FORM 485APOS
AS
FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 15, 2008
File No. 033-45671
File No. 811-06557
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES |
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ACT OF 1933
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POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 77
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT |
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COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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AMENDMENT NO. 79
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RIDGEWORTH FUNDS (formerly, STI Classic Funds)
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
155
Federal Street, Suite 700
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)
Registrants
Telephone Number, including Area Code: 1-888-784-3863
Julia R. Short, President
RidgeWorth Funds
50 Hurt Plaza
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
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Richard W. Grant, Esquire
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
One Oxford Centre
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-6401
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W. John McGuire, Esquire
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
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Cynthia Surprise
Senior Vice President
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
100 Summer St. Suite 1500
Boston, MA 02110 |
It is proposed that this filing become effective (check appropriate box):
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Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
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On [date] pursuant to paragraph (b) |
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60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
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On [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
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On [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485 |
If appropriate, check the following box:
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this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
RidgeWorth Fixed Income Funds
R Shares
Prospectus
February 13, 2009
Investment Adviser: RidgeWorth Investments
Investment Grade Funds
Subadviser: Seix Investment Advisors LLC
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Intermediate Bond Fund |
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Total Return Bond Fund |
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed
upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
As of March 31, 2008, the STI Classic Funds became RidgeWorth Funds and Trusco Capital Management,
Inc. became RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
RidgeWorth Investments is the trade name of RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
About This Prospectus
The RidgeWorth Funds (formerly, STI Classic Funds) is a mutual fund family that offers shares
in separate investment portfolios that have individual investment goals and strategies. This
prospectus gives you important information about the R Shares of the Intermediate Bond Fund
and the Total Return Bond Fund (Funds) that you should know before investing. Please read
this prospectus and keep it for future reference.
This prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this
important information. On the next page, there is some general information you should know
about risk and return that is common to each of the Funds. For more detailed information about
each Fund, please see:
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2
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Investment Grade Funds |
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2
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Intermediate Bond Fund |
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12
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Total Return Bond Fund |
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28
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More Information About Risk |
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31
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More Information About Fund Investments |
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32
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Information About Portfolio Holdings |
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Management |
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35
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Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares |
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Market Timing Policies and Procedures |
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Distribution of Fund Shares |
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Dividends and Distributions |
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Taxes |
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42
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Financial Highlights |
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Inside
Back Cover
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Privacy Policy |
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Back Cover
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How to Obtain More Information
About the RidgeWorth Funds |
February 13, 2009
1
CUSIP/TICKER SYMBOLS
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Fund Name |
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Class |
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Inception* |
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Ticker |
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CUSIP |
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Investment Grade Funds |
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Intermediate Bond Fund
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R Shares
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2/15/2009
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IBLSX
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76628T884 |
Total Return Bond Fund
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R Shares |
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2/15/2009 |
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SCBLX |
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76628T488 |
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The performance included under Performance Information may include the performance of predecessors of the Fund. |
RISK/RETURN INFORMATION COMMON TO RIDGEWORTH FUNDS
Each Fund is a mutual fund. A mutual fund pools shareholders money and, using professional
investment managers, invests it in securities.
Each Fund has its own investment goal and strategies for reaching that goal. The Subadviser
(under the supervision of the Adviser) invests Fund assets in a way that it believes will help
a Fund achieve its goal. Still, investing in each Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee
that a Fund will achieve its goal. The Subadvisers judgments about the markets, the economy
or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company
performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter
how good a job the Subadviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just
as you could with other investments. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured
or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency.
The value of your investment in a Fund is based on the market prices of the securities the
Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular
companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be
greater or lesser depending on the types of securities a Fund owns and the markets in which
they trade. The effect on a Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on
how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.
Each Funds investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. Before investing,
make sure that the Funds goal matches your own.
2 Investment Grade Funds
INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
Fund Summary
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Investment Goal
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Total return that consistently exceeds the total
return of the broad U.S. dollar denominated,
investment grade market of intermediate term
government and corporate bonds |
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Investment Focus
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Intermediate term investment grade debt securities |
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Share Price Volatility
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Moderate |
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Principal Investment Strategy
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Invest in intermediate term fixed income
securities with an emphasis on corporate and
mortgage backed securities |
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Investor Profile
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Investors who want to receive income from their
investment, as well as an increase in the value
of the investment |
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Subadviser
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Seix Investment Advisors LLC |
Investment Strategy
The Intermediate Bond Fund invests in various types of income producing debt securities
including mortgage and asset backed securities, government and agency obligations, corporate
obligations and floating rate loans. The Fund may invest in debt securities of U.S. and
non-U.S. issuers, including emerging market debt. The Funds investment in non-U.S. issuers
may at times be significant. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its
net assets in fixed income securities. These securities will be chosen from the broad universe
of available intermediate term fixed income securities rated investment grade by Standard &
Poors Ratings Services, Moodys Investors Service or Fitch Ratings or unrated securities that
the Subadviser believes are of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net
assets in below investment grade, high yield debt obligations. The Fund may also invest a
portion of its assets in securities that are restricted as to resale.
The Subadviser anticipates that the Fund will maintain an average weighted maturity of 3 to
10 years and the Fund will be managed with a duration that is close to that of its comparative
benchmark, the Lehman Brothers Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Index, which is generally
between 3 to 4 years. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Subadviser generally selects
a greater weighting in obligations of domestic corporations and mortgage backed securities
relative to the Funds comparative benchmark, and a lower relative weighting in U.S. Treasury
and government agency issues.
The Fund may buy and sell securities frequently, which may result in higher transaction costs
and lower performance, and will be more likely to generate short-term capital gains (which are
generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates).
In addition, to implement its investment strategy, the Fund may buy or sell derivative
instruments (such as foreign currency forward contracts, swaps, including credit default
swaps, futures, credit linked notes, options, inverse floaters and warrants) to use as a
substitute for a purchase or sale of a position in the underlying assets and/or as part of a
strategy designed to reduce exposure to other risks, such as interest rate or credit risks.
The Fund may count the value of certain derivatives with investment grade intermediate-term
fixed income characteristics towards its policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at
least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities.
What are the principal risks of investing in this Fund?
Debt securities will generally lose value if interest rates increase. Interest rate risk
is generally higher for investments with longer maturities or durations.
Debt securities are subject to the risk that an issuer will fail to make timely payments of
interest or principal, or go bankrupt, reducing the Funds return. The lower the rating of a
debt security,the higher its credit risk.
Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed investments are subject to credit risk and interest
rate risk. Because of the sensitivity of these securities to changes in interest rates, the
Funds performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities. In addition,
these securities are subject to the risk of loss due to prepayments.
Foreign securities involve special risks such as currency fluctuations, economic or financial
instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information and unfavorable political or
legal developments. These risks are increased for investments in emerging markets.
Investment Grade Funds 3
INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
Below investment grade securities (sometimes referred to as junk bonds) involve greater risk
of default or downgrade and are more volatile than investment grade securities. Below
investment grade securities may also be less liquid than higher quality securities.
The risks associated with floating rate loans are similar to the risks of below investment
grade securities. In addition, the value of the collateral securing the loan may decline,
causing a loan to be substantially unsecured. Difficulty in selling a floating rate loan may
result in a loss. Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled due date when interest
rates decline, which may require the Fund to replace a particular loan with a lower-yielding
security. There may be less extensive public information available with respect to loans than
for rated, registered or exchange listed securities. The Fund may assume the credit risk of
the primary lender in addition to the borrower, and investments in loan assignments may
involve the risks of being a lender.
Derivatives expose the Fund to additional volatility and potential loss. The technique of
purchasing foreign currency forward contracts to obtain exposure to currencies or manage
currency risk may not be effective. In addition, currency markets generally are not as
regulated as securities markets.
The Fund may enter into swap agreements, including credit default swaps, for purposes of
attempting to gain exposure to a particular asset without actually purchasing that asset, or
to hedge a position. Credit default swaps may increase the Funds exposure to credit risk and
could result in losses if the Subadviser does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of
the entity on which the credit default swap is based.
The Fund may enter into futures contracts. The risks associated with futures include: the
successful use of futures contracts depends on the Subadvisers ability to manage these
instruments, the potential inability to terminate or sell a position, the lack of a liquid
secondary market for the Funds position and the risk that the counterparty to the transaction
will not meet its obligations.
Certain transactions and the use of derivatives such as foreign currency forward contracts,
swaps and futures may create leveraging risk. To mitigate leveraging risk, the Fund will
segregate or earmark liquid assets or otherwise cover the transactions that may give rise to
such risk. Leverage may cause the Fund to be more volatile than if the Fund had not been
leveraged. This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease
in the value of the Funds portfolio securities.
U.S. government securities can exhibit price movements resulting from changes in interest
rates. Treasury inflation protected securities (TIPS) can also exhibit price movements as a
result of changing inflation expectations and seasonal inflation patterns. Certain obligations
of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Government (such as U.S. Treasury bonds and GNMA mortgage-backed
securities) while others are backed by only the credit of a federal agency or government
sponsored entity (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities).
Restricted securities may increase the level of illiquidity in the Fund during any period that
qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities.
The Subadviser intends to invest only in restricted securities that it believes present
minimal liquidity risk.
For further information about these and other risks, see More Information About Risk.
Performance Information
The bar chart and the performance table that follow illustrate the risks and volatility of an
investment in the Fund. The Funds past
performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. The Fund began operating on
October 11, 2004. Performance prior to October 11, 2004 is that of the Class I Shares of the Seix
Intermediate Bond Fund, the Funds predecessor, which began operations of June 30, 1999, and has
not been adjusted to reflect C Share expenses. If it had been, performance would have been lower.
At the close of business on February 13, 2009, all outstanding C Shares converted to R Shares. The
performance shown below from October 11, 2004 is that of C Shares and has not been adjusted to
reflect R Shares expenses, which are lower. If it had been, performance would have been higher.
This bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Funds R Shares from year to year.* [To
be updated]
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Best Quarter
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Worst Quarter |
[4.33%]
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[-2.33%] |
[(9/30/01])
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[(6/30/04)] |
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The performance information shown above is based on a calendar year. |
4 Investment Grade Funds
INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
Average Annual Total Returns
This table compares the Funds average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31,
2008, to those of the Lehman Brothers Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Index. These returns
assume shareholders redeem all of their shares at the end of the period indicated.
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal
income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax
returns will depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns
shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred
arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
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Since |
R Shares |
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1 Year |
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5 Years |
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Inception* |
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Fund Returns
Before Taxes |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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Fund Returns
After Taxes
on Distributions |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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Fund Returns After
Taxes on Distributions
and Sale of Fund Shares |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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Lehman Brothers
Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index (reflects no deduction
for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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Since inception of the predecessor C Share Class on October 11, 2004 and the predecessor fund on June 30, 1999. |
What is an Index?
An index measures the market prices of a specific group of securities in a particular market
or market sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. Unlike a mutual fund, an index does
not have an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index had
expenses, its performance would be lower. The Lehman Brothers Intermediate U.S.
Government/Credit Bond Index is composed of all bonds that are investment grade rated Baa or
higher by Moodys or BBB or higher by S&P, if unrated by Moodys. Issues must have at least
one year to maturity.
Investment Grade Funds 5
INTERMEDIATE BOND FUND
Fund Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Fund
shares.
Annual
Fund Operating Expenses (expenses deducted from Fund assets)
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R Shares |
Investment Advisory Fees |
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0.25 |
% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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0.50 |
% |
Other Expenses1 |
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% |
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Total Annual Operating Expenses 2 |
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1 |
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Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Other Expenses include a 0.25% shareholder servicing fee. |
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The Adviser, the Subadviser and/or other service providers may voluntarily waive a portion of their fees in order to limit Total
Annual Operating Expenses. These waivers may be discontinued at any time. |
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 that you sell your shares at the end of the period.
The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return, Fund operating
expenses remain the same and you reinvest all dividends and distributions. Although your
actual costs and returns might be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in
the Fund would be:
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1 Year |
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3 Years |
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5 Years |
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10 Years |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Fund Expenses
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for professional advisory, shareholder,
distribution, administration and custody services. The Funds expenses in the table above are
shown as a percentage of the Funds net assets. These expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
For more information about these fees, see Investment Adviser.
12 Investment Grade Funds
TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND
Fund Summary
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Investment Goal
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Total return that consistently exceeds the
total return of the broad U.S. investment
grade bond market |
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Investment Focus
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Investment grade debt securities |
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Share Price Volatility
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Moderate |
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Principal Investment Strategy
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Invest in fixed income securities with an
emphasis on corporate and mortgage-backed
securities |
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Investor Profile
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Investors who want to receive income from
their investment, as well as an increase in
the value of the investment |
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Subadviser
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Seix Investment Advisors LLC |
Investment Strategy
The Total Return Bond Fund invests in various types of income producing debt securities
including mortgage- and asset-backed securities, government and agency obligations, corporate
obligations and floating rate loans. The Fund may invest in debt obligations of U.S. and
non-U.S. issuers, including emerging market debt. The Funds investment in non-U.S. issuers
may at times be significant. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its
net assets in fixed income securities. These securities will be chosen from the broad universe
of available fixed income securities rated investment grade by Standard & Poors Ratings
Services, Moodys Investors Service or Fitch Ratings or unrated securities that the Subadviser
believes are of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in below
investment grade, high yield debt obligations. The Fund may also invest a portion of its
assets in securities that are restricted as to resale.
The Subadviser anticipates that the Funds modified adjusted duration will generally range
from 3 to 6 years, similar to that of the Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index, the Funds
comparative benchmark. Duration measures a bond or Funds sensitivity to interest rate
changes. Duration is expressed as a number of years. The higher the number, the greater the
risk. Under normal circumstances, for example, if a portfolio has a duration of five years,
its value will change by 5% if rates change by 1%. Shorter duration bonds result in lower
expected volatility. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Subadviser generally selects a
greater weighting in obligations of domestic corporations and mortgage-backed securities
relative to the Funds comparative benchmark, and a lower relative weighting in U.S. Treasury
and government agency issues.
The Fund may buy and sell securities frequently, which may result in higher transaction costs
and lower performance, and will be more likely to generate short-term capital gains (which are
generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates).
In addition, to implement its investment strategy, the Fund may buy or sell derivative
instruments (such as foreign currency forward contracts, swaps, including credit default
swaps, futures, credit linked notes, options, inverse floaters and warrants) to use as a
substitute for a purchase or sale of a position in the underlying assets and/or as part of a
strategy designed to reduce exposure to other risks, such as interest rate or credit risks.
The Fund may count the value of certain derivatives with investment grade fixed income
characteristics towards its policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its
net assets in fixed income securities.
What are the principal risks of investing in this Fund?
Debt securities will generally lose value if interest rates increase. Interest rate risk
is generally higher for investments with longer maturities or durations.
Debt securities are subject to the risk that an issuer will fail to make timely payments of
interest or principal, or go bankrupt, reducing the Funds return. The lower the rating of a
debt security, the higher its credit risk.
Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed investments are subject to credit risk and interest
rate risk. Because of the sensitivity of these securities to changes in interest rates, the
Funds performance may be more volatile than if it did not hold these securities. In addition,
these securities are subject to the risk of loss due to prepayments.
Foreign securities involve special risks such as currency fluctuations, economic or financial
instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information and unfavorable political or
legal developments. These risks are increased for investments in emerging markets.
Investment Grade Funds 13
TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND
Below investment grade securities (sometimes referred to as junk bonds) involve greater risk
of default or downgrade and are more volatile than investment grade securities. Below
investment grade securities may also be less liquid than higher quality securities.
The risks associated with floating rate loans are similar to the risks of below investment
grade securities. In addition, the value of the collateral securing the loan may decline,
causing a loan to be substantially unsecured. Difficulty in selling a floating rate loan may
result in a loss. Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled due date when interest
rates decline, which may require the Fund to replace a particular loan with a lower-yielding
security. There may be less extensive public information available with respect to loans than
for rated, registered or exchange listed securities. The Fund may assume the credit risk of
the primary lender in addition to the borrower, and investments in loan assignments may
involve the risks of being a lender.
Derivatives expose the Fund to additional volatility and potential loss. The technique of
purchasing foreign currency forward contracts to obtain exposure to currencies or manage
currency risk may not be effective. In addition, currency markets generally are not as
regulated as securities markets.
The Fund may enter into swap agreements, including credit default swaps, for purposes of
attempting to gain exposure to a particular asset without actually purchasing that asset, or
to hedge a position. Credit default swaps may increase the Funds exposure to credit risk and
could result in losses if the Subadviser does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of
the entity on which the credit default swap is based.
The Fund may enter into futures contracts. The risks associated with futures include: the
successful use of futures contracts depends on the Subadvisers ability to manage these
instruments, the potential inability to terminate or sell a position, the lack of a liquid
secondary market for the Funds position and the risk that the counterparty to the transaction
will not meet its obligations.
Certain transactions and the use of derivatives such as foreign currency forward contracts,
swaps and futures may create leveraging risk. To mitigate leveraging risk, the Fund will
segregate or earmark liquid assets or otherwise cover the transactions that may give rise to
such risk. Leverage may cause the Fund to be more volatile than if the Fund had not been
leveraged. This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease
in the value of the Funds portfolio securities.
U.S. government securities can exhibit price movements resulting from changes in interest
rates. Treasury inflation protected securities (TIPS) can also exhibit price movements as a
result of changing inflation expectations and seasonal inflation patterns. Certain obligations
of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Government (such as U.S. Treasury bonds and GNMA mortgage-backed
securities) while others are backed by only the credit of a federal agency or government
sponsored entity (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities).
Restricted securities may increase the level of illiquidity in the Fund during any period that
qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities.
The Subadviser intends to invest only in restricted securities that it believes present
minimal liquidity risk.
For further information about these and other risks, see More Information About Risk.
Performance Information
The bar chart and the performance table that follow illustrate the risks and volatility of an
investment in the Fund. The Funds past
performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. The Fund began operating on
October 11, 2004. Performance prior to October 11, 2004 is that of the Class I Shares of the Seix
Core Bond Fund, the Funds predecessor, which began operations on December 30, 1997, and has not
been adjusted to reflect C Share expenses. If it had been, performance would have been lower. At
the close of business on February 13, 2009, all outstanding C Shares converted to R Shares. The
performance shown below from October 11, 2004 is that of C Shares and has not been adjusted to
reflect R Shares expenses, which are lower. If it had been, performance would have been higher.
This bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Funds R Shares from year to year.* [To
be updated]
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Best Quarter
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Worst Quarter |
[4.25%]
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[-2.16%] |
[(9/30/01)]
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[(6/30/04)] |
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* |
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The performance information shown above is based on a calendar year. The Funds total return from 1/1/08 to 6/30/08 was 0.89%. |
14 Investment Grade Funds
TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND
Average Annual Total Returns
This table compares the Funds average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31,
2008, to those of the Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index. These returns assume shareholders
redeem all of their shares at the end of the period indicated.
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal
income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax
returns will depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns
shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred
arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R Shares |
|
1 Year |
|
5 Years |
|
10 Years |
|
Fund Returns
Before Taxes |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Returns
After Taxes on Distributions |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Returns
After Taxes on Distributions
and Sale of
Fund Shares |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lehman Brothers
U.S. Aggregate Index
(reflects no deduction for
fees, expenses or taxes) |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
What is an Index?
An index measures the market prices of a specific group of securities in a particular market
or market sector. You cannot invest directly in an index. Unlike a mutual fund, an index does
not have an investment adviser and does not pay any commissions or expenses. If an index had
expenses, its performance would be lower. The Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index is a
widely-recognized index of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade, fixed rate, taxable bond
market of SEC-registered securities. The index includes bonds from the Treasury,
Government-related, Corporate, MBS (agency fixed-rate and hybrid ARM passthroughs), ABS, and
CMBS sectors.
Investment Grade Funds 15
TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND
Fund Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Fund shares.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses deducted from Fund assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I Shares |
Investment Advisory Fees |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee |
|
|
0.50 |
% |
Other Expenses |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Annual Operating Expenses 1 |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Other Expenses include a 0.25% shareholder servicing fee. |
|
2 |
|
The Adviser, the Subadviser and/or other service providers may voluntarily waive a portion of their fees in order to limit Total
Annual Operating Expenses. These waivers may be discontinued at any time. |
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 that you sell your shares at the end of the period.
The Example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return, Fund operating
expenses remain the same and you reinvest all dividends and distributions. Although your
actual costs and returns might be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in
the Fund would be:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 Year |
|
|
3 Years |
|
|
5 Years |
|
|
10 Years |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Fund Expenses
Every mutual fund has operating expenses to pay for professional advisory, shareholder,
distribution, administration and custody services. The Funds expenses in the table above are
shown as a percentage of the Funds net assets. These expenses are deducted from Fund assets.
For more information about these fees, see Investment Adviser.
28
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
More Information About Risk
Below Investment Grade Risk
All Funds
High yield securities, which are also known as junk bonds, involve greater risks of default
or downgrade and are more volatile than investment grade securities. High yield securities
involve greater risk of default or price declines than investment grade securities due to
actual or perceived changes in an issuers credit-worthiness. In addition, issuers of high
yield securities may be more susceptible than other issuers to economic downturns. High yield
securities are subject to the risk that the issuer may not be able to pay interest or
dividends and ultimately to repay principal upon maturity. Discontinuation of these payments
could substantially adversely affect the market value of the security. High yield securities
may be less liquid than higher quality investments. A security whose credit rating has been
lowered may be particularly difficult to sell.
Derivatives Risk
All Funds
Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of traditional
investments. A derivative is a financial contract whose value depends on changes in the value
of one or more underlying assets, reference rates or indices. A Fund may use derivatives (such
as credit linked notes, futures, options, inverse floaters, swaps and warrants) to attempt to
achieve its investment objective and offset certain investment risks, while at the same time
attempting to maintain liquidity. These positions may be established for hedging, as a
substitute for taking a position in the underlying asset, or for speculation purposes. Hedging
involves making an investment (e.g. in a futures contract) to reduce the risk of adverse price
movements in an already existing investment position. Risks associated with the use of
derivatives include those associated with hedging and leveraging activities:
|
|
The success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict
movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in
markets, and movements in interest rates. |
|
|
|
A Fund may experience losses over certain market movements that exceed
losses experienced by a Fund that does not use derivatives. |
|
|
|
There may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in
market value of the securities held by a Fund and the prices of
derivatives used to hedge those positions. |
|
|
|
There may not be a liquid secondary market for derivatives. |
|
|
|
Trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange. |
|
|
|
Government regulations may restrict trading in derivatives. |
|
|
|
The other party to an agreement (e.g., options or swaps) may default;
however, in certain circumstances, such counterparty risk may be
reduced by the credit worthiness of the counterparty and/or using an
exchange as an intermediary. |
Because premiums or totals paid or received on derivatives are small in relation to the market
value of the underlying investments, buying and selling derivatives can be more speculative
than investing directly in securities. In addition, many types of derivatives have limited
investment lives and may expire or necessitate being sold at inopportune times.
The use of derivatives may cause a Fund to recognize higher amounts of short-term capital
gains, which are generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates.
Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the asset
directly. A Fund may be more exposed to credit risk. In addition, a Fund may experience losses
if the Subadviser does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the entity on which the
credit default swap is based. Total return swaps could result in losses if their reference
index, security or investments do not perform as anticipated.
To limit leveraging risk, a Fund observes asset segregation requirements to cover its
obligations under derivative instruments. By setting aside assets equal only to its net
obligations under certain derivative instruments, a Fund will have the ability to employ
leverage to a greater extent than if
29
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
it were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such derivative
instruments.
Emerging Markets Risk
All Funds
Emerging market countries are countries that the World Bank or the United Nations considers to
be emerging or developing. Emerging markets may be more likely to experience political turmoil
or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. In addition,
the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be
more precarious than in other countries. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk
of price volatility associated with a Funds investments in emerging market countries, which
may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar. Governments of some
emerging market countries have defaulted on their bonds and may do so in the future.
Exchange-Traded Fund Risk
All Funds
The Funds may purchase shares of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to gain exposure to a
particular portion of the market. ETFs are investment companies that are bought and sold on a
securities exchange. An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular
market segment or index. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their
operation, including advisory fees. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly
bearing expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear a pro rata portion of the
ETFs expense. The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the
underlying securities the ETF is designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could
result in being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. In addition,
because of ETF expenses, compared to owning the underlying securities directly, it may be more
costly to own shares of an ETF.
Fixed Income Risk
All Funds
The prices of a Funds fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly
interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual
issuers, including governments. Generally, a Funds fixed income securities will decrease in
value if interest rates rise and vice versa.
Long-term debt securities generally are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually
making them more volatile than short-term debt securities and thereby increasing risk.
Debt securities are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility than an issuer will
fail to make timely payments of interest or principal, or go bankrupt. The lower the ratings
of such debt securities, the greater their risks. In addition, lower rated securities have
higher risk characteristics, and changes in economic conditions are likely to cause issuers of
these securities to be unable to meet their obligations.
Debt securities are also subject to income risk, which is the possibility that falling
interest rates will cause a Funds income to decline. Income risk is generally higher for
short-term bonds.
An additional risk of debt securities is reinvestment risk, which is the possibility that a
Fund may not be able to reinvest interest or dividends earned from an investment in such a way
that they earn the same rate of return as the invested funds
that generated them. For example, falling interest rates may prevent bond coupon payments from
earning the same rate of return as the original bond. Furthermore, pre-funded loans and issues
may cause a Fund to reinvest those assets at a rate lower than originally anticipated.
30
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
Floating Rate Loan Risk
All Funds
As fixed income securities, investments in floating rate loans are subject to interest rate
risk, but that risk is less because the interest rate of the loan adjusts periodically. As
debt securities, investments in floating rate loans are subject to credit risk. Many floating
rate loans are in unrated or lower rated securities. When a security is unrated, a Fund must
rely more heavily on the analytical ability of the Subadviser. Many floating rate loan
investments share the same risks as high yield securities, although these risks are reduced
when the floating rate loans are senior and secured as opposed to many high yield securities
that are junior and unsecured. Floating rate securities are often subject to restrictions on
resale which can result in reduced liquidity. A floating rate loan also may not be fully
collateralized, although one lending institution will often be required to monitor collateral.
Borrowers may repay principal faster than the scheduled due date which may result in a Fund
replacing that loan with a lower-yielding security. Investment in loan participation interests
may result in increased exposure to financial services sector risk.
A loan may not be fully collateralized which may cause the loan to decline significantly in
value, although one lending institution acting as agent for all of the lenders will generally
be required to administer and manage the loan and, with respect to collateralized loans, to
service or monitor the collateral.
Certain portfolio managers and other personnel of the Subadviser may also manage similar
investment portfolios of floating rate loans for another non-investment adviser contracted
affiliated business, Seix Structured Products, LLC (SSP). SSP is a subsidiary of SunTrust
Bank and an affiliate of the Adviser and Subadviser, but not a client of the Adviser or
Subadviser. In that role, this group purchases bank loans on behalf of SSP, for purposes of
subsequent collateralized loan obligation (CLO) transactions where the Adviser, Subadviser
and their affiliate, SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., will serve as collateral manager and as
structuring agent/placement agent, respectively. The trustee and custodian of the CLO
transactions are not affiliated entities of the Adviser, Subadviser or SunTrust Capital
Markets. In addition, the Adviser serves as adviser to an account established with its
affiliate, SunTrust Equity Funding, LLC for the purpose of purchasing high yield securities
for subsequent sale to these same CLO transactions. Each of these transactions is subject to
the approval of the independent trustee of the CLO transaction. In addition to disclosure to
the trustee, all such transactions are fully disclosed to potential investors in the CLOs
offering and disclosure documents.
As a result of these multiple investment-oriented and associated relationships, there exists a
potential risk that the portfolio managers may favor other adviser and non-adviser contracted
businesses over a Fund. The Subadviser has created and implemented additional policies and
procedures designed to protect shareholders against such conflicts; however, there can be no
absolute guarantee that a Fund will always participate in the same or similar investments or
receive equal or better individual investment allocations at any given time.
Foreign Security Risk
All Funds
Investments in securities of foreign companies or governments can be more volatile than
investments in U.S. companies or governments. Political and economic events unique to a
country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These events will not
necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States.
Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation,
could affect investments in foreign countries. Foreign securities markets generally have less
trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets.
The value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such
securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies
31
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS
strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, changes in the value of those
currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of a
Funds investment. Foreign currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly. They are
determined by supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets, the relative merits of
investments in different countries, actual or perceived changes in interest rates, and other
complex factors. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention
(or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or by currency
controls or political developments. Currency movements may happen separately from and in
response to events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuers home
country.
Foreign companies or governments generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing,
and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to domestic U.S. companies or
governments. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the U.S. and expenses for
custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for
custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding
taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these
taxes are recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the
securities comprising the portfolio.
Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk
All Funds
Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities are fixed income securities representing an
interest in a pool of underlying mortgages or other cash-flow producing assets such as
automobile loans, credit card receivables and other financial assets. The value of these
securities may be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, the markets perception
of issuers and the creditworthiness of the parties involved. These securities are sensitive to
changes in interest rates, but may respond to these changes differently from other fixed
income securities due to the likelihood that a change in the general level of interest rates
will impact the magnitude and timing of any prepayments of the underlying mortgage loans. As a
result, it may not be possible to accurately determine in advance the actual maturity date or
average life of these securities. The uncertainty inherent in assessing prepayment risk makes
it difficult to calculate the average maturity of a portfolio including these securities, and
therefore, to assess the volatility risk of a Fund.
Securities Lending Risk
All Funds
A Fund may lend securities to broker-dealers to earn additional income. Risks include the
potential insolvency of the borrower that could result in delays in recovering securities and
capital losses. Additionally, losses could result from the reinvestment of collateral received
on loaned securities in investments that default or do not perform well. It is also possible
that if a security on loan is sold and a Fund is unable to timely recall the security, the
Fund may be required to repurchase the security in the market place, which may result in a
potential loss to shareholders. As securities on loan may not be voted by the Fund, there is a
risk that the Fund may not be able to recall the securities in sufficient time to vote on
material proxy matters.
More Information About Fund Investments
This prospectus describes the Funds primary strategies, and the Funds will normally
invest in the types of securities described in this prospectus. However, in addition to the
investments and strategies described in this prospectus, each Fund also may invest in other
securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment
32
MANAGEMENT
practices. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus,
are described in detail in the Statement of Additional Information.
The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Funds use under
normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive or
liquidity purposes, each Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, money market
instruments, repurchase agreements and short-term obligations that would not ordinarily be
consistent with a Funds objectives. In addition, each Fund may shorten its average weighted
maturity to as little as 90 days. A Fund will do so only if the Subadviser believes that the
risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for higher income. Of course, a Fund cannot guarantee
that it will achieve its investment goal.
Each Fund may invest in other mutual funds for cash management purposes. When a Fund invests
in another mutual fund, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own
operations, it will bear a pro rata portion of the other mutual funds expenses.
Information About Portfolio Holdings
A description of the Funds policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under
which the Funds disclose their portfolio securities is available in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Management
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall supervision and management of the
business and affairs of RidgeWorth Funds. The Board of Trustees supervises the Adviser and
Subadviser and establishes policies that the Adviser and Subadviser must follow in their fund
related management activities. The day-to-day operations of RidgeWorth Funds are the
responsibilities of the officers and various service organizations retained by RidgeWorth
Funds.
Investment Adviser
RidgeWorth Investments (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.), 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (RidgeWorth or the Adviser), serves as the investment adviser to
the Funds. In addition to being an investment adviser registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC), RidgeWorth is a money-management holding company with
multiple style-focused investment boutiques. As of June 30, 2008, the Adviser had
approximately $69.6 billion in assets under management. The Adviser is responsible for
overseeing the Subadviser to ensure compliance with each Funds investment policies and
guidelines and monitors the Subadvisers adherence to its investment style. The Adviser pays
the Subadviser out of the fees it receives from the Funds.
The Adviser may use its affiliates as brokers for Fund transactions.
An investment adviser has a fiduciary obligation to its clients when the adviser has authority
to vote their proxies. Under the current contractual agreement, the Adviser is authorized to
vote proxies on behalf of each Fund. Information regarding the Advisers, and thus each
Funds, Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is provided in the Statement of Additional
Information. A copy of the Advisers Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures may be obtained by
contacting the RidgeWorth Funds at 1-888-784-3863, or by visiting www.ridgeworthfunds.com.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, the following Funds paid the Adviser advisory fees
33
MANAGEMENT
(after waivers) based on the respective Funds average daily net assets of:
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
The following breakpoints are used in computing the advisory fee:
|
|
|
Average Daily Net Assets |
|
Discount From Full Fee |
First $500 million |
|
None Full Fee |
Next $500 million |
|
5% |
Over $1 billion |
|
10% |
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees approval of the investment
advisory agreement with the Adviser appears in the Funds annual report to shareholders for
the period ended March 31, 2008.
Investment Subadviser
The Subadviser is responsible for managing the portfolios of the Funds on a day-to-day basis
and selecting the specific securities to buy, sell and hold for the Funds under the
supervision of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees. A discussion regarding the basis for the
Board of Trustees approval of the investment subadvisory agreement appears in the Funds
annual report to shareholders for the period ended March 31, 2008.
Information about the Subadviser and the individual portfolio managers of the Funds is
discussed below. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information
regarding the portfolio managers compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio
managers, potential conflicts of interest and the portfolio managers ownership of securities
in the Funds.
Seix Investment Advisors LLC (Seix)
10 Mountainview Road, Suite C-200,
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
www.seixadvisors.com
Seix, established in 2008 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of RidgeWorth, is an investment adviser
registered with the SEC. Its predecessor, Seix Investment Advisors, Inc., was founded in 1992
and was independently-owned until 2004 when the firm joined RidgeWorth as the high grade, high
yield investment management division. As of June 30, 2008, Seix had approximately
$19.7 billion in assets under management.
Seix is a fundamental, credit driven fixed income boutique specializing in both investment
grade and high yield bond management. Seix has employed its bottom-up, research-oriented
approach to fixed income management for over 15 years. Seix is focused on delivering superior,
risk-adjusted investment performance for its clients. Seix selects, buys and sells securities
for the Funds it subadvises.
34
MANAGEMENT
Seix utilizes a team management approach for certain of the Funds for which it acts as
Subadviser. Seix is organized into teams of portfolio managers and credit analysts along
sectors and broad investment categories, including government securities, corporate bonds,
securitized assets, high yield bonds, high yield loans, emerging market debt, non-U.S.
securities and global currencies. The senior portfolio managers are responsible for security
selection, portfolio structure and rebalancing, compliance with stated investment objectives,
and cash flow monitoring. The Chief Investment Officer is a member of each Funds management
team and is responsible for setting overall investment strategy. In addition, the Chief
Investment Officer works with the senior portfolio managers on establishing sector allocation
for each of the Funds. Other members of the team provide analytical support including
investment research and monitoring credit risks, financial metrics and market conditions.
Intermediate Bond Fund and Total Return Bond Fund
Mr. James F. Keegan, Chief Investment Officer, has been a member of the Funds management team
since March 2008, when he joined Seix. Mr. Keegan sets overall investment strategy and works
with Mr. Troisi, Mr. Webb and Mr. Rieger on sector allocation for the Investment Grade Funds.
Prior to joining Seix, Mr. Keegan was a Senior Vice President at American Century Investments
from February 2006 through March 2008, a private investor from July 2003 through January 2006,
and the Chief Investment Officer of Westmoreland Capital Management, LLC from February 2002
through June 2003. Mr. Keegan has more than 25 years of investment experience.
Mr. Adrien Webb, CFA, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the
Funds management team for several years. Mr. Webb focuses primarily on high grade corporate
bonds and related securities held in the Investment Grade Funds. Mr. Webb joined Seix
Investment Advisors, Inc., a predecessor of Seix, in 2000, where he served as Senior Portfolio
Manager. Mr. Webb has more than 13 years of investment experience.
Mr. Perry Troisi, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the
Funds management team for several years. Mr. Troisi focuses primarily on United States
government and agency bonds and related securities held in the Funds. Mr. Troisi joined Seix
Investment Advisors, Inc., a predecessor of Seix, in 1999, where he served as Senior Portfolio
Manager. He has more than 22 years of investment experience.
Mr. Michael Rieger, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the
Funds management team since 2007, when he joined Seix. Mr. Rieger focuses primarily on
securitized assets including mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities held in the
Investment Grade Funds. Prior to joining the Adviser in 2007, Mr. Rieger was a Managing
Director at AIG Global Investments since 2005 and a Vice President from 2002 to 2005.
Mr. Rieger has more than 21 years of investment experience.
Mr. Seth Antiles, Ph.D., Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the
management team for the Total Return Bond Fund since 2007. Mr. Antiles focuses on emerging
market debt, foreign currency and related securities held in the Total Return Bond Fund.
Mr. Antiles joined the
35
PURCHASING AND SELLING FUND SHARES
Adviser in 2005 as the Head of Emerging Markets. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Antiles was
a Director at Citigroup/Salomon Smith Barney since 1997. Mr. Antiles has more than 14 years
investment experience.
Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares
This section tells you how to purchase and sell R Shares of the Funds.
