor its obligations to the Fund.

Credit Risk
The Fund is subject to the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security, or the counterparty to a derivatives contract or a loan will fail to make timely payment of interest or principal or otherwise honor its obligations or default completely. Credit risk is typically greater for securities with ratings that are

 

2

Prospectus – Fund Summary


Table of Contents

below investment grade (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). Since the Fund can invest significantly in lower-quality debt securities considered speculative in nature, this risk will be substantial.

Currency Risk
The Fund may have exposure to foreign currencies by making direct investments in non-U.S. currencies or in securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies, purchasing or selling forward currency exchange contracts in non-U.S. currencies, non-U.S. currency futures contracts, options on non-U.S. currencies and non-U.S. currency futures and swaps for cross-currency investments. Foreign currencies may decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and thereby affect the Fund's investments in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies or in securities that trade in, and receive revenues in, or in derivatives that provide exposure to, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies.

Derivatives Risk
Derivatives may involve significant risk. The use of derivative instruments may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives, including the high degree of leverage often embedded in such instruments, and potential material and prolonged deviations between the theoretical value and realizable value of a derivative. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund's initial investment. Derivatives may be illiquid and may be more volatile than other types of investments. The Fund may buy or sell derivatives not traded on an exchange and which may be subject to heightened liquidity and valuation risk. Derivative investments can increase portfolio turnover and transaction costs. Derivatives also are subject to counterparty risk. As a result, the Fund may obtain no recovery of its investment or may only obtain a limited recovery, and any recovery may be delayed. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. In addition, the Fund's investments in derivatives are subject to the following risks:

Futures and Forward Contracts, including NDFs. Futures and forward contracts, including NDFs, are derivative instruments pursuant to a contract where one party pays a fixed price for an agreed amount of securities or other underlying assets at an agreed date or to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. Futures contracts may experience potentially dramatic price changes (losses) and imperfect correlations between the price of the contract and the underlying security, index or currency which will increase the volatility of the Fund and may involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of the risk assumed. There can be no assurance that any strategy used will succeed. Not all forward contracts, including NDFs, require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. There may not be a liquid secondary market for the futures contracts. Forward currency transactions, including NDFs, include the risks associated with fluctuations in currency. Interest rate and Treasury futures contracts expose the Fund to price fluctuations resulting from changes in interest rates. The Fund could suffer a loss if interest rates rise after the Fund has purchased an interest rate futures contract or fall after the Fund has sold an interest rate futures contract. Similarly, Treasury futures contracts expose the Fund to potential losses if interest rates do not move as expected.

Options. In order for a call option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security or index must rise sufficiently above the call option exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. These costs will reduce any profit that might otherwise have been realized had the Fund bought the underlying security instead of call option. For a put option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security or index must decline sufficiently below the put option's exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. By using put options in this manner, the Fund will reduce any profit it might otherwise have realized from having shorted the underlying security by the premium paid for the put option and by transaction costs. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option on an underlying asset that the Fund owns and the underlying asset has increased in value when the call option is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying asset at the call price and will not be able to realize any of the underlying asset's value above the call price.

Swap Agreements. Swaps can involve greater risks than a direct investment in an underlying asset, because swaps typically include a certain amount of embedded leverage and as such are subject to leveraging risk. If swaps are used as a hedging strategy, the Fund is subject to the risk that the hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, due to, among other reasons, the occurrence of unexpected price movements or the non-occurrence of expected price movements. Swaps also may be difficult to value. Interest rate swaps, currency swaps and credit default swaps are subject to counterparty risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. In addition, interest rate swaps are subject to interest rate risk and currency swaps are subject to currency risk.

Emerging Markets Risk
When investing in emerging markets, the risks of investing in foreign securities discussed below are heightened. Emerging markets are generally smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the U.S. and other developed markets. There are also risks of: greater political uncertainties; an economy's dependence on revenues from particular commodities or on international aid or development assistance; currency transfer restrictions; a limited number of potential buyers for such securities; and delays and disruptions in securities settlement procedures. 

Equity Investments Risk
Equity securities are subject to market risk. The Fund's investments in equity securities may include common stocks.  Investing in such securities may expose the Fund to additional risk. The value of a company's common stock may fall as a result of factors affecting the company, companies in the same industry or sector, or the financial markets overall. Common stock generally is subordinate to preferred stock upon the liquidation or bankruptcy of the issuing company.

Foreign Investing Risk
Non U.S. investments carry potential risks not associated with U.S. investments. Such risks include, but are not limited to: (1) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (2) political and financial instability, (3) less liquidity and greater volatility, (4) lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; (5) increased price volatility; (6) less government regulation and supervision of foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies; and (7) delays in transaction settlement in some foreign markets.

Hedging Risk
If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges the market conditions incorrectly, or the hedged instrument does not correlate to the risk sought to be hedged, the hedge might be unsuccessful, reduce the Fund's return, or create a loss.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk
Portfolio turnover is a measure of the Fund's trading activity over a one-year period. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% would indicate that the Fund sold and replaced the entire value of its securities holdings during the period. High portfolio turnover could increase the Fund's transaction costs, have a negative impact on performance, and generate higher capital gain distributions to shareholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

High Yield Securities Risk
Investing in high yield, below investment-grade securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") generally involves significantly greater risks of loss of your money than an investment in investment grade securities. High yield debt securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price when the economy is weak or expected to become weak. High yield securities are considered to be speculative with respect to an issuer's ability to pay interest and principal and carry a greater risk that the issuers of lower-rated securities will default on the timely payment of principal and interest.  Below investment grade securities may experience greater price volatility and less liquidity than investment grade securities.

 

Prospectus – Fund Summary

3


Table of Contents

Illiquid and Restricted Securities Risk
Securities not registered in the U.S. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), including Rule 144A securities, may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. They may be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous time or price because such securities may not be readily marketable in broad public markets. The Fund may not be able to sell a restricted security when the sub-advisor considers it desirable to do so and/or may have to sell the security at a lower price than the Fund believes is its fair market value. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for restricted securities and the Fund may receive only limited information regarding the issuer of a restricted security. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering restricted securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration.

Interest Rate Risk
The Fund is subject to the risk that the market value of fixed income securities or derivatives it holds will decline due to rising interest rates. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates are near historic lows, but may rise substantially and/or rapidly, potentially resulting in substantial losses to the Fund. Generally, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as fixed income securities, will move in the opposite direction to movements in interest rates. The prices of fixed income securities or derivatives are also affected by their duration. Fixed income securities or derivatives with longer durations generally have greater sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For example, if a bond has a duration of five years, a 1% increase in interest rates could be expected to result in a 5% decrease in the value of the bond. An increase in interest rates can impact markets broadly as well. For example, some investors buy securities and derivatives with borrowed money; an increase in interest rates can cause a decline in those markets. Significant upward pressure on domestic interest rates and a corresponding widening of credit spreads could negatively impact the market price of emerging debt investments.

Investment Risk
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. When you sell your shares of the Fund, they could be worth less than what you paid for them. Therefore, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Issuer Risk
The value of, and/or the return generated by, a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.

Leveraging Risk
The Fund's use of futures, forward contracts, swaps, other derivative instruments and selling securities short will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies the exposure to the swings in prices of an asset or class of assets underlying a derivative instrument and results in increased volatility, which means that the Fund will have the potential for greater losses than if the Fund does not use the derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. Leverage may result in losses that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses.  Leverage tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund's exposure to an asset or class of assets and may cause the Fund's NAV to be volatile.

Liquidity Risk
The Fund is susceptible to the risk that certain investments held by the Fund may have limited marketability or be subject to restrictions on sale, and may be difficult to sell at favorable times or prices. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to dispose of an investment at a time that is most beneficial to the Fund. 

Market Risk
Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Fund's shares. The Fund's fixed-income investments are subject to the risk that events in the fixed-income markets may lead to periods of volatility, unusual liquidity issues and, in some cases, credit downgrades and increased likelihood of default. The Fund's equity investments are subject to stock market risk, which involves the possibility that the value of the Fund's investments in stocks will decline due to volatility or drops in any of the many individual country or global financial markets. Such events may cause the value of securities owned by the Fund to go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, and may lead to increased redemptions, which could cause the Fund to experience a loss when selling securities to meet redemption requests by shareholders.  Turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in credit, fixed-income, or equity markets may negatively affect many issuers worldwide which could adversely affect the Fund.

Market Timing Risk
Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, it is particularly subject to the risk of market timing activities. Frequent trading by Fund shareholders poses risks to other shareholders in the Fund, including (i) the dilution of the Fund's NAV, (ii) an increase in the Fund's expenses, and (iii) interference with the portfolio manager's ability to execute efficient investment strategies. Because of specific securities in which the Fund may invest, it could be subject to the risk of market timing activities by shareholders.

Model Risk
The sub-advisor may use proprietary modeling systems to implement its investment strategies for the Fund. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than expected as a result of the factors used in the models, the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors' historical trends and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models. There is no assurance that the models are complete or accurate, or representative of future market cycles, nor will they necessarily be beneficial to the Fund if they are accurate. These systems may negatively affect Fund performance for various reasons, including human judgment, inaccuracy of historical data and non-quantitative factors (such as market or trading system dysfunctions, investor fear or over-reaction).

Non-Diversification Risk
The Fund is non-diversified, which means the Fund may focus its investments in the securities of a comparatively small number of issuers. Investment in securities of a limited number of issuers exposes the Fund to greater market risk and potential losses than if assets were diversified among the securities of a greater number of investments.

Other Investment Companies Risk
The Fund may invest in shares of other registered investment companies, including exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") and money market funds. To the extent that the Fund invests in shares of other registered investment companies, you will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying funds in addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses and will be subject to the risks associated with investments in those funds. ETF shares may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. An ETF that tracks an index may not precisely replicate the returns of its benchmark index.

 

4

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Quantitative Strategy Risk
The success of the Fund's investment strategy may depend in part on the effectiveness of the sub-advisor's quantitative tools for screening securities which may use factors that are not predictive of a security's value.

Redemption Risk
Due to a rise in interest rates or other changing government policies that may cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, the Fund may experience periods of high levels of redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may create capital gains, which could cause the Fund to distribute substantial capital gains.

Sector Risk
Sector risk is the risk associated with the Fund holding a significant amount of investments in similar businesses, which could be affected by the same economic or market conditions.

Securities Selection Risk
Securities selected by the sub-advisor or the Manager for the Fund may not perform to expectations. It may not be possible to predict or to hedge against a widening in the yield of the securities selected by the sub-advisor. This could result in the Fund's underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives.

Segregated Assets Risk
In connection with certain transactions that may give rise to future payment obligations, including the purchase and sale of futures contracts, the Fund may be required to maintain a segregated amount of, or otherwise earmark, cash or liquid securities to cover the position or transaction, which cannot be sold while the position they are covering is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other assets of equal value.

Short Position Risk
The Fund will incur a loss as a result of a short position if the price of the instrument sold short increases in value between the date of the short sale and the date on which an offsetting position is purchased. Short positions may be considered speculative transactions and involve special risks, including greater reliance on the sub-advisor's ability to accurately anticipate the future value of a security or instrument. The Fund's losses are potentially unlimited in a short position transaction.

Sovereign and Quasi Sovereign Debt Risk
Sovereign or quasi-sovereign debt securities are subject to risk of payment delays or defaults due to (1) country cash flow problems, (2) insufficient foreign currency reserves, (3) political considerations, (4) large debt positions relative to the country's economy, (5) policies toward foreign lenders or investors, (6) the failure to implement economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies, or (7) an inability or unwillingness to repay debts. It may be particularly difficult to enforce the rights of debt holders in frontier and emerging markets. A governmental entity that defaults on an obligation may request additional time in which to pay or further loans or may seek to restructure its obligations to reduce interest rates or outstanding principal. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging and frontier markets issuers, which are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis, which has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.

Supranational Risk
Obligations of supranational entities are subject to the risk that the governments on whose support the entity depends for its financial backing or repayment may be unable or unwilling to provide that support. Obligations of a supranational entity that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies.

Unrated Securities Risk
Because the Fund may purchase securities that are not rated by any rating organization, the sub-advisor may internally assign ratings to certain of those securities, after assessing their credit quality, in categories of those similar to those of rating organizations. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may be difficult to value, which means the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.

U.S. Government Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises Risk
A security backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States is guaranteed by the applicable entity only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. The market prices for such securities are not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Securities held by the Fund that are issued by government-sponsored enterprises, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (‘‘Fannie Mae''), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (‘‘Freddie Mac''), Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority are not guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. U.S. Government securities and securities of government sponsored entities are also subject to credit risk, interest rate risk and market risk.

Valuation Risk
The Fund may value certain assets at a price different from the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments, such as certain derivatives, which may be illiquid or which may become illiquid.

Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk
The interest rates payable on variable and floating rate securities are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. The interest rate on a floating rate security is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or Treasury bill rate. Variable and floating rate securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk.

As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable on floating rate securities typically should decrease. Alternatively, during periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the interest rates of floating rate securities may lag behind changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in interest rates. The value of floating rate securities may decline if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline.

Fund Performance

Performance information for the Fund is not provided because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.

 

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Management

The Manager
The Fund has retained American Beacon Advisors, Inc. to serve as its Manager.

Sub-Advisor
The Fund's investment sub-advisor is GLG LLC.

Portfolio Managers

GLG LLC

Guillermo Ossés
Head of Emerging Markets Debt Strategies
Since Fund Inception (2016)

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may buy or sell shares of the Fund through a direct mutual fund account, through a retirement account, through an investment professional or another financial intermediary.  As a direct mutual fund account shareholder, you may buy or sell shares in various ways:

 

Internet

www.americanbeaconfunds.com

Phone

To reach an American Beacon representative call 1-800-658-5811, option 1

Through the Automated Voice Response Service call 1-800-658-5811, option 2 (Investor Class only)

Mail

American Beacon Funds
P.O. Box 219643
Kansas City, MO 64121-9643

Overnight Delivery:
American Beacon Funds
c/o BFDS 330 West 9th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open, at the Fund's NAV per share next calculated after your order is received in proper form, subject to any applicable sales charge.

 

New Account

Existing Account

Share Class

Minimum

Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Check/ACH/Exchange

Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Wire

C

$1,000

$50

$250

A, Investor

$2,500

$50

$250

Y

$100,000

$50

None

Institutional

$250,000

$50

None

Ultra

$500,000,000

$50

None

Tax Information

Dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, that you receive from the Fund are subject to federal income tax and may also be subject to state and local income taxes, unless you are a tax-exempt entity or your account is tax deferred (in which case you may be taxed later, upon the withdrawal of your investment from such account).

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and the Fund's distributor or the Manager may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your individual financial adviser to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial adviser or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

 

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Additional Information About the Fund

To help you better understand the Fund, this section provides a detailed discussion of the Fund's investment policies, its principal strategies and risks and performance benchmark(s). However, this Prospectus does not describe all of the Fund's investment practices. For additional information, please see the Fund's SAI, which is available at www.americanbeaconfunds.com or by contacting us via telephone at 1-800-658-5811, by U.S. mail at P.O. Box 219643, Kansas City, MO 64121-9643, or by e-mail at americanbeaconfunds@ambeacon.com.

Additional Information About Investment Policies and Strategies

Investment Objective

The Fund's investment objective is to seek a high current income and capital appreciation.

The Fund's investment objective is "non-fundamental", which means that it may be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees ("Board") without the approval of Fund shareholders.

Temporary Defensive Policy

The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategy by taking temporary defensive positions in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During these times, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Additional Information About the Management of the Fund

The Fund has retained American Beacon Advisors, Inc. to serve as its Manager. The Manager provides or oversees the provision of all administrative, investment advisory and portfolio management services to the Fund:

develops overall investment strategies for the Fund, 

monitors and evaluates the sub-advisors' investment performance, 

monitors the sub-advisors' compliance with the Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and

oversees the Fund's securities lending activities and actions taken by the securities lending agent to the extent applicable.

The assets of the Fund are allocated by the Manager to one sub-advisor, GLG LLC ("GLG"). GLG has full discretion to purchase and sell securities for the Fund in accordance with the Fund's objectives, policies, restrictions and more specific strategies provided by the Manager. The Manager oversees the sub-advisor but does not reassess individual security selections made by the sub-advisor for the Fund.

Although the Manager has no current intention to do so, the Fund's assets may be allocated among one or more additional sub-advisors in the future by the Manager. The Fund operates in a manager of managers structure. The Fund and the Manager have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") that permits the Fund, subject to certain conditions and approval by the Board, to hire and replace sub-advisors that are unaffiliated with the Manager without approval of shareholders. The Manager has ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board, to oversee sub-advisors and recommend their hiring, termination and replacement. The order also exempts the Fund from disclosing the advisory fees paid by the Fund to individual sub-advisors that are unaffiliated with the Manager in various documents filed with the SEC and provided to shareholders. Instead, the fees payable to unaffiliated sub-advisors are aggregated, and fees payable to sub-advisors that are affiliated with the Manager, if any, would be aggregated with fees payable to the Manager. Disclosure of the separate fees paid to an affiliated sub-advisor would be required. Whenever a sub-advisor change is proposed in reliance on the order, in order for the change to be implemented, the Board, including a majority of its "non-interested" trustees, must approve the change. In addition, the Fund is required to provide shareholders with certain information regarding any new sub-advisor within 90 days of the hiring of any new sub-advisor.

Additional Information About Investments

This section provides more detailed information regarding certain of the investments the Fund may invest in as well as information regarding the Fund's strategy with respect to investment of cash balances.

Cash Equivalents

The Fund may invest in cash equivalents including among others, time deposits, certificates of deposit, and commercial paper.  Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.  Certificates of deposit are issued against funds deposited in an eligible bank (including its domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries and agencies), are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return and are normally negotiable.  Commercial paper ("CP") is a short-term, unsecured promissory note issued by finance companies, banks, and corporations generally used as a source of working capital and other short-term financing.  CP has maturities ranging from 1 to 270 days.

Cash Management Investments

The Fund may invest cash balances in money market funds that are registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the ''Investment Company Act''), including money market funds that are advised by the Manager or a sub-advisor, and in futures contracts. If the Fund invests in money market funds, shareholders will bear their proportionate share of the expenses, including, for example, advisory and administrative fees, of the money market funds in which the Fund invests, such as advisory fees charged by the Manager to any applicable money market funds advised by the Manager. Shareholders also would be exposed to the risks associated with money market funds and the portfolio investments of such money market funds, including that a money market fund's yield will be lower than the return that the Fund would have derived from other investments that would provide liquidity.

To gain market exposure on cash balances or reduce market exposure in anticipation of liquidity needs, the Fund also may purchase and sell futures contracts on a daily basis that relate to securities in which it may invest directly and indices comprised of such securities. A futures contract is a contract to purchase or sell a particular security, or the cash value of an index, at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made. Under such contracts, no delivery of the actual securities is required. Rather, upon the expiration of the contract, settlement is made by exchanging cash in an amount equal to the difference between the contract price and the closing price of a security or index at expiration, net of the variation margin that was previously paid. As cash balances are invested in securities, the Fund may invest simultaneously those balances in futures contracts until the cash balances are delivered to settle the securities transactions. Because the Fund will have market exposure simultaneously in both the invested securities and futures contracts, the Fund may have more than 100% of its assets exposed to the markets. This can magnify gains and losses in the Fund. The Fund also may have to sell assets at inopportune times to satisfy its settlement or collateral obligations. The risks associated with the use of futures contracts also include that there may be an imperfect correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts or the movement in the prices of futures contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indices and that there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract.

 

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Currencies

The Fund may invest in foreign currency-denominated securities and may also purchase and sell foreign currency options and foreign currency futures contracts and related options as well as cross-currency swaps (see "Derivative Investments"), and may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market at the time or through forward currency contracts ("forwards"). The Fund may engage in these transactions in order to hedge or protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign exchange rates in the purchase and sale of securities. The Fund also may use foreign currency options and foreign currency forward contracts to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another.

Derivative Investments

Derivatives are financial instruments that have a value which depends upon, or is derived from, a reference asset, such as one or more underlying securities, pools of securities, options, swaps, futures, indexes or currencies. The Fund may invest in the following derivative instruments:

Forward Contracts. Forward contracts are two-party contracts pursuant to which one party agrees to pay the counterparty a fixed price for an agreed upon amount of commodities or securities, or the cash value of commodities, securities or a securities index, at an agreed upon future date. A forward currency contract is an obligation to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. An NDF currency contract is a forward contract where there is no physical settlement of the two currencies at maturity. Rather, on the contract settlement date, a net cash settlement will be made by one party to the other based on the difference between the contracted forward rate and the prevailing spot rate, on an agreed notional amount.

Futures Contracts. A futures contract is a contract to purchase or sell a particular security, or the cash value of an index, at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made. Under such contracts, no delivery of the actual securities is required. Rather, upon the expiration of the contract, settlement is made by exchanging cash in an amount equal to the difference between the contract price and the closing price of a security or index at expiration, net of the variation margin that was previously paid. An interest rate futures contract is a contract for the future delivery of an interest-bearing debt security. A Treasury futures contract is a contract for the future delivery of a U.S. Treasury security. The Fund may, from time to time, use futures positions to equitize cash and expose its portfolio to changes in securities prices or index prices. This can magnify gains and losses in the Fund. The Fund also may have to sell assets at inopportune times to satisfy its settlement or collateral obligations. The risks associated with the use of futures contracts also include that there may be an imperfect correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts and that there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract.

Options. An option is a contract that gives the purchaser (holder) of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (call) or sell to (put) the seller (writer) of the option the security or currency underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option (normally not exceeding nine months). The writer of an option has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security or currency upon payment of the exercise price, in the case of a call option, or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security or currency, in the case of a put option.

Options on Futures Contracts. An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to enter into a ‘‘long'' position in the underlying futures contract, in the case of a call option, or a ‘‘short'' position in the underlying futures contract in the case of a put option, at a fixed exercise price to a stated expiration date. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option, in the case of a call option, or a corresponding long position, in the case of a put option.

Swap Agreements. 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 terms of the swap transaction are either negotiated by the sub-advisor and the swap counterparty or established based on terms generally available on an exchange or contract market. In an interest rate swap, the Fund and another party exchange the right to receive payments equivalent to interest at differing rates on specified notional principal amounts. A currency swap involves the exchange of payments denominated in one currency for payments denominated in another. Payments are based on a notional principal amount the value of which is fixed in exchange rate terms at the swap's inception.

Fixed-Income Investments

A Fund's investments in fixed income instruments may include:

Emerging Markets Debt. A Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in a particular geographic region or country, including emerging markets. A Fund may consider a country to be an emerging market country based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, if the country is classified as an emerging or developing economy by any supranational organization such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation or the United Nations, or related entities, or if the country is considered an emerging market country for purposes of constructing emerging market indices.

Government-Sponsored Enterprises. A Fund may invest in debt obligations of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, including the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae''), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac''), Federal Farm Credit Banks ("FFCB'') and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Although chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress, these entities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are supported by the issuers' right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury and the discretionary authority of the U.S. Treasury to lend to the issuers and the U.S. Treasury's commitment to purchase stock to ensure the issuers' positive net worth.

High Yield Securities. High yield securities are debt obligations rated below investment grade (such as BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or Fitch, Inc. and/or Ba or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.) or not rated, but considered by a subadvisor to be of similar quality. These types of securities are also commonly referred to as ‘‘junk bonds''.

Investment Grade Securities. Investment grade securities that a Fund may purchase, either as part of its principal investment strategy or to implement its temporary defensive policy, include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, as well as securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories by a rating organization rating that security (such as Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or Fitch, Inc.) or comparably rated by a sub-advisor if unrated by a rating organization. A Fund, at the discretion of the applicable sub-advisor, may retain a security that has been downgraded below the initial investment criteria.

Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities and Zero Coupon Obligations. Separately traded registered interest and principal securities or "STRIPS" and zero coupon obligations are securities that do not make regular interest payments. Instead they are sold at a discount from their face value. The Fund will take into account as income a portion of the difference between these obligations' purchase prices and their face values. Because they do not pay coupon income, the prices of STRIPS and zero coupon obligations can be very volatile when interest rates change. STRIPS are zero coupon bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury.

Other Investment Companies Securities

The Fund at times may invest in shares of other investment companies, including money market funds and ETFs. The Fund may invest in investment company securities advised by the Manager. Investments in the securities of other investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other

 

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expenses. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company. As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly will bear the Fund's proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by shareholders of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund's own operations. These other fees and expenses are reflected as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and are included in the Fees and Expenses Table for the Fund in this Prospectus. Investment in other investment companies may involve the payment of substantial premiums above the value of such issuer's portfolio securities.

The Fund can invest free cash balances in registered open-end investment companies regulated as money market funds under the Investment Company Act, to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. The Fund would invest in money market funds rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. If the Fund invests in money market funds, shareholders will bear their proportionate share of the expenses, including for example, advisory and administrative fees, of the money market funds in which the Fund invests, including advisory fees charged by the Manager to any applicable money market funds advised by the Manager.

The Fund may purchase shares of ETFs and sell ETF shares short. ETFs trade like a common stock and passive ETFs usually represent a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track the performance and dividend yield of a particular domestic or foreign market index. Typically, the Fund would purchase passive ETF shares to obtain exposure to all or a portion of the stock or bond market and sell ETF shares short to hedge exposure to all or a portion of the stock or bond market. As a shareholder of an ETF, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of the ETF's expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses.

An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional mutual fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded) that has the same investment objective, strategies, and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate within a wide range, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF.

Additional Information About Risks

The greatest risk of investing in a mutual fund is that its returns will fluctuate and you could lose money. The following section provides additional information regarding the Fund's principal risk factors in light of its principal investment strategies.

Allocation Risk

This is the risk that the sub-advisor's judgments about, and allocations between, asset classes and market exposures may adversely affect the Fund's performance. This risk can be increased by the use of derivatives to increase allocations to various market exposures because derivatives can create investment leverage, which will magnify the impact to the Fund of its investment in any underperforming market exposure.

Callable Securities Risk

The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities with call features. A call feature allows the issuer of the security to redeem or call the security prior to its stated maturity date. In periods of falling interest rates, issuers may be more likely to call in securities that are paying higher coupon rates than prevailing interest rates. In the event of a call, the Fund would lose the income that would have been earned to maturity on that security, and the proceeds received by the Fund may be invested in securities paying lower coupon rates. Thus, the Fund's income could be reduced as a result of a call. In addition, the market value of a callable security may decrease if it is perceived by the market as likely to be called, which could have a negative impact on the Fund's total return.

Counterparty Risk

The Fund is subject to the risk that a party or participant to a transaction, such as a broker or derivative counterparty, will be unwilling or unable to satisfy its obligation to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments or to otherwise honor its obligations to a Fund. As a result a Fund may obtain no recovery of its investment or may only obtain a limited recovery, and any recovery may be delayed. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose a Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty.

Credit Risk

The Fund is subject to the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a debt security or the counterparty to a derivatives contract or a loan will fail to make timely payment of interest or principal or otherwise honor its obligations or default completely. The strategies utilized by the sub-advisor require accurate and detailed credit analysis of issuers and there can be no assurance that its analysis will be accurate or complete. The Fund may be subject to substantial losses in the event of credit deterioration or bankruptcy of one or more issuers in its portfolio. Financial strength and solvency of an issuer are the primary factors influencing credit risk. In addition, inadequacy of collateral or credit enhancement for a debt instrument may affect its credit risk. Credit risk may change over the life of an instrument and debt obligations which are rated by rating agencies may be subject to downgrade. The credit ratings of debt instruments and investments represent the rating agencies' opinions regarding their credit quality and are not a guarantee of future credit performance of such securities. Rating agencies attempt to evaluate the safety of the timely payment of principal and interest (or preferred dividends) and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. The ratings assigned to securities by rating agencies do not purport to fully reflect the true risks of an investment. Further, in recent years many highly rated structured securities have been subject to substantial losses as the economic assumptions on which their ratings were based proved to be materially inaccurate. A decline in the credit rating of an individual security held by the Fund may have an adverse impact on its price and make it difficult for the Fund to sell it. Rating agencies might not always change their credit rating on an issuer or security in a timely manner to reflect events that could affect the issuer's ability to make timely payments on its obligations. Credit risk is typically greater for securities with ratings that are below investment grade. Since the Fund can invest significantly in lower-quality investments considered speculative in nature, this risk will be substantial.

Currency Risk

If the Fund invests directly in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies or in securities that trade in, and receive revenues in, foreign currencies, or in derivatives that provide exposure to foreign currencies, it will be subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the United States or abroad. As a result, the Fund's investments in foreign currency denominated securities may reduce the returns of the Fund. Currency futures, forwards or options may not always work as intended, and in specific cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used such instrument(s). There may not always be suitable hedging instruments available. Even where suitable hedging instruments are available, the Fund may not hedge its currency risks.

Derivatives Risk

Derivatives are financial instruments that have a value which depends upon , or is derived from, a reference asset, such as one or more underlying securities, pools of securities, options, futures, indexes or currencies. The Fund may use derivatives to enhance total return of its portfolio, to manage certain investment

 

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risks or as a substitute for the purchase or sale of the underlying currencies or securities. The Fund may also hold derivative instruments to obtain economic exposure to an issuer without directly holding its securities.

Derivatives can be highly complex and their use within a management strategy can require specialized skills. There can be no assurance that any strategy used will succeed. If the sub-advisor incorrectly forecasts stock market values, or the direction of interest rates or currency exchange rates in utilizing a specific derivatives strategy for the Fund, the Fund could lose money. In addition, leverage embedded in a futures contract can expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. Gains or losses in the value of a derivative instrument may be magnified and be much greater than the derivative's original cost (generally the initial margin deposit). Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund's initial investment. Derivatives may be illiquid and may be more volatile than other types of investments. The Fund may buy or sell derivatives not traded on an exchange or contract market which may be subject to heightened liquidity and valuation risk. Derivative investments can increase portfolio turnover and transaction costs. Derivatives also are subject to counterparty risk. Certain derivatives, including swaps, futures, forwards and written options, require the Fund to post margin to secure its future obligation; if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell investments from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. Changing regulation may make derivatives more costly, limit their availability, disrupt markets, or otherwise adversely affect their value or performance.

Certain of the other risks to which the Fund might be exposed due to its use of derivatives include the following:

Futures and Forward Contracts Risk. Futures and forward contracts, including non-deliverable forwards ("NDFs"), are derivative instruments pursuant to a contract where one party pays a fixed price for an agreed amount of securities or other underlying assets at an agreed date or to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. There may at times be an imperfect correlation between the movement in the prices of futures contracts and the value of their underlying instruments or indexes. There can be no assurance that any strategy used will succeed. Not all forward contracts, including NDFs, require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose a Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. There may not be a liquid secondary market for futures contracts. Forward currency transactions, including NDFs, include the risks associated with fluctuations in currency. Interest rate and treasury futures contracts expose a Fund to price fluctuations resulting from changes in interest rates. A Fund could suffer a loss if interest rates rise after a Fund has purchased an interest rate futures contract or fall after a Fund has sold an interest rate futures contract. Similarly, treasury futures contracts expose a Fund to potential losses if interest rates do not move as expected. Equity index futures contracts expose a Fund to volatility in an underlying securities index.

Options Risk. In order for a call option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security or index must rise sufficiently above the call option exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. These costs will reduce any profit that might otherwise have been realized had the Fund bought the underlying security instead of the call option. For a put option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security or index must decline sufficiently below the put option's exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. By using put options in this manner, the Fund will reduce any profit it might otherwise have realized from having shorted the declining underlying security by the premium paid for the put option and by transaction costs. If the Fund sells a put option, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying asset at a disadvantageous price. If the Fund sells a call option on an underlying asset that the Fund owns and the underlying asset has increased in value when the call option is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying asset at the call price and will not be able to realize any of the underlying asset's value above the call price.

Swap Agreements Risk. Swaps can involve greater risks than a direct investment in an underlying asset, because swaps typically include a certain amount of embedded leverage and as such are subject to leveraging risk. If swaps are used as a hedging strategy, a Fund is subject to the risk that the hedging strategy may not eliminate the risk that it is intended to offset, due to, among other reasons, the occurrence of unexpected price movements or the non-occurrence of expected price movements. Swaps also may be difficult to value. Interest rate swaps, currency swaps and credit default swaps are subject to counterparty risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. interest rate swaps are subject to interest rate risk, and currency swaps are subject to currency risk. With respect to a credit default swap, if a Fund is selling credit protection, there is a risk that a credit event will occur and that a Fund will have to pay the counterparty. There is also the risk that the transaction may be closed-out at a time when the credit quality of the underlying investment has deteriorated, in which case a Fund may need to make an early termination payment. If a Fund is buying credit protection, there is the risk that no credit event will occur and a Fund will receive no benefit (other than any hedging benefit) for the premium paid. There is also the risk that the transaction may be closed-out at a time when the credit quality of the underlying investment has improved, in which case a Fund may need to make an early termination payment.

Equity Investments Risk

Equity securities are subject to market risk. The Fund's investments in equity securities may include common stocks. Such investments may expose the Fund to additional risks.

Common Stocks. The value of a company's common stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or decreased demand for the company's products or services. A stock's value may also decline because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or sector. The price of a company's stock may also be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company, such as changes in interest rates, exchange rates or industry regulation. Companies that pay dividends on their common stock generally only do so after they invest in their own business and make required payments to bondholders and on other debt and preferred stock. Therefore, the value of a company's common stock will usually be more volatile than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock.

Foreign & Emerging Markets Investing Risk

Non-U.S. investments have potential risks not associated with domestic investments. Such risks include, but are not limited to: (1) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (2) political and financial instability, (3) less liquidity and greater volatility of foreign investments, (4) lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, (5) less government regulation and supervision of foreign banks, stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies, (6) increased price volatility, and (7) delays in transaction settlement in some foreign markets. In addition, the economies and political environments of emerging market countries tend to be more unstable than those of developed countries, resulting in more volatile rates of return than the developed markets and substantially greater risk to investors. There may be very limited oversight of certain foreign banks or securities depositories that hold foreign securities and 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. To the extent a Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of a single country or region; it is more likely to be affected by events or conditions of that country or region. When investing in emerging markets, the risks of investing in foreign securities are heightened. Emerging markets have unique risks that are greater than or in addition to investing in developed markets because emerging markets are generally smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the securities markets of the U.S. and other developed markets. There are also risks of: greater political uncertainties; an economy's dependence on revenues from particular commodities or on international aid or development assistance; currency transfer restrictions; a limited number of potential buyers for such securities; and delays and disruptions in securities settlement procedures. In addition, there may be less information available to make investment decisions and more volatile rates of return.

 

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Hedging Risk

Gains or losses from positions in hedging instruments may be much greater than the instrument's original cost. The counterparty may be unable to honor its financial obligation to the Fund. In addition, the sub-advisor may be unable to close the transaction at the time it would like or at the price it believes the security is currently worth. If the Fund uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges the market conditions incorrectly, the hedge might be unsuccessful, reduce the Fund's return, or create a loss.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk

Portfolio turnover is a measure of the Fund's trading activity over a one-year period. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% would indicate that the Fund sold and replaced the entire value of its securities holdings during the period. High portfolio turnover could increase the Fund's transaction costs, possibly have a negative impact on performance. Frequent trading by the Fund could also result in increased realized net capital gains, distributions of which are taxable to the Fund's shareholders (including net short-term capital gain distributions, which are taxable to them as ordinary income).

High Yield Securities Risk

Investing in below-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as ‘‘junk bonds'') generally involves significantly greater risks of loss of your money than an investment in investment-grade securities. Compared with issuers of investment grade securities, high yield securities are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and to be materially affected by these difficulties. High yield debt securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price when the economy is weak or expected to become weak. High yield securities are considered to be speculative with respect to an issuer's ability to pay interest and principal and carry a greater risk that issuers of lower-rated securities will default on the timely payment of principal and interest. Below-investment-grade securities may experience greater price volatility and less liquidity than investment-grade securities.

Lower-rated securities are subject to certain risks that may not be present with investments in higher-grade securities. Investors should consider carefully their ability to assume the risks associated with lower-rated securities before investing in the Fund. The lower rating of certain high yielding corporate income securities reflects a greater possibility that the financial condition of the issuer or adverse changes in general economic conditions may impair the ability of the issuer to pay income and principal. Changes by rating agencies in their ratings of a fixed income security also may affect the value of these investments. However, allocating investments among securities of different issuers could reduce the risks of owning any such securities separately. The prices of these high yielding securities tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. During economic downturns or periods of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress that adversely affects their ability to service principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals or to obtain additional financing, and the markets for their securities may be more volatile. If an issuer defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Additionally, accruals of interest income for the Fund may have to be adjusted in the event of default. In the event of an issuer's default, the Fund may write off prior income accruals for that issuer, resulting in a reduction in the Fund's current dividend payment. Frequently, the higher yields of high-yielding securities may not reflect the value of the income stream that holders of such securities may expect, but rather the risk that such securities may lose a substantial portion of their value as a result of their issuer's financial restructuring or default. Additionally, an economic downturn or an increase in interest rates could have a negative effect on the high-yield securities market and on the market value of the high-yield securities held by the Fund, as well as on the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and interest on their borrowings.  

Illiquid and Restricted Securities Risk

Section 4(a)(2) and other restricted securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. They may be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous time or price because such securities may not be readily marketable in broad public markets. The Fund may not be able to sell a Section 4(a)(2) security when the sub-advisors consider it desirable to do so and/or may have to sell the security at a lower price than the Fund believes is its fair market value. Although there is a substantial institutional market for Section 4(a)(2) securities, it is not possible to predict exactly how the market for such securities will develop. A Section 4(a)(2) security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for restricted securities and the Fund may receive only limited information regarding the issuer of a restricted security. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering Section 4(a)(2) securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the security.

Interest Rate Risk

Investments in investment-grade and non-investment grade fixed-income securities or derivatives that are influenced by interest rates are subject to interest rate risk. The value of the Fund's fixed-income investments typically will fall when interest rates rise. The Fund may be particularly sensitive to changes in

 

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interest rates if it invests in debt securities with intermediate and long terms to maturity. Debt securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually making them more volatile than debt securities with shorter durations. For example, if a bond has a duration of five years, a 1% increase in interest rates could be expected to result in an 5% decrease in the value of the bond. Yields of debt securities will fluctuate over time. Since the financial crisis that started in 2008, the Federal Reserve has attempted to stabilize the economy and support the economic recovery by keeping the federal funds rate (the interest rate at which depository institutions lend reserve balances to other depository institutions overnight) at or near zero percent. When the Federal Reserve raises the federal funds rate, which is expected to occur, interest rates are expected to rise. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates are near historic lows, but may rise significantly and/or rapidly, potentially resulting in substantial losses to the Fund.

Investment Risk

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program.  The share price of the Fund fluctuates, which means that when you sell your shares of the Fund, they could be worth less than what you paid for them. Therefore, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Issuer Risk

The value, and/or the return generated by, a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.  When the issuer of a security implements strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, there is the risk that the market response to such initiatives will cause the price of the issuer's securities to fall.

Leveraging Risk

The Fund's use of futures, forward contracts, swaps, and other derivative instruments and selling securities short will have the economic effect of financial leverage. Financial leverage magnifies the exposure to the swings in prices of an asset or class of assets underlying a derivative instrument and results in increased volatility, which means that the Fund will have the potential for greater losses than if the Fund does not use the derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. Leverage may result in losses that exceed the amount originally invested and may accelerate the rate of losses.  Leverage tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund's exposure to an asset or class of assets and may cause the Fund's NAV to be volatile.

The Fund may experience leveraging risk in connection with investments in derivatives because its investments in derivatives may be purchased with a fraction of the assets that would be needed to purchase the securities directly, so that the remainder of the assets may be invested in other investments. Such investments may have the effect of leveraging the Fund because the Fund may experience gains or losses not only on its investments in derivatives, but also on the investments purchased with the remainder of the assets. If the value of the Fund's investments in derivatives is increasing, this could be offset by declining values of the Fund's other investments. Conversely, it is possible that the rise in the value of the Fund's non-derivative investments could be offset by a decline in the value of the Fund's investments in derivatives. In either scenario, the Fund may experience losses. In a market where the value of the Fund's investments in derivatives is declining and the value of its other investments is declining, the Fund may experience substantial losses. The use of leverage may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet any required asset segregation requirements.

Liquidity Risk

When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value.  During such periods, certain investments held by the Fund may be difficult to sell at favorable times or prices.  As a result, the Fund may have to lower the price on certain securities that it is trying to sell, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance.  Redemptions by a few large investors in the Fund at such times may have a significant adverse effect on the Fund's NAV and remaining Fund shareholders.  The Fund may lose money if it is forced to sell certain investments to meet redemption requests or other cash needs.

Market Risk

Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic or other developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Fund's shares. Equity investments are subject to stock market risk, which involves the possibility that the value of the Fund's investments in stocks will decline due to drops in the stock market due to general market, regulatory, political and economic conditions. These fluctuations could be a sustained trend or a drastic movement. The stock markets generally move in cycles, with periods of rising prices followed by periods of declining prices. The value of your investment may reflect these fluctuations.

The Fund is subject to the risk that the prices of, and the income generated by, fixed income securities held by the Fund may decline significantly and/or rapidly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, general economic and market conditions, or other developments, such as regional or global economic instability (including terrorism and related geopolitical risks), interest rate fluctuations, and those events directly involving the issuers that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment. Events in the fixed income markets may lead to periods of volatility, unusual liquidity issues and, in some cases, credit downgrades and increased likelihood of default. Such events may cause the value of securities owned by the Fund to go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. There is a risk that the lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the Fund's ability to purchase and sell the debt securities. Changes in the economic climate, investor perceptions and stock market volatility also can cause the prices of the Fund's fixed-income investments to decline regardless of the conditions of the issuers held by the Fund. There is also a risk that policy changes by the U.S. Government and/or Federal Reserve, such as increasing interest rates, could cause increased volatility in financial markets and higher levels of Fund redemptions, which could have a negative impact on the Fund. These events may lead to periods of volatility and increased redemptions, which could cause the Fund to experience a loss when selling securities to meet redemption requests by shareholders. The risk of loss increases if the redemption requests are unusually large or frequent.

Market Timing Risk

Frequent trading by Fund shareholders poses risks to other shareholders in that Fund, including (i) the dilution of the Fund's NAV, (ii) an increase in the Fund's expenses, and (iii) interference with the portfolio manager's ability to execute efficient investment strategies.  Because of specific securities in which the Fund may invest, it could be subject to the risk of market timing activities by shareholders. Some examples of these types of securities are high yield and foreign securities. The limited trading activity of some high yield securities may result in market prices that do not reflect the true market value of these securities. The Fund generally prices foreign securities using their closing prices from the foreign markets in which they trade, typically prior to the Fund's calculation of its NAV. These prices may be affected by events that occur after the close of a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares. In such instances, the Fund may fair value high yield and foreign securities. However, some investors may engage in frequent short-term trading in the Fund to take advantage of any

 

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price differentials that may be reflected in the NAV of the Fund's shares.  While the Manager monitors trading in the Fund, there is no guarantee that it can detect all market timing activities.

Model Risk

The sub-advisor may use proprietary modeling systems to implement its investment strategies for the Fund. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than expected as a result of the factors used in the models, the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors' historical trends and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models. There is no assurance that the models are complete or accurate, or representative of future market cycles, nor will they necessarily be beneficial to the Fund if they are accurate. The results generated by these models may perform differently than in the past or as expected. They may negatively affect Fund performance for various reasons. For example, human judgment plays a role in building, using, testing and modifying the financial algorithms and formulas used in these models. Additional, there is a possibility that the historical data may be imprecise or become stale due to new events or changing circumstances, which the models may not promptly detect. Market performance can be affected by non-quantitative factors (for example, market or trading system dysfunctions, investor fear or over-reaction or other emotional considerations) that are not easily integrated into the sub-advisor's risk models. There may also be technical issues with the construction and implementation of quantitative models (for example, software or other technology malfunctions, or programming inaccuracies).

Non-Diversification Risk

The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest a high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. When the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers it may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a more diversified portfolio might be. Some of those issuers also may present substantial credit or other risks. Since the Fund is non-diversified, its NAV and total return may also fluctuate more or be subject to declines in weaker markets than a diversified mutual fund.

Other Investment Companies Risk

The Fund may invest in shares of other registered investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds. To the extent that the Fund invests in shares of other registered investment companies, the Fund will indirectly bear fees and expenses, including for example, advisory and administrative fees, charged by the underlying funds in addition to the Fund's direct fees and expenses and will be subject to the risks associated with investments in those funds. The Fund must rely on the underlying fund to achieve its investment objective. If the underlying fund fails to achieve its investment objective, the value of the Fund's investment will decline, adversely affecting the Fund's performance. ETF shares may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. An ETF that tracks an index may not precisely replicate the returns of its benchmark index.

