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The UBS Funds

Statement of Additional Information | February 22, 2021

One North Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606

This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") relates to the Class P2 shares of the following fund (the "Fund"), which is a series of The UBS Funds, an open-end management investment company (the "Trust"):

 

Class P2

 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund

 

EIPTX

 

UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc. ("UBS AM (Americas)"), an indirect asset management subsidiary of UBS Group AG, serves as the investment advisor and administrator for the Fund. UBS Asset Management (US) Inc. ("UBS AM (US)") serves as the underwriter for the Fund. UBS AM (US) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of UBS Group AG.

Portions of the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders are incorporated by reference into this SAI. The Annual Report accompanies this SAI. You may obtain additional copies of the Fund's Annual Report without charge by calling toll-free 1-800-647 1568.

This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read only in conjunction with the Fund's current Prospectuses, dated February 22, 2021. A copy of the Prospectuses may be obtained by calling your investment professional or by calling the Trust toll-free at 1-800-647 1568. The Prospectuses contain more complete information about the Fund. You should read it carefully before investing.



Table of contents

 

Page

 

General information about the Trust

   

5

   

Diversification status

   

5

   

General definitions

   

5

   

Investment strategies

   

6

   

Investments relating to the Fund

   

6

   

Borrowing

   

6

   

Cash and cash equivalents

   

7

   

Repurchase agreements

   

7

   

Reverse repurchase agreements

   

7

   

Loans of portfolio securities

   

8

   

Swaps

   

8

   

Futures

   

12

   

Options

   

14

   

Index options

   

16

   

Special risks of options on indices

   

17

   

Options on futures contracts

   

17

   

Options on swap agreements

   

18

   

Forward foreign currency contracts

   

18

   

Non-deliverable forwards

   

19

   

Options on foreign currencies

   

20

   

Exchange-traded notes ("ETNs")

   

21

   

Special risks of certain derivatives

   

21

   

Risks of potential regulation of swaps and other derivatives

   

22

   

Commodity pool operator exclusion

   

22

   

Illiquid investments

   

23

   

Rule 144A

   

23

   

Non-publicly traded securities, private placements and restricted securities

   

24

   

Regulation S securities

   

24

   

Investment company securities and investments in affiliated investment companies

   

24

   

Exchange-traded funds ("ETFs")

   

25

   

Real estate investment trusts ("REITs")

   

25

   

Foreign securities

   

26

   

Emerging markets investments

   

27

   

Risks of investing in emerging markets

   

28

   

China A-shares

   

28

   

Issuer location

   

29

   

Equity securities

   

29

   

Special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs")

   

29

   

Equity participation notes or equity linked notes (collectively "EPNs")

   

30

   

Short sales

   

30

   


2



Table of contents

 

Page

 

Convertible securities

   

31

   

Other investments

   

32

   

Summary of risks

   

32

   

Cybersecurity risk

   

32

   

Market risk

   

32

   

Investment restrictions

   

33

   

Management of the Trust

   

34

   

Independent trustees

   

37

   

Officers

   

39

   

Information about Independent trustee ownership of securities issued by UBS AM

   

41

   

Information about trustee ownership of Fund shares

   

41

   

Compensation table

   

42

   

Principal holders of securities

   

42

   

Investment advisory, principal underwriting and other service arrangements

   

43

   

Advisor

   

43

   

Portfolio managers

   

44

   

Administrative, accounting and custody services

   

46

   

Principal underwriting arrangements

   

47

   

Transfer agency and related services

   

48

   

Independent registered public accounting firm

   

48

   

Legal counsel

   

48

   

Personal trading policies

   

48

   

Proxy voting policies

   

49

   

Portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures

   

50

   

Bank line of credit

   

54

   

Portfolio transactions and brokerage commissions

   

54

   

Portfolio turnover

   

56

   

Shares of beneficial interest

   

57

   

Additional purchase, exchange and redemption information and other services

   

57

   

Transfer of securities

   

58

   

Valuation of shares

   

59

   

Taxes

   

60

   

Taxation of the Fund

   

60

   

Taxation of Fund distributions

   

64

   

Sales, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares

   

66

   

Tax treatment of portfolio transactions

   

68

   

Backup withholding

   

73

   

Abandoned or unclaimed property

   

73

   

Non-US investors

   

74

   

Effect of future legislation; local tax considerations

   

76

   


3



Table of contents

 

Page

 

Potential conflicts of interest

   

76

   

Performance calculations

   

84

   

Securities lending

   

85

   

Financial statements and report of independent registered public accounting firm

   

86

   

Appendix A—Debt ratings

   

A-1

   


4



General information about the Trust

The Trust currently consists of shares of the following thirteen funds, representing separate portfolios of investments. Each of the following Funds currently offer two classes of shares—Class A shares and Class P shares: UBS Dynamic Alpha Fund, UBS Global Allocation Fund, UBS U.S. Small Cap Growth Fund, UBS U.S. Sustainable Equity Fund, UBS Municipal Bond Fund and UBS Total Return Bond Fund. The following Funds offer three classes of shares—Class A shares, Class P shares, and Class P2 shares: UBS All China Equity Fund, UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund, UBS Engage for Impact Fund, UBS International Sustainable Equity Fund and UBS Sustainable Development Bank Bond Fund. The following Funds currently offer only Class P shares: UBS US Dividend Ruler Fund and UBS US Quality Growth At Reasonable Price Fund. This SAI relates to Class P2 shares of the UBS Engage For Impact Fund only. Class P2 shares, which are designed primarily for institutional investors and wrap fee advisory accounts, have no sales charges and are not subject to annual 12b-1 plan expenses. The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized on August 13, 1993.

Diversification status

The Fund is "diversified" as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act").

General definitions

As used throughout this SAI, the following terms shall have the meanings listed:

"Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

"Administrator" or "UBS AM (Americas)" shall mean UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc., which serves as the Fund's administrator.

"Advisor" or "UBS AM (Americas)" shall mean UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc., which serves as the Fund's investment advisor.

"Board" shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

"Family Funds" shall mean the Fund and other funds for which UBS Asset Management (US) Inc. or any of its affiliates serves as principal underwriter.

"Fitch" shall mean Fitch Ratings, Inc.

"Fund" shall mean the UBS Engage For Impact Fund.

"Moody's" shall mean Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

"SEC" shall mean the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

"S&P" shall mean Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC.

"Trust" shall mean The UBS Funds, an open-end management investment company registered under the Act.

"Underwriter" or "UBS AM (US)" shall mean UBS Asset Management (US) Inc., which serves as the Fund's underwriter.

"1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


5



Investment strategies

The following discussion of investment techniques and instruments supplements and should be read in conjunction with the investment objective and policies set forth in the Fund's Prospectus. The investment practices described below, except for the discussion of percentage limitations with respect to portfolio loan transactions and borrowing, are not fundamental and may be changed by the Board without the approval of the shareholders.

Investments relating to the Fund

Borrowing

The Fund may borrow money for temporary emergency or extraordinary purposes, or to facilitate redemptions. The Fund will not borrow money in excess of 331/3% of the value of its total assets (including amounts borrowed, but reduced by any liabilities not constituting senior securities). Any borrowing will be done from a bank with the required asset coverage of at least 300%. In the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three days thereafter (not including Sundays or holidays), or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowings shall be at least 300%.

Segregation of assets—Financial instruments that involve the Fund's obligation to make future payments to third parties will not be viewed as creating any senior security provided that the Fund covers its obligations as described below. Those financial instruments can include, among others, (i) reverse repurchase agreements, (ii) when-issued and delayed delivery securities, (iii) dollar rolls, (iv) to-be-announced securities, (v) securities sold short (vi) swaps, (vii) futures contracts, (viii) written options, (ix) forward currency contracts, and (x) non-deliverable forwards.

The Fund will consider its obligations involving such a financial instrument as "covered" when the Fund (1) maintains an offsetting financial position, or (2) segregates liquid assets (which include, but are not limited to, cash, cash equivalents, equities and debt instruments of any grade) equal to the Fund's exposures relating to the financial instrument, as determined on a daily basis. Dedicated Fund compliance policies and procedures, which the Board has approved, govern the kinds of transactions that can be deemed to be offsetting positions for purposes of (1) above, and the amounts of assets that need to be segregated for purposes of (2) above (segregated assets procedures). Any assets designated as segregated by the Fund, either physically or "earmarked" as segregated, for purposes of (2) above shall be liquid, unencumbered and marked-to-market daily (any such assets designated as segregated, either physically or "earmarked" as segregated, are referred to in this SAI as "Segregated Assets"), and such Segregated Assets shall be maintained in accordance with pertinent positions of the SEC.

The SEC has adopted a new rule which replaces the asset segregation framework previously used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the Act, among other requirements. The Advisor will continue to monitor developments as they apply to the Fund.

The Fund's segregated assets procedures may require the Fund to sell a portfolio security or exit a transaction, including a transaction in a financial instrument, at a disadvantageous time or price in order for the Fund to be able to segregate the required amount of assets. If Segregated Assets decline in value, the Fund will need to segregate additional assets or reduce its position in the financial instruments. In addition, Segregated Assets may not be available to satisfy redemptions or for other purposes, until the Fund's obligations under the financial instruments have been satisfied. In addition, the Fund's ability to use the financial instruments identified above may under some circumstances depend on the nature of the instrument and amount of assets that the segregated assets procedures require the Fund to segregate. The segregated assets procedures provide that for futures and forward contracts that require only cash settlement, and swap agreements that call for periodic netting between the Fund and its counter-


6



party, the segregated amount is the net amount due under the contract, as determined daily on a mark-to-market basis. For other kinds of futures, forwards and swaps, the Fund must segregate a larger amount of assets to cover its obligations, which essentially limits the Fund's ability to use these instruments. If the SEC staff changes its positions concerning the segregation of the net amount due under certain forwards, futures and swap contracts, the ability of the Fund to use the financial instruments could be negatively affected.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in short-term debt securities (including repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements) of corporations, governments and their agencies and instrumentalities and banks and finance companies, which may be denominated in any currency. The Fund may also invest a portion of their assets in shares issued by money market mutual funds. When unusual market conditions warrant, the Fund may make substantial temporary defensive investments in cash equivalents up to a maximum of 100% of its net assets. Cash equivalent holdings may be in any currency (although any such non-US holdings may not constitute "cash or cash equivalents" for tax diversification purposes under the Code). When the Fund invests for defensive purposes, it may affect the attainment of the Fund's investment objective.

Pursuant to the rules and regulations under the Act and any exemptive orders issued thereunder, the Fund may invest cash: (i) held for temporary defensive purposes; (ii) not invested pending investment in securities; (iii) that is set aside to cover an obligation or commitment of the Fund to purchase securities or other assets at a later date; and (iv) to be invested on a strategic management basis in one or more money market funds or other pooled investment vehicles, including other funds sponsored by UBS AM (US).

Repurchase agreements

When the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, it purchases securities from a bank or broker-dealer that simultaneously agrees to repurchase the securities at a mutually agreed upon time and price or upon demand, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. As a result, a repurchase agreement provides a fixed rate of return insulated from market fluctuations during the term of the agreement. The term of a repurchase agreement generally is short, possibly overnight or for a few days, although it may extend over a number of months (up to one year) from the date of delivery. Repurchase agreements are considered under the Act to be collateralized loans by the Fund to the seller secured by the securities transferred to the Fund. In accordance with the Act, repurchase agreements will be fully collateralized and the collateral will be marked-to-market daily. The Fund considers a repurchase agreement having more than seven days remaining to maturity an illiquid investment and will not enter into such repurchase agreement if, as a result, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

Repurchase agreements are securities, and may be treated as "Government Securities" as defined in the Act, if fully collateralized with such securities, for purposes of the tax diversification requirements that must be met for the Fund to qualify for pass-through treatment under the Code. Accordingly, the Fund will limit the value of its repurchase agreements on each of the quarterly testing dates to ensure compliance with Subchapter M of the Code.

Reverse repurchase agreements

Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales of portfolio securities of the Fund to member banks of the Federal Reserve System or securities dealers believed creditworthy, concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same securities at a later date at a fixed price which is generally equal to the original sales price plus interest. The Fund retains record ownership and the right to receive interest and principal payments on the portfolio securities involved. In connection with each reverse repurchase transaction, the Fund's custodian will maintain Segregated Assets in an amount equal to the repurchase price (inclusive of interest charges). The cover amount for a reverse repurchase agreement that lacks a specified repurchase price is an amount equal to the value of the proceeds received on any sale subject to repurchase plus accrued interest beginning on the date the Fund enters into the reverse repurchase agreement.


7



A reverse repurchase agreement involves the risk that the market value of the securities retained by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase under the agreement. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to repurchase the securities. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings by the Fund and as such, are subject to the same investment limitations.

Loans of portfolio securities

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to qualified broker-dealers and financial institutions pursuant to agreements, provided the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral marked-to-market daily as described below; (2) the Fund may call the loan at any time and receive the securities loaned; (3) the Fund will receive any interest, dividends or other distributions paid on the loaned securities; and (4) the aggregate market value of securities loaned will not at any time exceed 331/3% of the market value of the Fund's total assets. However, as a non-fundamental policy, the Fund may not enter into a securities loan if, after giving effect thereto, portfolio securities having a value in excess of 30% of the market value of the Fund's total assets would be subject to securities loans.

When loaning portfolio securities, the Fund will initially require the borrower to provide the Fund with collateral in an amount at least equal to 102% of the market value of the loaned securities with respect to domestic securities or 105% of the market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities provided that loans of "Government Securities" as defined in the Act may be collateralized at 100%. Thereafter, collateral will generally be maintained in an amount at least equal to 102% of the value of the securities loaned with respect to domestic securities, 105% of the value of the securities loaned with respect to foreign securities or 100% of the value of the securities loaned with respect to "Government Securities." Occasionally, for certain securities, the market value of the collateral may fall below the collateral amount stated above by a de minimis amount for a period of time. However, at no time will the market value of the collateral fall below the market value of the loaned securities with respect to domestic securities or 102% of the value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities.

Collateral may consist of cash or "Government Securities" as defined in the Act. Pursuant to rules and regulations under the Act, under normal conditions, the Fund invests cash collateral from securities lending activities into a money market fund. In addition, cash collateral may be invested in repurchase agreements.

In the case that voting or consent rights that accompany a loaned security pass to the borrower, the Fund will recall the loaned security to permit the exercise of such rights if the matter involved would have a material effect on the Fund's investment in the security.

Loans of securities involve a risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities or may fail to maintain the proper amount of collateral, which may result in a loss of money by the Fund or a delay in recovering the loaned securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy of the borrower, the Fund could experience delays in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. Therefore, the Fund will only enter into portfolio loans after a review of all pertinent factors by the Advisor under the supervision of the Board, including the creditworthiness of the borrower and then only if the consideration to be received from such loans would justify the risk. Creditworthiness will be monitored on an ongoing basis by the Advisor.

Swaps

The Fund may engage in swaps, including, but not limited to, interest rate, currency and total return swaps, and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors, collars and other derivative instruments. The Fund expects to enter into these transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of the portfolio's duration, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain


8



exposure to certain markets or returns. When the Fund enters into a swap transaction, there is a risk that the Fund may experience a loss that is greater than the amount it originally invested.

Generally, swap agreements are contracts between the Fund and another party (the swap counterparty) involving the exchange of payments on specified terms over periods ranging from a few days to multiple years. In a basic swap transaction, the Fund agrees with the swap counterparty to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) and/or cash flows earned or realized on a particular "notional amount" or value of predetermined underlying reference assets. The notional amount is the set dollar or other value selected by the parties to use as the basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The parties typically do not actually exchange the notional amount. Instead they agree to exchange the returns that would be earned or realized if the notional amount were invested in given investments or at given interest rates. Examples of returns that may be exchanged in a swap agreement are those of a particular security, a particular fixed or variable interest rate, a particular non-US currency, or a "basket" of securities representing a particular index. Swaps can also be based on credit and other events.

A swap agreement may be negotiated bilaterally and traded over-the-counter ("OTC") between the two parties (for an uncleared swap) or, in some instances, must be transacted through a futures commission merchant ("FCM") and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty (for a cleared swap). As a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and related regulatory developments, which have imposed comprehensive regulatory requirements on swaps and swap market participants, certain categories of swaps, such as most types of standardized interest rate and credit default swap index agreements, are now subject to mandatory central clearing, and some of these cleared swaps must be traded on an exchange or swap execution facility. It is expected that additional categories of swaps will in the future be designated as subject to mandatory clearing and exchange trading. Mandatory clearing and exchange-trading of additional swaps will occur on a phased-in basis based on the type of market participant, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") approval of contracts for central clearing and public trading facilities making such cleared swaps available to trade. Some categories of swaps may also be cleared and traded on exchanges on a voluntary basis. While the intent of these regulatory reforms requiring clearing and exchange trading for swaps is to mitigate counterparty risk and increase liquidity and transparency in the swaps markets, mandatory clearing and exchange trading may increase trading costs and impose other risks.

The use of swaps involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Advisor is incorrect in its forecast of market values, total return of securities, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be less favorable than it would have been if this investment technique was never used.

In an uncleared swap, the swap counterparty is typically a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution. During the term of an uncleared swap, the Fund will be required to pledge to the swap counterparty, from time to time, an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to the net amount (if any) that would be payable by the Fund to the counterparty if all outstanding swaps between the parties were terminated on the date in question, including any early termination payments (variation margin). Periodically, changes in the amount pledged are made to recognize changes in value of the contract resulting from, among other things, interest on the notional value of the contract, market value changes in the underlying investment, and/or dividends paid by the issuer of the underlying asset. Likewise, the counterparty will be required to pledge cash or other assets to cover its obligations to the Fund. However, the amount pledged may not always be equal to or more than the amount due to the other party. Therefore, if a counterparty defaults on its obligations to the Fund, the amount pledged by the counterparty and available to the Fund may not be sufficient to cover all the amounts due to the Fund, and the Fund may sustain a loss.

Currently, the Fund does not typically provide initial margin in connection with uncleared swaps. However, rules requiring initial and variation margin to be posted by certain market participants for uncleared swaps have been


9



adopted and are being phased in over time. When these rules take effect with respect to the Fund, if the Fund is deemed to have material swaps exposure under the applicable swaps regulation, it will be required to post both initial margin in addition to variation margin.

In a cleared swap, the Fund's ultimate counterparty is a central clearinghouse rather than a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution. Cleared swaps are submitted for clearing through each party's FCM, which must be a member of the clearinghouse that serves as the central counterparty. When the Fund enters into a cleared swap, the Fund must make an initial margin deposit with the FCM, which is typically calculated as an amount equal to the volatility in market value of the cleared swap over a fixed period. If the value of the Fund's cleared swap declines, the Fund will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to the FCM to settle the change in value. Conversely, if the market value of the Fund's position increases, the FCM will return "variation margin" to the Fund.

Central clearing is designed to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterparty to each participant's swap, but it does not eliminate those risks completely and may involve additional costs and risks not associated with uncleared swaps. There is also a risk of loss by the Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position, or of the central counterparty in a swap contract. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund's assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM's other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty. Credit risk of cleared swap participants is concentrated in a few clearinghouses and the consequences of insolvency of a clearinghouse are not clear.

With cleared swaps, the Fund may not be able to obtain terms as favorable as it would be able to negotiate for an uncleared swap. In addition, an FCM may unilaterally amend the terms of its agreement with the Fund, which may include the imposition of position limits or additional margin requirements with respect to the Fund's investment in certain types of swaps. Central counterparties and FCMs can require termination of existing cleared swap transactions upon the occurrence of certain events, and can also require increases in margin above the margin that is required at the initiation of the swap agreement.

The Fund is also subject to the risk that, after entering into a cleared swap with an executing broker, no FCM or central counterparty is willing or able to clear the transaction. In such an event, the Fund may be required to break the trade and make an early termination payment to the executing broker.

Some types of swaps that are subject to mandatory clearing are also required to be traded on swap execution facilities ("SEFs"). A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute swap transactions by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants on the platform. Transactions executed on a SEF may increase market transparency and liquidity but may require the Fund to incur increased expenses to access the same types of swaps that it has used in the past.

If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to establish or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. Participants in the swap markets are not required to make continuous markets in the swap contracts they trade. Participants could refuse to quote prices for swap contracts or quote prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which they are prepared to buy and the price at which they are prepared to sell. Some swap agreements entail complex terms and may require a greater degree of subjectivity in their valuation. However, the swap markets have grown substantially in recent years, with a large number of financial institutions acting both as principals and agents, utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap markets have become increasingly liquid. In addition, central clearing and the trading of cleared swaps on public facilities are intended to increase liquidity.


10



Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to receive or pay interest (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments) with respect to a notional amount of principal. Currency swaps involve the exchange of cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of referenced currencies.

The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser, in return for a premium paid to the seller, to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the seller of the cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser of the floor to receive payments, in return for a premium paid to the seller, on a notional principal amount from the seller of the floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates or values.

Total return swap contracts are agreements between two parties where one counterparty pays the other the total return of a particular instrument (e.g., a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices, including real estate market indices) during the specified period in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate, typically at a floating rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), or the total rate of return on another financial instrument. The "total return" includes interest or dividend payments from, along with any change in value of, the referenced asset over a specified period. In a typical total return equity swap, payments made by the Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate. The Fund will enter into total return swap contracts only on a net basis, i.e., the two parties' obligations are netted out, with the Fund paying or receiving, as the case may be, only the net amount of the payments. Total return swap contracts may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. The value of the swap position as well as the payments required to be made by the Fund or a counterparty will increase or decrease depending on the changes in value of the underlying asset. Total return swap contracts may effectively add leverage to the Fund's portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

Total return swap transactions involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the underlying asset directly. Total return swap transactions involve counterparty risks, as discussed above, but also involve additional risks, including interest rate risk and market risk. The total rate of return of an investment on which a total return swap contract is based may exhibit substantial volatility and, in any given period, may be positive or negative for the specified period of the total return swap contract. If the Advisor is incorrect in its forecast of the underlying asset's total return, the investment performance of the Fund will be less favorable than it would have been if this investment technique was never used. In the event the total rate of return of the underlying asset is negative for the specified period of the swap contract, the Fund will be required to make a payment to the counterparty in addition to the periodic payment required by the swap contract to cover the decline in value of the underlying asset. The Fund's risk of loss, therefore, is increased because the Fund could lose an amount equal to the decrease in value of the underlying asset for the specified period of time, in addition to the periodic payments required by the total return swap contract.

The Fund may also purchase swaptions. An option on a swap agreement, also called a "swaption," is an option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap on a future date in exchange for paying a market-based "premium." A receiver swaption gives the owner the right to enter into a swap pursuant to which the owner will receive payments based on a fixed rate in exchange for making payments based on the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. A payer swaption gives the owner the right to make payments based on a fixed rate and, in exchange, receive payments based on the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. Swaptions also include options that allow an existing swap to be terminated or extended by one of the counterparties.


11



The Advisor and the Trust do not believe that the Fund's obligations under swap contracts are senior securities and, accordingly, the Fund will not treat them as being subject to the Fund's borrowing or senior securities restrictions. Generally, the minimum cover amount for a swap agreement is the amount owed by the Fund, if any, on a daily mark-to-market basis. With respect to swap contracts that provide for the netting of payments, the net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund's obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap contract will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of Segregated Assets having an aggregate market value at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained to cover the transactions in accordance with SEC positions. With respect to swap contracts that do not provide for the netting of payments by the counterparties, the full notional amount for which the Fund is obligated under the swap contract with respect to each swap contract will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of Segregated Assets having an aggregate market value at least equal to the accrued full notional value will be maintained to cover the transactions in accordance with SEC positions. When the Fund sells protection on an individual credit default swap, upon a credit event, the Fund may be obligated to deliver the underlying credit or pay the cash equivalent value of the asset. Therefore, the cover amount includes the notional value of the underlying credit on a daily mark-to-market basis. With regard to selling protection on an index (CDX), as a practical matter, the Fund would not be required to pay the full notional amount of the index; therefore, only the amount owed by the Fund, if any, on a daily mark-to-market basis is required as cover. Swaps are generally executed pursuant to agreements that provide for the pledging or deposit of liquid assets collateral. Where liquid assets have been pledged or deposited in accordance with Rule 17f-1 under the Act, the cover amount will be less any assets pledged or deposited as collateral in connection with the swap. To the extent that the Fund cannot dispose of a swap in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, the Fund will treat the swap as illiquid and subject to its overall limit on illiquid investments of 15% of the Fund's net assets.

Futures

The Fund may enter into contracts for the purchase or sale for future delivery of securities and indices. The Fund may also enter into contracts for the purchase or sale for future delivery of foreign currencies.

Generally, a futures contract is a standard binding agreement to buy or sell a specified quantity of an underlying reference asset, such as a specific security, currency, commodity interest rate or index, at a specified price at a specified later date. A purchase of a futures contract means the acquisition of a contractual right to obtain delivery to the Fund of the securities or foreign currency called for by the contract at a specified price during a specified future month. When a futures contract is sold, the Fund incurs a contractual obligation to deliver the securities or foreign currency underlying the contract at a specified price on a specified date during a specified future month.