How to Purchase Fund Shares
R Shares are designed to be sold only through various third-party intermediaries that
offer employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans and other retirement plan
platforms including brokers, dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan
recordkeepers and others. R Shares require an agreement with the Funds prior to investment.
The intermediary may charge a fee for its services.
Please consult your intermediary to find out about how to purchase R Shares of the Funds.
When Can You Purchase Shares?
The Funds are open for business on days when the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) is open
for regular trading (a Business Day). RidgeWorth Funds reserves the right to open one or
more Funds on days that the principal bond markets (as recommended by the Bond Market
Association) are open even if the NYSE is closed.
Each Fund calculates its net asset value per share (NAV) once each Business Day at the close
of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time).
If a Fund or its authorized agent receives your purchase or redemption request in proper form
before 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, your transaction will be priced at that Business Days NAV. If
your request is received after 4:00 p.m., it will be priced at the next Business Days NAV.
The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are
accepted may be changed if the NYSE closes early or if the principal bond markets close early
on days when the NYSE is closed.
The Funds will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or
any other special conditions.
You may be required to transmit your purchase and sale orders to your financial institution or
intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows
the financial institution or intermediary time to process your order and transmit it to the
transfer agent in time to meet the above stated Fund cut-off times. For more information about
how to purchase or sell Fund shares, including a specific financial institutions or
intermediarys internal order entry cut-off time, please contact your financial institution or
intermediary directly.
A Fund may reject any purchase order.
How the Funds Calculate NAV
NAV is calculated by adding the total value of a Funds investments and other assets,
subtracting its liabilities and then dividing that figure by the number of outstanding shares
of the Fund.
In calculating NAV, each Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If
market prices are not readily available or a Fund reasonably believes that market prices or
amortized cost valuation method are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that
has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, the Fund is
required to price those securities at fair value as determined in good faith using methods
approved by the Board of Trustees. A Funds determination of a securitys fair value
37
PURCHASING AND SELLING FUND SHARES
price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore
subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that a Fund assigns to a security may be higher
or lower than the securitys value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security
was readily available.
When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the Funds
use the value of the security provided by pricing services. The values provided by a pricing
service may be based upon market quotations for the same security, securities expected to
trade in a similar manner, or a pricing matrix. When valuing fixed income securities with
remaining maturities of 60 days or less, the Funds use the securitys amortized cost.
Amortized cost and the use of a pricing matrix in valuing fixed income securities are forms of
fair value pricing. Fair value prices may be determined in good faith using methods approved
by the Board of Trustees.
With respect to non-U.S. securities held by a Fund, the Fund may take factors influencing
specific markets or issues into consideration in determining the fair value of a
non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets
are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by a Fund may be
significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to
the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time a Fund
prices its shares, the value the Fund assigns to securities generally will not be the same as
the primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, a Fund may consider the
performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency
appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the U.S., or other relevant
information as related to the securities.
The prices for many securities held by the Funds are provided by independent pricing services
approved by the Board of Trustees.
Customer Identification
Foreign Investors
The Funds do not generally accept investments in R Shares by non-U.S. citizens or entities.
Customer Identification and Verification
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 to provide your name, residential street address,
date of birth, Social Security number or tax identification number. You may also be asked for
other information that will allow us to identify you. Entities are also required to provide
additional information. This information will be verified to ensure the identity of all
persons opening a mutual fund account.
In certain instances, the Funds are required to collect documents to fulfill their legal
obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to
establish and verify a customers identity.
The Funds are required by law to reject your new account application if the required
identifying information is not provided. Attempts to collect the missing information required
on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker.
If this information is unable to be obtained within a timeframe established in
38
PURCHASING AND SELLING FUND SHARES
the sole discretion of the Funds your application will be rejected.
Upon receipt of your application in proper form (or upon receipt of all identifying
information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your
order will be processed at the NAV next-determined.
However, the Funds reserve the right to close your account at the then-current days
price if the Funds are unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity
will be performed within a timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Funds.
If the Funds are unable to verify your identity, the Funds reserve the right to
liquidate your account at the then-current days price and remit proceeds to you via
check. The Funds reserve the further right to hold your proceeds until your original
check clears the bank. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on
Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.
Anti-Money Laundering Program
Customer identification and verification is part of the Funds overall obligation to
deter money laundering under federal law. The Funds have adopted an anti-money
laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Funds from being used for money
laundering or the financing of terrorist activities. In this regard, the Funds reserve
the right to (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order, (ii) freeze
any account and/or suspend account services, or (iii) involuntarily redeem your account
in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These
actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed
to be in the best interest of the Funds or in cases when the Funds are requested or
compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority.
How to Sell Your Fund Shares
Please consult your intermediary to find out about how to sell your R Shares of the
Funds.
The sale price of each share will be the NAV next determined after the Funds receive
your request in proper form.
A Medallion Signature Guarantee by a bank or other financial institution (a notarized
signature is not sufficient) is required to redeem shares:
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sent to an address or bank account other than the address or bank account of record; or |
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sent to an address or bank account of record that has been changed within the last 15 calendar days. |
Other documentation may be required depending on the registration of the account.
Medallion Signature Guarantee: A Medallion Signature Guarantee verifies the
authenticity of your signature and helps ensure that changes to your account
are in fact authorized by you. A Medallion Signature Guarantee may be obtained
from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings
association or other financial institution participating in a Medallion Program
recognized by the Securities Trading Association. Signature guarantees from
financial institutions that do not reflect one of the following are not part of
the program and will not be accepted. The acceptable Medallion programs are
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, (STAMP), Stock Exchange Medallion
Program, (SEMP), or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Program,
(NYSR MSP). Contact your local financial adviser or institution for further
assistance.
Receiving Your Money
Normally, the Funds will send your sales proceeds within five Business Days after a
Fund receives your request, but a Fund may take up to seven days to pay the sale
proceeds if making immediate payment would adversely affect the Fund (for example, to
allow the Fund to raise capital in the case of a large redemption).
39
MARKET TIMING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Redemptions In Kind
The Funds generally pay redemption proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions
that make the payment of cash unwise (and for the protection of the Funds remaining
shareholders), a Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in liquid
securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in kind). It
is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in kind, but if they were
you would probably have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to
you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption.
Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares
A Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares if the NYSE restricts trading, the
SEC declares an emergency or for other reasons approved by the SEC. More information
about this is in the Statement of Additional Information.
Market Timing Policies and Procedures
The Funds are intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourage
shareholders from engaging in market timing or other types of excessive short-term
trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Funds may present risks to the
Funds long-term shareholders, all of which could adversely affect shareholder returns.
The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient
implementation of the Funds investment strategies, triggering the recognition of
taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Funds to
maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased
transaction costs. A Fund that invests a significant amount of its assets in overseas
markets is particularly susceptible to the risk of certain investors using a strategy
known as time-zone arbitrage. Investors using this strategy attempt to take advantage
of the differences in value of foreign securities that might result from events that
occur between the close of the foreign securities market on which a foreign security is
traded and the time at which the Fund calculates its NAV.
The Funds and/or their service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect
and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Funds policies and
procedures described in this prospectus and approved by the Funds Board of Trustees.
The Funds seek to discourage short-term trading by using fair value pricing procedures
to fair value certain investments under some circumstances. For purposes of applying
these policies, the Funds service providers may consider the trading history of
accounts under common ownership or control. The Funds policies and procedures include:
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Shareholders are restricted from making more than one (1) round trip
into or out of a Fund within 14 days or more than two (2) round
trips within any continuous 90 day period. If a shareholder exceeds
either round trip restriction, he or she may be deemed a Market
Timer, and the Funds and/or their service providers may, at their
discretion, reject any additional purchase orders. The Funds define a
round trip as a purchase into a Fund by a shareholder, followed by a
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DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES
redemption out of the Fund. Anyone considered to be a Market Timer by the
Funds, the Adviser, the Subadviser or a shareholder servicing agent may be
notified in writing of their designation as a Market Timer.
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The Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase request by any
investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice,
including, in particular, if the Funds or their Adviser reasonably
believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to
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The Funds and/or their service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of
their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests
of the Funds long-term shareholders.
Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures
alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in
the Funds will occur, particularly with respect to trades placed by shareholders that
invest in the Funds through omnibus arrangements maintained by brokers, retirement plan
accounts and other financial intermediaries. Purchase and redemption transactions
submitted to the Funds by these intermediaries reflect the transactions of multiple
beneficial owners whose individual transactions are not automatically disclosed to the
Funds. Therefore, the Funds rely in large part on the intermediaries who maintain
omnibus arrangements (which may represent a majority of Fund shares) to aid in the
Funds efforts to detect and deter short-term trading. The Funds monitor trading
activity at the omnibus account level and look for activity that indicates potential
short-term trading. If they detect suspicious trading activity, the Funds contact the
intermediaries to determine whether the short-term trading policy has been violated and
may request and receive personal identifying information and transaction histories for
some or all beneficial owners to make this determination. If a Fund believes that a
shareholder has violated the short-term trading policy, it will take further steps to
prevent any future short-term trading by such shareholder in accordance with the
policy. The Funds cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided by the
intermediaries and may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through
these intermediaries. A Fund has the right to terminate an intermediarys ability to
invest in a Fund if excessive trading activity persists and a Fund or its Adviser or
Subadviser reasonably believes that such termination would be in the best interests of
long-term shareholders. In addition to the Funds market timing policies and procedures
described above, you may be subject to the market timing policies and procedures of the
intermediary through which you invest. Please consult with your intermediary for
additional information regarding its frequent trading restrictions.
Distribution of Fund Shares
The R Shares of each Fund have adopted a distribution and service plan that allows the
Fund to pay distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares
and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of a Funds
assets continuously, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and
may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
The R Shares maximum distribution and service fee is 0.50% of the average daily net
assets of a Funds R Shares.
The Funds may provide financial assistance in connection with pre-approved seminars,
conferences and advertising to the extent permitted by the distribution plan and
applicable state or self-regulatory agencies, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory
Agency.
From their own assets, the Adviser, the Subadviser or their affiliates may make
payments based on gross sales and current assets to selected brokerage firms or
institutions. The amount of these payments may be substantial. The minimum aggregate
sales required for eligibility for such payments, and the factors in selecting the
brokerage firms and institutions to which they will be made, are determined from time
to time by the Adviser or Subadviser. Furthermore, in addition to the fees that may be
paid by a Fund, the Adviser, the Subadviser or their affiliates may pay fees from their
own capital resources to brokers, banks, financial advisers, retirement plan service
providers and other financial intermediaries, including affiliates, for providing
distribution-related or shareholder services.
The Adviser, the Subadviser or their affiliates may pay fees from their own capital
resources to financial intermediaries to compensate them for marketing expenses they
incur or to pay for the opportunity to have them distribute the Funds. The amount of
these payments is determined by the Adviser or the Subadviser and may differ among
financial intermediaries. Such payments may provide incentives for financial
intermediaries to make shares of the Funds available to their customers, and may allow
the Funds greater access to such financial intermediaries and their customers than
would be the case if no payments were made. You may wish to consider whether such
arrangements exist when evaluating any recommendation to purchase shares of the Funds.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for more information regarding
these arrangements.
Shareholder Servicing Plan
The R Shares Shareholder Servicing Plan permits R Shares to pay specified benefit plans
or other financial service firms for shareholder support services they provide, at a
rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of R Shares. The services may
include, among others, providing general shareholder liaison services (including
responding to shareholder inquiries), providing information on shareholder investments,
and establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and records.
41
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES AND TAXES
Dividends and Distributions
Each Fund declares dividends daily and pays these dividends monthly. Each Fund makes
distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own
Fund shares on a Funds record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares
unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the
Funds in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective
for dividends and distributions paid after the Funds receive your written notice. To
cancel your election, simply send the Funds written notice.
Taxes
Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about federal, state
and local income taxes. Below the Funds have summarized some important tax issues that
affect the Funds and their shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws,
which may change.
Each Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its net
realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. The dividends and distributions you
receive may be subject to federal, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax
situation. Distributions you receive from a Fund may be taxable whether or not you
reinvest them. Income distributions are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates
and will not qualify for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.
Capital gains distributions are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term
capital gains. Long-term capital gains are currently taxed at a maximum rate of 15%.
Absent further legislation, the maximum 15% tax rate on long-term capital gains will
cease to apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. A high portfolio
turnover rate and a Funds use of certain derivatives may cause a Fund to recognize
higher amounts of short-term capital gains, which are generally taxed to shareholders
at ordinary income tax rates. Each sale or exchange of Fund shares may be a taxable
event. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of another
RidgeWorth Fund is treated the same as a sale. A transfer from one share class to
another share class in the same RidgeWorth Fund should not be a taxable event.
Each Fund will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends and capital
gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
If you have a tax-advantaged or other retirement account you will generally not be
subject to federal taxation on income and capital gain distributions until you begin
receiving your distributions from your retirement account. You should consult your tax
advisor regarding the rules governing your own retirement plan.
The Funds expect to distribute primarily ordinary income dividends currently taxable at
a maximum rate of 35%.
More information about taxes is in the Statement of Additional Information.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
To be updated.
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
Investment Adviser:
RidgeWorth Investments
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
ridgeworth.com
Investment Subadviser:
Seix Investment Advisors LLC
10 Mountainview Road, Suite C-200
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
seixadvisors.com
More information about the RidgeWorth Funds is available without charge through the following:
Statement of Additional Information (SAI):
The SAI includes detailed information about the RidgeWorth Funds. The SAI is on file with the SEC
and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes,
is a part of this prospectus.
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports:
These reports list each Funds holdings and contain information from the Funds managers about
strategies and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The
reports also contain detailed financial information about the Funds.
To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:
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Telephone:
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Shareholder Services 1-888-784-3863 |
Mail:
RidgeWorth Funds
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219
Website: ridgeworthfunds.com
SEC:
You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual reports, as well as any other information
about the RidgeWorth Funds, from the EDGAR Database on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. You
may review and copy documents at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, DC (for information
on the operation of the Public Reference Room, call 202-551-8090). You may request documents by
mail from the SEC, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102. You may also obtain this
information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov.
The RidgeWorth Funds Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06557.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RIDGEWORTH FUNDS
(formerly, STI Classic Funds)
February 13, 2009
Investment Adviser:
RIDGEWORTH INVESTMENTS
(formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.)
(the Adviser)
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It is intended to provide
additional information regarding the activities and operations of RidgeWorth Funds (the Trust)
and should be read in conjunction with the Trusts prospectus dated February 13, 2009 as may be
supplemented from time to time. This SAI relates to R Shares (formerly, C Shares) of the
Intermediate Bond Fund and the Total Return Bond Fund of the Trust (each a Fund and collectively,
the Funds):
This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Trusts prospectus dated February 13, 2009.
Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the prospectus. The prospectus may be obtained
by writing to the Trust or calling toll-free 1-888-784-3863.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS |
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PROXY VOTING POLICY |
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THE TRUST
Each Fund is a separate series of the Trust, an open-end management investment company established
under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated
January 15, 1992. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series of units of
beneficial interest (shares) and different classes of shares of each series. The Trust reserves
the right to create and issue shares of additional funds and/or classes. Each Fund is diversified,
as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). Prior
to March 31, 2008 the name of the Trust was STI Classic Funds.
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
The Funds respective investment objectives and principal investment strategies are described in
the prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the
prospectus. Following are descriptions of the permitted investments and investment practices
discussed in the Funds prospectus under the Investment Strategy section and the associated risk
factors. The Subadviser will only invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of
the following investment practices if such investment or activity is consistent with and permitted
by the Funds stated investment policies.
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary
Receipts (GDRs). ADRs, EDRs, and GDRs are securities, typically issued by a U.S. financial
institution or a non-U.S. financial institution in the case of an EDR or GDR (a depositary). The
institution has ownership interests in a security, or a pool of securities, issued by a foreign
issuer and deposited with the depositary. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be available through sponsored
or unsponsored facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the
security underlying the receipt and a depositary. An unsponsored facility may be established by a
depositary without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored
depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depositary of an
unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications
received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the
receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
Acquisitional/equipment lines (delayed-draw term loans). Acquisitional/equipment lines
(delayed-draw term loans) are credits that may be drawn down for a given period to purchase
specified assets or equipment of to make acquisitions. The issuer pays a fee during the commitment
period (a ticking fee). The lines are then repaid over a specified period (the term-out period).
Repaid amounts may not be re-borrowed. To avoid any leveraging concerns, a Fund will segregate or
earmark liquid assets with the Funds custodian in an amount sufficient to cover its repurchase
obligations.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are securities backed by non-mortgage assets such
as company receivables, truck and auto loans, leases, and credit card receivables and mortgage-like
assets such as home equity loans on manufactured housing. These securities may be traded
over-the-counter and typically have a short-
1
intermediate maturity structure depending on the pay down characteristics of the underlying
financial assets which are passed through to the security holder. These securities are generally
issued as pass-through certificates, which represent undivided fractional ownership interests in
the underlying pool of assets. Asset-backed securities may also be debt obligations, which are
known as collateralized obligations and are generally issued as the debt of a special purpose
entity, such as a trust, organized solely for the purpose of owning these assets and issuing debt
obligations. Asset-backed securities that are backed by a single type of asset are pooled together
by asset type for purposes of calculating a Funds industry concentration levels.
Asset-backed securities are not issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities; however, the payment of principal and interest on such obligations may be
guaranteed up to certain amounts and, for a certain period, by a letter of credit issued by a
financial institution (such as a bank or insurance company) unaffiliated with the issuers of such
securities. The purchase of asset-backed securities raises risk considerations peculiar to the
financing of the instruments underlying such securities. There also is the possibility that
recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on
those securities.
Asset-backed securities entail prepayment risk, which may vary depending on the type of asset, but
is generally less than the prepayment risk associated with mortgage-backed securities. In addition,
credit card receivables are unsecured obligations of the card holder.
Bank Obligations. A Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions.
Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and
foreign branches of domestic banks. Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and
foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in
securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political
and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or
nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental
restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by a
Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to
different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to
domestic branches of U.S. banks. The Funds may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of
domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks only when the Subadvisers
believe that the risks associated with such investment are minimal and that all applicable quality
standards have been satisfied. Bank obligations include the following:
Bankers Acceptances. Bankers acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts
drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. Corporations use bankers acceptances
to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange.
Maturities are generally six months or less.
Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments
with a specific maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan
institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the
secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit with penalties for
early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.
Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in
exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a
specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be
traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a
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withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be
illiquid securities.
A Fund will not purchase obligations issued by the Adviser, Subadvisers, or their affiliates.
Borrowing. As required by the 1940 Act, a Fund must maintain continuous asset coverage (total
assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of
300% of all amounts borrowed. If, at any time, the value of the Funds assets should fail to meet
this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will
reduce the amount of the Funds borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this 300% coverage.
Maintenance of this percentage limitation may result in the sale of portfolio securities at a time
when investment considerations otherwise indicate that it would be disadvantageous to do so.
Investment strategies that either obligate a Fund to purchase securities or require a Fund to
segregate assets are not considered to be borrowing.
In addition to the foregoing, the Funds are authorized to borrow money as a temporary measure for
extraordinary or emergency purposes in amounts not in excess of 5% of the value of a Funds total
assets. This borrowing is not subject to the foregoing 300% asset coverage requirement.
Borrowing may subject the Funds to interest costs, which may exceed the interest received on the
securities purchased with the borrowed funds. The Funds may borrow at times to meet redemption
requests rather than sell portfolio securities to raise the necessary cash. Borrowing can involve
leveraging when securities are purchased with the borrowed money.
Brady Bonds. A Brady Bond is a U.S. dollar denominated bond issued by an emerging market,
particularly those in Latin America, and collateralized by U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds. In the
event of a default on collateralized Brady Bonds for which obligations are accelerated, the
collateral for the payment of principal will not be distributed to investors, nor will such
obligations be sold and the proceeds distributed. The collateral will be held by the collateral
agent to the scheduled maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds, which will continue to be
outstanding, at which time the face amount of the collateral will equal the principal payments
which would have then been due on the Brady Bonds in the normal course. Brady Bonds are subject to
the same risks as foreign securities.
Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are interest bearing instruments with a specific
maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of
funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit
with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.
Collateralized Debt Obligations. Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) are securitized
interests in pools of assets. Assets called collateral usually comprise loans or debt instruments.
A CDO may be called a collateralized loan obligation (CLO) or collateralized bond obligation
(CBO) if it holds only loans or bonds, respectively. Investors bear the credit risk of the
collateral. Multiple tranches of securities are issued by the CDO, offering investors various
maturity and credit risk characteristics. Tranches are categorized as senior, mezzanine, and
subordinated/equity, according to their degree of credit risk. If there are defaults or the CDOs
collateral otherwise underperforms, scheduled payments to senior tranches take precedence over
those of mezzanine tranches, and scheduled payments to mezzanine tranches take precedence over
those to subordinated/equity tranches. Senior and
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mezzanine tranches are typically rated, with the former receiving ratings of A to AAA/Aaa and the
latter receiving ratings of B to BBB/Baa. The ratings reflect both the credit quality of
underlying collateral as well as how much protection a given tranche is afforded by tranches that
are subordinate to it.
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory
notes issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270
days.
Convertible Bonds. Convertible bonds are bonds which may be converted, at the option of either the
issuer or the holder, into a specified amount of common stock of the issuer, or in the case of
exchangeable bonds, into the common stock of another corporation. Convertible bonds are generally
subordinate to other publicly held debt of the issuer, and therefore typically have a lower credit
rating than nonconvertible debt of the issuer. Convertible bonds generally carry a lower coupon
rate than the issuer would otherwise pay at issuance in exchange for the conversion feature. In
addition to the interest rate risk factors generally associated with fixed income investments, the
market risk of a convertible bond is determined by changes in the credit quality of the issuer and
price changes and volatility of the stock into which the bond may be converted. The conversion
feature may cause a convertible bond to be significantly more volatile than other types of fixed
income investments. Convertible bonds for which the value of the conversion feature is deemed
worthless are generally referred to as busted convertibles, and risk associated more closely
approximates that of similar debt without the conversion feature.
Corporate Issues. Corporate issues refer to debt instruments issued by private corporations or
other business entities. Bondholders, as creditors, have a prior legal claim over common and
preferred stockholders of the corporation as to both income and assets for the principal and
interest due to the bondholder. A Fund will buy corporate issues subject to any quality
constraints. Corporate issues may also be issued by master limited partnerships and real estate
investment trusts, or REITS.
Credit Linked Notes. A credit linked note (CLN) is a type of hybrid instrument in which a special
purpose entity issues a structured note (the Note Issuer) that is intended to replicate a single
bond, a portfolio of bonds, or with respect to the unsecured credit of an issuer, in general (the
Reference Instrument). The purchaser of the CLN (the Note Purchaser) invest a par amount and
receives a payment during the term of the CLN that equals a fixed or floating rate of interest
equivalent to a high rated funded asset (such as a bank certificate of deposit) plus an additional
premium that relates to taking on the credit risk of the Reference Instrument. Upon maturity of
the CLN, the Note Purchaser will receive a payment equal to (i) the original par amount paid to the
Note Issuer, if there is neither a designated event of default (an Event of Default) with respect
to the Reference Instrument nor a restructuring of the issuer of the Reference Instrument (a
Restructuring Event) or (ii) the value of the Reference Instrument, if an Event of Default or
Restructuring Event has occurred. Depending upon the terms of the CLN, it is also possible that
the Note Purchaser may be required to take physical delivery of the Reference Instrument in the
event of an Event of Default or a Restructuring Event. Most CLNs use a corporate bond (or a
portfolio of corporate bonds) as the Reference Instrument(s). However, almost any type of fixed
income security (including foreign government securities) or derivative contract (such as a credit
default swap) can be used as the Reference Instrument.
Custodial Receipts. A custodial receipt represents an indirect interest in a tax-exempt bond that
is deposited with a custodian. For example, custodial receipts may be used to permit the sale of
the deposited bond in smaller denominations than would otherwise be permitted. Frequently,
custodial receipts are issued to attach bond insurance or other forms of credit enhancement to the
deposited tax-exempt bond. Note, because a separate security is not created by the issuance of a
receipt, many of the tax advantages bestowed upon holders of the deposited tax-exempt bond are also
conferred upon the custodial receipt holder.
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Debt Securities. Debt securities (e.g., bonds, notes, debentures) represent money borrowed that
obligates the issuer (e.g., a corporation, municipality, government, government agency) to repay
the borrowed amount at maturity (when the obligation is due and payable) and usually to pay the
holder interest at specific times.
Dollar Rolls. Dollar rolls are transactions in which securities are sold for delivery in the
current month and the seller contracts to repurchase substantially similar securities on a
specified future date. Any difference between the sale price and the purchase price (plus interest
earned on the cash proceeds of the sale) is applied against the past interest income on the
securities sold to arrive at an implied borrowing rate.
Dollar rolls may be renewed prior to cash settlement and initially may involve only a firm
commitment agreement by the Fund to buy a security.
If the broker-dealer to whom a Fund sells the security becomes insolvent, the Funds right to
repurchase the security may be restricted. Other risks involved in entering into dollar rolls
include the risk that the value of the security may change adversely over the term of the dollar
roll and that the security the Fund is required to repurchase may be worth less than the security
that the Fund originally held. To avoid any leveraging concerns, the Fund will segregate or earmark
liquid assets with the Funds custodian in an amount sufficient to cover its repurchase
obligations. A Fund may also cover the transaction by means of an offsetting transaction or by
other means permitted under the 1940 Act or the rules and Securities and Exchange Commssion (SEC)
interpretations thereunder.
Equipment Trust Certificates (ETCs). ETCs are issued by a trust formed to finance large purchases
of equipment, such as airplanes, at favorable interest rates. Legal title on such equipment is held
by a trustee. The trustee leases the equipment and sells ETCs at a small discount to the purchase
price of the equipment. The lease payments are then used to pay principal and interest to the ETC
holders.
Equity Securities. Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of
common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into
common stock. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may
cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which
a fund invests will cause the net asset value of a fund to fluctuate. The Funds purchase equity
securities traded in the U.S. or foreign countries on securities exchanges or the over-the-counter
market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:
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Common Stock. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In
the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and
preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock. |
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Preferred Stock. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer
that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the
payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the
claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and
common stock. |
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Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred
stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the
issuer) into shares of the underlying |
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common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A
convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a
particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established
upon issue. If a convertible security held by a fund is called for redemption or conversion,
the fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying
common stock, or sell it to a third-party. |
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Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks.
Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks,
but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher
yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their conversion value,
which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The
difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary
over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest
rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend
not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the
repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However,
securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not
limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of
the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible
securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference
between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow,
which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same
extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also
be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as
interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often
lower-quality securities. |
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Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers. Generally, capitalization or market
capitalization is a measure of a companys size. Investing in equity securities of small
and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily
associated with investments in larger capitalization companies. This increased risk may be
due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources,
narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management. The securities of smaller
companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national
securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange. Consequently,
the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market
stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of
larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general. |
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Equity-Linked Securities. A Fund may invest in equity-linked securities, including,
among others, PERCS, ELKS or LYONs, which are securities that are convertible into, or the
value of which is based upon the value of, equity securities upon certain terms and
conditions. The amount received by an investor at maturity of such securities is not fixed
but is based on the price of the underlying common stock. It is impossible to predict
whether the price of the underlying common stock will rise or fall. Trading prices of the
underlying common stock will be influenced by the issuers operational results, by complex,
interrelated political, economic, financial or other factors affecting the capital markets,
the stock exchanges on which the underlying common stock is traded and the market segment
of which the issuer is a part. In addition, it is not possible to predict how equity-linked
securities will trade in the secondary market. The market for such securities may be
shallow, and high volume trades may be possible only with discounting. In addition to the
foregoing risks, the return on such securities depends on the creditworthiness of the
issuer of the securities, which may be the issuer of the underlying securities or a
third-party investment banker or other lender. The creditworthiness of such third-party
issuer equity-linked |
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securities may, and often does, exceed the creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying
securities. The advantage of using equity-linked securities over traditional equity and debt
securities is that the former are income producing vehicles that may provide a higher income
than the dividend income on the underlying equity securities while allowing some
participation in the capital appreciation of the underlying equity securities. Another
advantage of using equity-linked securities is that they may be used for hedging to reduce
the risk of investing in the generally more volatile underlying equity securities. |
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The following are three examples of equity-linked securities. A Fund may invest in the
securities described below or other similar equity-linked securities. |
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PERCS. Preferred Equity Redemption Cumulative Stock (PERCS) technically is
preferred stock with some characteristics of common stock. PERCS are mandatorily
convertible into common stock after a period of time, usually three years, during
which the investors capital gains are capped, usually at 30%. Commonly, PERCS may
be redeemed by the issuer at any time or if the issuers common stock is trading at
a specified price level or better. The redemption price starts at the beginning of
the PERCS duration period at a price that is above the cap by the amount of the
extra dividends the PERCS holder is entitled to receive relative to the common stock
over the duration of the PERCS and declines to the cap price shortly before maturity
of the PERCS. In exchange for having the cap on capital gains and giving the issuer
the option to redeem the PERCS at any time or at the specified common stock price
level, the Fund may be compensated with a substantially higher dividend yield than
that on the underlying common stock. |
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ELKS. Equity-Linked Securities (ELKS) differ from ordinary debt securities, in
that the principal amount received at maturity is not fixed but is based on the
price of the issuers common stock. ELKS are debt securities commonly issued in
fully registered form for a term of three years under an indenture trust. At
maturity, the holder of ELKS will be entitled to receive a principal amount equal to
the lesser of a cap amount, commonly in the range of 30% to 55% greater than the
current price of the issuers common stock, or the average closing price per share
of the issuers common stock, subject to adjustment as a result of certain dilution
events, for the 10 trading days immediately prior to maturity. Unlike PERCS, ELKS
are commonly not subject to redemption prior to maturity. ELKS usually bear interest
six times during the three-year term at a substantially higher rate than the
dividend yield on the underlying common stock. In exchange for having the cap on the
return that might have been received as capital gains on the underlying common
stock, the Fund may be compensated with the higher yield, contingent on how well the
underlying common stock does. |
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LYONS. Liquid Yield Option Notes (LYONS) differ from ordinary debt securities,
in that the amount received prior to maturity is not fixed but is based on the price
of the issuers common stock. LYONs are zero-coupon notes that sell at a large
discount from face value. For an investment in LYONs, a Fund will not receive any
interest payments until the notes mature, typically in 15 to 20 years, when the
notes are redeemed at face, or par value. The yield on LYONs, typically, is
lower-than-market rate for debt securities of the same maturity, due in part to the
fact that the LYONs are convertible into common stock of the issuer at any time at
the option of the holder of the LYONs. Commonly, the LYONs are redeemable by the
issuer at any time after an initial period or if the issuers common stock is
trading at a specified price level or better, or, at the option of the holder, upon
certain fixed dates. The redemption price typically is the purchase price of the
LYONs plus accrued original issue discount to the date of redemption, which amounts |
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to the lower-than-market yield. A Fund will receive only the lower-than-market yield
unless the underlying common stock increases in value at a substantial rate. LYONs
are attractive to investors, like a Fund, when it appears that they will increase in
value due to the rise in value of the underlying common stock. |
Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar Obligations. Eurodollar obligations are U.S. dollar denominated
obligations issued outside the United States by non-U.S. corporations or other entities. Yankee
dollar obligations are U.S. dollar denominated obligations issued in the United States by non-U.S.
corporations or other entities. Yankee obligations are subject to the same risks that pertain to
the domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Yankee
obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks. One such risk is the possibility that a
sovereign country might prevent capital from flowing across their borders. Other risks include:
adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulation of
financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding taxes; and the
expropriation or nationalization or foreign issuers.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). ETFs are investment companies whose shares are bought and sold on
a securities exchange. An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular
market segment or index. Some examples of ETFs are SPDRsâ, DIAMONDSSM,
NASDAQ 100 Index Tracking StockSM (QQQs SM), iSharesâ
and VIPERsâ. A Fund could purchase an ETF to temporarily gain exposure to a
portion of the U.S. or foreign market. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of
owning the underlying securities they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF
could result in it being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities and ETFs have
management fees that increase their costs versus the costs of owning the underlying securities
directly. (See also Investment Company Shares below).
Fixed Income Securities. Fixed income securities are debt obligations issued by corporations,
municipalities and other borrowers. Coupons may be fixed or adjustable, based on a pre-set formula.
The market value of fixed income investments may change in response to interest rate changes and
other factors. During periods of falling interest rates, the values of outstanding fixed income
securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the values of such
securities generally decline. Moreover, while securities with longer maturities tend to produce
higher yields, the prices of longer maturity securities are also subject to greater market
fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. Changes by recognized agencies in the rating
of any fixed income security and in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and
principal will also affect the value of these investments. Changes in the value of portfolio
securities will not affect cash income derived from these securities but will affect a Funds net
asset value.
Floating Rate Instruments. Floating rate instruments have a rate of interest that is set as a
specific percentage of a designated base rate (such as LIBOR). Such obligations are frequently
secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements provided by banks. The quality of
the underlying credit or of the bank, as the case may be, must, in the Subadvisers opinion be
equivalent to the long-term bond or commercial paper ratings stated in the prospectus. The
Subadviser will monitor the earning power, cash flow and liquidity ratios of the issuers of such
instruments and the ability of an issuer of a demand instrument to pay principal and interest on
demand.
Foreign Securities. Foreign securities may include U.S. dollar denominated obligations or
securities of foreign issuers denominated in other currencies. Possible investments include
obligations of foreign corporations and other entities, obligations of foreign branches of U.S.
banks and of foreign banks, including, without limitation, European Certificates of Deposit,
European Time Deposits, European Bankers Acceptances, Canadian Time Deposits, Europaper and Yankee
Certificates of Deposit, and investments in Canadian Commercial Paper and
8
foreign securities. These instruments have investment risks that differ in some respects from those
related to investments in obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. These risks include future adverse
political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest or
other income, possible seizure, nationalization, or expropriation of foreign deposits, the possible
establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source, greater fluctuations in value due to
changes in exchange rates, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might
adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on such obligations. These investments may
also entail higher custodial fees and sales commissions than domestic investments. Foreign issuers
of securities or obligations are often subject to accounting treatment and engage in business
practices different from those respecting domestic issuers of similar securities or obligations.
Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks may be subject to less stringent reserve
requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks.
In making investment decisions for the Funds, the Subadvisers evaluate the risks associated with
investing Fund assets in a particular country, including risks stemming from a countrys financial
infrastructure and settlement practices; the likelihood of expropriation, nationalization or
confiscation of invested assets; prevailing or developing custodial practices in the country; the
countrys laws and regulations regarding the safekeeping, maintenance and recovery of invested
assets, the likelihood of government-imposed exchange control restrictions which could impair the
liquidity of Fund assets maintained with custodians in that country, as well as risks from
political acts of foreign governments (country risks). Of course, the Subadviser cannot assure
that the Fund will not suffer losses resulting from investing in foreign countries.
Holding Fund assets in foreign countries through specific foreign custodians presents additional
risks, including but not limited to the risks that a particular foreign custodian or depository
will not exercise proper care with respect to Fund assets or will not have the financial strength
or adequate practices and procedures to properly safeguard Fund assets.
By investing in foreign securities, the Funds attempt to take advantage of differences between both
economic trends and the performance of securities markets in the various countries, regions and
geographic areas as prescribed by each Funds investment objective and policies. During certain
periods the investment return on securities in some or all countries may exceed the return on
similar investments in the United States, while at other times the investment return may be less
than that on similar U.S. securities. The international investments of a Fund may reduce the effect
that events in any one country or geographic area will have on its investment holdings. Of course,
negative movement by a Funds investments in one foreign market represented in its portfolio may
offset potential gains from the Funds investments in another countrys markets.
Emerging countries are all countries that are considered to be developing or emerging countries by
the World Bank or the International Finance Corporation, as well as countries classified by the
United Nations or otherwise regarded by the international financial community as developing.
Foreign Currency: A Fund may temporarily hold funds in bank deposits in foreign currencies during
the completion of investment programs. A Fund may conduct foreign currency exchange transactions
either on a spot (cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign exchange market or by
entering into a foreign currency forward contract (forward contract). A forward contract involves
an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of a specific currency at a future date, which
may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed
upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are considered
derivatives financial instruments whose performance is derived, at least in part, from the
performance of another asset (such as a security, currency or an index of securities). A forward
contract locks in
9
the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive at the
maturity of the contract. AFund may enter into forward contracts to hedge against risks arising
from securities the Fund owns or anticipates purchasing, or the U.S. dollar value of interest and
dividends paid on those securities. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward contracts to gain
exposure to foreign markets.
At or before settlement of a forward contract, a Fund may either deliver the currency or terminate
its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing an offsetting contract. If a Fund
makes delivery of the foreign currency, it may be required to obtain the currency through the
conversion of assets of a Fund into the currency. A Fund may close out a forward contract by
purchasing or selling an offsetting contract, in which case it will realize a gain or a loss.
A Fund may invest in a combination of forward contracts and U.S. dollar-denominated instruments in
an attempt to obtain an investment result that is substantially the same as a direct investment in
a foreign currency-denominated instrument. This investment technique creates a synthetic position
in the particular foreign-currency instrument whose performance the manager is trying to duplicate.