Quantitative Strategy Risk

The success of the Fund's investment strategy may depend in part on the effectiveness of a sub-advisor's quantitative tools for screening securities. Securities selected using quantitative analysis can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole or securities selected using only fundamental analysis, which could adversely affect value. The sub-advisor's quantitative tools may use factors that may not be predictive of a security's value and any changes over time in the factors that affect a security's value may not be reflected in the quantitative model. The sub-advisor's stock selection can be adversely affected if it relies on insufficient, erroneous or outdated data or flawed models or computer systems.

Redemption Risk

The Fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable cash flow needs. A general rise in interest rates has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which may increase redemptions from mutual funds that hold large amounts of fixed income securities. This, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets, and heightened redemption risk. Heavy redemptions, whether by a few large investors or many smaller investors, could hurt the Fund's performance.  This risk is heightened because the Fund invests in emerging market securities, which are generally less liquid than the securities of U.S. and other developed markets.

Sector Risk

Companies that are invested in similar businesses may be similarly affected by particular economic or market events, which may, in certain circumstances, cause the value of the equity and debt securities of companies in a particular sector of the market to change. To the extent the Fund has substantial holdings within a particular sector, the risks associated with that sector increase.

Securities Selection Risk

Securities selected by the sub-advisor for the Fund may decline substantially in value or may not perform to expectations. The sub-advisor's judgments about the attractiveness, value and anticipated price movements of a particular asset class or individual security may be incorrect and there is no guarantee that individual securities will perform as anticipated. The price of an individual security can be more or less volatile than the market as a whole or the Fund's relative value approach may fail to produce the intended results. The sub-adviser's assessment of relative value may be wrong or even if its estimate of relative value is correct, it may take a long period of time before the price and intrinsic value converge. It may not be possible to predict, or to hedge against, a widening in the yield of the securities selected by the sub-advisor. This could result in the Fund's underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives.

Segregated Assets Risk

In connection with certain transactions that may give rise to future payment obligations, including short sales and many types of derivatives, the Fund may be required to maintain a segregated amount of, or otherwise earmark, cash or liquid securities to cover the position. Segregated or earmarked securities cannot be sold while the position or transaction they are covering is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other securities of equal value. There is the possibility that the segregation or earmarking of a large percentage of the Fund's assets may, in some circumstances, limit the Fund's ability to take advantage of investment opportunities or meet redemption requests.

Short Position Risk

The Fund's short positions are subject to special risks. A short position involves the sale by the Fund of a security that it does not own with the hope of purchasing the same security at a later date at a lower price. The Fund may also enter into a short position through a forward commitment or a short derivative position through a futures contract or swap agreement. If the price of the security or derivative has increased during this time, then the Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short position was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. Therefore, short positions involve the risk that losses may be exaggerated, potentially losing more money than the actual cost of the investment. The Fund's

 

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losses are potentially unlimited in a short position transaction because there is potentially no limit on the amount that the security that the Fund is required to purchase may have appreciated. Because the Fund may invest the proceeds of a short sale, another effect of short selling on the Fund is similar to the effect of leverage, in that it amplifies changes in the Fund's net asset value since it increases the exposure of the Fund to the market. Also, there is the risk that the third party to the short position may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Fund.

Sovereign and Quasi-Sovereign Debt Risk

An investment in sovereign and quasi sovereign debt obligations involves special risks not present in corporate debt obligations. Sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt securities are issued or guaranteed by a sovereign government or entity affiliated with or backed by a sovereign government. The issuer of the sovereign or quasi sovereign debt that controls the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due, and the Fund may have limited recourse in the event of a default. In addition, these investments are subject to risk of payment delays or defaults due to (1) country cash flow problems, (2) insufficient foreign currency reserves, (3) political considerations, (4) large debt positions relative to the country's economy, (5) policies toward foreign lenders or investors, (6) the failure to implement economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies, or (7) an inability or unwillingness to repay debts. It may be particularly difficult to enforce the rights of debt holders in frontier and emerging markets. A governmental entity that defaults on an obligation may request additional time in which to pay or further loans or may seek to restructure its obligations to reduce interest rates or outstanding principal. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging and frontier markets issuers, which are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt. Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis, which has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness.

Supranational Risk

Supranational organizations are entities designated or supported by a government or governmental group to promote economic development. Supranational organizations have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal. Further, the lending activities of such entities are limited to a percentage of their total capital, reserves and net income. Obligations of supranational entities are subject to the risk that the governments on whose support the entity depends for its financial backing or repayment may be unable or unwilling to provide that support. Obligations of a supranational entity that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies, as described above in the section ''Currency Risk.''

Unrated Securities Risk

Because the Fund may purchase securities that are not rated by any rating organization, the sub-advisor may internally assign ratings to certain of those securities, after assessing their credit quality, in categories of those similar to those of rating organizations.  Investing in unrated securities involves the risk that the sub-advisor may not accurately evaluate the security's comparative credit rating.  To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated securities, the Fund's success in achieving its investment objective may depend more heavily on the sub-advisors' credit analysis than if the Fund invested exclusively in rated securities.  Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may be difficult to value, which means the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price.

U.S. Government Securities and Government-Sponsored Enterprises Risk

A security backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States is only guaranteed by the applicable entity only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. The market prices for such securities are not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Investments in securities issued by government-sponsored enterprises are debt obligations issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government.  These obligations vary in the level of support they receive from the U.S. Government.  They may be: (i) supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, such as those of the Government National Mortgage Association (''Ginnie Mae''); (ii) supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Farm Credit Banks; (iii) supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency obligations, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") or (iv) supported only by the credit of the issuer, such as those of the Federal Farm Credit Bureau.  The U.S. Government may choose not to provide financial support to U.S. Government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities if it is not legally obligated to do so.  In such circumstances, if the issuer defaulted, the Fund may not be able to recover its investment from the U.S. Government.  Like all bonds, U.S. Government securities and Government-sponsored enterprise bonds are also subject to credit risk.

Valuation Risk

This is the risk that the Fund has valued certain securities at a price different from the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments, such as derivatives, which may be illiquid or which may become illiquid and for securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market conditions make it difficult to value some investments, the Fund may value these investments using more subjective methods, such as fair value methodologies. The value of foreign securities, certain fixed income securities and currencies, as applicable, may be materially affected by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded, but before the Fund determines its NAV.

Variable and Floating Rate Securities Risk

The interest rates payable on certain fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. The interest rate on a floating rate security is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or Treasury bill rate. Additionally, such securities are subject to interest rate risk and may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is a delay between changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation, or for other reasons. As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable on variable and floating rate securities typically should decrease. Alternatively, during periods of increasing interest rates, changes in the interest rates of variable and floating rate securities may lag behind changes in market rates or may have limits on the maximum increases in interest rates. The value of variable and floating rate securities may decline if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, variable and floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline. Variable and floating rate securities are less effective at locking in a particular yield and are subject to credit risk.

Additional Information About Performance Benchmarks

The Fund's annual total return has been compared to the BofA Merrill Lynch 3 Month LIBOR Constant Maturity Index. Set forth below is additional information regarding the index to which the Fund's performance is compared.

 

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The BofA Merrill Lynch 3 Month LIBOR Constant Maturity Index tracks the performance of a synthetic asset paying LIBOR to a stated maturity. The index is based on the assumed purchase at par of a synthetic instrument having exactly its stated maturity and with a coupon equal to that day's fixing rate. That issue is assumed to be sold the following business day (at a yield equal to the current day fixing rate) and rolled into a new instrument.

Source BofA Merrill Lynch, used with permission. BOFA MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE BOFA MERRILL LYNCH INDICES AND RELATED DATA "AS IS," MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE SUITABILITY, QUALITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, AND/OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED IN, RELATED TO, OR DERIVED THEREFROM, ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE, AND DOES NOT SPONSOR, ENDORSE, OR RECOMMEND American Beacon GLG Total Return Fund.

 

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Fund Management

The Manager

AMERICAN BEACON ADVISORS, INC. (the "Manager") serves as the Manager and administrator of the Fund(s). The Manager, located at 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Holdings, LLC, which is owned primarily by Kelso Investment Associates VIII, L.P., KEP VI, LLC and Estancia Capital Partners L.P.

The Manager was organized in 1986 to provide investment management, advisory, and administrative services. The Manager is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Manager, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice claiming the CFTC Regulation 4.5 exclusion from registration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act and the Manager is exempt from registration as a commodity trading advisor under CFTC Regulation 4.14(a)(8) with respect to the Fund.

The Fund's Management Agreement with the Manager provides for the Fund to pay the Manager an annualized management fee based on a percentage of the Fund's average daily assets that is calculated and accrued daily according to the following schedule:

First $5 billion

0.350%

Next $5 billion

0.325%

Next $10 billion

0.300%

Over $20 billion

0.275%

The Manager also may receive up to 25% of the net monthly income generated from the Fund's securities lending activities as compensation for oversight of the Fund's securities lending program, including the securities lending agent, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Currently. The Manager currently receives 10% of any such income. The SEC has granted exemptive relief that permits the Fund to invest cash collateral received from securities lending transactions in shares of one or more private or registered investment companies managed by the Manager.  As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund does not intend to engage in securities lending activities.

A discussion of the Board's consideration and approval of the Management Agreement between the Fund and the Manager and the Investment Advisory Agreement among the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, the sub-advisor and the Manager will be available in the Fund's annual report for the period ended October 31, 2016.

The Manager has contractually agreed from time to time to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses for the Fund in order to maintain competitive expense ratios for the Fund. The Board has approved a policy whereby the Manager may seek repayment for any contractual or voluntary fee waivers or expense reimbursements if reimbursement to the Manager (a) occurs within three years after the Manager's own waiver or reimbursement and (b) does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of a class to exceed the contractual percentage limit.

The Sub-Advisor

Set forth below is a brief description of the sub-advisor and the portfolio managers with primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund. The Fund's SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including other accounts they manage, their ownership in the Fund and their compensation.

GLG LLC ("GLG") 452 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor New York, NY 10018, is an investment advisory firm formed in April 2002. GLG is a limited liability company that is directly owned by Man Litchfield, Inc. Man Litchfield is a wholly owned subsidiary of Man Investments Holdings, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Man Group plc, the ultimate parent company of GLG. As of September 30, 2015, Man Group Plc had assets under management totaling approximately $76.8 billion.

The Investment Advisory Agreement among the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, the Manager and the sub-advisor provides for the Fund to pay the sub-advisor an annualized investment advisory fee based on a percentage of the Fund's average daily assets that is calculated and accrued daily according to the following schedule:

American Beacon GLG Total Return Fund

First $500 million

0.60%

$500 million to $1 billion

0.55%

Over $1 billion

0.50%

Guillermo Ossés, Head of Emerging Markets Debt Strategies at Man GLG, will be responsible for managing the Fund.  Prior to joining Man GLG, Mr. Ossés was a Managing Director and Head of Emerging Markets Debt Portfolios at HSBC Asset Management with responsibility for all Global Emerging Markets Debt portfolios. Prior to joining HSBC in January 2011, Mr. Ossés was a senior emerging markets fixed income portfolio manager at Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC from 2006-2011.

Valuation of Shares

The price of the Fund's shares is based on its NAV per share. The Fund's NAV is computed by adding total assets, subtracting all of the Fund's liabilities, and dividing the result by the total number of shares outstanding.

The NAV of each class of the Fund's shares is determined based on a pro rata allocation of the Fund's investment income, expenses and total capital gains and losses. The Fund's NAV per share is determined each business day as of the scheduled close of trading of the New York Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE''), which is typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.  However, if the NYSE has an early unscheduled close, the Fund's share price typically would still be determined as of the scheduled close of trading of the NYSE on that day. Foreign exchanges may permit trading in foreign securities on days when the Fund is not open for business, which may result in the Fund's portfolio investments being affected when you are unable to buy or sell shares.

Equity securities and certain derivative instruments that are traded on an exchange are valued based on market value. Derivative instruments usually are valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service. In some cases, the price of debt securities is determined using quotes obtained from brokers. Investments in other mutual funds are valued at the closing NAV per share of the mutual funds on the day of valuation. Equity securities, including shares of closed-end funds and ETFs, are valued at the last sale price or official closing price.

 

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The valuation of securities traded on foreign markets and certain fixed income securities will generally be based on prices determined as of the earlier closing time of the markets on which they primarily trade, unless a significant event has occurred. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will normally use the currency exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Securities may be valued at fair value, as determined in good faith and pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, under certain limited circumstances. For example, fair value pricing will be used when market quotations are not readily available or reliable, as determined by the Manager, such as when (i) trading for a security is restricted or stopped; (ii) a security's trading market is closed (other than customary closings); or (iii) a security has been de-listed from a national exchange. A security with limited market liquidity may require fair value pricing if the Manager determines that the available price does not reflect the security's true market value. In addition, if a significant event that the Manager determines to affect the value of one or more securities held by the Fund occurs after the close of a related exchange but before the determination of the Fund's NAV, fair value pricing may be used on the affected security or securities. 

Attempts to determine the fair value of securities introduce an element of subjectivity to the pricing of securities. As a result, the price of a security determined through fair valuation techniques may differ from the price quoted or published by other sources and may not accurately reflect the market value of the security when trading resumes. If a reliable market quotation becomes available for a security formerly valued through fair valuation techniques, the Manager compares the new market quotation to the fair value price to evaluate the effectiveness of the Funds' fair valuation procedures. If any significant discrepancies are found, the Manager may adjust the Funds' fair valuation procedures. You may view the Fund's most recent NAV per share at www.americanbeaconfunds.com by clicking on ''Quick Links'' and then ''Daily NAVs.''

 

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About Your Investment

Choosing Your Share Class

Each share class of the Fund represents an investment in the same portfolio of securities for the Fund, but each class has its own sales charge and expense structure, allowing you to choose the class that best fits your situation.

Factors you should consider when choosing a class of shares include:

How long you expect to own the shares;

How much you intend to invest;

Total expenses associated with owning shares of each class;

Whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges;

Whether you plan to take any distributions in the near future; and

Availability of share classes.

Each investor's financial considerations are different. You should speak with your financial adviser to help you decide which share class is best for you.

The Fund offers various classes of shares. Each class has a different combination of purchase restrictions, sales charges and ongoing fees, allowing you to choose the class that best meets your needs. The following table and sections explain the sales charges or other fees you may pay when investing in each class.

Share Class

Minimum Initial Investment

Initial Sales Charge

Deferred Sales Charge

Annual 12b-1 Fee

Annual Shareholder Servicing Fee

A

$2,500

Up to 4.75%: may be reduced, waived or deferred for large purchases or certain investors. See A Class Charges and Waivers below.

0.50% on redemptions within 18 months of purchasing $1,000,000 or more of A Class shares

Up to 0.25% of average daily assets

Up to 0.25% of average daily assets

C

$1,000

None

1% on redemptions within 12 months of purchasing shares

Up to 1% of average daily assets

Up to 0.25% of average daily assets

Investor

$2,500

None

None

None

Up to 0.375% of average daily assets

Y

$100,000

None

None

None

Up to 0.10% of average daily assets

Institutional

$250,000

None

None

None

None

Ultra

$500,000,000

None

None

None

None

A Class Charges and Waivers

The table below shows the amount of sales charges you will pay on purchases of A Class shares of the Funds both as a percentage of offering price and as a percentage of the amount you invest. The sales charge differs depending upon the amount you invest and may be reduced or eliminated for larger purchases as indicated below. If you invest more, the sales charge will be lower.

Any applicable sales charge will be deducted directly from your investment. Because of rounding of the calculation in determining the sales charges, you may pay more or less than what is shown in the table below. Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to a front-end sales charge. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge or the sales charge may be waived as described below in ''A Class Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers.''

 

Amount of Sale/ Account Value

As a % Offering Price

As a % Investment

Dealer Commission as a % of Offering Price

Less than $50,000

4.75%

4.99%

4.00%

$50,000 but less than $100,000

4.25%

4.44%

3.50%

$100,000 but less than $250,000

3.50%

3.63%

2.75%

$250,000 but less than $500,000

2.75%

2.83%

2.05%

$500,000 but less than $1 million

2.00%

2.04%

1.50%

$1 million and above

0.00%

0.00% 

 

No initial sales charge applies on purchases of $1,000,000 or more. A CDSC of 0.50% of the offering price will be charged on purchases of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed in whole or in part within eighteen (18) months of purchase.

See ''Dealer Concessions on A Class Purchases Without a Front-End Sales Charge''.

Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the ''Distributor'') retains any portion of the commissions that are not paid to financial intermediaries to solely pay distribution-related expenses.

A Class Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers

A shareholder may qualify for a waiver or reduction in sales charges under certain circumstances. To receive a waiver or reduction in your A Class sales charge, you must advise the Fund's transfer agent, your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary of your eligibility at the time of purchase. If you or your financial intermediary do not let the Fund's transfer agent know that you are eligible for a reduction, you may not receive a sales charge discount to which you are otherwise entitled.

 

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Waiver of Sales Charges

There is no sales charge if you invest $1 million or more in A Class shares.

Sales charges also may be waived for certain shareholders or transactions, such as:

The Manager or its affiliates;

Present and former directors, trustees, officers, employees of the Manager, the Manager's parent company, and the Trust (and their ''immediate family'' as defined in the SAI), and retirement plans established by them for their employees;

Registered representatives or employees of intermediaries that have selling agreement with the Fund;

Shares acquired through merger or acquisition;

Insurance company separate accounts;

Employer-sponsored retirement plans;

Dividend reinvestment programs;

Purchases through certain fee-based programs under which investors pay advisory fees that may be offered through selected registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other financial intermediaries;

Shareholders that purchase the Fund through a financial intermediary that offers our A Class shares uniformly on a ''no load'' (or reduced load) basis to you and all similarly situated customers of the intermediary in accordance with the intermediary's prescribed fee schedule for purchases of fund shares; and

Reinvestment of proceeds within 90 days of a redemption from A Class account (see Redemption Policies for more information).

The availability of A Class sales charge waivers may depend upon the policies, procedures, and trading platform of your financial intermediary.

Reduced Sales Charges

Under a ''Rights of Accumulation Program,'' a ''Letter of Intent'' or through ''Concurrent Purchases'' you may be eligible to buy A Class shares of the Fund at the reduced sales charge rates that would apply to a larger purchase. The Fund reserves the right to modify or to cease offering these programs at any time.

This information is available, free of charge, on the Fund's website, www.americanbeaconfunds.com or call (800) 658-5811 or consult with your financial advisor.

Dealer Concessions on A Class Purchases Without a Front-End Sales Charge

Brokers who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1,000,000 or more of A Class shares of the Fund may receive a dealer concession from the Fund's Distributor of 0.50% of the offering price. If a client or broker is unable to provide account verification on purchases of $1,000,000 or more, the dealer concession will be forfeited by the broker and front-end sales loads will apply. Dealer concessions will not be paid on shares purchased by exchange or shares that were previously subject to a front-end sales charge or dealer concession. Dealer concessions will be paid only on eligible purchases where the applicability of the CDSC can be monitored. Purchases eligible for sales charge waivers as described under ''A Class Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers'' are not eligible for dealer concessions on purchases of $1,000,000 or more.

Rights of Accumulation Program

Under the Rights of Accumulation Program, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by aggregating all of your investments held in certain accounts (''Qualified Accounts''). The following Qualified Accounts holding any share class of the American Beacon Funds may be grouped together to qualify for the reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:

Accounts owned by you, your spouse or your minor children under the age of 21, including trust or other fiduciary accounts in which you, your spouse or your minor children are the beneficiary;

Uniform transfer or gift to minor accounts (''UTMA/UGTMA'');

Individual retirement accounts (''IRAs''), including traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs; and

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts or qualified 529 plans.

A fiduciary can apply a right of accumulation to all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other fiduciary account that has multiple accounts.

You must notify your financial intermediary or the Fund's transfer agent, in the case of shares held directly with the Fund, at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program. In addition, you must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your qualification. You may combine the historical cost or current value, as of the day prior to your additional American Beacon Funds' purchase (whichever is higher) of your existing American Beacon Funds' mutual fund with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. Historical cost is the price you actually paid for the shares you own, plus your reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. If you are using historical cost to qualify for a reduced sales charge, you should retain any records to substantiate your historical costs since the Fund, its transfer agent or your financial intermediary may not maintain this information.

If your shares are held through financial intermediaries and/or in a retirement account (such as a 401(k) or employee benefit plan), you may combine the current NAV of your existing American Beacon Funds mutual fund investment with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. You or your financial intermediary must notify the Funds' transfer agent at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge and provide copies of account statements dated within three months of your current purchase verifying your qualification.

Upon receipt of the above referenced supporting documentation, the financial intermediary or the Fund's transfer agent will calculate the combined value of all of your Qualified Accounts to determine if the current purchase is eligible for a reduced sales charge. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with purchases for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.

Letter of Intent

If you plan to invest at least $50,000 (excluding any reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions) during the next 13 months in any class of the Fund, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge for purchases of A Class shares by completing the Letter of Intent section of your account application.

A Letter of Intent indicates your intent to purchase at least $50,000 in any class of the American Beacon Funds over the next 13 months in exchange for a reduced A Class sales charge indicated on the above tables. The minimum initial investment under a Letter of Intent is $2,500. You are not obligated to purchase additional shares if you complete a Letter of Intent. However, if you do not buy enough shares to qualify for the projected level of sales charge by the end of the 13-month period (or when you sell your shares, if earlier), your sales charge will be recalculated to reflect your actual purchase level. During the

 

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term of the Letter of Intent, shares representing 5% of your intended purchase will be held in escrow. If you do not purchase enough shares during the 13- month period to qualify for the projected reduced sales charge, the additional sales charge will be deducted from your account. If you have purchased shares of any American Beacon mutual fund within 90 days prior to signing a Letter of Intent, they may be included as part of your intended purchase, however, previous purchase transactions will not be recalculated with the proposed new breakpoint. You must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your purchases within the past 90 days.

Concurrent Purchases

You may combine simultaneous purchases in shares of any of the American Beacon Funds to qualify for a reduced charge.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (''CDSC'') — A Class Shares

Unless a waiver applies, investors who purchase $1,000,000 or more of A Class shares of the Fund (and, thus, pay no initial sales charge) will be subject to a 0.50% CDSC if those shares are redeemed within 18 months after they are purchased. The CDSC does not apply if you are otherwise eligible to purchase A Class shares without an initial sales charge or are eligible for one of the waivers described herein or in the SAI.

CDSC— C Class Shares

If you redeem C Class shares within 12 months of purchase, you may be charged a CDSC of 1%. The CDSC generally will be deducted from your redemption proceeds. In some circumstances, you may be eligible for one of the waivers described herein or in the SAI. You must advise the transfer agent of your eligibility for a waiver when you place your redemption request.

How CDSCs will be Calculated

The amount of the CDSC will be based on the NAV of the redeemed shares at the time of the redemption or the original NAV, whichever is lower. Because of the rounding of the calculation in determining the CDSC, you may pay more or less than the indicated rate. Your CDSC holding period is based upon the date of your purchase. The CDSCs will be deducted from the proceeds of your redemption, not from amounts remaining in your account. A CDSC is not imposed on any increase in NAV over the initial purchase price or shares you received through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions.

To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you place a request to sell shares, the Fund will redeem your shares in the following order:

shares acquired by the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions;

other shares that are not subject to the CDSC;

shares held the longest during the holding period.

Waiver of CDSCs — A and C Class Shares

A shareholder may qualify for a CDSC waiver under certain circumstances. To have your CDSC waived, you must advise the Fund's transfer agent, your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary of your eligibility at the time of redemption. If you or your financial intermediary do not let the Fund's transfer agent know that you are eligible for a waiver, you may not receive a waiver to which might otherwise be otherwise entitled.

The CDSC may be waived if:

The redemption is due to a shareholder's death or post-purchase disability;

The redemption is from a systematic withdrawal plan and represents no more than 10% of your annual account value;

The redemption is a benefit payment made from a qualified retirement plan, unless the redemption is due to the termination of the plan or the transfer of the plan to another financial institution;

The redemption is for a mandatory withdrawal from a traditional IRA after age 701/2;

The redemption is due to involuntary redemptions by the Fund as a result of your account not meeting the minimum balance requirements, the termination and liquidation of the Fund, or other actions;

The redemption is from accounts for which the broker-dealer of record has entered into a written agreement with the Distributor (or Manager) allowing this waiver;

The redemption is to return excess contributions made to a retirement plan; or

The redemption is to return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.

The SAI contains further details about the CDSC and the conditions for waiving the CDSC.

Information regarding CDSC waivers for A and C Class shares is available, free of charge, on the Fund's website. Please visit www.americanbeaconfunds.com. You may also call (800) 658-5811 or consult with your financial advisor.

Purchase and Redemption of Shares

Eligibility

The A Class, C Class, Y Class, Institutional Class, Investor Class, and Ultra Class shares offered in this Prospectus are available to eligible investors who meet the minimum initial investment. American Beacon Funds do not accept accounts registered to foreign individuals or entities, including foreign correspondent accounts. The Fund does not conduct operations and is not offered for purchase outside of the United States.

Subject to your eligibility, you may invest in the Fund directly or through intermediary organizations, such as broker-dealers, insurance companies, plan sponsors, third party administrators, and retirement plans.

If you invest directly with the Fund, the fees and policies with respect to the Fund's shares that are outlined in this Prospectus are set by the Fund. The Manager and the Fund are not responsible for determining the suitability of the Fund or share class for any investor.

Because in most cases it is more advantageous for investors using an intermediary to purchase A Class shares than C Class shares for amounts of $1,000,000 or more, the Fund will decline a request to purchase C Class shares for $1,000,000 or more.

If you invest through a financial intermediary, most of the information you will need for managing your investment will come from your financial intermediary. This includes information on how to buy, sell and exchange shares of the Fund. If you establish an account through a financial intermediary, the investment minimums described in this section may not apply. Investors investing in the Fund through a financial intermediary should consult with their financial intermediary to ensure they obtain any proper ''breakpoint'' discount and regarding the differences between available share classes. Your broker-dealer or

 

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financial intermediary also may charge fees that are in addition to those described in this Prospectus. Please contact your intermediary for information regarding investment minimums, how to purchase and redeem shares and applicable fees.

Minimum Initial Investment by Share Class

New Account

Existing Account

Share Class

Minimum

Purchase/Redemption Minimum by check/ACH/Exchange

Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Wire

C

$1,000

$50

$ 250

A; Investor

$2,500

$50

$ 250

Y

$100,000

$50

None

Institutional

$250,000

$50

None

Ultra

$500,000,000

$50

None

Investor Class shares are also available to traditional IRA and Roth IRA shareholders investing directly in the Fund. The minimum investment is $2,500.

The Manager may allow a reasonable period of time after opening an account for a Y Class or Institutional Class investor to meet the initial investment requirement. In addition, for investors such as trust companies and financial advisors who make investments for a group of clients, the minimum initial investment can be met through an aggregated purchase order for more than one client.

Opening an Account

You may open an account through your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information on how to open an account. Shares you purchase through your broker dealer will normally be held in your account with that firm.

To open an account directly with the Fund, a completed, signed application is required.  You may obtain an account application from the Fund's website www.americanbeaconfunds.com or by calling 1-800-658-5811.   Institutional shareholders should call 1-800-967-9009.

Complete the application, sign it and send it:

 

Regular Mail to:
American Beacon Funds
P.O. Box 219643
Kansas City, MO 64121-9643
(or institutional shareholders may fax to)
(816) 374-7408

For Overnight Delivery:
American Beacon Funds
c/o BFDS
330 West 9th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
(800) 658-5811

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, you will be asked for information that will allow the Fund or your financial institution to identify you. Non-public corporations and other entities may be required to provide articles of incorporation, trust or partnership agreements, and Social Security or other taxpayer identification numbers on the account or other documentation. The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

The Fund reserves the right to liquidate a shareholder's account at the current day's NAV and remit proceeds via check if the Fund or a financial institution are unable to verify the shareholder's identity within three days of account opening.

Purchase Policies

Shares of the Fund are offered and purchase orders are typically accepted until 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or the close of the NYSE (whichever comes first) on each day on which the NYSE is open for business. If a purchase order is received by the Fund in good order prior to the Fund's deadline, the purchase price will be the NAV per share next determined on that day, plus any applicable sales charges. If a purchase order is received in good order after the applicable deadline, the purchase price will be the NAV per share of the following day that the Fund is open for business plus any applicable sales charge.  Shares of the Fund will only be issued against full payment, as described more fully in this Prospectus and SAI.

The Fund has authorized certain third party financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, insurance companies, third party administrators and trust companies, to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund and to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. The Fund is deemed to have received such orders when they are received by the financial intermediaries or their designees. Thus, an order to purchase or sell Fund shares will be priced at the Fund's next determined NAV after receipt by the financial intermediary or its designee. It is the responsibility of your broker-dealer or financial intermediary to transmit orders that will be received by the Fund in proper form and in a timely manner.

Fund shares may be purchased only in U.S. States and Territories in which they can be legally sold. Prospective investors should inquire as to whether shares of the Fund are available for offer and sale in their jurisdiction. The Fund reserves the right to refuse purchases if, in the judgment of the Fund, the transaction would adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund has the right to reject any purchase order or cease offering any or all classes of shares at any time. Checks to purchase shares are accepted subject to collection at full face value in U.S. funds and must be drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. bank. The Fund will not accept ''starter'' checks, credit card checks, money orders, cashier's checks, or third party checks.

If your payment is not received and collected, your purchase may be canceled and you could be liable for any losses or fees the Fund or the Manager has incurred.

Under applicable anti-money laundering regulations and other federal regulations, purchase orders may be suspended, restricted or canceled and the monies may be withheld.

Please refer to the section titled ''Frequent Trading and Market Timing'' for information on the Fund's policies regarding frequent purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.

Redemption Policies

If you purchased shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary, please contact your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary to sell shares of the Fund.

 

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The redemption price will be the NAV next determined after a redemption request is received in good order, minus any applicable CDSC and/or redemption fees. In order to receive the redemption price calculated on a particular business day, redemption requests must be received in good order by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or by the close of the NYSE (whichever comes first).

Wire proceeds from redemption requests received in good order by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time or by the close of the NYSE (whichever comes first) generally are transmitted to shareholders on the next day the Fund is open for business. In any event, proceeds from a redemption request will typically be transmitted to a shareholder by no later than seven days after the receipt of a redemption request in good order. Delivery of proceeds from shares purchased by check or pre-authorized automatic investment may be delayed until the funds have cleared, which may take up to ten days.

You may, within 90 days of redemption, reinvest all or part of the proceeds of your redemption of A or C Class shares of the Fund, without incurring any applicable additional sales charge, in the same class of another American Beacon Fund, by sending a written request and a check to your financial intermediary or directly to the Fund. Reinvestment must be into the same account from which you redeemed the shares or received the distribution. Proceeds from a redemption and all dividend payments and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption or distribution was made. Reinvestment will be at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your request. You must notify the Fund and your financial intermediary at the time of investment if you decide to exercise this privilege.

The Fund reserves the right to suspend redemptions or postpone the date of payment for more than seven days (i) when the NYSE is closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) when trading on the NYSE is restricted; (iii) when the SEC determines that an emergency exists so that disposal of the Fund's investments or determination of its NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) by order of the SEC for protection of the Fund's shareholders.

Although the Fund intends to redeem shares in cash, the Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of securities or other assets held by the Fund. To the extent that the Fund redeems its shares in this manner, the shareholder assumes the risk of a subsequent change in the market value of those securities, the cost of liquidating the securities and the possibility of a lack of a liquid market for those securities.

Please refer to the section titled ''Frequent Trading and Market Timing'' for information on the Fund's policies regarding frequent purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.

Exchange Policies

If you purchased shares of the Fund through your financial intermediary, please contact your financial intermediary to determine if you may take advantage of the exchange policies described in this section and for its policies to effect an exchange. 

Shares of any class of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of the same class of another American Beacon Fund under certain limited circumstances. Shares of any class of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of another class of the same fund under certain limited circumstances.  Since an exchange involves a concurrent purchase and redemption, please review the sections titled ''Purchase Policies'' and ''Redemption Policies'' for additional limitations that apply to purchase and redemptions. There is no front-end sales charge on exchanges between A Class shares of the Fund for A Class shares of another fund. Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC in an exchange to shares of another fund having CDSC however, shares exchanged between funds that impose a CDSC will be charged a CDSC if redeemed within 12 months or 18 months, as applicable, of the purchase of the initial shares.

Before exchanging shares, shareholders should consider how the exchange may affect any CDSC that might be imposed on the subsequent redemption of remaining shares.

If shares were purchased by check, a shareholder must have owned shares of the redeeming fund for at least ten days prior to exchanging out of one fund and into another.

The eligibility and minimum investment requirement must be met for the class into which the shareholder is exchanging. Fund shares may be acquired through exchange only in U.S. states and Territories in which they can be legally sold. The Fund reserves the right to charge a fee and to modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time. The Fund reserves the right to refuse exchange requests if, in the judgment of the Fund, the transaction would adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders.  Please refer to the section titled "Frequent Trading and Market Timing" for information on the Fund's policies regarding frequent purchases, redemptions, and exchanges.  

For federal income tax purposes, the conversion of shares of one share class for shares of a different share class of the Fund will not result in the realization of a capital gain or loss. However, an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of a different American Beacon Fund is considered a sale and a purchase, respectively, and may result in a gain or loss for those purposes. There can be no assurance of any particular tax treatment, however, and you are urged and advised to consult with your own tax advisor regarding a share class conversion or exchange of Fund shares. 

 

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How to Purchase, Redeem or Exchange Shares

If your account is through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, please contact them directly to purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund. Your broker-dealer or financial intermediary can help you open a new account, review your financial needs and formulate long-term investment goals and objectives. Your broker dealer or financial intermediary will transmit your request to the Fund and may charge you a fee for this service. The Fund will not accept a purchase order of $1,000,000 or more for C Class shares if the purchase is known to be on behalf of a single investor (not including dealer "street name" or omnibus accounts). Dealers, other financial intermediaries or fiduciaries purchasing shares for their customers are responsible for determining the suitability of a particular share class for an investor. You should include the following information with any order:

• Your name/account registration

• Your account number

• Type of Transaction requested

• Fund Name and Fund Numbers

• Dollar amount or number of shares

Transactions for direct shareholders are conducted through:

 

Internet

www.americanbeaconfunds.com

Phone

To reach an American Beacon representative call 1-800-658-5811, option 1

Through the Automated Voice Response Service call 1-800-658-5811, option 2 (Investor Class Only)

Mail

American Beacon Funds
PO Box 219643
Kansas City, MO 64121-9643

Overnight Delivery:
American Beacon Funds
c/o BFDS
330 West 9th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

Purchases by Wire:

Send a bank wire to State Street Bank and Trust Co. with these instructions:

ABA# 0110-0002-8; AC-9905-342-3,

Attn: American Beacon Funds

the fund name and fund number, and

shareholder account number and registration.

Redemption Proceeds will be mailed to account of record or transmitted to commercial bank designated on the account application form.

 

New Account

Existing Account

Class

Minimum

Purchase/Redemption Minimum by check/ACH/Exchange

Purchase/Redemption Minimum by Wire

C

$1,000

$50

$250

A, Investor

$2,500

$50

$250

Y

$100,000

$50

None

Institutional

$250,000

$50

None

Ultra

$500,000,000

$50

None

Supporting documents may be required for redemptions by estates, trusts, guardianships, custodians, corporations, and welfare, pension and profit sharing plans. Redemption requests must also include authorized signature(s) of all persons required to sign for the account. Call 1-800-658-5811 for instructions.

To protect the Fund and your account from fraud, a STAMP 2000 Medallion signature guarantee is required for redemption orders:

with a request to send the proceeds to an address or commercial bank account other than the address or commercial bank account designated on the account application,

for an account whose address has changed within the last 30 days if proceeds are sent by check, or

for amounts greater than $100,000.

The Fund only accepts STAMP 2000 Medallion signature guarantees, which may be obtained at participating banks broker-dealers and credit unions. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee. Call 1-800-658-5811 for instructions and further assistance.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its affiliates (at their own expense) may pay compensation to financial intermediaries for shareholder-related services and, if applicable, distribution-related services, including administrative, sub-transfer agency type, recordkeeping and shareholder communication services. For example, compensation may be paid to make Fund shares available to sales representatives and/or customers of a fund supermarket platform or similar program sponsor or for services provided in connection with such fund supermarket platforms and programs.

The amount of compensation paid to different financial intermediaries may differ. The compensation paid to a financial intermediary may be based on a variety of factors, including average assets under management in accounts distributed and/or serviced by the financial intermediary, gross sales by the financial intermediary and/or the number of accounts serviced by the financial intermediary that invest in the Fund. To the extent that the Fund pays any such compensation, it is designed to compensate the financial intermediary for providing services that would otherwise be provided by the Manager, the Fund or its transfer agent. To the extent the Fund affiliate pays such compensation, it would likely include amounts from that affiliate's own resources and constitute what is sometimes referred to as ''revenue sharing.''

 

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Compensation received by a financial intermediary from the Manager or another Fund affiliate may include payments for marketing and/or training expenses incurred by the financial intermediary, including expenses incurred by the financial intermediary in educating (itself and) its salespersons with respect to Fund shares. For example, such compensation may include reimbursements for expenses incurred in attending educational seminars regarding the Fund, including travel and lodging expenses. It may also cover costs incurred by financial intermediaries in connection with their efforts to sell Fund shares, including costs incurred compensating (registered) sales representatives and preparing, printing and distributing sales literature.

Any compensation received by a financial intermediary, whether from the Fund or its affiliate(s), and the prospect of receiving it may provide the financial intermediary with an incentive to recommend the shares of the Fund, or a certain class of shares of the Fund, over other potential investments. Similarly, the compensation may cause financial intermediaries to elevate the prominence of the Fund within its organization by, for example, placing it on a list of preferred funds. You should ask your financial intermediary for details about any such payments it receives from the Manager or the Distributor, or any other fees, expenses, or commissions your financial intermediary may charge you in addition to those disclosed in this Prospectus.

General Policies

If a shareholder's account balance falls below the following minimum levels, the shareholder may be asked to increase the balance.

Share Class

Account Balance

A

$ 2,500

C

$ 1,000

Investor

$ 2,500

Y

$25,000

Institutional

$75,000

Ultra

$250,000,000

If the account balance remains below the applicable minimum account balance after 45 days, the Fund reserves the right to close the account and send the proceeds to the shareholder. IRAs will be charged an annual maintenance fee of $15.00 by the Custodian for maintaining either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. The Fund reserves the authority to modify minimum account balances in its discretion.

A Signature Validation Program (''SVP'') stamp may be required in order to change an account's registration or banking instructions. You may obtain a SVP stamp at participating banks, broker-dealers and credit unions, but not from a notary public. The SVP stamp is analogous to the STAMP 2000 Medallion guarantee in that it is provided at similar institutions. However, it is used only for non-financial transactions.

The following policies apply to instructions you may provide to the Fund by telephone:

The Fund, its officers, trustees, employees, or agents are not responsible for the authenticity of instructions provided by telephone, nor for any loss, liability, cost or expense incurred for acting on them.

The Fund employs procedures reasonably designed to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine.

Due to the volume of calls or other unusual circumstances, telephone redemptions may be difficult to implement during certain time periods.

The Fund reserves the right to:

liquidate a shareholder's account at the current day's NAV and remit proceeds via check if the Fund or a financial institution are unable to verify the shareholder's identity within three business days of account opening,

seek reimbursement from the shareholder for any related loss incurred by the Fund if payment for the purchase of Fund shares by check does not clear the shareholder's bank, and

reject a purchase order and seek reimbursement from the shareholder for any related loss incurred by the Fund if funds are not received by the applicable wire deadline.

A shareholder will not be required to pay a CDSC when the registration for A Class or C Class shares is transferred to the name of another person or entity. The transfer may occur by absolute assignment, gift or bequest, as long as it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a public sale of the shares. When A Class or C Class shares are transferred, any applicable CDSC will continue to apply to the transferred shares and will be calculated as if the transferee had acquired the shares in the same manner and at the same time as the transferring shareholder.

Escheatment

Certain state escheatment laws may require the Fund to turn over your mutual fund account to the state listed in your account registration as abandoned property unless you contact the Fund. Many states have added ‘‘inactivity'' or the absence of customer initiated contact as a component of their rules and guidelines for the escheatment of unclaimed property. These states consider property to be abandoned when there is no shareholder initiated activity on an account for at least three (3) to five (5) years.

Depending on the laws in your jurisdiction, customer initiated contact might be achieved by one of the following methods:

Send a letter to American Beacon Funds via the United States Post Office,

Speak to a Customer Service Representative on the phone after you go through a security verification process. For residents of certain states, contact cannot be made by phone but must be in writing or through the Fund's secure web application.

Access your account through the Fund's secure web application,

Cashing checks that are received and are made payable to the owner of the account.

The Fund, the Manager, and the Transfer Agent will not be liable to shareholders or their representatives for good faith compliance with escheatment laws. To learn more about the escheatment rules for your particular state, please contact your attorney or State Treasurer's and/or Controller's Offices.  If you do not hold your shares directly with the Fund, you should contact your broker-dealer, retirement plan, or other third party intermediary regarding applicable state escheatment laws.

Contact information:

American Beacon Funds
P.O. Box 219643
Kansas City, MO 64121-9643
1-800-658-5811 
www.americanbeaconfunds.com 

 

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Frequent Trading and Market Timing

Frequent trading by Fund shareholders poses risks to other shareholders in the Fund, including (i) the dilution of the Fund's NAV, (ii) an increase in the Fund's expenses, and (iii) interference with the portfolio managers' ability to execute efficient investment strategies. Frequent, short-term trading of Fund shares in an attempt to profit from day-to-day fluctuations in the Fund's NAV is known as market timing.

The Fund's Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures intended to discourage frequent trading and market timing. Shareholders may transact up to one ‘‘round trip'' in the Fund in any rolling 90-day period. A ‘‘round trip'' is defined as two transactions, each in an opposite direction. A round trip may involve either (i) a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed by a redemption or exchange out of the Fund or (ii) a redemption or exchange out of the Fund followed by a purchase or exchange into the Fund. If the Manager detects that a shareholder has exceeded one round trip in the Fund in any rolling 90-day period, the Manager, without prior notice to the shareholder, may prohibit the shareholder from making further purchases of the Fund. In general, the Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order, terminate the exchange privilege, or liquidate the account of any shareholder that the Manager determines has engaged in frequent trading or market timing, regardless of whether the shareholder's activity violates any policy stated in this Prospectus. Additionally, the Manager may in its discretion, reject any purchase or exchange into the Fund from any individual investor, institutional investor, or group whose trading activity could disrupt the management of the Fund or dilute the value of the Fund's shares, including collective trading (e.g. following the advice of an investment newsletter). Such investors may be barred from future purchases of American Beacon Funds.

The round-trip limit does not apply to the following transaction types:

shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions;

systematic purchases and redemptions;

shares redeemed to return excess IRA contributions; or

certain transactions made within a retirement or employee benefit plan, such as payroll contributions, minimum required distributions, loans, and hardship withdrawals, or other transactions that are initiated by a party other than the plan participant.

Financial intermediaries that offer Fund shares, such as broker-dealers, third party administrators of retirement plans, and trust companies, will be asked to enforce the Fund's policies to discourage frequent trading and market timing by investors. However, certain intermediaries that offer Fund shares have informed the Fund that they are currently unable to enforce the Fund's policies on an automated basis. In those instances, the Manager will monitor trading activity of the intermediary in an attempt to detect patterns of activity that indicate frequent trading or market timing by underlying investors. In some cases, intermediaries that offer Fund shares have their own policies to deter frequent trading and market timing that differ from the Fund's policies. The Fund may defer to an intermediary's policies. For more information, please contact the financial intermediary through which you invest in the Fund.

The Manager monitors trading activity in the Fund to attempt to identify shareholders engaged in frequent trading or market timing. The Manager may exclude transactions below a certain dollar amount from monitoring and may change that dollar amount from time to time. The ability of the Manager to detect frequent trading and market timing activity by investors who own shares through an intermediary is dependent upon the intermediary's provision of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors. The Fund has entered into agreements with the intermediaries that service the Fund's investors, pursuant to which the intermediaries agree to provide information on investor transactions to the Fund and to act on the Fund's instructions to restrict transactions by investors who the Manager has identified as having violated the Fund's policies and procedures to deter frequent trading and market timing.