When the Fund enters into a futures transaction, it must deliver to the FCM selected by the Fund, an amount referred to as "initial margin." The initial margin is required to be deposited in cash or government securities with an FCM. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchange and FCMs may establish initial margin requirements that are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked-to-market daily. If a futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of a "variation margin" to be held by the FCM, will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Fund. The Fund may also effect futures transactions through FCMs who are affiliated with the Advisor or the Fund in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. Because all transactions in the futures market are made, offset or fulfilled by an FCM through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded, the Fund will incur brokerage fees when it buys or sells futures contracts.

The Fund will enter into futures transactions on domestic exchanges and, to the extent such transactions have been approved by the CFTC for sale to customers in the United States, on foreign exchanges. In addition, the Fund may sell stock index futures in anticipation of or during a market decline to attempt to offset the decrease in market value of their common stocks that might otherwise result; and they may purchase such contracts in order to offset


12



increases in the cost of common stocks that they intend to purchase. Although some futures contracts by their terms require the actual delivery or acquisition of the underlying instrument or asset, some require cash settlement. Where futures contracts provide for the delivery of securities, deliveries usually do not occur. Futures contracts can be terminated by entering into offsetting transactions.

The Fund will cover its obligations under the futures transactions in which it participates by either (i) holding offsetting positions that appropriately equal the daily market value of the Fund's position in the futures contract (less the initial margin and any variation margins deposited with an FCM); or (ii) accruing such amounts on a daily basis and maintaining Segregated Assets to cover the futures contract. With respect to a futures contract that is not contractually required to "cash-settle," the Fund must cover its open position by maintaining Segregated Assets equal to the contract's full, notional value. However, the Fund may net non-cash settled futures contracts if the futures have the same expiration date and underlying instruments. With respect to a futures contract that is contractually required to "cash-settle" the Fund is permitted to maintain Segregated Assets in an amount equal to the Fund's daily marked-to-market (net) obligation (i.e., the Fund's daily net liability, if any) rather than the notional value (in other words, the initial margin plus any variation margin (unrealized loss) due based on the previous day's trading). The total cover required for all cash-settled futures contracts may be determined by netting the aggregate obligations of such contracts. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled future contracts, the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts. The value of any liquid assets held as initial or variation margin with an FCM for a cash-settled or non-settled futures contract may be deemed physically segregated or earmarked for "cover" purposes so long as such assets are held in compliance with Rule 17f-6 under the Act.

The Fund may enter into futures contracts to protect against the adverse effects of fluctuations in security prices, interest rates or foreign exchange rates without actually buying or selling the securities or foreign currency. For example, if interest rates are expected to increase, the Fund might enter into futures contracts for the sale of debt securities. Such a sale would have much the same effect as selling an equivalent value of the debt securities owned by the Fund. If interest rates did increase, the value of the debt securities in the portfolio would decline, but the value of the futures contracts to the Fund would increase at approximately the same rate, thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it otherwise would have. Similarly, when it is expected that interest rates may decline, futures contracts may be purchased to hedge in anticipation of subsequent purchases of securities at higher prices. Because fluctuations in the value of futures contracts should be similar to those of debt securities, the Fund could take advantage of the anticipated rise in value of debt securities without actually buying them until the market had stabilized. At that time, the futures contracts could be liquidated, and the Fund could then buy debt securities on the cash market. The Fund may also enter into futures contracts as a low cost method for gaining or reducing exposure to a particular currency or securities market without directly investing in those currencies or securities.

To the extent that market prices move in an unexpected direction, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of futures contracts or may realize a loss. For example, if the Fund is hedged against the possibility of an increase in interest rates, which would adversely affect the price of securities held in its portfolio, and interest rates decrease instead, the Fund would lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value that it has because it would have offsetting losses in its futures position. In addition, in such situations, if the Fund had insufficient cash, it may be required to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements. Such sales of securities may, but will not necessarily, be at increased prices that would reflect the rising market. The Fund may be required to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Futures exchanges may also limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. This daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day's settlement price. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs


13



only price movements during a particular trading day and does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.

Futures contracts that are traded on non-US exchanges may not be as liquid as those purchased on CFTC-designated contract markets. In addition, non-US futures contracts and exchanges may be subject to varied regulatory oversight. The price of any non-US futures contract and, therefore, the potential profit and loss thereon, may be affected by any change in the non-US exchange rate between the time a particular order is placed and the time it is liquidated, offset or exercised.

There is a risk of loss by the Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position in a futures contract. The assets of the Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM's customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund's assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM's other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty.

Options

The Fund may purchase and write call or put options on foreign or US securities and indices and enter into related closing transactions. The Fund may also purchase call options on particular market segment indices to achieve temporary exposure to a specific industry.

The Fund may invest in options that are either listed on US or recognized foreign exchanges or traded OTC. Certain OTC options may be illiquid. Thus, it may not be possible to close options positions, and this may have an adverse impact on the Fund's ability to effectively hedge its securities. The Trust has been notified by the SEC that it considers OTC options to be illiquid. Accordingly, the Fund will only invest in such options to the extent consistent with its 15% limit on investments in illiquid investments.

Purchasing call options—The Fund may purchase call options on securities to the extent that premiums on all outstanding call options paid by the Fund do not aggregate to more than 20% of the Fund's total assets. When the Fund purchases a call option, in return for a premium paid by the Fund to the writer of the option, the Fund obtains the right to buy the security underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. The writer of the call option, who receives the premium upon writing the option, has the obligation upon exercise of the option, to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price.

The Fund may, following the purchase of a call option, liquidate its position by effecting a closing sale transaction. This is accomplished by selling an option of the same series as the option previously purchased. The Fund will realize a profit from a closing sale transaction if the price received on the transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the original call option; the Fund will realize a loss from a closing sale transaction if the price received on the transaction is less than the premium paid to purchase the original call option.

Although the Fund will generally purchase only those call options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange may exist. In such an event, it may not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, with the result that the Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur brokerage commissions upon the exercise of such options and upon the subsequent disposition of the underlying securities acquired through the exercise of such options. Further, unless the price of the underlying security changes sufficiently, a call option purchased by the Fund


14



may expire without any value to the Fund, in which event the Fund would realize a capital loss, which will be short-term unless the option was held for more than one year.

Call writing—The Fund may write call options from time to time on such portions of its portfolio, without limit, as the Advisor determines is appropriate in seeking to achieve the Fund's investment objective. If the security over which a call has been sold rises in value beyond the strike price of the sold option, then the Fund may not fully participate in the price appreciation.

During the option period for a call option, the writer may be assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through whom such call option was sold, requiring the writer to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price. This obligation is terminated upon the expiration of the option or upon entering a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction, in which the Fund, as writer of an option, terminates its obligation by purchasing an option of the same series as the option previously written, cannot be effected once the option writer has received an exercise notice for such option.

Closing purchase transactions will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding call option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying security or to enable the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with either a different exercise price, expiration date or both. The Fund may realize a net gain or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending upon whether the net amount of the original premium received on the call option is more or less than the cost of effecting the closing purchase transaction. Any loss incurred in a closing purchase transaction may be partially or entirely offset by the premium received from a sale of a different call option on the same underlying security. Such a loss may also be wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation in the market value of the underlying security. Conversely, a gain resulting from a closing purchase transaction could be offset in whole or in part by a decline in the market value of the underlying security.

If a call option expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a short-term capital gain in the amount of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain, however, may be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying security during the option period. If a call option is exercised, the Fund will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security equal to the difference between the cost of the underlying security and the proceeds of the sale of the security plus the amount of the premium on the option less the commission paid.

The Fund will generally write call options on a covered basis. A call option written by the Fund is "covered" if the Fund owns the underlying security covered by the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration maintained as Segregated Assets by the Fund's custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund. A call option is also deemed to be covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security and in the same principal amount as the call written and the exercise price of the call held (i) is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written or (ii) is greater than the exercise price of the call written if the difference is maintained as Segregated Assets by the Fund's custodian.

Purchasing put options—The Fund may only purchase put options to the extent that the premiums on all outstanding put options do not exceed 20% of the Fund's total assets. The Fund generally will, at all times during which it holds a put option, own the security covered by such option. With regard to the writing of put options, the Fund will limit the aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options to 50% of its total assets.

A put option purchased by the Fund gives it the right to sell one of its securities for an agreed price up to an agreed date. The Fund intends to purchase put options in order to protect against a decline in the market value of the underlying security below the exercise price less the premium paid for the option ("protective puts"). The ability to purchase put options will allow the Fund to protect unrealized gains in an appreciated security in its portfolio with-


15



out actually selling the security. If the security does not drop in value, the Fund will lose the value of the premium paid. The Fund may sell a put option that it has previously purchased prior to the sale of the securities underlying such option. Such sale will result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount received on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put option that is sold.

The Fund may sell put options purchased on individual portfolio securities. Additionally, the Fund may enter into closing sale transactions. A closing sale transaction is one in which the Fund, when it is the holder of an outstanding option, liquidates its position by selling an option of the same series as the option previously purchased.

Writing put options—The Fund may also write put options on a secured basis, which means that the Fund's custodian will maintain Segregated Assets in an amount not less than the exercise price of the option at all times during the option period. Further, assets segregated or earmarked to cover a sale of a put option will be different from the security or the instrument underlying the option. The amount of Segregated Assets will be adjusted on a daily basis to reflect changes in the market value of the securities covered by the put option written by the Fund. Secured put options will generally be written in circumstances where the Advisor wishes to purchase the underlying security for the Fund's portfolio at a price lower than the current market price of the security. In such event, the Fund would write a secured put option at an exercise price, which, reduced by the premium received on the option, reflects the lower price it is willing to pay.

Following the writing of a put option, the Fund may wish to terminate the obligation to buy the security underlying the option by effecting a closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished by buying an option of the same series as the option previously written. The Fund may not, however, effect such a closing transaction after it has been notified of the exercise of the option.

Index options

The Fund may purchase exchange-listed call options on stock indices and fixed income indices and sell such options in closing sale transactions for hedging purposes. The Fund also may purchase call options on indices primarily as a substitute for taking positions in certain securities or a particular market segment. The Fund may also purchase call options on an index to protect against increases in the price of securities underlying that index that the Fund intends to purchase pending its ability to invest in such securities.

In addition, the Fund may purchase put options on stock indices and fixed income indices and sell such options in closing sale transactions. The Fund may purchase put options on broad market indices in order to protect its fully invested portfolio from a general market decline. Put options on market segments may be bought to protect the Fund from a decline in the value of heavily weighted industries in the Fund's portfolio. Put options on stock and fixed income indices may also be used to protect the Fund's investments in the case of a major redemption.

The Fund may also write (sell) put and call options on stock indices and fixed income indices. While the option is open, the Fund's custodian will maintain Segregated Assets to cover the transactions, marked-to-market daily in accordance with SEC positions.

Options on indices are similar to regular options except that an option on an index gives the holder the right, upon exercise, to receive an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based is greater than (in the case of a call) or lesser than (in the case of a put) 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 multiple (the "multiplier"). The indices on which options are traded include both US and non-US markets.


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Special risks of options on indices

The Fund's purchases of options on indices will subject them to the risks described below.

Because the value of an index option depends upon movements in the level of the index rather than the price of a particular security, whether the Fund will realize gain or loss on the purchase of an option on an index depends upon movements in the level of prices in the market generally or in an industry or market segment, rather than movements in the price of a particular security. Accordingly, successful use by the Fund of options on indices is subject to the Advisor's ability to predict correctly the direction of movements in the market generally or in a particular industry. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities.

Index prices may be distorted if trading of a substantial number of securities included in the index is interrupted causing the trading of options on that index to be halted. If a trading halt occurred, the Fund would not be able to close out options that it had purchased and the Fund may incur losses if the underlying index moved adversely before trading resumed. If a trading halt occurred and restrictions prohibiting the exercise of options were imposed through the close of trading on the last day before expiration, exercises on that day would be settled on the basis of a closing index value that may not reflect current price information for securities representing a substantial portion of the value of the index.

If the Fund holds an index option and exercises it before final determination of the closing index value for that day, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may change before closing. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall "out-of-the-money," the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (multiplied by the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer. Although the Fund may be able to minimize this risk by withholding exercise instructions until just before the daily cutoff time or by selling rather than exercising the option when the index level is close to the exercise price, it may not be possible to eliminate this risk entirely because the cutoff times for index options may be earlier than those fixed for other types of options and may occur before definitive closing index values are announced.

Options on futures contracts

The Fund may purchase and write options on futures contracts in which it is allowed to invest. For more information about the risks of entering into futures contracts, see "Futures" above.

When the Fund buys an option on a futures contract, it pays a premium for the right, but does not have the obligation, to purchase (call) or sell (put) the futures contract at a set price (called the exercise price). The purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract is similar in some respects to the purchase of a call or put option on an individual security or currency. Depending on the premium paid for the option compared to either the price of the futures contract upon which it is based or the price of the underlying reference instrument, the option may be less risky than direct ownership of the futures contract or the underlying reference instrument. For example, the Fund could purchase a call option on a long futures contract when seeking to hedge against an increase in the market value of the underlying reference instrument, such as appreciation in the value of a non-US currency against the US dollar.

When the Fund writes an option on a futures contract, the Fund becomes contractually obligated to take the opposite futures position if the buyer of the option exercises its rights to the futures position specified in the option. In return for the premium paid by the buyer, the seller assumes the risk of taking a possibly adverse futures position, which could result in substantial and potentially unlimited losses. The writing of a call option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against the declining price of the security or foreign currency that is deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at the expiration of the option is below the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium, which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the value of the Fund's investment portfolio holdings. The writing of a put option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against the increasing price of the security or foreign currency that is deliverable


17



upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at the expiration of the option is higher than the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium, which provides a partial hedge against any increase in the price of securities that the Fund intends to purchase.

Options on a stock index futures contract give the holder the right to receive cash. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the futures contract. If an option is exercised on the last trading day prior to the expiration date of the option, the settlement will be made entirely in cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the closing price of the futures contract on the expiration date. If a put or call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund may incur a loss, which will be reduced by the amount of the premium it received. Depending on the degree of correlation between changes in the value of its portfolio securities and changes in the value of its options positions, the Fund's losses from existing options on futures may, to some extent, be reduced or increased by changes in the value of portfolio securities. For example, the Fund will purchase a put option on an interest rate futures contract to hedge the Fund's investment portfolio against the risk of rising interest rates.

Furthermore, with respect to options on futures contracts, the Fund may seek to close out an option position by writing or buying an offsetting position covering the same securities or contracts and have the same exercise price and expiration date. The ability to establish and close out positions on options will be subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market, which cannot be assured.

Options on swap agreements

The Fund may purchase options on swap agreements. For more information about these types of investments, see "Swaps" above.

Forward foreign currency contracts

The Fund may purchase or sell currencies and/or engage in forward foreign currency transactions in order to expedite settlement of portfolio transactions, manage currency risk or to gain exposure to a currency without purchasing securities denominated in that currency.

Forward foreign currency contracts are traded in the inter-bank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. The Fund will account for forward contracts by marking-to-market each day at current forward contract values.

The Fund will enter into forward contracts to sell, for a fixed amount of US dollars or other appropriate currency, an amount of foreign currency, to the extent that the value of the short forward contract is covered by the underlying value of securities denominated in the currency being sold. Alternatively, when the Fund enters into a non-cash settled forward contract, or enters into a cash settled forward contract for a foreign currency for which it does not own securities denominated in that currency, to sell an amount of foreign currency, the Fund's custodian or sub-custodian will maintain Segregated Assets in an amount equal to the contract's full notional exposure of the Fund's delivery obligation under the contract. However, where a forward is executed pursuant to an agreement that provides that the different currency deliverable amounts may be converted into a single currency to determine the net realized gain or loss for settlement purposes, the cover amount is equal to the daily mark-to-market (net) obligation of the Fund (the unrealized loss, if any), as opposed to the full notional exposure of the Fund's delivery obligation. Further, where the Fund has offsetting long and short positions in identical currencies, the notional amounts of the currency positions may be netted against each other, and the cover amount is the net notional amount owed. The cover amount may be further reduced if the netting arrangement described above applies to both currency transac-


18



tions, whereby the cover amount would equal the aggregate net unrealized loss of the Fund. Settlement processes for deliverable forward currency contracts may further reduce the Fund's delivery obligation and therefore the cover amount. Where a settlement arrangement (such as a Currency Linked Settlement) provides that on the expiration date the gross notional delivery amount across all transactions will be aggregated, the cover amount is equal to the Fund's net notional amount owed.

Non-deliverable forwards

The Fund may, from time to time, engage in non-deliverable forward transactions to manage currency risk or to gain exposure to a currency without purchasing securities denominated in that currency. A non-deliverable forward is a transaction that represents an agreement between the Fund and a counterparty (usually a commercial bank) to buy or sell a specified (notional) amount of a particular currency at an agreed upon foreign exchange rate on an agreed upon future date. Unlike other currency transactions, there is no physical delivery of the currency on the settlement of a non-deliverable forward transaction. Rather, the Fund and the counterparty agree to net the settlement by making a payment in US dollars or another fully convertible currency that represents any differential between the foreign exchange rate agreed upon at the inception of the non-deliverable forward agreement and the actual exchange rate on the agreed upon future date. Thus, the actual gain or loss of a given non-deliverable forward transaction is calculated by multiplying the transaction's notional amount by the difference between the agreed upon forward exchange rate and the actual exchange rate when the transaction is completed.

When the Fund enters into a non-deliverable forward transaction, the Fund's custodian will maintain Segregated Assets in an amount equal to the daily mark-to-market (net) obligation of the Fund. If the additional Segregated Assets decline in value or the amount of the Fund's commitment increases because of changes in currency rates, additional cash or securities will be designated as Segregated Assets on a daily basis so that the value of the account will be equal to the daily mark-to-market (net) obligation of the Fund under the non-deliverable forward agreement.

Because the Fund generally may only close out a non-deliverable forward with the particular counterparty, there is a risk that the counterparty will default on its obligation under the agreement. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreement related to the transaction, but there is no assurance that contract counterparties will be able to meet their obligations pursuant to such agreements or that, in the event of a default, the Fund will succeed in pursuing contractual remedies. The Fund thus assumes the risk that it may be delayed or prevented from obtaining payments owed to it pursuant to non-deliverable forward transactions.

In addition, where the currency exchange rates that are the subject of a given non-deliverable forward transaction do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Fund could sustain losses on the non-deliverable forward transaction. The Fund's investment in a particular non-deliverable forward transaction will be affected favorably or unfavorably by factors that affect the subject currencies, including economic, political and legal developments that impact the applicable countries, as well as exchange control regulations of the applicable countries. These risks are heightened when a non-deliverable forward transaction involves currencies of emerging market countries because such currencies can be volatile and there is a greater risk that such currencies will be devalued against the US dollar or other currencies.

Under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, non-deliverable forwards (including some deliverable forwards that are cash-settled) are considered swaps, and therefore are included in the definition of "commodity interests." Although non-deliverable forwards have historically been traded in the OTC market, as swaps they may in the future be required to be centrally cleared and traded on public facilities. For more information on central clearing and trading of cleared swaps, see "Swaps" and "Risks of potential regulation of swaps and other derivatives." Currency and cross currency forwards that qualify as deliverable forwards are not regulated as swaps for most purposes, and are not included in the definition of "commodity interests." However these forwards are subject to some requirements applicable to swaps, including reporting to swap data repositories, documentation requirements, and


19



business conduct rules applicable to swap dealers. CFTC regulation of currency and cross currency forwards, especially non-deliverable forwards, may restrict the Fund's ability to use these instruments in the manner described above or subject the Advisor to CFTC registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator ("CPO").

Options on foreign currencies

The Fund also may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on US and foreign exchanges or OTC markets) to manage the Fund's exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. The Fund may purchase and write options on foreign currencies for hedging purposes in a manner similar to that in which futures contracts on foreign currencies or forward contracts will be utilized. For example, a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will reduce the dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of portfolio securities, the Fund may purchase put options on the foreign currency. If the dollar price of the currency does decline, the Fund will have the right to sell such currency for a fixed amount in dollars and will thereby offset, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio which otherwise would have resulted.

Conversely, where a rise in the dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby increasing the dollar price of such securities, the Fund may purchase call options on such currency.

The purchase of such options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movement in exchange rates. As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to the Fund to be derived from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, where currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options that would require it to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in such rates.

The Fund may write options on foreign currencies for the same types of hedging purposes. For example, where the Fund anticipates a decline in the dollar value of foreign currency denominated securities due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, it could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the expected decline occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised, and the diminution in the value of portfolio securities will be offset by the amount of the premium received.

Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option to hedge against an anticipated increase in the dollar cost of securities to be acquired, the Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency, which, if rates move in the manner projected, will expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge such increased cost up to the amount of the premium. As in the case of other types of options, however, the writing of a foreign currency option will constitute only a partial hedge up to the amount of the premium, and only if rates move in the expected direction. If this does not occur, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to purchase or sell the underlying currency at a loss that may not be offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, the Fund also may be required to forego all or a portion of the benefit that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements in exchange rates.

The Fund may also engage in options transactions for non-hedging purposes. The Fund may use options transactions to gain exposure to a currency when the Advisor believes that exposure to the currency is beneficial to the Fund but believes that the securities denominated in that currency are unattractive.

The Fund may write covered call options on foreign currencies. A call option written on a foreign currency by the Fund is "covered" if the Fund owns the underlying foreign currency covered by the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that foreign currency without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration maintained as Segregated Assets by the Fund's custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other foreign currency held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if the Fund has a call on the same foreign currency and in


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the same principal amount as the call written where the exercise price of the call held (a) is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (b) is greater than the exercise price of the call written if the difference is maintained as Segregated Assets by the Fund's custodian.

With respect to writing put options, at the time the put is written, the Fund's custodian will maintain Segregated Assets in an amount equal in value to the exercise price of the put. The Segregated Assets will be maintained and marked-to-market daily until the put is exercised, has expired or the Fund has purchased a closing put of the same series as the one previously written.

Exchange-traded notes ("ETNs")

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

ETNs do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection. ETNs are subject to credit risk and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer's credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged.

The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer's credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying asset. When the Fund invests in ETNs it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. The Fund's decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN.

The timing and character of income and gains derived from ETNs is under consideration by the US Treasury and Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and may also be affected by future legislation.

An ETN that is tied to a specific market benchmark or strategy may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market benchmark or strategy. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid and, thus, they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form.

The market value of an ETN may differ from its market benchmark or strategy. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETNs at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities, commodities or other components underlying the market benchmark or strategy that the ETN seeks to track. As a result, there may be times when an ETN trades at a premium or discount to its market benchmark or strategy.

Special risks of certain derivatives

Certain derivative contracts entered into by the Fund may contain certain credit-risk-related contingent features that could be triggered subject to certain circumstances, if triggered, the derivative counterparty could request additional cash margin and/or terminate the derivative contract.


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Risks of potential regulation of swaps and other derivatives

The regulation of cleared and uncleared swaps, as well as other derivatives, is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, on October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the Act, which governs the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. New Rule 18f-4 imposes limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into and replaces the asset segregation framework previously used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the Act, among other requirements. In addition, the SEC, CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.

It is not possible to predict fully the effects of current or future regulation. However, it is possible that developments in government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, such as speculative position limits on certain types of derivatives, or limits or restrictions on the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions, may limit or prevent the Fund from using or limit the Fund's use of these instruments effectively as a part of its investment strategy, and could adversely affect the Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective. The Advisor will continue to monitor developments in the area, particularly to the extent regulatory changes affect the Fund's ability to enter into desired swap agreements. New requirements, even if not directly applicable to the Fund, may increase the cost of the Fund's investments and cost of doing business.

Commodity pool operator exclusion

With respect to the Fund, the Advisor has claimed an exclusion from the definition of "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA") and the rules of the CFTC and, therefore, is not subject to CFTC registration or regulation as a CPO. In addition, the Advisor is relying upon a related exclusion from the definition of "commodity trading advisor" ("CTA") under the CEA and the rules of the CFTC.

The terms of the CPO exclusion require the Fund, among other things, to adhere to certain limits on its investments in "commodity interests." Commodity interests include commodity futures, commodity options and swaps, which in turn include non-deliverable currency forwards, as further described in this SAI. Because the Advisor and the Fund intends to comply with the terms of the CPO exclusion, the Fund may, in the future, need to adjust its investment strategies, consistent with its investment objective, to limit its investments in these types of instruments. The Fund is not intended as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Advisor's reliance on these exclusions, or the Fund, its investment strategy or this SAI.

Generally, the exclusion from CPO regulation on which the Advisor relies requires the Fund to meet one of the following tests for its commodity interest positions, other than positions entered into for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined in the rules of the CFTC): either (1) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the Fund's positions in commodity interests may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund's portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions); or (2) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund's commodity interest positions, determined at the time the most recent such position was established, may not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund's portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of these trading limitations, the Fund may not be marketed as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. If, in the future, the Fund can no longer satisfy these requirements, the Advisor would withdraw its notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of a CPO, and the Advisor would be subject to registration and regulation as a CPO with respect to the Fund, in accordance with CFTC rules that apply to CPOs of registered investment companies. Generally, these rules allow for substituted compliance with CFTC disclosure and shareholder reporting requirements, based on the Advisor's compliance with comparable SEC requirements. However, as a result of CFTC regulation with respect to the Fund, the Fund may incur additional compliance and other expenses.