For example, the combination of U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments with long
forward contracts creates a position economically equivalent to a money market instrument
denominated in the foreign currency itself. Such combined positions are sometimes necessary when
the money market in a particular foreign currency is small or relatively illiquid.
For hedging purposes, a Fund may invest in forward contracts to hedge either specific transactions
(transaction hedging) or portfolio positions (position hedging). Transaction hedging is the
purchase or sale of forward contracts with respect to specific receivables or payables of a Fund in
connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. Position hedging is the sale of a
forward contract on a particular currency with respect to portfolio positions denominated or quoted
in that currency.
A Fund may use forward contracts for position hedging if consistent with its policy of trying to
expose its net assets to foreign currencies. A Fund is not required to enter into forwardcontracts
for hedging purposes and it is possible that a Fund may not be able to hedge against a currency. It
also is possible, under certain circumstances that a Fund may have to limit its currency
transactions to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code).
Each Fund currently does not intend to enter into a forward currency contract with a term of more
than one year, or to engage in position hedging with respect to the currency of a particular
country to more than the aggregate market value (at the time the hedging transaction is entered
into) of its portfolio securities denominated in (or quoted in or currently convertible into or
directly related through the use of forward currency contracts in conjunction with money market
instruments to) that particular currency. At or before the maturity of a forward currency
contract, a Fund may either sell a portfolio security and make delivery of the currency, or retain
the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by buying an
offsetting contract obligating it to buy, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the
currency. If a Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it may later enter into a new forward
currency contract to sell the currency.
If a Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it will incur a gain or loss to the extent that
there has been movement in forward currency contract prices. If forward prices go down during the
period between the date a Fund enters into a forward currency contract for the sale of a currency
and the date it enters into an offsetting contract for the purchase of the currency, the Fund will
realize a gain to the extent that the price of the currency it has agreed to
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sell exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to buy. If forward prices go up, a Fund will
suffer a loss to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to buy exceeds the price of the
currency it has agreed to sell.
A Fund may also enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or other
appropriate currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the
Funds securities denominated in the foreign currency. A Fund may realize a gain or loss from
currency transactions.
When a Fund purchases or sells a forward contract, under applicable federal securities laws, rules,
and interpretations thereof and applicable exchange rules, a Fund must set aside (referred to
sometimes as asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other measures to cover open
positions with respect to such transactions. For example, with respect to forward contracts that
are not contractually required to cash-settle, a Fund must cover its open positions by setting
aside liquid assets equal to the contracts full, notional value. With respect to forward contracts
that are contractually required to cash-settle, a Fund may set aside or deliver liquid assets,
including cash, in an amount equal to a Funds daily marked-to-market (net) obligation rather than
the notional value. By setting aside or delivering assets equal to only its net obligation under
cash-settled forward contracts, a Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater
extent than if a Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such
contracts. The Funds reserve the right to modify their asset segregation policies in the future.
A Fund may otherwise cover the transaction by means of an offsetting transaction or by other means
permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. In as much as these
transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregating liquid assets, as
permitted by applicable law, the Funds and their Subadviser believe that these transactions do not
constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being
subject to a Funds borrowing restrictions. The Funds reserve the right to modify their asset
segregation policies in the future.
Foreign Sovereign Debt Securities. Investing in fixed and floating rate high yield foreign
sovereign debt securities will expose a Fund to the direct or indirect consequences of political,
social or economic changes in countries that issue the securities. The ability of a foreign
sovereign obligor to make timely payments on its external debt obligations will also be strongly
influenced by the obligors balance of payments, including export performance, its access to
international credits and investments, fluctuations in interest rates and the extent of its foreign
reserves. A country whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities or whose economy depends on
certain strategic imports could be vulnerable to fluctuations in international prices of these
commodities or imports. To the extent that a country receives payment for its exports in currencies
other than dollars, its ability to make debt payments denominated in dollars could be adversely
affected. If a foreign sovereign obligor cannot generate sufficient earnings from foreign trade to
service its external debt, it may need to depend on continuing loans and aid from foreign
governments, commercial banks and multilateral organizations, and inflows of foreign investment.
The commitment on the part of these foreign governments, multilateral organizations and others to
make such disbursements may be conditioned on the governments implementation of economic reforms
and/or economic performance and the timely service of its obligations. Failure to implement such
reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may
result in the cancellation of such third parties commitments to lend funds, which may further
impair the obligors ability or willingness to timely service its debts.
Futures and Options on Futures. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and
purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time
and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in
exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price
during the term of the option. A Fund will reduce the risk that it will be unable to close out a
futures contract by only entering into futures contracts that are traded on a national futures
exchange regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). A Fund may use futures
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contracts and related options for bona fide hedging; attempting to offset changes in the value of
securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; attempting to minimize fluctuations
in foreign currencies; attempting to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; or
other risk management purposes. To the extent the Fund uses futures and/or options on futures, it
will do so in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). The Trust, on behalf
of the Funds, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term
commodity pool operator in accordance with Rule 4.5 and therefore, no Fund is subject to
registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.
An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or
make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between
the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract
is originally struck. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made;
generally contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.
When a Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, under applicable federal securities laws, rules,
and interpretations thereof and applicable exchange rules, a Fund must set aside (referred to
sometimes as asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other measures to cover open
positions with respect to such transactions. For example, with respect to futures contracts that
are not contractually required to cash-settle, a Fund must cover its open positions by setting
aside liquid assets equal to the contracts full, notional value. With respect to futures contracts
that are contractually required to cash-settle, a Fund may set aside or deliver liquid assets,
including cash, in an amount equal to a Funds daily marked-to-market (net) obligation rather than
the notional value. By setting aside or delivering assets equal to only its net obligation under
cash-settled futures contracts, a Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater
extent than if a Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such
contracts. The Funds reserve the right to modify their asset segregation policies in the future.
The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by purchasing a put option on the
same futures contract with a strike price (i.e., an exercise price) as high as or higher than the
price of the futures contract. In the alternative, if the strike price of the put is less than the
price of the futures contract, the Fund will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid
securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of
the futures contract. The Fund may also cover its long position in a futures contract by taking a
short position in the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by taking positions in
instruments with prices, which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures
contract. The Fund may cover its short position in a futures contract by taking a long position in
the instruments underlying the futures contracts, or by taking positions in instruments with
prices, which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.
A Fund may cover its sale of a call option on a futures contract by taking a long position in the
underlying futures contract at a price less than or equal to the strike price of the call option.
In the alternative, if the long position in the underlying futures contract is established at a
price greater than the strike price of the written (sold) call, a Fund will maintain in a
segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike
price of the call and the price of the futures contract. The Fund may also cover its sale of a call
option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively
consistently with the call option. A Fund may cover its sale of a put option on a futures contract
by taking a short position in the underlying futures contract at a price greater than or equal to
the strike price of the put option, or, if the short position in the underlying futures contract is
established at a price less than the strike price of the written put, the fund will maintain in a
segregated account cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike
price of the put and the price of the futures contract. A Fund may also cover its sale of a put
option by taking positions in instruments with prices, which are expected to move relatively
consistently with the put option.
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In as much as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregating
liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, the Funds and their Subadvisers believe that these
transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not
treat them as being subject to a Funds borrowing restrictions.
There are significant risks associated with a Funds use of futures contracts and related options,
including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the Advisers ability
to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements
in interest rates, (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market
value of the securities held by a Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures, (3) there
may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option, (4) trading restrictions or
limitations may be imposed by an exchange, and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in
futures contracts and options on futures. In addition, some strategies reduce a Funds exposure to
price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure
Guaranteed Investment Contracts (GICs). A GIC is a general obligation of the issuing insurance
company and not a separate account. The purchase price paid for a GIC becomes part of the general
assets of the issuer, and the contract is paid at maturity from the general assets of the issuer.
Generally, GICs are not assignable or transferable without the permission of the issuing insurance
company. For this reason, an active secondary market in GICs does not currently exist and GICs are
considered to be illiquid investments.
Hedging Techniques. Hedging is an investment strategy designed to offset investment risks. Hedging
activities include, among other things, the use of options and futures. There are risks associated
with hedging activities, including: (i) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability
to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets, and movements
in interest rates; (ii) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market
value of the securities held by a Fund and the prices of futures and option on futures; (iii) there
may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; and (iv) trading
restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange, and government regulations may restrict
trading in futures contracts and options.
High Yield Securities. High yield securities, commonly referred to as junk bonds, are debt
obligations rated below investment grade, i.e., below BBB by Standard & Poors Ratings Group
(S&P) or Baa by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys), or their unrated equivalents. The
risks associated with investing in high yield securities include:
1. High yield, lower rated bonds involve greater risk of default or price declines
than investments in investment grade securities (e.g., securities rated BBB or
higher by S&P or Baa or higher by Moodys) due to changes in the issuers
creditworthiness.
2. The market for high risk, high yield securities may be thinner and less active,
causing market price volatility and limited liquidity in the secondary market. This
may limit the ability of a Fund to sell these securities at their fair market
values either to meet redemption requests, or in response to changes in the economy
or the financial markets.
3. Market prices for high risk, high yield securities may also be affected by
investors perception of the issuers credit quality and the outlook for economic
growth. Thus, prices for high risk, high yield securities may move independently of
interest rates and the overall bond market.
13
4. The market for high risk, high yield securities may be adversely affected by
legislative and regulatory developments.
Illiquid Securities. Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be sold or disposed of in the
ordinary course of business (within seven days) at approximately the prices at which they are
valued. Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid securities must be priced at fair value as
determined in good faith pursuant to procedures approved by the Trusts Board of Trustees. Despite
such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, a Funds illiquid securities are subject to
the risk that the securitys fair value price may differ from the actual price, which the Fund may
ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid securities may
result in a loss or may be costly to a Fund. Under the supervision of the Trusts Board of
Trustees, the Subadviser determines the liquidity of a Funds investments. In determining the
liquidity of a Funds investments, the Subadviser may consider various factors, including (1) the
frequency and volume of trades and quotations, (2) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers
in the marketplace, (3) dealer undertakings to make a market, and (4) the nature of the security
and the market in which it trades (including any demand, put or tender features, the mechanics and
other requirements for transfer, any letters of credit or other credit enhancement features, any
ratings, the number of holders, the method of soliciting offers, the time required to dispose of
the security, and the ability to assign or offset the rights and obligations of the security). A
Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets (10% with respect to the Money Market Funds)
in illiquid securities.
Inverse Floaters. A Fund may invest in municipal securities whose interest rated bear an inverse
relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index (Inverse
Floaters). An investment in Inverse Floaters may involve greater risk than an investment in a
fixed rate bond. Because changes in the interest rate on the other security or index inversely
affect the residual interest paid on the Inverse Floater, the value and income of an inverse
floater is generally more volatile than that of a fixed rate bond. Inverse Floaters have varying
degrees of liquidity, and the market for these securities is relatively volatile. These securities
tend to underperform the market for fixed rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment, but
tend to outperform the market for fixed rate bonds when interest rates decline.
Investment Company Shares. A Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies to the
extent that such an investment would be consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the
Funds investment objectives. Investments in the securities of other investment companies may
involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. By investing in another
investment company, a Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company. As a result, an
investing Funds shareholders indirectly will bear the Funds proportionate share of the fees and
expenses paid by shareholders of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses
the Funds shareholders directly bear in connection with the Funds own operations.
Under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, a Fund may invest only up to 5% of its total assets in the
securities of any one investment company (ETF or other mutual funds), but may not own more than 3%
of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company (the 3% Limitation) or invest more
than 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies. Because other
investment companies employ an investment advisor, such investments by a Fund may cause
shareholders to bear duplicate fees.
A Fund may exceed the limits established by Section 12(d)(1) if (i) the ETF or the Fund has
received an order for exemptive relief from the 3% limitation from the SEC that is applicable to
the Fund; and (ii) the ETF and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in
such order. In the alternative, a Fund may rely on Rule
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12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% Limitation and the 10% Limitation,
provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of
both the acquiring fund and the acquired funds) does not exceed the limits on sales loads
established by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), for funds of funds.
For hedging or other purposes, each Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the
composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of
these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See Exchange
Traded Funds above.) The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance
with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to
supply and demand of the investment companys shares on the exchange upon which the shares are
traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance
of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things. Pursuant to orders issued by
the SEC to iShares® Funds, The Select Sector SPDR Trust, streetTRACKS Series Trust,
streetTRACKS Index Shares Fund and Vanguard Trust and procedures approved by the Board, each Fund
may invest in iShares® Funds, The Select Sector SPDR Trust, streetTRACKS Series Trust, streetTRACKS
Index Shares Fund and Vanguard Trust in excess of the 5% and 10% limits described above, provided
that the Fund has described ETF investments in its prospectus and otherwise complies with the
conditions of the SEC, as it may be amended, and any other applicable investment limitations.
iShares® is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (BGI). Neither
BGI, The Select Sector SPDR Trust, streetTRACKS Series Trust, streetTRACKS Index Shares Fund nor
the iShares® Funds makes any representations regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds.
Investment Grade Obligations. Investment grade obligations are fixed income obligations rated by
one or more of the rating agencies in one of the four highest rating categories at the time of
purchase (e.g., AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch), or Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moodys
or determined to be of equivalent quality by the Subadviser). Securities rated BBB or Baa represent
the lowest of four levels of investment grade obligations and are regarded as borderline between
sound obligations and those in which the speculative element begins to predominate. Ratings
assigned to fixed income securities represent only the opinion of the rating agency assigning the
rating and are not dispositive of the credit risk associated with the purchase of a particular
fixed income obligation. A Fund may hold unrated securities if its Subadviser considers the risks
involved in owning that security to be equivalent to the risks involved in holding an instrument
grade security. Moreover, market risk also will affect the prices of even the highest rated fixed
income obligation so that their prices may rise or fall even if the issuers capacity to repay its
obligation remains unchanged.
Leveraged Buyouts. A Fund may invest in leveraged buyout limited partnerships and funds that, in
turn, invest in leveraged buyout transactions (LBOs). An LBO, generally, is an acquisition of an
existing business by a newly formed corporation financed largely with debt assumed by such newly
formed corporation to be later repaid with funds generated from the acquired company. Since most
LBOs are by nature highly leveraged (typically with debt to equity ratios of approximately 9 to 1),
equity investments in LBOs may appreciate substantially in value given only modest growth in the
earnings or cash flow of the acquired business. Investments in LBO partnerships and funds, however,
present a number of risks. Investments in LBO limited partnerships and funds will normally lack
liquidity and may be subject to intense competition from other LBO limited partnerships and funds.
Additionally, if the cash flow of the acquired company is insufficient to service the debt assumed
in the LBO, the LBO limited partnership or fund could lose all or part of its investment in such
acquired company.
Medium-Term Notes. Medium-term notes are periodically or continuously offered corporate or agency
debt that differs from traditionally underwritten corporate bonds only in the process by which they
are issued.
15
Money Market Securities. Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities;
custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities
issued by the U.S. Treasury; commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by a
nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (NRSRO), such as S&P or Moodys, or
determined by the Subadviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; short-term bank
obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers acceptances) of U.S. commercial
banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and
repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are
described herein. For a description of ratings, see Appendix A to this SAI.
Mortgage-Backed Securities. A Fund may invest in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.
Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are securities which represent ownership interests in, or are
debt obligations secured entirely or primarily by, pools of residential or commercial mortgage
loans or other asset-backed securities (the Underlying Assets). Such securities may be issued by
U.S. government agencies and government-sponsored entities, such as Government National Mortgage
Association (GNMA), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation (FHLMC), commercial banks, savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, or by
issuers that are affiliates of or sponsored by such entities. The payment of interest and principal
on mortgage-backed obligations issued by these entities may be guaranteed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of GNMA), or may be guaranteed by the issuer (in the
case of FNMA and MHLMC). However, these guarantees do not apply to the market prices and yields of
these securities, which vary with changes in interest rates.
Obligations of GNMA are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Obligations of
Fannie Mae and FHLMC are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, but are
considered to be of high quality since they are considered to be instrumentalities of the United
States. A Fund will not purchase mortgage-backed securities that do not meet the above minimum
credit standards. In the case of mortgage-backed securities representing ownership interests in the
Underlying Assets, the principal and interest payments on the underlying mortgage loans are
distributed monthly to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. In the case of
mortgage-backed securities representing debt obligations secured by the Underlying Assets, the
principal and interest payments on the underlying mortgage loans, and any reinvestment income
thereon, provide the funds to pay debt service on such mortgage-backed securities.
Certain mortgage-backed securities represent an undivided fractional interest in the entirety of
the Underlying Assets (or in a substantial portion of the Underlying Assets, with additional
interests junior to that of the mortgage-backed security), and thus have payment terms that closely
resemble the payment terms of the Underlying Assets.
In addition, many mortgage-backed securities are issued in multiple classes. Each class of such
multi-class mortgage-backed securities, often referred to as a tranche, is issued at a specific
fixed or floating coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Principal
prepayment on the Underlying Assets may cause the MBS to be retired substantially earlier than
their stated maturities or final distribution dates. Interest is paid or accrues on all or most
classes of the MBS on a periodic basis, typically monthly or quarterly. The principal of and
interest on the Underlying Assets may be allocated among the several classes of a series of MBS in
many different ways. In a relatively common structure, payments of principal (including any
principal prepayments) on the Underlying Assets are applied to the classes of a series of MBS in
the order of their respective stated maturities so that no payment of principal will be made on any
class of MBS until all other classes having an earlier stated maturity have been paid in full. An
important feature of MBS is that the principal amount is generally subject to partial or total
prepayment at any time because the Underlying Assets (i.e., loans) generally may be prepaid at any
time.
16
Private pass-through securities are mortgage-backed securities issued by a non-governmental agency,
such as a trust. While they are generally structured with one or more types of credit enhancement,
private pass-through securities generally lack a guarantee by an entity having the credit status of
a governmental agency or instrumentality. The two principal types of private mortgage-backed
securities are collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and real estate mortgage investment
conduits (REMICs).
CMOs are collateralized mortgage obligations, which are collateralized by mortgage pass-through
securities. Cash flows from the mortgage pass-through securities are allocated to various tranches
(a tranche is essentially a separate security) in a predetermined, specified order. Each tranche
has a stated maturity the latest date by which the tranche can be completely repaid, assuming no
prepayments and has an average life the average of the time to receipt of a principal payment
weighted by the size of the principal payment. The average life is typically used as a proxy for
maturity because the debt is amortized (repaid a portion at a time), rather than being paid off
entirely at maturity, as would be the case in a straight debt instrument.
Although some of the mortgages underlying CMOs may be supported by various types of insurance, and
some CMOs may be backed by GNMA certificates or other mortgage pass-throughs issued or guaranteed
by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, the CMOs themselves are not generally guaranteed.
REMICs are private entities formed for the purpose of holding a fixed pool of mortgages secured by
an interest in real property. REMICs are similar to CMOs in that they issue multiple classes of
securities and are rated in one of the two highest categories by S&P or Moodys.
Investors may purchase beneficial interests in REMICs, which are known as regular interests, or
residual interests. Guaranteed REMIC pass-through certificates (REMIC Certificates) issued by
Fannie Mae or FHLMC represent beneficial ownership interests in a REMIC trust consisting
principally of mortgage loans or Fannie Mae, FHLMC or GNMA-guaranteed mortgage pass-through
certificates.
For FHLMC REMIC Certificates, FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest. GNMA REMIC
Certificates are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
Parallel pay CMOs and REMICs are structured to provide payments of principal on each payment date
to more than one class. These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the
stated maturity date or final distribution date of each class, which must be retired by its stated
maturity date or final distribution date, but may be retired earlier. Planned Amortization Class
CMOs (PAC Bonds) generally require payments of a specified amount of principal on each payment
date. PAC Bonds are always parallel pay CMOs with the required principal payment on such securities
having the highest priority after interest has been paid to all classes.
Stripped mortgage-backed securities are securities that are created when a U.S. government agency
or a financial institution separates the interest and principal components of a mortgage-backed
security and sells them as individual securities. The holder of the principal only security
(PO) receives the principal payments made by the underlying mortgage-backed security, while the
holder of the interest only security (IO) receives interest payments from the same underlying
security.
17
The prices of stripped mortgage-backed securities may be particularly affected by changes in
interest rates. As interest rates fall, prepayment rates tend to increase, which tends to reduce
prices of IOs and increase prices of POs. Rising interest rates can have the opposite effect.
Municipal Forwards. Municipal forwards are forward commitments for the purchase of tax-exempt bonds
with a specified coupon to be delivered by an issuer at a future date, typically exceeding 45 days
but normally less than one year after the commitment date. Municipal forwards are normally used as
a refunding mechanism for bonds that may only be redeemed on a designated future date. See
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitment Securities for more information.
Municipal Lease Obligations. Municipal lease obligations are securities issued by state and local
governments and authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and facilities. They may take
the form of a lease, an installment purchase contract, a conditional sales contract, or a
participation interest in any of the above.
Municipal Securities. Municipal bonds include general obligation bonds, revenue or special
obligation bonds, private activity and industrial development bonds and participation interests in
municipal bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the taxing power of the issuing
municipality. Revenue bonds are backed by the revenues of a project or facility (for example, tolls
from a bridge). Certificates of participation represent an interest in an underlying obligation or
commitment, such as an obligation issued in connection with a leasing arrangement. The payment of
principal and interest on private activity and industrial development bonds generally is totally
dependent on the ability of a facilitys user to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if
any, of real and personal property as security for the payment.
Municipal notes consist of general obligation notes, tax anticipation notes (notes sold to finance
working capital needs of the issuer in anticipation of receiving taxes on a future date), revenue
anticipation notes (notes sold to provide needed cash prior to receipt of expected non-tax revenues
from a specific source), bond anticipation notes, certificates of indebtedness, demand notes and
construction loan notes. A Funds investments in any of the notes described above will be limited
to those obligations (i) where both principal and interest are backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States, (ii) which are rated MIG-2 or V-MIG-2 at the time of investment by Moodys,
(iii) which are rated SP-2 at the time of investment by S&P, or (iv) which, if not rated by S&P or
Moodys, are in the Subadvisers judgment, of at least comparable quality to MIG-2, VMIG-2 or SP-2.
From time to time, a municipality may refund a bond that it has already issued prior to the
original bonds call date by issuing a second bond, the proceeds of which are used to purchase
securities. The securities are placed in an escrow account pursuant to an agreement between the
municipality and an independent escrow agent. The principal and interest payments on the securities
are then used to pay off the original bondholders. For purposes of diversification and industry
concentration, pre-refunded bonds will be treated as governmental issues.
Municipal bonds generally must be rated investment grade by at least one national securities rating
agency or, if not rated, must be deemed by the Subadviser to essentially have characteristics
similar to those of bonds having the above rating. Bonds downgraded to below investment grade may
continue to be held at the discretion of a Funds Subadviser. A Fund may purchase industrial
development and pollution control bonds if the interest paid is exempt from federal income tax.
These bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to raise money to finance various
privately-operated facilities for business and manufacturing, housing, sports and pollution
control. These bonds are also used to finance public facilities such as airports, mass transit
systems, ports and parking. The payment of the principal and interest on such bonds is dependent
solely on the ability of the facilitys user to meet
18
its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of real and personal property so financed as
security for such payment.
Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of states, or political subdivisions thereof, to
finance privately owned or operated facilities for business and manufacturing, housing, sports, and
pollution control, and to finance activities of and facilities for charitable institutions. Private
activity bonds are also used to finance public facilities such as airports, mass transit systems,
ports parking and low-income housing. The payment of the principal and interest on private activity
bonds is dependent solely on the ability of the facilitys user to meet its financial obligations
and may be secured by a pledge of real and personal property so financed.
Investments in floating rate instruments will normally involve industrial development or revenue
bonds which provide that the rate of interest is set as a specific percentage of a designated base
rate (such as the prime rate) at a major commercial bank, and that a Fund can demand payment of the
obligation at all times or at stipulated dates on short notice (not to exceed 30 days) at par plus
accrued interest. Such obligations are frequently secured by letters of credit or other credit
support arrangements provided by banks. The quality of the underlying credit or of the bank, as the
case may be, must, in the Subadvisers opinion, be equivalent to the long-term bond or commercial
paper ratings stated above. The Subadviser will monitor the earning power, cash flow and liquidity
ratios of the issuers of such instruments and the ability of an issuer of a demand instrument to
pay principal and interest on demand. The Subadviser may purchase other types of tax-exempt
instruments as long as they are of a quality equivalent to the bond or commercial paper ratings
stated above.
The Subadviser has the authority to purchase securities at a price which would result in a yield to
maturity lower than that generally offered by the seller at the time of purchase when they can
simultaneously acquire the right to sell the securities back to the seller, the issuer, or a
third-party (the writer) at an agreed-upon price at any time during a stated period or on a
certain date. Such a right is generally denoted as a standby commitment or a put. The purpose
of engaging in transactions involving puts is to maintain flexibility and liquidity in order to
meet redemptions and remain as fully invested as possible in municipal securities. The right to put
the securities depends on the writers ability to pay for the securities at the time the put is
exercised. A Fund will limit its put transactions to those with institutions which the Subadviser
believe present minimum credit risks, and the Subadviser will use its best efforts to initially
determine and thereafter monitor the financial strength of the put providers by evaluating their
financial statements and such other information as is available in the marketplace. It may,
however, be difficult to monitor the financial strength of the writers where adequate current
financial information is not available. In the event that any writer is unable to honor a put for
financial reasons, the affected Fund would be a general creditor (i.e., on parity with all other
unsecured creditors) of the writer. Furthermore, particular provisions of the contract between a
Fund and the writer may excuse the writer from repurchasing the securities in certain circumstances
(for example, a change in the published rating of the underlying municipal securities or any
similar event that has an adverse effect on the issuers credit); or a provision in the contract
may provide that the put will not be exercised except in certain special cases, for example, to
maintain portfolio liquidity. A Fund could, however, sell the underlying portfolio security in the
open market or wait until the portfolio security matures, at which time it should realize the full
par value of the security. Municipal securities purchased subject to a put may be sold to third
persons at any time, even though the put is outstanding, but the put itself, unless it is an
integral part of the security as originally issued, may not be marketable or otherwise assignable.
Sale of the securities to third parties or lapse of time with the put unexercised may terminate the
right to put the securities. Prior to the expiration of any put option, a Fund could seek to
negotiate terms for the extension of such an option. If such a renewal cannot be negotiated on
terms satisfactory to a Fund, the Fund could, of course, sell the portfolio security. The maturity
of the underlying security will generally be different from that of the put. There will be no limit
to the percentage of portfolio securities that a Fund may purchase subject to a put. For the
purpose of determining the maturity of securities purchased subject to an option to put, and for
the purpose of determining the dollar-
19
weighted average maturity of a Fund including such securities, a Fund will consider maturity to
be the first date on which it has the right to demand payment from the writer of the put although
the final maturity of the security is later than such date.
Other types of tax-exempt instruments which are permissible investments include floating rate
notes. Investments in such floating rate instruments will normally involve industrial development
or revenue bonds which provide that the rate of interest is set as a specific percentage of a
designated base rate (such as the prime rate) at a major commercial bank, and that a Fund can
demand payment of the obligation at all times or at stipulated dates on short notice (not to exceed
30 days) at par plus accrued interest. Such obligations are frequently secured by letters of credit
or other credit support arrangements provided by banks. The quality of the underlying credit or of
the bank, as the case may be, must, in the Subadvisers opinion, be equivalent to the long-term
bond or commercial paper ratings stated above. The Subadviser will monitor the earning power, cash
flow and liquidity ratios of the issuers of such instruments and the ability of an issuer of a
demand instrument to pay principal and interest on demand. A Fund may also purchase participation
interests in municipal securities (such as industrial development bonds and municipal
lease/purchase agreements). A participation interest gives a Fund an undivided interest in the
underlying municipal security. If it is unrated, the participation interest will be backed by an
irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a credit-worthy financial institution or the payment
obligations otherwise will be collateralized by U.S. government securities. Participation interests
may have fixed, variable or floating rates of interest and may include a demand feature. A
participation interest without a demand feature or with a demand feature exceeding seven days may
be deemed to be an illiquid security subject to a Funds investment limitations restricting its
purchases of illiquid securities. A Fund may purchase other types of tax-exempt instruments as long
as they are of a quality equivalent to the bond or commercial paper ratings stated above.
Opinions relating to the validity of municipal securities and to the exemption of interest thereon
from federal income tax are rendered by bond counsel to the respective issuers at the time of
issuance. Neither a Fund nor its Subadviser will review the proceedings relating to the issuance of
municipal securities or the basis for such opinions.
Non-Publicly Traded Securities; Rule 144A Securities. The Funds may purchase securities that are
not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), but that can be sold
to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act (Rule 144A
Securities). An investment in Rule 144A Securities will be considered illiquid and therefore
subject to a Funds limitation on the purchase of illiquid securities (usually 15% of a funds net
assets, 10% for the Money Market Funds), unless a Funds governing Board of Trustees determines on
an ongoing basis that an adequate trading market exists for the security. In addition to an
adequate trading market, the Board of Trustees will also consider factors such as trading activity,
availability of reliable price information and other relevant information in determining whether a
Rule 144A Security is liquid. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the
level of illiquidity in a Fund to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become
uninterested for a time in purchasing Rule 144A Securities. The Board of Trustees will carefully
monitor any investments by a Fund in Rule 144A Securities. The Board of Trustees may adopt
guidelines and delegate to the Subadvisers the daily function of determining and monitoring the
liquidity of Rule 144A Securities, although the Board of Trustees will retain ultimate
responsibility for any determination regarding liquidity.
Non-publicly traded securities (including Rule 144A Securities) may involve a high degree of
business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses. These securities may be less
liquid than publicly traded securities, and a Fund may take longer to liquidate these positions
than would be the case for publicly traded
20
securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the
prices realized on such sales could be less than those originally paid by a Fund. Further,
companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other
investor protection requirements applicable to companies whose securities are publicly traded. A
Funds investments in illiquid securities are subject to the risk that should a Fund desire to sell
any of these securities when a ready buyer is not available at a price that is deemed to be
representative of their value, the value of the Funds net assets could be adversely affected.
Options. A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on securities or securities indices
(traded on U.S. exchanges or over-the-counter markets) and enter into related closing transactions.
A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of
the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A
call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the
option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The
premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option
contract.
Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an
index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the
closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the
exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing
price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a
specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and
gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index
generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.
The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an opening transaction. In order to close
out an option position, a Fund may enter into a closing transaction, which is simply the sale
(purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration
date as the option contract originally opened. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying
security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.
A Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter. Over-the-counter options
(OTC options) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted
directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of
non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and
for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded
options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference
to information from a market maker. It is the SECs position that OTC options are generally
illiquid.
The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security. Other
principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing
volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.
A Fund must cover all options it purchases or writes. For example, when a Fund writes an option on
a security, index or foreign currency, it will segregate or earmark liquid assets with the Funds
custodian in an amount at least equal to the market value of the option and will maintain such
coverage while the option is open. A Fund may otherwise cover the transaction by means of an
offsetting transaction or other means permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC
interpretations thereunder.
21
A Fund may trade put and call options on securities, securities indices or currencies, as its
Subadviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Funds investment objective. For example, a
Fund may purchase put and call options on securities or indices to protect against a decline in the
market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of
securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future. A Fund purchasing put and call options
pays a premium therefor. If price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of
the options would not be profitable for a Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an
increase in the value of the Funds securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of
securities by the Fund.
In another instance, a Fund may write covered call options on securities as a means of increasing
the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its
market value. When a Fund writes an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or
decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder
thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as
profit the premium received for such option. When a call option written by a Fund is exercised, the
Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price,
and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price.
When a put option written by a Fund is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the
underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.
There are significant risks associated with a Funds use of options, including the following: (1)
the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the Subadvisers ability to predict movements in
the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2)
there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the movement in prices of options held by the
Fund and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for
options; and (4) while a Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may
not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.
Other Investments. The Funds are not prohibited from investing in bank obligations issued by
clients of the Funds administrator or distributor or their respective parent or affiliated
companies. The purchase of Fund shares by these banks or their customers will not be a
consideration in deciding which bank obligations the Funds will purchase. The Funds will not
purchase obligations issued by the Adviser, Subadvisers or the Funds distributor.
Pay-In-Kind Securities. Pay-In-Kind securities are debt obligations or preferred stock that pay
interest or dividends in the form of additional debt obligations or preferred stock.
Preferred Stock. Preferred stock is a corporate equity security that pays a fixed or variable
stream of dividends. Preferred stock is generally a non-voting security.
Real Estate Investment Trusts. A REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be
taxed as a corporation) which meets the definitional requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The
Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby
effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through
vehicle for federal income tax purposes. A REIT primarily invests in real estate and real estate
mortgages. If a corporation, trust or association meets the REIT requirements, it will be taxed
only on its undistributed income and capital gains.
22
REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT
invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage
REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or
long-term loans.
REITs in which a Fund invests may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which
may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which a Fund invests may concentrate
investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Additionally, rising interest rates
may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may
in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also
generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of the Funds
investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold
mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on
securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the
ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be
affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the
volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Furthermore, REITs are dependent
upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to
risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs
indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the
expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally
on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying
property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit
extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may
not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency
defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly
fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions
from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrowers or a
lessees ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or
lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may
incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.
Real Estate Securities. A Fund may be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of
real estate because of its policy of concentration in the securities of companies principally
engaged in the real estate industry. For example, real estate values may fluctuate as a result of
general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in
property taxes and operating expenses, demographic trends and variations in rental income, changes
in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in
neighborhood values, related party risks, changes in how appealing properties are to tenants,
changes in interest rates and other real estate capital market influences. The value of securities
of companies, which service the real estate business sector may also be affected by such risks.
Because a Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in REITs, a Fund may also be subject
to certain risks associated with the direct investments of the REITs. REITs may be affected by
changes in the value of their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants.
Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended. Furthermore, REITs are
dependent on specialized management skills. Some REITs may have limited diversification and may be
subject to risks inherent in financing a limited number of properties. REITs depend generally on
their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, and may
be subject to defaults by borrowers and to self-liquidations. In addition, the performance of a
REIT may be
23
affected by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code or its
failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. Changes in prevailing interest
rates may inversely affect the value of the debt securities in which a Fund will invest. Changes in
the value of portfolio securities will not necessarily affect cash income derived from these
securities but will affect a Funds net asset value. Generally, increases in interest rates will
increase the costs of obtaining financing which could directly and indirectly decrease the value of
a Funds investments.
Repurchase Agreements. A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. The
Funds each follow certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements.
These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial
institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Subadviser. The repurchase
agreements entered into by a Fund will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall
have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement. Under all
repurchase agreements entered into by a Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of
the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial
institution, a Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of each Funds
right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that
proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase
price, the Fund could suffer a loss. It is the current policy of each of the Funds, not to invest
in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with
any other illiquid assets held by that Fund, amounts to more than 15% of the Funds net assets. The
investments of each of the Funds in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in
the view of the Subadviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.
Resource Recovery Bonds. Resource recovery bonds are a type of revenue bond issued to build
facilities such as solid waste incinerators or waste-to-energy plants. Typically, a private
corporation will be involved, at least during the construction phase, and the revenue stream will
be secured by fees or rents paid by municipalities for use of the facilities. The viability of a
resource recovery project, environmental protection regulations, and project operator tax
incentives may affect the value and credit quality of resource recovery bonds.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A reverse repurchase agreement is a contract under which a Fund
sells a security for cash for a relatively short period (usually not more than one week) subject to
the obligation of the Fund to repurchase such security at a fixed time and price (representing the
sellers cost plus interest). Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value
of the securities a Fund is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the
repurchase price. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files
for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, a Funds use of proceeds of the agreement may be restricted
pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the
Funds obligation to repurchase the securities. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements are
techniques involving leverage, and are subject to asset coverage requirements. To avoid any
leveraging concerns, the Fund will segregate or earmark liquid assets with the Funds custodian in
an amount sufficient to cover its repurchase obligations.
Revolving Credit Facilities (Revolvers). Revolvers are borrowing arrangements in which the
lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified
term. As the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be borrowed again
during the term of the Revolver and usually provides for floating or variable rates of interest.
These commitments may have the effect of requiring a Fund to increase its investment in a company
at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when the companys
financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). To avoid any leveraging
concerns, a Fund will segregate or earmark liquid assets with the Funds custodian in an amount
sufficient to cover its repurchase obligations.
24
A Fund may invest in Revolvers with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its other
investments. Revolvers may be subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities
may exist to resell such instruments. As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell such investments at
an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value. Each Fund currently
intends to treat Revolvers for which there is no readily available market as illiquid for purposes
of that Funds limitation on illiquid investments.
Securities Lending. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial
organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the
Funds Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the
Fund (including the loan collateral). No Fund will lend portfolio securities to its investment
adviser, subadviser or their affiliates unless it has applied for and received specific authority
to do so from the SEC. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters
of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal
to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily.
Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of
the loan would be for the account of the Fund. A Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from
the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Funds
securities lending agent.