Wrap programs offered by certain intermediaries may be designated ‘‘Qualified Wrap Programs'' by the Fund based on specific criteria established by the Fund and a certification by the intermediary that the criteria have been met. A Qualified Wrap Program is a wrap program whose sponsoring intermediary: (i) certifies that it has investment discretion over $50 million or more in client assets invested in mutual funds at the time of the certification, (ii) certifies that it directs transactions in accounts participating in the wrap program(s) in concert with changes in a model portfolio; (iii) provides the Manager a description of the wrap program(s); and (iv) managed by an intermediary that agrees to provide the Manager sufficient information to identify individual accounts in the intermediary's wrap program(s). For purposes of applying the round-trip limit, transactions initiated by clients invested in a Qualified Wrap Program will not be matched to transactions initiated by the intermediary sponsoring the Qualified Wrap Program. For example, a client's purchase of the Fund followed within 90 days by the intermediary's redemption of the same Fund would not be considered a round trip. However, transactions initiated by a Qualified Wrap Program client are subject to the round-trip limit and will be matched to determine if the client has exceeded the round-trip limit. In addition, the Manager will monitor transactions initiated by Qualified Wrap Program intermediaries to determine whether any intermediary has engaged in frequent trading or market timing. If the Manager determines that an intermediary has engaged in activity that is harmful to the Fund, the Manager will revoke the intermediary's Qualified Wrap Program status. Upon termination of status as a Qualified Wrap Program, all account transactions will be matched for purposes of testing compliance with the Fund's frequent trading and market timing policies, including any applicable redemption fees.

The Fund reserves the right to modify the frequent trading and market timing policies and procedures and grant or eliminate waivers to such policies and procedures at any time without advance notice to shareholders. There can be no assurance that the Fund's policies and procedures to deter frequent trading and market timing will have the intended effect nor that the Manager will be able to detect frequent trading and market timing.

Distributions and Taxes

The Fund distributes most or all of its net earnings in the form of dividends from net investment income ("dividends") on a monthly basis and distributions of realized net capital gains ("capital gain distributions") and net gains from foreign currency transactions (sometimes referred to below collectively as "other distributions") on an annual basis (and dividends and other distributions are sometimes referred to below collectively as "distributions"). Different tax treatment applies to different types of distributions (as described in the table below).

The Fund does not have a fixed dividend rate and does not guarantee that it will pay any distributions in any particular period. Distributions paid by the Fund with respect to each class of shares are calculated in the same manner and at the same time, but dividends on different classes of shares may be different as a result of the services and/or fees applicable to certain classes of shares.

Options for Receiving Dividends and other Distributions

When you open your Fund account, you can specify on your application how you want to receive distributions. To change that option, you must notify the transfer agent. Unless your account application instructs otherwise, distributions payable to you will be reinvested in additional Fund shares of the distributing class. There are four payment options available:

Reinvest All Distributions. You can elect to reinvest all distributions in additional shares of the distributing class of the Fund.

Reinvest Only Some Distributions. You can elect to reinvest some types of distributions in additional shares of the distributing class of the Fund while receiving the other types of distributions by check or having them sent to your bank account by ACH ("in cash").

 

Prospectus – About Your Investment

25


Table of Contents

Receive All Distributions in Cash. You can elect to receive all distributions by check or have them sent to your bank account by ACH.

Reinvest Your Distributions in another American Beacon Fund. You can reinvest all of your distributions in shares of the same class of another American Beacon Fund that is available for exchanges. You must have an existing account in the same share class of the selected fund.

If you invest directly with the Fund, any election to receive distributions payable by check will only apply to distributions totaling $10.00 or more. Any distribution totaling less than $10.00 will be reinvested in Fund shares of the distributing class and will not be paid to you by check. This policy does not apply to you if you have elected to receive distributions that are directly deposited into your bank account by ACH.

If you elect to receive a cash distribution by check and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check, or if your check remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the amount of your check, and to reinvest all subsequent distributions, in shares of the distributing class of the Fund at the NAV on the day of the reinvestment. Interest will not accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.

Shareholders investing in the Fund through a financial intermediary should discuss their options for receiving distributions with the intermediary.

Taxes

Any Fund distributions are taxable to shareholders other than tax-qualified retirement accounts and other tax-exempt investors. However, the portion of the Fund's dividends derived from its investments in U.S. Government obligations, if any, is generally exempt from state and local income taxes. The following table outlines the typical status of transactions in taxable accounts:

Type of Transaction

Federal Tax Status

Dividends from net investment income *

Ordinary income **

Distributions of the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss *

Ordinary income

Distributions of net gains from certain foreign currency transactions *

Ordinary income

Distributions of the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss ("net capital gain'') *

Long-term capital gains

Redemptions or exchanges of shares owned for more than one year

Long-term capital gains or losses

Redemptions or exchanges of shares owned for one year or less

Net gains are taxed at the same rate as ordinary income; net losses are subject to special rules

*

 Whether reinvested or taken in cash.

**

Except for dividends that are attributable to ''qualified dividend income'' (as described below).

To the extent distributions are attributable to net capital gain that the Fund recognizes on sales or exchanges of capital assets, they are subject to a 15% maximum federal income tax rate for individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders (each, an ‘‘individual'') (20% for individuals with taxable income exceeding certain thresholds, which are indexed for inflation annually), regardless of how long the shareholder held his or her Fund shares.

A portion of the dividends the Fund pays to individuals may be ‘‘qualified dividend income'' (‘‘QDI'') and thus eligible for the preferential rates that apply to net capital gain. QDI is the aggregate of dividends the Fund receives on shares of most domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations with respect to which the Fund satisfies certain holding period and other restrictions. To be eligible for those rates, a shareholder must meet similar restrictions with respect to his or her Fund shares.

A portion of the distributions the Fund pays may also be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations ("DRD"), subject to similar holding period and other restrictions, but the eligible portion may not exceed the aggregate dividends the Fund receives from domestic corporations only. However, dividends that a corporate shareholder receives and deducts pursuant to the DRD may be subject indirectly to the federal alternative minimum tax.  The Fund does not expect a substantial part of its dividends to qualify as QDI or be eligible for the DRD.

A shareholder may realize a taxable gain or loss when redeeming or exchanging shares. That gain or loss is treated as a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending on how long the redeemed or exchanged shares were held. Any capital gain an individual shareholder recognizes on a redemption or exchange of Fund shares that have been held for more than one year will qualify for the 15%/20% tax rates mentioned above.

A shareholder who wants to use an acceptable basis determination method with respect to Fund shares he or she acquired or acquires after December 31, 2011 ("Covered Shares") other than the average basis method (the Fund's default method) must elect to do so in writing, which may be electronic. The Fund, or its administrative agent, must report to the Internal Revenue Service and furnish to its shareholders the basis information for dispositions of Covered Shares. See "Tax Information" in the SAI for a description of the rules regarding that election and the Fund's reporting obligation.

An individual must pay a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) the individual's ‘‘net investment income,'' which generally includes distributions the Fund pays and net gains realized on the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, or (2) the excess of the individual's ‘‘modified adjusted gross income'' over a threshold amount ($250,000 for married persons filing jointly and $200,000 for single taxpayers). This tax is in addition to any other taxes due on that income. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding the effect, if any, this tax may have on their investment in Fund shares.

Each year, the Fund's shareholders will receive tax information to assist them in preparing their income tax returns.

The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal income tax considerations that may affect Fund shareholders, who should consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to the effect of federal, state and local income taxes on an investment in the Fund.

 

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Additional Information

The Fund's Board of Trustees oversees generally the operations of the Fund. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including among others, the Fund's manager, sub-advisor, custodian, transfer agent, and accountants, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to any such contractual arrangements and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any shareholder any right to enforce them directly against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them directly against the service providers.

This Prospectus provides information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase Fund shares. Neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information is intended, or should be read, to be or create an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any investor, or to create to any rights in any shareholder or other person other than any rights under federal or state law that may not be waived.

Distribution and Service Plans

The Fund has adopted separate Distribution Plans for its A Class and C Class shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act, which allows the A Class and C Class shares to pay distribution and other fees for the sale of Fund shares and for other services provided to shareholders. Each Plan also authorizes the use of any fees received by the Manager in accordance with the Management Agreements, and any fees received by the sub-advisors pursuant to their Investment Advisory Agreements with the Manager, to be used for the sale and distribution of Fund shares. The Plans provide that the A Class shares of the Fund will pay up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to the A Class, and the C Class shares of the Fund will pay up to 1.00% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to the C Class, to the Manager (or another entity approved by the Board).

The Fund has also adopted a shareholder services plan for its A Class, C Class, Y Class, and Investor Class shares for certain non-distribution shareholder services provided by financial intermediaries. The shareholder services plan authorizes annual payment of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the A Class shares, up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the C Class shares, up to 0.375% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Investor Class shares, and up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Y Class shares of the Fund. Because these distribution and service plan fees are paid out of the Fund's A Class, C Class, Y Class, and Investor Class assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may result in costs higher than other types of sales charges.

Portfolio Holdings

A complete list of the Fund's holdings is made available on the Fund's website on a monthly basis. The holdings information is generally posted to the website approximately twenty days after the end of the month and remains available for six months thereafter. A list of the Fund's ten largest holdings is made available on the Fund's website on a quarterly basis. The ten largest holdings of the Fund is generally posted to the website approximately fifteen days after the end of each calendar quarter and remain available until the next quarter. To access the holdings information, go to www.americanbeaconfunds.com . The Fund's ten largest holdings may also be accessed by selecting a particular Fund's fact sheet.

A description of the Fund's policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of portfolio holdings is available in the Fund's SAI, which you may access on the Fund's website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com or call 1-800-658-5811 to request a free copy.

Delivery of Documents

If you are interested in electronic delivery of the Fund's summary prospectus and shareholder reports, please go to www.americanbeaconfunds.com and click on ‘‘Quick Links'' and then ‘‘Register for E-Delivery.''

To reduce expenses, your financial institution may mail only one copy of the summary prospectus, Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please contact your financial institution. Delivery of individual copies will commence thirty days after receiving your request.

Financial Highlights

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the period of the Fund's operation. Financial highlights are not provided because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.

 

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27


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Additional Information

Additional information about the Fund is found in the documents listed below. Request a free copy of these documents by calling 1-800-658-5811 or you may access them on the Fund's website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com.

Annual Report/Semi-Annual Report

The Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports list the Fund's actual investments as of the report's date. They also include a discussion by the Manager of market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance. The report of the Fund's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm will be included in the Annual Report. Reports will be available approximately 60 days after the Fund passes its first annual and semi-annual reporting periods.

Statement of Additional Information (''SAI'')

The SAI contains more details about the Fund and its investment policies. The SAI is incorporated in this prospectus by reference (it is legally part of this prospectus). A current SAI is on file with the SEC.

To obtain more information about the Fund or to request a copy of the documents listed above:

By Telephone:

Call
1-800-658-5811

By Mail:

American Beacon Funds
P.O. Box 219643
Kansas City, MO 64121-9643

By E-mail:

americanbeaconfunds@ambeacon.com

On the Internet:

Visit our website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com
Visit the SEC website at www.sec.gov

The SAI and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic mail to publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. The SAI and other information about the Fund may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room. Information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090.

 

American Beacon is a registered service mark of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. The American Beacon Funds and American Beacon GLG Total Return Fund are service marks of American Beacon Advisors, Inc.



SEC File Number 811-04984

   
 

The information in this statement of additional information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This statement of additional information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

American Beacon FundsSM

Statement of Additional Information
 xx xx, 20xx

Share Class

A

C

Y

Investor

Ultra

American Beacon GLG Total Return Fund

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xxxx

This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated xx xx, 20xx (the "Prospectus") for the American Beacon GLG Total Return Fund (the "Fund"), a series of American Beacon Funds, a Massachusetts business trust. Copies of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 658-5811. You also may obtain copies of the Prospectus without charge by visiting the Fund's website at www.americanbeaconfunds.com. This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Fund's Prospectus. In other words, it is legally a part of the Prospectus. This SAI is not a prospectus and is authorized for distribution to prospective investors only if preceded or accompanied by a current Prospectus.  Capitalized terms in this SAI have the same definition as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise defined.

The Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date hereof. Accordingly, financial statements for the Fund are not available. Copies of the Fund's Annual Report may be obtained when available, without charge, upon request by calling (800) 658-5811 or visiting www.americanbeaconfunds.com.


Table of Contents

Organization and History of the Fund

1

Additional Information About Investment Strategies and Risks

1

Other Investment Strategies and Risks

19

Investment Restrictions

19

Temporary Defensive Investments

20

Portfolio Turnover

20

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

21

Lending of Portfolio Securities

22

Trustees and Officers of the Trust

22

Code of Ethics

28

Proxy Voting Policies

28

Control Persons and 5% Shareholders

28

Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements

28

Management, Administrative and Distribution Services

28

Other Service Providers

30

Portfolio Managers

30

Portfolio Securities Transactions

31

Additional Purchase and Sale Information for A Class Shares

31

Additional Information Regarding Contingent Deferred Sales Charges

33

Redemptions in Kind

34

Tax Information

34

Description of the Trust

37

Financial Statements

38

Appendix A: Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures for the Trust

39

Appendix B: Proxy Voting Policies Investment Sub-Advisor

41

Appendix C: Ratings Definitions

46


ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY OF THE FUND

The Fund is a separate series of the American Beacon Funds (the "Trust"), an open- end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 16, 1987. The Fund constitutes a separate investment portfolio with a distinct investment objective and distinct purpose and strategy. The Fund is non-diversified. The Fund is comprised of multiple classes of shares designed to meet the needs of different groups of investors. This SAI relates to the A Class, C Class, Y Class, Institutional Class, Investor Class, and Ultra Class shares of the Fund.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

The investment objective and principal investment strategies and risks of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. This section contains additional information about the Fund's investment policies and risks and types of investments the Fund may purchase. The composition of the Fund's portfolio and the strategies that the Fund may use in selecting investments may vary over time. The Fund is not required to use all of the investment strategies described below in pursuing its investment objectives. It may use some of the investment strategies only at some times or it may not use them at all.

Bank Obligations — Bank obligations in which the Fund may invest include certificates of deposit, unsecured bank promissory notes, bankers' acceptances, fixed time deposits and other debt obligations. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bank deposit notes are obligations of a bank, rather than bank holding company corporate debt. The only structural difference between bank deposit notes and certificates of deposit is that interest on bank deposit notes is calculated on a 30/360 basis, as are corporate notes/bonds. Similar to certificates of deposit, deposit notes represent bank level investments and, therefore, are senior to all holding company corporate debt.

Bankers' acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are "accepted" by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market for such deposits. Bank notes and bankers' acceptances rank junior to domestic deposit liabilities of the bank and pari passu with other senior, unsecured obligations of the bank. Bank notes are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") or any other insurer. Deposit notes are insured by the FDIC to the extent of $250,000 per depositor per bank.

The activities of U.S. banks and most foreign banks are subject to comprehensive regulations which, in the case of U.S. regulations, have undergone substantial changes in the past decade. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operations and profitability of domestic and foreign banks. Significant developments in the U.S. banking industry have included increased competition from other types of financial institutions, increased acquisition activity and geographic expansion. Banks may be particularly susceptible to certain economic factors, such as interest rate changes and adverse developments in the market for real estate. Fiscal and monetary policy and general economic cycles can affect the availability and cost of funds, loan demand and asset quality and thereby impact the earnings and financial conditions of banks.

Callable Securities — The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities with call features. A call feature allows the issuer of the security to redeem or call the security prior to its stated maturity date. In periods of falling interest rates, issuers may be more likely to call in securities that are paying higher coupon rates than prevailing interest rates. In the event of a call, the Fund would lose the income that would have been earned to maturity on that security, and the proceeds received by the Fund may be invested in securities paying lower coupon rates. Thus, the Fund's income could be reduced as a result of a call. In addition, the market value of a callable security may decrease if it is perceived by the market as likely to be called, which could have a negative impact on the Fund's total return.

Cash Equivalents — Cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, time deposits, bearer deposit notes, bankers' acceptances, government obligations, commercial paper, short-term corporate debt securities and repurchase agreements.

Bankers' acceptances are short-term credit instruments designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

Certificates of deposit ("CDs") are issued against funds deposited in an eligible bank (including its domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries and agencies), are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return and are normally negotiable. U.S. dollar denominated CDs issued by banks abroad are known as Eurodollar CDs. CDs issued by foreign branches of U.S. banks are known as Yankee CDs.

Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.

Commercial Paper — The Fund may invest in commercial paper and other short-term notes. Commercial paper refers to promissory notes representing an unsecured debt of a corporation or finance company with a fixed maturity of no more than 270 days. 

A variable amount master demand note (which is a type of commercial paper) represents a direct borrowing arrangement involving periodically fluctuating rates of interest under a letter agreement between a commercial paper issuer and an institutional lender pursuant to which the lender may determine to invest varying amounts.

Common Stock — Common stock generally takes the form of shares in a corporation which represent an ownership interest. It ranks below preferred stock and debt securities in claims for dividends and for assets of the company in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The value of a company's common stock

 

1


Table of Contents

may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or decreased demand for the company's products or services. A stock's value may also decline because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or sector. The price of a company's stock may also be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or industry regulation. Companies that elect to pay dividends on their common stock generally only do so after they invest in their own business and make required payments to bondholders and on other debt and preferred stock. Therefore, the value of a company's common stock will usually be more volatile than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock. Common stock may be exchange-traded or over-the-counter ("OTC"). OTC stock may be less liquid than exchange-traded stock.

Convertible Securities — Convertible securities include corporate bonds, notes, preferred stock or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or dividends paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. While no securities investment is without some risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the issuer's common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. While convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar quality, they do enable the investor to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock. Holders of convertible securities have a claim on the assets of the issuer prior to the common stockholders, but may be subordinated to holders of similar non-convertible securities of the same issuer. Because of the conversion feature, certain convertible securities may be considered equity equivalents.

Corporate Actions — From time to time, the Fund may voluntarily participate in actions (for example, rights offerings, conversion privileges, exchange offers, credit event settlements, etc.) where the issuer or counterparty offers securities or instruments to holders or counterparties, such as the Fund, and the acquisition is determined to be beneficial to Fund shareholders ("Voluntary Action"). Notwithstanding any percentage investment limitation listed under the "Investment Restrictions" section or any percentage investment limitation of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act" or "1940 Act") or rules thereunder, if the Fund has the opportunity to acquire a permitted security or instrument through a Voluntary Action, and the Fund will exceed a percentage investment limitation following the acquisition, it will not constitute a violation if, prior to the receipt of the securities or instruments and after announcement of the offering, the Fund sells an offsetting amount of assets that are subject to the investment limitation in question at least equal to the value of the securities or instruments to be acquired.

Cover and Asset Segregation — The Fund may make investments or employ trading practices that obligate the Fund, on a fixed or contingent basis, to deliver an asset or make a cash payment to another party in the future. The Fund will comply with guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and other applicable regulatory bodies with respect to coverage of certain investments and trading practices. This guidance requires segregation (which may include earmarking) by the Fund of cash or liquid assets with its custodian or a designated sub-custodian to the extent the Fund's obligations with respect to these strategies are not otherwise "covered" through ownership of the underlying security or financial instrument or by offsetting portfolio positions.

For example, if the Fund enters into a currency forward contract to sell foreign currency on a future date, the Fund may cover its obligation to deliver the foreign currency by segregating cash or liquid assets having a value at least equal to the value of the deliverable currency. Alternatively, the Fund could cover its obligation by entering into an offsetting transaction to acquire, on or before the date such foreign currency must be delivered, an amount of foreign currency at least equal to the deliverable amount at a price at or below the sale price to be received by the Fund under the currency forward contract.

The Fund's approach to asset coverage may vary among different types of investments. For example, if the Fund's forward obligation on the transaction is only to make a cash payment equal to the amount, if any, by which the value of the Fund's position is less than that of its counterparty, the Fund will segregate cash or liquidate assets equal to that difference calculated on a daily marked-to-market basis (a "net amount"). Additionally, if the Fund is a protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund, depending on how the credit default swap is settled, usually will segregate assets equal to the full notional value of the swap. If the Fund is protection buyer in a credit default swap, depending on how the credit default swap is settled, it usually will cover the total amount of required premium payments plus the prepayment penalty.

Inasmuch as the Fund covers its obligations under these transactions as described above, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (the "Manager") and the Fund believe such obligations do not constitute senior securities. Earmarking or otherwise segregating a large percentage of the Fund's assets could impede the sub-advisor's ability to manage the Fund's portfolio.

Creditor Liability and Participation on Creditors Committees — When the Fund holds bonds or other similar fixed income securities of an issuer, the Fund becomes a creditor of the issuer. If the Fund is a creditor of an issuer it may be subject to challenges related to the securities that it holds, either in connection with the bankruptcy of the issuer or in connection with another action brought by other creditors of the issuer, shareholders of the issuer or the issuer itself. The Fund may from time to time participate on committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject the Fund to expenses such as legal fees and may make the Fund an "insider" of the issuer for purposes of the federal securities laws, and therefore may restrict such Fund's ability to trade in or acquire additional positions in a particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation on such committees also may expose the Fund to potential liabilities under the federal bankruptcy laws or other laws governing the rights of creditors and debtors.

Currencies Risk — The Fund may have significant exposure to foreign currencies for investment or hedging purposes by making direct investments in non- U.S. currencies or in securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies, purchasing or selling forward currency exchange contracts in non-U.S. or emerging market currencies, non-U.S. currency futures contracts, options on non-U.S. currencies and non-U.S. currency futures and swaps for cross-currency investments.

 

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Foreign currencies may decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and affect the Fund's investments in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies or in securities that trade in, and receive revenues in, or in derivatives that provide exposure to, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies.

Custody Risk — The Fund invests in markets that are less developed than those in the U.S., which may expose the Fund to risks in the process of clearing and settling trades and the holding of securities by foreign banks, agents and depositories. Investments in frontier and emerging markets may be subject to greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets.

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 and its service providers may have become more susceptible to operational and related risks through breaches in cybersecurity. A cybersecurity incident may refer to intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or Fund service providers (including, but not limited to, the Manager, distributor, fund accountants, custodian, transfer agent, sub-advisors, and financial intermediaries) to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. A cybersecurity incident could, among other things, result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, customers or employees being unable to access electronic systems ("denial of services"), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or remediation costs associated with system repairs.

Any of these results could have a substantial adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. For example, if a cybersecurity incident results in a denial of service, Fund shareholders could lose access to their electronic accounts and be unable to buy or sell Fund shares for an unknown period of time, and employees could be unable to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Fund, such as trading, net asset value ("NAV") calculation, shareholder accounting or fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions. Cybersecurity incidents could cause the Fund or Fund service provider to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures, or financial loss of a significant magnitude and could result in allegations that the Fund or Fund service provider violated privacy and other laws. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity incidents affecting issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, counterparties with which the Fund engages in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions and other parties. Although the Fund and its Manager endeavors to determine that service providers have established risk management systems that seek to reduce the risks associated with cybersecurity, and business continuity plans in the event there is a cybersecurity breach, there are inherent limitations in these systems and plans, including the possibility that certain risks may not have been identified, in large part because different or unknown threats may emerge in the future. Furthermore, the Fund does not control the cybersecurity systems and plans of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests or the Fund's third party service providers or trading counterparties or any other service providers whose operations may affect the Fund or its shareholders.

Debentures — Debentures are unsecured debt securities. The holder of a debenture is protected only by the general creditworthiness of the issuer.

Derivatives — Generally a derivative is a financial arrangement, the value of which is based on, or "derived" from, a traditional security, asset, currency, or market index. Some derivatives are in many respects like any other investment, although they may be more volatile or less liquid than more traditional debt securities. There are, in fact, many different types of derivatives and many different ways to use them. The value of certain derivative securities is linked to other equity securities (such as depositary receipts), currencies, interest rates, indices or other financial indicators (reference assets).

The Fund may invest in various types of derivatives, including among others, options (including non-deliverable options), futures, forward currency and other forwards (including non-deliverable forwards), forwards for currency hedges, warrants, structured products (including credit-linked and structured notes), interest rate caps, floors, collars, reverse collars, and credit default swaps. The enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") resulted in historic and comprehensive reform relating to derivatives, including the manner in which they are entered into, reported, recorded, executed, and settled or cleared. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act the SEC and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") have promulgated a broad range of new regulations with respect to security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a single security or narrow-based securities index), which are regulated by the SEC), and other swaps, which are regulated by the CFTC and the markets in which these instruments trade.

Until recently, advisers of registered investment companies, like the Fund, that trade commodity interests (such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, non-deliverable forwards and swaps), have been excluded from regulation as commodity pool operators ("CPOs") pursuant to CFTC Regulation 4.5. In 2012, the CFTC amended Regulation 4.5 to dramatically narrow this exclusion. Under the amended Regulation 4.5 exclusion, in order to rely on the exclusion the Fund's commodity interests – other than those used for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC) – must be limited such that the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are "in-the-money" at the time of purchase) does not exceed 5% of the Fund's NAV, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of the positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, does not exceed 100% of the Fund's NAV (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). Further, to qualify for the exclusion in amended Regulation 4.5, the Fund must satisfy a marketing test, which requires, among other things, that the Fund not hold itself out as a vehicle for trading commodity interests. The Fund's ability to use these instruments also may be limited by tax considerations. See the section entitled "Tax Information."

The Manager has filed a notice claiming the CFTC Regulation 4.5 exclusion from CPO registration, with respect to the Fund.

Derivatives may involve significant risk. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund's initial investment. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty.

Derivatives may be illiquid and may be more volatile than other types of investments. The Fund may buy and sell derivatives that are neither centrally cleared nor traded on an exchange. Such derivatives may be subject to heightened liquidity and valuation risk.

 

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Transactions in derivatives may expose the Fund to an obligation to another party and, as a result, the Fund may need to "cover" the obligation or segregate liquid assets in compliance with SEC guidelines, as discussed above under "Cover and Asset Segregation."

Distressed Investment Risk — The Fund may invest in distressed investments, which are issued by companies that are, or might be, involved in reorganizations or financial restructurings, either out of court or in bankruptcy.  These investments 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 or interest on its portfolio holdings.  In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to an investment, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment.  Among the risks inherent in investments in a troubled issuer is that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true financial condition of the issuer.

Expense Risk — Fund expenses are subject to a variety of factors, including fluctuations in the Fund's net assets. Accordingly, actual expenses may be greater or less than those indicated. For example, to the extent that the Fund's net assets decrease due to market declines or redemptions, the Fund's expenses will increase as a percentage of Fund net assets. During periods of high market volatility, these increases in the Fund's expense ratio could be significant.

Emerging Market Investments — The Fund may invest in the securities and derivatives with exposure to various countries with emerging capital markets. Investments in the securities and derivatives with exposure to countries with emerging capital markets involve significantly higher risks not involved in investments in securities in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or non-existent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities from more developed capital markets, (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments, (iii) possible fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other non-U.S. or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments, (iv) national policies that may limit the Fund's investment opportunities such as restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests, (v) the lack or relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property, and (vi) less diverse or immature economic structures. In addition to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging capital markets may impose differential capital gain taxes on foreign investors.

Such capital markets are emerging in a dynamic political and economic environment brought about by events over recent years that have reshaped political boundaries and traditional ideologies. In such a dynamic environment, there can be no assurance that these capital markets will continue to present viable investment opportunities for the Fund. In the past, governments of such nations have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and most claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such event, it is possible that the Fund could lose the entire value of its investments in the affected markets.

The economies of emerging market countries may be based predominately on only a few industries or may be dependent on revenues from participating commodities or on international aid or developmental assistance, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

Also, there may be less publicly available information about emerging markets than would be available in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. In certain countries with emerging capital markets, reporting standards vary widely. As a result, traditional investment measurements used in the U.S., may not be applicable. Emerging market securities may be substantially less liquid and more volatile than those of mature markets, and securities may be held by a limited number of investors. This may adversely affect the timing and pricing of the Fund's acquisition or disposal of securities.

The laws in certain emerging market countries may be based upon or be highly influenced by religious codes or rules. The interpretation of how these laws apply to certain investments may change over time, which could have a negative impact on those investments and the Fund.

Practices in relation to settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because the Fund may use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable.

The Fund may consider a country to be an emerging market country based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, if the country is classified as an emerging or developing economy by any supranational organization such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation or the United Nations, or related entities, or if the country is considered an emerging market country for purposes of constructing emerging markets indices.

Eastern European and Russian Securities. Investing in the securities of Eastern European and Russian issuers is highly speculative and involves risks not usually associated with investing in the more developed markets of Western Europe. Political and economic reforms are too recent to establish a definite trend away from centrally planned economies and state-owned industries. Investments in Eastern European countries may involve risks of nationalization, expropriation, and confiscatory taxation. Many Eastern European countries continue to move towards market economies at different paces with appropriately different characteristics. Most Eastern European markets suffer from thin trading activity, dubious investor protections, and often a dearth of reliable corporate information. Information and transaction costs, differential taxes, and sometimes political or transfer risk give a comparative advantage to the domestic investor rather than the foreign investor. In addition, these markets are particularly sensitive to social, political, economic, and currency events in Western Europe and Russia and may suffer heavy losses as a result of their trading and investment links to these economies and currencies. Additionally, Russia may attempt to assert its influence in the region through economic or even military measures. The United States and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. These sanctions, or even the threat of further sanctions, may result in the decline of the value and liquidity of Russian securities, a weakening of the ruble or other adverse consequences to the Russian economy. These sanctions could also result in the immediate freeze of Russian securities, either by issuer, sector, or the Russian markets as a whole, impairing the ability of a Portfolio to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities. In such circumstances, the Fund may be forced to liquidate non-restricted assets in order to satisfy shareholder redemptions. Such liquidation of Fund assets could result in the Fund receiving

 

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substantially lower prices for its securities. Sanctions could also result in Russia taking counter measures or retaliatory actions which may further impair the value and liquidity of Russian securities. As a result, the Fund's performance may be adversely affected.

In some of the countries of Eastern Europe, there is no stock exchange or formal market for securities. Such countries may also have government exchange controls, currencies with no recognizable market value relative to the established currencies of Western market economies, little or no experience in trading in securities, no accounting or financial reporting standards, a lack of banking and securities infrastructure to handle such trading and a legal tradition that does not recognize rights in private property. Credit and debt issues and other economic difficulties affecting Western Europe and its financial institutions can negatively affect Eastern European countries.

Eastern European economies may also be particularly susceptible to the international credit market due to their reliance on bank related inflows of foreign capital. The recent global financial crisis restricted international credit supplies and several Eastern European economies faced significant credit and economic crises. Although some Eastern European economies are expanding again, major challenges are still present as a result of their continued dependence on the Western European zone for credit and trade. Accordingly, the European crisis may present serious risks for Eastern European economies, which may have a negative effect on a Portfolio's investments in the region.

Compared to most national stock markets, the Russian securities market suffers from a variety of problems not encountered in more developed markets. There is little long-term historical data on the Russian securities market because it is relatively new and a substantial proportion of securities transactions in Russia are privately negotiated outside of stock exchanges. The inexperience of the Russian securities market and the limited volume of trading in securities in the market may make obtaining accurate prices on portfolio securities from independent sources more difficult than in more developed markets. Additionally, there is little solid corporate information available to investors. As a result, it may be difficult to assess the value or prospects of an investment in Russian companies.

Because of the recent formation of the Russian securities market as well as the underdeveloped state of the banking and telecommunications systems, settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to significant risks not normally associated with securities transactions in the United States and other more developed markets. Prior to 2013, there was no central registration system for equity share registration in Russia and registration was carried out by either the issuers themselves or by registrars located throughout Russia. Such registrars were not necessarily subject to effective state supervision nor were they licensed with any governmental entity, thereby increasing the risk that the Fund could lose ownership of its securities through fraud, negligence, or even mere oversight. With the implementation of the National Settlement Depository ("NSD") in Russia as a recognized central securities depository, title to Russian equities is now based on the records of the Depository and not the registrars. Although the implementation of the NSD is generally expected to decrease the risk of loss in connection with recording and transferring title to securities, issues resulting in loss still might occur. In addition, issuers and registrars are still prominent in the validation and approval of documentation requirements for corporate action processing in Russia. Because the documentation requirements and approval criteria vary between registrars and/or issuers, there remain unclear and inconsistent market standards in the Russian market with respect to the completion and submission of corporate action elections. To the extent that the Fund suffers a loss relating to title or corporate actions relating to the securities that it holds, it may be difficult for the Fund to enforce its rights or otherwise remedy the loss.

The Russian economy is heavily dependent upon the export of a range of commodities including most industrial metals, forestry products, oil, and gas. Accordingly, it is strongly affected by international commodity prices and is particularly vulnerable to any weakening in global demand for these products. As the recent global financial crisis caused price volatility in commodities, especially oil, many sectors in the Russian economy fell into turmoil, pushing the whole economy into recession. In addition, prior to the global financial crisis, Russia's economic policy encouraged excessive foreign currency borrowing as high oil prices increased investor appetite for Russian financial assets. As a result of this credit boom, Russia reached alarming debt levels and suffered from the effects of tight credit markets. Russia continues to face significant economic challenges, including weak levels of investment and a sluggish recovery in external demand. In the near term, the fallout from the European crisis and weakened global economy may reduce demand for Russian exports such as oil and gas, which could limit Russia's economic recovery. Over the long-term, Russia faces challenges including a shrinking workforce, a high level of corruption, and difficulty in accessing capital for smaller, non-energy companies and poor infrastructure in need of large investments.

European Securities. The European Union's (the "EU") Economic and Monetary Union requires eurozone countries to comply with restrictions on interest rates, deficits, debt levels, and inflation rates, fiscal and monetary controls, and other factors, each of which may significantly impact every European country and their economic partners. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or other regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of the EU), the threat of default or actual default by one or more EU member countries on its sovereign debt, and/or an economic recession in one or more EU member countries may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of other EU member countries and major trading partners outside Europe.

In recent years, the European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends due to concerns relating to economic downturns, rising government debt levels and national unemployments and the possible default of government debt in several European countries. Several countries have agreed to multi-year bailout loans from the European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund, and other institutions. Responses to financial problems by European governments, central banks, and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have unintended consequences. A default or debt restructuring by any European country can adversely impact holders of that country's debt and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country's creditworthiness, which may be located in other countries and can affect exposures to other EU countries and their financial companies as well. The manner in which the EU and EMU responded to the global recession and sovereign debt issues raised questions about their ability to react quickly to rising borrowing costs and the potential default by an EU country of its sovereign debt and revealed a lack of cohesion in dealing with the fiscal problems of member states. 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, which could increase political or social instability. Some European countries continue to suffer from high unemployment rates. In addition, one or more members could abandon the euro or withdraw from the EU, which could significantly adversely affect the value of the Fund's investments in Europe.

 

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Latin America
Inflation. Most Latin American countries have experienced, at one time or another, severe and persistent levels of inflation, including, in some cases, hyperinflation. This has, in turn, led to high interest rates, extreme measures by governments to keep inflation in check, and a generally debilitating effect on economic growth. Although inflation in many countries has lessened, there is no guarantee it will remain at lower levels.

Political Instability. As an emerging market, Latin America historically suffered from social, political, and economic instability. For investors, this has meant additional risk caused by periods of regional conflict, political corruption, totalitarianism, protectionist measures, nationalization, hyperinflation, debt crises, sudden and large currency devaluation, and intervention by the military in civilian and economic spheres.  However, in some Latin American countries, a move to sustainable democracy and a more mature and accountable political environment is under way. Domestic economies have been deregulated, privatization of state-owned companies is almost completed and foreign trade restrictions have been relaxed.

Nonetheless, to the extent that events such as those listed above continue in the future, they could reverse favorable trends toward market and economic reform, privatization, and removal of trade barriers, and result in significant disruption in securities markets in the region. In addition, recent favorable economic performance in much of the region has led to a concern regarding government overspending in certain Latin American countries. Investors in the region continue to face a number of potential risks.

Dependence on Exports and Economic Risk. Certain Latin American countries depend heavily on exports to the U.S. and investments from a small number of countries. Accordingly, these countries may be sensitive to fluctuations in demand, exchange rates and changes in market conditions associated with those countries. The economic growth of most Latin American countries is highly dependent on commodity exports and the economies of certain Latin American countries, particularly Mexico and Venezuela, are highly dependent on oil exports. As a result, these economies are particularly susceptible to fluctuations in the price of oil and other commodities and currency fluctuations. The recent global financial crisis weakened the global demand for oil and other commodities and, as a result, Latin American countries faced significant economic difficulties that led certain countries into recession. If global economic conditions worsen, prices for Latin American commodities may experience increased volatility and demand may continue to decrease. Although certain of these countries have recently shown signs of recovery, such recovery, if sustained, may be gradual. In addition, prolonged economic difficulties may have negative effects on the transition to a more stable democracy in some Latin American countries. In certain countries, political risk, including nationalization risk, is high.

Sovereign Debt. A number of Latin American countries are among the largest debtors of developing countries and have a history of reliance on foreign debt and default. The majority of the region's economies have become dependent upon foreign credit and loans from external sources to fund government economic plans. Historically, these plans have frequently resulted in little benefit accruing to the economy. Most countries have been forced to restructure their loans or risk default on their debt obligations. In addition, interest on the debt is subject to market conditions and may reach levels that would impair economic activity and create a difficult and costly environment for borrowers. Accordingly, these governments may be forced to reschedule or freeze their debt repayment, which could negatively affect local markets. Because of their dependence on foreign credit and loans, a number of Latin American economies faced significant economic difficulties and some economies fell into recession as the recent global financial crisis tightened international credit supplies. While the region has recently shown signs of economic improvement, recovery from past economic downturns in Latin America has historically been slow, and any such recovery, if sustained, may be gradual. The European crisis and weakened global economy may reduce demand for exports from Latin America and limit the availability of foreign credit for some countries in the region. As a result, the Fund's investments in Latin American securities could be harmed if economic recovery in the region is limited.

Pacific Basin Region. Many Asian countries may be subject to a greater degree of social, political and economic instability than is the case in the U.S. and Western European countries. Such instability may result from, among other things, (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision-making, including changes in government through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; and (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection. In addition, the Asia Pacific geographic region has historically been prone to natural disasters. The occurrence of a natural disaster in the region could negatively impact the economy of any country in the region. The existence of overburdened infrastructure and obsolete financial systems also presents risks in certain Asian countries, as do environmental problems.

The economies of most of the Asian countries are heavily dependent on international trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners, principally, the U.S., Japan, China and the European Union. The enactment by the U.S. or other principal trading partners of protectionist trade legislation, reduction of foreign investment in the local economies and general declines in the international securities markets could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of the Asian countries. The recent global financial crisis spread to the region, significantly lowering its exports and foreign investments in the region, which are driving forces of its economic growth. In addition, the economic crisis also significantly affected consumer confidence and local stock markets. Although the economies of many countries in the region have recently shown signs of recovery from the crisis, such recovery, if sustained, may be gradual. Furthermore, any such recovery may be limited or hindered by the reduced demand for exports and lack of available capital for investment resulting from the European crisis and weakened global economy. The economies of certain Asian countries depend to a significant degree upon exports of primary commodities and, therefore, are vulnerable to changes in commodity prices that, in turn, may be affected by a variety of factors. In addition, certain developing Asia countries, such as the Philippines and India are especially large debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments.

The securities markets in Asia are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the U.S. A high proportion of the shares of many issuers may be held by a limited number of persons and financial institutions, which may limit the number of shares available for investment by the Fund. Similarly, volume and liquidity in the bond markets in Asia are less than in the U.S. and, at times, price volatility can be greater than in the U.S. A limited number of issuers in Asian securities markets may represent a disproportionately large percentage of market capitalization and trading value. The limited liquidity of securities markets in Asia may also affect the Fund's ability to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so. In addition, the Asian securities markets are susceptible to being influenced by large investors trading significant blocks of securities.

 

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Many stock markets are undergoing a period of growth and change which may result in trading volatility and difficulties in the settlement and recording of transactions, and in interpreting and applying the relevant law and regulations. With respect to investments in the currencies of Asian countries, changes in the value of those currencies against the U.S. dollar will result in corresponding changes in the U.S. dollar value of a Portfolio's assets denominated in those currencies.

Some developing Asian countries prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets, particularly their equity markets, by foreign entities such as the Fund. As illustrations, certain countries may require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular company or limit the investment by foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of a company which may have less advantageous terms (including price and shareholder rights) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to obtain required governmental approvals in a timely manner. In addition, changes to restrictions on foreign ownership of securities subsequent to a Portfolio's purchase of such securities may have an adverse effect on the value of such shares. Certain countries may restrict investment opportunities in issuers or industries deemed important to national interests.

Chinese Companies. Investing in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan involves a high degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets. Such risks may include: (a) the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; (b) greater social, economic and political uncertainty (including the risk of war); (c) dependency on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade; (d) the increasing competition from Asia's other low-cost emerging economies; (e) greater price volatility, substantially less liquidity and significantly smaller market capitalization of securities markets, particularly in China; (f) currency exchange rate fluctuations and the lack of available currency hedging instruments; (g) higher rates of inflation; (h) controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on the Portfolio's ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (i) greater governmental involvement in and control over the economy; (j) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support the economic reform programs implemented since 1978 and could return to the prior, completely centrally planned, economy; (k) the fact that Chinese companies, particularly those located in China, may be smaller, less seasoned and newly-organized companies; (1) the difference in, or lack of auditing and financial reporting standards which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers, particularly in China; (m) the fact that statistical information regarding the Chinese economy may be inaccurate or not comparable to statistical information regarding the U.S. or other economies; (n) the less extensive, and still developing, regulation of the securities markets, business entities and commercial transactions; (o) the fact that the settlement period of securities transactions in foreign markets may be longer (p) the willingness and ability of the Chinese government to support the Chinese and Hong Kong economies and markets is uncertain; (q) the risk that it may be more difficult or impossible, to obtain and/or enforce a judgment than in other countries; (r) the rapidity and erratic nature of growth, particularly in China, resulting in inefficiencies and dislocations; and (s) the risk that, because of the degree of interconnectivity between the economies and financial markets of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, any sizable reduction in the demand for goods from China, or an economic downturn in China could negatively affect the economies and financial markets of Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well.

Investment in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan is subject to certain political risks. China's economy has transitioned from a rigidly central-planned state-run economy to one that has been only partially reformed by more market-oriented policies. Although the Chinese government has implemented economic reform measures, reduced state ownership of companies and established better corporate governance practices, a substantial portion of productive assets in China are still owned by the Chinese government. The government continues to exercise significant control over regulating industrial development and, ultimately, control over China's economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

China continues to limit direct foreign investments generally in industries deemed important to national interests. Foreign investment in domestic securities are also subject to substantial restrictions. Some believe that China's currency is undervalued. Currency fluctuations could significantly affect China and its trading partners. China continues to exercise control over the value of its currency, rather than allowing the value of the currency to be determined by market forces. This type of currency regime may experience sudden and significant currency adjustments, which may adversely impact investment returns. For decades, a state of hostility has existed between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. Beijing has long deemed Taiwan a part of the "one China" and has made a nationalist cause of recovering it. This situation poses a threat to Taiwan's economy and could negatively affect its stock market. By treaty, China has committed to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy and its economic, political and social freedoms until 2047. However, if China would exert its authority so as to alter the economic, political or legal structures or the existing social policy of Hong Kong, investor and business confidence in Hong Kong could be negatively affected, which in turn could negatively affect markets and business performance.

Fixed Income Investments — The Fund may hold debt, including government and corporate debt, and other fixed-income securities. Typically, the values of fixed-income securities change inversely with prevailing interest rates. Therefore, a fundamental risk of fixed-income securities is interest rate risk, which is the risk that their value will generally decline as prevailing interest rates rise, which may cause the Fund's net asset value to likewise decrease, and vice versa. How specific fixed-income securities may react to changes in interest rates will depend on the specific characteristics of each security. For example, while securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, they also tend to be more sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates and are therefore more volatile than shorter-term securities and are subject to greater market fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. Fixed-income securities are also subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the credit strength of an issuer of a fixed-income security will weaken and/or that the issuer will be unable to make timely principal and interest payments and that the security may go into default. In addition, there is prepayment risk, which is the risk that during periods of falling interest rates, certain fixed-income securities with higher interest rates, such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities, may be prepaid by their issuers thereby reducing the amount of interest payments. This may result in the Fund having to reinvest its proceeds in lower yielding securities. Securities underlying mortgage- and asset-backed securities, which may include subprime mortgages, also may be subject to a higher degree of credit risk, valuation risk, and liquidity risk. See "High Yield Bonds" disclosure below for the risks associated with low-quality, high-risk corporate bonds, a type of fixed income security.