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Illiquid investments

The term "illiquid investments" includes any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, as classified by the Fund and as determined pursuant to the Act and applicable rules and regulations thereunder. In classifying investments as illiquid, the Fund will use information obtained after reasonable inquiry and take into account relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations, as well as applicable Commission guidance. The Fund review liquidity classifications at least monthly, and more frequently if changes in relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations are reasonably expected to materially affect one or more of its investments' classifications.

The Fund may not be able to readily liquidate its investments in illiquid investments and may have to sell other investments if necessary to raise cash to meet its obligations. The lack of a liquid secondary market for illiquid investments may make it more difficult for the Fund to assign a value to those securities for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset value. The Advisor monitors the liquidity of investments in the Fund's portfolios and reports periodically on liquidity decisions to the Board. The Fund may not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

In making determinations as to the liquidity of municipal lease obligations for the Fund, the Advisor will distinguish between direct investments in municipal lease obligations (or participations therein) and investments in securities that may be supported by municipal lease obligations or certificates of participation therein. Because these municipal lease obligation-backed securities are based on a well-established means of securitization, the Advisor does not believe that investing in such securities presents the same liquidity issues as direct investments in municipal lease obligations.

Rule 144A

The Fund may invest in securities that are exempt under Rule 144A from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. Those securities purchased under Rule 144A are traded among qualified institutional buyers.

The Fund will classify the liquidity of a security exempt under Rule 144A using information obtained after reasonable inquiry and taking into account relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations. The restricted nature of a Rule 144A security is one factor considered by the Fund in evaluating the liquidity of a Rule 144A security. The Fund reviews liquidity classifications of a Rule 144A security at least monthly, and more frequently if changes in relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations are reasonably expected to materially affect one or more of its investments' classifications.

Investing in securities under Rule 144A could have the effect of increasing the level of the Fund's illiquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities. After the purchase of a security under Rule 144A, however, the Trust and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of that security to ensure that the Fund has no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments.

The Fund will limit investments in securities of issuers which the Fund is restricted from selling to the public without registration under the 1933 Act to no more than 15% of the Fund's net assets, excluding restricted securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A that have been determined to be liquid pursuant to a policy and procedures adopted by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, which include continuing oversight by the Board.

If the Advisor determines that a security purchased in reliance on Rule 144A that was previously determined to be liquid, is no longer liquid and, as a result, the Fund's holdings of illiquid investments exceed the Fund's 15% limit on investment in such securities, the Advisor will determine what action shall be taken to ensure that the Fund contin-


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ues to adhere to such limitation, including disposing of illiquid investments which may include such Rule 144A securities.

Non-publicly traded securities, private placements and restricted securities

The Fund may invest in securities that are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded OTC, including privately placed securities and limited partnerships. Investing in unregistered or unlisted securities, including investments in new and early stage companies, may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. As a result of the absence of a public trading market for these securities, they may be less liquid than publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Fund, or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities. Furthermore, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expense of registration. Non-publicly traded securities, private placements and restricted securities classified as illiquid after reasonable inquiry and taking into account relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations will be limited by the Fund's prohibition on investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments.

Regulation S securities

The Fund may invest in the securities of US and non-US issuers that are issued through private offerings without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S ("Regulation S Securities") under the 1933 Act. Offerings of Regulation S Securities may be conducted outside of the United States. Because Regulation S Securities are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, Regulation S Securities may be considered illiquid. If a Regulation S Security is determined to be illiquid, the investment will be included with the Fund's 15% of net assets limitation on investment in illiquid investments. Furthermore, because Regulation S Securities are generally less liquid than registered securities, the Fund may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities. Although Regulation S Securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the price realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Fund. Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Accordingly, Regulation S Securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk and may result in substantial losses.

Investment company securities and investments in affiliated investment companies

Subject to the provisions of any rules and regulations under the Act or exemptive orders issued thereunder, securities of other investment companies may be acquired by the Fund to the extent that such purchases are consistent with the Fund's investment objective and restrictions and are permitted under the Act. The Act requires that, as determined immediately after a purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company, (ii) not more than 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets will be invested in securities of investment companies as a group and (iii) not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by the Fund. Certain exceptions to these limitations may apply. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company's expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the expenses that such the Fund would bear in connection with its own operations.

The Fund may invest in securities issued by other registered investment companies advised by the Advisor, including portfolios of the UBS Relationship Funds, beyond the above percentage maximums pursuant to rules promulgated by the SEC and/or exemptive relief granted by the SEC to the extent that the Advisor determines that such investments are a more efficient means for the Fund to gain exposure to certain asset classes than by the Fund investing directly in individual securities. The Fund may only invest in portfolios of UBS Relationship Funds or other affiliated investment companies to the extent that the asset class exposure in such portfolios is consistent with the permissi-


24



ble asset class exposure for the Fund, had the Fund invested directly in securities, and the portfolios of such investment companies are subject to similar risks and limitations as the Fund.

Exchange-traded funds ("ETFs")

Subject to the limitations on investments in investment company securities and its own investment objective, the Fund may invest in securities of ETFs. Generally, ETFs hold portfolios of securities, commodities and/or currencies that are designed to replicate, as closely as possible before expenses, the performance of a specified market index. The performance results of ETFs will not replicate exactly the performance of the pertinent index due to transaction and other expenses, including fees to service providers, borne by ETFs. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the portfolio of securities, commodities and/or currencies purchased by an ETF will replicate a particular index. Some ETFs are actively managed and instead of replicating, they seek to outperform a particular index or basket or price of a commodity or currency. The Fund may invest in ETFs that are currently operational and that may be developed in the future. ETFs usually trade on stock exchanges and generally bear certain operational expenses. To the extent the Fund invests in securities of ETFs, the Fund must bear these expenses in addition to the expenses of its own operation.

Investments in ETFs are subject to a variety of risks, including all of the risks of a direct investment in the underlying securities that the ETF holds. For example, the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of the underlying investments of the ETF and, consequently, the value of the ETF. In addition, the market value of the ETF shares may differ from their net asset value because the supply and demand in the market for ETF shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the underlying securities. Also, ETFs that track particular indexes typically will be unable to match the performance of the index exactly due to the ETF's operating expenses and transaction costs.

Unless permitted by the Act or an order or rule issued by the SEC, the Fund's investments in unaffiliated ETFs that are structured as investment companies as defined in the Act are subject to the percentage limitations of the Act regarding investments in other investment companies. The SEC has, however, granted exemptive orders to various iShares funds (which are ETFs) and other ETFs and their investment advisers that permit the Fund to invest beyond the limitation described above, subject to certain terms and conditions, including a finding of the Board that the advisory fees charged by the Advisor to the Fund are for services that are in addition to, and not duplicative of, the advisory services provided to those ETFs.

Real estate investment trusts ("REITs")

The Fund may invest in equity REITs and equity interests issued by REITs and non-US REIT-like entities (collectively, "REITs"). A REIT is a pooled investment vehicle that purchases primarily income-producing real estate, real estate-related loans or other real estate-related interests. The pooled vehicle, typically a trust, then issues shares whose value and investment performance are dependent upon the investment performance of the underlying real estate-related investments. Generally, REITs can be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales. Equity REITs are further categorized according to the types of real estate securities they own (e.g., apartment properties, retail shopping centers, office and industrial properties, hotels, health-care facilities, manufactured housing and mixed-property types). Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity REITs and mortgage REITs. Debt securities issued by REITs are, for the most part, general and unsecured obligations and are subject to risks associated with REITs.

A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to its shareholders if it complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income, and with a regulatory requirement that it distribute to its shareholders or unitholders at least 90% of its taxable income for each taxable year. In addition, a shareholder in the Fund, by investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, will bear not only the shareholder's proportionate share of the


25



expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, the management expenses of the underlying REITs. REITs are subject to risks related to the specialized skill of their management, changes in value of the properties the REITs own, the quality of any credit extended by the REITs, and general economic and other factors. An investment in REITs includes the possibility of a decline in the value of real estate, possible lack of available money for loans to purchase real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, prolonged vacancies in rental properties, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, variations in rental income, changes in neighborhood values, the appeal of properties to tenants, costs of clean up and liability to third parties resulting from environmental problems, costs associated with damage from natural disasters not covered by insurance, increases in interest rates and changes to tax and regulatory requirements.

In addition, some REITs may have limited diversification and may be subject to risks inherent in investments in a limited number of properties in a narrow geographic area or in a single property type, such as being more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Also, the performance of a REIT may be affected by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income, or the REIT's failure to maintain exemption from registration under the Act.

Foreign securities

Investors should recognize that investing in foreign issuers involves certain considerations, including those set forth in the Fund's Prospectus, which are not typically associated with investing in US issuers. Because the stocks of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies, and because the Fund may temporarily hold uninvested reserves in bank deposits in foreign currencies, the Fund will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. The investment policies of the Fund permits it to enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures, options and interest rate swaps in order to hedge portfolio holdings and commitments against changes in the level of future currency rates.

Investment in the securities of foreign governmental entities involves risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity's willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity's policy toward the International Monetary Fund ("IMF"), and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a governmental entity's implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor's 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 to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor's ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt. Holders of sovereign debt may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.

The economies of foreign countries dependent on large export sectors may be adversely affected by trade disputes with key trading partners and escalating tariffs imposed on goods and services produced by such countries. A national economic slowdown in the export sector may also affect companies that are not heavily dependent on exports. To the extent a country engages in retaliatory tariffs, a company that relies on imported parts to produce its own goods


26



may experience increased costs of production or reduced profitability, which may affect consumers, investors and the domestic economy. Trade disputes and retaliatory actions may include embargoes and other trade limitations, which may trigger a significant reduction in international trade and impact the global economy. Trade disputes may also lead to increased currency exchange rate volatility, which can adversely affect the prices of Fund securities when valued in US dollars. The potential threat of trade disputes may also negatively affect investor confidence in the markets generally and investment growth.

The risk of investing in Europe may be heightened due to the referendum in which the United Kingdom ("UK") voted to exit the European Union ("EU") (referred to as "Brexit"). On January 31, 2020, the UK officially withdrew from the EU and entered a transitional phase during which the UK and EU are to negotiate the terms of their future trading relationship. During the transition period, although the UK will no longer be a member state of the EU, it will remain subject to EU law and regulations as if it were still a member state. There is a significant degree of uncertainty about how negotiations will be conducted, as well as the potential outcomes and consequences. Several European businesses have already moved part of their operations out of the UK and continue to prepare for disruption related to Brexit. While it is not possible to determine the precise impact these events may have on the Fund, during this period and beyond, the impact on the UK and European economies and the broader global economy could be significant, and result in negative impacts, such as increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth on markets in the UK, Europe and globally, which may adversely affect the value of the Fund's investments. In addition, if one or more countries were to exit the EU or abandon the use of the euro as a currency, the value of investments tied to those countries or the euro could decline significantly and unpredictably.

Emerging markets investments

The Fund may invest in equity securities of emerging market issuers, or securities with respect to which the return is derived from the equity securities of issuers in emerging markets. An emerging market country is a country defined as an emerging or developing economy by any of the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation or the United Nations or its authorities. Additionally, the Fund, for purposes of its investments, may consider a country included in JP Morgan, MSCI, or FTSE emerging markets indices to be an emerging market country. The countries included in this definition will change over time. An emerging market security is a security issued by a government or other issuer that, in the opinion of the Advisor, has one or more of the following characteristics: (i) the security's principal trading market is an emerging market; (ii) at least 50% of the issuer's (or the issuer's parent company's) revenue is generated from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in emerging market countries; (iii) at least 50% of the issuer's (or the issuer's parent company's) physical assets are located in emerging market countries; (iv) at least 50% of the issuer's (or the issuer's parent company's) economic activities are in emerging market countries; or (v) the principal place of business of the issuer (or the issuer's parent company) is an emerging market country. In addition, an emerging market security includes derivative instruments on emerging market securities or indices.

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in structured foreign investments. This term generally refers to interests in US and foreign entities organized and operated solely for the purpose of securitizing or restructuring the investment characteristics of foreign securities. This type of securitization or restructuring usually involves the deposit with or purchase by a US or foreign entity, such as a corporation or trust, of specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans or Brady Bonds) and the issuance by that entity of one or more classes of securities backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured foreign investments to create securities with different investment characteristics such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of the payments made with respect to structured foreign investments is often dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments.

Structured foreign investments frequently involve no credit enhancement. Accordingly, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. In addition, classes of structured foreign investments may be subordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured foreign investments typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured foreign investments.


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Risks of investing in emerging markets

There are additional risks inherent in investing in less developed countries that are applicable to the Fund.

Compared to the United States and other developed countries, emerging countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries and securities markets that trade only a small number of securities and employ settlement procedures different from those used in the United States. Prices on these exchanges tend to be volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have offered greater potential for gain (as well as loss) than securities of companies located in developed countries. Further, investments by foreign investors are subject to a variety of restrictions in many emerging countries. Countries such as those in which the Fund may invest have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations or currency depreciation, large amounts of external debt, balance of payments and trade difficulties and extreme poverty and unemployment. Additional factors that may influence the ability or willingness to service debt include, but are not limited to: a country's cash flow situation; the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due; the relative size of its debt service burden to the economy as a whole; its government's policy towards the IMF, the World Bank and other international agencies; and the political constraints to which a government debtor may be subject.

The ability of a foreign government or government-related issuer to make timely and ultimate payments on its external debt obligations will be strongly influenced by the issuer's 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 government or government-related issuer 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 government's 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 curtail the willingness of such third parties to lend funds, which may further impair the issuer's ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. The cost of servicing external debt will also generally be adversely affected by rising international interest rates because many external debt obligations bear interest at rates that are adjusted based upon international interest rates. The ability to service external debt will also depend on the level of the relevant government's international currency reserves and its access to foreign exchange. Currency devaluations may affect the ability of a governmental issuer to obtain sufficient foreign exchange to service its external debt.

China A-shares

The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program ("Connect Program") are subject to quota limitations and an investor cannot purchase and sell the same security on the same trading day, which may restrict the Fund's ability to invest in China A-shares through the Connect Program and to enter into or exit trades on a timely basis. The Shanghai and Shenzhen markets may be open at a time when the Connect Program is not trading, with the result that prices of China A-shares may fluctuate at times when the Fund is unable to add to or exit its position. Only certain China A-shares are eligible to be accessed through the Connect Program. Such securities may lose their eligibility at any time, in which case they could be sold but could no longer be purchased through the Connect Program. Because the Connect Program is in its early stages, the actual effect on the market for trading China A-shares with the introduction of large numbers of foreign investors is currently unknown. The Connect Program is subject to regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities for the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and further regulations or restrictions, such as limitations on redemptions or suspension of trading, may adversely impact


28



the Connect Program, if the authorities believe it necessary to assure orderly markets or for other reasons. There is no guarantee that all three exchanges will continue to support the Connect Program in the future.

Investments in China A-shares may not be covered by the securities investor protection programs of the exchanges and, without the protection of such programs, will be subject to the risk of default by the broker. In the event that the depository of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange defaulted, the Fund may not be able to recover fully its losses from the depository or may be delayed in receiving proceeds as part of any recovery process. In addition, because all trades on the Connect Program in respect of eligible China A-shares must be settled in Renminbi ("RMB"), the Chinese currency, the Fund investing through the Connect Program must have timely access to a reliable supply of offshore RMB, which cannot be guaranteed. China A-shares purchased through the Connect Program are held in nominee name and not the Fund's name as the beneficial owner. It is possible, therefore, that the Fund's ability to exercise its rights as a shareholder and to pursue claims against the issuer of China A-shares may be limited because the nominee structure has not been tested in Chinese courts. In addition, the Fund may not be able to participate in corporate actions affecting China A-shares held through the Connect Program due to time constraints or for other operational reasons. Trades on the Connect Program are subject to certain requirements prior to trading. If these requirements are not completed prior to the market opening, a Fund cannot sell the shares on that trading day. In addition, these requirements may limit the number of brokers that a Fund may use to execute trades. If an investor holds 5% or more of the total shares issued by a China-A share issuer, the investor must return any profits obtained from the purchase and sale of those shares if both transactions occur within a six-month period. If the Fund holds 5% or more of the total shares of a China-A share issuer through its Connect Program investments, its profits may be subject to these limitations. All accounts managed by the Adviser and/or its affiliates will be aggregated for purposes of this 5% limitation, which makes it more likely that the Fund's profits may be subject to these limitations.

Issuer location

The Advisor considers a number of factors to determine whether an investment is tied to a particular country, including whether the investment is issued or guaranteed by a particular government or any of its agencies, political subdivisions or instrumentalities; the investment has its primary trading market in a particular country; the issuer is organized under the laws of, derives at least 50% of its revenues from, or has at least 50% of its assets in a particular country; the investment is included in an index representative of a particular country or region; and the investment is exposed to the economic fortunes and risks of a particular country.

Equity securities

The Fund may invest in a broad range of equity securities of US and non-US issuers, including, but not limited to, common stocks of companies or closed-end investment companies, preferred stocks, debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, securities such as warrants or rights that are convertible into common stock and sponsored or unsponsored American, European and Global depositary receipts ("Depositary Receipts"). The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States. The Fund expects its US equity investments to emphasize large and mid capitalization companies. The Fund may also invest in small capitalization companies. The equity markets in the non-US component of the Fund will typically include available shares of larger capitalization companies but may also include intermediate and small capitalization companies. Capitalization levels are measured relative to specific markets, thus large, intermediate and small capitalization ranges vary country by country. The Fund may invest in equity securities of issuers in emerging markets and in securities with respect to which the return is derived from the equity securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund also may invest in the initial public offerings ("IPOs") of new or unseasoned companies. The market for IPO shares has been volatile, and share prices of newly public companies have fluctuated significantly over short periods of time.

Special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs")

The Fund may invest in stock, warrants, and other securities of SPACs or similar special purpose entities that pool funds to seek potential acquisition opportunities. Until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC generally invests its


29



assets in US government securities, money market securities and cash. If an acquisition that meets the requirements for the SPAC is not completed within a pre-established period of time, the funds invested in the SPAC are returned to its shareholders. Because SPACs and similar entities do not have an operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the SPAC's management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition, these securities, which are typically traded in the OTC market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.

Equity participation notes or equity linked notes (collectively "EPNs")

The Fund may invest up to 10% of their total assets in EPNs. An EPN is a debt instrument whose return is determined by the performance of a single equity security. When purchasing an EPN, the Fund pays the counterparty the current value of the underlying security plus a commission. During the time that the EPN is owned, the price of the EPN will fluctuate in accordance with the price fluctuation of the underlying security, with a currency adjustment to reflect the fact that EPNs are generally priced in US dollars whereas the underlying security is generally denominated in a foreign currency. At maturity or sale, the EPN owner's profit or loss is the sum of the appreciation/depreciation of the underlying security, plus the appreciation/ depreciation of the underlying security's currency relative to the US dollar, less any commissions paid. The Fund only invests in EPNs for which the underlying security is a permissible investment pursuant to the Fund's investment policies and restrictions.

The Fund invests in EPNs only to gain exposure to equities in foreign markets where direct investments in equity securities are not easily accessible or otherwise obtainable. The Fund may only invest in EPNs that are unleveraged and that do not have a "cap" or a "floor" on the maximum principal amount to be repaid to the Fund at maturity. In addition, the Fund may only invest in EPNs that are based on the performance of a single underlying equity security; that have no premium or discount in relation to the underlying asset; and that provide for the retention of dividend rights. Investments in EPNs will only be made if the counterparty is a financial institution rated at least A1 by S&P or P1 by Moodys. EPNs are not considered equity securities for purposes of the Fund's policy to invest 80% of its net assets in equity securities.

EPNs possess the risks associated with the underlying security, such as market risk, and, with respect to EPNs based on foreign securities, foreign securities and currency risks. EPNs, however, involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the underlying security directly, since, in addition to general market and foreign securities risks, EPNs are subject to counterparty, credit and illiquidity risks. Counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer of the EPN may fail to pay the full amount due at maturity or redemption. In addition, an investment in an EPN creates exposure to the credit risk of the issuing financial institution. Also, the secondary market for EPNs may be limited, and the lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make EPNs difficult to dispose of and to value. In choosing EPNs appropriate for the Fund, the Advisor will select only those EPNs that have demonstrated patterns of brokers willing to provide liquidity on demand to ensure that the EPNs maintain their liquidity.

Short sales

The Fund may, from time to time, sell securities short. In a short sale, the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. Until the security is replaced, the Fund must pay the lender any dividends or interest that accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund may also be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale (which may be invested in equity securities) will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

The Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security, and the Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those same dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of


30



any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the Fund is required to pay in connection with the short sale. Because the Fund's loss on a short sale arises from increases in the value of the security sold short, such loss, like the potential increase in price of the security sold short, is theoretically unlimited. In addition, the Fund's securities held long could decline in value at the same time the value of the security sold short increases, thereby increasing the Fund's potential for loss.

Until the Fund replaces a borrowed security, the Fund will designate Segregated Assets in an amount equal to its obligation to purchase the stocks sold short, as required by law. The amount segregated in this manner will be increased or decreased each business day to equal the change in market value of the Fund's obligation to purchase the security sold short. If the lending broker requires the Fund to deposit additional collateral (in addition to the short sales proceeds that the broker holds during the period of the short sale), the amount of the additional collateral may be deducted in determining the amount of cash or liquid assets the Fund is required to segregate to cover the short sale obligation. The amount segregated must be unencumbered by any other obligation or claim than the obligation that is being covered. The Advisor and the Fund believe that short sale obligations that are covered, either by an offsetting asset or right (acquiring the stock sold short or having an option to purchase the stock sold short at an exercise price that covers the obligation), or by the Fund's Segregated Assets procedures (or a combination thereof), are not senior securities under the Act and are not subject to the Fund's borrowing restrictions. The Fund is also required to repay the lender of the stock any dividends or interest that accrues on the stock during the period of the loan.

Convertible securities

The Fund may invest in convertible securities, which generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar quality. The value of convertible securities may reflect changes in the value of the underlying common stock. Convertible securities entail less credit risk than the issuer's common stock because they rank senior to common stock. Convertible securities entitle the holder to exchange the securities for a specified number of shares of common stock, usually of the same company, at specified prices within a certain period of time and to receive interest or dividends until the holder elects to convert. The provisions of a convertible security determine its ranking in a company's capital structure. In the case of subordinated convertible debentures, the holder's claims on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of other creditors but are senior to the claims of preferred and common shareholders. In the case of preferred stock and convertible preferred stock, the holder's claim on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of all creditors but are senior to the claims of common shareholders.

Contingent convertible instruments. Contingent convertible securities ("CoCos") are a form of hybrid debt security that are intended to either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain "triggers." The triggers are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution's continued viability as a going concern. CoCos' unique equity conversion or principal write-down features are tailored to the issuing banking institution and its regulatory requirements. Some additional risks associated with CoCos include, but are not limited to:

•  Loss absorption risk. CoCos have fully discretionary coupons. This means coupons can potentially be cancelled at the banking institution's discretion or at the request of the relevant regulatory authority in order to help the bank absorb losses.

•  Subordinated instruments. CoCos will, in the majority of circumstances, be issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital treatment prior to a conversion. Accordingly, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion having occurred, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCos, such as the Fund, against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCos shall generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. In addition, if the CoCos are converted into the issuer's underlying equity securities following a conversion


31



event (i.e., a "trigger"), each holder will be subordinated due to their conversion from being the holder of a debt instrument to being the holder of an equity instrument.

•  Market value will fluctuate based on unpredictable factors. The value of CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors including, without limitation: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in such issuer's applicable capital ratios; (ii) supply and demand for the CoCos; (iii) general market conditions and available liquidity; and (iv) economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, its particular market or the financial markets in general.

Other investments

The Board may, in the future, authorize the Fund to invest in securities other than those listed in this SAI and in the Prospectuses, provided such investment would be consistent with the Fund's investment objective and that it would not violate any fundamental investment policies or restrictions applicable to that Fund.

Summary of risks

The principal risks of investing in the Fund are described in the risks sections of the Prospectuses.

Cybersecurity risk

The Fund, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks. Cybersecurity failures or breaches of the Fund or its service providers or the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

Market risk

Market risks, including political, regulatory, market, economic and social developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity and/or fixed-income markets may negatively affect the Fund. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain and could affect companies worldwide.

Recent examples include pandemic risks related to the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") and the aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by (i) governments, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines of, or similar restrictions on, large populations, and (ii) businesses, including forced or voluntary closures, changes to operations and reductions of staff. The effects of COVID-19 have contributed to increased volatility in global financial markets and may affect certain countries, regions, companies, industries and market sectors more dramatically than others. The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and any other outbreak of an infectious disease or serious environmental or public health concern could have, a significant negative impact on economic and market conditions, could exacerbate pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or regions and could trigger a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may impact the Fund. It is not known how long the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will, or future impacts of other significant events would, last or the severity thereof. To the extent the Fund is overweight in certain countries, regions, companies, industries or market sectors, such positions will increase the risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those countries, regions, companies, industries or sectors.