By lending its securities, a Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower
that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well
as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or
obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as
collateral. Each Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are
loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the
type discussed in the preceding paragraph from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such
collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral;
(iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable
interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned
securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in
connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower,
the Funds administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may
pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a matter comes up for a vote which would have a
material effect on a Fund or its investment, the Fund must attempt to terminate the loan and regain
the right to vote the securities. Any securities lending activity in which a Fund may engage will
be undertaken pursuant to Board approved procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the
foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or
insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon a Funds ability to
recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to
loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of
the underlying securities.
Senior Loans
Structure of Senior Loans. A senior floating rate loan (Senior Loan) is typically originated,
negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company
or other financial institution (the Agent) for a group of loan investors (Loan Investors). The
Agent typically administers and enforces the Senior Loan on behalf of the other Loan Investors in
the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any
collateral on behalf of the Loan Investors.
25
Senior Loans primarily include senior floating rate loans and secondarily senior floating rate debt
obligations (including those issued by an asset-backed pool), and interests therein. Loan
interests primarily take the form of assignments purchased in the primary or secondary market.
Loan interests may also take the form of participation interests in, or novations of a Senior Loan.
Such loan interests may be acquired from U.S. or foreign commercial banks, insurance companies,
finance companies or other financial institutions who have made loans or are Loan Investors or from
other investors in loan interests.
A Fund typically purchases Assignments from the Agent or other Loan Investors. The purchaser of
an Assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement of the
assigning Loan Investor and becomes a Loan Investor under the Loan Agreement with the same rights
and obligations as the assigning Loan Investor. Assignments may, however, be arranged through
private negotiations between 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 Loan Investor.A Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in
Participations. Participations by a Fund in a Loan Investors portion of a Senior Loan typically
will result in a Fund having a contractual relationship only with such Loan Investor, not with the
borrower. As a result, a Fund may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and
any fees to which it is entitled only from the Loan Investor selling the Participation and only
upon receipt by such Loan Investor of such payments from the borrower. In connection with
purchasing Participations, a Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the
borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, nor any rights with respect to any funds acquired by
other Loan Investors through set-off against the borrower and a Fund may not directly benefit from
the collateral supporting the Senior Loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a
result, a Fund may assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the Loan Investor selling the
Participation. In the event of the insolvency of the Loan Investor selling a participation, a Fund
may be treated as a general creditor of such Loan Investor. The selling Loan Investors and other
persons interpositioned between such Loan Investors and a Fund with respect to such Participations
will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial
services industries. Persons engaged in such industries may be more susceptible to, among other
things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market Committees monetary
policy, governmental regulations concerning such industries and capital raising activities
generally, and fluctuations in the financial markets generally.
A Fund will only acquire Participations if the Loan Investor selling the Participation, and any
other persons interpositioned between a Fund and the Loan Investor, at the time of investment has
outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade (BBB or A-3 or higher by Standard &
Poors Ratings Group (S&P) or Baa or P-3 or higher by Moodys or comparably rated by another
nationally recognized rating agency (each a Rating Agency)) or determined by the Subadviser to be
of comparable quality. Securities rated Baa by Moodys have speculative characteristics.
Similarly, a Fund will purchase an Assignment or Participation or act as a Loan Investor with
respect to a syndicated Senior Loan only where the Agent with respect to such Senior Loan at the
time of investment has outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade or determined
by the Subadviser to be of comparable quality. Long-term debt rated BBB by S&P is regarded by S&P
as having adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal and debt rated Baa by Moodys is
regarded by Moodys as a medium grade obligation, i.e., it is neither highly protected nor poorly
secured. Commercial paper rated A-3 by S&P indicates that S&P believes such obligations exhibit
adequate protection parameters but that 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 and issues of commercial paper rated P-3 by Moodys are considered by Moodys to have an
acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry
characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced.
26
Loan Participations. Loan participations are interests in loans to U.S. corporations, which are
administered by the lending bank or agent for a syndicate of lending banks. In a loan
participation, the borrower corporation is the issuer of the participation interest except to the
extent a Fund derives its rights from the intermediary bank. Because the intermediary bank does not
guarantee a loan participation, a loan participation is subject to the credit risks associated with
the underlying corporate borrower.
In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the corporate borrower, a loan participation may be
subject to certain defenses that can be asserted by the borrower as a result of improper conduct by
the intermediary bank. In addition, in the event the underlying corporate borrower fails to pay
principal and interest when due, a Fund may be subject to delays, expenses, and risks that are
greater than those that would have been involved if a Fund had purchased a direct obligation of the
borrower. Under the terms of a Loan Participation, a Fund may be regarded as a creditor of the
intermediary bank (rather than of the underlying corporate borrower), so that a Fund may also be
subject to the risk that the intermediary bank may become insolvent.
The secondary market for loan participations is limited and any such participation purchased by a
Fund may be regarded as illiquid.
Loan Collateral. In order to borrow money pursuant to a Senior Loan, a borrower will frequently,
for the term of the Senior Loan, pledge collateral, including but not limited to, (i) working
capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory; (ii) tangible fixed assets, such as real
property, buildings and equipment; (iii) intangible assets, such as trademarks and patent rights
(but excluding goodwill); and/or (iv) security interests in shares of stock of subsidiaries or
affiliates. In the case of Senior Loans made to non-public companies, the companys shareholders
or owners may provide collateral in the form of secured guarantees and/or security interests in
assets that they own. In many instances, a Senior Loan may be secured only by stock in the borrower
or its subsidiaries. Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there
is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy a borrowers obligations under a
Senior Loan.
Certain Fees Paid to a Fund. In the process of buying, selling and holding Senior Loans, a Fund
may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and
may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When a Fund
buys a Senior Loan it may receive a facility fee and when it sells a Senior Loan it may pay a
facility fee. On an ongoing basis, a Fund may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion
of the underlying line of credit portion of a Senior Loan. In certain circumstances, a Fund may
receive a prepayment penalty fee upon the prepayment of a Senior Loan by a borrower. Other fees
received by a Fund may include amendment fees.
Borrower Covenants. A borrower must comply with various restrictive covenants contained in a loan
agreement or note purchase agreement between the borrower and the holders of the Senior Loan (the
Loan Agreement). Such covenants, in addition to requiring the scheduled payment of interest and
principal, may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to stockholders,
provisions requiring the borrower to maintain specific minimum financial ratios, and limits on
total debt. In addition, the Loan Agreement may contain a covenant requiring the borrower to prepay
the Loan with any free cash flow. Free cash flow is generally defined as net cash flow after
scheduled debt service payments and permitted capital expenditures, and includes the proceeds from
asset dispositions or sales of securities. A breach of a covenant which is not waived by the Agent,
or by the Loan Investors directly, as the case may be, is normally an event of acceleration; i.e.,
the Agent, or the Loan Investors directly, as the case may be, has the right to call the
outstanding Senior Loan. The typical practice of an Agent or a Loan Investor in relying exclusively
or primarily on reports from the borrower may involve a risk of fraud by the borrower. In the case
of a Senior Loan in the form of a Participation, the agreement between the buyer and seller may
limit the rights of the holder to vote on certain changes which may be made to the Loan
27
Agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. However, the holder of the Participation will,
in almost all cases, have the right to vote on certain fundamental issues such as changes in
principal amount, payment dates and interest rate.
Administration of Loans. In a typical Senior Loan, the Agent administers the terms of the Loan
Agreement. In such cases, the Agent is normally responsible for the collection of principal and
interest payments from the borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all
institutions which are parties to the Loan Agreement. A Fund will generally rely upon the Agent or
an intermediate participant to receive and forward to a Fund its portion of the principal and
interest payments on the Senior Loan. Furthermore, unless under the terms of a Participation
Agreement a Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, a Fund will rely on the Agent and the
other Loan Investors to use appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. The Agent is
typically responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants contained in the Loan Agreement
based upon reports prepared by the borrower. The seller of the Senior Loan usually does, but is
often not obligated to, notify holders of Senior Loans of any failures of compliance. The Agent may
monitor the value of the collateral and, if the value of the collateral declines, may accelerate
the Senior Loan, may give the borrower an opportunity to provide additional collateral or may seek
other protection for the benefit of the participants in the Senior Loan. The Agent is compensated
by the borrower for providing these services under a Loan Agreement, and such compensation may
include special fees paid upon structuring and funding the Senior Loan and other fees paid on a
continuing basis. With respect to Senior Loans for which the Agent does not perform such
administrative and enforcement functions, a Fund will perform such tasks on its own behalf,
although a collateral bank will typically hold any collateral on behalf of a Fund and the other
Loan Investors pursuant to the applicable Loan Agreement.
A financial institutions appointment as Agent may usually be terminated in the event that it fails
to observe the requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) receivership, or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy proceedings. A
successor Agent would generally be appointed to replace the terminated Agent, and assets held by
the Agent under the Loan Agreement should remain available to holders of Senior Loans. However, if
assets held by the Agent for the benefit of a Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of
the Agents general creditors, a Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on
a Senior Loan, or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving intermediate
participants similar risks may arise.
Prepayments. Senior Loans can require, in addition to scheduled payments of interest and
principal, the prepayment of the Senior Loan from free cash flow, as defined above. The degree to
which borrowers prepay Senior Loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may
be affected by general business conditions, the financial condition of the borrower and competitive
conditions among Loan Investors, among others. As such, prepayments cannot be predicted with
accuracy. Upon a prepayment, either in part or in full, the actual outstanding debt on which a
Fund derives interest income will be reduced. However, a Fund may receive both a prepayment
penalty fee from the prepaying borrower and a facility fee upon the purchase of a new Senior Loan
with the proceeds from the prepayment of the former. Prepayments generally will not materially
affect a Funds performance because a Fund should be able to reinvest prepayments in other Senior
Loans that have similar yields (subject to market conditions) and because receipt of such fees may
mitigate any adverse impact on a Funds yield.
Other Information Regarding Senior Loans. From time to time a Subadviser and its affiliates may
borrow money from various banks in connection with their business activities. Such banks may also
sell interests in Senior Loans to or acquire them from a Fund or may be intermediate participants
with respect to Senior Loans in which a Fund owns interests. Such banks may also act as Agents for
Senior Loans held by a Fund.
28
A Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio a Senior Loan where the borrower has experienced,
or may be perceived to be likely to experience, credit problems, including involvement in or recent
emergence from bankruptcy reorganization proceedings or other forms of debt restructuring. Such
investments may provide opportunities for enhanced income as well as capital appreciation. At
times, in connection with the restructuring of a Senior Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or
in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, a Fund may determine or be required to accept
equity securities or junior debt securities in exchange for all or a portion of a Senior Loan. As
soon as reasonably practical, a Fund will divest itself of any equity securities or any junior debt
securities received if it is determined that the security is an ineligible holding for a Fund. As
a matter of policy, a Fund will not consider equity securities to be eligible holdings.
A Fund may acquire interests in Senior Loans which are designed to provide temporary or bridge
financing to a borrower pending the sale of identified assets or the arrangement of longer-term
loans or the issuance and sale of debt obligations. Bridge loans are often unrated. A Fund may
also invest in Senior Loans of borrowers that have obtained bridge loans from other parties. A
borrowers use of bridge loans involves a risk that the borrower may be unable to locate permanent
financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrowers perceived creditworthiness.
A Fund will be subject to the risk that collateral securing a loan will decline in value or have no
value. Such a decline, whether as a result of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise, could cause the
Senior Loan to be undercollateralized or unsecured. In most credit agreements there is no formal
requirement to pledge additional collateral. In addition, a Fund may invest in Senior Loans
guaranteed by, or secured by assets of, shareholders or owners, even if the Senior Loans are not
otherwise collateralized by assets of the borrower; provided, however, that such guarantees are
fully secured. There may be temporary periods when the principal asset held by a borrower is the
stock of a related company, which may not legally be pledged to secure a Senior Loan. On occasions
when such stock cannot be pledged, the Senior Loan will be temporarily unsecured until the stock
can be pledged or is exchanged for or replaced by other assets, which will be pledged as security
for the Senior Loan. However, the borrowers ability to dispose of such securities, other than in
connection with such pledge or replacement, will be strictly limited for the protection of the
holders of Senior Loans and, indirectly, Senior Loans.
If a borrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may invalidate a Funds security
interest in the loan collateral or subordinate a Funds rights under the Senior Loan to the
interests of the borrowers unsecured creditors or cause interest previously paid to be refunded to
the borrower. If a court required interest to be refunded, it could negatively affect a Funds
performance. Such action by a court could be based, for example, on a fraudulent conveyance
claim to the effect that the borrower did not receive fair consideration for granting the security
interest in the loan collateral to a Fund. For Senior Loans made in connection with a highly
leveraged transaction, consideration for granting a security interest may be deemed inadequate if
the proceeds of the Loan were not received or retained by the borrower, but were instead paid to
other persons (such as shareholders of the borrower) in an amount which left the borrower insolvent
or without sufficient working capital. There are also other events, such as the failure to perfect
a security interest due to faulty documentation or faulty official filings, which could lead to the
invalidation of a Funds security interest in loan collateral. If a Funds security interest in
loan collateral is invalidated or the Senior Loan is subordinated to other debt of a borrower in
bankruptcy or other proceedings, a Fund would have substantially lower recovery, and perhaps no
recovery on the full amount of the principal and interest due on the Loan, or a Fund could also
have to refund interest (see the prospectus for additional information).
29
A Fund may acquire warrants and other equity securities as part of a unit combining a Senior Loan
and equity securities of a borrower or its affiliates. The acquisition of such equity securities
will only be incidental to a Funds purchase of a Senior Loan. A Fund may also acquire equity
securities or debt securities (including non-dollar denominated debt securities) issued in exchange
for a Senior Loan or issued in connection with the debt restructuring or reorganization of a
borrower, or if such acquisition, in the judgment of the Subadviser, may enhance the value of a
Senior Loan or would otherwise be consistent with a Funds investment policies.
Regulatory Changes. To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate
certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the
ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged
transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further,
such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans.
Short Sales. A Fund may engage in short sales that are either uncovered or against the box. A
short sale is against the box if at all times during which the short position is open, a Fund
owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable
without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold
short. A short sale against-the-box is a taxable transaction to a Fund with respect to the
securities that are sold short.
Uncovered short sales are transactions under which a Fund sells a security it does not own. To
complete such a transaction, a Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. A Fund
then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price
at the time of the replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which
the security was sold by a Fund. Until the security is replaced, a Fund is required to pay the
lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest that accrue during the period of the loan. To
borrow the security, a Fund is required to pay a premium or daily interest, which will increase the
total cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to
the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.
Until a Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, a Fund will: (a) earmark
or maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities at such a level that (i) the amount
earmarked or deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will
equal the current value of the security sold short; and (ii) the amount earmarked or deposited in
the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less
than the current market value of the security sold short, or (b) otherwise cover a Funds short
positions. Uncovered short sales incur a higher level of risk because to cover the short sale, the
security may have to be purchased in the open market at a much higher price.
Short-Term Obligations. Short-term obligations are debt obligations maturing (becoming payable) in
397 days or less, including commercial paper and short-term corporate obligations. Short-term
corporate obligations are short-term obligations issued by corporations.
Standby Commitments and Puts. A Fund may purchase securities at a price which would result in a
yield to maturity lower than that generally offered by the seller at the time of purchase when the
Fund can simultaneously acquire the right to sell the securities back to the seller, the issuer or
a third-party (the writer) at an agreed-upon price at any time during a stated period or on a
certain date. Such a right is generally denoted as a standby commitment or a put. The purpose
of engaging in transactions involving puts is to maintain flexibility and liquidity to permit a
Fund to meet redemptions and remain as fully invested as possible in municipal securities. The
Funds reserve the right to engage in put transactions. The right to put the securities depends on
the writers ability
30
to pay for the securities at the time the put is exercised. A Fund would limit its put transactions
to institutions which the Subadviser believes present minimal credit risks, and the Subadviser
would use its best efforts to initially determine and continue to monitor the financial strength of
the sellers of the options by evaluating their financial statements and such other information as
is available in the marketplace. It may, however be difficult to monitor the financial strength of
the writers because adequate current financial information may not be available. In the event that
any writer is unable to honor a put for financial reasons, a Fund would be a general creditor
(i.e., on a parity with all other unsecured creditors) of the writer. Furthermore, particular
provisions of the contract between a Fund and the writer may excuse the writer from repurchasing
the securities; for example, a change in the published rating of the underlying securities or any
similar event that has an adverse effect on the issuers credit or a provision in the contract that
the put will not be exercised except in certain special cases, for example, to maintain portfolio
liquidity. A Fund could, however, at any time sell the underlying portfolio security in the open
market or wait until the portfolio security matures, at which time it should realize the full par
value of the security.
The securities purchased subject to a put may be sold to third persons at any time, even though the
put is outstanding, but the put itself, unless it is an integral part of the security as originally
issued, may not be marketable or otherwise assignable. Therefore, the put would have value only to
a Fund. Sale of the securities to third parties or lapse of time with the put unexercised may
terminate the right to put the securities. Prior to the expiration of any put option, a Fund could
seek to negotiate terms for the extension of such an option. If such a renewal cannot be negotiated
on terms satisfactory to a Fund, the Fund could, of course, sell the portfolio security. The
maturity of the underlying security will generally be different from that of the put. There will be
no limit to the percentage of portfolio securities that a Fund may purchase subject to a standby
commitment or put, but the amount paid directly or indirectly for all standby commitments or puts
which are not integral parts of the security as originally issued held in a Fund will not exceed
one-half of 1% of the value of the total assets of such Fund calculated immediately after any such
put is acquired.
STRIPS. Separately Traded Interest and Principal Securities (STRIPS) are component parts of U.S.
Treasury securities traded through the federal book-entry system. A Subadviser will only purchase
STRIPS that it determines are liquid or, if illiquid, do not violate the affected Funds investment
policy concerning investments in illiquid securities. Consistent with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act,
the Subadviser will only purchase, for Money Market Funds, STRIPS that have a remaining maturity of
397 days or less; therefore, the Money Market Funds currently may only purchase interest component
parts of U.S. Treasury securities. While there is no limitation on the percentage of a Funds
assets that may be comprised of STRIPS, the Subadviser will monitor the level of such holdings to
avoid the risk of impairing shareholders redemption rights and of deviations in the value of
shares of the Money Market Funds.
Structured Investments. Structured Investments are derivatives in the form of a unit or units
representing an undivided interest(s) in assets held in a trust that is not an investment company
as defined in the 1940 Act. A trust unit pays a return based on the total return of securities and
other investments held by the trust and the trust may enter into one or more swaps to achieve its
objective. For example, a trust may purchase a basket of securities and agree to exchange the
return generated by those securities for the return generated by another basket or index of
securities. A Fund will purchase structured investments in trusts that engage in such swaps only
where the counterparties are approved by the Subadviser in accordance with credit-risk guidelines
established by the Board of Trustees.
Structured Notes. Structured Notes are derivatives where the amount of principal repayment and or
interest payments is based upon the movement of one or more factors. These factors include, but are
not limited to, currency exchange rates, interest rates (such as the prime lending rate and LIBOR)
and stock indices such as the S&P 500® Index. In some cases, the impact of the movements
of these factors may increase or decrease through
31
the use of multipliers or deflators. The use of structured notes allows the Fund to tailor its
investments to the specific risks and returns the Subadviser wishes to accept while avoiding or
reducing certain other risks.
Supranational Agency Obligations. Supranational Agency Obligations are obligations of supranational
entities established through the joint participation of several governments, including the Asian
Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (also known as the World Bank), African Development Bank, European Union, European
Investment Bank, and the Nordic Investment Bank.
Swap Agreements. A Fund may enter into swap agreements for purposes of attempting to gain exposure
to the securities making up an index without actually purchasing those instruments, to hedge a
position or to gain exposure to a particular instrument or currency. Swap agreements are two-party
contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more
than one-year. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or
differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or
instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are calculated with
respect to a notional amount, i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar
amount invested in a basket of securities representing a particular index. Forms of swap
agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to
make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or cap,
interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to
the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or floor; and interest
rate dollars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to
protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. A credit
default swap is a specific kind of counterparty agreement designed to transfer the third party
credit risk between parties. One party in the swap is a lender and faces credit risk from a third
party and the counterparty in the credit default swap agrees to insure this risk in exchange for
regular periodic payments (essentially an insurance premium). If the third party defaults, the
party providing insurance will have to purchase from the insured party the defaulted asset. The
Select Aggregate Market Index (SAMI) is a basket of credit default swaps whose underlying
reference obligations are floating rate loans. Investments in SAMIs increase exposure to risks
that are not typically associated with investments in other floating rate debt instruments, and
involve many of the risks associated with investments in derivative instruments. The liquidity of
the market for SAMIs is subject to liquidity in the secured loan and credit derivatives markets.
The use of equity swaps is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and
risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.
A Funds current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any
amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will
be covered by earmarking or segregating assets determined to be liquid. Obligations under swap
agreements so covered will not be construed to be senior securities for purposes of a Funds
investment restriction concerning senior securities. Because they are two party contracts and
because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be
illiquid for the Funds illiquid investment limitations. A Fund will not enter into any swap
agreement unless the Subadviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy. A
Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the
event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. A Fund may enter into swap
agreements to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in
circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise
impracticable. The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking
firm or broker/dealer. The counterparty will generally agree to pay a Fund the amount, if any, by
which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested
in the particular
32
stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. A Fund will agree to pay
to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus
the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested
in such stocks. Therefore, the return to a Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on
the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by a Fund on the notional
amount.
Swap agreements typically are settled on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are
netted out, with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two
payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its
term. Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets.
Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swap agreements is limited to the net amount of
payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to a swap agreement
defaults, a Funds risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is
contractually entitled to receive, if any. The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Funds
obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap will be accrued on a daily basis and
liquid assets, having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to such accrued excess will be
earmarked or maintained in a segregated account by the Funds custodian. In as much as these
transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregating liquid assets, as
permitted by applicable law, the Funds and their Subadviser believe that these transactions do not
constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being
subject to a Funds borrowing restrictions. For purposes of each of the Funds requirements under
Rule 12d3-1 (where, for example, a Fund is prohibited from investing more than 5% of its total
assets in any one broker, dealer, underwriter or investment adviser (the securities-related
issuer) and Section 5b-1 where, for example, a diversified Fund is prohibited from owning more
than 5% of its total assets in any one issuer with respect to 75% of a Funds total assets, the
mark-to-market value will be used to measure the Funds counterparty exposure. In addition, the
mark-to-market value will be used to measure the Funds issuer exposure for purposes of Section
5b-1.
A Fund may enter into index swap agreements as an additional hedging strategy for cash reserves
held by the Fund or to effect investment transactions consistent with the Funds investment
objective and strategies. Index swaps tend to have a maturity of one year. There is not a
well-developed secondary market for index swaps. Many index swaps are considered to be illiquid
because the counterparty will typically not unwind an index swap prior to its termination (and, not
surprisingly, index swaps tend to have much shorter terms). A Fund may therefore treat all swaps as
subject to their limitation on illiquid investments. For purposes of calculating these percentage
limitations, a Fund will refer to the notional amount of the swap.
The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment
banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As
a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other
similar instruments, which are traded in the over-the-counter market. The Subadviser, under the
supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity
of Fund transactions in swap agreements.
Taxable Municipal Securities. Taxable municipal securities are municipal securities the interest on
which is not exempt from federal income tax. Taxable municipal securities include private activity
bonds that are issued by or on behalf of states or political subdivisions thereof to finance
privately-owned or operated facilities for business and manufacturing, housing, sports, and
pollution control and to finance activities of and facilities for charitable institutions. Private
activity bonds are also used to finance public facilities such as airports, mass transit systems,
ports, parking lots, and low income housing. The payment of the principal and interest on private
activity bonds is not backed by a pledge of tax revenues, and is dependent solely on the ability of
the facilitys user to meet its financial obligations, and may be secured by a pledge of real and
personal property so financed. Interest on these bonds may not be exempt from federal income tax.
33
Tender Option Bonds
A tender option bond is a municipal obligation (generally held pursuant to a custodial arrangement)
having a relatively long maturity and bearing interest at a fixed rate substantially higher than
prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rates. The bond is typically issued in conjunction with the
agreement of a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, pursuant
to which the institution grants the security holder the option, at periodic intervals, to tender
its securities to the institution. As consideration for providing the option, the financial
institution receives periodic fees equal to the difference between the bonds fixed coupon rate and
the rate, as determined by a remarketing or similar agent, that would cause the securities, coupled
with the tender option, to trade at par on the date of such determination. Thus, after payment of
this fee, the security holder effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the
prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. An institution will normally not be obligated to accept
tendered bonds in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrading in the credit rating
assigned to the issuer of the bond. The tender option will be taken into account in determining the
maturity of the tender option bonds and a Funds average portfolio maturity. There is a risk that a
Fund will not be considered the owner of a tender option bond for federal income tax purposes, and
thus will not be entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. Certain tender
option bonds may be illiquid or may become illiquid as a result of a credit rating downgrade,
payment default or a disqualification from tax-exempt status.
Trust Preferred Securities. Trust preferred securities are convertible preferred shares issued by a
trust where proceeds from the sale are used to purchase convertible subordinated debt from the
issuer. The convertible subordinated debt is the sole asset of the trust. The coupon from the
issuer to the trust exactly mirrors the preferred dividend paid by the trust. Upon conversion by
the investors, the trust in turn converts the convertible debentures and passes through the shares
to the investors.
U.S. Government Securities. Examples of types of U.S. government obligations in which a Fund may
invest include U.S. Treasury obligations and the obligations of U.S. government agencies such as
Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing
Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small
Business Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage
Association, General Services Administration, Student Loan Marketing Association, Central Bank for
Cooperatives, Freddie Mac (formerly Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), Federal Intermediate
Credit Banks, Maritime Administration, and other similar agencies. Whether backed by the full faith
and credit of the U.S. Treasury or not, U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price
movements due to fluctuating interest rates. The Student Loan Marketing Association can issue debt
both as a U.S. government agency or as corporation. If the debt is issued as a corporation, it is
not considered a U.S. government obligation.
U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and
bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal
component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal
book-entry system known as STRIPS and Treasury Receipts (TRs).
Receipts. Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts
of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are
created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a
custodian bank. The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the
benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts. The custodian
arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts
34
evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in
accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury. Receipts are sold as zero coupon
securities.
Treasury Inflation Protected Notes (TIPS). TIPS are securities issued by the
U.S. Treasury that are designed to provide inflation protection to investors. TIPS
are income-generating instruments whose interest and principal payments are
adjusted for inflation. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied
monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as
the consumer price index. A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted
principal so that as inflation rises, both the principal value and the interest
payments increase. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it
helps preserve the purchasing power of an investment. Because of this inflation
adjustment feature, inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than
conventional fixed-rate bonds.
Zero Coupon Obligations. Zero coupon obligations are debt obligations that do not
bear any interest, but instead are issued at a deep discount from face value or
par. The value of a zero coupon obligation increases over time to reflect the
interest accumulated. These obligations will not result in the payment of interest
until maturity, and will have greater price volatility than similar securities that
are issued at face value or par and pay interest periodically.
U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities. STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero
coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of
their unmatured interest coupons. Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually
substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without
interim cash payments of interest or principal. The amount of this discount is
accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income
earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes. Because of these
features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile
than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay
interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater
degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar
maturity and credit qualities. See Mortgage-Backed Securities.
U.S. Government Agencies. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of
the U.S. Government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the
Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the
instrumentality. Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the
U.S. Government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so
that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and
thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to
the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of
these securities nor to the value of a Funds shares.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments. Certain of the obligations purchased by a Fund may carry
variable or floating rates of interest, may involve a conditional or unconditional demand feature
and may include variable amount master demand notes. Such instruments bear interest at rates that
are not fixed, but which vary with changes in specified market rates or indices. The interest rates
on these securities may be reset daily, weekly, quarterly or some other reset period, and may have
a floor or ceiling on interest rate changes. There is a risk that the current interest rate on such
obligations may not accurately reflect existing market interest rates. A demand instrument with a
demand notice exceeding seven days may be considered illiquid if there is no secondary market for
such securities.
35
Variable Rate Master Demand Notes. Variable rate master demand notes permit the investment of
fluctuating amounts at varying market rates of interest pursuant to direct arrangements between a
Fund, as lender, and a borrower. Such notes provide that the interest rate on the amount
outstanding varies on a daily, weekly or monthly basis depending upon a stated short-term interest
rate index. Both the lender and the borrower have the right to reduce the amount of outstanding
indebtedness at any time. There is no secondary market for the notes and it is not generally
contemplated that such instruments will be traded. The quality of the note or the underlying credit
must, in the opinion of the Subadviser, be equivalent to the ratings applicable to permitted
investments for the particular Fund. The Subadviser will monitor on an ongoing basis the earning
power, cash flow and liquidity ratios of the issuers of such instruments and will similarly monitor
the ability of an issuer of a demand instrument to pay principal and interest on demand. Variable
rate master demand notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit.
Warrant. A Warrant is a financial instrument that gives the holder the right, but not the
obligation, to purchase a specified amount of an asset at a specified price during a specified
period of time. A warrant may give its holder the right to buy shares of stock, bonds, currencies,
or commodities. Index Warrants, a type of warrant, allows investors to take a direct position in a
commodity, index, currency or economic variable. An example of an Index Warrant is a GDP Warrant,
which is a bond that allows investors to invest directly in a countrys economic growth. A GDP
Warrant creates long term securities that would be indexed on the economic growth of a country, or
rather an economic zone (for example Euroland). Those securities would have two main purposes: 1)
to give those countries or other issuers another source of financing, and a new financial
management tool; 2) to give investors a hybrid asset which has some feature(s) of an equity
security (variable return and/or capital, based on economic performances) while basically being a
bond (it is a debt). In the case of a GDP Warrant, the index would be the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP).
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitment Securities. When-Issued and Forward Commitment
Securities are securities with settlement dates in excees of normal settlement periods.
When-issued securities are subject to market fluctuation, and accrue no interest to the purchaser
during this pre-settlement period. The payment obligation and the interest rate that will be
received on the securities are each fixed at the time the purchaser enters into the commitment.
Purchasing when-issued and forward commitment securities entails leveraging and can involve a risk
that the yields available in the market when the delivery takes place may actually be higher than
those obtained in the transaction itself. In that case, there could be an unrealized loss at the
time of delivery.
To avoid any leveraging concerns, a Fund will segregate or earmark liquid assets in an amount at
least equal in value to its commitments to purchase when-issued and forward commitment securities
for any securities with settlement periods of 30 days or more from trade date.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Except with respect to a Funds non-fundamental policy relating to liquidity, if a percentage
limitation stated in the fundamental and non-fundamental policies below is adhered to at the time
of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value will
not result in a violation of such restriction.
36
Fundamental Policies
Fundamental policies cannot be changed without the consent of the holders of a majority of each
Funds outstanding shares. The term majority of the outstanding shares means the vote of (i) 67%
or more of the Funds shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Funds outstanding
shares, whichever is less.
The following investment limitations are fundamental policies of the Funds.
No Fund may:
1. With respect to 75% of each Funds total assets invest more than 5% of the value
of the total assets of a Fund in the securities of any one issuer (other than
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities, repurchase agreements involving such securities, and securities
issued by investment companies), or purchase the securities of any one issuer if
such purchase would cause more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer to
be held by a Fund.
2. Borrow money in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets,
provided that, for the purposes of this limitation, investment strategies that
either obligate a Fund to purchase securities or require a Fund to segregate assets
are not considered to be borrowing. Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for
all borrowing, except where the Fund has borrowed money for temporary purposes (less
than 60 days), and in an amount not exceeding 5% of its total assets.
3. Underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be
considered an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act in the sale of
portfolio securities.
4. Issue senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), except as permitted by
rule, regulation or order of the SEC.
5. Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities and securities
issued by investment companies) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Funds total
assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business
activities are in the same industry.
6. Purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of
securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent a Fund from investing in
securities or other instruments either issued by companies that invest in real
estate, backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate
business).
37
7. Purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership
of securities or other instruments.
8. Make loans, except that a Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in
accordance with its investment objectives and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase
agreements; and (iii) lend its portfolio securities.
Non-Fundamental Policies
The following investment policies are non-fundamental policies of the Funds and may be changed by
the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval:
1. Any change to a Funds investment policy of investing at least 80% of such Funds
net assets in a particular type or category of securities is subject to 60 days
prior notice to shareholders.
2. No Fund may purchase or hold illiquid securities (i.e., securities that cannot be
disposed of for their approximate carrying value in seven days or less (which term
includes repurchase agreements and time deposits maturing in more than seven days)
if, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid
securities.
3. The Intermediate Bond Fund will not engage in the strategy of establishing or
rolling forward To Be Approved (TBA) mortgage commitments.
38
THE ADVISER
General. RidgeWorth Investments serves as investment adviser to the Funds. RidgeWorth Investments
is the trade name of RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc., a professional investment management firm
registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Adviser oversees the
Subadviser to ensure compliance with the respective Funds investment policies and guidelines and
monitors the Subadvisers adherence to its investment style. The Board supervises the Adviser and
establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. The principal
business address of the Adviser is 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. The Adviser
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunTrust Banks, Inc.
Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Adviser serves as the investment adviser to each Fund
pursuant to an agreement (the Advisory Agreement) with the Trust. The continuance of the
Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Board or
by a vote of the shareholders of the Funds and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who
are not parties to the Advisory Agreements or interested persons of any party thereto, as defined
in the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is
terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to any Fund, by a majority of
the outstanding shares of that Fund, on not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days written notice
to the Adviser, or by the Adviser on 90 days written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement
provides that the Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its
shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the
performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.
The Advisory Agreement provides that if, for any fiscal year, the ratio of expenses of any Fund
(including amounts payable to the Adviser but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, and
litigation and other extraordinary expenses) exceeds limitations established by certain states, the
Adviser and/or the administrator will bear the amount of such excess. The Adviser will not be
required to bear expenses of the Trust to an extent which would result in a Funds inability to
qualify as a regulated investment company under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is
entitled to a fee at the specified annual rate of each Funds average daily net assets as listed in
the table that follows. Each Fund allocates and pays advisory fees among its constituent classes
based on the aggregate daily net asset values of each such class.
|
|
|
|
|
Fund |
|
Fee |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
The above fees are also subject to the following breakpoint discounts:
First $500 million = full fee
Next $500 million = 5% discount from full fee
Over $1.0 billion = 10% discount from full fee
39
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008, March 31, 2007, and March 31, 2006, the Funds paid the
following advisory fees:
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Paid (in thousands) |
|
Fees Waived (in thousands) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
1,360 |
|
|
|
201 |
|
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
1,545 |
|
|
|
1,364 |
|
|
|
969 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE SUBADVISER
The Subadviser is a professional investment management firm registered with the SEC under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Subadviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser.
The Subadviser began operations on March 31, 2008 and did not receive fees for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2008.
Seix Investment Advisors LLC (Seix) serves as the subadviser to the Funds pursuant to an
Investment Subadvisory Agreement between the Adviser and Seix. For its subadvisory services, Seix
is entitled to receive an annual fee paid by the Adviser equal to 60% of the net advisory fee paid
by each applicable Fund.
Investment Subadvisory Agreement. The Adviser and the Subadviser have entered into an investment
subadvisory agreement (the Investment Subadvisory Agreement) under which the Subadviser makes the
investment decisions for and continuously reviews, supervises, and administers the investment
program of the respective Funds, subject to the supervision of, and policies established by, the
Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust. After an initial two year term, the continuance of
the Investment Subadvisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually by (i) the
vote of the Trustees or a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) the vote of a majority of
the Trustees who are not parties to the Investment Subadvisory Agreement or interested persons of
any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Investment Subadvisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment
and is terminable at any time without penalty by (i) the Trustees of the Trust or, with respect to
each Fund, by a majority of the outstanding shares of that Fund, (ii) the Adviser at any time on
not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days written notice to the Subadviser, or (iii) the
Subadviser on 90 days written notice to the Adviser. The Investment Subadvisory Agreement provides
that the Subadviser shall not be protected against any liability by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, or negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of
its obligations or duties thereunder.
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Set forth below is information regarding the individuals who are primarily responsible for the
day-to-day management of the Funds (portfolio managers). All information is as of March 31, 2008,
except as otherwise noted.
40
Management of Other Accounts. The table below shows the number of other accounts managed by each
portfolio manager and the approximate total assets in the accounts in each of the following
categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts.