Foreign Debt Securities  — The Fund may invest in foreign fixed and floating rate income securities (including emerging market securities) all or a portion of which may be non-U.S. dollar denominated and which include: (a) debt obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign national, provincial,

 

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state, municipal or other governments with taxing authority or by their agencies or instrumentalities, including Brady Bonds; (b) debt obligations of supranational entities; (c) debt obligations of the U.S. Government issued in non-dollar securities; (d) debt obligations and other fixed income securities of foreign corporate issuers (both dollar and non-dollar denominated); and (e) U.S. corporate issuers (both Eurodollar and non-dollar denominated). There is no minimum rating criteria for the Fund's investments in such securities. Investing in the securities of foreign issuers involves special considerations that are not typically associated with investing in the securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, emerging markets are markets that have risks that are different and higher than those in more developed markets.

Foreign Securities — The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers. Foreign issuers are issuers organized and doing business principally outside the United States and include corporations, banks, non-U.S. governments, and quasi-governmental organizations. While investments in foreign securities are intended to reduce risk by providing further diversification, such investments involve sovereign and other risks, in addition to the credit and market risks normally associated with domestic securities. These additional risks include the possibility of adverse political and economic developments (including political or social instability, nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation); the potentially adverse effects of unavailability of public information regarding issuers, less governmental supervision and regulation of financial markets, reduced liquidity of certain financial markets, and the lack of uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards or the application of standards that are different or less stringent than those applied in the United States; different laws and customs governing securities tracking; and possibly limited access to the courts to enforce the Fund's rights as an investor.

The Fund also may invest in equity, debt, or other income-producing securities that are denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, including (1) common and preferred stocks, (2) CDs, commercial paper, fixed time deposits, and bankers' acceptances issued by foreign banks, (3) obligations of other corporations, and (4) obligations of foreign governments and their subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities, international agencies, and supranational entities. Investing in foreign currency denominated securities involves the special risks associated with investing in non-U.S. issuers, as described in the preceding paragraph, and the additional risks of (1) adverse changes in foreign exchange rates and (2) adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which could prevent cash from being brought back to the United States). Additionally, dividends and interest payable on foreign securities (and gains realized on disposition thereof) may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from those payments.

The Fund may also invest in foreign "market access" investments, such as participatory notes, low-exercise price options or warrants, equity-linked notes, or equity swaps. These investments may provide economic exposure to an issuer without directly holding its securities. For example, market access investments may be used where regulatory or exchange restrictions make it difficult or undesirable for the Fund to invest directly in an issuer's common stock. Use of market access investments may involve risks associated with derivative investments (see "Derivatives"). Market access investments can be either exchange-traded or over-the-counter. Certain market access investments can be subject to the credit risk of both the underlying issuer and a counterparty. Holders of certain market access investments might not have voting, dividend or other rights associated with shareholders of the referenced securities. Holders of market access investments might not have any right to make a claim against an issuer or counterparty in the event of their bankruptcy or other restructuring. It may be more difficult or time consuming to dispose of certain market access investments than the referenced security.

Commissions on foreign securities exchanges are often at fixed rates and are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the sub-advisor endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on portfolio transactions.

Foreign securities may trade with less frequency and in less volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Additional costs associated with an investment in foreign securities may include higher custodial fees than apply to domestic custody arrangements and transaction costs of foreign currency conversions.

Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures. In certain markets, there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund is not invested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

Interest rates prevailing in other countries may affect the prices of foreign securities and exchange rates for foreign currencies. Local factors, including the strength of the local economy, the demand for borrowing, the government's fiscal and monetary policies, and the international balance of payments, often affect interest rates in other countries. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and balance of payments position.

Forward Contracts and Futures Contracts —  The Fund may enter into forward and futures contracts. Forward and futures contracts, including equity, interest rate and treasury futures contracts, obligate the purchaser to take delivery of, or cash settle, a specific amount of a commodity, security or obligation underlying the contract at a specified time in the future for a specified price. Likewise, the seller incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying obligation against receipt of the specified price. Futures are traded on both U.S. and foreign commodities exchanges. A forward is a private agreement between two parties and is not traded on an exchange.

No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, at the inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit "initial margin" consisting of cash or U.S. Government Securities in an amount set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and varying based on the volatility of the underlying asset. Margin must also be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by a futures exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.

Subsequent "variation margin" payments are made to and from the futures broker daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as "marking-to-market." Variation margin represents a daily settlement of the Fund's obligations to or from a futures broker. When the Fund purchases or

 

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sells a futures contract, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.

Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. Positions in futures contracts may be closed only on a futures exchange or board of trade that trades that contract. The Fund intends to enter into futures contracts only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be a liquid market. However, there can be no assurance that such a market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract.

Although many futures contracts by their terms call for the actual delivery or acquisition of the underlying asset, in most cases the contractual obligation is fulfilled before the date of the contract without having to make or take such delivery of the securities or currency.

The offsetting of a contractual obligation is accomplished by buying (or selling, as appropriate) on a commodities exchange an identical futures contract calling for delivery in the same month. Such a transaction, which is effected through a member of an exchange, cancels the obligation to make or take delivery of the securities or currency. Since all transactions in the futures market are made, offset or fulfilled through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded, the Fund will incur brokerage fees when it purchases or sells futures contracts. The Fund has no current intent to accept physical delivery in connection with the settlement of futures contracts.

Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract can vary from the previous day's settlement price; once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.

If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain the position being hedged by the futures contract or option thereon or to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account.

The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to differences in the nature of those markets, are subject to distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to initial deposit and variation margin requirements. Rather than meeting additional variation margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions that 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 margin deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of securities price or currency exchange rate trends by a sub-advisor may still not result in a successful transaction.

Futures contracts also entail other risks. Although the use of such contracts may benefit the Fund, if investment judgment about the general direction of, for example, an index is incorrect, the Fund's overall performance would be worse than if it had not entered into any such contract. There are differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a forward contract in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a counterparty. If such a default occurs, the Fund may have contractual remedies pursuant to the forward contract, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect the Fund's rights as a creditor.

Forward Currency Contracts. The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specified currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties at a price set at the time of the contract. Because forward currency contracts normally are settled through an exchange of currencies, they are traded in the interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.

Forward currency contracts may serve as long hedges — for example, the Fund may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar price of a security denominated in a foreign currency that it intends to acquire. Forward currency contract transactions also may serve as short hedges — for example, the Fund may sell a forward currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar equivalent of the proceeds from the anticipated sale of a security or from a dividend or interest payment on a security denominated in a foreign currency.

The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts to sell a foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar amount approximating the value of some or all of its portfolio securities denominated in such foreign currency. In addition, the Fund may use forward currency contracts when a sub-advisor wishes to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of a security when the Fund is purchasing or selling a security denominated in a foreign currency or anticipates receiving a dividend or interest payment denominated in a foreign currency.

The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts for the purchase or sale of a specified currency at a specified future date either with respect to specific transactions or with respect to portfolio positions in order to minimize the risk to the Fund from adverse changes in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies.

The Fund may seek to hedge against changes in the value of a particular currency by using forward currency contracts on another foreign currency or a basket of currencies, the value of which the applicable sub-advisor believes will have a positive correlation to the values of the currency being hedged. Use of a different foreign currency magnifies the risk that movements in the price of the forward contract will not correlate or will correlate unfavorably with the foreign currency being hedged.

In addition, the Fund may use forward currency contracts to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another. For example, if the Fund owned securities denominated in a foreign currency that a sub-advisor believed would decline relative to another currency, it might enter

 

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into a forward currency contract to sell an appropriate amount of the first foreign currency, with payment to be made in the second currency. Transactions that involve two foreign currencies are sometimes referred to as "cross hedging." Use of a different foreign currency magnifies the Fund's exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward currency contracts usually are entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved. When the Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it relies on the counterparty to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the maturity of the contract. Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.

Sellers or purchasers of forward currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on futures, by purchasing or selling, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument sold or bought, respectively. Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, however, with the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contracts only by negotiating directly with the counterparty. Thus, there can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity. In addition, in the event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund might be unable to close out a forward currency contract at any time prior to maturity. In either event, the Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position, and would continue to be required to maintain a position in the securities or currencies that are the subject of the hedge or to maintain cash or securities.

The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the value of securities, whose U.S. dollar value is being hedged by those contracts involved, generally will not be possible because the value of such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after the forward currency contract has been established. Thus, the Fund might need to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent such foreign currencies are not covered by forward contracts. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a forward currency contract in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a counterparty. If such a default occurs, the Fund may have contractual remedies pursuant to the forward currency contract, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect the Fund's rights as a creditor.

Non-Deliverable Currency Forwards. The Fund also may enter into non-deliverable currency forwards ("NDFs"). NDFs are cash-settled, short-term forward contracts on foreign currencies (each a "Reference Currency"), generally on currencies that are non-convertible, and may be thinly traded or illiquid. NDFs involve an obligation to pay a U. S. dollar amount (the "Settlement Amount") equal to the difference between the prevailing market exchange rate for the Reference Currency and the agreed upon exchange rate (the "NDF Rate"), with respect to an agreed notional amount. NDFs have a fixing date and a settlement (delivery) date. The fixing date is the date and time at which the difference between the prevailing market exchange rate and the agreed upon exchange rate is calculated. The settlement (delivery) date is the date by which the payment of the Settlement Amount is due to the party receiving payment.

Although NDFs are similar to other forward currency contracts, NDFs do not require physical delivery of the Reference Currency on the settlement date. Rather, on the settlement date, one counterparty pays the other a U.S. dollar amount equal to the difference between the NDF Rate and the prevailing market exchange rate. NDFs typically may have terms from one month up to two years and are settled in U.S. dollars.

The Fund will typically use NDFs for hedging purposes or for direct investment in a foreign country for income or gain. The use of NDFs for hedging or to increase income or gain may not be successful, resulting in losses to the Fund, and the cost of such strategies may reduce the Funds' respective returns.

NDFs are subject to many of the risks associated with derivatives in general and forward currency transactions including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency and the risk that the counterparty will fail to fulfill its obligations. In addition, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations adopted by the CFTC in connection with implementing the Dodd-Frank Act, NDFs are deemed to be swaps, and consequently commodity interests for purposes of amended Regulation 4.5.

Although NDFs have historically been traded OTC, in the future pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, they may be exchange-traded. Under such circumstances, they will be centrally cleared and a secondary market for them will exist. All NDFs are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not perform as contractually required under the NDF. With respect to NDFs that are centrally-cleared, the Fund could lose margin payments it has deposited with the clearing organization as well as the net amount of gains not yet paid by the clearing organization if it breaches its obligations under the NDF, becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of the clearing organization, the investor may be entitled to the net amount of gains the investor is entitled to receive plus the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the clearing organization's other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the investor.

High-Yield Bonds — High-yield, non-investment grade bonds (also known as "junk bonds") are low-quality, high-risk corporate bonds that generally offer a high level of current income. These bonds are considered speculative by rating organizations. For example, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, Inc. rate them below Baa and BBB, respectively. Please see "Appendix C Ratings Definitions" below for an explanation of the ratings applied to high-yield bonds. High-yield bonds are often issued as a result of corporate restructurings, such as leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, or other similar events. They may also be issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged firms, which are generally less able to make scheduled payments of interest and principal than more financially stable firms. Because of their low credit quality, high-yield bonds must pay higher interest to compensate investors for the substantial credit risk they assume. In order to minimize credit risk, the Fund intends to diversify its holdings among multiple bond issuers.

Lower-rated securities are subject to certain risks that may not be present with investments in higher-grade securities. Investors should consider carefully their ability to assume the risks associated with lower-rated securities before investing in the Fund. The lower rating of certain high yielding corporate income securities reflects a greater possibility that the financial condition of the issuer or adverse changes in general economic conditions may impair the ability of the issuer to pay income and principal. Changes by rating agencies in their ratings of a fixed income security also may affect

 

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the value of these investments. However, allocating investments in the Fund among securities of different issuers should reduce the risks of owning any such securities separately. The prices of these high yielding securities tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. During economic downturns or periods of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress that adversely affects their ability to service principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals or to obtain additional financing, and the markets for their securities may be more volatile. If an issuer defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Additionally, accruals of interest income for the Fund may have to be adjusted in the event of default. In the event of an issuer's default, the Fund may write off prior income accruals for that issuer, resulting in a reduction in the Fund's current dividend payment. Frequently, the higher yields of high-yielding securities may not reflect the value of the income stream that holders of such securities may expect, but rather the risk that such securities may lose a substantial portion of their value as a result of their issuer's financial restructuring or default. Additionally, an economic downturn or an increase in interest rates could have a negative effect on the high-yield securities market and on the market value of the high-yield securities held by the Fund, as well as on the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and interest on their borrowings.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities — The Fund may invest in illiquid securities. Generally, an illiquid asset is an asset that cannot be disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the price at which it has been valued. Historically, illiquid securities have included securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), securities that are otherwise not readily marketable, and repurchase agreements having a remaining maturity of longer than seven calendar days. Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. These securities may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities, municipal securities and corporate bonds and notes. Institutional investors depend on an efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment.  However, the fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale of such investments to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of their liquidity

Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities, and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven calendar days. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about an issuer, so it may be less able to predict a loss. The Fund also might have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

In recognition of the increased size and liquidity of the institutional market for unregistered securities and the importance of institutional investors in the formation of capital, the SEC adopted Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Rule 144A is designed to facilitate efficient trading among institutional investors by permitting the sale of certain unregistered securities to qualified institutional buyers. To the extent privately placed securities held by the Fund qualify under Rule 144A and an institutional market develops for those securities, the Fund likely will be able to dispose of the securities without registering them under the Securities Act. To the extent that institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities, investing in Rule 144A securities could increase the level of the Fund's illiquidity. The Manager or a sub-advisor, as applicable, acting under guidelines established by the Trust's Board of Trustees ("Board"), may determine that certain securities qualified for trading under Rule 144A are liquid. Regulation S under the Securities Act permits the sale abroad of securities that are not registered for sale in the United States and includes a provision for U.S. investors, such as the Fund, to purchase such unregistered securities if certain conditions are met. 

Securities sold in private placement offerings made in reliance on the "private placement" exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and resold to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Section 4(a)(2) securities") are restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws, and generally are sold to institutional investors, such as the Fund that agree they are purchasing the securities for investment and not with an intention to distribute to the public. Any resale by the purchaser must be pursuant to an exempt transaction and may be accomplished in accordance with Rule 144A. Section 4(a)(2) securities normally are resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or dealers that make a market in the Section 4(a)(2) securities, thus providing liquidity.

The Manager and the sub-advisor will carefully monitor the Fund's investments in Section 4(a)(2) securities offered and sold under Rule 144A, focusing on such important factors, among others, as valuation, liquidity, and availability of information. Investments in Section 4(a)(2) securities could have the effect of reducing the Fund's liquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers no longer wish to purchase these restricted securities.

Indebtedness, Loan Participations and Assignments — Floating rate securities, including loans, provide for automatic adjustment of the interest rate at fixed intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, or semi-annually) or automatic adjustment of the interest rate whenever a specified interest rate or index changes. The interest rate on floating rate securities ordinarily is determined by reference to LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate), a particular bank's prime rate, the 90-day U.S. Treasury Bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank CDs, an index of short-term tax-exempt rates or some other objective measure.

Loan interests are a form of direct debt instrument in which the Fund may invest by taking an assignment of all or a portion of an interest in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a participation in an interest in a loan that continues to be held by another institution. The Fund may invest in secured and unsecured loans. Many banks have been weakened by the recent financial crisis, and it may be difficult for the Fund to obtain an accurate picture of a lending bank's financial condition. Loans are subject to the same risks as other direct debt instruments discussed above and carry additional risks described in this section.

Assignments. When the Fund purchases a loan by assignment, the Fund typically succeeds to the rights of the assigning lender under the loan agreement and becomes a lender under the loan agreement. Subject to the terms of the loan agreement, the Fund typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the assigning lender. However, assignments may be arranged through private negotiations between

 

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potential assignees and potential assignors, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender.

Participation Interests. 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. In purchasing participation interests, the Fund will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation interest (the "participating lender") and only when the participating lender receives the payments from the borrower.

In a participation interest, the Fund will usually have a contractual relationship only with the selling institution and not the underlying borrower. The Fund normally will have to rely on the participating lender to demand and receive payments in respect of the loans, and to pay those amounts on to the Fund; thus, the Fund will be subject to the risk that the lender may be unwilling or unable to do so. In such a case, the Fund would not likely have any rights against the borrower directly. In addition, the Fund generally will have no right to object to certain changes to the loan agreement agreed to by the participating lender.

In buying a participation interest, the Fund might not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the related loan and may be subject to any rights of set off the borrower has against the selling institution. 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 participating lender. 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.

The Fund's ability to receive payments in connection with loans depends on the financial condition of the borrower. The Manager or the sub-advisor will not rely solely on another lending institution's credit analysis of the borrower, but will perform its own investment analysis of the borrower. The Manager's or the sub-advisor's analysis may include consideration of the borrower's financial strength, managerial experience, debt coverage, additional borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, changing financial conditions, and responsiveness to changes in business conditions and interest rates. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. In connection with the restructuring of a loan or other direct debt instrument outside of bankruptcy court in a negotiated work-out or in the context of bankruptcy proceedings, equity securities or junior debt securities may be received in exchange for all or a portion of an interest in the security.

In buying a participation interest, the Fund assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the participating lender. If the participating lender fails to perform its obligations under the participation agreement, the Fund might incur costs and delays in realizing payment and suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. If a participating lender becomes insolvent, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of that lender. As a general creditor, the Fund may not benefit from a right of set off that the lender has against the borrower. The Fund will acquire a participation interest only if the Manager or the sub-advisor determines that the participating lender or other intermediary participant selling the participation interest is creditworthy.

Loan interests may not be rated by independent rating agencies and therefore, investments in a particular loan participation may depend almost exclusively on the credit analysis of the borrower performed by the Manager or the sub-advisor.

Loans are typically administered by a bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the "agent") for a lending syndicate of financial institutions. In a typical loan, the agent administers the terms of the loan agreement and is responsible for the collection of principal and interest and fee payments from the borrower and the apportionment of these payments to all lenders that are parties to the loan agreement. In addition, an institution (which may be the agent) may hold collateral on behalf of the lenders. Typically, under loan agreements, the agent is given broad authority in monitoring the borrower's performance and is obligated to use the same care it would use in the management of its own property. In asserting rights against a borrower, the Fund normally will be dependent on the willingness of the lead bank to assert these rights, or upon a vote of all the lenders to authorize the action. If an agent becomes insolvent, or has a receiver, conservator, or similar official appointed for it by the appropriate regulatory authority, or becomes a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding, the agent's appointment may be terminated and a successor agent would be appointed. If an appropriate regulator or court determines that assets held by the agent for the benefit of purchasers of loans are subject to the claims of the agent's general or secured creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a loan or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. The Fund may be subject to similar risks when it buys a participation interest or an assignment from an intermediary.

Although most of the loans in which the Fund invests are secured, there is no assurance that the collateral can be promptly liquidated, or that its liquidation value will be equal to the value of the debt. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral if the value of the initial collateral declines. As a result, a loan may not always be fully collateralized and can decline significantly in value. If a borrower becomes insolvent, access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy may pay only a small portion of the amount owed, if they are able to pay at all. If a secured loan is foreclosed, the Fund will likely be required to bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. There is also a possibility that the Fund will become the owner of its pro rata share of the collateral which may carry additional risks and liabilities. In addition, under legal theories of lender liability, the Fund potentially might be held liable as a co-lender. In the event of a borrower's bankruptcy or insolvency, the borrower's obligation to repay the loan may be subject to certain defenses that the borrower can assert as a result of improper conduct by the Agent. Some loans are unsecured. If the borrower defaults on an unsecured loan, the Fund will be a general creditor and will not have rights to any specific assets of the borrower.

Loans may be subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Loans are not currently listed on any securities exchange or automatic quotation system. As a result, there may not be a recognized, liquid public market for loan interests.

Because many loans are repaid early, the actual maturity of loans is typically shorter than their stated final maturity calculated solely on the basis of the stated life and payment schedule. The degree to which borrowers prepay loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, market interest rates, the borrower's financial condition and competitive conditions among lenders. Such prepayments may require the Fund to replace an investment with a lower yielding security which may have an adverse affect on the Fund's share price. Prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Floating Rate Loans can be less sensitive to prepayment risk, but the Fund's NAV may still fluctuate in

 

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response to interest rate changes because variable interest rates may reset only periodically and may not rise or decline as much as interest rates in general.

A borrower must comply with various restrictive covenants in a loan agreement such as restrictions on dividend payments and limits on total debt. The loan agreement may also contain a covenant requiring the borrower to prepay the loan with any free cash flow. A breach of a covenant is normally an event of default, which provides the agent or the lenders the right to call the outstanding loan.

Purchasers and sellers of loans may pay certain fees, such as an assignment fee. In addition, the Fund incurs expenses associated with researching and analyzing potential loan investments, including legal fees. Loans normally are not registered with the SEC or any state securities commission or listed on any securities exchange. As a result, the amount of public information available about a specific loan historically has been less extensive than if the loan were registered or exchange traded. They may also not be considered "securities," and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the strong anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

Inflation-Indexed Securities — Inflation-indexed securities, also known as inflation-protected securities, are fixed income instruments structured such that their interest and principal payments are adjusted to keep up with inflation.

In periods of deflation when the inflation rate is declining, the principal value of an inflation-indexed security will be adjusted downward. This will result in a decrease in the interest payments. The U.S. Treasury is obligated to repay at least the original principal value at maturity for inflation-indexed securities issued directly by the U.S. Government. However, inflation-indexed securities of other issuers may or may not have the same principal guarantee and may repay an amount less than the original principal value at maturity. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked debt security will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though the Fund will not receive the principal until maturity.

There can be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. The Fund's investments in inflation-linked securities may lose value in the event that the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation index. In addition, inflation-linked securities are subject to the risk that the CPI-U or other relevant pricing index may be discontinued, fundamentally altered in a manner materially adverse to the interests of an investor in the securities, altered by legislation of Executive Order in a materially adverse manner to the interests of an investor in the securities or substituted with an alternative index.

Inflation Risk — Inflation risk results from the variation in the value of cash flows from a security due to inflation, as measured in terms of purchasing power. For example, if the Fund purchases a 5-year bond in which it can realize a coupon rate of five percent (5%), but the rate of inflation is six percent (6%), then the purchasing power of the cash flow has declined. Fixed income securities, other than inflation-linked bonds, adjustable bonds and floating rate bonds, generally expose the Fund to inflation risk because the interest rate the issuer promises to make is fixed for the life of the security. To the extent that interest rates reflect the expected inflation rate, floating rate bonds have a lower level of inflation risk.

Initial Public Offerings — The Fund can invest in initial public offerings ("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 only be 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 may not be widely understood by investors. Some of the companies involved in new industries may be regarded as developmental state 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.

Interest Rates and Portfolio Maturity — Interest rates on loans in which the Fund invests adjust periodically. The interest rates are adjusted based on a base rate plus a premium or spread over the base rate. The base rate usually is the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), the federal funds rate, the prime rate, or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. 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 U.S. dollar-denominated deposits. 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.

The Floating Rate Loans in which the Fund invests typically have multiple reset periods during the year with each reset period applicable to a designated portion of the loan. As short-term interest rates rise, interest payable to the Fund should increase. As short-term interest rates decline, interest payable to the Fund should decrease. The amount of time that will pass before the Fund experiences the effects of changing short-term interest rates will depend on the dollar-weighted average time until the next interest rate adjustment on the Fund's portfolio of loans.

Loans usually have mandatory and optional prepayment provisions. Because of prepayments, the actual remaining maturity of a loan may be considerably less than its stated maturity. If a loan is prepaid, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other loans or securities, which may have a lower spread over its base rate. In such a case, the amount of interest paid to the Fund would likely decrease.

In the event of a change in the benchmark interest rate on a loan, the rate payable to lenders under the loan will, in turn, change at the next scheduled reset date. If the benchmark rate goes up, the Fund as lender would earn interest at a higher rate, but only on and after the reset date. If the benchmark rate goes down, the Fund as lender would earn interest at a lower rate, but only on and after the reset date.

Market interest rate changes may also cause the Fund's NAV to experience volatility. This is because the value of an asset in the Fund is partially a function of whether it is paying what the market perceives to be a market rate of interest for the particular loan given its individual credit and other characteristics. If market interest rates change, a loan's value could be affected to the extent the interest rate paid on that loan does not reset at the same time. The rates of interest paid on the loans in which the Fund invests have a weighted average reset period that typically is less than 90 days. Therefore, the impact of the lag between a change in market interest rates and the change in the overall rate on the portfolio is expected to be minimal.

 

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Finally, to the extent that changes in market rates of interest are reflected, not in a change to a base rate such as LIBOR, but in a change in the spread over the base rate which is payable on loans of the type and quality in which the Fund invests, the Fund's NAV could be adversely affected. Again, this is because the value of a loan asset in the Fund is partially a function of whether it is paying what the market perceives to be a market rate of interest for the particular loan given its individual credit and other characteristics. However, unlike changes in market rates of interest for which there is only a temporary lag before the portfolio reflects those changes, changes in a loan's value based on changes in the market spread on loans in the Fund's portfolio may be of longer duration.

Interfund Lending — Pursuant to an order issued by the SEC, each series of the Trust (each an "American Beacon Fund" or "Fund", and together, the "American Beacon Funds" or "Funds") may participate in a credit facility whereby each American Beacon Fund, under certain conditions, is permitted to lend money directly to and borrow directly from other American Beacon Funds for temporary purposes. The credit facility is administered by a credit facility team consisting of professionals from the Manager's asset management, compliance, and accounting areas who report on credit facility activities to the Board. The credit facility can provide a borrowing Fund with savings at times when the cash position of the Fund is insufficient to meet temporary cash requirements. This situation could arise when shareholder redemptions exceed anticipated volumes and certain Funds have insufficient cash on hand to satisfy such redemptions or when sales of securities do not settle as expected, resulting in a cash shortfall for a fund. When the Funds liquidate portfolio securities to meet redemption requests, they often do not receive payment in settlement for up to three days (or longer for certain foreign transactions). However, redemption requests normally are satisfied immediately. The credit facility provides a source of immediate, short-term liquidity pending settlement of the sale of portfolio securities. Although the credit facility may reduce the Fund's need to borrow from banks, the Fund remains free to establish lines of credit or other borrowing arrangements with banks.

Investment Grade Securities — Investment grade securities that the Fund may purchase, either as part of its principal investment strategy or to implement its temporary defensive policy, include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, as well as securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories by at least two rating organizations rating that security (such as Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, Fitch, Inc. or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.) or rated in one of the four highest rating categories by one rating organization if it is the only organization rating that security. The Fund, at the discretion of the Manager or the applicable sub-advisor, may retain a security that has been downgraded below the initial investment criteria. Please see "Appendix C Ratings Definitions" for an explanation of rating categories.

Issuer Risk — The value of an investment may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.

Legal and Litigation Risk — In certain frontier and emerging markets, fraud and corruption may be more prevalent than in developed market countries. Securities and issuers that the Fund may invest in are exposed to these risks, which could have a negative impact on a security's value.

It may be difficult for the Fund to obtain or enforce judgments against parties located outside of the U.S. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain or enforce remedies against non-U.S. governments, their agencies, quasi-sovereign entities, other foreign issuers or counterparties.

Market Events — Turbulence in the economic, political and financial system has historically resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the capital markets. Both domestic and foreign capital markets have been experiencing increased volatility and turmoil, with issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets particularly affected, and it is uncertain whether or for how long these conditions could continue.

Reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect many issuers worldwide. This reduced liquidity may result in less money being available to purchase raw materials, goods and services from emerging markets, which may, in turn, bring down the prices of these economic staples. It may also result in small or emerging market issuers having more difficulty obtaining financing, which may, in turn, cause a decline in their security prices. These events and possible continued market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund.

Options — The Fund may purchase and sell put options and call options on securities indices, foreign currencies, and individual securities in standardized contracts traded on recognized securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System.

An option is a contract that gives the purchaser (holder) of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (call) or sell to (put) the seller (writer) of the option the security or currency underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option (normally not exceeding nine months). The writer of an option has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver, or pay the value of, the underlying security or currency upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security or currency.

By writing a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, in exchange for the premium less the commission ("net premium"), the opportunity to profit during the option period from an increase in the market value of the underlying security or currency above the exercise price. By writing a put option, the Fund, in exchange for the net premium received, accepts the risk of a decline in the market value of the underlying security or currency below the exercise price.

The Fund may terminate its obligation as the writer of a call or put option by purchasing an option with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option previously written.

When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the net premium received by the Fund is included in the liability section of the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a deferred credit. The amount of the deferred credit will be subsequently marked to market to reflect the current market value of the option written. The current market value of a traded option is the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, the mean between the closing bid and asked price. If an option expires on its stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Fund will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold), and the deferred credit related to such option will be eliminated.

 

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The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying securities markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets. It is impossible to predict the volume of trading that may exist in such options, and there can be no assurance that viable exchange markets will develop or continue.

The Fund may use non-deliverable options ("NDOs") which is a foreign exchange product designed to assist in reducing the foreign exchange risk, in particular situations when physical delivery of the underlying currencies is not required or not possible.

The Fund may write (sell) and purchase covered call and put options on foreign currencies for hedging or non-hedging purposes. The Fund may use options on foreign currencies to protect against decreases in the U.S. dollar value of securities held or increases in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired by the Fund or to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent of dividends, interest, or other payments on those securities. In addition, the Fund may write and purchase covered call and put options on foreign currencies for non-hedging purposes (e.g., when the Manager or sub-advisor anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not held in the Fund's investment portfolio). The Fund may write covered call and put options on any currency in order to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities alone.

Currency options have characteristics and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein. Certain options on foreign currencies are traded on the OTC market and involve liquidity and credit risks that may not be present in the case of exchange-traded currency options.

Other Investment Company Securities and Exchange Traded Products — The Fund at times may invest in shares of other investment companies and exchange-traded products, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, business development companies, and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"). The Fund may invest in investment company securities advised by the Manager or a sub-advisor to the Fund. Investments in the securities of other investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company. As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly will bear the Fund's proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by shareholders of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund's own operations. These other fees and expenses are reflected as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and are included in the Fees and Expenses Table for the Fund in its Prospectus, if applicable. Investment in other investment companies may involve the payment of substantial premiums above the value of such issuer's portfolio securities.

The Fund can invest free cash balances in registered open-end investment companies regulated as money market funds under the Investment Company Act, to provide liquidity or for defensive purposes. The Fund would invest in money market funds rather than purchasing individual short-term investments. If the Fund invests in money market funds shareholders will bear their proportionate share of the expenses, including for example, advisory and administrative fees, of the money market funds in which the Fund invests, including such fees charged by the Manager to any applicable money market funds advised by the Manager.

In July 2014, the SEC adopted amendments to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, as amended, that will affect the manner in which money market funds are structured and operated. Money market funds must comply with the rule amendments in various stages over the next two years. The precise impact such amendments will have on a money market fund's structure and operations and on the money market fund industry has not yet been determined, but any related changes may negatively affect a money market fund's expenses, liquidity, yield and return potential.

The Fund may purchase shares of ETFs. ETFs trade like a common stock and passive ETFs usually represent a fixed portfolio of securities designed to track the performance and dividend yield of a particular domestic or foreign market index. Typically, the Fund would purchase passive ETF shares to obtain exposure to all or a portion of the stock or bond market. As a shareholder of an ETF, the Fund would be subject to its ratable share of the ETF's expenses, including its advisory and administration expenses.

An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional mutual fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded) that has the same investment objective, strategies, and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate within a wide range, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (1) the market price of the ETF's shares may trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value; (2) an active trading market for an ETF's shares may not develop or be maintained; or (3) trading of an ETF's shares may be halted if the listing exchange's officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide "circuit breakers" (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally. ETFs have expenses associated with their operation, typically including advisory fees.

Redemption Risk — The Fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Fund to sell assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value. The sale of assets to meet redemption requests may create capital gains, which could cause the Fund to distribute substantial capital gains. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that one or more investors or intermediaries control a large percentage of investments in the Fund, have short investment horizons, or have unpredictable cash flow needs. Heavy redemptions, whether by a few large investors or many smaller investors, could hurt the Fund's performance.

Rights and Warrants — Rights are short-term warrants issued in conjunction with new stock or bond issues. Warrants are options to purchase an issuer's securities at a stated price during a stated term. If the market price of the underlying common stock does not exceed the warrant's exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless. Warrants usually have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the value of a warrant may be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the underlying common stock. Warrants may be purchased with values that vary depending on the change in value of one or more specified indices ("index warrants"). Index warrants are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of the exercise. The market for warrants or rights may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. There is no specific limit on the percentage of assets the Fund may invest in rights and warrants.

 

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Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities and Zero Coupon Obligations — Separately traded registered interest and principal securities or "STRIPS" and zero coupon obligations are securities that do not make regular interest payments. Instead they are sold at a discount from their face value. A Fund will take into account as income a portion of the difference between these obligations' purchase prices and their face values. Because they do not pay coupon income, the prices of STRIPS and zero coupon obligations can be very volatile when interest rates change. STRIPS are zero coupon bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury.

Structured Products — The Fund may invest in structured products, including instruments such as credit-linked securities, and structured notes, which are potentially high-risk derivatives. For example, a structured product may combine a traditional stock or bond with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a structured product is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a "benchmark"). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a structured product may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark.

Structured products can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management, and increased total return.  Structured products may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a structured product or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a structured product. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a structured product could be zero. Thus, an investment in a structured product may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest.

The purchase of structured products also exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the structured product. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund.

Credit-Linked Securities. The Fund may invest in credit-linked securities (CLSs). CLSs are debt obligations that are issued by limited purpose entities, such as special purpose vehicles, or by financial firms, such as banks, securities firms or their affiliates. They are structured so that their performance is linked to that of an underlying bond or other debt obligation (a "reference asset"), normally by means of an embedded or underlying credit default swap. The Fund may invest in CLSs when the Fund's sub-advisor believes that doing so is more efficient than investing in the reference assets directly or when such direct investment by the Fund is not feasible due to legal or other restrictions.

Under the terms of a CLS, the Fund will be entitled to receive a fixed or variable rate of interest on the outstanding principal amount of the CLS, which in turn will be subject to reduction (potentially down to zero) if a "credit event" occurs with respect to the underlying reference asset or its issuer. Such credit events will include, but will not be limited to payment defaults on the reference asset. If a credit event occurs, payments on the CLS would terminate, and the Fund normally would receive delivery of the underlying reference asset (or, in some cases, a comparable "deliverable" asset) in lieu of the repayment of principal. In some cases, however, including but not limited to instances where there has been a market disruption or in which it is or has become illegal, impossible or impracticable for the Fund to purchase, hold or receive the reference assets, the Fund may receive a cash settlement based on the value of the reference asset or a comparable instrument, less fees charged and certain expenses incurred by the CLS issuer. '

CLSs are debt obligations of the CLS issuers, and the Fund would have no ownership or other property interest in the reference assets (other than following a credit event that results in the reference assets being delivered to the Fund) or any direct recourse to the issuers of those reference assets. Thus, the Fund will be exposed to the credit risk of the issuers of the reference assets that underlie its CLSs, as well as to the credit risk of the issuers of the CLSs themselves. CLSs will also be subject to currency risk, liquidity risk, valuation risks, and the other risks of an underlying credit default swap, as well as to risks resulting from potential conflicts of interest with the CLS issuer or sponsor.

Structured Notes. The Fund may invest in structured notes, which are derivative debt instruments with principal and/or interest payments linked to the value of a commodity, a foreign currency, an index of securities, an interest rate or other financial indicators ("reference instruments"). The payments on a structured note may vary based on changes in one or more specified reference instruments, such as a floating interest rate compared to a fixed interest rate, the exchange rates between two currencies, one or more securities or a securities or commodities index. A structured note may be positively or negatively indexed. For example, its principal amount and/or interest rate may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument increases, depending upon the terms of the instrument. The change in the principal amount payable with respect to, or the interest rate of, a structured note may be a multiple of the percentage change (positive or negative) in the value of the underlying reference instrument or instruments. Structured notes can be used to increase the Fund's exposure to changes in the value of assets or to hedge the risks of other investments that the Fund holds.

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 borrower. 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. Also, the Fund may enter into agreements with an issuer of structured notes to purchase minimum amounts 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 asset or reference. 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.

Certain issuers of structured products may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund's investments in these structured products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies.

Supranational Risk  —  Supranational organizations are entities designated or supported by a government or governmental group to promote economic development. Supranational organizations have no taxing authority and are dependent on their members for payments of interest and principal to the extent their assets are insufficient. Further, the lending activities of such entities are limited to a percentage of their total capital,

 

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reserves and net income. Obligations of supranational entities are subject to the risk that the governments on whose support the entity depends for its financial backing or repayment may be unable or unwilling to provide that support. Obligations of a supranational entity that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies, as described above in the section "Currencies Risk."

Swap Agreements — A swap is a transaction in which the Fund and a counterparty agree to pay or receive payments at specified dates based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates (e.g., interest rates in the case of interest rate swaps) or the performance of specified securities or indices based on a specified amount (the "notional" amount). Nearly any type of derivative, including forward contracts, can be structured as a swap. See "Derivatives" for a further discussion of derivatives risks.

Swap agreements can be structured to provide exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. For example, in an interest rate swap, fixed-rate payments may be exchanged for floating rate payments; in a currency swap, U.S. dollar-denominated payments may be exchanged for payments denominated in a foreign currency; and in a total return swap, payments tied to the investment return on a particular asset, group of assets or index may be exchanged for payments that are effectively equivalent to interest payments or for payments tied to the return on another asset, group of assets, or index. Swaps may have a leverage component, and adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in gains or losses that are substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself.

Some swaps currently are, and more in the future will be, centrally cleared. Swaps that are centrally-cleared are exposed to the creditworthiness of the clearing organizations (and, consequently, that of their members—generally, banks and broker-dealers) involved in the transaction. For example, an investor could lose margin payments it has deposited with the clearing organization as well as the net amount of gains not yet paid by the clearing organization if it breaches its agreement with the investor or becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of the clearing organization, the investor may be able to recover only a portion of the net amount of gains on its transactions and of the margin owed to it, potentially resulting in losses to the investor.

Swaps that are not centrally cleared, involve the risk that 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. To mitigate this risk, the Fund will only enter into swap agreements with counterparties considered by a sub-advisor to present minimum risk of default. Changing conditions in a particular market area, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of a counterparty.

The centrally cleared and OTC swap agreements into which the Fund enters normally provide for the obligations of the Fund and its counterparty in the event of a default of other early termination to be determined on a net basis. Similarly, periodic payments on a swap transaction that are due by each party on the same day normally are netted. To the extent that a swap agreement is subject to netting, the Fund's cover and asset segregation responsibilities will normally be with respect to the net amount owed by the Fund. See "Cover and Asset Segregation" for additional discussion of these matters. However, the Fund may be required to segregate liquid assets equal to the full notional amount of certain swaps, such as written credit default swaps on physically settled forwards or written options. The amount that the Fund must segregate may be reduced by the value of any collateral that it has pledged to secure its own obligations under the swap.

The use of swap agreements requires special skills, knowledge and investment techniques that differ from those required for normal portfolio management. Swaps may be considered illiquid investments; see "Illiquid and Restricted Securities" for a description of liquidity risk.

Interest Rate and Inflation Swaps. In an interest rate swap, the parties exchange payments based on fixed or floating interest rates multiplied by a hypothetical or "notional" amount. For example, one party might agree to pay the other a specified fixed rate on the notional amount in exchange for recovering a floating rate on that notional amount. Interest rate swap agreements entail both interest rate risk and counterparty risk. There is a risk that based on movements of interest rates, the payments made under a swap agreement will be greater than the payments received.

Caps, Floors and Collars. The Fund may also enter caps, floors and collars, which are types of interest rate swap agreements. The purchaser of an interest rate cap agrees to pay a premium to the seller in return for the seller paying interest on a specified principal amount to the purchaser based on the extent to which a specified interest rate exceeds a predetermined level. Conversely, the seller of an interest rate floor agrees to pay interest on a specified principal amount to the purchaser based on the extent to which a specified interest rate falls below a predetermined level. A collar combines a cap and selling a floor, establishing a predetermined range of interest rates within which each party agrees to make payments.

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 such as a security or basket of securities or on a referenced index during a specified period of time. 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 index. Total return swap agreements may be used to gain exposure to price changes in an overall market or an asset. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset or index does not perform as anticipated. Written total return swaps can have the potential for unlimited losses.

Credit Default Swaps. In a credit default swap, one party (the seller) agrees to make a payment to the other party (the buyer) in the event that a "credit event," such as a default or issuer insolvency occurs with respect to one or more underlying or "reference" bonds or other debt securities. The Fund may be either a seller or a buyer of credit protection under a credit default swap. Credit default swaps may be on a single security, a basket of securities or on a securities index. The purchaser pays a fee during the life of the swap. If there is a credit event with respect to a referenced debt security, the seller under a credit default swap may be required to pay the buyer the par amount (or a specified percentage of the par amount) of that security in exchange for receiving the referenced security (or a specified alternative security) from the buyer. Alternatively, the credit default swap may be cash settled, meaning that the seller will pay the buyer the difference between the par value and the market value of the defaulted bonds. If the swap is on a basket of securities (such as the CDX indices), the notional amount of the swap is reduced by the par amount of the defaulted bond, and the fixed payments are then made on the reduced notional amount. Taking a long position in (i.e., acting as the seller under) a credit default swap increases the exposure to the specific issuers. The risks of being the buyer of credit default swaps include the cost of paying for credit protection if

 

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there are no credit events, pricing transparency when assessing the cost of a credit default swap, counterparty risk, and the need to fund any delivery obligation, particularly in the event of adverse pricing when purchasing bonds to satisfy a delivery obligation. Credit default swap buyers are also subject to counterparty risk since the ability of the seller to make required payments is dependent on its creditworthiness.

Currency Swaps. A currency swap involves the exchange of payments denominated in one currency for payments denominated in another. Payments are based on a notional principal amount, the value of which is fixed in exchange rate terms at the swap's inception. Currency swaps are subject to currency risk.

Volatility Swaps. A volatility swap is a forward contract under which the payments to be received are dependent on the future realized volatility of an underlying asset, such as a stock. A volatility swap involves exposure to volatility, not on whether the value of the underlying asset goes up or down. Volatility swaps can be used to speculate on future volatility or as a hedge against volatility. A volatility swap is subject to the risk that the future volatility of the underlying asset is higher or lower than a sub-advisor anticipated. Correlation Swaps — A correlation swap is used to speculate on or hedge risks associated with the observed average correlation of a collection of underlying products.

Correlation Swaps.  A correlation swap is used to speculate on or hedge risks associated with the observed average correlation of a collection of underlying products.

Forward Swaps. A forward swap is created through the use of two swaps with different durations to meet the investment time period desired by a sub-advisor.

Swaptions — Swaptions are options, but not obligations, to establish a position in a swap on predetermined terms at a future date.

Time-Zone Arbitrage — Investing in foreign securities may involve a greater risk for excessive trading due to "time- zone arbitrage." If an event occurring after the close of a foreign market, but before the time the Fund computes its current net asset value, causes a change in the price of the foreign securities and such price is not reflected in the Fund's current net asset value, investors may attempt to take advantage of anticipated price movements in securities held by the Fund based on such pricing discrepancies.

U.S. Government Agency Securities — U.S. Government agency securities are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Some obligations issued by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others by discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and others only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality. U.S. Government securities bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. While the U.S. Government currently provides financial support to certain U.S. Government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will always do so, since it is not so obligated by law. U.S. Government securities include U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, Federal Home Loan Bank obligations, Federal Intermediate Credit Bank obligations, U.S. Government agency obligations and repurchase agreements secured thereby. U.S. Government agency securities are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk.

U.S. Treasury Obligations — U.S. Treasury obligations include bills (initial maturities of one year or less), notes (initial maturities between two and ten years), and bonds (initial maturities over ten years) issued by the U.S. Treasury, Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal component parts of such obligations known as STRIPS and inflation-indexed securities. The prices of these securities (like all debt securities) change between issuance and maturity in response to fluctuating market interest rates. U.S. Treasury obligations are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk.