32



Investment restrictions

Fundamental investment restrictions. The investment restrictions set forth below are fundamental policies and may not be changed as to the Fund without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Fund. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentage limitations listed below apply to the Fund only at the time of the transaction. Accordingly, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in the percentage that results from a relative change in values or from a change in the Fund's total assets will not be considered a violation. The Fund may not:

(i)  Purchase the securities of any one issuer (other than the US government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if immediately after such investment: (a) more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in such issuer; or (b) more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be invested without regard to such 5% and 10% limitations;

(ii)  Purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may purchase or sell securities of REITs;

(iii)  Borrow money in excess of 331/3% of the value of its assets, except as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes to facilitate redemptions. All borrowings will be done from a bank and to the extent that such borrowing exceeds 5% of the value of the Fund's assets, asset coverage of at least 300% is required;

(iv)  Concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the US government or any of its agencies);

(v)  Act as an underwriter, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter when selling its own shares;

(vi)  Issue securities senior to the Fund's presently authorized shares of beneficial interest, except that this restriction shall not be deemed to prohibit the Fund from: (a) making any permitted borrowings, loans or pledges; (b) entering into options, futures contracts, forward contracts, repurchase transactions, or reverse repurchase transactions; or (c) making short sales of securities to the extent permitted by the Act and any rule or order thereunder, or SEC staff interpretations thereof;

(vii)  Make loans to other persons, except: (a) through the lending of its portfolio securities or to affiliated investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any exemptions therefrom that may be granted to the SEC; (b) through the purchase of debt securities, loan participations and/or engaging in direct corporate loans for investment purposes in accordance with its investment objectives and policies; and (c) to the extent the entry into a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan;

(viii)  Purchase or sell commodities, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC.

With respect to the real estate restriction described in (ii) above, the restriction does not prevent the Fund from investing in REITs or similar real estate securities.

Note regarding other investment limitations. In addition to the Fund's own investment policies and restrictions, UBS AM (Americas) may adopt certain additional internal investment criteria which may further restrict the Fund's investments, such as internal UBS AM (Americas) policies limiting or prohibiting investments in businesses that engage in certain types of weapons manufacturing, natural resource activities or are identified as failing to meet certain criteria put forth by the United Nations or other global organizations (including "sanctions" lists).


33



Management of the Trust

Organization of the Board

The Board is responsible for establishing the Trust's policies and for overseeing the management of the Trust and the Fund. The Board appoints the officers of the Trust, who, along with third-party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Trust. The Board is comprised of four trustees that are not considered to be "interested persons" by reason of their relationship with the Trust's management or otherwise as defined under the Act ("Independent Trustees"). Frank K. Reilly, an Independent Trustee, is Chairman of the Board. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Reilly approves agendas for Board meetings and generally facilitates communication and coordination among the Independent Trustees and between the Independent Trustees and management. Ms. Adela Cepeda acts as liaison between the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") and the Independent Trustees with respect to compliance matters between scheduled Board meetings.

The Board meets at least four times each year. At each regular meeting, the Independent Trustees meet in executive session to discuss matters outside the presence of management. In addition, the Board holds special telephonic meetings throughout the year, and the Trustees also discuss other matters on a more informal basis at other times.

The Board has two standing committees: an Audit Committee and a Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee (the "Nominating Committee"). As described below, through these Committees, the Independent Trustees have direct oversight of the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Board and the Trust's governance procedures.

Each Independent Trustee (except Abbie J. Smith) sits on the Trust's Audit Committee, which has the responsibility, among other things, to: (i) select, oversee and approve the compensation of the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm; (ii) oversee the Trust's accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; and (iii) oversee the quality and objectivity of the Fund's financial statements and the independent audit(s) thereof. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

Each Independent Trustee sits on the Trust's Nominating Committee, which has the responsibility, among other things, to: (i) make recommendations and to consider shareholder recommendations for nominations for Board members; (ii) review Board governance procedures and recommend any appropriate changes to the full Board; (iii) periodically review Trustee compensation and recommend any changes to the Independent Trustees as a group; and (iv) make recommendations to the full Board for nominations for membership on all committees, review all committee assignments annually and periodically review the responsibilities and need for all committees of the Board. The Nominating Committee met one time during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

The Board also at times creates other committees of Board members to assist in the evaluation of specific matters. The Independent Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel, and the Trustees have from time to time engaged consultants and other advisors to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board believes that the existing Board structure for the Trust is appropriate because it allows the Independent Trustees to exercise independent judgment in evaluating the governance of the Trust and performance of the Fund's service providers.

Board oversight of risk management

The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and


34



the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation, liquidity, and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues (including, for example, COVID-19-related matters), either upon the Board's request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets at least annually with the Advisor's internal audit group to discuss the results of the internal audit group's examinations of the functions and processes of the Advisor that affect the Fund and to be advised regarding the internal audit group's plans for upcoming audits.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund. The Board discusses these reports and the performance of the Fund and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board's regular meetings. To the extent that the Advisor seeks to change the Fund's investment strategy that may have a material impact on the Fund's risk profile or invest in a new type of security or instrument, the Board generally is provided information on such proposed changes for the Board's approval. In addition, the Advisor provides, at the request of the Board, an annual report on the use of derivatives by the Fund.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor provides regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to monitor fair valued securities in the Fund. Such reports also include information concerning the reasons for the fair valuation and the methodology used to arrive at the fair value, and information on illiquid investments held by the Fund. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee's review of the results of the audit of the Fund's year-end financial statements.

With respect to liquidity, pursuant to Rule 22e-4 of the Act, the Board has approved a liquidity risk management program, which provides the framework for evaluating the liquidity of the Fund's investments. The Board has approved the designation of an administrator of such program, and reviews, no less frequently than annually, a written report prepared by the administrator that addresses the operation of the program and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation. The Board also receives regular liquidity risk management reports.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor's compliance group and meets regularly with the Trust's CCO to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the Independent Trustees meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Trust's CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Trust and receives information about the procedures in place for the Trust's service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

At the request of the Board, the Advisor also has provided presentations to the Board with respect to the Advisor's operational risk management.

Trustee qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate's qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if an Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board occurs. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 1/2 of 1% or more of the Trust's outstanding shares and (ii) has been a shareholder of at least 1/2 of 1% of the Trust's total outstanding shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Nominating Committee. In order to recommend a nominee, a Qualifying Fund Shareholder should send a letter to the chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Adela Cepeda, care of Keith A. Weller, the Secretary of the Trust, at UBS Asset Management, One North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois


35



60606, and indicate on the envelope "Nominating Committee." The Qualifying Fund Shareholder's letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each class and series of shares of the Trust that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder's letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders.

The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Trust and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. In assessing Trustees for the Board, the Nominating Committee may consider factors such as the person's judgment, skill, diversity and experience with investment companies and other organizations of comparable purpose, complexity and size and subject to similar legal restrictions and oversight and the interplay of a Trustee or candidate's experience with the experience of other Board members. The Board believes that collectively, the Trustees currently serving on the Board have balanced and diverse experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Trust and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that Mr. Reilly and Mses. Cepeda and Smith had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. The Board also considered that Adela Cepeda has a career in the financial services or investment industries, including holding executive positions in companies engaged in these industries, which allows Ms. Cepeda to bring valuable, relevant experience as a member of the Board. The Board also noted that both Frank K. Reilly and Abbie J. Smith, as Professors of Finance and Accounting, respectively, also have the relevant skills and experience to serve as members of the Board. The Board also considered that Muhammad Gigani is a certified public accountant who had a career in the financial services industry, including holding senior positions in companies engaged in this industry, which allows Mr. Gigani to bring valuable, relevant experience as a member of the Board.


36



The Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, along with their principal occupations over the past five years and their affiliations, if any, with UBS AM, are listed below. None of the Trustees is an "interested person" (as defined in the Act) of the Trust.

Independent trustees

Name,
address,
and age
  Position(s) held
with trust
  Term of office1
and length of
time served
  Principal occupation(s)
during past 5 years
  Number of portfolios
in fund complex
overseen by trustee
  Other directorships held
by trustee during
past 5 years
 
Adela Cepeda; 62
c/o Keith A.
Weller,
Fund Secretary
UBS AM
One North
Wacker Drive Chicago,
IL 60606
 

Trustee

 

Since 2004

 

Ms. Cepeda was a managing director at PFM Financial Advisors LLC (from 2016 to December 2019). From 1995 to 2016, Ms. Cepeda was the founder and president of A.C. Advisory, Inc.

 

Ms. Cepeda is a trustee of three investment companies (consisting of 14 portfolios) for which UBS AM (Americas) serves as investment advisor or manager.

 

Ms. Cepeda is a director (since 2012) of BMO Financial Corp. (US holding company for the BMO Harris Bank N.A.), director of the Mercer Funds (9 portfolios) (since 2005) and trustee of the Morgan Stanley Pathway Funds (11 portfolios) (since 2008).

 
Muhammad Gigani;
43
c/o Keith A.
Weller,
Fund Secretary
UBS AM
One North
Wacker Drive Chicago,
IL 60606
 

Trustee

  Since
January 2021
 

Mr. Gigani is a Vice President—Tax of Reyes Holdings, L.L.C. (global food and beverage company) (since 2018). Formerly, Mr. Gigani held various positions at Deloitte Tax, LLP (from 2002 to 2018, most recently serving as a partner (from 2014 to 2018)). Mr. Gigani was a board member of Junior Achievement of Chicago (non-profit) (from 2016 to 2018). Mr. Gigani was also finance chair of Latin United Community Housing Association (non-profit) (from 2016 to 2018). Mr. Gigani is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

 

Mr. Gigani is a trustee of two investment companies (consisting of 14 portfolios) for which UBS AM (Americas) serves as investment advisor or manager.

 

None.

 
Frank K. Reilly;
85
c/o Keith A. Weller,
Fund Secretary
UBS AM
One North
Wacker Drive
Chicago,
IL 60606
 

Chairperson and Trustee

 

Since 1992

 

Mr. Reilly is the Bernard J. Hank Professor Emeritus of Finance in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame (since 1982) and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

 

Mr. Reilly is a trustee of three investment companies (consisting of 14 portfolios) for which UBS AM (Americas) serves as investment advisor or manager.

 

Mr. Reilly is a director (since 1994) of Discover Bank, which is a subsidiary of Discover Financial Services, and Mr. Reilly is Chairman of the audit and risk committee for Discover Bank.

 


37



Name,
address,
and age
  Position(s) held
with trust
  Term of office1
and length of
time served
  Principal occupation(s)
during past 5 years
  Number of portfolios
in fund complex
overseen by trustee
  Other directorships held
by trustee during
past 5 years
 
Abbie J. Smith;
67
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
 

Trustee

 

Since 2009

 

Ms. Smith is a Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting and James S. Ely, III Faculty Fellow in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980). Formerly, Ms. Smith was a co-founding partner and director of research of Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (co-founded in 2004, commenced operations in 2008) (from 2008 to 2010).

 

Ms. Smith is a trustee of three investment companies (consisting of 14 portfolios) for which UBS AM (Americas) serves as investment advisor or manager.

 

Ms. Smith is a director (since 2000) of HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) and a director (since 2003) and also a member and Chair of the audit committee (since 2017 and 2019, respectively). Ms. Smith was also chair (until 2015) of the audit committee of Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management). In addition, Ms. Smith is a trustee/ director (since 2000) and a member of the audit committee of the Dimensional Funds complex (132 portfolios).

 

1  Each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term.


38



Officers

Name,
address,
and age
  Position(s) held
with trust
  Term of office1
and length of
time served
 

Principal occupation(s) during past 5 years

 
Rose Ann Bubloski*
Age: 52
 

Vice President and Assistant Treasurer

 

Since 2011

 

Ms. Bubloski is a director (since 2012) (prior to which she was an associate director (from 2008 to 2012)) and senior manager of fund accounting—US (previously named product control and investment support) of UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc. and/or UBS Asset Management (US) Inc. ("UBS AM—Americas region"). Ms. Bubloski is vice president and assistant treasurer of 7 investment companies (consisting of 59 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 
Franklin P. Dickson*
Age: 42
 

Vice President

 

Since 2017

 

Mr. Dickson is an associate director (since 2015) and tax compliance manager (since 2017) (prior to which he was a product controller (from 2015 to 2017)) of fund accounting—US of UBS AM—Americas region. From 2013 through 2015, Mr. Dickson was fund administration and compliance manager for US Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, and from 2008 through 2013, Mr. Dickson was vice president, client service manager at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing. Mr. Dickson is a vice president of 7 investment companies (consisting of 59 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 
Mark F. Kemper***
Age: 62
 

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

Since 1999 and 2019, respectively

 

Mr. Kemper is a managing director (since 2006 ), Interim Head of Asia Pacific ("APAC") Legal (March 2020—present), and senior legal counsel (since October 2019) (prior to which he was Interim Head of Compliance and Operational Risk Control (from June 2019 through September 2019), and general counsel of UBS AM—Americas region from 2004-2019)). He has been secretary of UBS AM—Americas region (since 2004) and assistant secretary of UBS Asset Management Trust Company (since 1993). Mr. Kemper is vice president and assistant secretary of 7 investment companies (consisting of 59 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager. Mr. Kemper is employed by UBS Business Solutions US LLC (since 2017).

 
Joanne M. Kilkeary*
Age: 52
 

Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer

 

Since 2006 and 2017 respectively

 

Ms. Kilkeary is an executive director (since 2013) (prior to which she was a director (from 2008 to 2013)) and head of fund accounting—US (since November 2020) (prior to which she was head of regulatory, tax, audit and board governance for product control and investment support (from 2017 until October 2020)). Previously, she was a senior manager of registered fund product control of UBS AM—Americas region (from 2004-2017). Ms. Kilkeary is a vice president and treasurer and principal accounting officer of 7 investment companies (consisting of 59 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 
Igor Lasun*
Age: 42
 

President

 

Since 2018

 

Mr. Lasun is an executive director and head of fund development and management for UBS AM—Americas region (since September 2018) (prior to which he was a senior fixed income product specialist from 2007 to 2018, and had joined the firm in 2005). In this role, he oversees fund development and management for both wholesale and institutional businesses. Mr. Lasun serves as president of 6 investment companies (consisting of 58 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 


39



Name,
address,
and age
  Position(s) held
with trust
  Term of office1
and length of
time served
 

Principal occupation(s) during past 5 years

 
William Lawlor***
Age: 33
 

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

Since 2018

 

Mr. Lawlor is a director and associate general counsel with UBS Business Solutions US LLC (since 2017) and also with UBS AM—Americas region (since 2013). Prior to joining UBS AM-Americas region, Mr. Lawlor attended Kent College of Law, where he graduated in 2013. Mr. Lawlor is a vice president and assistant secretary of 6 investment companies (consisting of 58 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 
Frank S. Pluchino****
Age: 61
 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

Since 2018

 

Mr. Pluchino is an executive director with UBS Business Solutions US LLC (since 2017) and is also the chief compliance officer of UBS Hedge Fund Solutions LLC (since 2010). Mr. Pluchino serves as chief compliance officer of 11 investment companies (consisting of 63 portfolios) for which UBS AM or one of its affiliates serves as investment advisor or manager.

 
Eric Sanders***
Age: 55
 

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

Since 2005

 

Mr. Sanders is a director (since 2019) and associate general counsel with UBS Business Solutions US LLC (since 2017) and also with UBS AM—Americas region (since 2005). Mr. Sanders is a vice president and assistant secretary of 7 investment companies (consisting of 59 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 
Philip Stacey***
Age: 35
 

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

Since 2018

 

Mr. Stacey is an executive director (since 2019, prior to which he was a director) and associate general counsel with UBS Business Solutions US LLC (since 2017) and also with UBS AM—Americas region since 2015. Prior to joining UBS AM—Americas region Mr. Stacey was a legal associate with the Chicago-based investment manager of HFR Asset Management, LLC from 2009 through 2015. Mr. Stacey is a vice-president and assistant secretary of 6 investment companies (consisting of 58 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 
Keith A. Weller***
Age: 59
 

Vice President and Secretary

 

Since 2004 and 2019, respectively

 

Mr. Weller is an executive director and deputy general counsel (since 2019, prior to which he was senior associate general counsel) with UBS Business Solutions US LLC (since 2017) and also with UBS AM—Americas region (since 2005) and has been an attorney with affiliated entities since 1995. Mr. Weller is a vice president and secretary of 7 investment companies (consisting of 59 portfolios) for which UBS AM serves as investment advisor or manager.

 

† Officers of the Trust are appointed by the Trustees and serve at the pleasure of the Board.

* This person's business address is 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.

** This person's business address is 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.

*** This person's business address is One North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606.

**** This person's business address is 600 Washington Blvd, Stamford, CT 06901.


40



Information about Independent trustee ownership of securities issued by UBS AM (Americas) or UBS AM (US) or any company controlling, controlled by or under common control with UBS AM (Americas) or UBS AM (US)

As of December 31, 2020, the Independent Trustees did not own any securities issued by UBS AM (Americas) or UBS AM (US) or any company controlling, controlled by or under common control with UBS AM (Americas) or UBS AM (US).

Information about trustee ownership of Fund shares

Trustee

  Dollar range of
equity securities
in the Fund1
  Aggregate dollar range of
equity securities in all registered
investment companies overseen by
trustee for which UBS AM or an
affiliate serves as Investment advisor,
sub-advisor or manager1
 

Independent Trustees

         

Adela Cepeda

  $10,001 - $50,000  

Over $100,000

 

Muhammad Gigani2

 

None

 

None

 

Frank K. Reilly

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

Abbie J. Smith

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

1  Information regarding ownership is as of December 31, 2020.

2  Mr. Gigani began serving as a Trustee effective January 1, 2021.

Note regarding ranges: In disclosing the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by a Trustee in these columns, the following ranges will be used: (i) none; (ii) $1 - $10,000; (iii) $10,001 - $50,000; (iv) $50,001 - $100,000; or (v) over $100,000.


41



Compensation table

Trustees

Name and position held1

  Annual
aggregate
compensation
from the trust2
  Pension or
retirement
benefits accrued
as part of fund
expenses
  Total
compensation
from the trust and
fund complex
paid to trustees3
 

Adela Cepeda, Trustee

 

$

110,233

     

N/A

   

$

167,500

   

Frank K. Reilly, Trustee

   

118,459

     

N/A

     

180,000

   

Abbie J. Smith, Trustee

   

105,297

     

N/A

     

160,000

   

1 Muhammad Gigani was appointed as a Trustee effective January 1, 2021 and therefore did not receive compensation from the Trust for serving as a Trustee for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

2 Represents aggregate annual compensation paid by the Trust to each Trustee indicated for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

3 This amount represents the aggregate amount of compensation paid to the Trustees for service on the Board of Trustees of three registered investment companies managed by UBS AM (Americas) or an affiliate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

No officer or Trustee of the Trust who is also an officer or employee of the Advisor receives any compensation from the Trust for services to the Trust.

Each Independent Trustee receives for his or her service to the Fund complex (which consists of the Trust and two other registered investment companies), an annual retainer of $160,000 paid quarterly for serving as a Board member. In addition, the chairman of the Board, for serving as chairman of the Board; the chairman of the Audit Committee, for serving as chairman of the Audit Committee; and the chairman of the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee, for serving as chairman of the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee, each receive from the Fund complex, for his or her service, an annual retainer of $20,000, $15,000 and $7,500, respectively. The Fund complex also reimburses each Trustee for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with travel and attendance at Board meetings.

Principal holders of securities

As of February 1, 2021, the officers and Trustees, unless otherwise noted, as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding equity securities of the Trust and of each class of the Fund.

As of February 1, 2021, no persons owned, of record or beneficially, more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares of any class of shares of the Fund.

Any person who owns beneficially, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund is presumed to control the Fund under the provisions of the Act. Note that a controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote of the particular Fund.


42



Investment advisory, principal underwriting and other service arrangements

Advisor

UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc., with its principal offices located at One North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 and 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, manages the assets of the Trust pursuant to its investment advisory agreement with the Fund (the "Agreement"). The Advisor is an investment management firm that managed approximately $259.6 billion, as of December 31, 2020. The Advisor is an indirect asset management subsidiary of UBS Group AG and a member of the UBS Asset Management Division, which had approximately $1.1 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2020. The Advisor is also an affiliate of UBS Financial Services Inc., which provides certain delegated transfer agency related services to the Fund's transfer agent with respect to the Fund.

Pursuant to its Agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, the Advisor receives from the Fund a monthly fee at an annual rate (as described in the Prospectus and below) multiplied by the average daily net assets of the Fund for providing investment advisory services. The Advisor is responsible for paying its own expenses. The Fund pays the following expenses: (1) the fees and expenses of the Trust's Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Trust by reason of affiliation with UBS AM (Americas) or any of UBS AM (America)'s affiliates; (2) the salaries and expenses of any of the Trust's officers or employees who are not affiliated with the Advisor; (3) interest expenses; (4) taxes and governmental fees; (5) brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in acquiring or disposing of portfolio securities; (6) the expenses of registering and qualifying shares for sale with the SEC and with various state securities commissions; (7) auditing and legal costs; (8) insurance premiums; (9) fees and expenses of the Trust's custodian, administrator and transfer agent and any related services; (10) expenses of obtaining quotations of the Fund's portfolio securities and of pricing the Fund's shares; (11) expenses of maintaining the Trust's legal existence and of shareholders' meetings; (12) expenses of preparation and distribution to existing shareholders of reports, proxies and prospectuses; and (13) fees and expenses of membership in industry organizations.

Under the Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to a monthly fee of the respective Fund's average daily net assets equal to annual rates according to the following fee schedule:

   

Advisory fee breakpoint schedule

     

Fund

 

Assets under management

 

Fee

 
UBS Engage For Impact Fund1
   
  $0 – $250 million
Above $250 million
  0.750
0.725

%

 

1  Prior to February 15, 2021, the investment advisory fee payable to the Advisor, before fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, by the Fund was: 0.75% on all assets under management.

The Fund and the Advisor have entered into a written agreement pursuant to which the Advisor has agreed to waive its management fees and retained administration fees, and to reimburse expenses (excluding expenses incurred through investment in other investment companies, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary so that the Fund's ordinary operating expenses (excluding expenses incurred through investment in other investment companies, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed the following rate:

Fund

 

Class P2

 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund

   

0.25

%

 

The contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursements agreement will remain in place through the period ending October 28, 2022. The contractual fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement agreements also provide that the


43



Advisor is entitled to reimbursement of fees it waived and/or expenses it reimbursed to the extent such reimbursement can be made during the three years following the period during which such fee waivers and expense reimbursements were made, provided that the reimbursement by the Fund of the Advisor will not cause the total operating expense ratio to exceed the lesser of the contractual limit as may be in effect for that Fund (i) at the time of the waiver or reimbursement; or (ii) at the time of the recoupment.

General expenses of the Trust (such as costs of maintaining corporate existence, certain legal fees, insurance, etc.) will be allocated among the series of the Trust in proportion to their relative net assets. Expenses that relate exclusively to a particular series of the Trust, such as certain registration fees, brokerage commissions and other portfolio expenses, will be borne directly by that series of the Trust.

Advisory fees accrued for the periods indicated below were as follows:

A. Fiscal year ended June 30, 2020

Fund

  Gross advisory
fees earned
by Advisor
  Net advisory
fees paid after
fee waiver
  Fund expenses
waived/reimbursed
by Advisor
 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund

 

$

156,354

     

   

$

295,800

   

B. Fiscal year ended June 30, 2019

Fund

  Gross advisory
fees earned
by Advisor
  Net advisory
fees paid after
fee waiver
  Fund expenses
waived/reimbursed
by Advisor
 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund1

 

$

58,851

     

   

$

237,224

   

1  Class P shares of the UBS Engage For Impact Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2018.

Portfolio managers

Presented below is information about those individuals identified as portfolio managers of the Fund in the Fund's Prospectus.

The following table provides information relating to other accounts managed by the portfolio managers as of June 30, 2020:

  Registered
investment companies
  Other pooled
investment vehicles
  Other
accounts
 

Portfolio manager

 

Number

  Assets
managed
(in millions)
 

Number

  Assets
managed
(in millions)
 

Number

  Assets
managed
(in millions)
 

Bruno Bertocci

   

1

   

$

45

     

20

   

$

6,550

     

3,432

   

$

4,920

   

Joseph Elegante

   

1

     

45

     

22

     

4,213

     

3,454

     

7,422

   

The portfolio management team's management of the Fund and other accounts could result in potential conflicts of interest if the Fund and other accounts have different objectives, benchmarks and fees because the portfolio management team must allocate its time and investment expertise across multiple accounts, including the Fund. A portfolio manager and his or her team manage the Fund and other accounts utilizing a model portfolio approach that groups similar accounts within a model portfolio. The portfolio management team manages accounts according to the appropriate model portfolio, including where possible, those accounts that have specific investment restrictions. Accordingly, portfolio holdings, position sizes and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across accounts, which may minimize the potential for conflicts of interest.


44



If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one account or model portfolio, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible model portfolios and accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio trades across multiple accounts to provide fair treatment to all accounts.

The management of personal accounts by a portfolio manager may also give rise to potential conflicts of interest. The Advisor and the Trust have adopted Codes of Ethics that govern such personal trading but there is no assurance that the Codes will adequately address all such conflicts.