For each category, the table also shows the number of accounts and the approximate total assets in
the accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on account performance.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Accounts with |
|
|
|
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed/ |
|
Performance-Based |
|
|
|
|
Total Assets in Accounts (millions) |
|
Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered |
|
Pooled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Portfolio |
|
RidgeWorth |
|
Investment |
|
Investment |
|
Other |
|
Number & |
|
Assets |
Manager |
|
Fund(s) Managed |
|
Companies |
|
Vehicles |
|
Accounts |
|
Category |
|
(millions) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seth Antiles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
2/94.10 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
156/7.1B |
|
|
2 separately managed accounts |
|
|
335.70 |
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
8/2B |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Keegan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
8/2.2B |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
6/1.9B |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Rieger |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
6/2.1B |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
41
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Accounts with |
|
|
|
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed/ |
|
Performance-Based |
|
|
|
|
Total Assets in Accounts (millions) |
|
Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered |
|
Pooled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Portfolio |
|
RidgeWorth |
|
Investment |
|
Investment |
|
Other |
|
Number & |
|
Assets |
Manager |
|
Fund(s) Managed |
|
Companies |
|
Vehicles |
|
Accounts |
|
Category |
|
(millions) |
Perry Troisi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
6/2.1B |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
8/2B |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adrien Webb |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
8/2.2B |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
Potential Conflicts of Interest in Managing Multiple Accounts. A portfolio managers management of
both a Fund and the other accounts listed in the table above at the same time may give rise to
potential conflicts of interest. If a Fund and the other accounts have identical investment
objectives, the portfolio manager could favor one or more accounts over the Fund. Another
potential conflict may arise from the portfolio managers knowledge about the size, timing and
possible market impact of Fund trades if the portfolio manager used this information to the
advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. In addition, aggregation of
trades may create the potential for unfairness to a Fund or another account if one account is
favored over another in allocating the securities purchased or sold. The Subadviser has
established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all
accounts it manages are allocated in a manner the Subadviser believes is fair and equitable.
Portfolio Manager Compensation Structure.
Portfolio Managers of the Adviser and the Subadviser. Portfolio managers earn competitive salaries
and participate in incentive bonus plans designed to retain high quality investment professionals.
The portfolio managers receive a salary commensurate with the individuals experience and
responsibilities with the firm. The incentive bonus plans may be structured differently, but all
incorporate an evaluation of the Funds performance returns and/or the Subadvisers financial
performance. Investment performance may be judged directly relative to a peer group and/or
benchmark or may be incorporated by measuring business unit financial performance over an extended
period under the theory that successful investment performance will translate into improved
financial results. Other components that may be considered in the calculation of incentive bonuses
include: adherence to compliance policies, marketing, risk management and business development,
among others.
Where applicable, investment performance is determined by comparing a Funds pre-tax total returns
to the returns of the Funds benchmark and peer groups over multi-year periods, as applicable.
Where portfolio managers manage multiple Funds or other managed accounts, each Fund or other
managed account is weighted based on its market value and its relative strategic importance to the
Adviser and/or the Subadviser. Other performance
42
attributes are also based on a scorecard that
objectively measures key performance attributes, which is then evaluated by the Advisers and/or
Subadvisers management to determine the award amount.
As a tool to minimize personnel turnover, the portfolio managers incentive bonus will usually have
one portion of the incentive bonus paid promptly following the calendar year end and the remaining
portion subject to a mandatory deferral which vests over three years subject to the terms and
conditions of the incentive bonus plan.
On occasion, a portfolio manager may receive a guaranteed incentive for a fixed period in
conjunction with accepting a new position when the Adviser and/or the Subadviser deem it necessary
to recruit talented managers.
All full-time employees of the Adviser and Subadviser, including the Funds portfolio managers,
are provided a benefits package on substantially similar terms. The percentage of each individuals
compensation provided by these benefits is dependent upon length of employment, salary level, and
several other factors. In addition, certain portfolio managers may be eligible for one or more of
the following additional benefit plans:
|
401(k) Excess Plan This plan provides benefits which would otherwise be provided under the
qualified cash or deferred ESOP plan adopted by the Advisers/Subadvisers parent company
(SunTrust Banks, Inc.), were it not for the imposition of certain statutory limits on
qualified plan benefits. Certain select individuals within specific salary levels may be
eligible for this plan. Participation in the plan must be approved by the individuals senior
executive for the business. |
|
|
ERISA Excess Retirement Plan This plan provides for benefits to certain executives that
cannot be paid to them under tax qualified pension plans as a result of federal restrictions.
Certain select individuals within specific salary levels may be eligible for this plan.
Participation in the plan must be approved by the individuals senior executive for the
business. |
|
|
Voluntary Functional Incentive Plan Deferral This plan is a provision of a SunTrust
Deferred Compensation Plan which allows participants of selected annual incentive plans to
voluntarily defer portions of their incentive. Eligibility to participate in this plan is
offered to employees of selected incentive plans who earn above a specified level of total
compensation in the year prior to their deferral. The Advisers/Subadvisers annual incentive
plans offer this provision to employees who meet the compensation criteria level. |
|
|
Restricted Stock Awards Restricted stock awards are granted to certain select individuals
on a case-by-case basis as a form of long-term compensation and as an additional incentive to
retain these professionals. The awards often vest based on the recipients continued
employment with the Adviser/Subadviser, but these awards may also carry additional vesting
requirements, including performance conditions. |
Securities Ownership of Portfolio Managers. The table below shows the range of equity securities
beneficially owned by each portfolio manager in the Fund or Funds managed by the portfolio manager.
The information is as of March 31, 2008, except as otherwise noted.
43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RidgeWorth Fund(s) |
|
|
Portfolio Manager |
|
Managed |
|
Range of Securities Owned ($) |
Seth Antiles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund
|
|
None |
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund
|
|
None |
James Keegan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Rieger
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Rieger
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Perry Troisi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intermediate Bond Fund
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Adrien Webb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Return Bond Fund
|
|
None |
THE ADMINISTRATOR
General. Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (the Administrator) serves as administrator of the Trust.
Prior to the acquisition of the Administrator by a subsidiary of Citibank N.A. on August 1, 2007,
the Administrator was known
44
as BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc. The Administrator, an Ohio corporation, has its principal
business offices at 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219. The Administrator provides
administration services to other investment companies.
Master Services Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into a
master services agreement (the Master Services Agreement). Under the Master Services Agreement,
the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including day-to-day
administration of matters necessary to each Funds operations, maintenance of records and the books
of the Trust, preparation of reports, assistance with compliance monitoring of the Funds
activities, and certain supplemental services in connection with the Trusts obligations under the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; fund accounting services; transfer agency services and shareholder
services.
The Master Services Agreement provides that it shall remain in effect until July 31, 2010 and shall
continue in effect for successive one year periods subject to review at least annually by the
Trustees of the Trust unless terminated by either party on not less than 90 days written notice to
the other party.
Administration Fees to be Paid to the Administrator. Under the Master Services Agreement, the
Administrator is entitled to receive an asset-based fee for administration, fund accounting,
transfer agency and shareholder services (expressed as a percentage of the combined average daily
net assets of the RidgeWorth Complex) of 2.75 basis points (0.0275%) on the first $25 billion,
2.25 basis points (0.0225%) on the next $5 billion, and 1.75 basis points (0.0175%) on the amounts
over $30 billion, plus an additional class fee of $2,593 per class annually, applicable to each
additional class of shares over 145 classes of shares. The Administrator may waive a portion of
its fee.
The Master Services Agreement provides for the Administrator to pay certain insurance premiums for
the RidgeWorth Complex, including $300,000 toward the premium for Directors and Officers
Liability/Errors and Omissions insurance coverage, and $25,000 toward the premium for Fidelity Bond
coverage. The Administrator has also separately agreed to provide, for the benefit of
shareholders, (i) annual fee waivers and certain administrative services at an annual value of at
least $950,000, and (ii) additional fee waivers expected to be approximately $200,000 to $300,000
annually of its administrative fees annually for the remaining term of the Master Services
Agreement. The waivers described in (i) above are not applied uniformly across the Funds. In
certain instances, the waivers may be applied to Funds subject to a contractual expense limitation
or cap. In other instances, the waivers may be applied to non-capped Funds on a voluntary basis.
The application of the Administrators waivers to capped Funds decreases the Advisers obligation
to reimburse the Funds for expenses incurred in excess of the expense cap. The administrative
services described in (i) above include: (a) paying for certain legal expenses for the benefit of
the Funds associated with fund administration matters such as mergers and acquisitions, proxy
statements, exemptive relief, contract review, and preparation of filings and prospectuses with
respect to the Funds; (b) providing certain shareholder services; and (c) AccessData services. The
waivers described in (ii) above are applied pro rata to reduce the expenses of each Fund in the
RidgeWorth Complex. Such payments and fee waivers will not be recouped by the Administrator in
subsequent years.
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008, March 31, 2007, and March 31, 2006, the Funds paid the
following administrative fees to the Administrator:
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Paid (in thousands)($) |
|
Fees Waived (in thousands)($) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
156 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
183 |
|
|
|
138 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Paid (in thousands)($) |
|
Fees Waived (in thousands)($) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
183 |
|
|
|
138 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
THE DISTRIBUTOR
The Trust and RidgeWorth Distributors LLC (the Distributor) are parties to a Distribution
Agreement whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trusts shares. The
principal business address of the Distributor is 10 High Street, Suite 302, Boston, Massachusetts
02110. Prior to its acquisition by RidgeWorth Distributors LLC on August 20, 2008, the Distributor
was known as Foreside Distributors, L.P. Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the
Distributor must use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, in connection with
the continuous offering of shares of the Trust. The Distributor receives an annual fee of $37,500
for the services it performs pursuant to the Distribution Agreement. In addition, the R Shares of
the Funds have a distribution and service plan (the R Shares Plan).
The continuance of a distribution agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by
the vote of the trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the funds and (ii) by the vote of a
majority of the trustees who are not parties to such distribution agreement or interested persons
of any party thereto, as defined in the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval. A distribution agreement will terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the trustees, the
distributor, or, with respect to any fund, by a majority of the outstanding shares of that fund,
upon 60 days written notice by either party. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any
specific quantity of Fund shares.
46
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008, March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006, the Funds paid the
aggregate sales charge payable to the Distributor with respect to the C Shares shown below. C
Shares of the Intermediate Bond Fund and the Total Return Bond Fund converted to R Shares on
February 13, 2009.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Sales Charge |
|
Amount Retained by |
|
|
Payable to Distributor (in thousands) ($) |
|
Distributor (in thousands) ($) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
R Shares Distribution Plan
The Distribution Agreement and the R Shares Plan provide that R Shares will pay the Distributor a
fee of up 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Intermediate Bond Fund and the Total Return
Bond Fund, respectively. The Distributor can use these fees to compensate broker-dealers and
service providers, including SunTrust and its affiliates, which provide administrative and/or
distribution services to each Fund. Prior to Bebruary 15, 2009, the Distribution Agreement provide
that C Shares of each Fund could pay the Distributor a fee of up to 0.75% of the average daily net
assets of the Funds. In addition, R Shares are subject to a service fee of up to 0.25% of the
average daily net assets of the R Shares of each applicable Fund. This service fee will be used for
services provided and expenses incurred in maintaining shareholder accounts, responding to
shareholder inquiries and providing information to R Shares shareholders or their customers who
beneficially own R Shares.
Services for which broker-dealers and service providers may be compensated include establishing and
maintaining customer accounts and records; aggregating and processing purchase and redemption
requests from customers; placing net purchase and redemption orders with the Distributor;
automatically investing customer account cash balances; providing periodic statements to customers;
arranging for wires; answering customer inquiries concerning their investments; assisting customers
in changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; performing sub-accounting
functions; processing dividend payments from the Trust on behalf of customers; and forwarding
shareholder communications from the Trust (such as proxies, shareholder reports, and dividend
distribution and tax notices) to these customers with respect to investments in the Trust. Certain
state securities laws may require those financial institutions providing such distribution services
to register as dealers pursuant to state law. Although banking laws and regulations prohibit banks
from distributing shares of open-end investment companies such as the Trust, according to an
opinion issued to the staff of the SEC by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, financial
institutions are not prohibited from acting in other capacities for investment companies, such as
providing shareholder services. Should future legislative, judicial, or administrative action
prohibit or restrict the activities of financial institutions in connection with providing
shareholder services, the Trust may be required to alter materially or discontinue its arrangements
with such financial institutions.
The Trust has adopted the R Shares Plan in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the
1940 Act, which rule regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or
indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. Continuance of the R Shares
Plan must be approved annually by a majority
47
of the Trustees of the Trust and by a majority of the disinterested Trustees. Distribution related
expenditures under the R Shares Plan may support the distribution of any class or combination of
classes of Shares of a Fund. The the R Shares Plan requires that quarterly written reports of
amounts spent under the the R Shares Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and
reviewed by the Trustees. The R Shares Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount
that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of the
affected class of shares of the Trust. All material amendments of the Plans will require approval
by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and of the disinterested Trustees.
There is no sales charge on purchases of R Shares. Prior to February 13, 2009, C Shares were
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if they were redeemed within one year respectively of
purchase. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and the R Shares Plan, R Shares are subject to an
ongoing distribution and service fee calculated on each Funds aggregate average daily net assets
attributable to its R Shares.
The following amounts paid to the Distributor by the Funds (including when they were Predecessor
Funds, if applicable) under the Plan during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 were used as set
forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Printing and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mailing of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prospectuses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carrying or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to Other Than |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
|
Other |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
to Sales |
|
Financing |
|
Marketing |
Fund Name |
|
Advertising |
|
Shareholders |
|
to Underwriters |
|
to Dealers |
|
Personnel |
|
Charges |
|
Expenses |
Intermediate Bond
Fund |
|
|
6,721.81 |
|
|
|
2,808.05 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,583.92 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,151.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Return Bond
Fund |
|
|
7,625.84 |
|
|
|
3,185.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
762.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,113.26 |
|
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, the Funds paid the amounts shown below as compensation to
broker-dealers pursuant to the C Shares Plan. C Shares of the Funds converted to R Shares
effective February 13, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount Paid |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Fund |
|
($) |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
Other than any portion of the sales charges imposed on purchases, the following table shows the
level of compensation paid by the Distributor to broker-dealers selling R Shares (purchased prior
to August 1, 2005), unless otherwise agreed upon by the Distributor and such broker-dealer.
48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Payout |
|
|
Initial Payment - |
|
12(b)-1 Effective |
Fund |
|
At Time Of Sale (R) |
|
in the 13th Month (R)* |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
1.00 |
% |
|
|
1.00 |
% |
|
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
1.00 |
% |
|
|
1.00 |
% |
|
|
|
* |
|
The C Shares Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) were waived for certain
retirement plan providers (Intermediary) with whom the Trust had entered into an
administrative arrangement under which the Intermediary agreed to provide certain
recordkeeping or administrative services. Under such arrangements, the Trust would not
pay an upfront commission. Rather, the Trust paid (or caused to be paid) asset-based
compensation to the Intermediary of up to 1.00% annually of the average daily net assets
of the plan assets invested in C Shares of the Funds (of which 0.25% consisted of the
Distribution Plan service fee). |
Prior to February 13, 2009, other than any portion of the sales charges imposed on purchases, and
unless otherwise agreed upon by the Distributor and such broker-dealer the Distributor paid
broker-dealers selling C Shares purchased beginning August 1, 2005, an initial payment at the time
of sale of 1.00% and annual 12(b)-1 payout effective in the 13th month of 1.00%. The Distributor
used fees it received from both the distribution plan and from contingent deferred sales charges to
make these upfront payments to broker-dealers. If, for any reason, there were insufficient fees
available to the Distributor from the distribution plan and the contingent deferred sales charges,
to make these payments, the Adviser provided the Distributor with funds that could, in turn, be
used by the Distributor to make these upfront payments to broker-dealers.
Participation Payment Program. The Adviser, the Subadvisers and their affiliates may make payments
to certain intermediaries for marketing support services, including business planning assistance,
educating dealer personnel about the Funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on
the intermediarys preferred or recommended fund company list, and access to sales meetings, sales
representatives and management representatives of the dealer. These payments are made to
intermediaries that are registered as holders of record or dealers of record for accounts in a
Fund. These payments are generally based on one or more of the following factors: average net
assets of the Funds attributable to that intermediary, gross or net sales of the Funds attributable
to that intermediary, reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that an intermediary firm charges its
representatives for effecting transactions in fund shares) or a negotiated lump sum payment for
services rendered. The Adviser, the Subadvisers and their affiliates compensate dealers
differently depending upon, among other factors, the level and/or type of marketing support
provided by the intermediary. As of August 1, 2008, no intermediaries are currently receiving
participation payment program payments.
Shareholder Servicing Plans.
R Shares. The Trust has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan for the R Shares of the Funds (the R
Shares Servicing Plan). Under the R Shares Servicing Plan, the Funds may pay Intermediaries a fee
of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the R Shares. Intermediaries may
perform, or may compensate other service providers for performing, the following shareholder
services: (i) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to shareholders; (ii)
processing dividend and distribution payments from a Fund on behalf of shareholders; (iii)
providing information periodically to shareholders showing their positions in shares and
integrating such statements with those of other transactions and balances in shareholders other
accounts serviced by such intermediary; (iv) arranging for bank wires; (v) responding to
shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed; (vi) responding to routine inquiries from
shareholders concerning their investment; (vii) providing
49
subacccounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders, or the information to a
Fund necessary for subaccounting; (viii) if required by law, forwarding shareholder communications
from a Fund (such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual and semi-annual financial statements and
dividend, distribution and tax notices) to shareholders; (ix) assisting in processing purchase,
exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and in placing such orders with service
contractors; (x) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and
addresses; (xi) providing shareholders with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in
shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; and (xiii) providing such other similar
services as a Fund or its shareholders may reasonable request to the extent the intermediary is
permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules and regulations.
THE TRANSFER AGENT
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219, serves as the transfer
agent and dividend paying agent to the Trust.
THE CUSTODIAN
SunTrust Bank, 303 Peachtree Street N.E., 14th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30308 serves as the custodian for
the Funds. SunTrust Bank is paid on the basis of net assets and transactions costs of the Funds.
The custodian is responsible for the safekeeping of the assets of the Funds.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
[ ], located at [ ], serves as the Trusts independent registered public accounting
firm.
LEGAL COUNSEL
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, located at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004, serves
as legal counsel to the Trust.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and each of the Funds are
supervised by the Board under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Board is
responsible for overseeing each of the Funds. The Trustees have approved contracts, as described
above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.
Members of the Board. Set forth below are the names, business addresses, states of residence, ages,
positions with the Trust, principal occupations for the last five years and other directorships of
each of the persons currently serving as Trustees of the Trust. Each Trustee is also a Trustee of
the RidgeWorth Variable Trust which is comprised of five series. None of the Trustees of the Trust
are considered interested persons as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
the |
|
|
|
|
Position |
|
Office and |
|
|
|
RidgeWorth |
|
|
Name, Business |
|
Held |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
Address, State of |
|
With the |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships |
Residence, Age |
|
Trust |
|
Served |
|
During the Past 5 Years |
|
Trustees |
|
Held By Trustee |
Jeffrey M. Biggar
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(Ohio)
Age: 58
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Indefinite; since
January 2007
|
|
Chief Operating
Officer (Cedar Brook
Financial Partners
LLC) (March
2008-present). Retired
(2006-March 2008).
Chief Executive
Officer and Senior
Managing Director,
Sterling (National
City Corp.)
(2002-2006)
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George C. Guynn
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(Georgia)
Age: 65
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Indefinite; since
January 2008
|
|
Retired. President
(1996-October 2006)
and Chief Executive
Officer (1995-October
2006) Federal Reserve
Bank of Atlanta
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
Genuine Parts Company;
Oxford Industries; John
Wieland Homes and
Neighborhoods Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sidney E. Harris
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(Georgia)
Age: 59
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Indefinite; since
November 2004
|
|
Professor (since
1997), Dean
(1997-2004), J. Mack
Robinson College of
Business, Georgia
State University
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
Total System Services, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warren Y. Jobe
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(Georgia)
Age: 67
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Indefinite; since
November 2004
|
|
Retired. Executive
Vice President,
Georgia Power Company
and Senior Vice
President, Southern
Company (1998-2001)
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
WellPoint, Inc; UniSource
Energy Corp.; HomeBanc
Corp. |
51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
the |
|
|
|
|
Position |
|
Office and |
|
|
|
RidgeWorth |
|
|
Name, Business |
|
Held |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
Address, State of |
|
With the |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships |
Residence, Age |
|
Trust |
|
Served |
|
During the Past 5 Years |
|
Trustees |
|
Held By Trustee |
Connie D. McDaniel
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(Georgia)
Age: 50
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Indefinite; since
May 2005
|
|
Vice President Global
Finance Transformation
(since 2007), Vice
President and
Controller (1999 -
2007), The Coca-Cola
Company
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clarence H. Ridley*
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(Georgia)
Age: 66
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Indefinite; since
November 2001
|
|
Chairman, Haverty
Furniture Companies
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
Crawford & Co.; Haverty
Furniture Companies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles D. Winslow
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
(Florida)
Age: 73
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Indefinite; since
November 2004
|
|
Retired. Formerly
Partner, Accenture
(consulting)
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
None |
|
|
|
* |
|
Prior to May 12, 2008, Mr. Ridley was deemed to be an interested person of the Trust. |
Board Committees. The Board has established the following committees:
52
|
|
Audit Committee. The Boards Audit Committee is composed exclusively of independent Trustees
of the Trust. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The
principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: recommending which firm to engage
as the Trusts independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this
relationship; reviewing the independent registered public accounting firms compensation, the
proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firms independence; pre-approving audit
and non-audit services provided by the Trusts independent registered public accounting firm
to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; serving as a channel of communication
between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; reviewing the
results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered
public accounting firms opinion, any related management letter, managements responses to
recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with
the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the
Trusts Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and managements
responses to any such reports; reviewing the Trusts audited financial statements and
considering any significant disputes between the Trusts management and the independent
registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those
financial statements; considering, in consultation with the independent registered public
accounting firm and the Trusts senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent
registered public accounting firms report on the adequacy of the Trusts internal financial
controls; reviewing, in consultation with the Trusts independent registered public accounting
firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed
when preparing the Trusts financial statements; and other audit related matters. Messrs.
Biggar, Harris and Winslow and Ms. McDaniel currently serve as members of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met twice in the most recently
completed fiscal year. |
|
|
|
Governance and Nominating Committee. The Boards Governance and Nominating Committee is
composed exclusively of independent Trustees of the Trust. The Governance and Nominating
Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The purposes of the
Governance and Nominating Committee are: to evaluate the qualifications of candidates for
Trustee and to make recommendations to the Independent trustees and the entire Board with
respect to nominations for Trustee membership on the Board when necessary or considered
advisable; to review periodically Board governance practices, procedures and operations and to
recommend any appropriate changes to the Board; to review periodically the size and
composition of the Board and to make recommendations to the Independent Trustees and the Board
as to whether it may be appropriate to add to the membership of the Board; to review as
necessary the committees established by the Board and to make recommendations to the Board; to
review periodically Trustee compensation and any other benefits and to recommend any
appropriate changes to the Board and the Independent Trustees; to review periodically and make
recommendations regarding ongoing Trustee education and orientation for new Trustees; to make
recommendations regarding any self-assessment conducted by the Board; and to review as
necessary any other similar matters relating to the governance of the Trust at the request of
any Trustee or on its own initiative. While the Governance and Nominating Committee is solely
responsible for the selection and nomination of Trustees, the Committee may consider nominees
recommended by shareholders. A nomination submission must be sent in writing to the Governance
and Nominating Committee, addressed to the Secretary of the Trust, and must be accompanied by
all information relating to the recommended nominee that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations or proxy statements for the election of Trustees. Nomination submissions must
also be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated
by the Board and to serve if elected by the shareholders. Additional information must be
provided regarding the recommended nominee as reasonably requested by the Governance and
Nominating Committee. Messrs. Guynn, Harris, Jobe and Ridley currently serve as members of the
Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee meets periodically as necessary.
The Governance and Nominating Committee met twice during the most recently completed fiscal
year. |
53
|
|
Valuation Committee. The Board has established the Trusts Valuation Committee, which is
composed of two Trustees, as non-voting members, and various representatives of the Trusts
service providers, as appointed by the Board. The Valuation Committee operates under
procedures approved by the Board. The principal responsibility of the Valuation Committee is
to determine the fair value of securities for which current market quotations are not readily
available. The Valuation Committees determinations are reviewed by the Board. The Valuation
Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met 44 times during the most recently
completed fiscal year. |
Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each
Trustees beneficial ownership of shares of each of the Funds as of the end of the most recently
completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The
Family of Investment Companies referenced in the table consists of the Trust and the RidgeWorth
Variable Trust.
[Table to be updated]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar |
|
|
|
|
Range of Shares in All |
|
|
|
|
Investment Companies |
|
|
|
|
Overseen By Trustee in |
|
|
|
|
Family of Investment |
Trustee |
|
Dollar Range of Fund Shares |
|
Companies |
Jeffrey M. Biggar
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
George C. Guynn*
|
|
None
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Sidney E. Harris
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Warren Jobe
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Connie D. McDaniel
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000 |
54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar |
|
|
|
|
Range of Shares in All |
|
|
|
|
Investment Companies |
|
|
|
|
Overseen By Trustee in |
|
|
|
|
Family of Investment |
Trustee |
|
Dollar Range of Fund Shares |
|
Companies |
Clarence H. Ridley*
|
|
None
|
|
$50,001-$100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Charles D. Winslow
|
|
None
|
|
$50,001-$100,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Mr. Guynn became a Trustee on January 30, 2008. Prior to May 12, 2008 Mr. Ridley was deemed
to be an interested person of the Trust. |
As of 2009 the Trustees and Officers of the Trust as a group owned less that 1% of the
outstanding shares of each class of each Fund.
Board Compensation. The table below shows the compensation paid to the Trustees during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2008. The Fund Complex referenced in the table consists of the Trust and the
RidgeWorth Variable Trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits |
|
Estimated |
|
Total Compensation |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
Accrued as Part |
|
Annual Benefits |
|
From |
|
|
Compensation from |
|
of Fund |
|
Upon |
|
the Trust and Fund |
Name of Trustee |
|
the Trust ($)1 |
|
Expenses |
|
Retirement |
|
Complex ($) |
Jeffrey M. Biggar |
|
|
114,642 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
115,000 |
|
F. Wendell Gooch2 |
|
|
89,700 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
George C. Guynn2 |
|
|
25,437 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
25,500 |
|
Sidney E. Harris |
|
|
147,786 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
148,250 |
|
55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits |
|
Estimated |
|
Total Compensation |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
Accrued as Part |
|
Annual Benefits |
|
From |
|
|
Compensation from |
|
of Fund |
|
Upon |
|
the Trust and Fund |
Name of Trustee |
|
the Trust ($)1 |
|
Expenses |
|
Retirement |
|
Complex ($) |
Warren Y. Jobe |
|
|
113,146 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
113,500 |
|
Connie McDaniel |
|
|
108,169 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
108,500 |
|
Clarence H. Ridley3 |
|
|
108,660 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
109,000 |
|
James O. Robbins2 |
|
|
50,319 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
50,500 |
|
Charles D. Winslow |
|
|
114,642 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
115,000 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Amounts include payments deferred by Trustees for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2008. The total amount of deferred compensation (including interest) accrued for the Trustees
is as follows: Biggar ($98,876) and Harris ($49,112). |
|
2 |
|
Mr. Guynn became a Trustee on January 30, 2008, Mr. Robbins is deceased and Mr. Gooch
retired as a Trustee on December 31, 2008. |
|
3 |
|
Prior to May 12, 2008 Mr. Ridley was deemed to be an interested person of the Trust. |
Deferred Compensation Plan. A Deferred Compensation Plan designed to comply with section 409A of
the Internal Revenue Code was in effect during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. Pursuant to
the Deferred Compensation Plan, each Trustee could elect to defer receipt of between 30% to 100% of
his or her aggregate annual compensation from the RidgeWorth Complex, and such amount was placed
into a deferral account. Deferred amounts accumulated at an earnings rate determined by the return
of one or more Funds as designated by the Trustees. Amounts deferred and accumulated earning on
such amounts are unfunded and are general unsecured liabilities of the RidgeWorth Complex until
paid to the Trustees. The Board terminated the Deferred Contribution Plan effective May 20, 2008.
Trust Officers. The officers of the Trust, their business addresses, their ages, and their
principal occupations for the last five years are set forth below. The officers of the Trust who
are employees of the Administrator may also serve as officers to one or more mutual funds for which
the Administrator or its affiliates act as administratoror transfer agent. None of the officers
receive compensation from the Trust for their services. Officers of the Trust are elected annually
by the Board and hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified, or in each
case until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified.
56
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Term of Office |
|
|
Name, Address |
|
Held with |
|
and Length |
|
|
and Ages |
|
Trust |
|
of Time Served |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Officers: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julia R. Short
50 Hurt Plaza
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
Age: 35
|
|
President and Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
One year; since
June 2007
|
|
Managing Director,
Product Manager,
RidgeWorth
Investments. (since
2004);
Relationship
Manager, SEI
Investments
(financial
services) (1994 -
2004) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick A. Paparelli
50 Hurt Plaza
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
Age: 46
|
|
Vice President;
Chief Compliance
Officer
|
|
One year; since May
2008;
|
|
Managing Director,
Director of Legal
and Compliance
(since 2001) and
Chief Compliance
Officer (since July
2004), RidgeWorth
Investments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diana Hanlin
50 Hurt Plaza
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
Age: 41
|
|
Vice President;
Deputy Chief
Compliance Officer
|
|
One year; since
June 2008
|
|
Director,
RidgeWorth Capital
Management, Inc.
(Since May, 2008);
Employee of BB&T
Asset Management,
Inc. ( 2007 -
2008); Employee of
BISYS Fund Services
Ohio, Inc.
(1996-2007) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin R. Dean
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
Age: 44
|
|
Treasurer; Chief
Financial Officer
and Chief
Accounting Officer
|
|
One year; since
March 2007
|
|
Senior Vice
President, Fund
Administration,
Citi Fund Services
Ohio, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aaron J. Masek
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
Age: 34
|
|
Assistant Treasurer
|
|
One year; since May
2008
|
|
Senior Vice
President, Fund
Administration,
Citi Fund Services
Ohio, Inc. |
57
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Term of Office |
|
|
Name, Address |
|
Held with |
|
and Length |
|
|
and Ages |
|
Trust |
|
of Time Served |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years |
Cynthia J. Surprise
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
Age: 62
|
|
Secretary and Chief
Legal Officer
|
|
One year; since
February 2005
|
|
Senior Vice
President,
Regulatory
Administration,
Citi Fund Services
Ohio, Inc. (since
December 2004);
Director, Investors
Bank & Trust
Company (1999-2004) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Katherine A. Reilly
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, OH 43219
Age: 43
|
|
Assistant Secretary
|
|
One year; since
February 2008
|
|
Vice President
(since July 2007),
Assistant Counsel
(January 2006-July
2007), Regulatory
Administration,
Citi Fund Services
Ohio, Inc.;
Employee of
CitiStreet LLC
(June 2004 May
2005); Employee of
Fidelity
Investments (1987 -
2001). |
58
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES
Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Equity Funds and Fixed Income Funds may be made on any
day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for business. The Trust reserves the right to open
the Fixed Income Funds when the principal bond markets are open for business even if the NYSE is
closed. Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Money Market Funds may be made on any day the
NYSE and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the Fed) are open for settlement. The Trust
reserves the right to open the Money Market Funds when the Fed is open for settlement and/or the
principal bond markets are open for business even if the NYSE is closed. Shares of each Fund are
offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed on the days the following
holidays are observed: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Currently, the Fed
and the principal bond markets are closed on the same days that the NYSE is closed except for Good
Friday. In addition, the Fed and the principal bond markets are closed on the days that Columbus
Day and Veterans Day are observed.
It is currently the Trusts policy to pay for all redemptions in cash, however, the Trust retains
the right to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution
in-kind of readily marketable securities held by the Funds in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur
brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A
shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all Funds of the Trust
up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trusts net assets during any 90-day period. The Board of
Trustees has adopted procedures which permit the Trust to make in-kind redemptions to those
shareholders of the Trust that are affiliated with the Trust solely by their ownership of a certain
percentage of the Trusts investment portfolios.
The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of
payment upon redemption for any period during which trading on the NYSE is restricted, or during
the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which
disposal or valuation of a Funds portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such
other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust reserves the right to postpone payment
or redemption proceeds for up to seven days if the redemption would harm existing shareholders. The
Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of a Fund for any period during which the
NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator and/or the Custodian are not open for business.
The Trust reserves the right to waive any minimum investment requirements or sales charges for
immediate family members of the Trustees or employees of the Adviser and its affiliates.
Immediate Family means a spouse, mother, father, mother-in-law, father-in-law or children
(including step children) age 21 years or under. Currently, the front-end sales charge is waived
on A Shares purchased by Trustees, employees of the Adviser, and its affiliates and their
respective immediate family members.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
59
General Policy. Each of the Funds adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-7 thereunder,
of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for
which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other
securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trusts Board of Trustees.
In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC
staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.
Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system
for which quotations are readily available (except securities traded on NASDQ), including
securities traded over the counter, are valued at the official closing price or the last quoted
sale price on the principal exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on
valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time if a securitys principal exchange is
normally open at that time). If there is no official closing price and there is no such reported
sale on the valuation date, the security is valued at the most recent quoted bid price, or if such
prices are not available, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by
the Trusts Board of Trustees. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price
is used.
Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, Money Market Securities and other
debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party
pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is
actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing
methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other
methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies
generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and
developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money Market Securities
and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their
amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available, the security
will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trusts Board of Trustees.
The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars at
the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar, as of the close of regular trading on
the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) as provided by an independent pricing service approved by
the Trusts Board of Trustees.
Use of Third-Party Pricing Agents. Pursuant to contracts with the Trusts Administrator, prices
for most securities held by the Funds are provided daily by third-party independent pricing agents
that are approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The valuations provided by third-party
independent pricing agents are reviewed daily by the Administrator. If a security price cannot be
obtained from an independent pricing service, the Trusts accounting agent will seek to obtain a
bid price from at least one independent broker.
Investments in other investment companies are valued at their respective daily net asset values.
Amortized Cost Method of Valuation. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its
cost on the date of purchase and thereafter (absent unusual circumstances) assuming a constant
amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuations in
general market rates of interest on the value of the instrument. While this method provides
certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which a securitys value, as determined by
this method, is higher or lower than the price a Fund would receive if it sold the instrument.
During periods of declining interest rates, the daily yield of a Fund may tend to be higher than a
like computation made by a company with identical investments utilizing a method of valuation based
upon market prices and estimates of market prices for all of its portfolio securities. Thus, if the
use of amortized cost by a Fund
60
resulted in a lower aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in a Fund
would be able to obtain a somewhat higher yield than would result from investment in a company
utilizing solely market values, and existing investors in a Fund would experience a lower yield.
The converse would apply in a period of rising interest rates.
A Funds use of amortized cost and the maintenance of a Funds net asset value at $1.00 are
permitted by regulations promulgated by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, provided that certain
conditions are met. The regulations also require the Trustees to establish procedures which are
reasonably designed to stabilize the net asset value per share at $1.00 for the Funds. Such
procedures include the determination of the extent of deviation, if any, of the Funds current net
asset value per share calculated using available market quotations from the Funds amortized cost
price per share at such intervals as the Trustees deem appropriate and reasonable in light of
market conditions and periodic reviews of the amount of the deviation and the methods used to
calculate such deviation. In the event that such deviation exceeds one half of 1%, the Trustees are
required to consider promptly what action, if any, should be initiated, and, if the Trustees
believe that the extent of any deviation may result in material dilution or other unfair results to
shareholders, the Trustees are required to take such corrective action as they deem appropriate to
eliminate or reduce such dilution or unfair results to the extent reasonably practicable. Such
actions may include the sale of portfolio instruments prior to maturity to realize capital gains or
losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity; withholding dividends; redeeming shares in kind;
or establishing a net asset value per share by using available market quotations. In addition, if
the Funds incur a significant loss or liability, the Trustees have the authority to reduce pro rata
the number of shares of the Funds in each shareholders account and to offset each shareholders
pro rata portion of such loss or liability from the shareholders accrued but unpaid dividends or
from future dividends while each other Fund must annually distribute at least 90% of its investment
company taxable income.
TAXES
The following is a summary of certain federal income tax considerations generally affecting the
Funds and their investors. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the federal tax
treatment of a Fund or its investors, and the discussion here and in the Trusts prospectuses is
not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.
Federal Income Tax
This discussion of federal income tax considerations is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
and the regulations issued thereunder, in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well
as administrative changes or court decisions may change the conclusions expressed herein, and may
have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. In order to qualify
for treatment as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Code, the Funds must distribute
annually to its shareholders at least the sum of 90% of its net investment income excludable from
gross income plus 90% of its investment company taxable income (generally, net investment income
plus the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gain) (the Distribution Requirement) and also
must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least
90% of a Funds gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments
with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or
securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing
in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in qualified
publicly traded partnerships, (ii) at the close of each quarter of a Funds taxable year, at least
50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government
securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in
respect to any one
61
issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of a Funds assets and that does not
represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (iii) at the close
of each quarter of a Funds taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of the Funds assets may
be invested in securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs)
of any one issuer, or of two or more issuers engaged in same or similar businesses if a Fund owns
at least 20% of the voting power of such issuers, or of one or more qualified publicly traded
partnerships, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which only requires a Fund to
distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and does not require any
minimum distribution of net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net
short-term capital loss), a Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent it
fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year 98% of its ordinary income for that year and
98% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of that year (and
any retained amount from that prior calendar year on which the Fund paid no federal income tax).
The Funds intend to make sufficient distributions prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid
liability for the federal excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies but can make no
assurances that distributions will be sufficient to avoid this tax.