Variable or Floating Rate Obligations — The interest rates payable on certain fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. A variable rate obligation has an interest rate which is adjusted at predesignated periods in response to changes in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate is based. Variable and floating rate obligations are less effective than fixed rate instruments at locking in a particular yield. Nevertheless, such obligations may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is a delay between changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation, or for other reasons.

The Fund may invest in floating rate debt instruments ("floaters"). The interest rate on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or U.S. Treasury bill rate. The interest rate on a floater resets periodically, typically every six months. While, because of the interest rate reset feature, floaters provide the Fund with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, the Fund will participate in any declines in interest rates as well.

Yankee CD Obligations — Yankee CDs are U.S. dollar obligations issued inside the United States by foreign entities. There is generally less publicly available information about foreign issuers and there may be less governmental regulation and supervision of foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies. Foreign issuers may use different accounting and financial standards, and the addition of foreign governmental restrictions may affect adversely the payment of principal and interest on foreign investments. In addition, not all foreign branches of United States banks are supervised or examined by regulatory authorities as are United States banks, and such branches may not be subject to reserve requirements.

When-Issued and Forward Commitment Transactions — These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date. These transactions enable the Fund to "lock-in" what the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, believes to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might purchase a security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and sell a similar security to settle such purchase, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. If the other party fails to complete the trade, the Fund may lose the opportunity to obtain a favorable price. For purchases on a when-issued basis, the price of the security is fixed at the date of purchase, but delivery of and payment for the securities is not set until after the securities are issued. The value of when-issued securities is subject to market fluctuation during the interim period and no income accrues to the Fund until settlement takes place. Such transactions therefore involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date or if the value of the security to be sold increases prior to the settlement date. A sale of a when- issued security also involves the risk that the other party will be unable to settle the transaction. Forward commitment transactions involve a

 

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commitment to purchase or sell securities with payment and delivery to take place at some future date, normally one to two months after the date of the transaction. The payment obligation and interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the forward commitment. Forward commitment transactions are typically used as a hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. Forward commitment transactions are executed for existing obligations, whereas in a when-issued transaction, the obligations have not yet been issued.

The Fund maintains with its custodian segregated (or earmarked) liquid securities in an amount at least equal to the when-issued or forward commitment transaction. When entering into a when-issued or forward commitment transaction, the Fund will rely on the other party to consummate the transaction; if the other party fails to do so, the Fund may be disadvantaged.

OTHER INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

In addition to the investment strategies and risks described in the Prospectus, the Fund may:

1

Engage in dollar rolls or purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. The purchase or sale of when-issued securities enables an investor to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices by locking in an attractive price or yield. The price of when-issued securities is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase or sell is made, but delivery and payment for the when-issued securities takes place at a later date, normally one to two months after the date of purchase. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the purchaser to the issuer and no interest accrues to the purchaser. Such transactions therefore involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date or if the value of the security to be sold increases prior to the settlement date. A sale of a when-issued security also involves the risk that the other party will be unable to settle the transaction. Dollar rolls are a type of forward commitment transaction. Purchases and sales of securities on a forward commitment basis involve a commitment to purchase or sell securities with payment and delivery to take place at some future date, normally one to two months after the date of the transaction. As with when-issued securities, these transactions involve certain risks, but they also enable an investor to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. Forward commitment transactions are executed for existing obligations, whereas in a when-issued transaction, the obligations have not yet been issued. When purchasing securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, a segregated amount of liquid assets at least equal to the value of purchase commitments for such securities will be maintained until the settlement date.

2

Invest in other investment companies (including affiliated investment companies) to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, or exemptive relief granted by the SEC.

3

Loan securities to broker-dealers or other institutional investors. Securities loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of all outstanding securities loans by the Fund exceeds 331/3% of its total assets (including the market value of collateral received). For purposes of complying with the Fund's investment policies and restrictions, collateral received in connection with securities loans is deemed an asset of the Fund to the extent required by law.

4

Enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which securities are acquired by the Fund from a securities dealer or bank subject to resale at an agreed upon price on a later date. The Fund bears a risk of loss in the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations and the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities. However, the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, attempts to minimize this risk by entering into repurchase agreements only with financial institutions that are deemed to be of good financial standing.

5

Purchase securities sold in private placement offerings made in reliance on the "private placement" exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and resold to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in Section 4(a)(2) securities and illiquid securities unless the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, determines, by continuous reference to the appropriate trading markets and pursuant to guidelines approved by the Trust's Board of Trustees ("Board") that any Section 4(a)(2) securities held by the Fund in excess of this level are at all times liquid.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

Fundamental Policies. The Fund has the following fundamental investment policy that enables it to invest in another investment company or series thereof that has substantially similar investment objectives and policies:

Notwithstanding any other limitation, the Fund may invest all of its investable assets in an open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations as the Fund. For this purpose, "all of the Fund's investable assets" means that the only investment securities that will be held by the Fund will be the Fund's interest in the investment company.

Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The following discusses the investment policies of the Fund.

The following restrictions have been adopted by the Fund and may be changed with respect to the Fund only by the majority vote of the Fund's outstanding interests. "Majority of the outstanding voting securities" under the 1940 Act and as used herein means, with respect to the Fund, the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund present at the meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present and represented at the shareholders' meeting or (b) more than 50% of the shares of the Fund.

The Fund may not:

1

Purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnership interests, provided, however, that the Fund may dispose of real estate acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or other instruments and invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies which invest in real estate or interests therein when consistent with the other policies and limitations described in the Prospectus.

2

Invest in physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling foreign currency, options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, securities on a forward-commitment or delayed-delivery basis, and other similar financial instruments).

 

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3

Engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of securities, the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under federal securities law.

4

Lend any security or make any other loan except (i) as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, (ii) pursuant to a rule, order or interpretation issued by the SEC or its staff, (iii) through the purchase of a portion of an issue of debt securities in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies and limitations, or (iv) by engaging in repurchase agreements.

5

Issue any senior security except as otherwise permitted (i) under the 1940 Act or (ii) pursuant to a rule, order or interpretation issued by the SEC or its staff.

6

Borrow money, except as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act or pursuant to a rule, order or interpretation issued by the SEC or its staff, including (i) as a temporary measure, (ii) by entering into reverse repurchase agreements, and (iii) by lending portfolio securities as collateral. For purposes of this investment limitation, the purchase or sale of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars and other similar financial instruments shall not constitute borrowing.

7

Invest more than 25% of its assets in the securities of companies primarily engaged in any particular industry or group of industries provided that this limitation does not apply to: (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; and (ii) tax-exempt securities issued by municipalities or their agencies and authorities.

The above percentage limits (except the limitation to borrowings) are based upon asset values at the time of the applicable transaction; accordingly, a subsequent change in asset values will not affect a transaction that was in compliance with the investment restrictions at the time such transaction was effected. With respect to the fundamental investment restriction relating to making loans set forth in number 4 above, securities loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of all outstanding securities loans by the Fund exceeds 331/3 % of its total net assets (including the market value of collateral received).

For purposes of the Fund's industry concentration policy, the Manager may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and instrument and may assign an industry classification consistent with those characteristics. The Manager may, but need not, consider industry classifications provided by third parties, and the classifications applied to Fund investments will be informed by applicable law. A large economic or market sector shall not be construed as a single industry or group of industries. The Manager currently considers securities issued by a foreign government (but not the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities) to be an "industry" subject to the 25% limitation. Thus, not more than 25% of a Fund's assets will be invested in securities issued by any one foreign government or supranational organization. The Fund might invest in certain securities issued by companies in a particular industry whose obligations are guaranteed by a foreign government. The Manager could consider such a company to be within the particular industry and, therefore, the Fund will invest in the securities of such a company only if it can do so under its policy of not being concentrated in any particular industry or group of industries.

Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The following non-fundamental investment restrictions apply to the Fund and may be changed with respect to the Fund by a vote of a majority of the Board. The Fund may not:

1

Invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including time deposits and repurchase agreements that mature in more than seven days; or

2

Purchase securities on margin, except that (1) the Fund may obtain such short term credits as necessary for the clearance of transactions, and (2) the Fund may make margin payments in connection with foreign currency, futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, securities purchased or sold on a forward-commitment or delayed-delivery basis or other financial instruments.

All percentage limitations on investments will apply at the time of the making of an investment and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment. Except for the investment restrictions listed above as fundamental or to the extent designated as such in the Prospectus, the other investment policies described in this SAI are not fundamental and may be changed by approval of the Trustees.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE INVESTMENTS

In times of unstable or adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, where the Manager or a sub-advisor believes it is appropriate and in the Fund's best interest, the Fund can invest up to 100% in cash and other types of securities for defensive or temporary purposes. It can also hold cash or purchase these types of securities for liquidity purposes to meet cash needs due to redemptions of Fund shares, or to hold while waiting to invest cash received from purchases of Fund shares or the sale of other portfolio securities.

These temporary investments can include (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; (ii) commercial paper rated in the highest short term category by a rating organization; (iii) domestic, Yankee and Eurodollar certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances of banks rated in the highest short term category by a rating organization; (iv) any of the foregoing securities that mature in one year or less (generally known as "cash equivalents"); (v) other short-term corporate debt obligations; (vi) repurchase agreements; (vii) futures; or (viii) shares of money market funds, including funds advised by the Manager or a sub-advisor.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

Portfolio turnover is a measure of trading activity in a portfolio of securities, usually calculated over a period of one year. The rate is calculated by dividing the lesser amount of purchases or sales of securities by the average amount of securities held over the period. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% would indicate that the Fund sold and replaced the entire value of its securities holdings during the period. High portfolio turnover can increase the Fund's transaction costs and generate additional capital gains or losses.

 

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DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Fund publicly discloses portfolio holdings information as follows:

1

a complete list of holdings for the Fund on an annual and semi-annual basis in the reports to shareholders within sixty days of the end of each fiscal semi-annual period and in publicly available filings of Form N-CSR with the SEC within ten days thereafter;

2

a complete list of holdings for the Fund as of the end of its first and third fiscal quarters in publicly available filings of Form N-Q with the SEC within sixty days of the end of the fiscal quarter;

3

a complete list of holdings for the Fund as of the end of each month on the Funds' website (www.americanbeaconfunds.com) approximately twenty days after the end of the month; and

4

ten largest holdings for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter on the Funds' website (www.americanbeaconfunds.com) and in sales materials approximately fifteen days after the end of the calendar quarter.

Public disclosure of the Fund's holdings on the website and in sales materials may be delayed when an investment manager informs the Fund that such disclosure could be harmful to the Fund. In addition, individual holdings may be omitted from website and sales material disclosure, when such omission is deemed to be in the Fund's best interest.

Disclosure of Nonpublic Holdings.

Occasionally, certain interested parties — including individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries that distribute shares of the Fund, third-party service providers, rating and ranking organizations, and others — may request portfolio holdings information that has not yet been publicly disclosed by the Fund. The Fund's policy is to control the disclosure of nonpublic portfolio holdings information in an attempt to prevent parties from utilizing such information to engage in trading activity harmful to Fund shareholders. To this end, the Board has adopted a Policy and Procedures for Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information (the "Holdings Policy"). The purpose of the Holdings Policy is to define those interested parties who are authorized to receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information on a selective basis and to set forth conditions upon which such information may be provided. In general, nonpublic portfolio holdings may be disclosed on a selective basis only when it is determined that (i) there is a legitimate business purpose for the information, (ii) recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the nonpublic information; and (iii) disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders. The Holdings Policy is summarized below.

A variety of third party service providers require access to Fund holdings to provide services to the Fund or to assist the Manager and the sub-advisors in managing the Fund ("service providers"). The service providers have a duty to keep the Fund's nonpublic information confidential either through written contractual arrangements with the Fund (or another Fund service provider) or by the nature of their role with respect to the Fund (or the service provider). The Fund has determined that disclosure of nonpublic holdings information to service providers fulfills a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interest of shareholders. In addition, the Fund has determined that disclosure of nonpublic holdings information to members of the Trust's Board of Trustees fulfills a legitimate business purpose, is in in the best interest of Fund shareholders, and each Trustee is subject to a duty of confidentiality.

The Fund has ongoing arrangements to provide nonpublic holdings information to the following service providers:

Service Provider

Service

Holdings Access

Manager

Investment management and administrator

Complete list on intraday basis with no lag

Sub-Advisor

Investment management

Holdings under sub-advisor's management on intraday basis with no lag

Abel Noser Corp.

Trade execution analysis for sub-advisor

Partial list on daily basis with no lag

State Street Bank and Trust Co. ("State Street") and its designated foreign sub-custodians

Fund's custodian and foreign custody manager, and foreign sub-custodians

Complete list on intraday basis with no lag

Interactive Data Corporation

Pricing Vendor

Complete list on daily basis with no lag

xxx

Fund's independent registered public accounting firm

Complete list on annual basis with no lag

FactSet Research Systems, Inc.

Performance and portfolio analytics reporting for the Manager

Complete list on daily basis with no lag

Bloomberg, L.P.

Performance and portfolio analytics reporting

Complete list on daily basis with no lag

xxx

Proxy voting services for sub-advisor

Partial list on a periodic basis with lag

Certain third parties are provided with nonpublic holdings information (either complete or partial lists) by the Manager or another service provider on an ad hoc basis. These third parties include: broker-dealers, prospective sub-advisors, borrowers of the Fund's portfolio securities, pricing services, legal counsel, and issuers (or their agents). Broker-dealers utilized by the Fund in the process of purchasing and selling portfolio securities or providing market quotations receive limited holdings information on a current basis with no lag. The Manager provides current holdings to investment managers being considered for appointment as a sub-advisor to the Fund. If the Fund participates in securities lending activities, potential borrowers of the Fund's securities receive information pertaining to the Fund's securities available for loan. Such information is provided on a current basis with no lag. The Fund utilizes various pricing services to supply market quotations and evaluated prices to State Street. State Street and the Manager may disclose current nonpublic holdings to those pricing services. An investment manager may provide holdings information to legal counsel when seeking advice regarding those holdings. From time to time, an issuer (or its agent) may contact the Fund requesting confirmation of ownership of the issuer's securities. Such holdings information is provided to the issuer (or its agent) as of the date requested. The Fund does not have written contractual

 

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arrangements with these third parties regarding the confidentiality of the holdings information. However, the Fund would not continue to utilize a third party that the Manager determined to have misused nonpublic holdings information.

The Fund has ongoing arrangements to provide periodic holdings information to certain organizations that publish ratings and/or rankings for the Fund or that redistribute the Fund's holdings to financial intermediaries to facilitate their analysis of the Fund. The Fund has determined that disclosure of holdings information to such organizations fulfills a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interest of shareholders, as it provides existing and potential shareholders with an independent basis for evaluating the Fund in comparison to other mutual funds. As of the date of this SAI, all such organizations receive holdings information after it has been made public on the Fund's website.

No compensation or other consideration may be paid to the Fund, the Fund's service providers, or any other party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information.

Under the Holdings Policy, disclosure of nonpublic portfolio holdings information to parties other than those discussed above must meet all of the following conditions:

1

Recipients of portfolio holdings information must agree in writing to keep the information confidential until it has been posted to the Fund's website and not to trade based on the information;

2

Holdings may only be disclosed as of a month-end date;

3

No compensation may be paid to the Fund's the Manager or any other party in connection with the disclosure of information about portfolio securities; and

4

A member of the Manager's Compliance staff must approve requests for nonpublic holdings information.

In determining whether to approve a request for portfolio holdings disclosure by the Manager, Compliance staff generally considers the type of requestor and its relationship to the Fund, the stated reason for the request, any historical pattern of requests from that same individual or entity, the style and strategy of the Fund for which holdings have been requested (e.g., passive versus active management), whether the Fund is managed by one or multiple investment managers, and any other factors it deems relevant. Any potential conflicts between shareholders and affiliated persons of the Fund that arise as a result of a request for portfolio holdings information shall be decided by the Manager in the best interests of shareholders. However, if a conflict exists between the interests of shareholders and the Manager, the Manager may present the details of the request to the Board for a determination to either approve or deny the request. On a quarterly basis, the Manager will prepare a report for the Board outlining any instances of disclosures of nonpublic holdings during the period that did not comply with the Holdings Policy. The Compliance staff generally determines whether a historical pattern of requests by the same individual or entity constitutes an "ongoing arrangement" and should be disclosed in the Fund's SAI.

The Manager and sub-advisor to the Fund may manage substantially similar portfolio for clients other than the Fund. Those other clients may receive and publicly disclose their portfolio holdings information prior to public disclosure by the Fund. The Holdings Policy is not intended to limit the Manager or the sub-advisor from making such disclosures to their clients.

LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions. In connection with such loans, the Fund remains the beneficial owner of the loaned securities and continues to be entitled to payments in amounts approximately equal to the interest, dividends or other distributions payable on the loaned securities. The Fund also has the right to terminate a loan at any time. The Fund does not have the right to vote on securities while they are on loan. However, it is the Fund's policy to attempt to terminate loans in time to vote those proxies that the Fund determines are material to its interests. Loans of portfolio securities may not exceed 331/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the value of all assets received as collateral for the loan). The Fund will receive collateral consisting of cash in the form of U.S. dollars, foreign currency, or securities issued or fully guaranteed by the U.S. Government which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. If the collateral consists of cash, the Fund will reinvest the cash and pay the borrower a pre-negotiated fee or "rebate" from any return earned on the investment. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund may experience delays in recovering the loaned securities or exercising its rights in the collateral. Loans are made only to borrowers that are deemed by the Manager to present acceptable credit risk on a fully collateralized basis. In a loan transaction, the Fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral. The Fund seeks to minimize this risk by limiting the investment of cash collateral to registered money market funds, including money market funds advised by the Manager that invest in U.S. Government and agency securities.

For all funds that engage in securities lending, the Manager receives compensation for administrative and oversight functions with respect to securities lending, including oversight of the securities lending agent, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. The amount of such compensation depends on the income generated by the loan of the securities. The Fund receives compensation that includes, but is not limited to, fee income in lieu of dividends and interest, or the equivalent, as applicable, on the securities loaned and interest on the investment of the cash collateral.

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund does not intend to engage in securities lending activities.

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

The Board of Trustees

The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees. The Board is responsible for and oversees the overall management and operations of the Trust and the Fund, which includes the general oversight and review of the Fund's investment activities, in accordance with federal law and the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as the stated policies of the Fund. The Board oversees the Trust's officers and service providers, including American Beacon Advisors, Inc. ("American Beacon"), which is responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of the Fund based on

 

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policies and agreements reviewed and approved by the Board. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Board regularly interacts with and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including American Beacon's investment personnel and the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO"). The Board also is assisted by the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm (which reports directly to the Trust's Audit and Compliance Committee), independent counsel and other experts as appropriate, all of whom are selected by the Board.

Risk Oversight

Consistent with its responsibility for oversight of the Trust and the Fund, the Board oversees the management of risks relating to the administration and operation of the Trust and the Fund. American Beacon, as part of its responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the Fund, is responsible for day-to-day risk management for the Fund. The Board, in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment, also separately considers potential risks that may impact the Fund. The Board performs this risk management oversight directly and, as to certain matters, through its committees (described below) and through the Board members who are not "interested persons" of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act ("Independent Trustees"). The following provides an overview of the principal, but not all, aspects of the Board's oversight of risk management for the Trust and the Fund.

In general, the Fund's risks include, among others, investment risk, liquidity risk, securities selection risk and valuation risk. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address these and other risks to the Trust and the Fund. In addition, under the general oversight of the Board, American Beacon, the Fund's investment adviser, and other service providers to the Fund have themselves adopted a variety of policies, procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the Fund. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Further, American Beacon as manager of the Fund oversees and regularly monitors the investments, operations and compliance of the Fund's investment advisers.

The Board also oversees risk management for the Trust and the Fund through review of regular reports, presentations and other information from officers of the Trust and other persons. Senior officers of the Trust, and senior officers of American Beacon, and the CCO regularly report to the Board on a range of matters, including those relating to risk management. The Board and the Investment Committee also regularly receive reports from American Beacon with respect to the investments, securities trading and securities lending activities of the Fund. In addition to regular reports from American Beacon, the Board also receives reports regarding other service providers to the Trust, either directly or through American Beacon or the Fund's CCO, on a periodic or regular basis. At least annually, the Board receives a report from the CCO regarding the effectiveness of the Fund's compliance program. Also, typically on an annual basis, the Board receives reports, presentations and other information from American Beacon in connection with the Board's consideration of the renewal of each of the Trust's agreements with American Beacon and the Trust's distribution plans under Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act.

Senior officers of the Trust and American Beacon also report regularly to the Audit and Compliance Committee on Fund valuation matters and on the Trust's internal controls and accounting and financial reporting policies and practices. In addition, the Audit and Compliance Committee receives regular reports from the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm on internal control and financial reporting matters. On at least a quarterly basis, the Audit and Compliance Committee meets with the Fund's CCO to discuss matters relating to the Fund's compliance program.

Board Structure and Related Matters

Independent Trustees constitute at least two-thirds of the Board. Richard A. Massman, an Independent Trustee, serves as Independent Chair of the Board. The Independent Chair's responsibilities include: setting an agenda for each meeting of the Board; presiding at all meetings of the Board and Independent Trustees; and serving as a liaison with other Trustees, the Trust's officers and other management personnel, and counsel to the Fund. The Independent Chair shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

The Trustees discharge their responsibilities collectively as a Board, as well as through Board committees, each of which operates pursuant to a charter approved by the Board that delineates the responsibilities of that committee. The Board has established three standing committees: the Audit and Compliance Committee, the Investment Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. For example, the Investment Committee is responsible for oversight of the process, typically performed annually, by which the Board considers and approves the Fund's investment advisory agreement with American Beacon, while specific matters related to oversight of the Fund's independent auditors have been delegated by the Board to its Audit and Compliance Committee, subject to approval of the Audit and Compliance Committee's recommendations by the Board. The members and responsibilities of each Board committee are summarized below.

The Board periodically evaluates its structure and composition as well as various aspects of its operations. The Board believes that its leadership structure, including its Independent Chair position and its committees, is appropriate for the Trust in light of, among other factors, the asset size and nature of the Funds, the number of Funds overseen by the Board, the arrangements for the conduct of the Fund's operations, the number of Trustees, and the Board's responsibilities. On an annual basis, the Board conducts a self-evaluation that considers, among other matters, whether the Board and its committees are functioning effectively and whether, given the size and composition of the Board and each of its committees, the Trustees are able to oversee effectively the number of Funds in the complex.

The Trust is part of the American Beacon Funds Complex, which is comprised of the 26 series within the Trust and 2 series within the American Beacon Select Funds. The same persons who constitute the Board also constitute the board of trustees of American Beacon Select Funds and each Trustee oversees the Trusts' combined 28 series.

The Board holds five (5) regularly scheduled meetings each year. The Board may hold special meetings, as needed, either in person or by telephone, to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees also hold at least one in-person meeting each year during a portion of which management is not present and may hold special meetings, as needed, either in person or by telephone.

The Trustees of the Trust are identified in the tables below, which provide information as to their principal business occupations and directorships held during the last five years and certain other information. Subject to the Trustee Emeritus and Retirement Policy described below, a Trustee serves until

 

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his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. The address of each Trustee listed below is 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039. Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term or until his or her removal, resignation, or retirement*. Each Trustee has and continues to serve the same term as a Trustee of the American Beacon Select Funds as he or she has with the Trust.

Name (Age) *

Position  and Length of Time  Served with each Trust

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships During Past 5 Years

INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Alan D. Feld ** (79)

Trustee since 1996

Partner in the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP (law firm) (1960- Present); Trustee, American Beacon Mileage Funds (1996-2012).

NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Gilbert G. Alvarado ( 44)

Trustee since 2015

Director, Kura MD, Inc. (local telehealth organization) (2015-present); Vice President & CFO, Sierra Health Foundation (health conversion private foundation) (2006-Present)Vice President & CFO, Sierra Health Foundation: Center for Health Program Management (California public benefit corporation) (2012-Present); Director, Innovative North State (2012-Present); Director, Sacramento Regional Technology Alliance (2011-Present); Director, Women's Empowerment (2009-2014).

Joseph B. Armes (52)

Trustee since 2015

Chairman & CEO, CSW Industrials, (f/k/a Capital Southwest Corporation) (investment company; NASDAQ:CSWC) (2013-Present); President & CEO, JBA Investment Partners (family investment vehicle) (2010-Present); Chief Operating Officer, Hicks Holdings, LLC (Hicks Family assets and investments) (2005-2010); Trustee, Baylor University Board of Regents (2001-2010); Director and Chair of Audit Committee, RSP Permian (oil and gas producer, NYSE: RSPP) (2013-Present).

Gerard J. Arpey (57)

Trustee since 2012

Partner, Emerald Creek Group (private equity firm) (2011-Present); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer AMR Corp. and American Airlines, Inc. (2003-2011); Director, S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (privately held company) (2008-present). Director, The Home Depot, Inc. (2015-Present).

W. Humphrey Bogart (71)

Trustee since 2004

Trustee, American Beacon Mileage Funds (2004-2012).

Brenda A. Cline (55)

Trustee since 2004

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, Kimbell Art Foundation (1993-Present); Director, Tyler Technologies, Inc. (2014-Present); Director, Range Resources Corporation (oil and natural gas company) (2015- Present); Trustee, American Beacon Mileage Funds (2004-2012).

Eugene J. Duffy (61)

Trustee since 2008

Managing Director, Institutional Services, Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation (2014-Present); Principal and Executive Vice President, Paradigm Asset Management (1994-2014); Director, Sunrise Bank of Atlanta (2008-2013); Trustee, American Beacon Mileage Funds (2008-2012).

Thomas M. Dunning (73)

Trustee since 2008

Chairman Emeritus (2008-Present); Lockton Dunning Benefits (consulting firm in employee benefits); Board Director, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (2007-Present); Board Member, BancTec (2010-Present) (software consulting); Trustee, American Beacon Mileage Funds (2008-2012).

Richard A. Massman (72)

Trustee since 2004
Chairman since 2008

Consultant and General Counsel Emeritus (2009-Present) and Senior Vice President and General Counsel (1994-2009), Hunt Consolidated, Inc. (holding company engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, refining, real estate, farming, ranching and venture capital activities); Trustee, American Beacon Mileage Funds (2004-2012).

Barbara J. McKenna (52)

Trustee since 2012

Managing Principal, Longfellow Investment Management Company (2005- Present).

R. Gerald Turner (70)

Trustee since 2001

President, Southern Methodist University (1995-Present); Director, J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (1996-Present); Director, Kronus Worldwide Inc. (chemical manufacturing) (2003-Present); Trustee, American Beacon Mileage Funds (2001-2012).

*

The Board has adopted a retirement policy that requires Trustees, other than Mr. Feld, to retire no later than the last day of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 75.

**

Mr. Feld is deemed to be an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined by the Investment Company Act. Mr. Feld's law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP has provided legal services within the past two fiscal years to one or more sub-advisors to certain American Beacon Funds.

In addition to the information set forth in the tables above and other relevant qualifications, experience, attributes or skills applicable to a particular Trustee, the following provides further information about the qualifications and experience of each Trustee.

Gilbert G. Alvarado: Mr. Alvarado has extensive organizational management and financial experience as vice president and chief financial officer in public charities, and a health conversion private foundation, chief financial and information officer of a the largest health foundation on the Texas/Mexico border and an accountant with a regional health system.

Joseph B. Armes: Mr. Armes has extensive financial, investment and organizational management experience as chairman of the board of directors, president and chief executive officer of an investment company listed on NASDAQ, president and chief executive officer of a private family investment vehicle, chief operating officer of a private holding company for a family office, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer and director of a special purpose acquisition company listed on the American Stock Exchange, a director and audit committee chair of an oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and as an officer of public companies and as a director and officer of private companies.

 

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Gerard J. Arpey: Mr. Arpey has extensive organizational management, financial and international experience serving as chairman, chief executive officer, and chief financial officer of one of the largest global airlines, service as a director of public and private companies, service to several charitable organizations, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

W. Humphrey Bogart: Mr. Bogart has extensive experience in the investment management business including as president and chief executive officer of an investment adviser and as a consultant, significant organizational management experience through start-up efforts with a national bank, service as a board member of a university medical center foundation, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

Brenda A. Cline: Ms. Cline has extensive organizational management, financial and investment experience as executive vice president, chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer to a private foundation, service as a director and member of the audit and nominating and governance committees of various publicly held companies, service as a trustee to a private university, and several charitable boards, including acting as a member of their investment and\or audit committees, extensive experience as an audit senior manager with a large public accounting firm, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

Eugene J. Duffy: Mr. Duffy has extensive experience in the investment management business and organizational management experience as a member of senior management, service as a director of a bank, service as a chairman of a charitable fund and as a trustee to an association, service on the board of a private university and non-profit organization, service as chair to an financial services industry association, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

Thomas M. Dunning: Mr. Dunning has extensive organizational management experience founding and serving as chairman and chief executive officer of a private company, service as a director of a private company, service as chairman of a large state municipal bond issuer and chairman of a large airport authority, also an issuer of bonds, service as a board member of a state department of transportation, service as a director of various foundations, service as chair of civic organizations, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

Alan D. Feld: Mr. Feld has extensive experience as a business attorney, organizational management experience as chairman of a law firm, experience as a director of several publicly held companies, service as a trustee of a private university and a board member of a hospital, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

Richard A. Massman: Mr. Massman has extensive experience as a business attorney, organizational management experience as a founding member of a law firm, experience as a senior vice president and general counsel of a large private company, service as the chairman and director of several foundations, including services on their Investment Committees and Finance Committees, chairman of a governmental board, chairman of various professional organizations and multiple years of service as a Trustee and as Independent Chair.

Barbara J. McKenna: Ms. McKenna has extensive experience in the investment management industry, organizational management experience as a member of senior management, service as a director of an investment manager, member of numerous financial services industry associations, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

R. Gerald Turner: Mr. Turner has extensive organizational management experience as president of a private university, service as a director and member of the audit and governance committees of various publicly held companies, service as a member to several charitable boards, and multiple years of service as a Trustee.

Committees of the Board

The Trust has an Audit and Compliance Committee ("Audit Committee").  The Audit Committee consists of Ms. Cline (Chair), and Messrs. Duffy, Alvarado, and Dunning. Mr. Massman, as Chairman of the Trust, serves on the Audit Committee in an ex-officio non-voting capacity. None of the members of the committee are "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined by the Investment Company Act. As set forth in its charter, the primary duties of the Trust's Audit Committee are: (a) to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Trust and the Funds and their internal controls and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal controls of certain third-party service providers; (b) to oversee the quality and integrity of the Trust's financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (c) to approve, prior to appointment, the engagement of the Trust's independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Trust's independent auditors; (d) to oversee the Trust's compliance with all regulatory obligations arising under applicable federal securities laws, rules and regulations and oversee management's implementation and enforcement of the Trust's compliance policies and procedures ("Compliance Program"); and (e) to coordinate the Board's oversight of the Trust's CCO in connection with his or her implementation of the Trust's Compliance Program. The Audit Committee met xx times during the fiscal year ended xx xx, 20xx.

The Trust has a Nominating and Governance Committee ("Nominating Committee") that is comprised of Messrs. Feld (Chair), Turner, and Massman. As set forth in its charter, the Nominating Committee's primary duties are: (a) to make recommendations regarding the nomination of non-interested Trustees to the Board; (b) to make recommendations regarding the appointment of an Independent Trustee as Chairman of the Board; (c) to evaluate qualifications of potential "interested" members of the Board and Trust officers; (d) to review shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board; (e) to make recommendations to the Board for nomination for membership on all committees of the Board; (f) to consider and evaluate the structure, composition and operation of the Board; (g) to review shareholder recommendations for proposals to be submitted for consideration during a meeting of Fund shareholders; and (h) to consider and make recommendations relating to the compensation of Independent Trustees and of those officers as to whom the Board is charged with approving compensation. Shareholder recommendations for Trustee candidates may be mailed in writing, including a comprehensive resume and any supporting documentation, to the Nominating Committee in care of the Secretary of the Fund. The Nominating and Governance Committee met xx times during the fiscal year ended xx xx, 20xx.

The Trust has an Investment Committee that is comprised of Mr. Bogart (Chair), Ms. McKenna, Messrs. Armes and Arpey. Mr. Massman, as Chairman of the Trust, serves on the Investment Committee in an ex-officio non-voting capacity. As set forth in its charter, the Investment Committee's primary duties are: (a) to review and evaluate the short- and long-term investment performance of the Manager and each of the designated sub-advisors to the

 

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Fund; (b) to evaluate recommendations by the Manager regarding the hiring or removal of designated sub-advisors to the Fund; (c) to review material changes recommended by the Manager to the allocation of Fund assets to a sub-advisor; (d) to review proposed changes recommended by the Manager to the investment objective or principal investment strategies of the Fund; and (e) to review proposed changes recommended by the Manager to the material provisions of the advisory agreement with a sub-advisor, including, but not limited to, changes to the provision regarding compensation. The Investment Committee met xx times during the fiscal year ended xx xx, 20xx.

As of the calendar year ended December 31, 2015, none of the Trustees owned equity securities of the Fund.

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Feld

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all  Trusts (28 Funds as of December 31, 2015)

Over $100,000

 

NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Alvarado

Armes

Arpey

Bogart

Cline

Duffy

Dunning

Massman

McKenna

Turner

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities  in all Trusts (28 Funds as of December 31, 2015)

$1 - $10,000

None

Over $100,000

$10,001-$50,000

Over $100,000

None

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

Over $100,000

Trustee Compensation

As compensation for their service to the Trust and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the "Trusts"), each Trustee is compensated from the Funds and fund complex as follows: (1) an annual retainer of $110,000; (2) meeting attendance fee (for attendance in person or via teleconference) of (a) $2,500 for attendance by Board members for each regularly scheduled Board meeting, (b) $2,500 for attendance by Committee members at meetings of the Audit Committee and the Investment Committee, and (c) $1,500 for attendance by Committee members at meetings of the Nominating Committee; and (3) reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board meetings, Committee meetings, and relevant educational seminars. The Trustees also may receive compensation for attendance at special Board and/or Committee meetings from time to time.

For his service as Board Chairman, Mr. Massman receives an additional annual retainer of $25,000. Although, he attends several committee meetings at each quarterly Board meeting, he receives only a single $2,500 fee each quarter for his attendance at those meetings.  The Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Chairman of the Investment Committee each also receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000.

 

The following table shows estimated compensation (excluding reimbursements) that will be paid by the Trust to each Trustee for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2016*.

Name of Trustee

Aggregate Compensation From the Trust

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of the Trust's Expenses

Total Compensation From the Trusts

INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Alan D. Feld

$63,992

 1

$65,500

NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Gilbert G. Alvarado

$65,946

$67,500

Joseph B. Armes

$65,946

$67,500

Gerard J. Arpey

$65,946

$67,500

W. Humphrey Bogart

$70,831

 1

$72,500

Brenda A. Cline

$70,831

 1

$72,500

Eugene J. Duffy

$65,946

$67,500

Thomas M. Dunning

$65,946

$67,500

Richard A. Massman

$78,158

 1

$80,000

Barbara J. McKenna

$65,946

$67,500

R. Gerald Turner

$63,992

 1

$65,500

*

Estimated compensation for the period xx xx, 20xx – October 31, 2016.

1

Upon retirement from the Board, each of these Trustees is eligible for flight benefits afforded to Trustees who served on the Boards as of June 4, 2008 as described below.

The Boards adopted a Trustee Retirement Policy and Trustee Emeritus and Retirement Plan ("Plan"). The Plan provides that a Trustee who has served on the Boards prior to September 12, 2008, and who has reached a mandatory retirement age established by the Board (currently 75) is eligible to elect Trustee Emeritus status ("Eligible Trustees"). The Eligible Trustees are Messrs. Bogart, Feld, Massman and Turner and Ms. Cline.  The mandatory retirement age does not apply to Mr. Feld. Additionally, Eligible Trustees who have served on the Board of one or more Trusts for at least five years may elect to retire from the Board at an earlier age and immediately assume Trustee Emeritus status.  The Board has determined that, other than the Plan established for Eligible Trustees, no other retirement benefits will accrue for current or future Trustees.

 

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Upon assuming Trustee Emeritus status, each eligible Trustee and his or her spouse (or designated companion) may receive annual flight benefits from the Trusts of up to $40,000 combined, on a tax-grossed up basis, on American Airlines (a subsidiary of the Manager's former parent company) for a maximum period of 10 years, depending upon length of service prior to September 12, 2008. Eligible Trustees may opt to receive instead an annual retainer of $20,000 from the Trusts in lieu of flight benefits.  No retirement benefits are accrued for Board service after September 12, 2008.

A Trustee Emeritus must commit to provide certain ongoing services and advice to the Board members and the Trusts; however, a Trustee Emeritus does not have any voting rights at Board meetings and is not subject to election by shareholders of the Fund(s). Currently, two individuals who retired from the Board prior to September 12, 2008, have assumed Trustee Emeritus status. One receives an annual retainer of $20,000 from the Trusts. The other individual and his spouse receive annual flight benefits of up to $40,000 combined, on a tax-grossed up basis, on American Airlines.

Principal Officers of the Trust

The Officers of the Trust conduct and supervise its daily business. As of the date of this SAI, the Officers of the Trust, their ages, their business address and their principal occupations and directorships during the past five years are as set forth below. The address of each Officer is 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039. Each Officer serves for a term of one year or until his or her resignation, retirement, or removal. Each Officer has and continues to hold the same position with the American Beacon Select Funds as listed below for the Trust.

 

Name (Age)

Position and Length of Time Served with each Trust

Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships During Past 5 Years

OFFICERS

Gene L. Needles, Jr. (61)

President since 2009; Executive Vice President 2009

President, CEO and Director, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2009-Present); Director, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. (2015-Present); Director, Astro AB Acquisition, Inc.(2015-Present); Director, Astro AB Astro Topco, Inc. (2015-Present), President & CEO, Astro AB Holdings, LLC. (2015-Present); President, CEO and Director, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; (2009-2015); President and CEO, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc. (2009-2015); Manager and President, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C. (2012-Present); President, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. (2014-Present).

Jeffrey K. Ringdahl (40)

Vice President since 2010

Chief Operating Officer, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2010-Present); Vice President, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C. (2012-Present); Director, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. (2015-Present); Director, Astro AB Acquisition, Inc. (2015-Present); Director, Astro AB Astro Topco, Inc. (2015-Present), Chief Operating Officer, Astro AB Holdings, LLC.(2015-Present); Senior Vice President, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc. (2013-2015); Senior Vice President, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc. (2013-2015); Director and Vice President, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. (2014-Present); Vice President, Product Management, Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (2007-2010).

Rosemary K. Behan (57)

Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer since 2006

Secretary, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2006-Present); Secretary, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. (2015-Present); Secretary, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc. (2008-2015); Secretary, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc. (2008-2015); Secretary, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.(2008-Present); Secretary, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. (2014-Present).

Brian E. Brett (55)

Vice President since 2004

Vice President, Director of Sales, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2004-Present).

Erica B. Duncan (45)

Vice President since 2011

Vice President, Marketing & Client Services, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2011-Present); Supervisor, Brand Marketing, Invesco (2010-2011).

Michael W. Fields (62)

Vice President since 1989

Chief Fixed Income Officer (2011-Present) and Vice President, Fixed Income Investments (1988-2011), American Beacon Advisors, Inc.; Director, American Beacon Global Funds SPC (2002-2011).

Melinda G. Heika (54)

Treasurer since 2010

Treasurer, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2010-Present); Treasurer, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. (2015-Present); Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc. (2010-2015); Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings Parent Inc., (2010-2015); Treasurer, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C. (2012-Present); Director and Treasurer, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. (2014-Present).

Terri L. McKinney (52)

Vice President since 2010

Vice President, Enterprise Services, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2009-Present).

Samuel J. Silver (53)

Vice President since 2011

Vice President, Fixed Income Investments (2011-Present) and Senior Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income Investments (1999-2011), American Beacon Advisors, Inc.

Sonia L. Bates (59)

Asst. Treasurer since 2011

Director, Tax and Financial Reporting (2011-Present), Manager, Tax and Financial Reporting (2005-2010), American Beacon Advisors, Inc.; Asst. Treasurer, Astro AB Borrower, Inc. (2015-Present); Asst. Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc. (2011-2015); Asst. Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings Parent Inc. (2011-2015); Asst. Treasurer, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C. (2012-Present).

 

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Christina E. Sears (44)

Chief Compliance Officer since 2004 and Asst. Secretary since 1999

Chief Compliance Officer, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (2004-Present); Chief Compliance Officer, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C. (2012-Present).

CODE OF ETHICS

The Manager, the Trust and the sub-advisor(s) each have adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act. Each Code of Ethics significantly restricts the personal trading of all employees with access to non-public portfolio information. For example, each Code of Ethics generally requires pre-clearance of all personal securities trades (with limited exceptions) and prohibits employees from purchasing or selling a security that is being purchased or sold or being considered for purchase (with limited exceptions) or sale by any Fund. In addition, the Manager's and Trust's Code of Ethics require employees to report trades in shares of the Trusts. Each Code of Ethics is on public file with, and may be obtained from, the SEC.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

From time to time, the Fund may own a security whose issuer solicits a proxy vote on certain matters. The Board seeks to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders and has delegated proxy voting authority to the Manager. The Manager in turn has delegated proxy voting authority to the sub-advisor with respect to the Fund's assets under the sub-advisor's management. The Trust has adopted a Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the "Policy") that governs proxy voting by the Manager and sub-advisor, including procedures to address potential conflicts of interest between the Fund's shareholders and the Manager, the sub-advisor or their affiliates. The Trust's Board of Trustees has approved the Manager's proxy voting policies and procedures with respect to Fund assets under the Manager's management. Please see Appendix A for a copy of the Policy. The sub-advisor's proxy voting policy and procedures are summarized (or included in their entirety) in Appendix B. The Fund's proxy voting record for the most recent year ended June 30 is available as of August 31 of each year upon request and without charge by calling 1-800-658-5811 or by visiting the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The proxy voting record can be found in Form N-PX on the SEC's website.

CONTROL PERSONS AND 5% SHAREHOLDERS

A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of any Class of the Fund's outstanding shares. A control person is a shareholder that owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. Shareholders owning voting securities in excess of 25% may determine the outcome of any matter affecting and voted on by shareholders of the Fund. The actions of an entity or person that controls the Fund could have an effect on other shareholders. For instance, a control person may have effective voting control over the Funds or large redemptions by a control person could cause the Funds' other shareholders to pay a higher pro rata portion of the Fund's expenses. 

As of the date of this SAI, the Manager is the sole shareholder of the Fund.

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS

The Fund's sub-advisors are listed below with information regarding their controlling persons or entities. According to the Investment Company Act, a person or entity with control with respect to an investment advisor has "the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company." Persons and entities affiliated with the sub-advisors are considered affiliates for the portion of Fund assets managed by the sub-advisors.

GLG LLC ("GLG")

Controlling Person/Entity

Basis of Control

Nature of Controlling Person/Entity Business

xx

xx

xx

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Manager have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with each sub-advisor pursuant to which each sub-advisor receives an annualized sub-advisory fee that is calculated and accrued daily based on a percentage of the Funds' average daily assets. Each Investment Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate if assigned, and may be terminated without penalty at any time by the Manager, by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Fund on no less than thirty (30) days' nor more than sixty (60) days' written notice to the sub-advisor, or by the sub-advisor upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Trust. The Investment Advisory Agreements will continue in effect provided that annually such continuance is specifically approved by a vote of the Trustees, including the affirmative votes of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval, or by the vote of shareholders.

MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICES

The Manager

The Manager located at 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039 is a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Astro AB Borrower, Inc. ("AB Borrower"). AB Borrower is, in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Acquisition, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Topco, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro AB Holdings, LLC ("Astro AB"). On April 30, 2015, the Manager's prior parent company was acquired by Astro AB, which is owned primarily by Kelso Investment Associates VIII, L.P., KEP VI, LLC or Estancia Capital Partners L.P.

 

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("Purchasers"), investment funds affiliated with Kelso & Company, L.P. ("Kelso") or Estancia Capital Management, LLC ("Estancia"), which are private equity firms. The address of Kelso and its investment funds is 320 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10022. The address of Estancia and its investment fund is 20865 N 90th Place, Suite 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. The address of Astro AB is 220 East Las Colinas Boulevard, Suite 1200, Irving, TX 75039.

Listed below are individuals and entities that may be deemed control persons of the Manager.

Controlling Person/Entity

Basis of Control/Status

Nature of Controlling  Person/Entity Business/Business History

Astro AB Holdings, LLC.