UBS AM's compensation and benefits programs are designed to provide its investment professionals with incentives to excel, and to promote an entrepreneurial, performance-oriented culture with clear accountability. They also align the interests of investment professionals with those of our clients and other stakeholders.

In general, the total compensation received by the portfolio managers and analysts at UBS Asset Management consists of two elements: a fixed component (base salary and benefits) and an annual discretionary performance award that is correlated with investment performance.

Fixed component (base salary and benefits):

•  Set with the aim of being competitive in the industry and monitored and adjusted periodically with reference to the relevant local labor market in order to remain so.

•  The fixed component is used to recognize the experience, skills and knowledge that each portfolio manager or analyst brings to their role.

Performance award:

•  Determined annually on a discretionary basis.

•  Based on the individual's financial and non-financial contribution—as assessed through a rigorous performance assessment process—as well as on the performance of their respective function, of UBS Asset Management and of UBS as a whole.

•  Delivered in cash and, when total compensation is over a defined threshold, partly in deferral vehicles.

•  For awards subject to deferral, the deferred amount is calculated using graduated marginal deferral rates, which increase as the value of the performance award increases.

•  Deferred amounts are then delivered via two deferral vehicles—75% in the UBS Asset Management Equity Ownership Plan (AM EOP) and 25% in the Deferred Contingent Capital Plan (DCCP):

•  AM EOP awards vest over five years with 40% of the award vesting in year two, 40% in year three and 20% in year five, provided the vesting conditions, including continued service, are met and the awards have not been forfeited on or before the vesting dates. Deferred awards under the AM EOP are granted in the form of Notional Funds. The Notional Funds are aligned to selected UBS Asset Management funds. They provide for a high level of transparency and correlation between an employee's compensation and the investment performance of UBS Asset Management. This enhances the alignment of investment professionals' and other employees' interests with those of our clients.


45



•  The DCCP was introduced for performance year 2012 onwards as a key component of UBS's compensation framework to align compensation incentives with the capital strength of the firm. Awards under the DCCP vest 100% in year five, subject to vesting conditions, including continued employment, and subject to forfeiture.

The DCCP aligns the interests of our key employees with the interests of external investors and, alongside the AM EOP, attempts to ensure an appropriate balance between client and other stakeholder alignment.

For our Equities, Fixed Income, Investment Solutions and Passive investment areas:

From January 1, 2015, UBS Asset Management introduced a new Key Performance Indicator (KPI)-led model for each business area, aligning our business steering logic with our strategic priorities. For our investment areas, sustainable investment performance is a major component of the KPI model.

Portfolio managers' performance awards are subject to detailed KPIs, mainly focused on investment performance of relevant client portfolios and funds, and also including some other factors such as risk management and client focus. Investment performance is assessed annually over rolling one, three and five years against benchmark, performance target and peers. This attempts to ensure that the interests of portfolio managers are aligned with those of our clients. In addition, we evaluate our passive strategies in terms of how closely the performance of the strategies tracks their respective benchmarks over time.

For analysts, performance awards are, in general, based on the performance of some combination of model and/or client portfolios, generally evaluated over one and three years. This is coupled with a qualitative assessment of their contribution considering factors such as the quality of their research, stock recommendations and their communication within and between teams and with portfolio managers.

For awards subject to deferral (e.g. above a certain compensation level), UBS Asset Management employees receive at least 75% of their deferred performance awards in notional funds under the AM EOP and up to 25% under the DCCP. This aligns UBS Asset Management employee compensation more closely with industry standards. The average deferral period for deferred performance awards for employees below Group Executive Board (GEB) level is 3.5 years.

Portfolio manager/Fund*

 

Range of shares owned**

 

Bruno Bertocci

 

None

 

Joseph Elegante

  $50,001 – $100,000  

*  As of June 30, 2020

**  The portfolio managers may participate in a deferred compensation plan that invests in the Fund. These holdings are not included in the table.

Note regarding ranges: In disclosing the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by a portfolio manager above, the following ranges will be used: (i) none; (ii) $1-$10,000; (iii) $10,001-$50,000; (iv) $50,001-$100,000; (v) $100,001-$500,000; (vi) $500,001-$1,000,000; or (vii) over $1,000,000.

Administrative, accounting and custody services

Administrative and accounting services. UBS AM (Americas) also serves as the Fund's administrator. The Administrator is an indirect wholly owned asset management subsidiary of UBS Group AG.

As administrator, UBS AM (Americas) supervises and manages all aspects (other than investment advisory activities) of the Trust's operations. Under the Administration Contract, the Administrator will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by any Fund, the Trust or any of its shareholders in connection with the performance of the Administration Contract, except to the extent that such a loss results from negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties


46



or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder. The Administration Contract is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, on 60 days' written notice to the Administrator, or by the Administrator on 60 days' written notice to the Trust. The Fund pays a fee to the Administrator that is computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.075% of average daily net assets of such Fund.

UBS AM (Americas) has entered into a Sub-Administration Contract with State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"). UBS AM (Americas) pays State Street for the services it provides under the Sub-Administration Contract.

For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, aggregate fees paid to UBS AM (Americas) and accrued by the Fund for administration services were as follows:

Fund

 

2020

 

2019

 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund1

 

$

15,635

   

$

5,885

   

1  Class P shares of the UBS Engage For Impact Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2018.

The Fund has entered into a Service Agreement with State Street to provide certain regulatory support services to the Fund, including: (i) CFTC exclusion filing services and other services, as applicable; and (ii) Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN preparation and filing services. The Fund pays State Street a fee at an agreed-upon rate for the services State Street provides under the Service Agreement.

Custody services. State Street, located at One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, provides custodian services for the securities and cash of the Fund and employs foreign sub-custodians in accordance with applicable requirements under the Act to provide custody of the Fund's foreign securities and cash. State Street maintains certain books and records of the Fund that are required by applicable federal regulations.

Principal underwriting arrangements

UBS Asset Management (US) Inc. (the "Underwriter"), with its principal office located at 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019-6028, acts as the principal underwriter of the Fund pursuant to a Principal Underwriting Contract with the Trust. The Principal Underwriting Contract requires the Underwriter to use its best efforts, consistent with its other businesses, to sell shares of the Fund. Shares of the Fund are offered continuously. The Underwriter may enter into dealer agreements with other broker-dealers (affiliated and non-affiliated) and with other financial institutions to authorize them to sell Fund shares.

There is no distribution/service plan with respect to the Fund's Class P2 shares, and the Fund pays no service or distribution fees with respect to its Class P2 shares.

UBS AM (US) may also make cash and non-cash payments to banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies, financial planning firms and other financial intermediaries (collectively, "Financial Intermediaries"), that sell shares of the Fund, subject to UBS AM (US)'s internal policies and procedures. The source of such payments may come from the underwriter's own resources (including through transfers from affiliates). Payments made out of the underwriter's own resources are often referred to as "revenue sharing." UBS AM (US) provides Financial Intermediaries with sales literature and advertising materials relating to the registered investment companies advised by UBS AM (US). UBS AM (US) also shares expenses with Financial Intermediaries for costs incurred in hosting seminars for employees and clients of Financial Intermediaries, subject to UBS AM (US)'s internal policies and procedures governing payments for such seminars. These seminars may take place at UBS AM (US)'s headquarters or other appropriate locations and may include reimbursement of travel expenses (i.e., transportation, lodging and meals) of employees of Financial Intermediaries in connection with training and education seminars. Subject to UBS AM (US)'s internal policies and procedures, UBS AM (US) may provide any or all of the following to employees of Financial Intermediaries and their guest(s): (i) an occasional meal, a sporting event or theater ticket or other comparable entertainment; (ii) gifts of less


47



than $100 per person per year; and/or (iii) UBS AM (US)'s promotional items of nominal value (golf balls, shirts, etc.).

In addition, Financial Intermediaries may maintain omnibus accounts and/or have similar arrangements with UBS AM (US) and may be paid by UBS AM (US) for providing sub-transfer agency and other services. Financial Intermediaries may be paid a sub-transfer agency or related fee out of Fund assets similar to which that the Fund otherwise would have paid the Fund's transfer agent. In addition, the Financial Intermediary, for the services provided, may charge a higher fee than would be represented by the sub-transfer agency or related fee. To the extent sub-transfer agency or related fees do not meet the charge, the underwriter or an affiliate will pay the difference out of its own resources. Such payments are often referred to as "revenue sharing." Such expenses, to the extent they are Fund expenses, are included in the annual operating expenses set forth in the Fund's prospectus.

You should ask your Financial Intermediary about any payment it receives from the underwriter and any services provided.

Transfer agency and related services

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. ("BNY Mellon"), a subsidiary of BNY Mellon Bank, N.A., serves as the Trust's transfer and dividend disbursing agent. It is located at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406. BNY Mellon maintains certain books and records of the Fund that are required by applicable federal regulations.

UBS Financial Services Inc. provides certain services pursuant to a delegation of authority from BNY Mellon and is compensated for these services by BNY Mellon, not the Fund. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, UBS Financial Services Inc. received from BNY Mellon, not the Fund, $151,422 of the total transfer agency and related services fees paid by the Fund to BNY Mellon for such delegated services.

For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, aggregate fees paid to BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. and accrued by the Fund for transfer agency and related services are set forth in the table below:

Fund

 

2020

 

2019

 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund1

 

$

10,625

   

$

6,750

   

1  Class P shares of the UBS Engage For Impact Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2018.

Independent registered public accounting firm

Ernst & Young LLP, 5 Times Square, New York, New York 10036, is the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust. The independent registered public accounting firm audits the financial statements included in the Fund's Annual Report to shareholders.

Legal counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is legal counsel to the Trust and the Independent Trustees.

Personal trading policies

The Trust, the Advisor and the Underwriter have adopted a Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics establishes standards by which employees of UBS Asset Management (including all employees of the Advisor and Underwriter) (together, "Covered Persons") must abide when engaging in personal securities trading conduct.

Under the Code of Ethics, Covered Persons are prohibited from, among other things: (i) executing a securities transaction on a day during which the Fund has a pending or executed buy or sell in the same security; (ii) entering into a net short position with respect to any security; (iii) purchasing or selling futures (except currency forwards) that are not traded on an exchange, as well as options on any type of futures (exchange traded or not); (iv) purchasing secu-


48



rities issued by a supplier or vendor about which the Covered Person has information or with whom the Covered Person is directly involved in negotiating a contract; and (v) acquiring securities in an initial public offering (other than a new offering of a registered open-end investment company).

In addition, Covered Persons must obtain prior written approval before purchasing, selling or transferring any security subject to certain exceptions listed in the Code of Ethics. Covered Persons and Trustees are required to file the following reports: (1) an initial and annual holdings report disclosing all reportable securities owned by the Covered Person and any reportable securities accounts maintained by the Covered Person, which initial holdings report must be filed within ten days of becoming a Covered Person and gaining access to UBS AM systems (Independent Trustees are not required to file this report); (2) quarterly reports of security investment transactions and new securities accounts. Independent Trustees need only report a transaction in a security if such Trustee, at the time of the transaction, knew or should have known, in the ordinary course of fulfilling their official duties as a Trustee, that, during the 15-day period immediately preceding or after the date of the transaction by the Trustee, such security was purchased or sold by the Fund, or was being considered for purchase or sale by the Fund; and (3) an annual certification that they have read and understand the Code of Ethics, that they have complied with its requirements during the preceding year, and that they have disclosed or reported all personal transactions/holdings required to be disclosed or reported.

A copy of the Code of Ethics has been filed with and is available through the SEC.

Proxy voting policies

The Board believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by the Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Board has delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to UBS AM (Americas). Following is a summary of UBS AM (Americas)'s proxy voting policy.

You may obtain information about the Fund's proxy voting decisions for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, without charge, by calling the Trust toll-free at 1-800-647 1568 or on the EDGAR database on the SEC's Web Site (www.sec.gov).

The proxy voting policy of UBS AM (Americas) is based on its belief that voting rights have economic value and should be treated accordingly. Good corporate governance should in the long term, lead towards better corporate performance and improved shareholder value. Generally, UBS AM (Americas) expects the boards of directors of companies issuing securities held by its clients to act in the service of the shareholders, view themselves as stewards of the company, exercise good judgment and practice diligent oversight of the management of the company. A commitment to acting in as transparent a manner as possible is fundamental to good governance. While there is no absolute set of rules that determine appropriate corporate governance under all circumstances and no set of rules will guarantee ethical board behavior, there are certain principles, which provide evidence of good corporate governance. UBS AM (Americas) may delegate to an independent proxy voting and research service the authority to exercise the voting rights associated with certain client holdings. Any such delegation shall be made with the direction that the votes be exercised in accordance with UBS AM (Americas)'s proxy voting policy.

When UBS AM (Americas)'s view of a company's management is favorable, UBS AM (Americas) generally supports current management initiatives. When UBS AM (Americas)'s view is that changes to the management structure would probably increase shareholder value, UBS AM (Americas) may not support existing management proposals. In general, UBS AM (Americas) generally exercises voting rights in accordance with the following principles: (1) with respect to board structure, (a) an effective chairman is key, (b) the roles of chairman and chief executive generally should be separated, (c) board members should have appropriate and diverse experience and be capable of providing good judgment and diligent oversight of management of the company, (d) the board should include executive and non-executive members, and (e) the non-executive members should provide a challenging, but generally supportive environment; and (2) with respect to board responsibilities, (a) the whole board should be fully involved in endorsing strategy and in all major strategic decisions, and (b) the board should ensure that at all times (i) appropri-


49



ate management succession plans are in place; (ii) the interests of executives and shareholders are aligned; and financial audit is independent and accurate; (iii) the brand and reputation of the company is protected and enhanced; (iv) a constructive dialogue with shareholders is encouraged; and (v) it receives all the information necessary to hold management accountable. In addition, UBS AM (Americas) focuses on the following areas of concern when voting its clients' securities: economic value resulting from acquisitions or disposals; operational performance; quality of management; independent non-executive board directors not holding executive management accountable; quality of internal controls; lack of transparency; inadequate succession planning; poor approach to corporate social responsibility; inefficient management structure; and corporate activity designed to frustrate the ability of shareholders to hold the board accountable or realize the maximum value of their investment. UBS AM (Americas) exercises its voting rights in accordance with overarching rationales outlined by its proxy voting policies and procedures that are based on the principles described above.

The proxy voting policy includes guidelines regarding environmental, social, and corporate governance ("ESG") factors during the exercise of voting rights on behalf of UBS AM (Americas)'s clients, such as the Fund. Underlying UBS AM (Americas)'s voting and ESG guidelines are two fundamental objectives: (1) acting in the best financial interest of clients and enhancing the long-term value of their investments; and (2) promoting best practice in corporate governance and ensuring that portfolio companies are sustainable and successful.

UBS AM (Americas) has implemented procedures designed to address a conflict of interest in voting a particular proxy proposal, which may arise as a result of its or its affiliates' client relationships, marketing efforts or banking, investment banking and broker-dealer activities. To address such conflicts, UBS AM (Americas) has imposed information barriers between it and its affiliates who conduct banking, investment banking and broker-dealer activities and has implemented procedures to prevent business, sales and marketing issues from influencing its proxy votes. Whenever UBS AM (Americas) becomes aware of a conflict with respect to a particular proxy, and under certain circumstances, the relevant internal UBS AM (Americas) committee may be notified and determine the manner in which such proxy is voted.

Portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures

Introduction. UBS AM (Americas) and the Board have adopted portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures to govern the disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Fund (the "Disclosure Policy"). The Trust's policy with respect to the release of portfolio holdings information is to only release such information consistent with applicable legal requirements and the fiduciary duties owed to shareholders. Subject to the limited exceptions described below, the Fund's portfolio holdings will not be made available to anyone outside of UBS AM (Americas) unless and until the information has been made available to all shareholders or the general public in a manner consistent with the spirit and terms of the Disclosure Policy. A description of the type and frequency of portfolio holdings that are disclosed to the public is contained in the Fund's Prospectus, as it may be updated from time to time.

The Disclosure Policy requires that the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments address any material conflicts of interest regarding a disclosure of portfolio holdings and determine whether a disclosure of the Fund's portfolio holdings is for a legitimate business purpose and in the best interest of the Fund's shareholders prior to the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust or an attorney in the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments authorizing the disclosure of portfolio holdings. The UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments will periodically review how the Fund's portfolio holdings are being disclosed to and used by, if at all, shareholders, service providers, UBS AM (Americas) affiliates, fiduciaries, and broker-dealers, to ensure that such disclosure and use is for legitimate Fund business reasons and consistent with the best interests of the Fund's shareholders.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings by: (i) overseeing the implementation and enforcement by the CCO of the Disclosure Policy, the Trust's code of ethics and policies and procedures regarding the misuse of inside information; (ii) considering reports and recommendations by the CCO concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Act and Rule 206(4)-7 under the


50



Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended ("Advisers Act")) that may arise in connection with any policies governing portfolio holdings; and (iii) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendment to any policies governing portfolio holdings. The Disclosure Policy may be amended from time to time, subject to approval by the Board.

Disclosure of complete portfolio holdings to service providers subject to confidentiality and trading restrictions. UBS AM (Americas), for legitimate fund business purposes, may disclose the Fund's complete portfolio holdings if it deems such disclosure necessary and appropriate to rating and ranking organizations, financial printers, proxy voting service providers, pricing information vendors, derivatives collateral managers, third-parties that deliver analytical, statistical or consulting services, custodians or a redeeming party's custodian or transfer agent, as necessary in connection with redemptions in-kind, and other third parties that provide services (collectively, "Service Providers") to UBS AM (Americas) and/or the Fund.

Disclosure of complete portfolio holdings to a Service Provider is conditioned on the Service Provider being subject to a written duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the basis of any material non-public information, pursuant to the terms of the service agreement between the Service Provider and the Trust or UBS AM (Americas), or the terms of a separate confidentiality agreement. The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed to a Service Provider, and the length of lag, if any, between the date of information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the Service Provider, is to be determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the Fund's shareholders, and the legitimate fund business purposes served by such disclosure. Disclosure of Fund complete portfolio holdings to a Service Provider must be authorized in writing by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust or by an attorney in the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments.

Disclosure of complete portfolio holdings to UBS Asset Management affiliates and certain fiduciaries subject to confidentiality and trading restrictions. The Fund's complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among the following persons (collectively, "Affiliates and Fiduciaries") subject to authorization by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust, or an attorney in the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments, for legitimate fund business purposes within the scope of their official duties and responsibilities, and subject to such Affiliate/Fiduciary's continuing duty of confidentiality and duty not to trade on the basis of any material non-public information, as such duties are imposed under the Trust's and/or UBS AM (Americas)'s Code of Ethics, the Fund's policies and procedures regarding the prevention of the misuse of inside information, by agreement or under applicable laws, rules and regulations: (i) persons who are subject to UBS AM (Americas)'s Codes of Ethics or the policies and procedures regarding the prevention of the misuse of inside information; (ii) an investment advisor, distributor, administrator, sub-administrator, transfer agent, custodian or securities lending agent to the Fund; (iii) an accounting firm, an auditing firm or outside legal counsel retained by UBS AM (Americas) or the Fund; (iv) an investment advisor to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed for due diligence purposes when the advisor is in merger or acquisition talks with the Fund's current advisor; and (v) a newly hired investment advisor or sub-advisor to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed prior to the time it commences its duties.

The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among Affiliates and Fiduciaries, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed between and among the Affiliates and Fiduciaries, is to be determined by the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, and the risk of harm to the Fund and its shareholders, and the legitimate fund business purposes served by such disclosure.


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Arrangements to disclose portfolio holdings to service providers and fiduciaries. As of the date of this SAI, the specific Service Providers and Fiduciaries with whom the Trust has arrangements to provide portfolio holdings in advance of their release to the general public in the course of performing or to enable them to perform services for the Fund are:

•  State Street, the Fund's custodian, accounting agent, securities lending agent and sub-administrator, receives portfolio holdings information daily on a real-time basis in connection with the custodian, fund accounting, securities lending and sub-administration services it provides to the Fund.

•  Ernst & Young LLP, the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm, receives portfolio holdings information on an annual and semiannual basis for financial reporting purposes. There is a 25-day lag between the date of portfolio holdings information and the date on which the information is disclosed to Ernst & Young. Ernst & Young also receives portfolio holdings information annually at year-end for audit purposes. For information received at year-end for audit purposes, there is no lag between the date of the portfolio holdings information and the date on which the information is disclosed to Ernst & Young. In addition, Ernst & Young receives holdings twice a year for PFIC, fiscal income and excise tax provision reporting purposes with a 25-day lag time.

•  Bloomberg Finance L.P. receives daily portfolio holdings for the Fund at the end of each day in connection with its provision of services related to liquidity risk management.

•  The Fund uses a limited number of financial printers to print and file their annual and semiannual shareholder reports and other regulatory materials. There is at least a three-week lag between the date of the portfolio holdings information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the printer.

•  The rating agencies of Morningstar, and Lipper and the financial news and data companies, Bloomberg L.P. and FactSet Research Systems Inc., receive portfolio holdings information on a quarterly basis so that the Fund may be included in each company's industry reports and other materials. There is a 60-day lag between the date of the portfolio holdings information and the date on which the information is disclosed to these companies.

•  Marketing Spectrum and Karen Murray receive portfolio holdings information on a semi-annual basis to provide writing services in connection with the preparation of shareholder reports. There is typically a 15-day lag between the date of the portfolio holdings information and the date on which they receive the information.

•  Institutional Shareholder Services receives portfolio holdings information on a monthly basis on a 6-day lag in connection with proxy voting and class action claims processing services provided to the Fund.

Disclosure of complete portfolio holdings to certain shareholders subject to confidentiality and trading restrictions. UBS AM (Americas) may make available the Fund's complete non-public portfolio holdings, as of the most recent month-end, no sooner than 8 business days after the month-end for the purpose of assisting a shareholder to comply with the shareholder's legal or other regulatory obligations. UBS AM (Americas) may release the non-public portfolio holdings to a shareholder of the Fund if: (i) the shareholder requests the non-public portfolio holdings for the purpose of assisting the shareholder in complying with the shareholder's legal or other regulatory obligations; (ii) the disclosure of the non-public portfolio holdings is consistent with the Fund's legitimate business purpose; and (iii) the shareholder (and, if applicable, the shareholder's service provider) executes a written confidentiality agreement whereby the shareholder (and, if applicable, the shareholder's service provider) agrees not to disclose the non-public portfolio holdings information to third parties and not to purchase or sell any portfolio securities listed in the non-public portfolio holdings in reliance on the non-public portfolio holdings information.

Disclosure to a shareholder of the Fund of the non-public portfolio holdings information must be authorized in writing by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Fund or by an attorney in the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments.


52



As of the date of this SAI, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has no arrangements to provide portfolio holdings in advance of their release to the general public to assist shareholders in complying with the shareholder's legal or regulatory obligations.

Disclosure of portfolio holdings to broker-dealers in the normal course of managing Fund assets. An investment advisor, administrator or custodian for the Fund may, for legitimate fund business purposes within the scope of their official duties and responsibilities, disclose portfolio holdings (whether partial portfolio holdings or complete portfolio holdings) and other investment positions comprising the Fund to one or more broker-dealers during the course of, or in connection with, normal day-to-day securities and derivatives transactions with or through such broker-dealers subject to the broker-dealer's legal obligation not to use or disclose material non-public information concerning the Fund's portfolio holdings, other investment positions, securities transactions or derivatives transactions without the consent of the Trust or the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust or an attorney in the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments. The Trust has not given its consent to any such use or disclosure and no person including the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust or an attorney in the UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments is authorized to give such consent except as approved by the Board. In the event consent is given to disclose portfolio holdings to a broker-dealer, the frequency with which the portfolio holdings may be disclosed to a broker-dealer, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the broker-dealer, is to be determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, and the risk of harm to the Fund and its shareholders, and the legitimate fund business purposes served by such disclosure.

Disclosure of non-material information. Policies and procedures regarding disclosure of non-material information permit the officers of the Trust, UBS Asset Management Funds portfolio managers and senior officers of UBS AM (Americas) Product Control and Investment Support, UBS AM (Americas) Legal and Compliance Departments, and anyone employed by or associated with UBS AM (Americas) who has been authorized by the UBS AM (Americas) Legal Department (collectively, "Approved Representatives") to disclose any views, opinions, judgments, advice or commentary, or any analytical, statistical, performance or other information, in connection with or relating to the Fund or their portfolio holdings and/or other investment positions (collectively, commentary and analysis) or any changes in the portfolio holdings of the Fund that occurred after the most recent calendar-quarter end (recent portfolio changes) to any person if such information does not constitute material non-public information.

An Approved Representative must make a good faith determination whether the information constitutes material non-public information, which involves an assessment of the particular facts and circumstances. UBS AM (Americas) believes that in most cases recent portfolio changes that involve a few or even several securities in a diversified portfolio or commentary and analysis would be immaterial and would not convey any advantage to a recipient in making an investment decision concerning the Fund. Nonexclusive examples of commentary and analysis include: (i) the allocation of the Fund's portfolio holdings and other investment positions among various asset classes, sectors, industries and countries; (ii) the characteristics of the stock and bond components of the Fund's portfolio holdings and other investment positions; (iii) the attribution of Fund returns by asset class, sector, industry and country; and (iv) the volatility characteristics of the Fund. An Approved Representative may in his or her sole discretion determine whether to deny any request for information made by any person, and may do so for any reason or no reason.