If a Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, that Fund will be subject to
federal income tax on its taxable income and gains at corporate rates, without any benefit for
distributions paid to shareholders, and distributions to shareholders will be taxed as ordinary
income to the extent of that Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits. In such case, the
dividends received deduction generally will be available for eligible corporate shareholders
(subject to certain limitations) and the lower tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income
would be available to individual shareholders. The board reserves the right not to maintain
qualification of a Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to
shareholders.
Each Fund may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special
and complex tax rules. These rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are
treated as ordinary income or capital gains, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund, and/or
defer a Funds ability to recognize losses. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or
character of the income distributed to shareholders by a Fund.
With respect to investments in STRIPs, TRs, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at
original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, a Fund will be
required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even
though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period.
Because each Fund distributes all of its net investment income to its shareholders, a Fund may have
to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income at a time when the Adviser would not have
chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.
The Fixed Income Funds receive income generally in the form of interest derived from Fund
investments. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes its net
investment income from which dividends may be paid to shareholders. Any distributions by a Fund may
be taxable to shareholders regardless of whether they are received in cash or additional shares. A
Fund may derive capital gains and losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its
portfolio securities. Distributions of net short-term capital gains will be taxable to shareholders
as ordinary income. In general, the Fixed Income Funds do not expect to realize net-long term
capital gains because the Bond Funds and the portion of such Funds distributions are expected to
be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction.
62
The Equity Funds receive income generally in the form of dividends and interest on Fund
investments. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes its net
investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. All or a portion of the net investment
income distributions may be treated as qualified dividend income (eligible for the reduced maximum
rate to individuals of 15% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets)) to the extent
that a Fund receives qualified dividend income.
Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and
certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United
States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock
of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). In order
for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, a
Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying stocks in
its portfolio, and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to
a Funds shares. Any distributions by a Fund may be taxable to shareholders regardless of whether
they are received in cash or in additional shares. The Equity Funds may derive capital gains and
losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of each Funds portfolio securities.
Distributions from net short-term capital gains will be taxable to you as ordinary income.
Distributions from net long-term capital gains will be taxable to you as long-term capital gains
regardless of how long you have held your shares in the fund. Currently, the maximum tax rate on
long-term capital gains is 15%.
A Funds participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing and character of
distributions to shareholders. If a Fund participates in a securities lending transaction, to the
extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a
substitute payment) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to such a securities lending
transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income and thus will not be
eligible for taxation at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. Such income will also not
be qualifying dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate investors. The
Funds expect to use such substitute payments, if any, to satisfy a Funds expenses, and therefore
expect that their receipt of substitute payments, if any, will not adversely affect the percentage
of distributions qualifying as qualified dividend income. Withholding taxes accrued on dividends
during the period that any security was not directly held by a Fund will not qualify as a foreign
tax paid by a Fund and therefore cannot be passed through to shareholders.
Absent further legislation, the maximum 15% tax rate on qualified dividend income and long-term
capital gains will cease to apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010.
Shareholders who have not held Fund shares for a full year should be aware that a Fund may
designate and distribute, as ordinary income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not
equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of investment in a Fund.
Each Fund will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend
income, and capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.
If a Funds distributions exceed its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable
year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as
a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be
taxable, but will reduce each shareholders cost basis in a Fund and result in higher reported
capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which distribution was received
are sold.
63
If a shareholder that is a tax-exempt investor (e.g., a pension plan, individual retirement
account, 401(k), similar tax-advantaged plan, charitable organization, etc.) incurs debt to finance
the acquisition of its shares, a portion of the income received by that shareholder with respect to
its shares would constitute unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). A tax-exempt investor is
generally subject to federal income tax to the extent that its UBTI for a taxable year exceeds its
annual $1,000 exclusion. If a charitable remainder trust incurs any UBTI in a taxable year, all of
its net income for the taxable year is subject to federal income tax.
Sale, Redemption or Exchange of Fund Shares
Sales, redemptions and exchanges of Fund shares are generally taxable transactions for federal,
state and local income tax purposes.
Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or redemption of shares of a Fund by a shareholder who holds
his or her shares as a capital asset will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if
the shares have been held for more than one year, and short-term if for a year or less. If shares
held for six months or less are sold or redeemed for a loss, two special rules apply. First, if
shares on which a net capital gain distribution has been received are subsequently sold or
redeemed, and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be
treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the long-term capital gain distributions.
Second, any loss recognized by a shareholder upon the sale or redemption of shares of a tax-exempt
fund held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt interest dividends
received by the shareholder with respect to such shares. All or a portion of any loss that you
realize upon the redemption of your fund shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other
shares in a Fund (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after
your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the
new shares you buy.
In certain cases, a Fund will be required to withhold, at the applicable withholding rates, an
amount from any distributions and redemptions to shareholders, and to remit such amount to the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if the shareholder: (1) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer
identification number, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS, or (3) has failed to
provide the Fund with certain certifications that are required by the IRS, or (4) has failed to
certify that he or she is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).
The Funds will make annual reports to shareholders of the federal income tax status of all
distributions.
In certain cases, a Fund will be required to withhold, at the applicable withholding rates, an
amount from any distributions and redemptions to shareholders, and to remit such amount to the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if the shareholder: (1) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer
identification number, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS, or (3) has failed to
provide the Fund with certain certifications that are required by the IRS, or (4) has failed to
certify that he or she is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).
State Taxes
64
A Fund is not liable for any income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for
federal income tax purposes. Distributions by the Funds to investors and the ownership of shares
may be subject to state and local taxes.
Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes affecting an
investment in shares of a Fund.
Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct
obligations of the U.S. Government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that
must be met by a Fund. Investments in Government National Mortgage Association and Fannie Mae
securities, bankers acceptances, commercial paper and repurchase agreements collaterized by U.S.
government securities do not generally qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of
this income are different for corporations.
Foreign Taxes
Dividends and interests received by a Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes
imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Funds stock
or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or
eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with
respect to investments by foreign investors.
65
FUND TRANSACTIONS
Brokerage Transactions. The Trust has no obligation to deal with any dealer or group of dealers in
the execution of transactions in portfolio securities.
Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees and oversight by the Adviser, the
Subadviser is responsible for placing the orders to execute transactions for each Fund.
In placing orders, it is the policy of the Trust to seek to obtain the best net results taking into
account such factors as price (including the applicable dealer spread), the size, type and
difficulty of the transaction involved, the firms general execution and operational facilities,
and the firms risk in positioning the securities involved. Where possible, the Adviser or the
Subadviser will deal directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved except
in those circumstances where better prices and execution are available elsewhere. Such dealers
usually are acting as principal for their own account. On occasion, securities may be purchased
directly from the issuer. While the Adviser or the Subadviser generally seeks reasonably
competitive spreads or commissions, the Trust will not necessarily be paying the lowest spread or
commission available due to reasons described herein.
The money market securities in which the Funds invest are traded primarily in the over-the-counter
market. Bonds and debentures are usually traded over-the-counter, but may be traded on an exchange.
Money market and debt securities are generally traded on a net basis and do not normally involve
either brokerage commissions or transfer taxes. Certain Funds may also enter into financial futures
and option contracts, which normally involve brokerage commissions. The cost of executing portfolio
securities transactions of the Trust will primarily consist of dealer spreads and underwriting
commissions.
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008, March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006, the Funds paid the
following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:
66
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|
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|
|
Aggregate Dollar Amount of |
|
|
Brokerage Commissions Paid ($) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Amount of |
|
|
Brokerage Commissions Paid ($) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Total Return Bond Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Brokerage Selection. The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one
or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the
Funds Adviser or Subadviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided
to the Adviser or Subadviser. The Adviser or Subadviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise
obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is
made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.
Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser or Subadviser, under certain circumstances, to
cause each Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the
amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in
recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In
addition to agency transactions, the Adviser or Subadviser may receive brokerage and research
services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable
SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of
securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the
availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and
reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio
strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing
functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research
services, the Adviser or Subadviser believes that access to independent investment research is
beneficial to their investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to each Fund.
To the extent research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in
written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to
particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and
information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of
research-oriented services for which the Adviser or Subadviser might utilize Fund commissions
include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of
securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market
action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and
other analysis. The Adviser or Subadviser may use research services furnished by brokers in
servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the
account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the
Adviser or Subadviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be
performed by the Funds Adviser or Subadviser under the Advisory or Subadvisory Agreement. Any
67
advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser or Subadviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt
of research services.
In some cases the Adviser or Subadviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a
research and a non-research use. When this occurs, the Adviser or Subadviser makes a good faith
allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service.
The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client
commissions, while the Adviser or Subadviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of
the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the
Adviser or Subadviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser or Subadviser
believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately
allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.
From time to time, the Funds may purchase new issues of securities for clients in a fixed price
offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in
addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser or Subadviser with research services. FINRA has
adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances.
Generally, the seller will provide research credits in these situations at a rate that is higher
than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not
fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008, March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006, the Funds did not pay
any commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or
understanding whereby the broker provides research or other brokerage services to the Adviser or
Subadviser.
68
Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. A Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through
registered broker-dealer affiliates of the Fund, the Adviser, the Subadviser or the Distributor for
a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act)
and rules promulgated by the SEC. Under the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act, affiliated broker-dealers
are permitted to receive and retain compensation for effecting portfolio transactions for the Fund
on an exchange if a written contract is in effect between the affiliate and the Fund expressly
permitting the affiliate to receive and retain such compensation. These rules further require that
commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed usual and
customary brokerage commissions. The rules define usual and customary commissions to include
amounts which are reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration
received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving
similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of
time. The Trustees, including those who are not interested persons of the Fund, as defined in
the 1940 Act, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to
affiliates and review these procedures periodically.
For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008, March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006 the Funds paid the
following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.
All amounts shown reflect fees paid in connection with Fund repurchase agreement transactions.
69
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of Total |
|
Percentage of Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brokerage |
|
Brokerage Transactions |
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Amount of |
|
Commissions/Fees |
|
Effected Through |
|
|
Brokerage Commissions/Fees |
|
Paid to Affiliated Brokers |
|
Affiliated |
|
|
Paid to Affiliated Brokers ($) |
|
(%)+ |
|
Brokers (%) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Intermediate Bond
Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
905 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
Total Return Bond
Fund |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5,574 |
|
|
|
12,291 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
+ |
|
Transactions in repurchase agreements, which are generally traded through an affiliated
broker-dealer, are the only transactions that result in the payment of commissions. Therefore, it
might appear, based on the percentage of commissions paid, that the Funds portfolio transactions
are made through affiliated broker-dearlers. However, transactions in repurchase agreements make
up only a small part of a Funds portfolio transactions. |
70
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE
Portfolio turnover rate is defined under SEC rules as the value of the securities purchased or
securities sold, excluding all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one-year
or less, divided by the average monthly value of such securities owned during the year. Based on
this definition, instruments with remaining maturities of less than one-year are excluded from the
calculation of the portfolio turnover rate. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio
turnover generally would include the futures contracts and option contracts in which the Funds
invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one-year. The Funds
may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments such as money market instruments and
repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. Each Funds
portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2007 and 2008 is shown in the table
below. Variations in turnover rate may be due to market conditions, fluctuating volume of
shareholder purchases and redemptions or changes in the Advisers investment outlook.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turnover Rate (%) |
Fund |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
Intermediate Bond Fund |
|
|
254 |
|
|
|
225 |
|
|
Total Return Bond Fund1 |
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
310 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Increased exposure to specified pools combined with decreased exposure to
TBAs, compared to 2007 trading volumes in TBAs, resulted in lower turnover. |
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Board of Trustees has approved a policy and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances
regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties.
These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the
Funds portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, and include procedures
to address conflicts between the interests of the Funds shareholders, on the one hand, and those
of the Funds investment adviser, principal underwriter or any affiliated person of the Funds, its
investment adviser, or its principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the
Board has authorized the Advisers Chief Compliance Officer (the CCO) to authorize the release of
the Funds portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The
Funds CCO reports quarterly to the Board regarding the implementation of such policies and
procedures.
Pursuant to applicable law, each Fund is required to disclose its complete portfolio holdings
quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each March 31, June 30,
September 30, and December 31). Each Fund discloses a complete schedule of investments in each
Semi-Annual Report and Annual Report to Fund shareholders or, following the first and third fiscal
quarters, in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. Semi-Annual and Annual
Reports are distributed to Fund shareholders. Quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC on Form
N-Q are not distributed to Fund shareholders, but are available, free of charge, on the EDGAR
database on the SECs website at www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SECs public
71
reference room. Information on the operation and terms of usage of the SEC public reference room is
available at http://www.sec.gov/info/edgar/prrrules.htm or by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Funds
Annual Reports and Semi-Annual Reports are available, free of charge, on the Trusts website at
www.ridgeworthfunds.com.
The Trusts website will provide complete portfolio holdings for the Funds on the 15th
day of each month (or on the next business day should the 15th be other than a business
day) as of the end of the most recent month. Information will remain available until updated.
Portfolio holdings for previous month-ends are available for each Fund, To request this historical
information without charge, call 1-888-784-3863, or write to the Trust at RidgeWorth Funds, c/o
Citi Fund Services, Ohio, Inc., 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219.
In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, from time to time
rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P and Morningstar, Inc., may request complete portfolio
holdings information in connection with rating the Funds. Similarly, institutional investors,
financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants may request a complete list of
portfolio holdings in order to assess the risks of a Funds portfolio along with related
performance attribution statistics. The Trust believes that these third parties have legitimate
objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information. The Trust may also disclose the
portfolio holdings to broker-dealers and/or pricing services in order to allow the Funds to
accurately price and potentially sell portfolio securities. The Trusts policies and procedures
provide that the Advisers CCO may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information to such
parties at differing times and/or with different lag times to such third parties provided that the
recipient is, either by contractual agreement or otherwise by law, (i) required to maintain the
confidentiality of the information and (ii) prohibited from using the information to facilitate or
assist in any securities transactions or investment program.
The Trust requires any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a
Confidentiality Agreement with the Adviser. The Confidentiality Agreement provides, among other
things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept secret and confidential and
that such information will be used solely for the purpose of analysis and evaluation of the Funds.
Specifically, the Confidentiality Agreement prohibits anyone in possession of non-public portfolio
holdings information from purchasing or selling securities based on such information, or from
disclosing such information to other persons, except for those who are actually engaged in, and
need to know, such information to perform the analysis or evaluation of the Funds.
Currently, the Trust has arrangements to provide additional disclosure of portfolio holdings
information on a monthly basis with no lag time to the following third parties: ABN-AMRO, Advest,
Inc., AG Edwards & Sons, Inc., Banc of America Securities, LLC, BB&T Capital Markets, Bear Stearns
& Co, Inc., BMO Nesbit Burns, Buckingham Research Group, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Credit
Suisse First Boston, LLC, Davenport & Company, LLC, Empirical Research Partners, Ferris Baker
Watts, Inc., Freidman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., FTN Financial, Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC,
JP Morgan Securities, Inc., Lehman Brothers, Inc., McDonald Investments, Inc., Merrill Lynch Pierce
Fenner & Smith, Inc., FTN Midwest Research, Moodys Investors Service, Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc.,
Oppenheimer & Company, Piper Jaffray & Co., Raymond James Financial, Inc., RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc,
Robert W. Baird & Co., Smith Barney, Starboard Capital Markets, LLC, Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc.,
UBS Financial Services, Inc., and Wachovia Bank, N.A., Zions First National Bank, N.A.
Currently, the Trust has arrangements to provide additional disclosure of complete portfolio
holdings information on a quarterly basis with no lag to the following third parties: Aon
Consulting, Inc., Callan Associates, Inc.,
72
Colonial Consulting, Inc., CRA Business Strategies Group, Gabriel Roder, Smith & Co., New England
Pension Consultants, Prime Buchholz & Associates, Inc., Towers Perrin HR Services, Watson Wyatt
Investment Consulting, Inc., Wilshire Associates Incorporated.
Currently, the Trust has arrangements to provide additional disclosure of complete portfolio
holdings information on a weekly basis with a lag time of 7 days to S&P.
In addition, the Trusts service providers, such as the custodian, administrator and transfer
agent, may receive portfolio holdings information in connection with their services to the Funds.
Financial printers, proxy voting service providers and pricing information vendors may receive
portfolio holdings information, as necessary, in connection with their services to the Funds.
No compensation or other consideration is paid to or received by any party in connection with the
disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Funds, the Adviser and its affiliates
or recipient of the Funds portfolio holdings information.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of the Funds each
of which represents an equal proportionate interest in that Fund with each other share. Shares are
entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the Funds.
Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees of the
Trust may create additional series of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of
any additional series and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that
series and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing
shares will not be issued.
VOTING RIGHTS
Each share held entitles the shareholder of record to one vote for each dollar invested. In other
words, each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each full share held on the record
date for any shareholder meeting. Each Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it.
As a Massachusetts business trust, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual
meetings of shareholders. Shareholder approval will be sought, however, for certain changes in the
operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances. Under the
Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate one or more Funds without
shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they
may do so if a Fund fails to reach or maintain a viable size or for some other extraordinary
reason.
In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special
meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares
of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate
assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.
73
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust. Under
Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held
personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were
held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that
reason appears remote because the Trusts Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be
given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the
Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the
Trust property for any investor held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES LIABILITY
The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his own willful defaults
and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or
investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The
Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against
liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they
may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner
provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable
belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the
Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties. Nothing contained in
this section attempts to disclaim a Trustees individual liability in any manner inconsistent with
the federal securities laws.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Board of the Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In
addition, the Adviser, the Subadvisers and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to
Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers
and certain employees (access persons). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to
prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons.
The Code of Ethics adopted by each of these entities governs the manner and extent to which
certain persons associated with that entity may invest in securities for their own accounts,
including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust. Under each Code of Ethics, access
persons are permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report
their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain access
persons of the Adviser, and the Subadvisers are generally prohibited from acquiring beneficial
ownership of securities offered in connection with initial public offerings. Certain access
persons of the Adviser and Subadvisers are required to obtain approval before investing in limited
offerings. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC and are available to the
public.
74
PROXY VOTING
The Board has delegated the responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held
by the Funds to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy
policies and procedures, summaries of which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies during the most recent twelve-month period ended
June 30 has been filed with the SEC on Form N-PX. The Funds proxy voting record, along with the
Funds full proxy voting policies and procedures, is available on the Funds website at
www.ridgeworthfunds.com, , without charge upon request by calling 1-888-784-3863, or by writing to
the Funds at RidgeWorth Funds, c/o Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc., 3435 Stelzer Road, Columbus, Ohio
43219. The Funds proxy voting record is also available on the SECs website at
www.sec.gov.
5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS
As of February 13, 2009, the following persons were the only persons who were record owners (or to
the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of the shares of the Funds. Persons
who owned of record or beneficially more than 25% of a Funds outstanding shares may be deemed to
control the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The nature of ownership for each position
listed is Record unless otherwise indicated. The Trust believes that most of the shares of the
Funds were held for the record owners fiduciary, agency or custodial customers.
To be
updated.
75
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Funds financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, including notes thereto
and the reports of [ ]thereon, and the financial statements for the six month period ended
September 30, 2008 (which are unaudited) are incorporated into this Statement of Additional
Information by reference from the 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders and the 2008 Sem-Annual Report
to Shareholders. Copies of the 2008 Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report will be provided without
charge to each person receiving this Statement of Additional Information.
76
INVESTMENT RATINGS
STANDARD & POORS (S&P) SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATION RATINGS
An S&P note rating reflects the liquidity concerns and market access risks unique to notes.
SP-1Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong
capacity to pay debt service is given a plus sign (+) designation.
SP-2Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse
financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
S&P VARIABLE RATE DEMAND NOTES (VRDNs) AND TENDER OPTION BONDS (TOBs) RATINGS
S&P assigns dual ratings to all long-term debt issues that have as part of their provisions a
demand feature. The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as
due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term debt rating symbols are
used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the commercial paper rating symbols are usually
used to denote the put (demand) options (i.e., AAA/A-1+). Normally demand notes receive note-rating
symbols combined with commercial paper symbols (i.e., SP-1+/A-1+).
S&P COMMERCIAL PAPER (CP) RATINGS
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt
having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.
A-1A Short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poors. The
obligors 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
obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2A 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 obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
S&P LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS
A-2
AAAHighest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are
assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AAVery high credit quality. AA ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They
indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not
significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
AHigh credit quality. A ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for
timely 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.
BBBGood credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of
credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but
adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this
capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.
BBSpeculative. BB ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing,
particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial
alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this
category are not investment-grade.
BHighly speculative. B ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited
margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for
continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC, CHigh default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial
commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A CC
rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. C ratings signal imminent default.
DIn payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on a financial commitment are
not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard &
Poors believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will
be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on a
financial commitment are jeopardized.
A-3
MOODYS INVESTORS SERVICE (MOODYS) SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATION RATINGS
Moodys short-term ratings are designated Moodys Investment Grade (MIG or VMIG). (See below.) The
purpose of the MIG or VMIG ratings is to provide investors with a simple system by which the
relative investment qualities of short-term obligations may be
evaluated.
MIG1This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash
flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG2This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large
as in the preceding group.
MOODYS VARIABLE RATE DEMAND NOTES (VRDNs) AND TENDER OPTION BONDS (TOBs) RATINGS
Short-term ratings on issues with demand features are differentiated by the use of the VMIG symbol
to reflect such characteristics as payment upon periodic demand rather than fixed maturity dates
and payment relying on external liquidity. In this case, two ratings are usually assigned, (for
example, Aaa/VMIG-1); the first representing an evaluation of the degree of risk associated with
scheduled principal and interest payments, and the second representing an evaluation of the degree
of risk associated with the demand feature. The VMIG rating can be assigned a 1 or 2 designation
using the same definitions described above for the MIG rating.
MOODYS COMMERCIAL PAPER (CP) RATINGS
Prime-1Issuers rated Prime-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of
senior short-term debt obligations.
Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: leading
market positions in well established industries, high rates of return on funds employed,
conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection,
broad margins in earning coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation, and
well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
A-4
Prime-2Issuers rated Prime-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of
senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics
cited above, but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more
subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected
by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
MOODYS LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS
AaaBonds and preferred stock which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as gilt edged. Interest
payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure.
While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are
most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
AaBonds and preferred stock which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are
rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa
securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other
elements present which make the long-term risk appear somewhat larger than the Aaa securities.
ABonds and preferred stock which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and
interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to
impairment some time in the future.
BaaBonds and preferred stock which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e.,
they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security
appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be
characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
BaBonds and preferred stock which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their
future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of interest and principal
payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over
the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
BBonds and preferred stock which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the
contract over any long period of time may be small.
CaaBonds and preferred stock which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
A-5
CaBonds and preferred stock which are rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very
near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
CBonds and preferred stock which are rated C are the lowest rated class of
bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
NRIndicates that both the bonds and the obligor or credit enhancer are not currently rated by S&P
or Moodys with respect to short-term indebtedness. However, management considers them to be of
comparable quality to securities rated A-1 or P-1.
NR(1)The underlying issuer/obligor/guarantor has other outstanding debt rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by
Moodys.
NR(2)The underlying issuer/obligor/guarantor has other outstanding debt rated AA by S&P or Aa by
Moodys.
NR(3)The underlying issuer/obligor/guarantor has other outstanding debt rated A by S&P or Moodys.
A-6
FITCH RATINGS SHORT-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS
F-1Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other
issuers or issues in the same country. Under their national rating scale, this rating is assigned
to the best credit risk relative to all others in the same country and is normally assigned to
all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state. Where the credit risk is
particularly strong, a + is added to the assigned rating.
F-2Indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other
issuers or issues in the same country. However, the margin of safety is not as great as in the case
of the higher ratings.
F-3Indicates an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other
issuers or issues in the same country. However, such capacity is more susceptible to near-term
adverse changes than for financial commitments in higher rated categories.
FITCH RATINGS COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS
F-1Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other
issuers or issues in the same country. Under their national rating scale, this rating is assigned
to the best credit risk relative to all others in the same country and is normally assigned to
all financial commitments issued or guaranteed by the sovereign state. Where the credit risk is
particularly strong, a + is added to the assigned rating.
F-2Indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other
issuers or issues in the same country. However, the margin of safety is not as great as in the case
of the higher ratings.
FITCH RATINGS LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS
AAAHighest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are
assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AAVery high credit quality. AA ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They
indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not
significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
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AHigh credit quality. A ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely
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.
BBBGood credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit
risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse
changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This
is the lowest investment-grade category.
BBSpeculative. BB ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing,
particularly as the result of adverse economic change over
time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments
to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment-grade.
BHighly Speculative. B ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited
margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for
continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
DBRS SHORT-TERM DEBT AND COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING DEFINITIONS
As is the case with all Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS) rating scales, commercial paper
ratings are meant to give an indication of the risk that the borrower will not fulfill its
obligations in a timely manner.
R-1 (high) Short-term debt rated R-1 (high) is of the highest credit quality, and indicates an
entity which possesses unquestioned ability to repay current liabilities as they fall due. Entities
rated in this category normally maintain strong liquidity positions, conservative debt levels and
profitability which is both stable and above average. Companies achieving an R-1 (high) rating
are normally leaders in structurally sound industry segments with proven track records, sustainable
positive future results and no substantial qualifying negative factors. Given the extremely tough
definition which DBRS has established for an R-1 (high), few entities are strong enough to
achieve this rating.
R-1 (middle) Short-term debt rated R-1 (middle) is of superior credit quality and, in most cases,
ratings in this category differ from R-1 (high) credits to only a small degree. Given the
extremely tough definition which DBRS has for the R-1 (high) category (which few companies are
able to achieve), entities rated R-1 (middle) are also considered strong credits
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which typically exemplify above average strength in key areas of consideration for debt protection.
R-1 (low) Short-term debt rated R-1 (low) is of satisfactory credit quality. The overall strength
and outlook for key liquidity, debt and profitability ratios is not normally as favorable as with
higher rating categories, but these considerations are still respectable. Any qualifying negative
factors which exist are considered manageable, and the entity is normally of sufficient size to
have some influence in its industry.
R-2 (high), R-2 (middle), R-2 (low) Short-term debt rated R-2 is of adequate credit quality and
within the three subset grades, debt protection ranges from having reasonable ability for timely
repayment to a level which is considered only just adequate. The liquidity and debt ratios of
entities in the R-2 classification are not as strong as those in the R-1 category, and the past
and future trend may suggest some risk of maintaining the strength of key ratios in these areas.
Alternative sources of liquidity support are considered satisfactory; however, even the strongest
liquidity support will not improve the commercial paper rating of the issuer. The size of the
entity may restrict its flexibility, and its relative position in the industry is not typically as
strong as an R-1 credit. Profitability trends, past and future, may be less favorable, earnings
not as stable, and there are often negative qualifying factors present which could also make the
entity more vulnerable to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
DBRS LONG-TERM DEBT RATING DEFINITIONS
As is the case with all DBRS rating scales, long-term debt ratings are meant to give an indication
of the risk that the borrower will not fulfill its full obligations in a timely manner with respect
to both interest and principal commitments.
AAA Bonds rated AAA are of the highest credit quality, with exceptionally strong protection for
the timely repayment of principal and interest. Earnings are considered stable, the structure of
the industry in which the entity operates is strong, and the outlook for future profitability is
favorable. There are few qualifying factors present which would detract from the performance of the
entity, the strength of liquidity and coverage ratios is unquestioned and the entity has
established a creditable track record of superior performance. Given the extremely tough definition
which DBRS has established for this category, few entities are able to achieve a AAA rating.
AA Bonds rated AA are of superior credit quality, and protection of interest and principal is
considered high. In many cases, they differ from bonds rated AAA only to a small degree. Given the
extremely tough definition which DBRS has for the AAA category (which few companies are able to
achieve), entities rated AA are also considered to be strong credits which typically
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exemplify above average strength in key areas of consideration and are unlikely to be significantly
affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
A Bonds rated A are of satisfactory credit quality. Protection of interest and principal is
still substantial, but the degree of strength is less than with AA rated entities. While a
respectable rating, entities in the A category are considered to be more susceptible to adverse
economic conditions and have greater cyclical tendencies than higher rated companies.
BBB Bonds rated BBB are of adequate credit quality, with acceptable protection of principal and
interest; Issuers in this category are fairly susceptible to adverse changes in financial and
economic conditions.
BB Bonds rated BBB are of speculative credit quality, with uncertain protection of principal
and interest, particularly during periods of economic recession.
B Bonds rated B are of highly speculative credit quality, with a reasonably high level of
uncertainty as to the ability of the issuers to pay principal and interest on a continuing basis in
the future, especially in periods of economic recession or industry adversity.
CCC, CC, C Bonds rated CCC, CC, or C are of very highly speculative credit quality, with
principal and interest being in danger of default. In practice, there is little difference between
the categories.
D For bonds rated D, the issuer has either not met a scheduled payment of principal or interest
or interest issuer has made it clear that it will miss such a payment in the near future.
High or low grades are used to indicate the relative standing of a credit within a particular
rating category. The lack of one of these designations indicates a rating which is essentially in
the middle of the category. Note that high and low grades are not used for the AAA category.
A.M. BEST SHORT-TERM DEBT RATINGS
An A.M. Best Short-Term Debt Rating (issue credit rating) is an opinion as to the issuers ability
to meet its obligations having maturities generally less than one year, such as commercial paper.
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AMB-1+Strongest. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, the strongest
ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
AMB-1Outstanding. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, an outstanding
ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
AMB-2Satisfactory. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, a satisfactory
ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
AMB-3Adequate. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, an adequate
ability to repay short-term debt obligations; however, adverse economic conditions will likely lead
to a reduced capacity to meet its financial commitments on short-term debt obligations.
A.M. BEST LONG-TERM DEBT RATINGS
An A.M. Best Long-Term Debt Rating (issue credit rating) is an opinion as to the issuers ability
to meet its financial obligations to security holders when due. These ratings are assigned to debt
and preferred stock issues.
aaaExceptional. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, an exceptional
ability to meet the terms of the obligation.
aaVery Strong. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, a very strong
ability to meet the terms of the obligation.
aStrong. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, a strong ability to meet
the terms of the obligation.
bbbAdequate. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, an adequate ability
to meet the terms of the obligation; however, is more susceptible to changes in economic or other
conditions.
bbSpeculative. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, speculative credit characteristics, generally due to a moderate margin of principal and
interest payment protection and vulnerability to economic changes.
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bVery Speculative. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion, very
speculative credit characteristics, generally due to a modest
margin of principal and interest payment protection and extreme vulnerability to economic changes.
ccc,cc, c Extremely Speculative. Assigned to issues where the issuer has, in A.M. Bests opinion,
extremely speculative credit characteristics, generally due to a minimal margin of principal and
interest payment protection and/or limited ability to withstand adverse changes in economic or
other conditions.
dIn Default. In default on payment of principal, interest or other terms and conditions. The
rating also is utilized when a bankruptcy petition, or similar action, has been filed.
Ratings from aa to ccc may be enhanced with a + (plus) or - (minus) to indicate whether
credit quality is near the top or bottom of a category. A companys Long-Term Credit Rating also
may be assigned an Under Review modifier(u) that generally is event-driven (positive, negative or
developing) and indicates that the companys A.M. Best Rating opinion is under review and may be
subject to near-term change. Ratings prefixed with an (i) denote indicative ratings. Ratings
may also be assigned a Public Data modifier (pd) which indicates that a company does not
subscribe to A.M. Bests interactive rating process.
A.M. BEST RATING OUTLOOK
A.M. Best Credit Ratings (aaa to c) are assigned a Rating Outlook that indicates the potential
direction of a companys rating for an intermediate period, generally defined as the next 12 to 36
months. Public Data Ratings are not assigned an Outlook. Ratings Outlooks are as follows:
PositiveIndicates a companys financial/market trends are favorable, relative to its current
rating level, and if continued, the company has a good possibility of having its rating upgraded.
NegativeIndicates a company is experiencing unfavorable financial/market trends, relative to its
current rating level, and if continued, the company has a good possibility of having its rating
downgraded.
StableIndicates a company is experiencing stable financial/market trends and that there is a low
likelihood that its rating will change in the near term.
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RIDGEWORTH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. PROXY DISCLOSURE TO THE
RIDGEWORTH FUNDS SHAREHOLDERS
Dear Shareholders:
Securities and Exchange Commission rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940 address an investment advisers fiduciary obligation to its clients
when the adviser has authority to vote their proxies. Under our current contractual agreement,
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. (RidgeWorth), is authorized to vote proxies on behalf of the
RidgeWorth Funds.
The rules require an investment company to adopt policies and procedures reasonably designed to
ensure that the fund: 1) votes proxies in the best interests of clients; 2) discloses information
about those policies and procedures and how to obtain copies; 3) discloses how clients may obtain
information about proxy votes cast; and 4) maintains appropriate records relating to actual proxy
voting.
The RidgeWorth Funds board has delegated voting authority to RidgeWorth and accordingly has
adopted RidgeWorths proxy voting policies.
RidgeWorths existing Proxy Voting Committee (Committee) is structured to seek to ensure
compliance with all of the requirements. After an extensive review, the Committee determined that
the use of a professional proxy voting administration servicing agency would be the most efficient
and effective course of action to accommodate certain portions of the regulations. The Committee
conducted comprehensive due diligence of the most established and capable proxy voting servicing
agencies in the industry and chose to hire the Institutional Shareholder Services division (ISS)
of Risk Metrics Group as RidgeWorths agent to assist us with meeting the administrative, clerical,
functional, and recordkeeping aspects of our fiduciary obligations.
Several of the determining factors in choosing ISS as an agent to provide such services included
its excellent research tools and advanced, state of the art technical capabilities and large scale
system support required to accommodate an advisor of our size.
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The Committee recognizes that each proxy vote must be evaluated on its own merits. Factors such as
a companys organizational structure, executive and operational management, structure of the board
of directors, corporate culture and governance process, and the impact of economic, environmental
and social implications remain key elements in all voting decisions. Management believes that it
is in the best interest of shareholders to abstain from voting shares of securities held in the
RidgeWorth International Equity 130/30 Fund in countries that participate in share blocking.
To address material conflicts of interest, as defined by SEC regulations, involving RidgeWorth
relationships, the Committee will engage the services of an independent fiduciary voting service to
vote on any proxies for securities for which the Committee determines a material conflict of
interest exists so as to provide shareholders with the most beneficial and objective proxy voting
possible.
Material conflicts might occur, for example, (1) in the case of securities of a company where a
director or officer may serve as an independent director on RidgeWorths, SunTrust Banks, Inc.
(SunTrust) or a related SunTrust affiliates board of directors or (2) where an issuer has
substantial banking or other financial relationships with RidgeWorth and/or SunTrust, or a SunTrust
affiliate.
If the Committee engages an independent fiduciary voting service to perform the voting analysis,
ISS, as our agent for administrative, clerical and recordkeeping proxy services, will then vote the
shares according to the directions of the independent fiduciary. RidgeWorth will have no power to
participate in, alter or change the decision or final vote for any proxy matters entrusted to the
properly appointed independent fiduciary.
Please be assured that although RidgeWorth has engaged ISS to assist with physical proxy voting
matters, we retain the primary obligation of proxy voting and will review all issues and actively
monitor all information prior to determining each vote placed on behalf of shareholders. RidgeWorth
will continue to utilize available resources in order to make well-informed, qualified proxy vote
decisions.
Further information, such as copies of RidgeWorths Proxy Policies and Procedures and voting
records of the RidgeWorth Funds, may be obtained without charge by contacting the RidgeWorth Funds
by telephone at 1-800-874-4770, Option 5 or by visiting www.ridgeworthfunds.com. The policies and
procedures are also available in the RidgeWorth Funds Statement of Additional Information. Actual
voting records will also be filed and available on the SECs website.
Again, please know that, as with all matters relating to the RidgeWorth Funds, we at RidgeWorth
take our fiduciary proxy voting obligations very seriously, and will continue to do our utmost to
protect the interests of each and every shareholder.
Regards,
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
B-2
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. Proxy Policy
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. (RidgeWorth) has a Proxy Committee (Committee) that is
responsible for establishing policies and a procedure designed to ensure the firm ethically and
effectively discharges its fiduciary obligation to vote all applicable proxies on behalf of all
discretionary client accounts and funds. Annually (or more often as needed), the Committee will
review, reaffirm and/or amend guidelines, strategies and proxy policies for all domestic and
international client accounts, funds and product lines.
After an extensive review of established service providers including size, experience and technical
capabilities, RidgeWorth contracted with the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) of Risk
Metrics Group as its agent to provide certain administrative, clerical, functional recordkeeping
and support services related to the firms proxy voting processes/procedures, which include, but
are not limited to:
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The collection and coordination of proxy material from each custodian for each
RidgeWorth clients account, including RidgeWorths managed fund clients. |
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The facilitation of the mechanical act of proxy voting, reconciliation, and
disclosure for each RidgeWorth clients accounts, including RidgeWorths fund clients, in
accordance with RidgeWorths proxy policies and the Committees direction. |
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Required record keeping and voting record retention of all RidgeWorth proxy voting on
behalf RidgeWorths clients, including RidgeWorths fund clients. |
As reflected in RidgeWorths proxy policies, the Committee will affirmatively vote proxies for
proposals that it interprets are deemed to be in the best economic interest of its clients as
shareholders and beneficiaries to those actions.