Parent Company

Founded in 2015

Kelso Investment Associates VIII

Ownership in Parent Company

Investment Fund

The Manager is paid a management fee as compensation for providing the Trust with advisory and asset allocation services. The expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets represented by such class. The Management Agreement provides for the Manager to receive an annualized management fee based on a percentage of the Fund's average daily assets that is calculated and accrued daily according to the following schedule:

 

First $5 billion

0.350%

Next $5 billion

0.325%

Next $10 billion

0.300%

Over $20 billion

0.257%

Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, no fees have been paid to the Manager.

Operating expenses directly attributable to a specific class are charged against the assets of that class. Pursuant to management agreement, the Manager provides the Trust with office space, office equipment and personnel necessary to manage and administer the Trust's operations. This includes:

complying with reporting requirements;

corresponding with shareholders;

maintaining internal bookkeeping, accounting and auditing services and records; and

supervising the provision of services to the Trust by third parties.

In addition to its oversight of the sub-advisors, the Manager may invest the portion of the Fund's assets that the sub-advisor(s) determine to be allocated to short-term investments.

The Fund is responsible for expenses not otherwise assumed by the Manager, including the following: audits by independent auditors; transfer agency, custodian, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder recordkeeping services; taxes, if any, and the preparation of the Fund's tax returns; interest; costs of Trustee and shareholder meetings; preparing, printing and mailing Prospectuses and reports to existing shareholders; fees for filing reports with regulatory bodies and the maintenance of the Fund's existence; legal fees; fees to federal and state authorities for the registration of shares; fees and expenses of Trustees; insurance and fidelity bond premiums; fees paid to service providers providing reports regarding adherence by sub-advisors to the investment style of the Fund; fees paid for brokerage commission analysis for the purpose of monitoring best execution practices of the sub-advisors; and any extraordinary expenses of a nonrecurring nature.

The Manager (or another entity approved by the Board) under a distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act, is paid up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the A Class shares and up to 1.00% per annum of the average daily net assets of the C Class shares of the Fund for distribution and shareholder servicing related services, including expenses relating to selling efforts of various broker-dealers, shareholder servicing fees and the preparation and distribution of A Class and C Class advertising material and sales literature. The Manager will receive Rule 12b-1 fees from the A Class and C Class regardless of the amount of the Manager's actual expenses related to distribution and shareholder servicing efforts on behalf of each Class. Thus, the Manager may realize a profit or a loss based upon its actual distribution and shareholder servicing related expenditures for the A Class and C Class. The Manager anticipates that the Rule 12b-1 plan will benefit shareholders by providing broader access to the Fund through broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries who require compensation for their expenses in order to offer shares of the Fund. Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, there were no prior distribution fees pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act.

The A Class, C Class, Y Class and Investor Class have each adopted a Service Plan (collectively, the "Plans"). The Plans authorize the payment to the Manager (or another entity approved by the Board) of up to 0.375% per annum of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares, up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the A Class shares, up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the C Class shares and up to 0.10% per annum of the average daily net assets of the Y Class shares. The Manager or other approved entities may spend such amounts on any activities or expenses primarily intended to result in or relate to the servicing of A Class, C Class, Y Class and Investor Class shares including, but not limited to, payment of shareholder service fees and transfer agency or sub-transfer agency expenses. The fees, which are included as part of the Fund's "Other Expenses" in the Table of Fees and Expenses in the Prospectus, will be payable monthly in arrears. The fees for each Class will be paid monthly pursuant to the applicable Service Plan. The primary expenses expected to be incurred under the Plans are shareholder servicing, record keeping fees and servicing fees paid to financial intermediaries such as plan sponsors and broker-dealers. Because the Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, there were no prior service fees.

 

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The Manager also may receive up to 25% of the net monthly income generated from the securities lending activities of the Fund as compensation for administrative and oversight functions with respect to securities lending of the Fund. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund does not intend to engage in securities lending activities. The SEC has granted exemptive relief that permits the Fund to invest cash collateral received from securities lending transactions in shares of one or more private or registered investment companies managed by the Manager.

The Manager has contractually agreed from time to time to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses for the Fund in order to maintain competitive expense ratios for the Fund. In July of 2003, the Board approved a policy whereby the Manager may seek repayment for such fee waivers and expense reimbursements. Under the policy, the Manager can be reimbursed by the Fund for any contractual or voluntary fee waivers or expense reimbursements if reimbursement to the Manager (a) occurs within three years after the Manager's own waiver or reimbursement and (b) does not cause the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to exceed the previously agreed upon contractual expense limit.

The Distributor

Foreside Fund Services, LLC ("Foreside" or "Distributor"), located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, is the distributor and principal underwriter of the Fund's shares. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Trust in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund's shares. The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust or the Fund. Pursuant to a Sub-Administration Agreement between Foreside and the Manager, Foreside receives a fee from the Manager for providing administrative services in connection with the marketing and distribution of shares of the Trust, including the registration of Manager employees as registered representatives of the Distributor to facilitate distribution of Fund shares. Foreside also receives a fee from the Manager under a Marketing Agreement pursuant to which Foreside provides services in connection with the marketing of the Fund to institutional investors. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor receives, and may re-allow to broker-dealers, all or a portion of the sales charge paid by the purchasers of A and C Class shares. For A and C Class shares, the Distributor receives commission revenue consisting of the portion of A and C Class sales charge remaining after the allowances by the Distributor to the broker dealers. The Distributor retains any portion of the commission fees that are not paid to the broker-dealers, for use solely to pay distribution related expenses.

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

State Street, located at 1 Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, serves as custodian for the Fund. In addition to its other duties as custodian, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement and instructions given by the Manager, State Street may receive compensation from the Fund for investing certain excess cash balances in designated futures, forwards or registered money market funds. State Street also serves as the Fund's Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to rules adopted under the Investment Company Act, whereby it selects and monitors eligible foreign sub-custodians.

Boston Financial Data Services (an affiliate of State Street), located at 330 W. 9th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, is the transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the Trust and provides these services to Fund shareholders.

The Fund's independent registered public accounting firm is xxx, which is located at 2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 2000, Dallas, Texas 75219.

K&L Gates LLP, 1601 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, serves as legal counsel to the Fund.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The portfolio managers to the Fund (the "Portfolio Managers") have responsibility for the day-to-day management of accounts other than the Fund. Information regarding these other accounts has been provided by each Portfolio Manager's firm and is set forth below. The number of accounts and assets is shown as of xx xx, 20xx.

Number of Other Accounts Managed and Assets by Account Type

Number of Accounts and Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based

Name of Investment Advisor and Portfolio Manager

Registered Investment Companies

Other  Pooled Investment Vehicles

Other Accounts

Registered Investment Companies

Other  Pooled Investment Vehicles

Other accounts

GLG Partners ("GLG")

Guillermo Ossés

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

xx

Conflicts of Interest

As noted in the table above, the Portfolio Managers manage accounts other than the Fund. This side-by-side management may present potential conflicts between a Portfolio Manager's management of the Fund's investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other hand. Set forth below is a description by the sub-advisor of any foreseeable material conflicts of interest that may arise from the concurrent management of the Fund and other accounts. The information regarding potential conflicts of interest was provided by the sub-advisor.

xxx

Compensation 

The following is a description provided by the investment sub-advisor regarding the structure of and criteria for determining the compensation of the Portfolio Managers as of xx xx, 20xx.

 

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Depending upon their level of total compensation, senior employees of Man GLG are subject to bonus deferrals, which vest equally over three years. Deferral thresholds are reviewed annually and are subject to change.

Employees are strongly encouraged to invest their deferred compensation into strategies managed by their team. Due to the directional nature of traditional or long only portfolios, managers of Man GLG's long only portfolios may invest a portion of their deferred compensation in Man GLG's absolute return strategies.

Ownership of the Fund

The Portfolio Managers' beneficial ownership of the Fund is defined as the Portfolio Managers having the opportunity to share in any profit from transactions in the Fund, either directly or indirectly, as the result of any contract, understanding, arrangement, relationship or otherwise. Therefore, ownership of Fund shares by members of the Portfolio Managers' immediate family or by a trust of which the Portfolio Managers are a trustee could be considered ownership by the Portfolio Managers. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not commenced operations. Accordingly, the Portfolio Managers do not beneficially own any shares of the Fund.

PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

In selecting brokers or dealers to execute particular transactions, the Manager and the sub-advisor are authorized to consider "brokerage and research services" (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), provision of statistical quotations (including the quotations necessary to determine the Fund's net asset value), and other information provided to the Fund, to the Manager and/or to the sub-advisor (or their affiliates), provided, however, that the Manager or the sub-advisor must always seek best execution. Research and brokerage services may include information on portfolio companies, economic analyses, and other investment research services. The Trusts do not allow the Manager or sub-advisor to enter arrangements to direct transactions to broker-dealers as compensation for the promotion or sale of Trust shares by those broker-dealers. The Manager and the sub-advisor are also authorized to cause the Fund to pay a commission (as defined in SEC interpretations) to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services for executing a portfolio transaction which is in excess of the amount of the commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction. The Manager or the sub-advisor, as appropriate, must determine in good faith, however, that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided, viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of all the accounts over which the Manager or the sub-advisor exercises investment discretion. The fees of the sub-advisor are not reduced by reason of receipt of such brokerage and research services. However, with disclosure to and pursuant to written guidelines approved by the Board, as applicable, the Manager, or the sub-advisor (or a broker-dealer affiliated with them) may execute portfolio transactions and receive usual and customary brokerage commissions (within the meaning of Rule 17e-1 under the Investment Company Act) for doing so. Brokerage and research services obtained with Fund commissions might be used by the Manager and/or the sub-advisor, as applicable, to benefit their other accounts under management.

The Manager and the sub-advisor will place its own orders to execute securities transactions that are designed to implement the Fund's investment objective and policies. In placing such orders, the sub-advisor will seek best execution. The full range and quality of services offered by the executing broker or dealer will be considered when making these determinations. Pursuant to written guidelines approved by the Board, as appropriate, the sub-advisor of the Fund, or its affiliated broker-dealer, may execute portfolio transactions and receive usual and customary brokerage commissions (within the meaning of Rule 17e-1 of the Investment Company Act) for doing so. The Fund's turnover rate, or the frequency of portfolio transactions, will vary from year to year depending on market conditions and the Fund's cash flows. High portfolio activity increases the Fund's transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.

The Investment Advisory Agreements provide, in substance, that in executing portfolio transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the principal objective of the sub-advisor is to seek best execution. In assessing available execution venues, the sub-advisor shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the value of any eligible research, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. Transactions with respect to the securities of small and emerging market securities in which the Fund may invest may involve specialized services on the part of the broker or dealer and thereby may entail higher commissions or spreads than would be the case with transactions involving more widely traded securities.

The Fund may establish brokerage commission recapture arrangements with certain brokers or dealers. If a sub-advisor chooses to execute a transaction through a participating broker, the broker rebates a portion of the commission back to the Fund. Any collateral benefit received through participation in the commission recapture program is directed exclusively to the Fund. Neither the Manager nor the sub-advisor receives any benefits from the commission recapture program. The sub-advisor's participation in the brokerage commission recapture program is optional. The sub-advisor retains full discretion in selecting brokerage firms for securities transactions and is instructed to use the commission recapture program for a transaction only if it is consistent with the sub-advisor's obligation to seek the best execution available.

The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. Accordingly, no brokerage commissions were paid by the Fund during the previous three fiscal years and the Fund did not receive any amount as a result of participation in the commission recapture program.

ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION FOR A CLASS SHARES

Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers

As described in the Prospectus, there are various ways to reduce your sales charge when purchasing A Class shares. Additional information about A Class sales charge reductions is provided below.

 

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Letter of Intent ("LOI"). The LOI may be revised upward at any time during the 13-month period of the LOI ("LOI Period"), and such a revision will be treated as a new LOI, except that the LOI Period during which the purchases must be made will remain unchanged. Purchases made from the date of revision will receive the reduced sales charge, if any, resulting from the revised LOI. The LOI will be considered completed if the shareholder dies within the 13-month LOI Period. Commissions to dealers will not be adjusted or paid on the difference between the LOI amount and the amount actually invested before the shareholder's death.

All dividends and capital gain distributions on shares held in escrow will be credited to the shareholder's account in shares (or paid in cash, if requested). If the intended investment is not completed within the specified LOI Period, the purchaser may be required to remit to the transfer agent the difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge which would have been paid if the total of such purchases had been made at a single time. Any dealers assigned to the shareholder's account at the time a purchase was made during the LOI Period will receive a corresponding commission adjustment if appropriate. If the difference is not paid by the close of the LOI Period, the appropriate number of shares held in escrow will be redeemed to pay such difference. If the proceeds from this redemption are inadequate, the purchaser may be liable to the Fund for the balance still outstanding.

Rights of Accumulation. Subject to the limitations described in the aggregation policy, you may take into account your accumulated holdings in any class of the American Beacon Funds to determine your sales charge for A Class shares on investments in accounts eligible to be aggregated. If you make a gift of A Class shares, upon your request, you may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under rights of accumulation of all of your investments in any class of the American Beacon Funds.

Aggregation. Qualifying investments for aggregation include those made by you and your "immediate family" as defined in the Prospectus, if all parties are purchasing shares for their own accounts and/or:

individual-type employee benefit plans, such as an IRA, individual 403(b) plan or single-participant Keogh-type plan;

business accounts solely controlled by you or your immediate family (for example, you own the entire business);

trust accounts established by you or your immediate family (for trusts with only one primary beneficiary, upon the trustor's death the trust account may be aggregated with such beneficiary's own accounts; for trusts with multiple primary beneficiaries, upon the trustor's death the trustees of the trust may instruct the Fund's transfer agent to establish separate trust accounts for each primary beneficiary; each primary beneficiary's separate trust account may then be aggregated with such beneficiary's own accounts);

endowments or foundations established and controlled by you or your immediate family; or

529 accounts, which will be aggregated at the account owner level (Class 529-E accounts may only be aggregated with an eligible employer plan).

Individual purchases by a trustee(s) or other fiduciary(ies) may also be aggregated if the investments are:

for a single trust estate or fiduciary account, including employee benefit plans other than the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;

made for two or more employee benefit plans of a single employer or of affiliated employers as defined in the Investment Company Act, excluding the individual-type employee benefit plans described above;

for nonprofit, charitable or educational organizations, or any endowments or foundations established and controlled by such organizations, or any employer-sponsored retirement plans established for the benefit of the employees of such organizations, their endowments, or their foundations; or

for individually established participant accounts of a 403(b) plan that is treated similarly to an employer-sponsored plan for sales charge purposes (see "Purchases by certain 403(b) plans" under "Sales Charges" above), or made for two or more such 403(b) plans that are treated similarly to employer-sponsored plans for sales charge purposes, in each case of a single employer or affiliated employers as defined in the Investment Company Act. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a broker- dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with those made for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.

Concurrent Purchases. As described in the Prospectus, you may reduce your A Class sales charge by combining simultaneous purchases in any of the American Beacon Funds.

Other Purchases. Pursuant to a determination of eligibility by the Manager, A Class shares of the Fund may be sold at net asset value (without the imposition of a front-end sales charge) to:

1

current or retired trustees, and officers of the American Beacon Funds family, current or retired employees and directors of the Manager and its affiliated companies, certain family members and employees of the above persons, and trusts or plans primarily for such persons;

2

currently registered representatives and assistants directly employed by such representatives, retired registered representatives with respect to accounts established while active, or full-time employees (collectively, "Eligible Persons") (and their spouses, and children, including children in step and adoptive relationships, sons-in- law and daughters-in-law, if the Eligible Persons or the spouses or children of the Eligible Persons are listed in the account registration with the spouse or parent) of broker-dealers who have sales agreements with the Distributor (or who clear transactions through such dealers), plans for the dealers, and plans that include as participants only the Eligible Persons, their spouses and/or children;

3

companies exchanging securities with the Fund through a merger, acquisition or exchange offer;

4

insurance company separate accounts;

5

accounts managed by the Manager, a sub-advisor to the Fund and its affiliated companies;

6

the Manager or a sub-advisor to the Fund and its affiliated companies;

7

an individual or entity with a substantial business relationship with, which may include the officers and employees of the Fund's custodian or transfer agent, the Manager or a sub-adviser to the Fund and its affiliated companies, or an individual or entity related or relating to such individual or entity;

 

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8

full-time employees of banks that have sales agreements with the Distributor, who are solely dedicated to directly supporting the sale of mutual funds;

9

directors, officers and employees of financial institutions that have a selling group agreement with the Distributor;

10

banks, broker-dealers and other financial institutions (including registered investment advisors and financial planners) that have entered into an agreement with the Distributor or one of its affiliates, purchasing shares on behalf of clients participating in the Fund supermarket or in a wrap program, asset allocation program or other program in which the clients pay an asset-based fee;

11

clients of authorized dealers purchasing shares in fixed or flat fee brokerage accounts;

12

Employer-sponsored defined contribution - type plans, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer sponsored 403(b) plans, profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, and individual retirement account ("IRA") rollovers involving retirement plan assets invested in the Fund in the American Beacon Funds fund family; and

13

Employee benefit and retirement plans for the Manager and its affiliates.

Shares are offered at net asset value to these persons and organizations due to anticipated economies in sales effort and expense. Once an account is established under this net asset value privilege, additional investments can be made at net asset value for the life of the account.

It is possible that a broker-dealer may not be able to offer one or more of these waiver categories. If this situation occurs, it is possible that the investor would need to invest directly through American Beacon Funds in order to take advantage of the waiver. The Fund may terminate or amend the terms of these sales charge waivers at any time.

Moving Between Accounts. Investments in certain account types may be moved to other account types without incurring additional A Class sales charges. These transactions include, for example:

redemption proceeds from a non-retirement account (for example, a joint tenant account) used to purchase Fund shares in an IRA or other individual-type retirement account;

required minimum distributions from an IRA or other individual-type retirement account used to purchase Fund shares in a non-retirement account; and

death distributions paid to a beneficiary's account that are used by the beneficiary to purchase Fund shares in a different account.

it is possible that a broker-dealer may not be able to offer the ability to move between accounts. If this situation occurs, it is possible that the investor would need to invest directly through American Beacon Funds in order to take advantage of this privilege.  Please contact your financial intermediary for additional information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES

As discussed in the Prospectus, the redemption of C Class shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") if you redeem your shares within 12 months of purchase. If you purchased $1,000,000 or more of A Class shares of the Funds (and therefore paid no initial sales charges) and subsequently redeem your shares within 18 months of your purchase, you may be charged a CDSC upon redemption. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation. As described in the Prospectus, there are various circumstances under which the CDSC will be waived. Additional information about CDSC waivers is provided below.

The CDSC is waived under the following circumstances:

Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. The Manager or the Fund's transfer agent may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians' certificates, etc.

Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the Manager or the Fund's transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.

Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by American Beacon Funds directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial institution.

Redemptions that are mandatory withdrawals from a traditional IRA account after age 701/2.

Involuntary redemptions as a result of your account not meeting the minimum balance requirements, the termination and liquidation of the Fund, or other actions by the Fund.

Distributions from accounts for which the broker-dealer of record has entered into a written agreement with the Distributor (or Manager) allowing this waiver.

To return excess contributions made to a retirement plan.

To return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.

 

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The following example illustrates the operation of the CDSC. Assume that you open an account and purchase 1,000 shares at $10 per share and that six months later the NAV per share is $12 and, during such time, you have acquired 50 additional shares through reinvestment of distributions. If at such time you should redeem 450 shares (proceeds of $5,400), 50 shares will not be subject to the charge because of dividend reinvestment. With respect to the remaining 400 shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per share and not to the increase in NAV of $2 per share. Therefore, $4,000 of the $5,400 redemption proceeds will pay the charge. At the rate of 1.00%, the CDSC would be $40 for redemptions of C Class shares. In determining whether an amount is available for redemption without incurring a deferred sales charge, the purchase payments made for all shares in your account are aggregated.

REDEMPTIONS IN KIND

Although the Fund intends to redeem shares in cash, it reserves the right to pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution of securities or other assets. However, shareholders always will be entitled to redeem shares for cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net asset value during any 90-day period. Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption. In addition, to the extent the Fund redeems its shares in this manner, the shareholder assumes the risk of a subsequent change in the market value of those securities, the cost of liquidating the securities and the possibility of a lack of a liquid market for those securities.

TAX INFORMATION

The tax information in the Prospectus and in this section relates solely to federal income tax law and assumes that the Fund qualifies as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code ("RIC") (as discussed below). The tax information in this section is only a summary of certain key federal tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders and is in addition to the information provided in the Prospectus. No attempt has been made to present a complete explanation of the federal income tax treatment of the Fund or the tax implications to its shareholders. The discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as substitutes for careful tax planning. The information is based on the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund intends to continue to qualify each taxable year for treatment as a RIC under Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code. To so qualify, the Fund (which is treated as a separate corporation for these purposes) must, among other requirements:

Derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from (1) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income, including gains from options, futures or forward contracts, derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies and (2) net income derived from an interest in a "qualified publicly traded partnership" ("QPTP") ("Gross Income Requirement"). A QPTP is a "publicly traded partnership" (see below) other than a partnership at least 90% of the gross income of which is described in clause (1);

Diversify its investments so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items, Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with those other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting securities (equity securities of QPTPs being considered voting securities for these purposes), and (2) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in (a) securities (other than Government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer (b) securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers the Fund controls that are determined to be engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (c) securities of one or more QPTPs ("Diversification Requirements"); and

Distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (generally, net investment income plus the excess (if any) of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss and net gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions, all determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) ("Distribution Requirement").

By qualifying for treatment as a RIC, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on the part of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain ( i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) that it distributes to its shareholders. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify for treatment as a RIC either (1) by failing to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, even if it satisfies the Gross Income and Diversification Requirements, or (2) by failing to satisfy the Gross Income Requirement and/or either Diversification Requirement and is unable to, or determines not to, avail itself of provisions that enable a RIC to cure a failure to satisfy any of the Income and Diversification Requirements as long as the failure "is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect" and the RIC pays a deductible tax calculated in accordance with those provisions and meets certain other requirements — then for federal tax purposes, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders and the dividends it pays would be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly, for individual and certain other non-corporate (collectively, "individual") shareholders as "qualified dividend income" (as described in the Prospectus)) to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify for RIC treatment would therefore have a negative impact on the Fund's income and performance. Furthermore, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying for RIC treatment. It is possible that the Fund will not qualify as a RIC in any given taxable year.

The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax ("Excise Tax") to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all of its ordinary income for that year and substantially all of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on December 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.  The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions by the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for the Excise Tax.

 

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Taxation of Certain Investments and Strategies

If the Fund acquires stock in a foreign corporation that is a "passive foreign investment company" ("PFIC") (generally, any foreign corporation, with certain exceptions, that, in general, meets either of the following tests for the taxable year: (1) at least 75% of 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) and holds the stock beyond the end of the year of acquisition, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax on any "excess distribution" it receives on the stock and of any gain it realizes from disposition of that stock (collectively "PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. Fund distributions thereof will not be eligible for the 15% and 20% maximum federal income tax rates on individuals' "qualified dividend income" described in the Prospectus. The Fund may avoid this tax and interest if it elects to treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund"; however, the requirements for that election are difficult to satisfy. If such an election were made, the Fund would be required to include in its income each taxable year a portion of the ordinary income and net capital gains of the PFIC, even if the income and gains were not distributed to the Fund. Any such income and gains would be subject to the Distribution Requirement and to the calendar year Excise Tax distribution requirement.

Alternatively, the Fund may elect to "mark-to-market" its stock in a PFIC it owns at the end of its taxable year. Under such an election, the Fund (1) would include in gross income each taxable year (and treat as ordinary income) an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of the close of the taxable year over the Fund's adjusted basis in the PFIC stock and (2) would be allowed a deduction (as an ordinary, not a capital, loss) for the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in the PFIC stock over the fair market value of the PFIC stock as of the close of the taxable year, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains included by the Fund for prior taxable years. The Fund's adjusted basis in the PFIC stock would be adjusted to reflect the amounts included in income, or deducted, under this election. Any gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of the PFIC stock, would be treated as ordinary income or loss. The Fund would not be subject to the deferred tax and interest charge discussed above with respect to PFIC stock for which a mark-to-market election has been made.

Investors should be aware that the Fund may not be able, at the time it acquires a foreign corporation's shares, to ascertain whether the corporation is a PFIC and that a foreign corporation may become a PFIC after the Fund acquires shares therein.  While the Fund generally will seek to minimize its investments in PFIC shares, and to make appropriate elections when they are available, to lessen the adverse tax consequences described above, there are no guarantees that it will be able to do so, and it reserves the right to make such investments as a matter of its investment policy.

Hedging strategies, such as entering into forward contracts and selling (writing) and purchasing options and futures contracts, involve complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of gains and losses the Fund may realize in connection therewith. In general, the Fund's (1) gains from the disposition of foreign currencies and (2) gains from options, futures and forward contracts derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or foreign currencies will be treated as qualifying income under the Gross Income Requirement.

The Fund may invest in one or more limited liability companies ("LLCs") and limited partnerships ("LPs") that will be classified for federal tax purposes as partnerships (and, except as expressly stated below, this discussion assumes that classification). LLCs and LPs in which the Fund may invest may include (1) a "publicly traded partnership" (that is, a partnership the interests in which are "traded on an established securities market" or "readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)") (a "PTP"), which may be a QPTP, or (2) a non-PTP at least 90% of the income of which satisfies the Gross Income Requirement.

If an LLC or LP in which the Fund invests is a QPTP, all its net income (regardless of source) will be qualifying income to the Fund under the Gross Income Requirement. The Fund's investment in QPTPs, together with certain other investments, however, may not exceed 25% of the value of its total assets at the end of each quarter of its taxable year in order to satisfy one of the Diversification Requirements. In addition, if the Fund holds more than 10% of a QPTP's equity securities, none of those securities will count toward its satisfying those requirements.

With respect to non-QPTPs, (1) if an LLC or LP (including a PTP) is treated for federal tax purposes as a corporation, distributions from it to the Fund might be treated as "qualified dividend income" and disposition of the Fund's interest therein would generate gain or loss from the disposition of a security, or (2) if such an LLC or LP is not treated as a corporation, the Fund would be treated as having earned its proportionate share of each item of income the LLC or LP earned. In the latter case, the Fund would be able to treat its share of the entity's income as qualifying income under the Gross Income Requirement only to the extent that income would be qualifying income if realized directly by the Fund in the same manner as realized by the LLC or LP.  Certain LLCs and LPs (e.g., private funds) in which the Fund may invest may generate income and gains that are not qualifying income under the Gross Income Requirement. The Fund will monitor its investments in LLCs and LPs to assure its compliance with the requirements for qualification as a RIC.

Dividends and interest the Fund receives, and gains it realizes, on foreign securities may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions (collectively, "foreign taxes") that would reduce the yield and/or total return on its securities. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate foreign taxes, however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains on investments by foreign investors.  It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance, since the amount of the Fund's assets to be invested in various countries is not known.

Some futures contracts, foreign currency contracts, and "nonequity" options ( i.e. , certain listed options, such as those on a "broad-based" securities index) - except any "securities futures contract" that is not a "dealer securities futures contract" (both as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement - in which the Fund invests may be subject to Internal Revenue Code section 1256 (collectively, "Section 1256 contracts"). Any Section 1256 contracts the Fund holds at the end of its taxable year must be "marked-to-market" (that is, treated as having been sold at that time for its fair market value) for federal tax purposes, with the result that unrealized gains or losses will be treated as though they were realized. Sixty percent of any net gain or loss realized on these deemed sales, and 60% of any net realized gain or loss from any actual sales of Section 1256 contracts, will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the balance will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Section 1256 contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of the Excise Tax. These rules may operate to increase the amount that the Fund must distribute to satisfy

 

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the Distribution Requirement ( i.e. with respect to the portion treated as short-term capital gain), which will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income when distributed to them, and to increase the net capital gain the Fund recognizes, without in either case increasing the cash available to it.

Section 988 of the Internal Revenue Code also may apply to the Fund's forward currency contracts and options and futures on foreign currencies. Under that section, each foreign currency gain or loss generally is computed separately and treated as ordinary income or loss. These gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income, rather than affecting the amount of its net capital gain. If section 988 losses exceed other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund would not be able to distribute any dividends, and any distributions made during that year before the losses were realized would be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders, rather than as a dividend, thereby reducing each shareholder's basis in his or her Fund shares.

Offsetting positions the Fund enters into or holds in any actively traded option, futures or forward contract may constitute a "straddle" for federal income tax purposes. Straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the amount, character and timing of the Fund's gains and losses with respect to positions of the straddle by requiring, among other things, that (1) losses realized on disposition of one position of a straddle be deferred to the extent of any unrealized gain in an offsetting position until the latter position is disposed of, (2) the Fund's holding period in certain straddle positions not begin until the straddle is terminated (possibly resulting in gain being treated as short-term rather than long-term capital gain) and (3) losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions, that otherwise would constitute short-term capital losses, be treated as long-term capital losses. Applicable regulations also provide certain "wash sale" rules, which apply to transactions where a position is sold at a loss and a new offsetting position is acquired within a prescribed period, and "short sale" rules applicable to straddles. Different elections are available, that may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules, particularly with respect to "mixed straddles" (i.e., a straddle at least one, but not all, positions of which are Section 1256 contracts).

When a covered call option written (sold) by the Fund expires, it will realize a short-term capital gain equal to the amount of the premium it received for writing the option. When the Fund terminates its obligations under such an option by entering into a closing transaction, it will realize a short-term capital gain (or loss), depending on whether the cost of the closing transaction is less (or more) than the premium it received when it wrote the option.  When a covered call option written by the Fund is exercised, it will be treated as having sold the underlying security, producing long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the holding period of the underlying security and whether the sum of the option price received on the exercise plus the premium received when it wrote the option is more or less than the underlying security's basis.

If the Fund has an "appreciated financial position" generally, any position (including an interest through an option, futures or forward contract or short sale) with respect to any stock, debt instrument (other than "straight debt") or partnership interest the fair market value of which exceeds its adjusted basis - and enters into a "constructive sale" of the position, the Fund will be treated as having made an actual sale thereof, with the result that it will recognize gain at that time. A constructive sale generally consists of a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract the Fund or a related person enters into with respect to the same or substantially identical property. In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale or such a contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially identical property will be deemed a constructive sale. The foregoing will not apply, however, to any Fund transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged for 60 days after that closing (i.e., at no time during that 60-day period is the Fund's risk of loss regarding that position reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale or granting an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities).

Certain aspects of the tax treatment of derivative instruments, including certain equity index options and futures, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations or other legally binding authority that could affect the treatment of income from those instruments and the character, timing and amount of the Fund's taxable income or gains and distributions. If the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") were to assert successfully that income the Fund derives from those investments does not constitute qualifying income, the Fund might cease to qualify as a RIC (with the consequences described above under "Taxation of the Fund") or might be required to reduce its exposure to such investments.

Taxation of the Funds' Shareholders

General
If Fund shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares. In addition, any loss a shareholder realizes on a redemption of Fund shares will be disallowed to the extent the shares are replaced within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares; in that case, the basis in the acquired shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Investors also should be aware that the price of Fund shares at any time may reflect the amount of a forthcoming dividend or other distribution, so if they purchase Fund shares shortly before the record date for a distribution, they will pay full price for the shares and receive some part of the price back as a taxable distribution even though it represents a partial return of invested capital.

Basis Election and Reporting
A Fund shareholder who wants to use an acceptable method for basis determination with respect to Fund shares he or she acquired or acquires after December 31, 2011 ("Covered Shares") other than the average basis method (the Fund's default method), must elect to do so in writing (which may be electronic).  The basis determination method the Fund shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a redemption of Covered Shares after the settlement date of the redemption.

In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the redemption of shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to its shareholders the basis information for Covered Shares that are redeemed and indicate whether they had a short-term (one year or less) or long-term (more than one year) holding period. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted basis determination method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the basis reporting law applies to them. Fund

 

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shareholders who acquire and hold Covered Shares through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information related to the basis election and reporting.

Backup Withholding
The Fund is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury 28% of dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemption proceeds (regardless of the extent to which gain or loss may be realized) otherwise payable to any individual shareholder who fails to certify that the taxpayer identification number furnished to the Fund is correct or who furnishes an incorrect number (together with the withholding described in the next sentence, "backup withholding"). Withholding at that rate also is required from the Fund's dividends and capital gain distributions otherwise payable to such a shareholder who (1) is subject to backup withholding for failure to report the receipt of interest or dividend income properly or (2) fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to backup withholding or that it is a corporation or other "exempt recipient." Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, any amounts so withheld may be credited against your federal income tax liability or refunded.

Non-U.S. Shareholders
Dividends from the Fund's investment company taxable income that are paid to a shareholder who is a non-resident alien individual or foreign entity (a "non-U.S. person") generally are subject to 30% federal withholding tax unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is provided under an applicable treaty. However, two categories of dividends payable by the Fund, "short-term capital gain dividends" and "interest-related dividends," to non-U.S. shareholders (with certain exceptions) are exempt from that tax. "Short-term capital gain dividends" are dividends that are attributable to net short-term gain, computed with certain adjustments. "Interest-related dividends" are dividends that are attributable to "qualified net interest income" (i.e., "qualified interest income," which generally consists of certain original issue discount, interest on obligations "in registered form," and interest on deposits, less allocable deductions) from sources within the United States. Non-U.S. persons are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning the applicability of that withholding tax.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA")
Under FATCA, "foreign financial institutions" ("FFIs") and "non-financial foreign entities" ("NFFEs") that are Fund shareholders may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on (1) income dividends the Fund pays, and (2) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds of redemptions of Fund shares it pays after December 31, 2018. As discussed below, the FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided (a) by an FFI, if it reports certain information regarding direct and indirect ownership of financial accounts U.S. persons hold with the FFI, and (b) by an NFFE, if it certifies its status as such and, in certain circumstances, that (i) it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) it does have such owners and reports information relating to them to the withholding agent (which may be the Fund).

The U.S. Treasury Department has negotiated intergovernmental agreements ("IGAs") with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with other foreign countries with respect to alternative approaches to implement FATCA. An entity in one of those countries may be required to comply with the terms of the IGA instead of U.S. Treasury regulations, as described below.

An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding by becoming a "participating FFI," which requires the FFI to enter into a tax compliance agreement with the IRS under the Internal Revenue Code. Under such an agreement, a participating FFI agrees to (1) verify and document whether it has U.S. accountholders, (2) report certain information regarding their accounts to the IRS, and (3) meet certain other specified requirements.

An FFI resident in a country that has entered into a Model I IGA with the United States must report to that country's government (pursuant to the terms of the applicable IGA and applicable law), which will, in turn, report to the IRS. An FFI resident in a Model II IGA country generally must comply with U.S. regulatory requirements, with certain exceptions, including the treatment of recalcitrant account holders. An FFI resident in one of those countries that complies with whichever of the foregoing applies will be exempt from FATCA withholding.

Those foreign shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted, or deemed compliant categories established by U.S. Treasury regulations, IGAs, and other guidance regarding FATCA. An FFI or NFFE that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity's status under FATCA to avoid FATCA withholding. The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition to, the tax certification rules to avoid backup withholding described above. Foreign investors are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the application of these requirements to their own situation and the impact thereof on their investment in the Fund.

Other Taxes
Statutory rules and regulations regarding state and local taxation of ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income dividends and capital gain distributions may differ from the federal income taxation rules described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder's participation situation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for its obligations. However, the Trust's Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust may maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents to cover possible tort and other liabilities. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss due to shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Trust itself was unable to meet its obligations. The Trust has not engaged in any other business.

The Trust was originally created to manage money for large institutional investors. The following individuals (and members of that individual's "immediate family"), are eligible to purchase shares of the Institutional Class with an initial investment of less than $250,000: (i) employees of the Manager, (ii) employees of a sub-advisor for Funds where it serves as sub-advisor, (iii) members of the Board, (iv) employees of Kelso/Estancia, and (v) members of the Manager's Board of Directors. The term "immediate family" refers to one's spouse, children, grandchildren, grandparents, parents,

 

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parents-in-law, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters-in-law, a sibling's spouse, a spouse's sibling, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; relatives by virtue of remarriage (step-children, step-parents, etc.) are included. Any shareholders that the Manager transfers to the Institutional Class upon termination of the class of shares in which the shareholders were originally invested is also eligible for purchasing shares of the Institutional Class with an initial investment of less than $250,000.

The Investor Class was created to give individuals and other smaller investors an opportunity to invest in the American Beacon Funds. The Institutional and Y Classes were created to manage money for large institutional investors, including pension and 401(k) plans. The A Class and C Class were created for investors investing in the Funds through their broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, xxx, audits and reports on the Fund's annual financial statements. The audited financial statements include the schedule of investments, statement of assets and liabilities, statement of operations, statements of changes in net assets, financial highlights, notes and report of independent registered public accounting firm. Shareholders will receive annual audited financial statements and semi-annual unaudited financial statements. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not commenced operations. Accordingly, financial statements are not available for the Fund.

 

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APPENDIX A

AMERICAN BEACON ADVISORS, INC.

SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Proxy voting is an important component of investment management and must be performed in a dutiful and purposeful fashion in order to secure the best long-term interests of the advisory clients of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. ("AmBeacon"). AmBeacon's proxy voting policies and procedures are designed to implement AmBeacon's duty to vote proxies in clients' best interests. Given that AmBeacon manages portfolios that invest solely in fixed-income securities, the only securities for which we expect to receive proxies are money market mutual funds. As such, the proxy voting policies and procedures set forth voting guidelines for the proxy issues and proposals common to money market funds.

For routine proposals that will not change the structure, bylaws or operations of the money market fund, AmBeacon's policy is to support management; however, each proposal will be considered individually focusing on the financial interests of the client portfolio. Non-routine proposals, such as board elections, advisory contract and distribution plan approvals, investment objective changes, and mergers, will generally be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with AmBeacon first and foremost considering the effect of the proposal on the portfolio.

Items to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and proposals not contemplated in the policies set forth above will be assessed by AmBeacon. In these situations, AmBeacon will use its judgment to vote in the best interest of the client portfolio. For all proposals, especially controversial or case-by-case evaluations, AmBeacon will be responsible for individually identifying significant issues that could impact the investment performance of the portfolio.

AmBeacon manages portfolios for the American Beacon Funds (the "Beacon Funds") and the American Beacon Select Funds (the "Select Funds"). AmBeacon may invest a Beacon Fund in shares of one or more Select Funds. If a Select Fund solicits a proxy for which a Beacon Fund is entitled to vote, AmBeacon's interests as manager of the Select Fund seeking shareholder votes may conflict with the interests of the Beacon Fund as shareholder of the Select Fund. To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interests in these cases, AmBeacon will vote the Beacon Fund's shares in accordance with the Beacon Fund's Board of Trustees' recommendations in the proxy statement.

 

AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS
AMERICAN BEACON SELECT FUNDS

PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Last Amended July 1, 2012

Preface

Proxy voting is an important component of investment management and must be performed in a dutiful and purposeful fashion in order to secure the best long-term interests of shareholders of the American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds (collectively, the "Funds"). Therefore, these Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the "Policy") have been adopted by the Funds.

The Funds are managed by American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (the "Manager"). The Manager allocates discrete portions of the American Beacon Funds among sub-advisors, but the Manager may directly manage all or a portion of the assets of certain Funds directly. The Funds' Boards of Trustees have delegated proxy voting authority to the Manager. The Manager has in turn delegated proxy voting authority to each sub-advisor with respect to the sub-advisor's respective portion of the Fund(s) under management, but the Manager has retained the authority to override a proposed proxy voting decision by a sub-advisor. For the securities held in their respective portion of each Fund, the Manager and the sub-advisors make voting decisions pursuant to their own proxy voting policies and procedures, which have been adopted by the applicable Fund and approved by the applicable Fund's Board of Trustees.

Conflicts of Interest

The Board of Trustees seeks to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of Fund shareholders. For certain proxy proposals, the interests of the Manager, the sub-advisors and/or their affiliates may differ from Fund shareholders' interests. To avoid the appearance of impropriety and to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility to shareholders in these circumstances, the Manager and the sub-advisors are required to establish procedures that are reasonably designed to address material conflicts between their interests and those of the Funds.

When a sub-advisor deems that it is conflicted with respect to a voting matter, its policy may call for it to seek voting instructions from the client. The Manager is authorized by the Boards of Trustees to consider any such matters and provide voting instructions to the sub-advisor, unless the Manager has determined that its interests are conflicted with Fund shareholders with respect to the voting matter. In those instances, the Manager will vote in accordance with the recommendation of a third-party proxy voting advisory service.

Each American Beacon Fund has the ability to invest in the shares of any of the American Beacon Select Funds. For example, the American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund may purchase shares of the American Beacon Money Market Select Fund. If the American Beacon Money Market Select Fund issues a proxy for which the American Beacon High Yield Bond Fund is entitled to vote, the Manager's interests regarding the Money Market Fund might appear to conflict with the interests of the shareholders of the High Yield Bond Fund. In these cases, the Manager will vote in accordance with the American Beacon Select Funds Board of Trustees' recommendations in the proxy statement.

If the methods for addressing conflicts of interest, as described above, are deemed by the Manager to be unreasonable due to cost, timing or other factors, then the Manager may decline to vote in those instances.

Securities on Loan

 

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The Manager shall engage a proxy voting service to notify the Manager before the record date about the occurrence of future shareholder meetings, as feasible. The Manager will determine whether or not to recall shares of the applicable security that are on loan with the intent of the Manager or the sub-advisor, as applicable, voting such shares. The Manager's determination shall be based on factors which may include the nature of the meeting (i.e., annual or special), the percentage of the proxy issuer's outstanding securities on loan, any other information regarding the proxy proposals of which the Manager may be aware, and the loss of securities lending income to a Fund as a result of recalling the shares on loan.

Recordkeeping

The Manager and the sub-advisors shall maintain records of all votes cast on behalf of the Funds. Such documentation will include the firm's proxy voting policies and procedures company reports provided by proxy voting advisory services, additional information gathered by the Manager or sub-advisor that was material to reaching a voting decision, and communications to the Manager regarding any identified conflicts. The Manager and the sub-advisors shall maintain voting records in a manner to facilitate the Funds' production of the Form N-PX filing on an annual basis.

Disclosure

The Manager will coordinate the compilation of the Funds' proxy voting record for each year ended June 30 and file the required information with the SEC via Form N-PX by August 31. The Manager will include a summary of the Policy and/or the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Manager and the sub-advisors, as applicable, in each Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"). In each Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, the Manager will disclose that a description of the Policy and/or the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Manager and the sub-advisors, as applicable, is a) available upon request, without charge, by toll-free telephone request, b) on the Funds' website (if applicable), and c) on the SEC's website in the SAI. The SAI and shareholder reports will also disclose that the Funds' proxy voting record is available by toll-free telephone request (or on the Funds' website) and on the SEC's website by way of the Form N-PX. Within three business days of receiving a request, the Manager will send a copy of the policy description or voting record by first-class mail.

Manager Oversight

The Manager shall review a sub-advisor's proxy voting policies and procedures for compliance with this Policy and applicable laws and regulations prior to initial delegation of proxy voting authority and on at least an annual basis thereafter.

Board Oversight

On at least an annual basis, the Manager will present a summary of the voting records of the Funds to the Boards of Trustees for their review. The Manager will notify the Boards of Trustees of any material changes to its proxy voting policies and procedures.

 

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APPENDIX B

GLG LLC

PROXY VOTING POLICY
(Amended January 2015)

1. Introduction

Upon entering into an investment management agreement or similar agreement (an "IMA"), Man1 may be authorised, required or instructed to vote proxies or asked to advise on the voting of proxies in relation to investments managed or advised pursuant to such agreement. The global proxy voting policy (this "Policy") sets out the policies and procedures that Man will undertake in carrying out this function. All personnel,2 are required to read and comply with this Policy as it is relevant to them. For purposes of this Policy, the term "proxy(ies)" includes vote, waiver, consent, amendment, modification, resolution or other vote, or any proposals therefor, or the granting or withholding of any consents with respect thereto.

2. Policy

2.1 Where, in relation to a client/client account/Man product3 (each a "client"), the client has: 2.1.1 provided Man with authority and/or discretion to vote proxies but has not specifically instructed Man to vote – Man's portfolio management personnel and/or, in the case of FRM, hedge fund research and risk personnel, as applicable, ("PM") may decide to disregard proxies altogether or, on a case by case basis, determine to vote certain proxies on behalf of such client in accordance with this Policy ("Discretionary Proxy Clients");

2.1.2 specifically instructed Man to vote proxies – Man will vote proxies in accordance with this Policy ("Required Proxy Clients", and together with Discretionary Proxy Clients, "Proxy Clients"); or

2.1.3 retained the power to vote proxies – Man will take no action in relation to proxies.