Disclosure of portfolio holdings as required by applicable law. Fund portfolio holdings and other investment positions comprising the Fund may be disclosed to any person as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Examples of such required disclosure include, but are not limited to, disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings: (i) in a filing or submission with the SEC or another regulatory body; (ii) in connection with seeking recovery on defaulted bonds in a federal bankruptcy case; (iii) in connection with a lawsuit; or (iv) as required by court order, subpoena or similar process (e.g., arbitration proceedings).


53



Prohibitions on disclosure of portfolio holdings. No person is authorized to disclose Fund portfolio holdings or other investment positions (whether online at www.ubs.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Disclosure Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Disclosure Policy if such disclosure would be unlawful under the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Act). Furthermore, UBS AM (Americas), in its sole discretion, may determine not to disclose portfolio holdings or other investment positions comprising the Fund to any person who might otherwise be eligible to receive such information under the Disclosure Policy, or may determine to make such disclosures publicly as described above.

Prohibitions on receipt of compensation or other consideration. Neither UBS AM (Americas), the Fund nor any other person may pay or receive any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings or other investment positions. "Consideration" includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the investment advisor or by any affiliated person of the investment advisor.

Bank line of credit

The Fund participates with other funds managed by UBS AM (Americas) in a $185 million committed credit facility (the "Credit Facility") with State Street, to be utilized for temporary financing until the settlement of sales or purchases of portfolio securities, the repurchase or redemption of shares at the request of shareholders and other temporary or emergency purposes. Under the Credit Facility arrangement, the Fund has agreed to pay commitment fees on the average daily balance of the Credit Facility not utilized. Under the Credit Facility arrangement commitment fees are allocated amongst the participating funds as follows: 50% of the allocation is based on the relative asset size of funds and the other 50% of the allocation is based on utilization. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, the Fund had no borrowings under the Credit Facility.

Portfolio transactions and brokerage commissions

The Advisor is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's portfolio business and the negotiation of commissions, if any, paid on such transactions. Fixed income securities in which the Fund invests are traded in the OTC market. These securities are generally traded on a net basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the bid/ask spread quoted on securities includes an implicit profit to the dealers. In OTC transactions, orders are placed directly with a principal market-maker unless a better price and execution can be obtained by using a broker. Brokerage commissions are paid on transactions in listed securities, futures contracts and options. The Advisor is responsible for effecting portfolio transactions and will do so in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to the Fund. Under its advisory agreement with the Fund, the Advisor is authorized to utilize the trading desk of its foreign affiliates to execute foreign securities transactions, but monitors the selection by such affiliates of brokers and dealers used to execute transactions for the Fund.

The primary consideration in all portfolio transactions will be prompt execution of orders in an efficient manner at the most favorable price. However, subject to policies established by the Board of the Trust, the Fund may pay a broker-dealer a commission for effecting a portfolio transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged if the Advisor determines in good faith that the commission paid was reasonable in relation to the brokerage or research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of that particular transaction or such firm's overall responsibilities with respect to the clients, including the Fund, as to which the Advisor exercises investment discretion. In selecting and monitoring broker-dealers and negotiating commissions, the Advisor considers the firm's reliability, the quality of its execution services on a continuing basis and its financial condition. When more than one firm is believed to meet these criteria, preference may be given to brokers who provide research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Advisor. Such services


54



include advice, both directly and in writing, as to the value of the securities; the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities; and the availability of securities, or purchasers or sellers of securities, as well as analyses and reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts. This allows the Advisor to supplement its own investment research activities and obtain the views and information of others prior to making investment decisions. The Advisor is of the opinion that, because this material must be analyzed and reviewed by its staff, the receipt and use of such material does not tend to reduce expenses but may benefit the Fund by supplementing the Advisor's research.

The Advisor effects portfolio transactions for other investment companies and advisory accounts. Research services furnished by dealers through whom the Fund effects its securities transactions may be used by the Advisor, or its affiliated investment advisors, in servicing all of their accounts; not all such services may be used in connection with the Fund. In the opinion of the Advisor, it is not possible to measure separately the benefits from research services to each of the accounts (including the Fund). The Advisor will attempt to equitably allocate portfolio transactions among the Fund and others whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the Fund and another account. In making such allocations between the Fund and others, the main factors to be considered are the respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for recommending investments to the Fund and the others. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the Fund. In the opinion of the Advisor, however, the results of such procedures will, on the whole, be in the best interest of each of the clients.

When buying or selling securities, the Fund may pay commissions to brokers who are affiliated with the Advisor or the Fund. The Fund may purchase securities in certain underwritten offerings for which an affiliate of the Fund or the Advisor may act as an underwriter. The Fund may effect futures transactions through, and pay commissions to, FCMs who are affiliated with the Advisor or the Fund in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board.

The Fund incurred brokerage commissions as follows:

   

Fiscal year ended June 30,

 

Fund

 

2020

 

2019

 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund1

 

$

8,190

   

$

10,536

   

1  Class P shares of the UBS Engage For Impact Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2018.

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, the Fund's commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided research services to the Fund were as follows:

Fund

  Value of securities
transactions
  Brokerage
commissions
 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund

 

$

4,593,005

   

$

2,201

   

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, the Fund paid brokerage commissions to UBS Group AG, an affiliate of the Advisor and Underwriter, as follows:

Fund

  Aggregate
dollar amount of
commissions paid to
UBS Group AG
  % of aggregate
commissions paid to
UBS Group AG
  % of aggregate
dollar amount
paid to
UBS Group AG
 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund

 

$

680

     

8.30

%

   

0.07

%

 


55



During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, the Fund paid brokerage commissions to UBS Group AG, an affiliate of the Advisor and Underwriter, as follows:

Fund

  Aggregate
dollar amount of
commissions paid to
UBS Group AG
  % of aggregate
commissions paid to
UBS Group AG
  % of aggregate
dollar amount
of transactions
effected through
UBS Group AG
 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund1

 

$

93

     

0.88

%

   

0.07

%

 

1  Class P shares of the UBS Engage For Impact Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2018.

As of June 30, 2020, the Fund did not own securities issued by a company that is a regular broker-dealer for the Fund.

Certain series of the Trust maintain a commission recapture program with certain brokers for such series. Under the program, a percentage of commissions generated by portfolio transactions for a fund is rebated to the fund by the brokers.

Portfolio turnover

The Fund is free to dispose of its portfolio securities at any time, subject to complying with the Code and the Act, when changes in circumstances or conditions make such a move desirable in light of the Fund's investment objective. The Fund will not attempt to achieve or be limited to a predetermined rate of portfolio turnover, such a turnover always being incidental to transactions undertaken with a view to achieving the Fund's investment objective.

The Fund does not intend to use short-term trading as a primary means of achieving its investment objectives. The rate of portfolio turnover shall be calculated by dividing (a) the lesser of purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the particular fiscal year by (b) the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the particular fiscal year. Such monthly average shall be calculated by totaling the values of the portfolio securities as of the beginning and end of the first month of the particular fiscal year and as of the end of each of the succeeding eleven months and dividing the sum by 13.

Under normal circumstances, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is not expected to exceed 100%. High portfolio turnover rates (over 100%) may involve correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund and ultimately by the Fund's shareholders. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in increased short-term capital gains, which, when distributed to shareholders, are treated as ordinary income.

The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 was as follows:

   

Fiscal year ended June 30,

 

Fund

 

2020

 

20191

 

UBS Engage For Impact Fund

   

43

%

   

67

%

 

1  For the period October 24, 2018 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2019.


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Shares of beneficial interest

The Trust currently offers three classes of shares for the Fund: the UBS Fund—Class A (the Class A shares), UBS Fund—Class P (the Class P shares), and UBS Fund—Class P2 (the Class P2 shares). Only Class P2 shares are included in this SAI.

The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with a $0.001 par value per share. Each share of beneficial interest represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities of the applicable series of the Trust and has identical voting, dividend, redemption, liquidation and other rights and preferences as the other classes of that series of the Trust, except that only the Class A shares may vote on any matter affecting the Class A 12b-1 plan. No class may vote on matters that affect only another class. Under Delaware law, the Trust does not normally hold annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders' meetings may be held from time to time to consider certain matters, including changes to the Fund's fundamental investment objective and fundamental investment policies, changes to the Trust's investment advisory agreements and the election of Trustees when required by the Act. When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, shareholders are entitled to one vote per share with proportionate voting for fractional shares. The shares of the Fund does not have cumulative voting rights or any preemptive or conversion rights, and the Trustees have authority, from time to time, to divide or combine the shares of the Fund into a greater or lesser number of shares so affected. In the case of a liquidation of the Fund, each shareholder of the Fund will be entitled to share, based upon the shareholder's percentage share ownership, in the distribution of assets, net of liabilities, of the Fund. No shareholder is liable for further calls or assessment by the Fund.

On any matters affecting only one series of the Trust or class, only the shareholders of that series of the Trust or class are entitled to vote. On matters relating to the Trust but affecting the Fund differently, separate votes by the affected series or classes are required. With respect to the submission to shareholder vote of a matter requiring separate voting by a series of the Trust or class, the matter shall have been effectively acted upon with respect to any series or class if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that series or class votes for the approval of the matter, notwithstanding that: (1) the matter has not been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any other series or class; and (2) the matter has not been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.

The Trustees of the Trust do not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders of the Fund. The SEC, however, requires the Trustees to promptly call a meeting for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any Trustee when requested to do so by not less than 10% of the outstanding shareholders of the Fund. In addition, subject to certain conditions, shareholders of the Fund may apply to the Fund to communicate with other shareholders to request a shareholders' meeting to vote upon the removal of a Trustee or Trustees.

Additional purchase, exchange and redemption information and other services

Class P2 shares are sold without sales charges and do not pay ongoing 12b-1 distribution or service fees. Only specific types of investors can purchase Class P2 shares.

Additional exchange and redemption information. As discussed in the Prospectus, eligible shares of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of the corresponding class of most other Family Funds. Investors exchanging Class P shares on certain brokerage platforms may be subject to commissions or other fees.


57



Shareholders will receive at least 60 days' notice of any termination or material modification of the exchange offer, except no notice need be given if, under extraordinary circumstances, either redemptions are suspended under the circumstances described below or the Fund temporarily delays or ceases the sales of its shares because it is unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with the Fund's investment objective, policies and restrictions.

The Trust will satisfy redemption requests in cash to the fullest extent feasible, so long as such payments would not, in the opinion of the Advisor or the Board, result in the necessity of the Fund selling assets under disadvantageous conditions and to the detriment of the remaining shareholders of the Fund. Pursuant to the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, payment for shares redeemed may be made either in cash or in-kind, or partly in cash and partly in-kind. Under unusual circumstances, when the Board deems it in the best interest of the Fund's shareholders, the Trust may make payment for shares repurchased or redeemed in whole or in part in securities of the Fund taken at current values. With respect to such redemptions in kind, the Trust has made an election pursuant to Rule 18f-1 under the Act. This will require the Trust to redeem in cash at a shareholder's election in any case where the redemption involves less than $250,000 (or 1% of the Fund's net asset value at the beginning of each 90-day period during which such redemptions are in effect, if that amount is less than $250,000), during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Should payment be made in securities, the redeeming shareholder may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to cash. In-kind payments to non-affiliated shareholders need not constitute a cross-section of the Fund's portfolio. Where a shareholder has requested redemption of all or a part of the shareholder's investment and where the Fund computes such redemption in-kind, the Fund will not recognize gain or loss for federal tax purposes on the securities used to compute the redemption, but the shareholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the fair market value of the securities received and the shareholder's basis in the Fund shares redeemed. Pursuant to redemption in-kind procedures adopted by the Board on behalf of the Fund, the Trust is permitted to pay redemptions in-kind to shareholders that are affiliated persons of the Fund by nature of a greater than 5% ownership interest in the Fund.

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment during any period (1) when the NYSE is closed or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) when an emergency exists, as defined by the SEC, that makes it not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it or to determine fairly the value of its assets, or (3) as the SEC may otherwise permit. The redemption price may be more or less than the shareholder's cost, depending on the market value of the Fund's portfolio at the time.

Transfer of securities

At the discretion of the Trust, investors may be permitted to purchase Fund shares by transferring securities to the Fund that meet the Fund's investment objective and policies. Securities transferred to the Fund will be valued in accordance with the same procedures used to determine the Fund's net asset value at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. Shares issued by the Fund in exchange for securities will be issued at net asset value per share of the Fund determined as of the same time. All dividends, interest, subscription or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. Investors who are permitted to transfer such securities will be required to recognize a gain or loss on such transfer and pay tax thereon, if applicable, measured by the difference between the fair market value of the securities and the investors' basis therein. Securities will not be accepted in exchange for shares of the Fund unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included in the Fund's portfolio and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and warrants that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Fund under the 1933 Act, or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) the value of any such security (except US government securities) being exchanged, together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Fund, will not exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets immediately after the transaction.


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Valuation of shares

The price at which you may buy, sell or exchange Fund shares is based on net asset value per share. The Fund generally calculates its net asset value on days that the NYSE is open. The Fund calculates net asset value separately for each class as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time). The NYSE normally is not open, and the Fund does not price its shares, on most national holidays and on Good Friday. To the extent that the Fund's assets are traded in other markets on days when the NYSE is not open, the value of the Fund's assets may be affected on those days. If trading on the NYSE is halted for the day before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, the Fund's net asset value per share generally will still be calculated as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE. The time at which the Fund calculates its net asset value and until which purchase, sale or exchange orders are accepted may be changed as permitted by the SEC.

The Fund calculates its net asset value based on the current market value, when available, for its portfolio securities. The Fund normally obtains market values for its investments from independent pricing sources and broker-dealers. Independent pricing sources may use reported last sale prices, official market closing prices, current market quotations or valuations from computerized "matrix" systems that derive values based on comparable investments. A matrix system incorporates parameters such as security quality, maturity and coupon, and/or research and evaluations by its staff, including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, if available, in determining the valuation of the portfolio investments. Investments also may be valued based on appraisals derived from information concerning the investment or similar investments received from recognized dealers in those holdings. Investments traded in the OTC market and listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. ("NASDAQ") normally are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Other OTC securities are valued at the last bid price on the valuation date available prior to valuation. Investments that are listed on US and foreign stock exchanges normally are valued at the market closing price, the last sale price on the day the investments are valued or, lacking any sales on such day, at the last available bid price. In cases where investments are traded on more than one exchange, the investments are valued on the exchange designated as the primary market by the Advisor. If a market value is not readily available from an independent pricing source for a particular investment, that security or instrument is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board. Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of an investment's fair value. These factors include, but are not limited to, fundamental analytical data relating to the investment; the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the investments; and the evaluation of forces which influence the market in which the investments are purchased and sold. Foreign currency exchange rates are generally determined as of the close of the NYSE.

Certain investments in which the Fund invests are traded in markets that close before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. Normally, developments that occur between the close of the foreign markets and 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, will not be reflected in the Fund's net asset value. However, if the Fund determines that such developments are so significant that they will materially affect the value of the Fund's investments, the Fund may adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what is believed to be the fair value of these investments as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time.

The Fund may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value investments principally traded in foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time for valuation. The systematic fair valuation model may use calculations based on indices of domestic securities and other appropriate indicators, such as prices of relevant ADRs and futures contracts. If an investment is valued at a "fair value," that value is likely to be different from the last quoted market price for the investment.

The amortized cost method of valuation, which approximates market value, generally is used to value short-term debt instruments with 60 days or less remaining to maturity, unless the Board or its delegate determines that this does not represent fair value. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at the daily closing net asset value of the respective investment company. Pursuant to the Fund's use of the practical expedient within ASC


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Topic 820, investments in investment companies without publicly published prices are also valued at the daily net asset value. All investments quoted in foreign currencies will be valued daily in US dollars on the basis of the foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at the time such valuation is determined by the Fund's custodian.

Futures contracts are generally valued at the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. Forward foreign currency contracts are valued daily using forward exchange rates quoted by independent pricing services.

Swaps are marked-to-market daily based upon values from third party vendors or quotations from market makers to the extent available, and the change in value, if any, is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on the Statement of assets and liabilities. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or deemed unreliable, the swap is valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.

Taxes

The following is a summary of certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectuses. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectuses is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This "Taxes" section is based on the Code and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes, or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

This is for general information only and not tax advice. All investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state, local and foreign tax provisions applicable to them.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a "regulated investment company," "RIC" or "fund") under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Fund so qualifies, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company—In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Fund must satisfy the following requirements:

•  Distribution Requirement—The Fund must distribute an amount equal to the sum of at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (including, for purposes of satisfying this distribution requirement, certain distributions made by the Fund after the close of its taxable year that are treated as made during such taxable year).

•  Income Requirement—The Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships ("QPTPs").


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•  Asset Diversification Test—The Fund must satisfy the following Asset Diversification Test at the close of each quarter of the Fund's tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Fund's assets must consist of cash and cash items, US government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than US government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, in the securities of one or more QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Fund for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Fund's ability to satisfy these requirements. See, "Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions" below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test, which may have a negative impact on the Fund's income and performance.

The Fund may use "equalization accounting" (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Fund uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Fund shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Fund's allocation is improper and that the Fund has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Fund may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. If, as a result of such adjustment, the Fund fails to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, the Fund will not qualify that year as a regulated investment company the effect of which is described in the following paragraph.

If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at the corporate income tax rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Fund's income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test, which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Fund will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Fund may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Portfolio turnover—For investors that hold their Fund shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate may result in higher taxes. This is because a fund with a high turnover rate is likely to accelerate the recognition of capital gains and more of such gains are likely to be taxable as short-term rather than long-term capital gains in contrast to a comparable fund with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Fund's after-tax performance. See, "Taxation of Fund distributions—Distributions of capital gains" below. For non-US investors, any such acceleration of the recognition of capital gains that results in more short-term and less long-term capital gains being recognized by the Fund may cause such investors to be subject to increased US withholding taxes. See, "Non-US investors—Capital gain dividends" and "—Interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends" below.


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Capital loss carryovers—The capital losses of the Fund, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Fund may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. If the Fund has a "net capital loss" (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess (if any) of the Fund's net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Fund that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Fund in succeeding taxable years. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% "change in ownership" of the Fund. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Fund increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate, thereby reducing the Fund's ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Fund's shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Fund undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another fund. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Fund's control, there can be no assurance that the Fund will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change. Additionally, if the Fund engages in a tax-free reorganization with another fund, the effect of these and other rules not discussed herein may be to disallow or postpone the use by the Fund of its capital loss carryovers (including any current year losses and built-in losses when realized) to offset its own gains or those of the other fund, or vice versa, thereby reducing the tax benefits Fund shareholders would otherwise have enjoyed from use of such capital loss carryovers.

Deferral of late year losses—The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any "qualified late year loss" as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund's taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such "qualified late year loss" as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year (see, "Taxation of Fund Distributions—Distributions of capital gains" below). A "qualified late year loss" includes:

(i) any net capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, or, if there is no such loss, any net long-term capital loss or any net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year ("post-October capital losses"); and

(ii) the sum of (1) the excess, if any, of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, over (b) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (2) the excess, if any, of (a) ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (b) the ordinary income incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms "specified losses" and "specified gains" mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses and gains, and losses and gains resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms "ordinary losses" and "ordinary income" mean other ordinary losses and income that are not described in the preceding sentence.

Undistributed capital gains—The Fund may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Fund currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, the Fund will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the corporate income tax rate. If the Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Fund also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refund-


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able tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Fund of funds—If a Fund is a fund of funds, distributions by the underlying funds, redemptions of shares in the underlying funds and changes in asset allocations may result in taxable distributions to shareholders of ordinary income or capital gains. A fund of funds generally will not be able to currently offset gains realized by one underlying fund in which the fund of funds invests against losses realized by another underlying fund. If shares of an underlying fund are purchased within 30 days before or after redeeming at a loss other shares of that underlying fund (whether pursuant to a rebalancing of the Fund's portfolio or otherwise), all or a part of the loss will not be deductible by a Fund and instead will increase its basis for the newly purchased shares. Also, except with respect to qualified fund of funds discussed below, a fund of funds (a) is not eligible to pass-through to shareholders foreign tax credits from an underlying fund that pays foreign income taxes (see, "Taxation of Fund distributions—Pass-through of foreign tax credits" below), (b) is not eligible to pass-through to shareholders exempt-interest dividends from an underlying fund, and (c) dividends paid by a fund of funds from interest earned by an underlying fund on US government obligations is unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax (see, "US government securities" below). However, a fund of funds is eligible to pass through to shareholders qualified dividends earned by an underlying fund (see, "Taxation of Fund distributions—Qualified dividend income for individuals" and "—Dividends-received deduction for corporations" below). A qualified fund of funds, i.e. a Fund at least 50 percent of the value of the total assets of which (at the close of each quarter of the taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs, is eligible to pass-through to shareholders (a) foreign tax credits and (b) exempt-interest dividends.

Federal excise tax—To avoid a 4% non-deductible excise tax, the Fund must distribute by December 31 of each year an amount equal to at least: (1) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of capital gain net income (that is, the excess of the gains from sales or exchanges of capital assets over the losses from such sales or exchanges) for the one-year period ended on October 31 of such calendar year, and (3) any prior year undistributed ordinary income and capital gain net income. A Fund may elect to defer to the following year any net ordinary loss incurred for the portion of the calendar year which is after the beginning of the Fund's taxable year. Also, the Fund will defer any "specified gain" or "specified loss" which would be properly taken into account for the portion of the calendar year after October 31. Any net ordinary loss, specified gain, or specified loss deferred shall be treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Generally, the Fund intends to make sufficient distributions prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid any material liability for federal income and excise tax, but can give no assurances that all or a portion of such liability will be avoided. In addition, under certain circumstances, temporary timing or permanent differences in the realization of income and expense for book and tax purposes can result in the Fund having to pay an excise tax.

Foreign income tax—Investment income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Fund. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. Some countries require the filing of a tax reclaim or other forms to receive the benefit of the reduced tax rate; whether or when the Fund will receive the tax reclaim is within the control of the individual country. Information required on these forms may not be available such as shareholder information; therefore, the Fund may not receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries have conflicting and changing instructions and restrictive timing requirements which may cause the Fund not to receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries may subject capital gains realized by the Fund on sale or disposition of securities of that country to taxation. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Fund's assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to pass-through foreign taxes paid by the Fund to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. If the Fund makes such an election and obtains a refund of foreign taxes paid by the Fund in a prior year, the Fund may be eligible to reduce the amount of foreign taxes reported by the Fund to its shareholders, generally by the amount of the foreign taxes refunded, for the year in which the refund is received. See "Taxation of Fund Distributions—Pass-through of foreign tax credits."


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Taxation of Fund distributions

The Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain for each taxable year. Distributions by the Fund will be treated in the manner described below regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund (or of another fund).

Distributions of net investment income—The Fund receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. The Fund may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. The Fund calculates income dividends and capital gains distributions the same way for each class. The amount of any income dividends per share will differ, however, generally due to any differences in the service (Rule 12b-1) fees applicable to the classes. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund's earnings and profits. In the case of a Fund whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to you may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. See the discussion below under the headings, "—Qualified dividend income for individuals" and "—Dividends-received deduction for corporations."

Distributions of capital gains—The Fund may derive capital gain and loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions paid from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Any net short-term or long-term capital gain realized by the Fund (net of any capital loss carryovers) generally will be distributed once each year and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund.

Returns of capital—Distributions by the Fund that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder's tax basis in his Fund shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Fund shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Fund over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity REITs (see, "Tax treatment of portfolio transactions—Investments in US REITs" below).

Qualified dividend income for individuals—Ordinary income dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders (i.e., certain trusts and estates) at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. "Qualified dividend income" means dividends paid to the Fund (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Fund and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Fund dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Fund must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before a Fund distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, US REITs, PFICs, and income received "in lieu of" dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Fund is equal to or greater than 95% of the Fund's gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund will be qualifying dividend income.


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Dividends-received deduction for corporations—For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund may qualify for the 50% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Fund that so qualifies will be reported by the Fund to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Fund from domestic (US) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Fund and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Fund may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Fund were debt-financed or held by the Fund for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Fund shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Fund dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Income derived by the Fund from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Qualified REIT dividends. Under 2017 legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA") "qualified REIT dividends" (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income) are treated as eligible for a 20% deduction by noncorporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). A Fund may choose to report the special character of "qualified REIT dividends" to its shareholders. The amount of a RIC's dividends eligible for the 20% deduction for a taxable year is limited to the excess of the RIC's qualified REIT dividends for the taxable year over allocable expenses. A noncorporate shareholder receiving such dividends would treat them as eligible for the 20% deduction, provided the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements for its shares in the RIC (i.e., generally, RIC shares must be held by the shareholder for more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend).