The Committee will retain the ability to consider client specific preferences and/or develop and
apply criteria unique to its client base and product lines, where appropriate. As needed, this
information will be communicated to ISS as RidgeWorths agent to ensure that the relative shares
proxies will be voted accordingly. The Committee has reviewed ISS capabilities as agent for the
administerial services above and is confident in its abilities to effectively provide these
services. The Committee will monitor such capability on an ongoing basis.
An Independent, Objective Approach to Proxy Issues
In the absence of express contractual provisions to the contrary, the Committee will vote proxies
for all RidgeWorth discretionary investment management clients and RidgeWorth managed funds, such
as the RidgeWorth Funds.
B-3
As indicated above, the Committee utilizes the services of ISS, an independent third party agent,
to assist with facilitating the administrative, clerical, functional and recordkeeping proxy duties
and to assist in managing certain aspects of our proxy obligations. Accordingly, RidgeWorth
maintains its own proxy policies for U.S. domestic and global proxy voting issues, as well as
guidelines applicable to Taft Hartley plans and relationships. ERISA accounts will be voted in
accordance with the U.S. domestic proxy policy as ERISA specific guidelines and requirements are
incorporated into this policy.
RidgeWorth provides and maintains the following standard proxy voting policies:
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RidgeWorth U.S. Domestic Proxy Policy (applied to both ERISA and Non-ERISA related
accounts) |
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RidgeWorth Taft Hartley Proxy Policy |
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RidgeWorth Global/International Proxy Policy |
These policies are available as described below. Both brief and extended summaries are available
for the RidgeWorth Taft Hartley Proxy Policy and the RidgeWorth Global/International Proxy Policy.
The Committees process includes a review and evaluation of relevant, information related to the
issuers proxy, applying the firms proxy voting policy in a prudent and appropriate manner
ensuring votes are cast in the best interest of our clients.
Under the RidgeWorth Global/International Proxy Policy the Committee generally votes in a manner
similar to that recommended by ISS for an accounts international holdings including, to the extent
permitted by law, ERISA accounts international holdings.* In this regard the Committee has
reviewed and will monitor ISS capabilities and conflict policies with respect to international
securities proxy vote recommendations.
Exceptions to Policy
The RidgeWorth Proxy Policies and guidelines as outlined herein generally will not be applied where
RidgeWorth has further delegated discretionary investment management and the authority to vote
shares to a properly appointed subadvisor, such as may be the case in some managed separate
accounts, wrap programs, and funds.
In those situations proxy votes cast by the subadvisor will be governed by the subadvisors proxy
voting policies and procedures.
Conflicts of Interest
Due to its diversified client base, numerous product lines, independent board of directors, and
affiliation with SunTrust Banks, Inc., and its subsidiaries, the Committee may determine a
potential conflict exists in
B-4
connection with a proxy vote based on the SEC guidelines. In such instances, the Committee will
review the potential conflict to determine if it is material.
Examples of material conflicts of interest which may arise could include those where the shares to
be voted involve:
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Common stock of SunTrust Banks, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Inc., and/or other public
corporate issuers with which either RidgeWorth or SunTrust Banks, Inc. or its affiliates,
may have a similar on-going non-investment management associated relationship. |
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An issuer with a director, officer or employee who presently serves as an independent
director on the board of RidgeWorth or SunTrust Banks, Inc. or any of its affiliates. |
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An issuer having substantial and numerous banking, investment or other financial
relationships with RidgeWorth, SunTrust Banks, Inc. or its affiliates. |
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A director or senior officer of RidgeWorth or SunTrust Banks, Inc. serving on the board
of a publicly held company. |
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A direct common stock ownership position of five percent (5%) or greater held
individually by RidgeWorth or in conjunction with SunTrust Banks, Inc. and/or its
affiliates |
Although RidgeWorth utilizes a pre-determined proxy voting policy, occasions may arise in which a
conflict of interest could be deemed to be material. In this case, the Committee will determine
the most fair and reasonable procedure to be followed in order to properly address all conflict
concerns. The Committee may employ one or more of the options listed below:
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Retain an independent fiduciary to vote the shares. |
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Send the proxy material to the client (in the case of mutual funds, the funds
shareholders) so he or she may vote the proxies. |
Although RidgeWorth does its best to alleviate or diffuse known conflicts, there is no guarantee
that all situations have been or will be mitigated through proxy policy incorporation.
Securities Lending Program
RidgeWorth also manages assets for several clients (including mutual funds, such as the RidgeWorth
Funds) who engage in security lending programs. A typical security lending program such as the
RidgeWorth Securities Lending Program is where the clients or funds lend equities and/or
fixed-income assets from their accounts or portfolio to various approved-broker-dealers against
cash collateral (102% of loan value) and earn incremental income by: 1.) extracting intrinsic value
from each loan; and, 2.)
B-5
generating investment income through reinvestment activities involving cash collateral. Consistent
with SEC guidelines, the Committee will generally refrain from voting securities loaned out under
this type of lending arrangement when the costs and lost revenue to the client or fund combined
with the administrative effects of recalling the securities outweigh the benefit of voting the
proxy. In addition, the Committee must make a good-faith determination that the individual proxy
ballot decisions would not materially impact the portfolio managers desire to retain the position
in the portfolio. and that the entire position of loaned shares votes would not significantly
affect the overall voting outcome. The Committee will rely on the portfolio managers input to
make such decisions. Furthermore, absent compelling economic and/or security related research or
news, the Committee will generally not consider recalling shares unless total beneficial ownership
under management is greater than 4.55%.
Under the current RIdgeWorth Securities Lending Program, RidgeWorth is required to notify the
Custodian to recall securities on loan 10 business days prior to the record date or as soon as
reasonably possible thereafter if RidgeWorth wishes to vote proxy on the securities so as to ensure
that they are in Custodians possession by the voting deadline.
Additional Information
RidgeWorth clients:
Extended summaries of RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.s U.S. Domestic Proxy Policy (includes
ERISA related accounts,) Taft Hartley Proxy Policy, and Global/International Proxy Policy and
voting records are available to clients upon request. (Complete copies are quite voluminous but are
also available.) For this information, or to obtain information about specific voting issues,
please contact RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc, Attn: Proxy Voting Committee Administrator, 50
Hurt Plaza, 14th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303, by telephone at 404.827.6177, or via
e-mail at: PMP.operations@ridgeworth.com.
RidgeWorth Funds and RidgeWorth Variable Trust shareholders:
Shareholders of the RidgeWorth Funds or the RidgeWorth Variable Trust may access this information
by contacting the RidgeWorth by telephone at 1-888-784-3863 or by visiting www.ridgeworthfunds.com.
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With the exception of the RidgeWorth International Equity 130/30 Fund. Management believes that
it is in the best interest of shareholders to abstain from voting shares in countries that
participate in share blocking. |
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2008 RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. International Proxy Voting Guidelines
Following is a concise summary of general policies for voting global proxies. In addition,
RidgeWorth has country- and market-specific policies, which are not captured below.
Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports
Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:
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there are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or |
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the company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should
be publicly disclosed. |
Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Compensation
Vote FOR the reelection of auditors and proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees,
unless:
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there are serious concerns about the accounts presented or the audit procedures used; |
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the auditors are being changed without explanation; or |
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non audit-related fees are substantial or are routinely in excess of standard annual
audit fees. |
Vote AGAINST the appointment of external auditors if they have previously served the company in an
executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.
Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors
Vote FOR the appointment or reelection of statutory auditors, unless:
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there are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures
used; |
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questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or |
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the auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can
otherwise be considered affiliated with the company. |
Allocation of Income
Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:
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the dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate
explanation; or |
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the payout is excessive given the companys financial position. |
Stock (Scrip) Dividend Alternative
Vote FOR most stock (scrip) dividend proposals.
Vote AGAINST proposals that do not allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the
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cash option is harmful to shareholder value.
Amendments to Articles of Association
Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Change in Company Fiscal Term
Vote FOR resolutions to change a companys fiscal term unless a companys motivation for the change
is to postpone its AGM.
Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership
Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below five percent
unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.
Amend Quorum Requirements
Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Transact Other Business
Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.
Director Elections
Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:
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Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; |
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There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; |
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There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest; |
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There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; and |
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The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards. |
Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as
criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.
Vote AGAINST shareholder nominees unless they demonstrate a clear ability to contribute positively
to board deliberations.
Vote AGAINST individual directors if they cannot provide an explanation for repeated absences at
board meetings (in countries where this information is disclosed).
Vote AGAINST labor representatives if the sit on either the audit or compensation committee, as
they are not required to be on those committees.
B-8
Director Compensation
Vote FOR proposals to award cash fees to non-executive directors unless the amounts are excessive
relative to other companies in the country or industry.
Vote non-executive director compensation proposals that include both cash and share-based
components on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote proposals that bundle compensation for both non-executive and executive directors into a
single resolution on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST proposals to introduce retirement benefits for non-executive directors.
Discharge of Board and Management
Vote FOR discharge of the board and management, unless:
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there are serious questions about actions of the board or management for the year in
question; or |
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legal action is being taken against the board by other shareholders. |
Vote AGAINST proposals to remove approval of discharge of board and management from the agenda.
Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions
Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify auditors.
Board Structure
Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.
Vote AGAINST mandatory retirement ages for directors.
Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of
the company or the board.
Share Issuance Requests
General Issuances:
Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued
capital.
B-9
Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued
capital.
Specific Issuances:
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.
Increases in Authorized Capital
Vote FOR nonspecific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current
authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new
authorization outstanding.
Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:
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the specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does
not meet RidgeWorths guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or |
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the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization
outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances. |
Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.
Reduction of Capital
Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are
unfavorable to shareholders.
Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BYCASE basis.
Capital Structures
Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one share, one vote capital structure.
Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual class capital structures or the
creation of new or additional supervoting shares.
Preferred Stock
Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to
50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the
rights of existing shareholders.
Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of
common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets RidgeWorths guidelines on equity issuance
requests.
B-10
Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting
rights to the common shares.
Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the
authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.
Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Debt Issuance Requests
Vote nonconvertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive
rights.
Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of
common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets RidgeWorths guidelines on equity issuance
requests.
Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring
would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.
Pledging of Assets for Debt
Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Increase in Borrowing Powers
Vote proposals to approve increases in a companys borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Share Repurchase Plans
Vote FOR share repurchase plans, unless:
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clear evidence of past abuse of the authority is available; or |
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the plan contains no safeguards against selective buybacks. |
Reissuance of Shares Repurchased
Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this
authority in the past.
Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase In Par Value
Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.
Reorganizations/Restructurings
Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
B-11
Mergers and Acquisitions
Vote mergers and acquisitions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report
and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes
countervailing factors including:
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Valuation Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the
acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for
assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market
reaction, and strategic rationale. |
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Market reaction How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market
reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely. |
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Strategic rationale Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value
derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but
reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful
integration of historical acquisitions. |
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Conflicts of interest Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately
and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any
special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend
the merger. |
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Governance Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than
the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the
governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that
other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance. |
Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an
informed voting decision.
Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers
Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Reincorporation Proposals
Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Expansion of Business Activities
Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into
risky areas.
Related-Party Transactions
Vote related-party transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
B-12
Compensation Plans
Vote compensation plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Antitakeover Mechanisms
Vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals unless they are structured in such a way that they give
shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.
Shareholder Proposals
Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote FOR proposals that would improve the companys corporate governance or business profile at a
reasonable cost.
Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the companys business activities or capabilities or result in
significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.
B-13
Proxy Voting Policies Updated 03/31/2008
RIDGEWORTH Capital Management, Inc.
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1.0.
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Operational Items
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Adjourn Meeting
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To provide management with the
authority to adjourn an annual
or special meeting.
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F |
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1.1.
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Operational Items
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Amend Quorum Requirements
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To reduce quorum requirements
for shareholder meetings below
a majority of the shares
outstanding
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A |
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1.2.
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Operational Items
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Amend Minor Bylaws
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To make housekeeping changes
(updates or corrections) to
bylaw or charter
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F |
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1.3.
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Operational Items
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Change Company Name
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To change the corporate name
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F |
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1.4.
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Operational Items
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Date, Time, or Location of
Annual Meeting
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Management proposals to change
the date/time/location of the
annual meeting
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F |
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1.5.
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Operational Items
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Date, Time, or Location of
Annual Meeting
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Shareholder proposals To
change the date/time/location
of the annual meeting
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A |
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1.6.
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Operational Items
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Auditors
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To ratify auditors (except as
described below)
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F |
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1.6.a
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Operational Items
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Auditors
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To ratify auditors if
non-audit fees (tax and other)
exceed audit and audit related
fees combined. In
circumstances where Other
fees include fees related to
initial public offerings,
bankruptcy emergence, and
spin-offs, and the company
makes public disclosure of the
amount and nature of those
fees which ISS determines to
be an exception to the
standard non-audit fee
category, then such fees may
be excluded from the non-audit
fees considered in determining
the ratio of non-audit to
audit/audit-related fees for
purposes of determining
whether non-audit fees are
excessive.
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A |
B-14
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1.7.
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Operational Items
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Auditors
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Shareholder proposals asking
companies to prohibit their
auditors from engaging in
non-audit services
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A |
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1.8.
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Operational Items
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Auditors
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Shareholder proposals to
require audit firm rotation
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A |
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1.9.
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Operational Items
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Transact Other Business
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To approve other business when
it appears as voting item
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A |
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2.0.
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Board of Directors
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Voting on Director Nominees in
Uncontested Elections
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Director nominees who are not
described below
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F |
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2.1.
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Board of Directors
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Voting on Director Nominees in
Uncontested Elections
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Director nominees who have
Implemented or renewed a
dead-hand or modified
dead-hand poison pill unless a
shareholder vote will occur
within twelve months of its
adoption or in the case of an
newly public company, does not
commit to put the pill to a
shareholder vote within 12
months following the IPO
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W |
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2.2.
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Board of Directors
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Voting on Director Nominees in
Uncontested Elections
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Director nominees who have
ignored a shareholder proposal
that is approved by a majority
of the votes cast for two
consecutive years
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W |
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2.3.
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Board of Directors
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Voting on Director Nominees in
Uncontested Elections
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Director nominees who have
failed to act on takeover
offers where the majority of
the shareholders tendered
their shares
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W |
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2.4.
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Board of Directors
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Voting on Director Nominees in
Uncontested Elections
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Director nominees who enacted
egregious corporate governance
policies or failed to replace
management as appropriate
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W |
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2.5.
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Board of Directors
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Age Limits
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To limit the tenure of outside
directors either through term
limits or mandatory retirement
ages.
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A |
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2.6.
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Board of Directors
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Board Size
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To fix the board size or
designate a range for the
board size
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F |
B-15
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2.7.
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Board of Directors
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Board Size
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To give management the ability
to alter the size of the board
outside of a specified range
without shareholder approval
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A |
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2.8.
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Board of Directors
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Classification/Declassification
of the Board
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Management and shareholder
proposals to classify the
board
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C |
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2.9.
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Board of Directors
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Classification/Declassification
of the Board
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Management and shareholder
proposals to repeal classified
boards and to elect all
directors annually.
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F |
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2.10.
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Board of Directors
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Cumulative Voting
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To eliminate cumulative voting.
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F |
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2.11.
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Board of Directors
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Cumulative Voting
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To restore or permit
cumulative voting.
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A |
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2.12.
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Board of Directors
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Director and Officer
Indemnification and Liability
Protection
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Proposals on director and
officer indemnification and
liability protection not
particularly described below.
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C |
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2.13.
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Board of Directors
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Director and Officer
Indemnification and Liability
Protection
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To eliminate entirely
directors and officers
liability for monetary damages
for violating the duty of
care.
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A |
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2.14.
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Board of Directors
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Director and Officer
Indemnification and Liability
Protection
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To expand coverage beyond just
legal expenses to acts, such
as negligence, that are more
serious violations of
fiduciary obligation than mere
carelessness
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A |
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2.15.
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Board of Directors
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Director and Officer
Indemnification and Liability
Protection
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To expand coverage in cases
when a directors or officers
legal defense was unsuccessful
if: (1) the director was found
to have acted in good faith
and in a manner that he
reasonably believed was in the
best interests of the company,
and (2) only if the directors
legal expenses would be
covered.
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F |
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2.16.
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Board of Directors
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Establish/ Amend Nominee
Qualifications
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To establish or amend director
qualifications
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A |
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2.17.
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Board of Directors
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Establish/ Amend Nominee
Qualifications
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Shareholder proposals
requiring two candidates per
board seat
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A |
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2.18.
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Board of Directors
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Filling Vacancies/ Removal of
Directors
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To provide that directors may
be removed only for cause.
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A |
B-16
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2.19.
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Board of Directors
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Filling Vacancies/ Removal of
Directors
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To restore shareholder ability
to remove directors with or
without cause.
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F |
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2.20.
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Board of Directors
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Filling Vacancies/ Removal of
Directors
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To provide that only
continuing directors may elect
replacements to fill board
vacancies.
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A |
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2.21.
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Board of Directors
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Filling Vacancies/ Removal of
Directors
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To permit shareholders to
elect directors to fill board
vacancies.
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F |
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2.22.
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Board of Directors
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Independent Chairman (Separate
Chairman/CEO)
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To recommend that the
positions of chairman and CEO
be combined.
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C |
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2.23.
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Board of Directors
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Independent Chairman (Separate
Chairman/CEO
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To recommend that the
positions of chairman and CEO
be separate and distinct
positions held by 2 different
individuals.
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A |
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2.24.
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Board of Directors
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Majority of Independent
Directors/ Establishment of
Committees
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Shareholder proposals to
require that a majority or
more of directors be
independent
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F |
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2.25.
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Board of Directors
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Majority of Independent
Directors/ Establishment of
Committees
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Shareholder proposals asking
that board audit,
compensation, and/or
nominating committees be
composed exclusively of
independent directors
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F |
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2.26.
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Board of Directors
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Open Access
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Shareholder proposals asking
for open access
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A |
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2.27.
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Board of Directors
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Stock Ownership Requirements
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Shareholder proposals that
mandate a minimum amount of
stock that directors must own
in order to qualify as a
director or to remain on the
board
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A |
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2.28.
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Board of Directors
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Stock Ownership Requirements
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Shareholder proposals asking
that the company adopt a
holding or retention period
for its executives (for
holding stock after the
vesting or exercise of equity
awards)
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A |
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2.29.
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Board of Directors
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Term Limits
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Shareholder or management
proposals to limit the tenure
of outside directors
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A |
B-17
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2.30.
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Board of Directors
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Majority Voting Standard
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|
Shareholder proposals
requesting a majority voting
standard on election of
directors
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F |
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3. 0.
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Proxy Contests
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Voting for Director Nominees
in Contested Elections
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Votes in a contested election
of directors
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C |
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3.1.a
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Proxy Contests
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Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation
Expenses
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To reimburse proxy
solicitation expenses if
dissident wins
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F |
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3.1.b
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Proxy Contests
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Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation
Expenses
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To reimburse proxy
solicitation expenses (unless
described above)
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A |
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3.2.
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Proxy Contests
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Confidential Voting
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|
Shareholder proposals
requesting that corporations
adopt confidential voting, use
independent vote tabulators
and use independent inspectors
of election
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A |
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3.3.
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Proxy Contests
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Confidential Voting
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Management proposals to adopt
confidential voting.
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A |
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4. 0.
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Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
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|
Advance Notice Requirements
for Shareholder
Proposals/Nominations
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|
Advance notice proposals
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F |
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4.1.
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Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
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Amend Bylaws without
Shareholder Consent
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Proposals giving the board
exclusive authority to amend
the bylaws
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F |
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4.2.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Amend Bylaws without
Shareholder Consent
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|
Proposals giving the board the
ability to amend the bylaws in
addition to shareholders
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F |
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4.3.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Poison Pills
|
|
Shareholder proposals that ask
a company to submit its poison
pill for shareholder
ratification
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F |
B-18
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4.4.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Poison Pills
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|
Shareholder proposals asking
that any future pill be put to
a shareholder vote
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F |
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4.5.a
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Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Poison Pills
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|
Management proposals to ratify
a poison pill if a Company is
trading below book value and
plan contains a reasonable
qualifying off clause (i.e.
is chewable)
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F |
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4.5.b
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|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Poison Pills
|
|
Management proposals to ratify
a poison pill (except as
described above)
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A |
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4.6.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Shareholder Ability to Act by
Written Consent
|
|
To restrict or prohibit
shareholder ability to take
action by written consent
|
|
A |
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4.7.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Shareholder Ability to Act by
Written Consent
|
|
To allow or make easier
shareholder action by written
consent
|
|
F |
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4.8.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Shareholder Ability to Call
Special Meetings
|
|
To restrict or prohibit
shareholder ability to call
special meetings.
|
|
A |
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4.9.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Shareholder Ability to Call
Special Meetings
|
|
To remove restrictions on the
right of shareholders to act
independently of management.
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|
F |
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4.10.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Supermajority Vote Requirements
|
|
To require a supermajority
shareholder vote pertaining to
issues other than election of
directors.
|
|
A |
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4.11.
|
|
Antitakeover
Defenses and Voting
Related Issues
|
|
Supermajority Vote Requirements
|
|
To lower supermajority vote
requirements pertaining to
issues other than election of
directors.
|
|
F |
B-19
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5.0.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Appraisal Rights
|
|
To restore, or provide
shareholders with, rights of
appraisal.
|
|
A |
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|
5.1.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Asset Purchases
|
|
On asset purchase proposals
|
|
C |
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5.2.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Asset Sales
|
|
Asset sales
|
|
C |
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|
5.3.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Bundled Proposals
|
|
Bundled or conditioned proxy
proposals
|
|
C |
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|
5.4.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Conversion of Securities
|
|
Proposals regarding conversion
of securities, absent
penalties or likely
bankruptcy.
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.5.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Conversion of Securities
|
|
Proposals regarding conversion
of securities, if it is
expected that the company will
be subject to onerous
penalties or will be forced to
file for bankruptcy if the
transaction is not approved.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.6.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Corporate Reorganization
|
|
Proposals to increase common
and/or preferred shares and to
issue shares as part of a debt
restructuring plan, absent
likely bankruptcy.
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.7.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Corporate Reorganization
|
|
Proposals to increase common
and/or preferred shares and to
issue shares as part of a debt
restructuring plan where
bankruptcy is likely if the
transaction is not approved
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.8.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Formation of Holding Company
|
|
To form a holding company
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.9.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Going Private Transactions
(LBOs and Minority Squeeze
outs)
|
|
To make the company private
rather than public
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.10.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Joint Ventures
|
|
To form joint ventures
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.11.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Liquidations
|
|
To liquidate when bankruptcy
is not likely
|
|
C |
B-20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.12.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Liquidations
|
|
To liquidate when bankruptcy
is likely
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.13.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Mergers and Acquisitions/Issuance
of Shares to
Facilitate Merger or
Acquisition
|
|
To merge with or acquire
another company
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.14.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Private Placements/ Warrants/Convertible
Debentures
|
|
To issue a private placement
security when bankruptcy is
not likely
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.15.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Private Placements/ Warrants/Convertible
Debentures
|
|
To issue a private placement
security when bankruptcy is
likely
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.16.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Spin-offs
|
|
To spin off a unit or line of
business
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.17.
|
|
Mergers and
Corporate
Restructurings
|
|
Value Maximization Proposals
|
|
To maximize shareholder value
by hiring a financial advisor
to explore strategic
alternatives, selling the
company or liquidating the
company and distributing the
proceeds to shareholders.
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.0.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Control Share Acquisition
Provisions
|
|
To opt out of control share
acquisition statutes
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.1.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Control Share Acquisition
Provisions
|
|
To amend the charter to
include control share
acquisition provisions.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.2.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Control Share Acquisition
Provisions
|
|
To restore voting rights to
the control shares.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.3.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Control Share Cash out
Provisions
|
|
To opt out of control share
cash out statutes.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.4.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Disgorgement Provisions
|
|
To opt out of state
disgorgement provisions.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.5.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Fair Price Provisions
|
|
To adopt fair price provisions
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.6.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Fair Price Provisions
|
|
To adopt fair price provisions
with shareholder vote
requirements greater than a
majority of disinterested
shares.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.7.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Freeze Out
|
|
proposals to opt out of state
freeze out provisions
|
|
F |
B-21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.8.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Greenmail
|
|
To adopt anti greenmail
charter of bylaw amendments
Or otherwise restrict a
companys ability to make
greenmail payments.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.9.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Greenmail
|
|
To adopt anti greenmail
proposals when they are
bundled with other charter or
bylaw amendments.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.10.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Reincorporation Proposals
|
|
To change a companys state of
incorporation
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.11.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
Stakeholder Provisions
|
|
To consider non-shareholder
constituencies or other
non-financial effects when
evaluating a merger or
business combination.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.12.
|
|
State of
Incorporation
|
|
State Anti takeover Statutes
|
|
To opt in or out of state
takeover statutes (including
control share acquisition
statutes, control share
cash-out statutes, freeze out
provisions, fair price
provisions, stakeholder laws,
poison pill endorsements,
severance pay and labor
contract provisions, anti
greenmail provisions, and
disgorgement provisions).
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.0.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Adjustments to Par Value of
Common Stock
|
|
Management proposals to reduce
or eliminate the par value of
common stock.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.1.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Common Stock Authorization
|
|
To increase the number of
shares of common stock
authorized for issuance
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.2.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Common Stock Authorization
|
|
To increase the number of
authorized shares of the class
of stock that has superior
voting rights.
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.3.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Common Stock Authorization
|
|
To approve increases beyond
the allowable increase when a
companys shares are in danger
of being de-listed or if a
companys ability to continue
to operate as a going concern
is uncertain
|
|
F |
B-22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.4.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Dual-class Stock
|
|
Proposals to create a new
class of common stock with
superior voting rights
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To create a new class of
nonvoting or sub-voting common
stock if: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.5.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Dual-class Stock
|
|
It is intended for
financing purposes with
minimal or no dilution to
current shareholders
It is not designed to
preserve the voting power of
an insider or significant
shareholder
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.6.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Issue Stock for Use with
Rights Plan
|
|
To increase authorized common
stock for the explicit purpose
of implementing a shareholder
rights plan (poison pill).
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.7.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Preemptive Rights
|
|
Shareholder proposals that
seek preemptive rights
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.8.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
|
To authorizing the creation of
new classes of preferred stock
with unspecified voting,
conversion, dividend
distribution, and other rights
(blank check preferred
stock).
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.9.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
|
To create declawed blank
check preferred stock (stock
that cannot be used as a
takeover defense).
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.10.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
|
To authorize preferred stock
in cases where the company
specifies the voting,
dividend, conversion, and
other rights of such stock and
the terms of the preferred
stock appear reasonable
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.11.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
|
To increase the number of
blank check preferred stock
authorized for issuance when
no shares have been issued or
reserved for a specific
purpose.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.12.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
|
To increase the number of
blank check preferred shares
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.13.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Recapitalization
|
|
Recapitalizations
(reclassifications of
securities)
|
|
C |
B-23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.14.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Reverse Stock Splits
|
|
Management proposals to
implement a reverse stock
split when the number of
authorized shares will be
proportionately reduced
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.15.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Reverse Stock Splits
|
|
Management proposals to
implement a reverse stock
split to avoid delisting.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.16.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Reverse Stock Splits
|
|
To implement a reverse stock
splits that do not
proportionately reduce the
number of shares authorized or
considered going dark
transactions.
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.17.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Share Repurchase Programs
|
|
Management proposals to
institute open-market share
repurchase plans in which all
shareholders may participate
on equal terms
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.17.a
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Share Repurchase Programs
|
|
Management proposals to
institute open-market share
repurchase plans in which
derivatives may be utilized
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.18.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Stock Distributions: Splits
and Dividends
|
|
Management proposals to
increase the common share
authorization for a stock
split or share dividend,
provided that the increase in
authorized shares would not
result in an excessive number
of shares available for
issuance
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.19.
|
|
Capital Structure
|
|
Tracking Stock
|
|
To authorize the creation of
tracking stock
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.0.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Executive Compensation
|
|
To approve executive
compensation plans or plan
amendments.
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.1.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Executive Compensation
|
|
To approve compensation plans
that expressly permit the
re-pricing of underwater stock
options without shareholder
approval.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.2.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Executive Compensation
|
|
Plans in which the CEO
participates if there is a
disconnect between the CEOs
pay and company performance
|
|
A |
B-24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.3.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Director Compensation
|
|
Plans for directors
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.4.a
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Stock Plans in Lieu of Cash
|
|
Plans which provide
participants with the option
of taking all or a portion of
their cash compensation in the
form of stock if conversion
price is greater than 90% of
fair market value.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.4.b
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Stock Plans in Lieu of Cash
|
|
Plans which provide
participants with the option
of taking all or a portion of
their cash compensation in the
form of stock (unless as
described above)
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.5.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Stock Plans in Lieu of Cash
|
|
Plans which provide a
dollar-for-dollar cash for
stock exchange
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.6.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Stock Plans in Lieu of Cash
|
|
Plans which do not provide a
dollar-for-dollar cash for
stock exchange
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.7.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Director Retirement Plans
|
|
Retirement plans for
non-employee directors.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.8.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Director Retirement Plans
|
|
Shareholder proposals to
eliminate retirement plans for
non-employee directors
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.9.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Management Proposals Seeking
Approval to Re-price Options
|
|
On management proposals
seeking approval to re-price
options
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.10.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Voting on Compensation
|
|
Shareholder proposals to
submit executive compensation
to a vote.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.11.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
|
|
Employee stock purchase plans
not described below
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee stock purchase plans
where all of the following
apply |
|
|
|
8.12.
|
|
Executive and
Director Compensation
|
|
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
|
|
Purchase price
is at least 85 percent of fair
market value
Offering
period
is 27 months or less
|
|
F |
B-25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee stock purchase plans
where any of the following
apply |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.13.
|
|
Executive and
Director Compensation
|
|
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
|
|
Purchase price
is less than 85 percent of
fair market value, or
Offering
period
is greater than 27 months
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.14.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Incentive Bonus Plans and Tax
Deductibility Proposals
|
|
Simply amend
shareholder-approved
compensation plans to include
administrative features or
place a cap on the annual
grants any one participant may
receive to comply with the
provisions of Section 162(m).
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.15.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Incentive Bonus Plans and Tax
Deductibility Proposals
|
|
To add performance goals to
existing compensation plans to
comply with the provisions of
Section 162(m)
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.16.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Incentive Bonus Plans and Tax
Deductibility Proposals
|
|
Plans to increase shares
reserved and to qualify for
favorable tax treatment under
the provisions of Section
162(m)
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.17.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Incentive Bonus Plans and Tax
Deductibility Proposals
|
|
Cash or cash and stock bonus
plans that are submitted to
shareholders for the purpose
of exempting compensation from
taxes under the provisions of
Section 162(m) if no increase
in shares is requested.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.18.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Employee Stock Ownership Plans
(ESOPs)
|
|
To implement an ESOP or
increase authorized shares for
existing ESOPs, unless the
number of shares allocated to
the ESOP is excessive (more
than five percent of
outstanding shares.)
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.19.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
401(k) Employee Benefit Plans
|
|
To implement a 401(k) savings
plan for employees.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.20.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Shareholder Proposals
Regarding Executive and
Director Pay
|
|
Shareholder proposals seeking
additional disclosure of
executive and director pay
information,
|
|
A |
B-26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.21.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Shareholder Proposals
Regarding Executive and
Director Pay
|
|
Shareholder proposals seeking
to set absolute levels on
compensation or otherwise
dictate the amount or form of
compensation.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.22.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Shareholder Proposals
Regarding Executive and
Director Pay
|
|
Shareholder proposals
requiring director fees be
paid in stock only
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.23.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Shareholder Proposals
Regarding Executive and
Director Pay
|
|
Shareholder proposals to put
option re-pricings to a
shareholder vote
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.24.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Shareholder Proposals
Regarding Executive and
Director Pay
|
|
For all other shareholder
proposals regarding executive
and director pay
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.25.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Performance-Based Stock Options
|
|
Shareholder proposals
advocating the use of
performance-based stock
options (indexed,
premium-priced, and
performance-vested options).
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.26.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Golden Parachutes and
Executive Severance Agreements
|
|
Shareholder proposals to
require golden parachutes or
executive severance agreements
to be submitted for
shareholder ratification
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.27.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Golden Parachutes and
Executive Severance Agreements
|
|
Proposals to ratify or cancel
golden parachutes.
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.28.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Pension Plan Income Accounting
|
|
Shareholder proposals to
exclude pension plan income in
the calculation of earnings
used in determining executive
bonuses/compensation
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.29.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plans (SERPs)
|
|
Shareholder proposals
requesting to put
extraordinary benefits
contained in SERP agreements
to a shareholder vote
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.31.
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Equity Based Compensation Plans
|
|
Management proposals for
equity plans
|
|
C |
B-27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.32
|
|
Executive and
Director
Compensation
|
|
Transferable Stock Options
|
|
Management and shareholder
proposals for new on-going
Transferable Stock option
plans if the total cost of the
companys equity plans is less
than the companys allowable
cap.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.0.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY: Animal Rights
|
|
To phase out the use of
animals in product testing
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.1.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY: Animal Rights
|
|
Report on animal welfare
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.2.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY: Animal Rights
|
|
Adopt animal welfare policy
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.3.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY:
Drug Pricing
|
|
To implement price restraints
on pharmaceutical products
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.4.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY:
Drug Reimportation
|
|
Proposals requesting that
companies report on the
financial and legal
impact of their policies
regarding prescription drug
reimportation or proposals
requesting that companies
adopt specific policies to
encourage or constrain
prescription drug
reimportation
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.5.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY:
Genetically Modified Foods
|
|
To voluntarily label
genetically engineered
(GE) ingredients in their
products or alternatively to
provide interim labeling and
eventually eliminate GE
ingredients due to the costs
and feasibility of labeling
and/or phasing out the use of
GE ingredients.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.6.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Genetically Modified Foods
|
|
A report on the feasibility of
labeling products containing
GE ingredients
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.7.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Genetically Modified Foods
|
|
A report on the financial,
legal, and environmental
impact of continued use of GE
ingredients/seeds
|
|
A |
B-28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.8.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Genetically Modified Foods
|
|
Report on the health and
environmental effects of
genetically modified organisms
(GMOs)
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.9.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Genetically Modified Foods
|
|
To completely phase out GE
ingredients from the companys
products or proposals asking
for reports outlining the
steps necessary to eliminate
GE ingredients from the
companys products. Such
resolutions presuppose that
there are proven health risks
to GE ingredients
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.10.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY:
Handguns
|
|
Reports on a companys
policies aimed at curtailing
gun violence in the United
States
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.11.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY:
HIV/AIDS
|
|
Reports outlining the impact
of the health pandemic
(HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis) on the companys
Sub-Saharan operations
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.12.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
HIV/AIDS
|
|
To establish, implement, and
report on a standard of
response to the HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria
health pandemic in Africa and
other developing countries
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.13.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY:
Predatory Lending
|
|
Reports on the companys
procedures for preventing
predatory lending, including
the establishment of a board
committee for oversight,
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.14.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY: Tobacco
|
|
Proposals seeking stronger
product warnings
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.15.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
Proposals asking that the
companys operating facilities
be smoke-free
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.16.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
Proposals dealing with product
placement in stores or
advertising to youth.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.17.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
Proposals asking the company
to cease production of
tobacco-related products or
cease selling products to
tobacco companies.
|
|
A |
B-29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.18.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
Proposals to spin-off
tobacco-related businesses:
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.19.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
Proposals prohibiting
investment in tobacco
equities.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.20.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CONSUMER ISSUES AND PUBLIC
SAFETY:
Toxic Chemicals
|
|
Proposals requesting that a
company discloses its policies
related to toxic chemicals,
proposals requesting that
companies evaluate and
disclose the potential
financial and legal risks
associated with utilizing
certain chemicals, or
proposals requiring that a
company reformulate its
products within a certain
timeframe.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.21.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
|
|
Requests for reports outlining
potential environmental damage
from drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge
(ANWR)
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.22.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
CERES Principles
|
|
Proposals to adopt the CERES
Principles
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.23.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
Environmental-Economic Risk
Report
|
|
Proposals requests reports
assessing economic risks of
environmental pollution or
climate change or reports
outlining potential
environmental damage from
operations in protected
regions, including wildlife
refuges.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.24.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Environmental Reports
|
|
Proposals for reports
disclosing the companys
environmental policies.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.25.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Nuclear Safety
|
|
Proposals requesting that
companies report on
risks associated with their
nuclear reactor designs and/or
the production and interim
storage of irradiated fuel
rods
|
|
A |
B-30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.26.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
Global Warming
|
|
Proposals to make reports on
the level of greenhouse gas
emissions from the companys
operations and products.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.27.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
Recycling
|
|
Proposals to adopt a
comprehensive recycling
strategy
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.28.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
Renewable Energy
|
|
Proposals to invest in
renewable energy sources.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.29.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Renewable Energy
|
|
Requests for reports on the
feasibility of developing
renewable energy sources
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.30.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
Sustainability Report
|
|
Proposals to make report on
its policies and practices
related to social,
environmental, and economic
sustainability
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.31.
|
|
Social and
Environmental Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY: |
|
Report on energy efficiency
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
Efficiency Report
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.32.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY:
Kyoto Protocol
|
|
Proposals requesting that
companies outline their
preparations to comply with
standards established by Kyoto
Protocol signatory markets
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.33.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
LAND USE
|
|
Proposals that request the
disclosure of detailed
information on a companys
policies related to land use
or development
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.34.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
CAFOs
|
|
Proposals requesting that
companies report to
shareholders on the risks and
liabilities associated with
concentrated animal feeding
operations (CAFOs)
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.35.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
GENERAL CORPORATE ISSUES:
Charitable/ Political
Contributions
|
|
Proposals to affirm political
nonpartisanship in the
workplace
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.36.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Charitable/ Political
Contributions
|
|
Proposals to report or publish
in newspapers the companys
political and/or charitable
contributions
|
|
A |
B-31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.37.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Charitable/ Political
Contributions
|
|
Proposals to prohibit the
company from making political
contributions
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.38.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Charitable/ Political
Contributions
|
|
Proposals to restrict the
company from making charitable
contributions
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.39.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Charitable/ Political
Contributions
|
|
Proposals to publish a list of
company executives, directors,
consultants, legal counsels,
lobbyists, or investment
bankers that have prior
government service and whether
such service had a bearing on
the business of the company
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.40.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
GENERAL CORPORATE ISSUES:
Link Executive Compensation to
Social Performance
|
|
Proposals to review ways of
linking executive compensation
to social factors
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.41.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
LABOR STANDARDS AND HUMAN
RIGHTS:
China Principles
|
|
Proposals to implement the
China Principles.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.42.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
LABOR STANDARDS AND HUMAN
RIGHTS:
Country-specific human rights
reports
|
|
Proposals to make reports
detailing the companys
operations in a particular
country and steps to protect
human rights
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.43.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
LABOR STANDARDS AND HUMAN
RIGHTS:
International Codes of
Conduct/Vendor Standards
|
|
Proposals to implement certain
human rights standards at
company facilities or those of
its suppliers and to commit to
outside, independent
monitoring
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.44.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
LABOR STANDARDS AND HUMAN
RIGHTS:
MacBride Principles
|
|
Proposals to endorse or
increase activity on the
MacBride Principles.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.45.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
MILITARY BUSINESS: Foreign
Military Sales/Offsets
|
|
Proposals to make reports on
foreign military sales or
offsets.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.46.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
MILITARY BUSINESS: Landmines
and Cluster Bombs
|
|
Proposals asking the company
to renounce future involvement
in antipersonnel landmine
production
|
|
A |
B-32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.47.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
MILITARY BUSINESS: Nuclear
Weapons
|
|
Proposals asking the company
to cease production of nuclear
weapons components and
delivery systems, including
disengaging from current and
proposed contracts
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.48.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
MILITARY BUSINESS: Operations
in Nations Sponsoring
Terrorism (Iran)
|
|
Proposals asking the company
to appoint a board committee
review and report outlining
the companys financial and
reputational risks from its
operations in Iran,
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.49.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
MILITARY BUSINESS:
Spaced-Based Weaponization
|
|
Proposals asking the company
to make reports on a companys
involvement in spaced-based
weaponization
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.50.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY: Board
Diversity
|
|
Requests for reports on the
companys efforts to diversify
the board
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.51.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY: Board
Diversity
|
|
Proposals asking the company
to increase the representation
of women and minorities on the
board
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.52.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY: Equal
Employment Opportunity (EEO)
|
|
Proposals to increase
regulatory oversight of EEO
programs
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.53.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY: Glass
Ceiling
|
|
To increase regulatory
oversight of EEO programs and
Glass Ceiling proposals
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.54.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY: Sexual
Orientation
|
|
Exclude reference to sexual
orientation from the EEO
statement
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.55.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY: Sexual
Orientation
|
|
Proposals to amend a companys
EEO statement in order to
prohibit discrimination based
on sexual orientation
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.56.