2.2 For the avoidance of doubt, Man will not vote a proxy in relation to an investment held by a product that it does not manage (e.g., Man will not vote proxies for an investment held in a managed account managed by a third party manager).

2.3 In addition, if there is a regulatory requirement to vote proxies on behalf of a client, Man will ensure that the client's agreement with Man properly provides Man with either the authority to vote proxies in Man's discretion and/or the means and procedures by which Man is to be instructed to vote proxies on such client's behalf.

3. Voting

3.1 Proxy votes that may be voted at Man's or the PM's discretion, or where Man has been specifically instructed by a client to vote proxies, will be evaluated and Man will seek to vote in the best interest of the relevant Proxy Client(s) with the goal of increasing the overall economic value of the investment. It should be noted that there may be times whereby PMs invest in the same securities/assets while managing different investment strategies and/or client accounts; accordingly, it may be appropriate in certain cases that such securities/assets are voted differently across different investment strategies and/or client accounts, based on their respective investment thesis and other portfolio considerations.

3.2 It should be noted that Man will only vote proxies on securities and other portfolio assets held by clients on or as of the relevant voting date and time, and that proxies received for securities that have been loaned out will generally not be voted.

3.3 In the case where a client provides Man with specific instructions as to the manner in which a particular proxy should be voted, Man will follow such instructions.

3.4 A proxy to be voted on behalf of a Proxy Client must be voted in a prudent manner under the prevailing circumstances, and in accordance with this Policy and Man's other legal duties. Upon the termination of a Proxy Client's IMA with Man, Man will no longer vote proxies for such Proxy Client.

3.5 There may be times when Man believes that abstaining from voting is in its Proxy Clients' overall best economic interest, such as when the expected cost of voting exceeds the expected benefit to the relevant Proxy Client(s). As an example, voting on a security of an issuer that is domiciled in a country where Man does not have a presence may involve additional costs such as a translator or travelling to such country to vote in person. In addition, there may be situations whereby voting may restrict trading such as in the case of share blocking and re-registration. Documentation will be maintained of all proposals that are not voted for Required Proxy Clients and the reasons therefor.

3.6 With respect to any ERISA clients for which Man is an investment manager or similar service provider, Man will act prudently and solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of such ERISA client.

3.7 With respect to any Man US SEC-registered investment company for which Man is an investment manager or sub-adviser, Man will be responsible for voting proxies and reporting the manner in which such proxies are voted on an annual basis.

3.8 The Corporate Actions Group or the relevant trading operations team is responsible for monitoring proxies, conducting administrative functions with respect to proxies and, where applicable, overseeing that any relevant proxy voting service is voting proxies for all Proxy Voting Service Clients (as defined below).

3.9 In addition, on an on-going basis Man will endeavour to identify material conflicts of interest, if any, which may arise between Man and one or more issuers of clients' portfolio securities, with respect to votes proposed by and/or affecting such issuer(s), in order to ensure that all votes are voted in the overall best interest of clients.

3.10 Man has established a Proxy Voting Committee to be responsible, other than in relation to FRM, for resolving proxy voting issues when deemed necessary; making proxy voting decisions where a material conflict of interest may exist; monitoring compliance with this Policy; and setting new and/ or modifying existing policy. The Charter of the Proxy Voting Committee (which lists the current members of the Proxy Voting Committee) is attached

 

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as Appendix A. With respect to FRM, Compliance should be notified of any potential conflicts of interest. In addition, Compliance will undertake monitoring of proxy votes where potential conflicts of interest may have existed.

3.11 Any attempts by personnel to influence a vote in a manner that is inconsistent with this Policy should be immediately brought to the attention of Compliance.

3.12 Any person receiving an inquiry directly from an issuer regarding a particular proxy should immediately notify (via e-mail or other appropriate means) the Corporate Actions Group or the relevant trading operations team.

3.13 It is Man's general policy not to disclose Man's view on a specific proxy issue/vote or its clients' ownership interests in securities, other than required by law. Limited and confidential disclosure of the foregoing may however be made for business and/or legal purposes.

4. Proxy voting services

Man has appointed, and will appoint from time to time, one or more proxy voting service companies, to provide it with proxy voting services (detailed below) for certain Proxy Clients ("Proxy Voting Service Clients").

GLG and Numeric have appointed ISS, a subsidiary of MCSI Inc., ("ISS") as their proxy voting service with respect to portfolio equity securities. The services to be provided by ISS include, but are not limited to, analyses, research, recommendations and guidelines to assist GLG and Numeric in voting proxies on behalf of their Proxy Voting Service Clients. GLG and Numeric have adopted the regional proxy voting guidelines established by ISS, which may be amended from time to time ( "ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines"), as part of these policies and procedures. The ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines can be found on ISS's website at:

http://www.issgovernance.com/policy-gateway/2015-policy-information/

Man will review the proxy voting service company's conflict procedures and voting guidelines periodically to ascertain their adequacy.

4.1 Proxy Voting Guidelines - Equity Securities

Where applicable, Man will generally vote proxies for Proxy Voting Service Clients in accordance with the relevant proxy voting service company's proxy voting guidelines, unless otherwise specifically instructed to vote otherwise by the PM or such Proxy Voting Service Client.

These guidelines generally provide that:

(i) when the view of the issuer's management is favourable, Man will generally support current management initiatives with exceptions as noted below; and
(ii)when the view is that changes to the management structure would probably increase security holder value, Man will not necessarily support current management initiatives.

Exceptions in supporting current management initiatives may include:

Where there is a clear conflict between management and security holder interests, proxy voting guidelines may call to elect to vote against management.

In general, proxy voting guidelines will call to oppose proposals that act to entrench management.

In some instances, even though Man may support management, there may be corporate governance issues that, in spite of management objections, Man believes should be subject to security holder approval.

Furthermore, with respect to certain vote issues including, but not limited to, option repricing and the terms and conditions to serving of members of boards of directors, Man may choose to vote on a case-by-case basis, which may be different from the recommendations set forth in the relevant proxy voting guidelines.

Nevertheless, in voting proxies, Man will take into account what is in the overall best economic interest of its Proxy Voting Service Clients. Man will maintain documentation memorialising the decision to vote a proxy in a manner different from what is stated in any relevant proxy voting guidelines, and the Proxy Voting Committee will be periodically informed of any such votes.

Furthermore, although Man may have adopted the relevant applicable proxy voting guidelines, Man may agree to follow the specific proxy voting instructions or guidelines provided by Proxy Voting Service Clients regarding the manner in which they want their proxy matters to be voted. In addition, in the case where a Proxy Voting Service Client provides Man with specific instructions as to the manner in which a proxy should be voted, Man will follow such instruction notwithstanding that they may not be in accordance with the relevant proxy voting guidelines. Documentation will be maintained of any proxy voting instruction or guideline provided by a Proxy Voting Service Client. As deemed appropriate, the relevant proxy voting service company will be notified of any specific proxy voting instruction or guideline provided by a Proxy Voting Service Client.

5. Internal Proxy Process

Where a proxy voting service company has either not been appointed to provide services or does not cover a particular security or other relevant portfolio asset, a manual voting process will be managed and executed by the relevant Corporate Actions Group/trading operations team, and documentation of such vote(s) will be maintained accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt, in such cases, the proxy voting guidelines referred to in sections 4 and 4.1 above are not applicable but the proxy voting principles referenced in those sections should apply.

6. Proxy Ballot Information

Man may receive proxies, ballots or other vote requests and related information and disclosures for clients from relevant proxy voting service companies, issuers, custodians, administrators, trustees, agent banks, prime brokers and/or other third parties.

 

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The Corporate Actions Group or the relevant trading operations team will be responsible for the following as it relates to any proxies, ballots or other votes made on behalf of Proxy Clients:

(i) Maintaining a record of any proxy, ballot or other vote request and related information and other disclosures received. Where a proxy voting service company has been appointed and Man receives any of the foregoing for a Proxy Voting Service Client directly, the Corporate Actions Group will send such proxy, ballot or or vote (as the case may be) to the relevant proxy voting service company to be incorporated into their electronic database. A record of the proxies received through a proxy voting service company will be maintained in such company's database for Proxy Voting Service Clients;
(ii) Maintaining a record of the votes cast. Where applicable, a record of the votes cast through a proxy voting service company will be maintained in such company's database. However, a record of votes cast on behalf of Proxy Clients pursuant to Man or a PM's discretion, irrespective of whether they are also Proxy Voting Service Clients, will be maintained by the Corporate Actions Group or the relevant trading operations team; and
(iii) Where relevant, maintaining any documentation or data that was material in making a decision regarding a particular proxy, or that memorialises the basis for the decision, including proxies that were not voted for a Required Proxy Client.

7. Proxy Voting Responsibilities

The Corporate Actions Group or the relevant trading operations team will be responsible for the following as it relates to Proxy Clients:

(i) Ensuring that all proxies for Proxy Clients are voted in accordance with this Policy;
(ii) Monitoring proxies;
(iii) Where applicable, determining whether the subject issuer is on the Proxy Watch List (see section 9.5 below). If so, any proxy, ballot or other vote request and related information and other disclosures received should be forwarded to the Proxy Voting Committee for its review and decision; and
(iv) Where applicable, submitting any instructions for a Proxy Voting Service Client through the relevant proxy voting service company's platform in a timely manner for proxies that Man is voting differently than what is being recommended by the proxy voting service company.

The Corporate Actions Group or the relevant trading operations team, when voting, will vote in accordance with the following criteria in the following order of priority:

(i) First, specific instructions, if any, provided by the Proxy Client;
(ii) Secondly, the proxy voting guidelines, if any, provided by a Proxy Client and agreed to by Man;
(iii) Thirdly, in a manner as instructed by the relevant PM; and
(iv) Fourthly, where applicable, the proxy voting guidelines of the relevant proxy voting service company.

8. Disclosure

Man will, where required, provide Proxy Clients with the following:

(i) A concise summary of this Policy and any material amendments thereto;
(ii) An offer to provide clients with a copy of this Policy upon request; and
(iii) Information, including contact details, as to how Proxy Clients can obtain information regarding how securities and other investments held in their accounts were voted.

If a Proxy Client requests information on how securities/investments held in its accounts were voted, Man will provide, at a minimum:

(i) the name of the issuer;
(ii) the proposal voted upon; and
(iii) how Man voted the relevant proxy.

It is Man's general policy not to disclose the manner in which it intends to vote a particular proxy prior to the deadline therefor.

9. Material Conflicts of Interest

9.1 Given the nature of Man's business activities, material conflicts of interest may arise between Man and its clients with respect to the voting of proxies. The Proxy Voting Committee will be responsible for identifying actual and potential material conflicts of interest. These conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:

9.1.1 Directorships Certain personnel and/or members of such personnel's immediate family may be on the board of directors of public or private company issuers in which Man may invest or is contemplating investing on behalf of one or more of its clients, or may maintain personal and/or business relationships with such an issuer or with an individual who serves on the board of directors of such an issuer. However, a material conflict of interest may not necessarily exist in the case where personnel serve on such a board on behalf, or at the behest or direction, of Man or a client. Nevertheless, Man will review these situations on a case-by-case basis to ascertain where actual material conflicts of interest exist.

9.1.2 Client affiliation An institutional client may be affiliated with an issuer of the securities in which Man has invested or is considering investing on behalf of a client or clients. For example, where not prohibited under ERISA and other applicable law, Man may provide investment advisory services, for which it may receive compensation, to the pension plan of a public or private company in whose securities Man may invest on behalf of its clients.

9.1.3 Other Services Man may provide other services, for which it may receive compensation or a direct or indirect benefit, to public or private company issuers of securities or other portfolio assets in which Man may invest or is considering investing on behalf of a client or clients.

9.2 Proxy Voting Committee

To the extent applicable and other than in relation to FRM, the Proxy Voting Committee will maintain a list, entitled "Proxy Watch List", of issuers as to which it believes Man may have an actual or potential material conflict of interest with respect to voting proxies on behalf of its clients. The Proxy

 

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Watch List will be updated periodically and maintained by the Proxy Voting Committee. The Corporate Actions Group or relevant trading operations team will be provided with a copy of this list so that they can properly identify these issuers and forward their proxy ballot information to the Proxy Voting Committee.

If it is determined that a material conflict of interest exists, the Proxy Voting Committee will direct the vote of any proxies with respect to that issuer in accordance with the relevant proxy voting guidelines, if applicable, unless the Proxy Voting Committee determines that it would not be in the overall best interest of Man's clients. If a proxy with respect to a particular issuer as to which a material conflict of interest exists is not voted in accordance with the relevant proxy voting guidelines or if there are no applicable proxy voting guidelines, the Proxy Voting Committee will document the basis for its decision.

If a member of the Proxy Voting Committee believes he/she has a material conflict of interest with regards to an issuer with respect to which a proxy is to be voted, he/she shall refrain from participating in a decision on such proxy. A majority vote of the participating voting members of the Proxy Voting Committee members is required for a final ruling on proxy issues.

10. Record-keeping

In addition to the documents referred to in section 6 of this Policy, Man is required to maintain the following documents:

(i) Man's proxy voting policies and procedures, including this Policy, and any amendments thereto;
(ii) Proxy Watch List; (iii) Proxy voting service's conflict procedures;
(iii) Any proxy voting guidelines or instructions provided by Proxy Clients;
(iv) Written records of Proxy Client requests for proxy information and any written response to any (written or oral) Proxy Client request for information on how Man voted the proxies, including any emails; and
(v) A copy of the written disclosure provided to Proxy Clients that describes Man's proxy voting policies and procedures and any related correspondence sent to Proxy Clients, including emails.

11. Review

Man will periodically review this Policy, and evaluate the services provided by its proxy voting service companies and their respective proxy voting guidelines, in order to ensure compliance with current applicable regulatory requirements.

1

Man means Man Group plc and its controlled subsidiaries and partnerships.

2

For the purposes of this policy, "personnel" is not a legally defined term but includes every employee, officer, partner, director and other person having a similar status or performing similar functions or otherwise subject to the supervision and control of Man.

3

For the purposes of this policy, "client account," "Man product" and "client" mean and include any account or product over which a Man entity has investment discretion or for which a Man entity provides investment advice, for example, as investment adviser, as investment manager or as collateral manager.

 

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APPENDIX A

Proxy Voting Committee Charter

1. PURPOSE

In order to fulfil its responsibilities under Man's Global Proxy Voting Policy (the "Policy") to monitor proxy voting practices, Man has charged the Proxy Voting Committee with the responsibilities described in this Charter other than in relation to FRM proxy voting practices.

2. MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Proxy Voting Committee is as follows: Voting Members

Committee Chairperson, Head of Middle Office Accounting (GLG), Colin Bettison 

Head of Product and Trading Operations, David Barber

Member(s) of Portfolio Management Staff (other Portfolio Management Staff members may serve on the Committee from time to time)

Asset Manager (GLG), Simon Savage

Co-Head of Equities (AHL Research & Trading), Paul Chambers

CIO, Director of Portfolio Management (Numeric), Robert Furdak Non-Voting Members

Chief Compliance Officer (NY) - Nadine Le Gall

Head of Operations (Numeric) – Michael Dorsey

Member(s) of the Corporate Actions Group (non-voting capacity) – Graeme Scott (other members of the Corporate Actions Group may join in a non-voting capacity from time to time).

Membership and Designees

The Chairperson and members of the Proxy Voting Committee are appointed to serve on the Committee.

To the extent deemed necessary, a Committee member who is unable to attend a Committee meeting should appoint a designee to attend such meeting in such member's stead. For any such meeting, each such designee shall have the voting (if any) and other rights of the designating member.

3. MEETINGS

Frequency:
The Proxy Voting Committee will generally meet on an as-needed basis when actual or potential material conflicts of interest are identified and/or a vote that deviates from the Policy is contemplated. The Chairperson, as required, may call special meetings.

Proxy Voting Committee meetings may be held in person, by telephone or video conference, or any combination of these. In such circumstances as may be determined by the Chairperson, the Proxy Voting Committee may also take action via electronic mail in lieu of a meeting.

Quorum and Actions:
The attendance at a meeting of at least one member from each of the GLG COO, Product and Trading Operations and Portfolio Management Staff shall constitute a quorum. Actions of the Proxy Voting Committee must be approved by a majority of voting members of such quorum.

Reporting and Meeting Minutes:
Minutes of the Proxy Voting Committee will be prepared and approved by the Proxy Voting Committee.

Approved minutes will be distributed to certain Man personnel for information purposes.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Proxy Voting Committee will include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Resolving any proxy voting issues;
(ii) Identifying actual and potential material conflicts of interest and maintaining the Proxy Watch List;
(iii) If deemed necessary, making proxy voting decisions where a material conflict of interest may exist;
(iv) Evaluating the services provided by the proxy voting services companies; and
(v) Setting policy including approving any additions or amendments to the Policy.

 

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APPENDIX C

Ratings Definitions

Below are summaries of the ratings definitions used by some of the rating organizations. Those ratings represent the opinion of the rating organizations as to the credit quality of the issues that they rate. The summaries are based upon publicly available information provided by the rating organizations.

Ratings of Long-Term Obligations and Preferred Stocks — The Funds utilize ratings provided by rating organizations in order to determine eligibility of long-term obligations. The ratings described in this section may also be used for evaluating the credit quality for preferred stocks.

Credit ratings typically evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of bonds. The rating organizations may fail to update a credit rating on a timely basis to reflect changes in economic or financial conditions that may affect the market value of the security. For these reasons, credit ratings may not be an accurate indicator of the market value of a bond.

The four highest Moody's ratings for long-term obligations (or issuers thereof) are Aaa, Aa, A and Baa. Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk. Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk. Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk. Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Moody's ratings of Ba, B, Caa, Ca and C are considered below investment grade. Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk. Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk. Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk. Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest. Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest. Moody's also 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.

The four highest Standard & Poor's ratings for long-term obligations are AAA, AA, A and BBB. An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong. An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

Standard & Poor's ratings of BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are considered below investment grade and are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions. An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The CC rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor's expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default. 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 to obligations that are rated higher. 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 Standard & Poor's believes that such 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 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.

The four highest ratings for long-term obligations by Fitch Ratings are AAA, AA, A and BBB. Obligations rated AAA are deemed to be of the highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events. Obligations rated AA are deemed to be of 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. Obligations rated A are deemed to be of high credit quality. An A rating denotes expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings. Obligations rated BBB are deemed to be of 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 and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment grade category.

Fitch's ratings of BB, B, CCC, CC, C, RD and D are considered below investment grade or speculative grade. Obligations rated BB are deemed to be speculative. BB ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments. Obligations rated B are deemed to be highly speculative. B ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently

 

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being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment. Obligations rated CCC indicate, for issuers and performing obligations, default is a real possibility. Obligations rated CC indicate, for issuers and performing obligations, default of some kind appears probable. Obligations rated C indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a 'C' category rating for an issuer include: (a) the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation; (b) the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or (c) Fitch Ratings otherwise believes a condition of 'RD' or 'D' to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange. Obligations rated RD indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings' opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include: (a) the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt; (b) the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation; (c) the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or (d) execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations. Obligations rated D indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings' opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise cease business. Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange. "Imminent" default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future. In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency's opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer's financial obligations or local commercial practice.

Ratings of Municipal Obligations — Moody's ratings for short-term investment-grade municipal obligations are designated Municipal Investment Grade (MIG or VMIG in the case of variable rate demand obligations) and are divided into three levels — MIG/VMIG 1, MIG/VMIG 2 and MIG/VMIG 3. Factors used in determination of ratings include liquidity of the borrower and short-term cyclical elements. The MIG/VMIG 1 rating 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. The MIG/VMIG 2 rating denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group. The MIG/VMIG 3 rating denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established. An SG rating denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

Standard & Poor's uses SP-1, SP-2, and SP-3 to rate short-term municipal obligations. A rating of SP-1 denotes a 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. A rating of SP-2 denotes a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes. A rating of SP-3 denotes a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

Ratings of Short-Term Obligations — Moody's short-term ratings, designated as P-1, P-2, P-3, or NP, are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations that generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months. The rating P-1 is the highest short-term rating assigned by Moody's and it denotes an issuer (or supporting institution) that has a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations. The rating P-2 denotes an issuer (or supporting institution) that has a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations. The rating P-3 denotes an issuer (or supporting institution) that has an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term policyholder claims and obligations.  The rating NP denotes an issuer (or supporting institutions) that does not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Standard & Poor's short-term ratings are generally assigned to obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days — including commercial paper. A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong. A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory. A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. A short-term obligation rated B is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of B-1, B-2, and B-3 may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the B category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. A short-term obligation rated C is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. 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 Standard & Poor's believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action 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.

 

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AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS

 

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28.   Exhibits

 

(a) (1)   Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated March 4, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 225, filed June 30, 2015 (“PEA No. 225”)
       
  (2)   Certificates of Designation for American Beacon AHL Managed Futures Fund, American Beacon Bahl & Gaynor Small Cap Growth Fund, American Beacon Crescent High Income Fund, American Beacon Global Evolution Frontier Markets Debt Fund, and American Beacon Ionic Absolute Return Fund are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 208, filed December 19, 2014 (“PEA No. 208”)
       
  (3)   Certificate of Designation for American Grosvenor Long/Short Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 231, filed September 30, 2015 (“PEA No. 231”)
       
  (4)   Certificates of Designation for American Beacon Bridgeway Large Cap Growth Fund and American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 239, filed December 23, 2015 (“PEA No. 239”)
       
(b)     Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated February 18, 2014, are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.184, filed April 29, 2014 (“PEA No. 184”)
       
(c)     Rights of holders of the securities being registered are contained in Articles III, VIII, X, XI and XII of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust and Articles III, V, VI and XI of the Registrant’s Bylaws
       
(d) (1)(A)   Management Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Select Funds and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 228, filed August 28, 2015 (“PEA No. 228”)
       
  (1)(B)   Amended Schedule A to Management Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Select Funds and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated January 28, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 245, filed February 4, 2016 (“PEA No. 245”)
       
  (1)(C)   Management Agreement between American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated July 9, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 203, filed August 19, 2014 (“PEA No. 203”)
       
  (2)(A)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231

 

 

 

 

  (2)(B)(i)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, with respect to the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(B)(ii)   Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, with respect to the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund, dated May 11, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(B)(iii)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, with respect to the American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund,  American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund, and American Beacon Balanced Fund, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(C)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Calamos Advisors LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(D)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Causeway Capital Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(E)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Dreman Value Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(F)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Franklin Advisers, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(G)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(H)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Lazard Asset Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(I)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Logan Circle Partners, L.P., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(J)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231

 

 

 

 

  (2)(K)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and NISA Investment Advisors, L.L.C., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(L)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Pzena Investment Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(M)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(N)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(O)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(P)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Zebra Capital Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(Q)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Strategic Income Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(R)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Brandes Investment Partners, L.P., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(S)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Massachusetts Financial Services Company, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(T)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(U)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(V)(i)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 228

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)(V)(ii)   First Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc., dated January 28, 2016, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 245
       
  (2)(W)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Holland Capital Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(X)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(Y)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and The London Company of Virginia, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(Z)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Earnest Partners, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(AA)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Acadian Asset Management LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(BB)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(CC)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors Inc., and Global Evolution USA, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(DD)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and AHL Partners LLP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(EE)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Bahl & Gaynor, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(FF)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Crescent Capital Group LP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(GG)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd., American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and AHL Partners LLP, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(HH)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231

 

 

 

 

  (2)(II)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Ionic Capital Management LLC, dated June 22, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 225
       
  (2)(JJ)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Sound Point Capital Management, L.P., dated December 9, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 237, filed December 9, 2015 (“PEA No. 237”)
       
  (2)(KK)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and WEDGE Capital Management, L.L.P, dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(LL)   Form of Lead Investment Advisory Agreement between American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(MM)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Basswood Capital Management, LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(NN)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Impala Asset Management, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(OO)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Incline Global Management, LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(PP)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Passport Capital LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(QQ)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Pine River Capital Management LP, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(RR)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and River Canyon Fund Management LLC, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(SS)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Advisors, Inc., Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., and Tremblant Capital Group, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (2)(TT)   Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Payden & Rygel, dated August 13, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 234, filed October 27, 2015  (“PEA No. 234”)

 

 

 

 

  (2)(UU)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and Garcia Hamilton & Associates, L.P., is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 243, filed January 15, 2016
       
  (2)(VV)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and GLG LLC – (filed herewith)
       
(e) (1)   Form of Distribution Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Mileage Funds, American Beacon Select Funds, and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, dated March 31, 2009, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 75, filed May 1, 2009  (“PEA No. 75”)
       
  (2)(A)   Eleventh Amendment to Schedule I of the Distribution Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Mileage Funds, American Beacon Select Funds, and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
(f)     Bonus, profit sharing or pension plans – (none)
       
(g) (1)   Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated December 1, 1997, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24, filed February 26, 1998  (“PEA No. 24”)
       
  (2)   Amended and Restated Schedule D to the Custodian Agreement, effective as of January 21, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 180, filed February 18, 2014 (“PEA No. 180”)
       
(h) (1)(A)   Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated January 1, 1998, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 24
       
  (1)(B)   Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement regarding anti-money laundering procedures, dated September 24, 2002, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42, filed February 28, 2003 (“PEA No. 42”)
       
  (1)(C)   Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement to replace fee schedule, dated March 26, 2004, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 64, filed March 1, 2007 (“PEA No. 64”)
       
  (1)(D)   Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated September 18, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 206, filed October 17, 2014 (“PEA No. 206”)
       
  (2)(A)   Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the American Beacon Funds and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., dated March 15, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 97, filed December 30, 2010 (“PEA No. 97”)

 

 

 

 

  (2)(B)   First Amendment to the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, dated May 2, 2008, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (2)(C)   Second Amendment to the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, dated May 20, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (2)(D)   Third Amendment to the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, dated November 3, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (3)(A)   Administration Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Select Funds, and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated April 30, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 234
       
  (3)(B)   Amendment to Administration Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Select Funds, and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated December 10, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 239
       
  (4)   Administration Agreement between American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd. and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated July 1, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (5)(A)   Administrative Services Agreement among American AAdvantage Funds, American AAdvantage Mileage Funds, AMR Investment Services Trust, AMR Investment Services, Inc., and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated November 29, 1999, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28, filed March 12, 1999 (“PEA No. 28”)
       
  (5)(B)   Amendment to Administrative Services Agreement among American AAdvantage Funds, American AAdvantage Mileage Funds, AMR Investment Services Trust, AMR Investment Services, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated June 30, 2004, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50, filed June 30, 2004 (“PEA No. 50”)
       
  (6)(A)   Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Master Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated March 1, 2005, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (6)(B)   Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Master Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated December 7, 2010, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (6)(C)   Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Master Trust, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated February 3, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 129, filed February 2, 2012  (“PEA No. 129”)

 

 

 

 

  (6)(D)   Seventh Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated August 28, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 166, filed September 20, 2013 (“PEA No. 166”)
       
  (6)(E)   Eighth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated July 7, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (7)   Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Investor Class, dated March 6, 2009, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 77, filed August 3, 2009 (“PEA No. 77”)
       
  (8)   Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Advisor Class (formerly known as the AAdvantage Funds Service Class), dated May 1, 2003, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.45, filed May 1, 2003 (“PEA No. 45”)
       
  (9)(A)   Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Retirement Class, dated April 30, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 75
       
  (9)(B)   Amendment to Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Retirement Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (10)(A)   Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Y Class, dated July 24, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 77
       
  (10)(B)   Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds Y Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (11)(A)   Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds A Class, dated February 16, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.84, filed March 16, 2010 (“PEA No. 84”)
       
  (11)(B)   Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds A Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (12)(A)   Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds C Class, dated May 25, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 90, filed June 15, 2010 (“PEA No. 90”)
       
  (12)(B)   Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Service Plan Agreement for the American Beacon Funds C Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (13)   Master-Feeder Participation Agreement among Small Cap Index Fund, International Equity Index Fund, Quantitative Master Series Trust, and Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc., dated June 30, 2000, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 32, filed July 7, 2000 (“PEA No. 32”)

 

 

 

 

  (14)   Master-Feeder Participation Agreement among S&P 500 Index Fund, Equity 500 Index Portfolio and SSgA Funds Management, Inc., dated May 1, 2001, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, filed October 1, 2002 (“PEA No. 41”)
       
  (15)   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between American Beacon Funds and American Beacon Advisors, Inc., dated January 31, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 70, filed February 29, 2008 (“PEA No. 70”)
       
  (16)(A)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Earnest Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund, dated August 9, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 164, filed August 27, 2013
       
  (16)(B)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Acadian Emerging Markets Managed Volatility Fund, dated August 9, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 166
       
  (16)(C)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon SGA Global Growth Fund, dated August 9, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 168, filed October 3, 2013
       
  (16)(D)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Global Evolution Frontier Markets Income Fund, dated November 12, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 171, filed November 19, 2013 (“PEA No. 171”)
       
  (16)(E)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated December 19, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 173, filed December 27, 2013 (“PEA No. 173”)
       
  (16)(F)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated February 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 181, filed February 28, 2014 (“PEA No. 181”)
       
  (16)(G)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated March 28, 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 185, filed April 29, 2014
       
  (16)(H)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon AHL Managed Futures Strategy Fund, dated June 5, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (16)(I)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Bahl & Gaynor Small Cap Growth Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 198, filed July 14, 2014 (“PEA No. 198”)
       
  (16)(J)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Earnest Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 194, filed May 28, 2014 (“PEA No. 194”)

 

 

 

 

  (16)(K)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for the American Beacon Crescent Short Duration High Income Fund, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 196, filed July 7, 2014 (“PEA No. 196”)
       
  (16)(L)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated July 1, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (16)(M)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated November 13, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA 208
       
  (16)(N)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated January 23, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 213, filed February 27, 2015 (“PEA No. 213”)
       
  (16)(O)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Ionic Strategic Arbitrage Fund, dated June 3, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 225
       
  (16)(P)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated April 8, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 217, filed April 30, 2015
       
  (16)(Q)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for certain American Beacon Funds, dated April 8, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 219, filed May 29, 2015 (“PEA No. 219”)
       
  (16)(R)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund, dated May 15, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (16)(S)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund, dated November 10, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 237
       
  (16)(T)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon SiM High Yield Opportunities Fund and American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund, dated November 10, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 239
       
  (16)(U)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Zebra Small Cap Equity Fund, dated September 9, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 239
       
  (16)(V)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Garcia Hamilton Quality Bond Fund, dated [           ] – (to be filed by amendment)

 

 

 

 

  (16)(W)   Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Agreement for American Beacon Bridgeway Large Cap Growth Fund, dated November 10, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 245
       
(i)     Opinion and consent of counsel –  (to be filed by amendment)
       
(j)     Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – (none)
       
(k)     Financial statements omitted from prospectus – (none)
       
(l)     Letter of investment intent, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 23, filed December 18, 1997 (“PEA No. 23”)
       
(m) (1)   Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Advisor Class (formerly known as the Service Class), is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 45
       
  (2)(A)   Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Retirement Class, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 77
       
  (2)(B)   Amendment to Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Retirement Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (3)(A)   Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the A Class, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 filed May 17, 2010
       
  (3)(B)   Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the A Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
  (3)(C)   Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the A Class, dated December 10, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 239
       
  (4)(A)   Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the C Class, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 90
       
  (4)(B)   Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the C Class, dated July 14, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 203
       
(n)     Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3, dated March 9, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103, filed March 18, 2011 (“PEA No. 103”)
       
(p) (1)   Code of Ethics of American Beacon Advisors, Inc., American Beacon Funds, and American Beacon Select Funds, dated February 18, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 181
       
  (2)   Code of Ethics of State Street Master Funds, dated April 1, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 158, filed April 30, 2013 (“PEA No. 158”)  
       
  (3)   Code of Ethics of Quantitative Master Series LLC, dated March 22, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 158

 

 

 

 

  (4)   Code of Ethics of Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc., dated December 31, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 100, filed March 1, 2011 (“PEA No. 100”)  
       
  (5)   Code of Ethics of Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC, dated February 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 194
       
  (6)   Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy of Calamos Advisors LLC, dated March 17, 2009, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (7)   Code of Ethics of Causeway Capital Management LLC, dated April 25, 2005 and revised August 10, 2010, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (8)   Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy of Dreman Value Management LLC, February 24, 2010, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 97
       
  (9)   Code of Ethics of Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC, dated December 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 181
       
  (10)   Code of Ethics and Personal Investment Policy of Lazard Asset Management LLC, dated January 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 148, filed October 26, 2012 (“PEA No. 148”)
       
  (11)   Code of Ethics and Personal Trading Guidelines of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., effective September 16, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 171
       
  (12)   Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct of NISA Investment Advisors, L.L.C., dated February 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 194
       
  (13)   Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of Pzena Investment Management, LLC, revised January 2009, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73, filed February 27, 2009  (“PEA No. 73”)
       
  (14)   Code of Ethics and Policy Statement on Insider Trading of Franklin Templeton, parent company of  Franklin Advisers, Inc. and Templeton Investments Counsel, LLC, dated May 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 171
       
  (15)   Code of Conduct and Personal Securities Trading Policy of The Bank of New York Mellon, parent company of The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC and Standish Mellon Asset Management LLC, dated March 2012, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 153
       
  (16)   Code of Ethics of Zebra Capital Management, LLC, dated November 2011, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 136, filed March 15, 2012 (“PEA No. 136”)
       
  (17)   Code of Ethics for Strategic Income Management, LLC, dated January 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 219

 

 

 

 

  (18)   Code of Ethics of Massachusetts Financial Services Co., dated September 19, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 213
       
  (19)   Code of Ethics of Brandes Investment Partners, L.P., dated August 15, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 113, filed July 1, 2011 (“PEA No. 113”)
       
  (20)   Code of Ethics of Fortress Investment Group LLC (on behalf of Logan Circle Partners, L.P.), dated January 2012, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 136
       
  (21)   Code of Ethics of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), dated May 2009, as revised January 2015, is incorporated by reference to (“PEA No. 219”)
       
  (22)   Code of Ethics for Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC, dated April 2012, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 153
       
  (23)   Code of Ethics for Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc., dated June 23, 2011, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 129
       
  (24)   Code of Ethics and Conduct for Holland Capital Management LLC, dated February 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 194
       
  (25)   Code of Ethics for PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., dated February 21, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 131, filed February 23, 2012  (“PEA No. 131”)
       
  (26)   Code of Ethics for The London Company of Virginia, LLC, dated April 2, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 145, filed May 25, 2012
       
  (27)   Code of Ethics for Earnest Partners, dated August 4, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 161, filed June 14, 2013 (“PEA No. 161”)
       
  (28)   Code of Ethics for Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 162, filed July 11, 2013  
       
  (29)   Code of Ethics for Acadian Asset Management LLC, dated February 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 219
       
  (30)   Code of Ethics for Global Evolution USA, LLC, dated January 1, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 161
       
  (31)   Code of Ethics for AHL Partners LLP and GLG LLC, revised May 2015 – (filed herewith)
       
  (32)   Code of Ethics for Bahl & Gaynor, Inc., amended 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 189, filed May 1, 2014
       
  (33)   Code of Ethics for Crescent Capital Group LP, dated May 2011, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 196
       
  (34)   Code of Ethics for Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC, dated July 8, 2014 is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 208

 

 

 

 

  (35)   Code of Ethics for Ionic Capital Management LLC, dated May 2014, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 214, filed March 18, 2015
       
  (36)   Code of Ethics for Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P., dated June 27, 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (37)   Code of Ethics for Basswood Capital Management, LLC, dated August 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (38)   Code of Ethics for Impala Asset Management, dated November 14, 2013, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (39)   Code of Ethics for Incline Global Management, LLC, dated October 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (40)  

Code of Ethics for Passport Capital LLC, dated January 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231

       
  (41)   Code of Ethics for Pine River Capital Management LP, dated April 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (42)   Code of Ethics for River Canyon Fund Management LLC, dated August 25, 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
  (43)   Code of Ethics for Tremblant Capital Group, dated July 2015, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 231
       
 

(44)

  Code of Ethics for Sound Point Capital Management, L.P., dated August 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 237
       
  (45)   Code of Ethics for Payden & Rygel, dated August 2014, is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 239
       
  (46)   Code of Ethics for Garcia Hamilton & Associates, L.P. – (to be filed by amendment)

 

Other Exhibit

 

Powers of Attorney for Trustees of American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds, dated June 2, 2015 – (filed herewith)

 

Item 29.         Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

 

None.

 

 

 

 

Item 30.         Indemnification

 

Article XI of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust provides that:

 

Limitation of Liability

 

Section 1. Provided they have exercised reasonable care and have acted under the reasonable belief that their actions are in the best interest of the Trust, the Trustees shall not be responsible for or liable in any event for neglect or wrongdoing of them or any officer, agent, employee or investment adviser of the Trust, but nothing contained herein shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

 

Indemnification

 

Section 2.

 

(a)Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:

 

(i)          every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as "Covered Person") shall be indemnified by the appropriate portfolios to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;

 

(ii)         the words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened while in office or thereafter, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

 

(b)No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

 

(i)          who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or

 

(ii)         in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office (A) by the court or other body approving the settlement; (B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither interested persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or (C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); provided, however, that any Shareholder may, by appropriate legal proceedings, challenge any such determination by the Trustees, or by independent counsel.

 

 

 

 

(c)          The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

 

(d)          Expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding of the character described in paragraph (a) of this Section 2 may be paid by the applicable Portfolio from time to time prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 2; provided, however, that:

 

(i)          such Covered Person shall have provided appropriate security for such undertaking;

 

(ii)         the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments; or

 

(iii)        either a majority of the Trustees who are neither interested persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a trial-type inquiry or full investigation), that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will be found entitled to indemnification under this Section 2.

 

According to Article XII, Section 1 of the Declaration of Trust, the Trust is a trust, not a partnership. Trustees are not liable personally to any person extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust, a particular Portfolio or the Trustees. A Trustee, however, is not protected from liability due to willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

 

Article XII, Section 2 provides that, subject to the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII and to Article XI, the Trustees are not liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, or for any act or omission in accordance with advice of counsel or other experts or for failing to follow such advice.

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Management Agreement provides that:

 

8.  Limitation of Liability of the Manager. The Manager shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Trust or any Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relate except a loss resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any person, even though also an officer, partner, employee, or agent of the Manager, who may be or become an officer, Board member, employee or agent of a Trust shall be deemed, when rendering services to a Trust or acting in any business of a Trust, to be rendering such services to or acting solely for a Trust and not as an officer, partner, employee, or agent or one under the control or direction of the Manager even though paid by it.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Acadian Asset Management LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with AHL Partners LLP provides, in relevant part, that:

 

9.  Liability. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders, the Manager or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities or commodities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement, relating to its trading activities or information provided to the Manager regarding the Adviser, by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The U.S. federal and state securities laws impose liabilities on persons who act in good faith, and therefore, nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit the obligations of the Adviser under such laws.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Bahl & Gaynor, Inc. provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Straus, Inc. provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 16 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Basswood Capital Management, LLC provides that:

 

16.Liability and Indemnification by Parties.

 

A.The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Manager, Lead Adviser, the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

B.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

C.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

D.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

E.No party will be liable to another party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Brandes Investment Partners, L.P. provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC provides that:

 

11.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc. provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders, the Manager or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Manager shall indemnify the Adviser, its officers, directors and employees, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, controls the Adviser, for any liability and expenses, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, which may be sustained as a result of the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Calamos Advisors LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. Adviser will not be liable for any loss suffered by reason of any investment, decision, recommendation, or other action taken or omitted in what Adviser in good faith believes to be the proper performance of its duties hereunder. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Causeway Capital Management LLC provides that:

 

8.  Liability of Adviser. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Crescent Capital Group LP provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. Neither the Adviser nor any director, officer or employee of the Adviser performing services for the Trust in connection with the Adviser’s discharge of its obligations hereunder shall have liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Dreman Value Management LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Earnest Partners, LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Franklin Advisers, Inc. provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Global Evolution USA, LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Lead Investment Advisory Agreement with Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P. provide that:

 

10.  Liability of the Lead Adviser. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Lead Adviser, the Lead Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, the Funds or to any shareholder of the Funds or any third party for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any investment by a Fund.

 

11.Indemnification

 

A.The Lead Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, any affiliated person of the Manager within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager or Trust, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) (collectively, “Claims”), to which the Manager or Trust or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Lead Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement provided, however, that the Lead Adviser’s obligation under this Section 11A shall be reduced to the extent that such Claim is caused by or is otherwise directly related to (i) any material breach by the Manager of its representations or warranties made herein, (ii) any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Manager, its affiliated person or controlling person in the performance of any of its or their duties or obligations hereunder, or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Manager that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager or the Trust by the Lead Adviser. The indemnification in this Section 11A shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

B.The Manager shall indemnify and hold harmless the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) (collectively, “Claims”), to which the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement provided, however, that the Manager’s obligation under this Section 11B shall be reduced to the extent that such Claim is caused by or is otherwise directly related to (i) any material breach by the Lead Adviser of its representations or warranties made herein, (ii) any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser, its affiliated person or controlling person in the performance of any of its or their duties or obligations hereunder, or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Lead Adviser that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser by the Manager. The indemnification in this Section 11B shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

C.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

D.No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Holland Capital Management LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 14 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Impala Asset Management provides that:

 

14.Liability and Indemnification by Parties.

 

A.The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

B.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

C.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

D.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

E.No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 14 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Incline Global Management, LLC provides that:

 

14.Liability and Indemnification by Parties.

 

A.The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein (and not superseded by revisions provided to Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust prior to the publication of the relevant document or communication). The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

B.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

C.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

D.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

E.No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Lazard Asset Management LLC provides that:

 

8.  Liability of Adviser. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Logan Circle Partners, L.P. provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Massachusetts Financial Services Co. provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 7 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. provides that:

 

7.  (a) Standard of Care. Except as may otherwise be provided by applicable laws and regulations, neither the Adviser nor any of its affiliates or its or their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be subject to any liability to the Manager, the Trust, the Portfolios or any shareholder of a Portfolio or the Trust for any error of judgment or any loss arising out of any investment or other act or omission in the course of, connected with, or arising out of any service to be rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties hereunder or by reason of the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. The Manager acknowledges and agrees that the Adviser makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, that any level of performance or investment results will be achieved by the Portfolios or the Assets designated by the Manager to the Adviser, or that the Portfolios or such Assets will perform comparably with any standard or index, including other clients of the Adviser, whether public or private.

 

(b) Indemnification. The Manager shall hold harmless and indemnify the Adviser for any and all claims, losses, liabilities, costs, damages or expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) (“Losses”) incurred by the Adviser in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall require that the Adviser be indemnified for Losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties hereunder or by reason of the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.

 

The Adviser shall hold harmless and indemnify the Manager for any and all Losses incurred by the Manager that arise from the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or by reason of the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall require that the Manager be indemnified for Losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Manager’s duties hereunder or by reason of the Manager’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with NISA Investment Advisors, L.L.C. provides that:

 

8.  Liability of Adviser. Adviser will not be liable for any loss suffered by reason of any investment, decision, recommendation, or other action taken or omitted in what Adviser in good faith believes to be the proper performance of its duties hereunder. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC provides that:

 

8.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 17 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Passport Capital LLC provides that:

 

14.Liability and Indemnification by Parties.

 

A.Except as otherwise provided within this Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of Underlying Adviser’s obligations and duties hereunder (“Disabling Conduct”) on the part of Underlying Adviser, none of Underlying Adviser, its affiliated persons within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, officers, directors, members, agents, employees or controlling persons shall be subject to liability to the Manager, the Lead Adviser, the Trust or any third party, including shareholders, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security by the Funds.

 

B.The Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, their officers, directors, members, agents, employees and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Disabling Conduct of the Underlying Adviser or its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact pertaining thereto which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability or responsibility with respect to other disclosures or statements or omissions. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

C.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, its officers, directors, members, agents, employees and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Disabling Conduct of the Lead Adviser or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

D.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, its officers, directors, members, agents, employees and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Investment Company Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of this agreement, except to the extent such claims are determined by a non-appealable final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the Underlying Adviser’s Disabling Conduct or the matters described in Section 17(B). The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

E.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights or reputation of the Indemnified Party.

 

 

 

 

F.No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Payden & Rygel provides that:

 

8.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. provides that:

 

8.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 15 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Pine River Capital Management LP provides that:

 

15.Liability and Indemnification by Parties.