Impact of realized but undistributed income and gains, and net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities—At the time of your purchase of shares, the Fund's net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities held by the Fund. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable, and would be taxed as ordinary income (some portion of which may be taxed as qualified dividend income), capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. The Fund may be able to reduce the amount of such distributions from capital gains by utilizing its capital loss carryovers, if any.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits—If more than 50% of the Fund's total assets at the end of a fiscal year is invested in foreign securities, or if a Fund is a qualified fund of funds (i.e. a fund at least 50 percent of the value of the total assets of which, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, is represented by interests in other RICs), the Fund may elect to pass-through to you your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, the Fund may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income, or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your US federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Fund will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. No deduction for foreign tax may be claimed by a noncorporate shareholder who does not itemize deductions or who is subject to the alternative minimum tax. Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate shares of the foreign income tax paid by the Fund due to certain limitations that may apply. The Fund reserves the right not to pass-through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund. Additionally, any foreign tax withheld on payments made "in lieu of" dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders. See, "Tax treatment of portfolio transactions—Securities lending" below.


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Tax credit bonds—If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more "tax credit bonds" (including Build America Bonds, clean renewable energy bonds and qualified tax credit bonds) on one or more applicable dates during a taxable year, the Fund may elect to permit its shareholders to claim a tax credit on their income tax returns equal to each shareholder's proportionate share of tax credits from the applicable bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the Fund. (Under the TCJA, the Build America Bonds, clean renewable energy bonds and certain other qualified bonds were no longer issued after December 31, 2017.) In such a case, shareholders must include in gross income (as interest) their proportionate share of the income attributable to their proportionate share of those offsetting tax credits. A shareholder's ability to claim a tax credit associated with one or more tax credit bonds may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code. Even if the Fund is eligible to pass through tax credits to shareholders, the Fund may choose not to do so.

US government securities—Income earned on certain US government obligations is exempt from state and local personal income taxes if earned directly by you. States also grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the US government, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Fund. Income on investments by the Fund in certain other obligations, such as repurchase agreements collateralized by US government obligations, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporations. If the Fund is a fund of funds, see, "Taxation of the Fund—Fund of funds" above.

Dividends declared in December and paid in January—Ordinarily, shareholders are required to take distributions by the Fund into account in the year in which the distributions are made. However, dividends declared in October, November or December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month will be deemed to have been received by the shareholders (and made by the Fund) on December 31 of such calendar year if such dividends are actually paid in January of the following year. Shareholders will be advised annually as to the US federal income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the year in accordance with the guidance that has been provided by the IRS.

Medicare tax—A 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on net investment income earned by certain individuals, estates and trusts. "Net investment income," for these purposes, means investment income, including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares, reduced by the deductions properly allocable to such income. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (1) the shareholder's net investment income or (2) the amount by which the shareholder's modified adjusted gross income or adjusted gross income, as applicable, exceeds a certain threshold. Net investment income does not include exempt-interest dividends. This Medicare tax, if applicable, is reported by you on, and paid with, your federal income tax return.

Sales, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares

Sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) of Fund shares are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Fund shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be a capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares. Capital losses in any year are deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus, in the case of a noncorporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income.

Tax basis information—Unless you are investing in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, or a money market account, the Fund is required to report to you and the IRS annually on Form 1099-B the cost basis of shares purchased or acquired on or after January 1, 2012 where the cost basis of the shares is known by the Fund (referred to as "covered shares") and which are disposed of after that date. Cost basis will be calculated using the Fund's default method of average cost, unless you instruct


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the Fund in writing to use a different calculation method. In general, average cost is the total cost basis of all your shares in an account divided by the total number of shares in the account. To determine whether short-term or long-term capital gains taxes apply, the IRS presumes you redeem your oldest shares first.

The IRS permits the use of several methods to determine the cost basis of mutual fund shares. The method used will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing share prices, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund does not recommend any particular method of determining cost basis, and the use of other methods may result in more favorable tax consequences for some shareholders. It is important that you consult with your tax advisor to determine which method is best for you and then notify the Fund in writing if you intend to utilize a method other than average cost for covered shares.

In addition to the Fund's default method of average cost, other cost basis methods offered by the Trust, which you may elect to apply to covered shares, include:

•  First-In, First-Out (FIFO)—shares acquired first in the account are the first shares depleted.

•  Last-In, First-Out (LIFO)—shares acquired last in the account are the first shares depleted.

•  Highest Cost In, First Out (HIFO)—shares acquired with the highest cost per share are the first shares depleted.

•  Lowest Cost In, First Out (LOFO)—shares acquired with the lowest cost per share are the first shares depleted.

•  Highest Cost Long-Term In, First Out (HILT)—long-term shares with the highest cost per share are the first shares depleted.

•  Highest Cost Short-Term In, First Out (HIST)—short-term shares with the highest cost per share are the first shares depleted.

•  Lowest Cost Long-Term In, First out (LILT)—long-term shares with the lowest cost per share are the first shares depleted.

•  Lowest Cost Short-Term In, First out (LIST)—short-term shares with the lowest cost per share are the first shares depleted.

•  Specific Lot Identification—shareholder selects which lots to deplete at time of each disposition. Transaction amount must be in shares. If you identify an insufficient number of shares or do not make a timely identification, the transaction will default to the first-in, first-out method.

You may elect any of the available methods detailed above for your covered shares. If you do not notify the Fund in writing of your elected cost basis method upon the later of January 1, 2012 or the initial purchase into your account, the default method of average cost will be applied to your covered shares. The cost basis for covered shares will be calculated separately from any shares purchased prior to January 1, 2012 or shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012 for which cost basis information is not known by the Fund ("noncovered shares"). You may change or revoke the use of the average cost method and elect another cost basis method for covered shares if you notify the Fund in writing. You may change from average cost to another cost basis method for covered shares at any time, but only for shares acquired after the date of the change (the change is prospective). The basis of the shares that were averaged before the change will remain averaged after the date of the change.

With the exception of the specific lot identification method, the Trust first depletes noncovered shares in first-in, first-out order before applying your elected method to your remaining covered shares. If you want to deplete your


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shares in a different order then you must elect specific lot identification and choose the lots you wish to deplete first.

The Fund will compute and report the cost basis of your Fund shares sold or exchanged by taking into account all of the applicable adjustments to cost basis and holding periods as required by the Code and Treasury regulations for purposes of reporting these amounts to you and the IRS. However, the Fund is not required to, and in many cases the Fund does not possess the information to, take all possible basis, holding period or other adjustments into account in reporting cost basis information to you. Therefore shareholders should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund, and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required by the Code and Treasury regulations when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns. Shareholders remain solely responsible for complying with all federal income tax laws when filing their federal income tax returns.

If you hold your Fund shares through a broker (or other nominee), please contact that broker (nominee) with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account.

Wash sales—All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Fund shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the 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.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase—Any loss incurred on a redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Fund on those shares.

Deferral of basis—Class A Shareholders Only—If a shareholder (a) incurs a sales charge in acquiring shares of the Fund, (b) disposes of such shares less than 91 days after they are acquired, and (c) subsequently acquires shares of the Fund or another fund by January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the disposition of the original shares occurred at a reduced sales charge pursuant to a right to reinvest at such reduced sales charge acquired in connection with the acquisition of the shares disposed of, then the sales charge on the shares disposed of (to the extent of the reduction in the sales charge on the shares subsequently acquired) shall not be taken into account in determining gain or loss on the shares disposed of, but shall be treated as incurred on the acquisition of the shares subsequently acquired. The wash sale rules may also limit the amount of loss that may be taken into account on disposition after such adjustment.

Reportable transactions—Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund's shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Tax treatment of portfolio transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a fund and, in turn, affect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the fund to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the sections above for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Fund.


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In general—In general, gain or loss recognized by a fund on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments—Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a fund at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount which accrued during the period of time the fund held the debt obligation unless the fund made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a fund purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the fund generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount which accrues during such year. Therefore, a fund's investment in such securities may cause the fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a fund may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of fund shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a fund—Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a fund in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions—In general, option premiums received by a fund are not immediately included in the income of the fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a fund is exercised and the fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the fund minus (b) the fund's basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the fund generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a fund's obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a fund expires unexercised, the fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a fund as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the fund on US exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code ("section 1256 contracts"). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses ("60/40"), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are "marked to market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordi-


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nary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a fund's transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a fund are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the fund, defer losses to the fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the fund's securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax.

Certain of a fund's investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the fund's transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a fund's book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a fund's book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the fund's remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient's basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions—A fund's transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a fund's ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the fund's previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a fund may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

PFIC investments—A fund may invest in securities of foreign companies that may be classified under the Code as PFICs. In general, a foreign company is classified as a PFIC if at least one-half of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. When investing in PFIC securities, a fund intends to mark-to-market these securities under certain provisions of the Code and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of the fund's fiscal and excise tax years. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that a fund is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by a fund. Foreign companies are not required to identify themselves as PFICs. Due to various complexities in identifying PFICs, a fund can give no assurances that it will be able to identify portfolio securities in foreign corporations that are PFICs in time for the fund to make a mark-to-market election. If a fund is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the fund may be subject to US federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a tax-


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able dividend by the fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on a fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.

Investments in US REITs—A US REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a US REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the US REIT's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a US REIT to a fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity US REIT's cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity US REIT, and in turn a fund, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a US REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the US REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the US REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the corporate income tax rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the US REIT's current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see, "Tax treatment of portfolio transactions—Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)" and "Non-US investors—Investment in US real property" below with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in US REITs.

Investment in non-US REITs—While non-US REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a fund in a non-US REIT may subject the fund, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-US REIT is located. A fund's pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the fund's return on its investment. A fund's investment in a non-US REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in "PFIC investments." Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-US REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in "Taxation of the Fund—Foreign income tax." Also, a fund in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-US REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in US real estate.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)—Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a fund's income from a US REIT that is attributable to the REIT's residual interest in a REMIC or equity interests in a "taxable mortgage pool" (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income ("UBTI") to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in US federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a "disqualified organization" (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the corporate income tax rate. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income.


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There can be no assurance that a fund will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income. These rules are potentially applicable to a fund with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a US REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a fund that has a non-REIT strategy.

Investments in partnerships and QPTPs—For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a fund from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the fund. While the rules are not entirely clear with respect to a fund investing in a partnership outside a master-feeder structure, for purposes of testing whether a fund satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the fund generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See, "Taxation of the Fund." In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a fund from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the fund may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a fund to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company. Although, in general, the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a fund with respect to items attributable to an interest in a QPTP. Fund investments in partnerships, including in QPTPs, may result in the fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

Investments in commodities—structured notes, corporate subsidiary and certain ETFs—Gains from the disposition of commodities, including precious metals, will neither be considered qualifying income for purposes of satisfying the Income Requirement nor qualifying assets for purposes of satisfying the Asset Diversification Test for qualification as a regulated investment company. Also, the IRS has issued a revenue ruling which holds that income derived from commodity-linked swaps is not qualifying income for purposes of the Income Requirement. However, in a subsequent revenue ruling, as well as in a number of follow-on private letter rulings issued to other taxpayers, the IRS provides that income from certain alternative investments which create commodity exposure, such as certain commodity index-linked or structured notes or a corporate subsidiary that invests in commodities, may be considered qualifying income under the Code. However, in September 2016, the IRS announced that it will no longer issue private letter rulings on questions relating to the treatment of a corporation as a RIC that require a determination of whether a financial instrument or position, such as a commodity-linked or structured note, is a security under section 2(a)(36) of the Act. A financial instrument or position that constitutes a security under section 2(a)(36) of the Act generates qualifying income for a corporation taxed as a regulated investment company. The IRS's announcement caused it to revoke the portion of any rulings relating to a mutual fund's investment in commodity-linked notes that required such a determination, some of which have been revoked retroactively and other of which were revoked prospectively as of a date agreed upon with the IRS. In addition, a fund may gain exposure to commodities through investment in QPTPs, such as an ETF that is classified as a partnership and which invests in commodities. Accordingly, the extent to which a fund invests in commodities or commodity-linked derivatives may be limited by the Income Requirement and the Asset Diversification Test, which the fund must continue to satisfy to maintain its status as a regulated investment company. A fund also may be limited in its ability to sell its investments in commodities and commodity-linked derivatives or be forced to sell other investments to generate income due to the Income Requirement. In lieu of potential disqualification, a fund is permitted to pay a tax for certain failures to satisfy the Asset Diversification Test or Income Requirement, which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

Securities lending—While securities are loaned out by a fund, the fund generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made "in lieu of" dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for


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the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 50% dividends-received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made "in lieu of" dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders. Additionally, in the case of a fund with a strategy of investing in tax-exempt securities, any payments made "in lieu of" tax-exempt interest will be considered taxable income to the fund, and thus, to the investors, even though such interest may be tax-exempt when paid to the borrower.

Investments in convertible securities—Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a "single property" consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder's exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount principles.

Investments in securities of uncertain tax character—A fund may invest in securities the US federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the tax treatment expected by a fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the fund, requiring the fund to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code.

Backup withholding

By law, the Fund may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

•  provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

•  certify that this number is correct,

•  certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

•  certify that you are a US person (including a US resident alien).

The Fund also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 24% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's US federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special US tax certification requirements applicable to non-US investors to avoid backup withholding are described under the "Non-US investors" heading below.

Abandoned or unclaimed property

Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of a fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law. For IRA accounts escheated


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to a state under these abandoned property laws, the escheatment will generally be treated as a taxable distribution to you; federal and any applicable state income tax will be withheld. This may apply to your Roth IRA as well.

Non-US investors

Non-US investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to US withholding and estate tax and are subject to special US tax certification requirements. Non-US investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of US tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general—The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on US source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Fund, subject to certain exemptions described below. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from US withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Fund shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 24% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a US person.

Capital gain dividends—In general, capital gain dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains, other than long-term capital gains realized on disposition of US real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to US withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends—Generally, dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from US sources and short-term capital gain dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains are not subject to US withholding tax. However, the Fund does not intend to report interest-related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends for the benefit of non-US investors. As a result, non-US investors may be subject to more US withholding tax than would otherwise be the case.

Exempt interest dividends—In general, exempt-interest dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as paid from net tax-exempt income are not subject to US withholding tax.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; foreign tax credits—Ordinary dividends paid by the Fund to non-US investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to US withholding tax. Foreign shareholders may be subject to US withholding tax at a rate of 30% on the income resulting from an election to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, but may not be able to claim a credit or deduction with respect to the withholding tax for the foreign tax treated as having been paid by them.

Income effectively connected with a US trade or business—If the income from the Fund is effectively connected with a US trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and any gains realized upon the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund will be subject to US federal income tax at the rates applicable to US citizens or domestic corporations and require the filing of a nonresident US income tax return.

Investment in US real property—The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 ("FIRPTA") makes non-US persons subject to US tax on disposition of a US real property interest ("USRPI") as if he or she were a US person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Fund may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in USRPI, including US REITs, which may trigger FIRPTA gain to the Fund's non-US shareholders.


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The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain when a RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC will be classified as a qualified investment entity if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC's assets consist of interests in US REITs and other US real property holding corporations ("USRPHC"). If a RIC is a qualified investment entity and the non-US shareholder owns more than 5% of a class of Fund shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the FIRPTA distribution, the FIRPTA distribution to the non-US shareholder is treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distribution to be subject to US withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring the non-US shareholder to file a nonresident US income tax return. In addition, even if the non-US shareholder does not own more than 5% of a class of Fund shares, but the Fund is a qualified investment entity, the FIRPTA distribution will be taxable as ordinary dividends (rather than as a capital gain or short-term capital gain dividend) subject to withholding at 30% or lower treaty rate.

Because the Fund expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in US real property interests, the Fund expect that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Fund shares nor Fund dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.

US estate tax—Transfers by gift of shares of the Fund by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to US federal gift tax. An individual who, at the time of death, is a non-US shareholder will nevertheless be subject to US federal estate tax with respect to Fund shares at the graduated rates applicable to US citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent's estate may nonetheless need to file a US estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a US federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Fund shares) as to which the US federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to US situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with US situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Fund may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent's US situs assets are below this threshold amount.

US tax certification rules—Special US tax certification requirements may apply to non-US shareholders both to avoid US backup withholding imposed at a rate of 24% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder's country of residence. In general, if you are a non-US shareholder, you must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a US person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8 BEN provided without a US taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding.

The tax consequences to a non-US shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-US shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA")—Under FATCA, the Fund will be required to withhold a 30% tax on income dividends made by the Fund to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions ("FFI") or non-financial foreign entities ("NFFE"). After December 31, 2018, FATCA withholding also would have applied to certain capital gain distributions, return of capital distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares; however, based on proposed regulations issued by the IRS, which can be relied upon currently, such withholding is no longer required unless final regulations provide otherwise (which is not expected). The FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, if it reports certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by US persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it meets certification requirements described below. The US Treasury has negotiated intergovernmental agreements ("IGA") with certain countries and


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is in various stages of negotiations with a number of other foreign countries with respect to one or more alternative approaches to implement FATCA; an entity in one of those countries may be required to comply with the terms of an IGA instead of US Treasury regulations.

An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding if it is deemed compliant or by becoming a "participating FFI," which requires the FFI to enter into a US tax compliance agreement with the IRS under section 1471(b) of the Code ("FFI agreement") under which it agrees to verify, report and disclose certain of its US accountholders and meet certain other specified requirements. The FFI will either report the specified information about the US accounts to the IRS, or, to the government of the FFI's country of residence (pursuant to the terms and conditions of applicable law and an applicable IGA entered into between the US and the FFI's country of residence), which will, in turn, report the specified information to the IRS. An FFI that is resident in a country that has entered into an IGA with the US to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the FFI shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.

An NFFE that is the beneficial owner of a payment from the Fund can avoid the FATCA withholding tax generally by certifying that it does not have any substantial US owners or by providing the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial US owner. The NFFE will report the information to the Fund or other applicable withholding agent, which will, in turn, report the information to the IRS.

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

Effect of future legislation; local tax considerations

The foregoing general discussion of US federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes, or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for US federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder's particular situation. Non-US shareholders may be subject to US tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Fund.

This discussion of "Taxes" is not intended or written to be used as tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Fund.

Potential conflicts of interest

Activities of UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, "UBS AM"), UBS Securities LLC and UBS Financial Services Inc. and their affiliates (collectively, "UBS") and other accounts managed by UBS


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UBS AM is a large asset management firm with approximately $1.1 trillion in assets under management worldwide as of December 31, 2020.1 UBS AM offers investment capabilities and investment styles across all major traditional and alternative asset classes, including equity, fixed income, currency, hedge fund, real estate, infrastructure and private equity investment capabilities that can also be combined in multi-asset strategies. UBS AM has around 3,500 employees located in 22 countries. UBS Asset Management is headquartered in London with other main offices in Chicago, Frankfurt, Hartford, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Zurich.

UBS is a worldwide full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and financial services organization. As a result, UBS AM and UBS (including, for these purposes, their directors, partners, officers and employees) worldwide, including the entities and personnel who may be involved in the investment activities and business operations of the Fund, are engaged in businesses and have interests other than that of managing the Fund. These activities and interests include potential multiple advisory, transactional, financial, consultative, and other interests in transactions, companies, securities and other instruments that may be engaged in, purchased or sold by the Fund. This section sets forth considerations of which investors in the Fund should be aware, and that may cause conflicts of interest on the part of UBS and UBS AM that could disadvantage the Fund. To address these potential conflicts, UBS and UBS AM have established various policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to detect and prevent these potential conflicts of interest and prevent the Fund from being disadvantaged.

Prospective investors should carefully review the following, which more fully describes these and other potential conflicts of interest presented by UBS AM' and UBS' other businesses and interests.

Potential conflicts relating to portfolio decisions, the sale of Fund shares and the allocation of investment opportunities

UBS' other activities may have an impact on the Fund. UBS AM (Americas) makes decisions for the Fund in accordance with its obligations as investment advisor to the Fund. However, UBS' other activities may, at the same time have a negative impact on the Fund. As a result of the various activities and interests of UBS, it is likely that the Fund will have multiple business relationships with, engage in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or obtain services from UBS and other entities for which UBS performs or seeks to perform investment banking or other services. It is also likely that the Fund will undertake transactions in securities in which UBS makes a market or otherwise has other direct or indirect interests.

UBS conducts extensive broker-dealer, banking and other activities around the world and provides investment banking, broker-dealer, prime brokerage, administrative and other services to clients which may involve markets and securities in which the Fund invests. These activities will give UBS broad access to the current status of certain markets and investments. As a result of the activities described in this paragraph and the access and knowledge arising from those activities, parts of UBS may be in possession of information in respect of markets and investments, which, if known to UBS AM (Americas), might cause UBS AM (Americas) to seek to dispose of, retain or increase interests in investments held by the Fund or acquire certain positions on behalf of the Fund. UBS will be under no duty to make any such information available to the Fund or personnel of UBS AM (Americas) making investment decisions on behalf of the Fund and maintains information barriers designed to prevent the misuse of such information. In general, personnel of UBS AM (Americas) making investment decisions will make decisions based solely upon information known by such decision makers without regard to information known by other UBS personnel.

In conformance with the Fund's investment objective and subject to compliance with applicable law, UBS AM (Americas) may purchase securities for the Fund during an underwriting or other offering of securities in which a broker-dealer affiliate acts as a manager, co-manager, underwriter or placement agent, or receives a benefit in the form of management, underwriting, or other fees. Affiliates of UBS AM (Americas) may act in other capacities in such offerings for which a fee, compensation, or other benefit will be received. From time to time, affiliates of UBS

1 UBS AM (Americas) manages approximately $259.6 billion as of December 31, 2020.


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AM (Americas) will be current investors in companies engaged in an offering of securities which UBS AM (Americas) may purchase on behalf of its clients. Such purchases may provide a direct or indirect benefit to UBS AM's affiliates acting as a selling shareholder. UBS AM may also participate in structured fixed income offerings of securities in which a related person may serve as trustee, depositor, originator service agent or other service provider in which fees will be paid to such related person. Further, a related person may act as originator and/or servicing agent of loans or receivables for a structured fixed income offering in which UBS AM (Americas) may invest Fund assets. Participation in such offering may directly or indirectly relieve financial obligations of related persons.

UBS AM may purchase or sell, or recommend for purchase or sale, for its investment advisory clients securities of companies: (i) with respect to which its affiliates act as an investment banker or financial advisor; (ii) with which its affiliates have other confidential relationships; (iii) in which its affiliates maintain a position or (iv) for which its affiliates make a market; or in which it or its officers, directors or employees or those of its affiliates own securities or otherwise have an interest. Except to the extent prohibited by law or regulation or by client instruction, UBS AM may recommend to its clients, or purchase for its clients, securities of issuers in which UBS has an interest as described in this paragraph.

UBS' financial and other interests and relationships may incentivize UBS to promote the sale of Fund shares. UBS, its personnel and other financial service providers, have interests in promoting sales of the Fund. UBS AM may also make cash and non-cash payments to banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies, financial planning firms and other financial intermediaries, that sell shares of the Fund, subject to UBS AM's internal policies and procedures. The source of such payments may come from the underwriter's own resources (including through transfers from affiliates). Payments made out of the underwriter's own resources are often referred to as "revenue sharing." Please read the section entitled "Principal underwriting arrangements" for more information.

With respect to both UBS and its personnel, the remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of the Fund or other products may be greater than the remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of other products that might be provided or offered by UBS or other third parties. UBS and its sales personnel may directly or indirectly receive a portion of the fees and commissions charged to the Fund or its shareholders. UBS and its advisory or other personnel may also benefit from increased amounts of assets under management. Fees and commissions charged to the Fund may also be higher than for other products or services, and the remuneration and profitability to UBS and such personnel resulting from transactions on behalf of or management of the Fund may be greater than the remuneration and profitability resulting from similar transactions for other funds or products.

UBS also may have relationships with, and purchase, or distribute or sell, services or products from or to, distributors, consultants and others who recommend the Fund, or who engage in transactions with or for the Fund. For example, UBS regularly participates in industry and consultant sponsored conferences and may purchase educational, data or other services from consultants or other third parties that it deems to be of value to its personnel and its business. The products and services purchased from consultants may include, but are not limited to, those that help UBS understand the consultant's points of view on the investment management process. Consultants and other parties that provide consulting or other services to potential investors in the Fund may receive fees from UBS or the Fund in connection with the distribution of shares in the Fund or other UBS products. For example, UBS may enter into revenue or fee sharing arrangements with consultants, service providers, and other intermediaries relating to investments in mutual funds, collective trusts, or other products or services offered or managed by UBS AM. UBS may also pay a fee for membership in industry-wide or state and municipal organizations or otherwise help sponsor conferences and educational forums for investment industry participants including, but not limited to, trustees, fiduciaries, consultants, administrators, state and municipal personnel and other clients. UBS' membership in such organizations allows UBS to participate in these conferences and educational forums and helps UBS interact with conference participants and to develop an understanding of the points of view and challenges of the conference participants. In addition, UBS' personnel, including employees of UBS, may have board, advisory, brokerage or other relationships with issuers, distributors, consultants and others that may have investments in the Fund or that may


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recommend investments in the Fund. In addition, UBS, including UBS AM, may make charitable contributions to institutions, including those that have relationships with clients or personnel of clients. UBS' personnel may also make political contributions. As a result of the relationships and arrangements described in this paragraph, consultants, distributors and other parties may have conflicts associated with their promotion of the Fund or other dealings with the Fund that create incentives for them to promote the Fund or certain portfolio transactions.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, UBS AM may make payments to authorized dealers from time to time to promote the Fund. The additional payments by UBS AM may also compensate Financial Intermediaries for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to the fees paid for these or similar services by such products. Payments made by UBS AM may vary between different Financial Intermediaries. Please read the section entitled "Principal underwriting arrangements" and "Additional purchase, exchange and redemption information and other services" for more information.