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Sexual Orientation
|
|
Proposals to extend company
benefits to or eliminate
benefits from domestic
partners
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.57
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Outsourcing
|
|
Proposals asking for companies
to report on the risks
associated with outsourcing or
offshoring.
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.58
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Community Impact Assessment
|
|
Proposals asking for reports
outling the potential
community impact of company
operations in specific
regions.
|
|
A |
B-33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.59
|
|
Social and
Environmental
Issues
|
|
Internet Privacy and Censorship
|
|
Proposals requesting the
disclosure and implementation
of Internet privacy and
censorship policies and
procedures.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.0
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Election of Directors
|
|
Director nominees who are not
described below
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.1.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Election of Directors
|
|
Ignore a shareholder proposal
that is approved by a majority
of the votes cast for two
consecutive years
|
|
W |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.2.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Convert Closed-end Fund to
Open-end Fund
|
|
Conversion Proposals
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.3.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Proxy Contests
|
|
Proxy Contests
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.4.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Investment Advisory Agreements
|
|
Investment Advisory Agreements
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.5.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Approve New Classes or Series
of Shares
|
|
The establishment of new
classes or series of shares.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.6.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Change Fundamental Restriction
to Nonfundamental Restriction
|
|
Proposals to change a funds
fundamental restriction to a
non fundamental restriction
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.7.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Change Fundamental Investment
Objective to Nonfundamental
|
|
Proposals to change a funds
fundamental investment
objective to a non fundamental
investment objective
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.8.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Name Change Proposals
|
|
Name change proposals.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.9.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Change in Funds Sub
classification
|
|
To change a funds
sub-classification
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.10.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Disposition of
Assets/Termination/Liquidation
|
|
To dispose of assets,
liquidate or terminate the
fund
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.11.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Changes to the Charter Document
|
|
To make changes to the charter
document
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.12.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Changes to the Charter Document
|
|
Removal shareholder approval
requirement to reorganize or
terminate the trust or any of
its series
|
|
F |
B-34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.13.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Changes to the Charter Document
|
|
Removal of shareholder
approval requirement for
amendments to the new
declaration of trust
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.14.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Changes to the Charter Document
|
|
Removal of shareholder
approval requirement to amend
the funds management
contract, allowing the
contract to be modified by the
investment manager and the
trust management, as permitted
by the 1940 Act
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.15.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Changes to the Charter Document
|
|
Allow the trustees to impose
other fees in addition to
sales charges on investment in
a fund, such as deferred sales
charges and redemption fees
that may be imposed upon
redemption of a funds shares
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.16.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Changes to the Charter Document
|
|
Removal of shareholder
approval requirement to engage
in and terminate Sub-advisory
arrangements
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.17.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Changes to the Charter Document
|
|
Removal of shareholder
approval requirement to change
the domicile of the fund
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.18.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Change the Funds Domicile
|
|
Funds Reincorporation
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.19.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Authorize the Board to Hire
and Terminate Subadvisors
Without
Shareholder Approval
|
|
Proposals authorizing the
board to hire/terminate
sub-advisors without
shareholder approval.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.20.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Distribution Agreements
|
|
Distribution agreements
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.21.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Master-Feeder Structure
|
|
Establishment of a
master-feeder structure.
|
|
F |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.22.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Mergers
|
|
Mergers and Acquisitions
|
|
C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.23.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Shareholder Proposals to
Establish Director Ownership
Requirement
|
|
To mandate a specific minimum
amount of stock that directors
must own in order to qualify
as a director or to remain on
the board
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.24.a
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Shareholder Proposals to
Reimburse Proxy Solicitation
Expenses
|
|
To reimburse proxy
solicitation expenses if
dissident wins
|
|
F |
B-35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.24.b
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Shareholder Proposals to
Reimburse Proxy Solicitation
Expenses
|
|
To reimburse proxy
solicitation expenses (except
as described above)
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.25.
|
|
Mutual Fund Proxies
|
|
Shareholder Proposals to
Terminate Investment Advisor
|
|
To terminate the investment
advisor
|
|
C |
RFSP-SAI-0808
B-36
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 77
ITEM 23. Exhibits:
(a)(1) Agreement and Declaration STI Calssic Funds (now, RidgeWorth Funds) (the Registrant) of
Trust as originally filed with the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
February 12, 1992, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Post-Effective Amendment No.
15 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the SEC) via EDGAR Accession No. 0000912057-96-015938 on July 31, 1996.
(a)(2) Amendment dated March 31, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the Registrants
Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114 on May 16,
2008.
(b) (1) Amended and Restated By-Laws, as approved by the Board of Trustees on August 15, 2000, as
approved by the Board of Trustees on August 15, 2000, are incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed
with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000935069-00-000528 on September 21, 2000.
(b)(2) Amendment dated March 31, 2008 to Amended and Restated By-laws, is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit (b)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registrants Registration
Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004343 on May 30, 2008.
(c) Not applicable.
(d)(1) Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Trusco Capital
Management, Inc. (now, RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.) dated November 14, 2006, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-07-004809
on May 30, 2007.
(d)(2) Amended Schedule A to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement dated November
14, 2006, between the Registrant and RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital
Management, Inc.), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(2) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 76 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession
No. 0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(d)(3) Amendment dated April 1, 2008, to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement
dated November 14, 2006, between the Registrant and RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. (formerly,
Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114 on May 16, 2008.
(d)(4) Expense Limitation Agreement dated August 1, 2007 between the Registrant and Trusco Capital
Management, Inc. (now RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.), is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit (d)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed
with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(d)(5) Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 9, 2008 between the Registrant, Trusco Capital
Management, Inc. (now RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.) and Alpha Equity Management LLC, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746
on July 29, 2008.
(d)(6) Form of Expense Limitation Agreement dated August 1, 2008 among the Registrant,
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc., Alpha Equity Management LLC and StableRiver Capital
Management, LLC, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746
on July 29, 2008.
C-1
(d)(7) Form of Interim Investment Subadvisory Agreement between RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
and Zevenbergen Capital Investments, LLC is filed herewith.
(d)(9) Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated December 13, 2007, between Trusco Capital Management,
Inc. (now RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.) and Alpha Equity Management LLC is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the Registrants
Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114 on May 16,
2008.
(d)(10) Amendment dated April 1, 2008 to the Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated December 13,
2007, between RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and
Alpha Equity Management LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(8) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 74 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession
No. 0000950152-08-004114 on May 16, 2008.
(d)(11) Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 9, 2008, between the Registrant, Trusco Capital
Management, Inc. (now RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.) and Alpha Equity Management LLC is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(d)(12) Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated March 31, 2008, between RidgeWorth Capital
Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and Ceredex Value Advisors LLC is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(d)(13) Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated March 31, 2008, between RidgeWorth Capital
Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and Certium Asset Management LLC is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(d)(14) Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated March 31, 2008, between RidgeWorth Capital
Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and IronOak Advisors LLC is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(d)(15) Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated March 31, 2008, between RidgeWorth Capital
Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and Seix Investment Advisors LLC, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746
on July 29, 2008.
(d)(16) Amended Schedule A to the Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated March 31, 2008, between
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and Seix Investment
Advisors LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment
No. 76 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(d)(17) Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated March 31, 2008, between RidgeWorth Capital
Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and Silvant Capital Management LLC is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(d)(18) Investment Subadvisory Agreement dated March 31, 2008, between RidgeWorth Capital
Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) and StableRiver Capital Management LLC
is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
C-2
(e)(1) Distribution Agreement dated August 20, 2008 between the Registrant and RidgeWorth
Distributors LLC is filed herewith.
(f) Not applicable.
(g)(1) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and Trust Company Bank (now, SunTrust Bank) dated
February 1, 1994, as originally filed with the Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 13, filed
on September 28, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8(b) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 15 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession
No. 0000912057-96-015938 on July 31, 1996.
(g)(2) Securities Lending Amendment dated October 1, 2002 to the Custodian Agreement dated February
1, 1994 between the Registrant and SunTrust Bank is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
(g)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000935069-03-001371 on September 30, 2003.
(g)(3) Amendment dated July 1, 2003 to the Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and SunTrust
Bank, dated as of February 1, 1994, as amended October 1, 2002, and Schedule A of such Agreement
amended as of August 16, 1995 and January 1, 1996, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
(g)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the
SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000935069-03-001651 on December 10, 2003.
(g)(4) Amendment dated November 25, 2003 to the Custodian Agreement dated February 1, 1994 between
the Registrant and SunTrust Bank, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(6) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-04-005770 on July 30, 2004.
(g)(5) Amendment dated August 19, 2005 to the Custodian Agreement dated February 1, 1994 between
the Registrant and SunTrust Bank, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(5) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-05-009415 on November 18, 2005.
(g)(6) Amendment dated March 31, 2008 to the Custodian Agreement dated February 1, 1994 between the
Registrant and SunTrust Bank, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(6) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(g)(7) Amended Schedule A dated March 31, 2008 to the Custodian Agreement dated February 1, 1994
between the Registrant and SunTrust Bank is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(7) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114 on May 16, 2008.
(g)(8) Custodian Agreement dated January 29, 2003 among the Registrant, STI Classic Variable Trust
(now, RidgeWorth Variable Trust) and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., with respect to the
Institutional Cash Management Fund, International Equity Fund, International Equity Index Fund,
International Equity 130/30 Fund, Real Estate 130/30 Fund, U.S. Equity 130/30 Fund, Seix Global
Strategy Fund and Strategic Income Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(7) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the Registration Statement of the STI Classic Variable Trust
(now, RidgeWorth Variable Trust) (SEC No. 033-91476) filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000935069-03-00052 on April 25, 2003.
(g)(9) Amendment dated March 31, 2008 to the Custodian Agreement dated January 29, 2003 among the
Registrant, RidgeWorth Variable Trust (formerly, STI Classic Variable Trust) and Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co., is
C-3
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746
on July 29, 2008.
(h)(1) Master Services Agreement between the Registrant and Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
(formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio, Inc.) dated July 16, 2004, is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit (h)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to the Registrants Registration
Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-04-007101 on September 28, 2004.
(h)(2) Revised Schedule A to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004, between the
Registrant and Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio, Inc.) is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(h)(3) Amendment dated as of August 11, 2004 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004,
between the Registrant and Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio,
Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to
the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950152-04-007101 on September 28, 2004.
(h)(4) Amendment dated November 5, 2004 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004,
between the Registrant and Citi Fund Services, Ohio, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio,
Inc.) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-04-009220
on December 30, 2004.
(h)(5) Amendment dated November 18, 2005 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004,
between the Registrant and Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio,
Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(4) of Post Effective Amendment No. 63 to
the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950152-06-002527 on March 24, 2006.
(h)(6) Amendment dated July 1, 2007 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004, between
the Registrant and Citi Fund Services, Ohio, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio, Inc.) is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-07-009632
on December 14, 2007.
(h)(7) Amendment dated May 15, 2007 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004, between
the Registrant and Citi Fund Services, Ohio, Inc., (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio, Inc.) is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(h)(8) Amendment dated August 21, 2007 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004,
between the Registrant and Citi Fund Services, Ohio, Inc., (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio,
Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to
the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950152-08-004114 on May 16, 2008.
(h)(9) Form of Amendment dated April 1, 2008 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004,
between the Registrant and Citi Fund Services, Ohio, Inc., (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio,
Inc.), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to
the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(h)(10) Amendment dated May 20, 2008 to the Master Services Agreement dated July 16, 2004, between
the Registrant and Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio, Inc.), is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746
on July 29, 2008.
C-4
(h)(11) Form of Shareholder Service Plan and Agreement relating to Corporate Trust Shares, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746
on July 29, 2008.
(h)(12) Shareholder Servicing Plan related to R Shares, is filed herewith.
(h)(13) Securities Lending Management Agreement dated March 1, 2005, between the Registrant and
Credit Suisse First Boston is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(10) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 57 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession
No. 0000950152-05-004581 on May 18, 2005.
(h)(14) Compliance Services Agreement dated October 1, 2004, among the Registrant, STI Classic
Variable Trust (now, RidgeWorth Variable Trust) and Citi Fund Services, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund
Services, Ohio, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 64 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession
No. 0000950152-06-004792 on May 30, 2006.
(h)(15) Form of Amendment dated May 1, 2008 to the Compliance Services Agreement dated October 1,
2004, among the Registrant, RidgeWorth Variable Trust (formerly, STI Classic Variable Trust) and
Citi Fund Services, Inc. (formerly,, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio, Inc.), is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit (h)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registrants Registration
Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(i) To be updated by amendment.
(j) Consent of independent registered public accounting firm, is incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit (j) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed
with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(k) Not applicable.
(l) Not applicable.
(m)(1) Distribution and Service Plan relating to C Shares and R Shares (with respect to certain
Funds) dated May 17, 2005, as amended November 20, 2008 is filed herewith.
(m)(2) Distribution and Service Plan relating to B Shares dated February 11, 2003 is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to the Registrants
Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000935069-03-001371 on September
30, 2003.
(m)(3) Distribution and Service Plan relating to A Shares dated May 17, 2005 is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to the Registrants
Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-05-0048058 on May 27,
2005.
(m)(4) Amended Schedule A dated August 1, 2008 to the Distribution and Service Plan relating to A
Shares dated May 17, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(4) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 76 to the Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession
No. 0000950152-08-005746 on July 29, 2008.
(n)(1) Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan is filed herewith.
(o) Not applicable.
(p)(1) Registrants Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registrants Registration statement filed with the SEC via
EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004343 on May 30, 2008.
C-5
(p)(2) Code of Ethics for Trusco Capital Management, Inc. (now, RidgeWorth Capital Management,
Inc.) Ceredex Value Advisors LLC, Certium Asset Management LLC, IronOak Advisors LLC, Seix
Investment Advisors LLC, Silvant Capital Management LLC and StableRiver Capital Management LLC is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-07-004809
on May 30, 2007.
(p)(3) Code of Ethics for Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC, dated October 1, 2007 is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to the
Registrants Registration Statement filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950152-08-004114
on May 16, 2008.
(p)(4) Code of Ethics for Alpha Equity Management LLC is filed herewith.
ITEM 24. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant:
See the prospectus and Statement of Additional Information regarding the Registrants control
relationships.
ITEM 25. Indemnification:
Article VIII of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit (a) to the Registrants
Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference. Insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Act) may be permitted to trustees,
directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the
Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and, therefore, is 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
trustees, directors, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the
successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, directors,
officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares 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 issues.
ITEM 26. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser:
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. (formerly, Trusco Capital Management, Inc.) (the Adviser)
serves as the investment adviser for each series of the Registrant. The Advisers principal address
is 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which each director
or principal officer of the adviser is or has been, at any time during the last two fiscal years,
engaged for his own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee
are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
David Eidson
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Senior Vice President |
Chairman &
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Executive Vice President |
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
SunTrust Capital Markets
|
|
Board Member |
|
|
Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC
|
|
Board Member |
|
|
|
|
|
Ashi Parikh
|
|
CeredexValue Advisors LLC (Ceredex)
|
|
CEO |
President & CIO
|
|
IronOak Advisors LLC (IronOak)
|
|
CEO |
|
|
Silvant Capital Management LLC (Silvant)
|
|
CEO |
|
|
StableRiver Capital Management LLC
|
|
Chairman |
C-6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
|
|
(StableRiver) |
|
|
|
|
Certium Asset Management LLC (Certium)
|
|
CEO |
|
|
|
|
|
Christina Seix
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Executive Vice President
|
|
SunTrust International Banking
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
Seix Investment Advisors LLC
|
|
Chairman |
|
|
(Seix) |
|
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CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
David C. Anderson
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
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|
|
Andrew S. Atkins
|
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|
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Vice President |
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Steve R. Bendrick
|
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Vice President |
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Gordon R. Boardway
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Vice President |
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Sabrina Bowens
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Vice President |
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Charles H. Boyt
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Vice President |
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John C. Brennan
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Vice President |
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Sheraun Y. Britton-Paris
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Vice President |
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Matthew B. Carney
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Director |
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Benjamin M. Clark
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
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Officer |
Vice President |
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Shane Coldren
|
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SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
Officer |
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Jim Coryell
|
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Director |
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David M. Craig
|
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Director |
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Samantha Crain
|
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|
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Vice President |
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Dara B. Day
|
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|
|
Associate |
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C-7
|
|
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|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Martin J. Duffy
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
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Mary J. Durkin
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
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Todd C. Early
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Douglas J. Farmer
|
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|
|
Vice President |
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Laura B. Friend
|
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|
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Director |
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|
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Kirsten M. Fuller
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
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|
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|
|
Karen Gardner
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
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|
|
Alan M. Gayle
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
Allan J. George
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
Bradford Anthony Gifford
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
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|
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|
|
Eunice Gillespie
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melvin E. Hamilton
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
Diana Hanlin
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacob. T. Harper
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
James B. Hester
|
|
|
|
|
Associate
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Todd Hill
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deborah A. Hopkins
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
C-8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Marcus Hopkins
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Associate |
Associate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
Zhigang Jin
|
|
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|
|
Associate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher A. Jones
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jay Karpinsky
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mary S. Kelly
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William J. Laplante Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne G. Larochelle
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Jonathan D. Larsen
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew D. Lota
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve Loncar
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tina Y. Long
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Tate McDaniel Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William J. Longan
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott F. Luxton
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jennifer Love Mann
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Samuel A. McKnight, Jr.
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniella Moiseyev - Cunnife |
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evan B. Melcher
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blake E. Myton
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wesley P. Neal
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laura B. Newberg
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David W. Neely
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
C-9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Robert H. Neinken
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick A. Paparelli
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director/Secretary
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CCO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Ty E. Parrish
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronnie G. Pennell
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James M. Phebus Jr.
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory L. Phillips
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gary A. Plourde
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sean D. Porrello
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raymond A. Prophater
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Armond R. Reese
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David W. Reidy
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
Dina E. Romeo
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Josie C. Rosson
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CCO |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
C-10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Michael C. Sahakian
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diane F. Schmidt
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sowmdeb Sen
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julia R. Short
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shelly R. Simpson
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Slakter
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward P. Smith
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George D. Smith, Jr.
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen Smith
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellen E. Spong
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey P. St. Amand
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John H. Stebbins
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CFO |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CFO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Kimberly Jean Strickland
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Stueve
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jessica Lacey Thompson
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
Vice President
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
C-11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Matthew M. Tollison
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michelle A. Tribble
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William A. Turner
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
Director
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
David Walley
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph P. Walsh
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph Ward
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Angela V. Watterson
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Wilson
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William L. Wilson, Jr.
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin D. Wright
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen M. Yarbrough
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jay A. Young
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
C-12
Ceredex Value Advisors LLC (Ceredex) serves as the investment subadviser for the
Registrants Large Cap Value Equity Fund, Mid-Cap Value Equity Fund and the Small
Cap Value Equity Fund. The principal address of Ceredex is 300 South Orange Avenue,
Suite 1600, Orlando, Florida 32801.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Brett Barner
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charlie Carter
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
Vice President
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
Officer |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Rohit Dewan
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jennifer Graff
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nicole Guidry
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Associate |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hein Hanekom
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Associate |
Associate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashi Parikh
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
President & CIO |
CEO
|
|
IronOak
|
|
CEO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
CEO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CEO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Chairman |
|
|
|
|
|
Mills Riddick
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
President/CIO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Josie Rosson
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CCO
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Cody Smith
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
C-13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
John Stebbins
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CFO
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CFO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Don Wordell
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
IronOak Advisors LLC (IronOak) serves as the investment subadviser for the
Registrants Large Cap Core Equity Fund and the Mid-Cap Core Equity Fund. The
principal address of IronOak is 919 East Main St., Richmond, Virginia 23219
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Charles Arrington
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank Ashby
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frances Aylor
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matthew Laing
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Mallory
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey Markunas
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
Officer |
President/CIO
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas ONeil
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashi Parikh
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
President & CIO |
CEO
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CEO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
CEO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CEO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Chairman |
C-14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Josie Rosson
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CCO
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
James Savage
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Stebbins
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CFO
|
|
SunTrust Bank, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Silvant
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CFO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
Silvant Capital Management LLC (Silvant) serves as the investment subadviser for
the Registrants Large Cap Growth Stock Fund, Select Large Cap Growth Stock Fund and
Small Cap Growth Stock Fund. The principal address of Silvant is 50 Hurt Plaza,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Brandi Allen
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christin Armacost
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael A. Bain
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sandeep Bhatia
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brad Erwin
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Foster
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Guinther
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
President/CIO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randy Loving
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
C-15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Patrick Paparelli
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CCO
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CCO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Ashi Parikh
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
President & CIO |
CEO
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CEO |
|
|
Iron Oak
|
|
CEO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CEO |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Chairman |
|
|
|
|
|
Joe Ransom
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kristin Ribic
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Sansoterra
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Marc Schneidau
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Stebbins
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CFO
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CFO |
|
|
IronOak
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
CFO |
|
|
Seix
|
|
Officer |
|
|
StableRiver
|
|
CFO |
Certium Asset Management LLC (Certium) serves as the
investment subadviser for the Registrants International
Equity Fund, International Equity Index Fund, and the
Large Cap Quantitative Equity Fund. The principal
address of Certium is 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400, Atlanta,
GA 30326.
C-16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Chad Deakins
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
President/CEO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles East
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Risei Goto
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick Papparelli
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CCO
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
|
|
SunTrust Bank |
|
|
|
|
Ceredex |
|
|
|
|
IronOak |
|
|
|
|
StableRiver |
|
|
|
|
Seix |
|
|
|
|
Silvant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashi Parikh
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
President and CIO |
CEO
|
|
Ceredex |
|
|
|
|
IronOak |
|
|
|
|
Silvant |
|
|
|
|
StableRiver |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Peters
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Stebbins
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Managing Director |
CFO
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
|
|
SunTrust Bank |
|
|
|
|
Ceredex |
|
|
|
|
IronOak |
|
|
|
|
Silvant |
|
|
|
|
StableRiver |
|
|
|
|
Seix |
|
|
Seix Investment Advisors LLC (Seix) serves as the investment subadviser for the
Registrants High Income Fund, Intermediate Bond Fund, Investment Grade Bond Fund,
Limited Duration Fund, Limited-Term Federal Mortgage Securities Bond Fund, Seix
Floating Rate High Income Fund, Seix High Yield Fund, Strategic Income Fund, Total
Return Bond Fund, and U.S. Government Securities Fund. The principal address of
Seix is 10 Mountainview Road, Suite C-200, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
C-17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Jeannell Anthony
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Associate |
Associate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Cashwell, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlos Catoya
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stacy Culver
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William Davis
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher DeGaetano
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deirdre Dillon
|
|
|
|
|
CCO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rebecca Ehrhart
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Fitzpatrick
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vincent Flanagan
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elena Fyodorova
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michelle Gallo
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leo Goldstein
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George Goudelias
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Guevera
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Associate |
Associate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Keegan
|
|
Seix Structured Products LLC
|
|
Manager |
CIO |
|
|
|
|
C-18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Nathaniel King
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Kirkpatrick
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raymond Kramer
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Kupchinsky
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gerard Leen
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Leonard
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carla Leslie
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biron Lim
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael McEachern
|
|
|
|
|
President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Claudia J. McPherson |
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sharon Moran |
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Nold
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cynthia Panebianco
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Reid
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Reiger
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
C-19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Christina Seix
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
Chairman
|
|
SunTrust International Banking Company
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Sherman |
|
|
|
|
CEO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robin Shulman
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atul Sibal
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric Storch
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Perry Troisi
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ania Wacht
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George Way
|
|
|
|
|
CFO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adrien Webb
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellen Welsh
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas Winters
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Yozzo
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Samuel Zona
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
StableRiver Capital Management LLC (StableRiver) serves as the investment subadviser
for the Registrants Georgia Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, High Grade Municipal Bond Fund,
Investment Grade Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Maryland Municipal Bond Fund, North Carolina
Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Short-Term Bond Fund, Short-Term U.S. Treasury Securities Fund,
U.S. Government Securities Ultra-Short Bond Fund, Ultra-Short Bond Fund, Virginia
Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Institutional Cash Management Money Market Fund,
Institutional Municipal Cash Reserve Money Market Fund, Institutional U.S. Government
Securities Money Market Fund, Institutional U.S. Treasury Securities Money Market
Fund, Prime Quality Money Market Fund, Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund, U.S. Government
Securities Money Market Fund, U.S. Treasury Securities Money Market Fund and the
Virginia Tax-Free Money Market Fund. The principal address of StableRiver is 50 Hurt
Plaza, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326.
C-20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER |
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
COMPANY |
Matthew Boden
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George Calvert
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Carter
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kimberly Cook
|
|
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
|
|
Associate |
Associate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Corner
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Craig
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colleen Doremus |
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Giglio |
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matt Edelstein
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory Hallman
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Honshurak |
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Kallis |
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Kofron |
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
Hollis D. Linginfelter |
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kimberly Maichle
|
|
|
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Doug Mitchell
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
C-21
|
|
|
|
|
NAME |
|
NAME OF OTHER COMPANY |
|
CONNECTION WITH OTHER COMPANY |
Rick Nelson
|
|
|
|
|
CEO/CIO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Robertson, III
|
|
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
|
|
Officer |
President
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Josie Rosson
|
|
SunTrust Bank
|
|
Officer |
CCO
|
|
Ceredex
|
|
CCO |
|
|
Certium
|
|
Officer |
|
|
IronOak
|
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CCO |
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Silvant
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Officer |
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Ron Schwartz |
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Managing Director |
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Michael Sebesta |
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Managing Director |
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Dusty Self |
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Director |
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Mark Smith
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RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
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Associate |
Associate |
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Dean Speer |
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Director |
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John Stebbins
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RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
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Managing Director |
CFO
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SunTrust Banks, Inc.
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Officer |
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SunTrust Bank |
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Ceredex |
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IronOak |
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Silvant |
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StableRiver |
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Seix |
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Chad Stephens |
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Managing Director |
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Sonny Surkin
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Director |
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J.P. Yarusinski
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Director |
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Scott Yuschak |
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RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc. |
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Officer |
Vice President |
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Justin Wu |
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Vice President |
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C-22
Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC (ZCI) serves as the investment subadviser for the
Registrants Aggressive Growth Stock and Emerging Growth Stock Funds. The principal address of ZCI
is 601 Union Street, Seattle, Washington 98101.
Other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which each director
or principal officer of the subadviser is or has been, at any time during the last two fiscal
years, engaged for his own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or
trustee are as follows:
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Connection with Other |
Name |
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Name of Other Company |
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Company |
Brooke de Boutray
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
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Rivendell Capital Inc.
Seattle University
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Vice President and Director
Member, Department of
Finance Advisory Board |
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Lisa Foley
Managing Director, Investment Officer
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Rivendell Capital Inc.
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Secretary |
Leslie Tubbs
Managing Director,
Portfolio Manager
and Chief Compliance Officer
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Rivendell Capital Inc.
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Treasurer |
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Nancy A. Zevenbergen
President and Chief Investment Officer
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Rivendell Capital Inc.
Seattle Pacific
University Foundation
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President and Director
Director |
Alpha Equity Management LLC (Alpha Equity) serves as the investment subadviser for the
Registrants International Equity 130/30 Fund, the Real Estate 130/30 Fund and the U.S. Equity
130/30 Fund. The principal address of Alpha Equity is 90 State House Square, Suite 1100, Hartford,
CT 06103.
Other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which each director
or principal officer of the subadviser is or has been, at any time during the last two fiscal
years, engaged for his own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or
trustee are as follows:
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Connection with Other |
Name |
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Name of Other Company |
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Company |
Kevin Means |
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Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer |
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Vince Fioramonti |
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Partner, Director of Trading and IT |
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Donald Townswick |
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Partner, Director of Research |
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Neil Kochen |
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Partner, Chief Risk Officer |
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Peter E. de Svastich |
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Partner, Chief Financial Officer/Chief |
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Compliance Officer |
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Charles B. Krausen |
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Partner, Director of Institutional Marketing |
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Alan Glatt |
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Partner, Director of Private Client Marketing |
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ITEM 27. Principal Underwriters:
Item 27(a) RidgeWorth Distributors LLC (the Distributor) acts as principal underwriter for the
following investment companies: |
RidgeWorth Funds
RidgeWorth Variable Trust
C-23
The Distributor is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is
a member of the Financial Regulatory Authority or FINRA. The Distributor has its main address at
10 High Street, Suite 302, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. The Distributor is an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group LLC.
Item 27(b) Information about the Directors and Officers of the Distributor is as follows:
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Name |
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Address |
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Position with Underwriter |
Mark S. Redman
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690 Taylor Road, Gahanna, OH 43230
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President and Manager |
Jennifer Hoopes
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3 Canal Plaza, Portland, ME 04101
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Secretary |
Linda C. Carley
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10 High Street, Boston, MA 02110
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Chief Compliance Officer |
Wayne A. Rose
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10 High Street, Boston, MA 02110
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Assistant Chief Compliance Officer |
James E. (Ed) Pike
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690 Taylor Road, Gahanna, OH 43230
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Financial and Operations Principal |
Richard J. Berthy
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Three Canal Plaza, Portland, ME 04101
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Treasurer, Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Manager |
Item 27(c) Not applicable.
ITEM 28. Location of Accounts and Records:
Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, and the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:
(a) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1); (2)(a) and (b); (3); (6); (8); (12); and
31a-1(d), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of Registrants custodians:
SunTrust Bank
303 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30308
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
40 Water Street
Boston, MA 02109
(Institutional Cash Management Money Market Fund, International Equity Fund, International
Equity Index Fund, Seix Global Strategy Fund, Strategic Income Fund, International Equity
130/30 Fund, Real Estate 130/30 Fund and U.S. Equity 130/30 Fund)
(b) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1),(4); (2)(C) and (D); (4); (5); (6); (8); (9); (10);
(11); and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of Registrants
administrator:
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (formerly, BISYS Fund Services, Ohio, Inc.)
3435 Stelzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219
(c) With respect to Rules 31a-1(b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and 31a-1(f), the required books and
records are maintained at the principal offices of the Registrants adviser and subadviser:
RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Alpha Equity Management LLC
90 State House Square
Suite 1100
C-24
Hartford, CT 06103
Ceredex Value Advisers LLC
300 South Orange Avenue, Suite 1600
Orlando, FL 32801
(records relating to its function as subadviser)
Certium Asset Management LLC
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
(records relating to its function as subadviser)
IronOak Advisors LLC
919 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(records relating to its function as subadviser)
Seix Investment Advisors LLC
10 Mountain View Road
Suite C-200
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Silvant Capital Management LLC
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
(records relating to its function as subadviser)
StableRiver Capital Management LLC
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30303
(records relating to its function as subadviser)
Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC
601 Union Street
Seattle, Washington 98101
(records relating to its function as subadviser)
(d) RidgeWorth Distributors LLC
10 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
(records relating to its function as distributor)
ITEM 29. Management Services: None.
ITEM 30. Undertakings: None.
C-25
NOTICE
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust for the Registrant is on file with the Secretary
of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this Registration
Statement has been executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an
officer and by its trustees as trustees and not individually and the obligations of or arising out
of this Registration Statement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, or shareholders
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Registrant.
C-26
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act) and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 77 to the Registrants Registration Statement (the Amendment) to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia on the
10th day of December, 2008.
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By: |
/s/ Julia Short
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Julia R. Short, |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacity and as of the dates indicated.
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*
Jeffrey M. Biggar
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Trustee |
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*
George C. Guynn
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Trustee |
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*
Sidney E. Harris
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Trustee |
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*
Warren Y. Jobe
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Trustee |
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*
Connie D. McDaniel
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Trustee |
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*
Clarence H. Ridley
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Trustee |
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*
Charles D. Winslow
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Trustee |
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/s/ Julia Short
Julia R. Short
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President and
Chief Executive Officer |
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/s/ Martin R. Dean
Martin R. Dean
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Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer |
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* By: |
/s/ Cynthia Surprise
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Cynthia Surprise, pursuant to the
powers of attorney filed herewith |
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C-27
RIDGEWORTH FUNDS
RIDGEWORTH VARIABLE TRUST
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned as trustees of RidgeWorth Funds
and RidgeWorth Variable Trust (each, a Trust), business trusts organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby constitutes and appoints Kerry Reilly and Cynthia Surprise,
and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead,
and in the capacity indicated below, to sign any and all Registration Statements and all amendments
thereto relating to the offering of each Trusts shares under the provisions of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and/or the Securities Act of 1933, each such Act as amended, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, acting
alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have herewith set their names as of the 20th
day of May 2008.
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/s/ Jeffrey Biggar
Jeffrey M. Biggar, Trustee
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/s/ George C. Guynn
George C. Guynn, Trustee
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/s/ Sidney E. Harris
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/s/ Warren Y. Jobe |
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Sidney E. Harris, Trustee
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Warren Y. Jobe, Trustee |
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/s/ Connie McDaniel
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/s/ Clarence Ridley |
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Connie D. McDaniel, Trustee
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Clarence H. Ridley, Trustee |
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Charles D. Winslow, Trustee |
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C-28
Exhibit Index
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Exhibit |
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Document |
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(d)(7)
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Form of Interim Investment Subadvisory Agreement between RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc.
and Zevenbergen Capital Investments, LLC. |
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(e)(1)
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Distribution Agreement dated August 20, 2008 between the Registrant and RidgeWorth
Distributors LLC. |
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(h)(12)
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Shareholder Servicing Plan related to R Shares. |
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(m)(1)
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Distribution and Service Plan relating to C Shares and R Shares (with respect to certain
Funds) dated May 17, 2005, as amended November 20, 2008. |
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(n)(1)
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Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan. |
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(p)(4)
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Code of Ethics for Alpha Equity Management LLC. |
C-29