 

A.Neither the Underlying Adviser, nor any of its directors, officers, members, partners, employees, supervised persons, or affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act), nor any person who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underling Adviser (collectively, the “Underlying Adviser Affiliates”) shall have any liability to the Trust, its shareholders, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, any person who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, that the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses, the “Losses”), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of the Underlying Adviser Affiliates acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any Underlying Adviser Affiliate for use therein and not superseded by revisions furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any Underlying Adviser Affiliate prior to the publication of the relevant document or communication. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

B.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser and any of the Underlying Adviser Affiliates, against any and all Losses to which the Underlying Adviser or an Underlying Adviser Affiliate may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement or the Lead Adviser Management Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, partners, employees, supervised persons, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any of its directors, officers, partners, employees, supervised persons, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser for use therein; or (iii) the conduct of any other underlying adviser to a Fund. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

C.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser and any of the Underlying Adviser Affiliates, against any and all Losses to which the Underlying Adviser or an Underlying Adviser Affiliate may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s, willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement or the Investment Management Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, supervised persons, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager; (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent, supervised person or employee of the Lead Adviser or any Underlying Adviser Affiliate for use therein, or (iii) the conduct of any other underlying adviser to a Fund. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

D.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

E.No party will be liable to another party for lost profits under any provision of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Pzena Investment Management, LLC provides that:

 

9.  Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in its reasonable judgment, in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Agreement, or in accordance with (or in the absence of) specific directions or instructions from the Manager. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 14 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with River Canyon Fund Management LLC provides that:

 

14.Liability and Indemnification by Parties.

 

A.The Underlying Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party for any error of judgment or any loss arising out of any investment or other act or omission in the course of, connected with, or arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Trust, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Trust, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Trust by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

B.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

C.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Funds or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was not made in reliance upon information furnished to the Manager by the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Lead Adviser or the Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

  

D.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any Claim for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

E.No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Sound Point Capital Management, L.P. provides that:

 

9.   Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, provided however, the Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, the Manager, any affiliated person within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, and each person, if any, who, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, controls the Manager, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Manager or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the Adviser’s responsibilities to the Trust which may be based upon any willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of, the Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Adviser. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Standish Mellon Asset Management LLC provides that: 

 

9.   Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Manager shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Adviser for (a) any action taken, omitted or suffered by Adviser in connection with this Agreement or the services provided hereunder, unless such act or omission shall have resulted from Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence; or (b) any loss arising from Adviser’s adherence to Manager’s instructions. Adviser shall in no event be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, exemplary or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC provides that:

 

9.   Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Strategic Income Management, LLC provides that:

 

9.   Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP provides that:

 

9.   Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC provides that:

 

8.   Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 8 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC provides that:

 

8.   Liability of Adviser. No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which it might otherwise be subject by reason of any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with The London Company of Virginia, LLC provides that:

 

9.   Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 15 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Tremblant Capital LP provides that:

 

15.   Liability and Indemnification by Parties.

 

A.The Underlying Adviser, and its officers, members, partners and employees, shall have no liability to the Manager, the Lead Adviser, the Fund, Fund shareholders or any third party arising out of or related to this Agreement, except that the Underlying Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Manager, the Lead Adviser, any affiliated person of the Manager or the Lead Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of the Fund, the Manager or the Lead Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Fund, the Manager, the Lead Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person may become subject under the securities laws, any other federal or state law, at common law or otherwise, arising out of (i) the Underlying Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Underlying Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Underlying Adviser or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Underlying Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Allocated Portion or the Underlying Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact that was known, or should have been known, to the Underlying Adviser which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Lead Adviser, the Manager or the Fund by the Underlying Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Underlying Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

B.The Lead Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), incurred by the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person arising out of (i) the Lead Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Lead Adviser’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Lead Adviser or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the Lead Adviser or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by the Lead Adviser or any director, officer, agent or employee of Lead Adviser for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

C.The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underlying Adviser, any affiliated person of the Underlying Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act, or any controlling person, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, of the Underlying Adviser, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), incurred by the Underlying Adviser or such affiliated person or controlling person arising out of (i) the Manager’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Manager’s obligations and/or duties under this Agreement by the Manager or by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, or any affiliate acting on behalf of the Manager or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, and/or proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund or the Manager or the omission to state therein a material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished by Manager or any director, officer, agent or employee of the Manager for use therein. The indemnification in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

D.A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”) will (i) provide prompt notice to the other of any claim for indemnification (“Claim”) for which it intends to seek indemnification, (ii) grant control of the defense and/or settlement of the Claim to the other party, and (iii) cooperate with the other party in the defense thereof. The Indemnified Party will have the right at its own expense to participate in the defense of any Claim, but will not have the right to control the defense, consent to judgment or agree to the settlement of any Claim without the written consent of the other party. The party providing the indemnification will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter any settlement which (i) does not include, as an unconditional term, the release by the claimant of all liabilities for Claims against the Indemnified Party or (ii) which otherwise adversely affects the rights of the Indemnified Party.

 

E.No party will be liable to another party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.

 

Numbered Paragraph 9 of the Investment Advisory Agreement with Zebra Capital Management, LLC provides that:

 

9.    Liability of Adviser. The Adviser shall have no liability to the Trust, its shareholders or any other third party arising out of or related to this Agreement except with respect to claims which occur due to any willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Numbered Paragraph 11 of the Administration Agreement provides that:

 

11. Limitation of Liability of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (“ABA”). ABA shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Trust or any Series in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relate except a loss resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. Any person, even though also an officer, partner, employee, or agent of ABA, who may be or become an officer, Board member, employee or agent of a Trust shall be deemed, when rendering services to any Trust or acting in any business of a Trust, to be rendering such services to or acting solely for the Trust and not as an officer, partner, employee, or agent or one under the control or direction of ABA even though paid by it.

 

Section 4.2 of the Distribution Agreement provides that:

 

(a)            Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Foreside shall not be responsible for, and the Clients shall on behalf of each applicable Fund or Class thereof, indemnify and hold harmless Foreside, its employees, directors, officers and managers and any person who controls Foreside within the meaning of section 15 of the Securities Act or section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (for purposes of this Section 4.2(a), "Foreside Indemnitees") from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, liabilities and other expenses of every nature and character (including, but not limited to, direct and indirect reasonable reprocessing costs) arising out of or attributable to all and any of the following (for purposes of this Section 4.2(a), a "Foreside Claim"):

 

(i) any action (or omission to act) of Foreside or its agents taken in connection with this Agreement; provided, that such action (or omission to act) is taken in good faith and without willful misfeasance, negligence or reckless disregard by Foreside of its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

(ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Clients in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or exhibits to the Registration Statement by or on behalf of Foreside;

 

(iii) any material breach of the Clients' agreements, representations, warranties, and covenants in Sections 2.9 and 5.2 of this Agreement; or

 

(iv) the reliance on or use by Foreside or its agents or subcontractors of information, records, documents or services which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Clients or any agent of the Clients, including but not limited to any Predecessor Records provided pursuant to Section 2.9(b).

 

 

 

 

 

(b)            Foreside will indemnify, defend and hold the Clients and their several officers and members of their Governing Bodies and any person who controls the Clients within the meaning of section 15 of the Securities Act or section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (collectively, the "Clients Indemnitees" and, with the Foreside Indemnitees, an "Indemnitee"), free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, suits, judgments, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and other expenses of every nature and character (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands, actions, suits or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith), but only to the extent that such claims, demands, actions, suits, judgments, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and other expenses result from, arise out of or are based upon all and any of the following (for purposes of this Section 4.2(c), a "Clients Claim" and, with a Foreside Claim, a "Claim"):

 

(i) any material action (or omission to act) of Foreside or its agents taken in connection with this Agreement, provided that such action (or omission to act) is not taken in good faith and with willful misfeasance, negligence or reckless disregard by Foreside of its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

 

(ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Clients in writing in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement by or on behalf of Foreside; or

 

(iii) any material breach of Foreside's agreements, representations, warranties and covenants set forth in Section 2.4 and 5.1 hereof

 

(d)            The Clients or Foreside (for purpose of this Section 4.2(d), an "Indemnifying Party") may assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any Foreside Claim or Clients Claim, respectively, and may retain counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party and approved by the other Party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Indemnifying Party shall advise the other Party that it will assume the defense of the suit and retain counsel within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice of the claim. If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any such suit and retains counsel, the other Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel that they retain. If the Indemnifying Party does not assume the defense of any such suit, or if other Party does not approve of counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party, or if the other Party has been advised that it may have available defenses or claims that are not available to or conflict with those available to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party will reimburse any Indemnitee named as defendant in such suit for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel that the Indemnitee retains. An Indemnitee shall not settle or confess any claim without the prior written consent of the applicable Client, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

(e)            An Indemnifying Party's obligation to provide indemnification under this section is conditioned upon the Indemnifying Party receiving notice of any action brought against an Indemnitee within twenty (20) days after the summons or other first legal process is served. Such notice shall refer to the Person or Persons against whom the action is brought. The failure to provide such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of any liability that it may have to any Indemnitee except to the extent that the ability of the party entitled to such notice to defend such action has been materially adversely affected by the failure to provide notice.

 

 

 

 

(f)            The provisions of this section and the parties' representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee and shall survive the sale and redemption of any Shares made pursuant to subscriptions obtained by Foreside. The indemnification provisions of this section will inure exclusively to the benefit of each person that may be an Indemnitee at any time and their respective successors and assigns (it being intended that such persons be deemed to be third party beneficiaries under this Agreement).

 

Section 4.3 of the Distribution Agreement provides that:

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except as specifically set forth below:

 

(a)            Neither Party shall be liable for losses, delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; action or inaction of civil or military authority; public enemy; war; terrorism; riot; fire; flood; sabotage; epidemics; labor disputes; civil commotion; interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, transportation, computer or communications capabilities; insurrection; or elements of nature;

 

(b)            Neither Party shall be liable for any consequential, special or indirect losses or damages suffered by the other Party, whether or not the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by the Party;

 

(c)            No affiliate, director, officer, employee, manager, shareholder, partner, agent, counsel or consultant of either Party shall be liable at law or in equity for the obligations of such Party under this Agreement or for any damages suffered by the other Party related to this Agreement;

 

(d)            Except as set forth in Section 4.2(f), there are no third party beneficiaries of this Agreement;

 

(e)            Each Party shall have a duty to mitigate damages for which the other Party may become responsible;

 

(f)            The assets and liabilities of each Fund are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund, and no Fund shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise; and in asserting any rights or claims under this Agreement, Foreside shall look only to the assets and property of the Fund to which Foreside's rights or claims relate in settlement of such rights or claims; and

 

(g)            Each Party agrees promptly to notify the other party of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding of which it becomes aware arising out of or in any way connected with the issuance or sale of Shares.

 

 

 

 

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Supplemental Limited Indemnification from the Administrator

 

Each of the Trustees of the Trust has entered into an arrangement with the Trust’s Administrator, whereby she or he may be indemnified by the Administrator for liability arising from a failure of the Administrator to carry out its duties under the Administration Agreement with the Trust and for certain securities laws claims. The arrangement is principally designed to supplement the indemnification afforded under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust as well as liability coverage provided by insurance policies. The arrangement is limited to civil and administrative claims.

 

Item 31.

 

I.Business and Other Connections of Investment Manager

 

American Beacon Advisors, Inc. (the “Manager”) offers investment management and administrative services to the Registrant. It acts in the same capacity to other investment companies, including those listed below.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of American Beacon Advisors, Inc. is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with American Beacon
Advisors, Inc.
  Other Substantial Business and
Connections
     
Sonia L. Bates; Asst. Treasurer, Dir. Tax & Financial Reporting   Asst. Treasurer, American Beacon Funds Complex; Asst. Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Asst. Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Asst. Treasurer, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; Asst. Treasurer, Astro AB Borrower, Inc.
     
Rosemary K. Behan; Secretary   Secretary, American Beacon Funds Complex; Secretary, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Secretary, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Secretary, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; Secretary, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Secretary, Astro AB Borrower, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Christopher L. Collins; Director

  Manager; APEM, L.L.C.; Director; ABA, Inc.; President and Director; Astro AB Borrower, Inc.; President and Director; Astro AB Acquisition, Inc.; President and Director; Astro AB Topco, Inc.; Vice President and Director; Astro AB Holdings, LLC.
     

Stephen C. Dutton; Director

  Manager; APEM, L.L.C.; Vice President & Treasurer and Director; Astro AB Borrower, Inc., Vice President & Treasurer and Director; Astro AB Acquisition, Inc., Vice President & Treasurer and Director; Astro AB Topco, Inc., Vice President and Director; Astro AB Holdings, LLC.
     
Melinda G. Heika; Treasurer   Treasurer, American Beacon Funds Complex; Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Treasurer, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Treasurer, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; Director and Treasurer, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Treasurer, Astro AB Borrower, Inc.
     

Takashi B. Moriuchi; Director

 

  Manager; APEM, L.L.C.; Director; Astro AB Borrower, Inc., Director; Astro AB Acquisition, Inc., Director; Astro AB Topco, Inc., Director; Astro AB Holdings, LLC.
     
Gene L. Needles, Jr.; Director, President and Chief Executive Officer   President, American Beacon Funds Complex; Director, President, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; President, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Manager, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C.; President, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Director, Astro AB Borrower, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Acquisition, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Astro Topco, Inc., President & CEO, Astro AB Holdings, LLC.
     
Jeffrey K. Ringdahl, Chief Operating Officer   Senior Vice President, American Beacon Funds Complex; Senior Vice President, Lighthouse Holdings, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc.; Vice President, American Private Equity Management; Director and Vice President, American Beacon Cayman Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Ltd.; Director, Astro AB Borrower, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Acquisition, Inc.; Director, Astro AB Astro Topco, Inc., Chief Operating Officer, Astro AB Holdings, LLC.

 

 

 

 

The principal address of the Manager, the American Beacon Funds, American Private Equity Management, L.L.C., and Astro AB Holdings, LLC, and Lighthouse Holdings Parent, Inc. is 220 East Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039.

 

II.Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisers

 

The investment advisers listed below provide investment advisory services to the Trust.

 

American Beacon Advisors, Inc., 220 East Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039.

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian”) is an investment sub-adviser for the American Beacon Acadian Emerging Markets Managed Volatility Fund. The principal address of Acadian is 260 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Acadian is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Acadian   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
     
Laurent de Greef, Member of Board of Managers   None
     
John Chisholm, Executive Vice President, CIO, Member of Board of Managers   Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd
     
Churchill Franklin, CEO, Member of Board of Managers   Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd; Director, Acadian Cayman Limited G.P.
     
Ronald Frashure, Chairman of Board of Managers   Director, Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Director, Acadian Cayman Limited G.P.
     
Mark Minichiello, Executive Vice President, COO, Treasurer, Secretary, Member of Board of Managers   Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Japan)
     
Brendan Bradley, Senior Vice President, Director, Portfolio Management, Member of Board of Managers   None

 

 

 

 

Ross Dowd, Executive Vice President, Head of Client Service, Member of Board of Managers   Director, Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd; Director, Acadian Cayman Limited G.P.; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd.; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Director, Acadian Asset Management (Japan)
     
Mauricio Karchmer, Senior Vice President, Member of Board of Managers   None
     
Theodore Noon, Senior Vice President, Member of Board of Managers   None
     
Linda Gibson, Member of Board of Managers   Executive Vice President and Head of Global Distribution – OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Director, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Distribution – OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company);   Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor); Director, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (an investment advisor); Director, OMAM (HFL) Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (HFL) Inc.) (a holding company for Heitman affiliated financial services firms); Director, OMAM International Ltd. (f/k/a Old Mutual Asset Management International, Ltd.) (an investment advisor
     
Christopher Hadley, Member of Board of Managers   Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer – OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer – OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.)  (a holding company);  Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor)

 

 

 

 

Aidan Riordan, Member of Board of Managers   Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliate Management - OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliate Management - OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company);  Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor); Director, Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (an investment advisor); Director, The Campbell Group, Inc. (a holding company for The Campbell Group LLC);  Director, Copper Rock Capital Partners LLC (an investment advisor); Director, OMAM (HFL) Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (HFL) Inc. (a holding company for Heitman affiliated financial services firms);  Director, Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC (an investment advisor); Director, Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (an investment advisor)
     
Stephen Belgard, Member of Board of Managers   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - OM Asset Management PLC (a public company traded on the NYSE); Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - OMAM Inc. (f/k/a Old Mutual (US) Holdings Inc.) (a holding company); Director, Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor);  Director, OMAM International Ltd. (f/k/a Old Mutual Asset Management International, Ltd.) (an investment advisor)

 

AHL Partners LLP (“AHL”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon AHL Managed Futures Strategy Fund. The principal address of AHL is 2 Swan Lane, London, United Kingdom EC4R 3AD. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 167882), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Bahl & Gaynor, Inc. (“Bahl & Gaynor”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Bahl & Gaynor Small Cap Growth Fund. The principal address of Bahl & Gaynor is 212 East Third Street, Suite 200 Cincinnati, OH 45202. Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 106139), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (“Barrow”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Balanced Fund, American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund, American Beacon Mid-Cap Value Fund and American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Barrow is 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor, Dallas, TX 75201-2761.

 

 

 

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Barrow is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Barrow   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
     
James P. Barrow; President, Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, Member Board of Managers   None
     
J. Ray. Nixon; Executive Director, Member Board of Managers   None
     
Patricia B. Andrews; Chief Compliance and Risk Officer, Managing Director   None
     
John S. Williams; Managing Director   None
     
Linda T. Gibson; Member Board of Managers   OMAM, Inc., Executive Vice President and Head of Global Distribution
     
Aidan J. Riordan; Member Board of Managers   OMAM, Inc., Executive Vice President and  Head of Affiliate Management

 

Basswood Capital Management, LLC (“Basswood”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund.  The principal address of Basswood is 645 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022.  Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138032), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (“Brandywine”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund, American Beacon Balanced Fund, American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund, and American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Brandywine is 2929 Arch Street, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Brandywine is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Brandywine   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
David F. Hoffman, Senior Managing Director   None
Mark P. Glassman, Chief Administrative Officer   None
Patrick S. Kaser, Managing Director   None
Paul R. Lesutis, Senior Managing Director   None
Henry F. Otto, Senior Managing Director   None
Stephen S. Smith, Senior Managing Director   None
Adam B. Spector, Managing Director   None
Steven M. Tonkovich, Senior Managing Director   None
Edward A. Trumpbour, Senior Managing Director   None
Thomas C. Merchant, Secretary   None
Beth O’Malley, Assistant Secretary   None
Melissa A. Warren, Assistant Secretary   None

 

 

 

 

Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc. (“Bridgeway”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Bridgeway Large Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Bridgeway is 20 Greenway Plaza, Suite 450, Houston, Texas 77046.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Bridgeway is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Bridgeway   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
John N. R. Montgomery, Director/Chairman of the Board of Directors/Chief Investment Officer   Vice President and Director, Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
Linda G. Giuffre, Chief Compliance Officer   Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer, Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
Michael D. Mulcahy, Director/President/Chief Operating Officer   President and Director, Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
Von D. Celestine, Treasurer/Vice President/Secretary   None
Richard P. Cancelmo, Vice President   Vice President, Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
Franklin J. Montgomery, Director   None
Ann M. Montgomery, Director   Sage Education Group, LLC - Owner

 

Calamos Advisors, LLC (“Calamos”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Retirement Income and Appreciation Fund. The principal address of Calamos is 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, IL 60563-2787.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Calamos is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Calamos   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
John P. Calamos; CEO, Global Co-CIO  

Member of Board of Trustees of Benedictine University

Member of Board of Trustees of Illinois Institute of Technology

Board of Directors – National Hellenic Museum

Board of Directors – Choose DuPage

Gary D. Black; EVP, Global Co-CIO   None
J. Christopher Jackson; SVP, General Counsel and Secretary   None
Nimish S. Bhatt; SVP, Chief Financial Officer, Head of Fund Administration   None
Jessica Mazza; VP, Chief Compliance Officer   None

 

 

 

 

Causeway Capital Management, LLC (“Causeway”), a Delaware limited liability company, is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon International Equity Fund.  The principal address of Causeway is 11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, 15th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90025.   Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 113308), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Crescent Capital Group LP (“Crescent Capital”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Crescent Short Duration High Income Fund, whose principal office is located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Crescent Capital is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Crescent Capital   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Mark L. Attanasio, Managing Partner   Chairman and Principal Owner of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club

 

Dreman Value Management, LLC (“Dreman”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Dreman is 1515 North Flagler Drive, Suite 920, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Dreman is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Dreman   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Emory C. Hoover; Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director   None
Mark J. Roach; Managing Director   None
David N. Dreman; Chairman & Chief Investment Officer   None
Nelson P. Woodard; Co-Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director   None
David H. Kanefsky; General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer   None
Adam Handwerker;  Chief Financial Officer   None

 

 

 

 

Global Evolution USA, LLC (“Global Evolution”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Global Evolution Frontier Markets Income Fund. The principal address of Global Evolution is 790 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 500, Pasadena, CA 91101. 

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Global Evolution is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Global Evolution   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Soren Rump, Director   None
Morten Bugge, Director   None
Michael McAdams, Managing Director   Minority partner at and oversees investment allocations for Holly Street Wealth, a California Registered Investment Advisor
Kent Roberts, Managing Director   Independent director of Biolargo, Inc.; Member of the Advisory Board for Novus Partners

 

Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P. (“Grosvenor”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund. The principal address of Grosvenor is 900 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60611.   Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 106548), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Hillcrest Asset Management, LLC (“Hillcrest”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Hillcrest is 2805 Dallas Parkway, Suite 250, Plano, Texas 75093

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Hillcrest and is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Hillcrest   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Brian Bruce, Chief Executive Officer   None
Deborah Ann Trask, Chief Investment Officer   None
Douglas E. Stark, Managing Director   None
Brandon L. Troegle, Portfolio Manager   None

 

 

 

 

Holland Capital Management LLC (“Holland”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Holland Large Cap Growth Fund. The principal address of Holland is 300 W. Madison, Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Holland is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Holland   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Louis A. Holland, Jr.; Director   Consultant:  Cumota LLC; Cumota Consulting LLC; Brickland Partners, Inc.; TNE Management, LLC
Monica L. Walker; President and CEO, Chief Investment Officer – Equity; Director; Former Managing Director, Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager   None
Laura J. Janus; Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income; Director; Former Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager   None
Susan M. Chamberlain; Chief Compliance Officer   None

 

Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC (“Hotchkis”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Balance Fund, American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund, and American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Hotchkis is 725 South Figueroa Street, 39th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017-5439.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Hotchkis is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Hotchkis   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
George H. Davis; Chief Executive Officer and Executive Committee Member   Trustee of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds and Director of Hotchkis & Wiley Ltd.
James E. Menvielle; Chief Financial Officer   Vice President and Treasurer of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds and Director of Hotchkis & Wiley Ltd.
Anna Marie S. Lopez; Chief Operating Officer   President of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds and Director of Hotchkis & Wiley Ltd.
Tina H. Kodama; Chief Compliance Officer   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Hotchkis & Wiley Funds

Sheldon J. Lieberman; Executive Committee

Member

  None

C. Nigel Hurst-Brown; Executive Committee

Member

  Chief Executive and Director of Hotchkis and Wiley ltd.
Douglas H. Martin; Executive Committee Member   Senior Managing Director of Stephens Inc. and Board of Director of Conns, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Impala Asset Management, LLC (“Impala”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund.  The principal address of Impala is 107 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840.  Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138752), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Incline Global Management, LLC (“Incline Global”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund.  The principal address of Incline Global is 40 West 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10019.  Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 162607), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Lazard Asset Management, LLC (“Lazard”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon International Equity Fund. The principal address of Lazard is 30 Rockerfeller Plaza, 55th Floor, New York, NY 10112.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Lazard is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Lazard   Other Substantial Business and Connections
Ashish Bhutani; Director, CEO   Vice Chairman, Lazard Ltd.
Gerard B. Mazzari; COO   Chief Financial Officer, Lazard Asset Management Securities, LLC
Nathan A. Paul; General Counsel   Chief Legal Officer of Lazard Asset Management Securities, LLC
Mark R. Anderson; Chief Compliance Officer   Chief Compliance Officer of the Lazard Mutual Funds and Lazard Asset Management Securities, LLC
Kenneth M. Jacobs; Director   None
Alexander F. Stern; Director   None
Charles Carroll; Deputy Chairman   Chief Executive Officer of Lazard Asset Management Securities, LLC
Andrew Lacey; Deputy Chairman   None
John Reinsberg; Deputy Chairman   None
Robert P. DeConcini; Chairman   None
Andreas Huebner; Senior Managing Director   None
Robert Prugue; Senior Managing Director   None
Bill Smith; Senior Managing Director   None

 

 

 

 

Massachusetts Financial Services Company (“MFS”) serves as an investment sub-adviser for the American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund.  The principal address of MFS is 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02199.  MFS is a subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial Services Holdings Inc., which in turn is an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Financial, Inc. (a diversified financial services company), located at Sun Life Financial Centre, 150 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each director and principal executive officer of MFS is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with MFS   Other Substantial Business and Connections
During the Past Two Fiscal Years
Robert J. Manning; Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Directors   Trustee of various funds within the MFS Funds complex+
Mark N. Polebaum; Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary   Secretary of the MFS Funds+
Michael W. Roberge; Director, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer   None+
Amrit Kanwal; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   None+
David A. Antonelli; Vice Chairman   None+
Robin A. Stelmach; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer   Trustee of various funds within the MFS Funds complex+
Carol W. Geremia; Executive Vice President   None+
James A. Jessee; Executive Vice President   None+
Martin Wolin; Chief Compliance Officer   Chief Compliance Officer of the MFS Funds and of MFS; Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, North America and Latin America, Mercer+
Colm J. Freyne; Director  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

of Sun Life Financial, Inc.

Stephen C. Peacher; Director   President of Sun Life Investment Management and Chief Investment Officer of Sun Life Financial, Inc.

 

+Certain principal executive officers and directors of Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS") serve as officers or directors of some or all of MFS’ corporate affiliates and certain officers of MFS serve as officers of some or all of the MFS Funds and/or officers or directors of certain MFS investment products. Except as set forth above or in Schedules B and D of Form ADV filed by MFS pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (SEC File No. 801-17352), each principal executive officer of MFS has been engaged during the past two fiscal years in no business profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature other than as an officer of MFS or certain of MFS' corporate affiliates.

 

 

 

 

The identity of those corporate affiliates is identified below or is incorporated by reference from Schedules B and D of such Form ADV.

 

Investment Adviser Corporate Affiliate   Address
MFS Institutional Advisors, Inc.   111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02199 U.S.A.
MFS Fund Distributors, Inc.   111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02199 U.S.A.
MFS Service Center Inc.   100 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02171 U.S.A.
MFS International LTD.   Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton, HM12, Bermuda
MFS International Holdings PTY LTD  

One Carter Lane

London EC4V 5ER U.K.

MFS International Australia PTY LTD  

Level 55, 55 Hunter Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

MFS International (U.K.) Limited  

One Carter Lane

London EC4V 5ER, U.K.

MFS International Switzerland GMBH  

Bahnhofstrasse 100, 8001

Zurich, Switzerland

MFS International (Hong Kong) Limited  

Unit 1301, 13th Floor

Henley Building

5 Queen's Road

Central, Hong Kong

MFS do Brasil Desenvolvimento de Mercado Ltda. (Brazil)  

Rua Joaquim Floriano, 1.052 – 11o Andar,

conjunto 111, Itaim Bibi,

Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil 04534-004

MFS International (Chile) SPA  

Santiago Isidora 3000

Av Isidora Goyenechea #3000,

Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

MFS International Singapore PTE. LTD.  

501 Orchard Road,

#13-01/03/04 Wheelock Place

Singapore 238880

MFS Investment Management Company (LUX.) S.a.r.l.  

35, Boulevard du Prince Henri

L-1724 Luxembourg

MFS Investment Management K.K.   16 F Daido Seimei Kasumigaseki Building, 1-4-2 Kasumigaseki 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan  100-0013
Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial Services Holdings, Inc.   111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02199  U.S.A.
3060097 Nova Scotia Company  

1959 Upper Water Street

Suite 1100, Halifax,

Nova Scotia, Canada B3J3N2

MFS Investment Management Canada Limited  

77 King Street West, 35th Floor

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5K 1B7

MFS Bermuda Holdings LTD.  

Canon's Court

22 Victoria Street

Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda

MFS Heritage Trust Company   111 Huntington Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02199  U.S.A.

 

 

 

 

The MFS Funds include the following. The address of the MFS Funds is: 111 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02199.

 

  Massachusetts Investors Trust
  Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund
  MFS Series Trust I
  MFS Series Trust II
  MFS Series Trust III
  MFS Series Trust IV
  MFS Series Trust V
  MFS Series Trust VI
  MFS Series Trust VII
  MFS Series Trust VIII
  MFS Series Trust IX
  MFS Series Trust X
  MFS Series Trust XI
  MFS Series Trust XII
  MFS Series Trust XIII
  MFS Series Trust XIV
  MFS Series Trust XV
  MFS Series Trust XVI
  MFS Municipal Series Trust
  MFS Variable Insurance Trust
  MFS Variable Insurance Trust II
  MFS Variable Insurance Trust III
  MFS Institutional Trust
  MFS California Municipal Fund
  MFS Charter Income Trust
  MFS Government Markets Income Trust
  MFS High Income Municipal Trust
  MFS High Yield Municipal Trust
  MFS InterMarket Income Trust I
  MFS Intermediate High Income Fund
  MFS Intermediate Income Trust
  MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust
  MFS Municipal Income Trust
  MFS Multimarket Income Trust
  MFS Special Value Trust

 

 

 

 

NISA Investment Advisors, LLC (“NISA”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Fund.  The principal address of NISA is 101 South Hanley Road, Suite 1700, St. Louis, MO 63105-3487.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of NISA is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with NISA   Other Substantial Business and
 Connections
Jess B. Yawitz; Chairman & Chief Executive Officer & Managing Member   None
William J. Marshall; President & Managing Member   None
David G. Eichhorn; Managing Director, Investment Strategies & Managing Member   None
Kenneth L. Lester; Managing Director, Portfolio Management & Managing Member   None
Anthony R. Pope; Managing Director, Portfolio Management & Managing Member   None
Gregory J. Yess; Managing Director, Client Services & Managing Member   None
Michael R. DeNorscia; Director, Operations   None
Mark A. Folkins; Chief Administrative Officer   None
Cheryl L. Hanson; Director, Client Services   None
Paul L. Jones; Director, Equity Portfolio Management   None
Matt D. Kaplan; Chief Risk Officer   None
Clarence R. Krebs; Director, Defined Contribution Solutions & Member   None
Joseph A. Murphy; Director, Portfolio Management & Member   None
Marianne O’Doherty; Chief Compliance Officer   None
Donald A. Pinkard; Chief Technology Officer   None
Bella L.F., Sanevich; General Counsel & Member   None
Daniel A. Scholz; Director, Investment Strategies   None
Kevin D. Schuman; Director, Client Services   None

 

Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (“PIMCO”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund. The principal address of PIMCO is 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of PIMCO is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

 

 

 

Name; Current Position with PIMCO   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Douglas M. Hodge, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, PIMCO   Trustee and Senior Vice President of the Trust, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, and PIMCO ETF Trust. Senior Vice President of PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Director and Vice President, StocksPLUS Management Inc.; Director, PIMCO Europe Ltd., PIMCO Asia Pte Ltd., PIMCO Australia Pty Ltd, PIMCO Japan Ltd. and PIMCO Asia Limited (Hong Kong)
Jennifer E. Durham; Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Vice President   Chief Compliance Officer, the Trust, PIMCO Equity Series VIT, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust
Daniel J. Ivascyn, Managing Director and Group Chief Investment Officer, PIMCO    
Neel T. Kashkari; Managing Director   Trustee and President of the Trust and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly Interim Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability, Assistant Secretary for International Economics and Senior Advisor to Secretary Paulson, United States Department of Treasury
David C. Flattum; Managing Director and General Counsel   Chief Legal Officer of the Trust, PIMCO Equity Series VIT, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust
Brent R. Harris; Managing Director and Executive Committee Member   Director and President, StocksPLUS Management, Inc. Trustee and Chairman of the Trust and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Trustee, Chairman and President of PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust and PIMCO ETF Trust. Director, PIMCO Luxembourg S.A. and PIMCO Luxembourg II
Ki M. Hong; Managing Director   Formerly, Vice Chairman of Asia Pacific, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Sabrina C. Callin; Managing Director   Acting Head of PIMCO Advisory; and Vice President, StocksPLUS Management, Inc.
Makoto Takano; Managing Director   Director and President, PIMCO Japan Ltd.
Joseph V. McDevitt; Managing Director     Director and Chief Executive Officer, PIMCO Europe Limited.

 

Passport Capital, LLC (“Passport”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund.  The principal address of Passport is One Market Street, Steuart Tower, Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94105.  Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138032), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

Payden & Rygel (“P&R”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Flexible Bond Fund. The principal address of P&R is 333 South Grand Avenue, 32nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of P&R is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with P&R   Other Substantial Business and Connections
Joan Payden; President and Chief Executive Officer   None
Brian Matthews; Managing Principal and Chief Financial Officer   None
James Sarni; Managing Principal   None
Mary Beth Syal; Managing Principal   None
Scott Weiner; Managing Principal   None
Edward Garlock; Managing Principal   None
Asha Joshi; Managing Principal   None
Robin Creswell; Managing Principal   None
Gregory Morrison; Managing Principal   None

 

Pine River Capital Management L.P. (“Pine River”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund.  The principal address of Pine River is 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 330, Minnetonka, MN 55305. 

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and partner of Pine River is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Global Evolution   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Brian Taylor, CEO and Partner   Chairman and Director of Two Harbors Investment Corp.
Thomas Siering, Partner   CEO, President and Director of Two Harbors Investment Corp.; Director of Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp.
Bill Roth, Partner   Chief Investment Officer of Two Harbors Investment Corp.

 

Pzena Investment Management, LLC (“Pzena”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Mid-Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Pzena is 120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

 

 

 

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Pzena is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Pzena   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
John P. Goetz; Managing Principal, Co-Chief Investment Officer, and Member with Class B Units   None
Richard S. Pzena; Managing Principal; Chief Executive Officer, Co-Chief Investment Officer, and Member with Class B Units   None
William L. Lipsey; Managing Principal, Marketing & Client Services, and Member with Class B Units   None
Joan F. Berger; General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Member with Class B Units   None
Gary J. Bachman; Chief Financial Officer and Member with Class B Units and Class A common stock   None
Benjamin Silver; Co-Director of Research, Portfolio Manager, and Member with Class B Units   None
Michael D. Peterson;  Managing Principal, Portfolio Manager, Executive Vice President and Member with Class B Units   None

 

River Canyon Fund Management LLC (“River Canyon”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund.  The principal address of River Canyon is 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 11th Floor, Los Angeles, CA  90067.  Information as to the officers and directors of River Canyon is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 169465), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Sound Point Capital Management, LP (“Sound Point”) is an investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Sound Point Floating Rate Income Fund. The principal address of Sound Point is 375 Park Avenue, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10152. Information as to the officers and directors of Sound Point is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 157479), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company, LLC (“Standish”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Fund.  The principal address of Standish is BNY Mellon Center, 201 Washington Street, Suite 2900, Boston, MA 02108-4408. 

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Standish is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Standish   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
James D. MacIntyre; President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Member   None
Julia Braithwaite; Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary   None
Steven Lipiner; Treasurer   None
Mitchell E. Harris; Chairman of Fixed Income Cash and Currency Group, Executive Chairman Board Member, Trustee of Sole Owner   None
John A. Park; Trustee of Sole Owner   None
Edward H. Ladd; Board Member   None
Christine Todd; Board Member   None
Mark Santero   None

 

Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC (“SIMG”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Stephens Mid-Cap Growth Fund and American Beacon Stephens Small Cap Growth Fund. The principal address of SIMG and Stephens Inc. is 111 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of SIMG is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with SIMG   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Joseph W. Simpson; President and Chief Executive Officer, Manager   Executive Vice President, Stephens Inc.
Ryan E. Crane; Chief Investment Officer, Manager, Member Class B   Senior Vice President, Stephens Inc.
Michael W. Nolte; Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President, Manager   Senior Vice President, Stephens Inc.
David C. Prince; Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel   Senior Vice President, Stephens Inc.

 

 

 

 

Strategic Income Management, LLC (“SiM”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon SiM High Yield Opportunities Fund. The principal address of SiM is 1200 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 713, Seattle, WA 98109.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of SiM is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with SiM   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Randall L. Yoakum; Manager, Member, Chief Executive Officer   None
Gary J. Pokrzywinski; Manager, Member, Chief Investment Officer   None
Timothy T. Black; Elected Manager, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Operating Officer   None

 

Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP (“SGA”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon SGA Global Growth Fund. The principal address of SGA is 301 Tresser Boulevard, Suite 1310, Stamford, CT 06901.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of SGA is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with SGA   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
George P. Fraise, Co-Founder   None
Gordon Marchand, Co-Founder   Board Director- Chase Investment Counsel; Board Director- Zounds Hearing Inc.
Robert L. Rohn, Co-Founder   None

 

Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC (“Templeton”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon International Equity Fund. The principal address of Templeton is 300 Southeast 2nd Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Templeton is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

 

 

 

Name; Current Position with Templeton   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Donald F. Reed; Chief Executive Officer and Chairman   None
Cynthia L. Sweeting; President/Director of Portfolio Management for the Templeton Global Equity Group   None
Antonio T. Docal; Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager   None
Peter A. Nori; Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager   None
Craig S. Tyle; Chief Legal Officer   None
Mark L. Constant; Treasurer   None
Michael J. D’Agrosa; Chief Compliance Officer   None
Gregory E. McGowan; Exec. Vice President   None
Madison S. Gulley; Executive Vice President   None

 

The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC (“Boston Company”) is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Boston Company is One Boston Place, Boston, MA 02108.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Boston Company is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Boston Company   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Bart A. Grenier; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer/Manager   None
Adam B. Joffe– Executive Vice President, -Chief Operating Officer   None

 

The London Company Of Virginia, LLC (“London Company”) is the investment sub-adviser for the American Beacon London Company Income Equity Fund. The principal place of business address of London Company is 1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia 23226.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of London Company is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with London
Company
  Other Substantial Business and
 Connections During the Past Two
Fiscal Years
Stephen, M. Goddard, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer   None
Jonathan Moody, Principal and Portfolio Manager   None
Andrew Wetzel, Chief Compliance Officer   None

 

 

 

 

Tremblant Capital Group (“Tremblant”) is a registered investment adviser and is an investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Grosvenor Long/Short Fund.  The principal address of Tremblant is 767 Fifth Avenue, Floor 12A, New York, NY 10153.  Information as to the officers and directors of the Investment Adviser is included in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CRD number 138743), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

WEDGE Capital Management, LLC (“WEDGE”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Mid-Cap Value Fund. The principal address of WEDGE is 301 South College Street, Suite 2920, Charlotte, NC 28202.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of WEDGE is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with WEDGE   Other Substantial Business and
Connections During the Past Two
Fiscal Years
Michael Gardner, General Partner   None
Bradley Fisher, General Partner   None
Bradley Horstmann, Chief Compliance Officer and General Partner   None
Martin Robinson, General Partner   None
John Norman, General Partner   None
Andrei Bolshakov, General Partner   None
Darrin Witt, General Partner   None
Brian Platt, General Partner   None

 

Zebra Capital Management, LLC (“Zebra”) is the investment sub-advisor for the American Beacon Zebra Small Cap Equity Fund. The principal address of Zebra is 612 Wheelers Farms Rd., Milford, CT 06461.

 

Set forth below is information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each officer and director of Zebra is, or at any time during the past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Name; Current Position with Zebra   Other Substantial Business and
Connections
Roger G. Ibbotson; Chairman   Professor, Yale University
John Holmgren, President   None
Kevin J. Lake; Chief Compliance Officer   Attorney, Kevin J. Lake, P.C.

 

 

 

 

Information as to the officers and directors of each of the above investment advisers may also be included in that adviser's current Form ADV filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 32.Principal Underwriter

 

(a)            Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

 

1.Absolute Shares Trust
2.AdvisorShares Trust
3.ALTMFX Trust
4.American Beacon Funds
5.American Beacon Select Funds
6.Archstone Alternative Solutions Fund
7.Ark ETF Trust
8.Avenue Mutual Funds Trust
9.BP Capital TwinLine Energy Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios
10.BP Capital TwinLine MLP Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios
11.Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
12.Calamos ETF Trust
13.Capital Innovations Global Agri, Timber, Infrastructure Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
14.Center Coast MLP Focus Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
15.Context Capital Funds
16.CornerCap Group of Funds
17.Corsair Opportunity Fund
18.Direxion Shares ETF Trust
19.Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund
20.Exchange Listed Funds Trust
21.FlexShares Trust
22.Forum Funds
23.Forum Funds II
24.FQF Trust
25.FSI Low Beta Absolute Return Fund
26.Gottex Trust
27.Henderson Global Funds
28.Horizon Spin-off and Corporate Restructuring Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Liberty Street Horizon Fund)
29.Horizons ETF Trust
30.Infinity Core Alternative Fund
31.Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
32.Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
33.John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
34.Little Harbor Multistrategy Composite Fund
35.Manor Investment Funds
36.Montage Managers Trust
37.Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
38.PENN Capital Funds Trust
39.Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
40.Pine Grove Alternative Fund
41.Pine Grove Alternative Institutional Fund
42.Plan Investment Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

43.PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
44.Precidian ETFs Trust
45.Quaker Investment Trust
46.Recon Capital Series Trust
47.Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
48.RevenueShares ETF Trust
49.Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
50.Salient MF Trust
51.SharesPost 100 Fund
52.Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
53.Steben Alternative Investment Funds
54.Steben Select Multi-Strategy Fund
55.The 504 Fund
56.The Roxbury Funds
57.TIFF Investment Program
58.Toroso Newfound Tactical Allocation Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
59.TrimTabs ETF Trust
60.Turner Funds
61.West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Chilton Realty Income & Growth Fund)
62.Wintergreen Fund, Inc.
63.WisdomTree Trust

 

(b)           The following are the Officers and Managers of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

Name  Address   Position with Underwriter    Position with Registrant
Mark A. Fairbanks   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101   President   None
Richard J. Berthy   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101   Vice President, Treasurer and Manager   None
Jennifer E. Hoopes   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101   Secretary   None
Nanette K. Chern   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer   None
Paula R. Watson   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME  04101   Assistant Secretary   None

 

(c)Not applicable.

 

Item 33.Location of Accounts and Records

 

The books and other documents required by Section 31(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are maintained in the physical possession of 1) the Trust's custodian at State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110; 2) the Manager at American Beacon Advisors, Inc., 220 East Las Colinas Blvd., Suite 1200, Irving, Texas 75039; 3) Boston Financial Data Services, an affiliate of the Trust’s transfer agent, 330 West 9th St., Kansas City, Missouri 64105; 4) Mastercraft, 3021 Wichita Court, Fort Worth, Texas 76140; or 5) the Trust's investment advisers at the addresses listed in Item 31 above.

 

 

 

 

Item 34.Management Services

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 35.Undertakings

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 246 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Irving and the State of Texas, on February 17, 2016.

 

  AMERICAN BEACON FUNDS
     
  By: /s/ Gene L. Needles, Jr.
    Gene L. Needles, Jr.
    President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 246 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Gene L. Needles, Jr.   President (Principal Executive Officer)   February 17, 2016
Gene L. Needles, Jr.        
         
/s/ Melinda G. Heika   Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)   February 17, 2016
Melinda G. Heika        
         
Gilbert G. Alvarado*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Gilbert G. Alvarado        
         
Joseph B. Armes*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Joseph B. Armes        
         
Gerard J. Arpey*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Gerard J. Arpey        
         
W. Humphrey Bogart*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
W. Humphrey Bogart        
         
Brenda A. Cline*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Brenda A. Cline        
         
Eugene J. Duffy*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Eugene J. Duffy        
         
Thomas M. Dunning*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Thomas M. Dunning        
         
Alan D. Feld*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Alan D. Feld        
         
Richard A. Massman*   Chairman and Trustee   February 17, 2016
Richard A. Massman        
         
Barbara J. McKenna*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
Barbara J. McKenna        
         
R. Gerald Turner*   Trustee   February 17, 2016
R. Gerald Turner        

 

 

 

 

 *By /s/ Rosemary K. Behan  
  Rosemary K. Behan  
  Attorney-In-Fact  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Type:   Description:
99.(d)(2)(VV)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement among American Beacon Funds, American Beacon Advisors, Inc., and GLG LLC
     
99.(p)(31)   Code of Ethics for AHL Partners LLP and GLG LLC, dated May 2015
     
Other Exhibits    
    Powers of Attorney for Trustees of American Beacon Funds and the American Beacon Select Funds, dated June 2, 2015