Potential conflicts relating to the allocation of investment opportunities among the Fund and other UBS accounts. UBS AM manages accounts of certain clients by means of separate accounts ("Separate Accounts"). With respect to the Fund, UBS AM (Americas) may follow a strategy that is expected to be similar over time to that delivered by the Separate Accounts. The Fund and the Separate Account Clients are subject to independent management and, given the independence in the implementation of advice to these accounts, there can be no assurance that such investment advice will be implemented simultaneously. While each will use reasonable endeavors to procure timely execution, it is possible that prior execution for or on behalf of the Separate Accounts could adversely affect the prices and availability of the securities, currencies and instruments in which the Fund invests.

Other potential conflicts relating to the management of the Fund by UBS AM

Potential restrictions and issues relating to information held by UBS. From time to time and subject to UBS AM's policies and procedures regarding information barriers, UBS AM may consult with personnel in other areas of UBS, or with persons unaffiliated with UBS. The performance by such persons of obligations related to their consultation with personnel of UBS AM could conflict with their areas of primary responsibility within UBS or elsewhere. There will be no obligation on the part of such persons to make available for use by the Fund any information or strategies known to them or developed in connection with their own client, proprietary or other activities. In addition, UBS will be under no obligation to make available any research or analysis prior to its public dissemination.

In connection with its management of the Fund, UBS AM may have access to certain fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models developed by UBS AM or its affiliates (including UBS). UBS AM will not be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of the Fund in accordance with such analysis and models. In addition, neither UBS AM nor any of its affiliates (including UBS) will have any obligation to make available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of the Fund and it is not anticipated that UBS AM will have access to such information for the purpose of managing the Fund. The proprietary activities or portfolio strategies of UBS AM and its affiliates (including UBS) or the activities or strategies used for accounts managed by them or other client accounts could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by UBS AM (Americas), and have adverse effects on the Fund.

Potential conflicts relating to UBS' and UBS AM's proprietary activities and activities on behalf of other accounts. Transactions undertaken by UBS or client accounts managed by UBS ("Client Accounts") may adversely impact the Fund. UBS and one or more Client Accounts may buy or sell positions while the Fund is undertaking the same or a differing, including potentially opposite, strategy, which could disadvantage the Fund. For example, the Fund may establish a short position in a security and UBS or other Client Accounts may buy that same security. The subsequent purchase may result in an increase of the price of the underlying position in the short sale exposure of the Fund and such increase in price would be to the Fund's detriment. Conversely, the Fund may buy a security and


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UBS or Client Accounts may establish a short position in that same security. The subsequent short sale may result in impairment of the price of the security which the Fund holds. Conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions regarding the Fund may benefit UBS or other Client Accounts. For example, the sale of a long position or establishment of a short position by the Fund may impair the price of the same security sold short by (and therefore benefit) UBS or other Client Accounts, and the purchase of a security or covering of a short position in a security by the Fund may increase the price of the same security held by (and therefore benefit) UBS or other Client Accounts.

The directors, officers and employees of UBS and UBS AM may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts or for seed capital accounts (including through investment funds managed by UBS and UBS AM). As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by directors, officers and employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than positions taken for the Fund. To reduce the possibility that the Fund will be materially adversely affected by the personal or proprietary trading described above, the Fund, UBS and UBS AM, has established policies and procedures that restrict securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the Fund's portfolio transactions. Please see the section entitled "Personal trading policies" for more detailed information regarding these policies and procedures.

UBS Asset Management's affiliates have direct or indirect interests in electronic communication networks and alternative trading systems (collectively "ECNs"). UBS Asset Management, in accordance with its fiduciary obligation to seek to obtain best execution, may execute client trades through ECNs in which our related persons have, or may acquire, an interest. A related person may receive compensation based upon its ownership percentage in relation to the transaction fees charged by the ECNs. UBS Asset Management will execute through an ECN in which a related person has an interest only in situations when we reasonably believe such transactions will be in the best interests of our clients and the requirements of applicable law have been satisfied.

In accordance with Section 11(a) of the 1934 Act and the rules thereunder, UBS Asset Management's affiliates may effect transactions for the Fund or advisory client accounts on a national securities exchange of which an affiliate is an equity owner and/or a member and may retain compensation in connection with those transactions.

Potential conflicts relating to side-by-side management. UBS AM manages both accounts that are charged a performance-based fee and accounts that are charged a flat fee or an asset-based fee. Conflicts of interests may arise when managing these accounts side-by-side, as there may be an incentive to favor accounts for which UBS AM receives a performance-based fee. UBS AM seeks to mitigate these potential conflicts by implementing a number of compliance policies and business processes. Specifically, prior to implementing performance-based fee arrangements, these arrangements are reviewed by UBS AM to assess whether the proposed fee arrangement would unfairly disadvantage any of UBS AM's clients. In addition, many of UBS AM's strategies are managed on a model basis, meaning the portfolio managers manage a model for the strategy and translation of the models into individual client portfolios is handled by multiple other functions within UBS AM. This division of labor imparts checks and balances into the portfolio management process that minimizes the potential for one account to be favored over another. UBS AM's performance measurement team and compliance personnel monitor for dispersion of investment performance among similarly managed accounts to confirm that no accounts are being favored. UBS AM has established a trade allocation policy designed to ensure fair and equitable allocation of investments among client accounts. Additionally, portfolio holdings, position sizes and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across accounts, which may minimize the potential for conflicts of interests.

Gifts and entertainment. From time to time, directors, officers and employees of UBS and UBS AM may receive gifts and/or entertainment from clients, intermediaries, or service providers to the Fund, UBS and UBS AM, which could have the appearance of affecting or may potentially affect the judgment of the directors, officers and employees or the manner in which they conduct business on behalf of the Fund, UBS and UBS AM. To reduce the appearance of impropriety and the possibility that the Fund may be materially adversely affected by such gifts and


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entertainment, UBS and UBS AM have established policies and procedures that restrict the receipt of gifts and entertainment from clients, intermediaries, or service providers to the Fund.

UBS may in-source or outsource. Subject to applicable law, UBS, including UBS AM, may from time to time and without notice to investors in-source or outsource certain processes or functions in connection with a variety of services that it provides to the Fund in its administrative or other capacities. Such in-sourcing or outsourcing may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.

Selection of brokers and dealers and commission rates

UBS Asset Management and our affiliates utilize a common portfolio and trading platform for its clients. Certain investment professionals and other employees of UBS AM are officers of advisory affiliates and related persons and may provide investment advisory services to clients of such affiliated entities. UBS AM's personnel also provide research and trading support to personnel of certain advisory affiliates. Research-related costs may be shared by advisory affiliates and related persons and may benefit the clients of such advisory affiliates. Since research services are shared between UBS AM and its advisory affiliates, UBS AM and its advisory affiliates maintain an aggregated soft dollar budget. Therefore, research services that benefit UBS AM's clients may be paid for with commissions generated by clients of its advisory affiliates. Similarly, research services paid for by commissions generated by UBS AM's clients may benefit advisory affiliates and their clients. UBS AM does not allocate the relative costs or benefits of research received from brokers or dealers among its clients because UBS AM believes that the research received is, in the aggregate, of assistance in fulfilling UBS AM's overall responsibilities to its clients. The research may be used in connection with the management of accounts other than those for which trades are executed by the brokers or dealers providing the research. For example, equity research may be used for fixed income funds and accounts.

While we select brokers primarily on the basis of the execution capabilities, UBS Asset Management, in its discretion, may cause a client to pay a commission to brokers or dealers for effecting a transaction for that client in excess of the amount another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction. This may be done when we have determined in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the execution, brokerage and/or research services provided by the broker. Our arrangements for the receipt of research services from brokers may create conflicts of interest, in that we have an incentive to choose a broker or dealer that provides research services, instead of one that charges a lower commission rate but does not provide any research.

UBS Asset Management may receive a variety of research services and information on many topics, which we can use in connection with our management responsibilities with respect to the various accounts over which we exercise investment discretion or otherwise provide investment advice. These topics include: issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, the performance of accounts, statistical information, market data, earnings estimates, credit analysis, pricing, risk measurement analysis, and other information that may affect the US or foreign economies, security prices, or management of the portfolio.

The research services may include written reports, pricing and appraisal services, market data services, analysis of issues raised in proxy statements, educational seminars, subscriptions to trade journals, portfolio attribution and monitoring services and computer software and access charges that are directly related to investment research. Research services may be received in the form of written reports, online services, telephone contacts and personal meetings with security analysts, economists, corporate and industry spokespersons, investment consultants and government representatives. Research services are either provided directly by broker-dealers or generated by third parties and are provided by the brokerage firm to which the commissions are paid including commission sharing arrangements.


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Certain services may be mixed use, or used for research purposes as well as other purposes. Payment for these services is made as follows: the portion allocated to research is paid for through commissions, and the portion allocated to other purposes is paid for by UBS Asset Management. This allocation is determined by our Best Execution and Trading Committee in good faith and based on objective criteria, to the extent available, of the amounts used for research and non-research purposes; however, the decision regarding what amounts are paid by UBS Asset Management versus paid by clients through commissions presents a conflict of interest. Research services received from brokers and dealers may be supplemental to our own research efforts and, when utilized, are subject to internal analysis before being incorporated into our investment process. As a practical matter, it would not be possible for UBS Asset Management to generate all of the information presently provided by brokers and dealers.

UBS Asset Management may receive in-house or proprietary research from dealers that execute trades on a principal basis for our clients. The research received will be of the type described above, excluding third-party research services.

Potential regulatory restrictions on investment advisor activity

From time to time, the activities of the Fund may be restricted because of regulatory requirements applicable to UBS and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. A client not advised by UBS would not be subject to some of those considerations. There may be periods when UBS AM may not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions, or may otherwise restrict or limit its advice with respect to certain securities or instruments issued by or related to companies for which UBS is performing investment banking, market making or other services or has proprietary positions or otherwise has come into possession of material inside information. For example, when UBS is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of, or advisory services for, a company, the Fund may be prohibited from or limited in purchasing or selling securities of that company. Similar situations could arise if UBS personnel serve as directors of companies the securities of which the Fund wish to purchase or sell. The larger UBS AM's investment advisory business and UBS' businesses, the larger the potential that these restricted list policies will impact investment transactions. However, if permitted by applicable law, the Fund may purchase securities or instruments that are issued by such companies or are the subject of an underwriting, distribution, or advisory assignment by UBS, or in cases in which UBS personnel are directors or officers of the issuer.

The investment activities of UBS for its proprietary accounts and for Client Accounts may also limit the investment strategies and rights of the Fund. For example, in regulated industries, in certain emerging or international markets, in corporate and regulatory ownership definitions, and in certain futures and derivative transactions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount of investment by affiliated investors that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent or, if exceeded, may cause UBS, the Fund or other Client Accounts to suffer disadvantages or business restrictions. If certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached or certain transactions undertaken, the ability of UBS AM on behalf of the Fund to purchase or dispose of investments, or exercise rights or undertake business transactions, may be restricted by regulation or otherwise impaired. As a result, UBS AM on behalf of the Fund may limit purchases, sell existing investments, or otherwise restrict or limit the exercise of rights (including voting rights) when UBS AM, in its sole discretion, deems it appropriate.

UBS AM and its affiliates, including, without limitation, UBS and its advisory affiliates, have proprietary interests in, and may manage or advise with respect to, accounts or funds (including separate accounts, other funds and collective investment vehicles) that have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund and/or that engage in transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. UBS and its affiliates are also major participants in the global currency, equities, swap and fixed income markets, in each case both on a proprietary basis and for the accounts of customers. As such, UBS and its affiliates may be actively engaged in transactions in the same securities, currencies, and instruments in which the Fund invests. Such activities could affect the prices and availability of the securities, currencies, and instruments in which the Fund invests, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance. Such transactions, particularly in respect of most proprietary accounts or client accounts, will be executed independently of the Fund's transactions and thus at prices or rates that may be more or


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less favorable than those obtained by the Fund. UBS AM has developed policies and procedures consistent with regulatory requirements that provide that it will allocate investment opportunities and make purchase and sale decisions among the Fund and other client accounts in a manner that it considers, in its sole discretion and consistent with its fiduciary obligation to each account, to be reasonable. Allocations may be based on numerous factors and may not always be pro rata based. Thus, this system may adversely affect the size or price of the assets purchased or sold for the Fund.

The results of the Fund's investment activities may differ significantly from the results achieved by UBS AM and its affiliates for their proprietary accounts or other accounts (including investment companies or collective investment vehicles) managed or advised by them. It is possible that UBS AM and its affiliates and such other accounts will achieve investment results that are substantially more or less favorable than the results achieved by the Fund. Moreover, it is possible that the Fund will sustain losses during periods in which UBS AM and its affiliates achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The opposite result is also possible.

The investment activities of UBS AM and its affiliates for their proprietary accounts and accounts under their management may also limit the investment opportunities for the Fund in certain emerging and other markets in which limitations are imposed upon the amount of investment, in the aggregate or in individual issuers, by affiliated foreign investors.

From time to time, the Fund's activities may also be restricted because of regulatory restrictions applicable to UBS AM and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As a result, there may be periods, for example, when UBS AM, and/or its affiliates, will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which UBS AM and/or its affiliates are performing services or when position limits have been reached where such securities or instruments otherwise would have been permissible investments for the Fund. Additionally, the Fund or accounts may be licensed to trade securities or engage in transactions in certain jurisdictions while other series of the Trust and accounts are not licensed.

In addition, certain officers and certain employees of UBS AM are also officers or employees of UBS, or its affiliated entities. As a result, the performance by these officers and employees of their obligations to such other entities may be a consideration of which investors in the Fund should be aware.

UBS AM may enter into transactions and invest in securities, instruments and currencies on behalf of the Fund where customers of UBS or, to the extent permitted by the SEC, UBS itself, serves as the counterparty, principal or issuer. In such cases, such party's interests in the transaction will be adverse to the interests of the Fund, and such party may have no incentive to assure that the Fund obtains the best possible prices or terms in connection with the transaction. In addition, the purchase, holding and sale of such investments by the Fund may enhance the profitability of UBS AM and/or UBS. UBS and its affiliates may also create, write or issue derivatives for customers of UBS or its affiliates, the underlying securities, currencies or instruments of which may be those in which the Fund invests or which may be based on the performance of the Fund. The Fund may, subject to applicable law, purchase investments that are the subject of an underwriting or other distribution by UBS or its affiliates and may also enter into transactions with other clients of UBS AM or its affiliates where such other clients have interests adverse to those of the Fund. At times, these activities may cause UBS AM or its affiliates to give advice to clients that may cause these clients to take actions adverse to the interests of the Fund. To the extent affiliated transactions are permitted, the Fund will deal with UBS AM, UBS and its affiliates on an arms-length basis. UBS AM or UBS may also have an ownership interest in certain trading or information systems used by the Fund. The Fund's use of such trading or information systems may enhance the profitability of UBS AM and its affiliates.

It is also possible that, from time to time, UBS AM or any of its affiliates may, although they are not required to, purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Increasing the Fund's assets may enhance investment flexibility and diversification and may contribute to economies of scale that tend to reduce the Fund's expense ratio. UBS AM and its


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affiliates reserve the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares of the Fund acquired for their own accounts. A large redemption of shares of the Fund by UBS AM or its affiliates could significantly reduce the asset size of the Fund, which might have an adverse effect on the Fund's investment flexibility, portfolio diversification, expense ratio and may result in significant transaction costs. UBS AM will consider the effect of redemptions on the Fund and other shareholders in deciding whether and when to redeem its shares.

It is possible that the Fund may invest in securities of companies with which UBS has or is trying to develop investment banking relationships as well as securities of entities in which UBS AM or UBS has significant debt or equity investments or in which UBS makes a market. The Fund also may invest in securities of companies to which UBS AM or UBS provides or may someday provide research coverage. Such investments could cause conflicts between the interests of the Fund and the interests of other UBS AM or UBS clients. In making investment decisions for the Fund, UBS AM is not permitted to obtain or use material non-public information acquired by any division, department or affiliate of UBS AM in the course of these activities. In addition, from time to time, UBS' activities may limit the Fund's flexibility in purchases and sales of securities. When UBS is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of an entity, UBS AM may be prohibited from purchasing or recommending the purchase of certain securities of that entity for the Fund.

Present and future activities of UBS AM and its affiliates, in addition to those described in this section, may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.

UBS AM (Americas) may buy for the Fund securities or obligations of issuers in which UBS or other funds or accounts have made, or are making, an investment in securities or obligations that are subordinate or senior to securities of the Fund. For example, the Fund may invest in debt securities of an issuer at the same time that UBS or other funds or accounts are investing, or currently have an investment, in equity securities of the same issuer. To the extent that the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges which may impact the price of its securities and its ability to meet its obligations, decisions by UBS (including UBS AM (Americas)) relating to what actions to be taken may also raise conflicts of interests and UBS may take actions for certain accounts that have negative impacts on other advisory accounts.

While UBS AM (Americas) will make proxy voting decisions as it believes appropriate and in accordance with UBS AM's policies designed to help avoid conflicts of interest, proxy voting decisions made by UBS AM (Americas) with respect to the Fund's portfolio securities may have the effect of favoring the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or units of UBS. UBS AM's proxy voting policy is discussed in more detail in the section entitled "Proxy voting policies."

As a registered investment advisor under the Advisers Act, UBS AM (Americas) is required to file a Form ADV with the SEC. Form ADV Part 2A contains information about assets under management, types of fee arrangements, types of investments, potential conflicts of interest, and other relevant information regarding UBS AM (Americas). A copy of Part 1A and 2A of UBS AM (Americas)'s Form ADV is available on the SEC's website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).

Performance calculations

From time to time, performance information, such as yield or total return, may be quoted in advertisements or in communications to present or prospective shareholders. Performance quotations represent the Fund's past performance and should not be considered as representative of future results. The current yield will be calculated by dividing the net investment income earned per share by the Fund during the period stated in the advertisement (based on the average daily number of shares entitled to receive dividends outstanding during the period) by the maximum


84



net asset value per share on the last day of the period and annualizing the result on a semiannual compounded basis. The Fund's total return may be calculated on an annualized and aggregate basis for various periods (which periods will be stated in the advertisement). Average annual return reflects the average percentage change per year in value of an investment in the Fund. Aggregate total return reflects the total percentage change over the stated period.

To help investors better evaluate how an investment in the Fund might satisfy their investment objectives, advertisements regarding the Fund may discuss yield or total return as reported by various financial publications. Advertisements may also compare yield or total return to other investments, indices and averages. The following publications, benchmarks, indices and averages may be used: Lipper Mutual Fund Performance Analysis; Lipper Fixed Income Analysis; Lipper Mutual Fund Indices; Morgan Stanley Capital International Indices; Bloomberg Barclays Indices; Citigroup Indices; JPMorgan Indices; Bank of America Merrill Lynch Indices; Dow Jones Composite Average or its component indices; Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index or its component indices; Russell Indices; Wilshire Indices; The New York Stock Exchange composite or component indices; CDA Mutual Fund Report; Weisenberger-Mutual Funds Panorama and Investment Companies; Mutual Fund Values and Mutual Fund Service Book, published by Morningstar, Inc.; comparable portfolios managed by the Advisor; and financial publications, such as Business Week, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune, Money Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's et al., which rate fund performance over various time periods.

The principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate, so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Any fees charged by banks or other institutional investors directly to their customer accounts in connection with investments in shares of the Fund will not be included in the Fund's calculations of yield or total return.

Performance information for the various classes of shares of the Fund will vary due to the effect of expense ratios on the performance calculations.

Securities lending

The Board has approved the Fund's participation in a securities lending program. Under the securities lending program, State Street serves as the securities lending agent for the Fund.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, the income earned by the Fund, as well as the fees and/or compensation paid by the Fund (in dollars) pursuant to securities lending agency/authorization agreements between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and State Street, were as follows:

        Fees and/or compensation for securities
lending activities and related services:
 

Fund

  Gross income
from securities
lending activities
  Fees paid
to Securities
Lending
Agent from a
revenue split
  Fees paid for any cash
collateral management
service (including
fees deducted from a
pooled cash collateral
reinvestment vehicle)
not included in the
revenue split
  Administrative fees
not included in the
revenue split
 
UBS Engage For
Impact Fund
 

$

10,772

   

$

1,229

   

$

146

   

$

0

   


85



  Fees and/or compensation for securities
lending activities and related services:
         

Fund

  Indemnification
fees not
included in the
revenue split
  Rebate
(paid to
borrower)
  Other fees not
included in the
revenue split
  Aggregate fees/
compensation
for securities
lending activities
  Net income
from securities
lending
activities
 
UBS Engage For
Impact Fund
 

$

0

   

$

4,849

   

$

0

   

$

6,224

   

$

4,548

   

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, State Street, as securities lending agent, provided the following services for the Fund in connection with securities lending activities: (i) entering into loans with approved entities subject to guidelines or restrictions provided by the Fund; (ii) receiving and holding collateral from borrowers, and facilitating the investment and reinvestment of cash collateral; (iii) monitoring daily the value of the loaned securities and collateral, including receiving and delivering additional collateral as necessary from/to borrowers; (iv) negotiating loan terms; (v) selecting securities to be loaned subject to guidelines or restrictions provided by the Fund; (vi) recordkeeping and account servicing; (vii) monitoring dividend/distribution activity and material proxy votes relating to loaned securities; and (viii) arranging for return of loaned securities to the Fund at loan termination.

Financial statements and report of independent registered public accounting firm

The Fund's financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 and the report thereon of Ernst & Young LLP, dated August 28, 2020, which are contained in the Fund's Annual Report dated June 30, 2020 (as filed with the SEC on September 8, 2020, pursuant to Section 30(b) of the Act and Rule 30b2-1 thereunder (Accession Number (0001104659-20-103111)), are incorporated herein by reference.


86



Appendix A—Debt Ratings

Corporate debt ratings

Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") Global Long-Term Ratings:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P Global Ratings") Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings:

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P Global Ratings' analysis of the following considerations:

•  The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

•  The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise we impute; and


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•  The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.

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

AAA. An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

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

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

BBB. An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

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

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

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

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

CC. An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The CC rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

C. An obligation rated C is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

D. An obligation rated D is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or


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within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to D if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

Ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

Fitch Ratings, Inc. ("Fitch Ratings") Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings:

Rated entities in a number of sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns, insurance companies and certain sectors within public finance, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings ("IDRs"). IDRs are also assigned to certain entities or enterprises in global infrastructure, project finance and public finance. IDRs opine on an entity's relative vulnerability to default (including by way of a distressed debt exchange) on financial obligations. The "threshold" default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts.

In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency's view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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C. Near default. A default or default-like process has begun, or the issuer is in standstill, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. Conditions that are indicative of a C category rating for an issuer include:

a.  the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;

b.  the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or

c.  the formal announcement by the issuer or their agent of a distressed debt exchange; or

d.  a closed financing vehicle where payment capacity is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default is imminent.

RD. Restricted default. RD ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch's opinion has experienced:

a.  an uncured payment default or distressed debt exchange on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but

b.  has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and

c.  has not otherwise ceased operating.

This would include:

  i.  the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

  ii.  the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;

  iii.  the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; ordinary execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

D. Default. D ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch's opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or that has otherwise ceased business.

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.

In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency's opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer's financial obligations or local commercial practice.


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Moody's Global Short-Term Ratings:

Moody's short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.

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

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

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

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

Moody's US Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings:

SHORT-TERM OBLIGATION RATINGS

The Municipal Investment Grade ("MIG") scale is used to rate US municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer's long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels—MIG 1 through MIG 3—while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.

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

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

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

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

DEMAND OBLIGATION RATINGS

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned. The components are a long-term rating and a short-term demand obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer's ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term demand obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to make payments associated with the purchase-price-upon-demand feature ("demand feature") of the VRDO. The short-term demand obligation rating uses the VMIG scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings of demand obligations with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer's long-term rating drops below investment grade. Please see our methodology that discusses demand obligations with conditional liquidity support.

Moody's typically assigns the VMIG short-term demand obligation rating if the frequency of the demand feature is less than every three years. If the frequency of the demand feature is less than three years but the purchase price is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the short-term demand obligation rating is "NR".


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

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

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

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

S&P Global Ratings' Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings:

Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

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

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

A-3. A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

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

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

D. A short-term obligation rated D is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation's rating is lowered to D if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.


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Fitch Short-Term Issuer Credit Ratings:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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You should rely only on the information contained or referred to in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information. The Fund and its principal underwriter have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. The Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are not an offer to sell shares of the Fund in any jurisdiction where the Fund or its principal underwriter may not lawfully sell those shares.

©UBS 2021. All rights reserved.
The UBS Funds
Investment Company Act File No. 811-6637
UBS Asset Management (Americas) Inc.
is a subsidiary of UBS Group AG.
S1724