Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2023
Securities Act of 1933 File No. 033-70958
Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-08104
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ☒
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 ☒
Amendment No. 136
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code (800) 638-8194
E. Blake Moore, Jr., 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Clair E. Pagnano, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP One Lincoln Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2950
Ndenisarya M. Bregasi, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP 1601 K Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006-1600
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
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immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
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60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
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on August 31, 2023 pursuant to paragraph (a)
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
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on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485. If appropriate, check the following box:
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This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment
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Prospectus
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and
is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION - DATED June 20, 2023
Touchstone Funds Group Trust
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Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly,
Touchstone International ESG Equity Fund)
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The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is
accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund Summary
The Fund’s Investment Goal
The Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly, Touchstone International ESG Equity Fund) (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
The Fund’s Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts for Class A shares of Touchstone equity funds and Touchstone fixed income funds if
you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 or $50,000, respectively, in Touchstone funds. More information
is available from your financial professional, in the section titled “Choosing a Class of Shares” in the Fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) on pages 19 and 42, respectively, and in Appendix A–Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus An investor transacting in Class R6 shares, which do not have any front-end sales charge, contingent deferred sales charge, or other asset-based fee for sales or distribution, may be required to pay a commission to a broker for effecting
such transactions on an agency basis. Such commissions are not reflected in the table or in the “Example” below.
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a
percentage of offering price)
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of
original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is
less)
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay
each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fees
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(2)
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or
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(1)
Other Expenses for Class R6 shares are estimated based on fees and expenses incurred by Institutional Class shares of the
Fund and expenses of similar Touchstone Funds. Class R6 shares commenced operations on [ ], 2023.
(2)
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser” or “Touchstone Advisors”) and Touchstone Funds Group Trust (the “Trust”) have entered into a contractual expense limitation agreement whereby Touchstone Advisors will waive a portion of its fees or reimburse certain Fund expenses (excluding
dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment
related expenses, including expenses associated with the Fund's liquidity providers; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses”, if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses to 1.17%, 1.95%, 0.90%, 0.86% and 0.82% of average daily net assets for Class A, Class C, Class Y,
Institutional Class, and Class R6 shares, respectively. This contractual expense limitation is effective through September 29, 2024, but can be terminated
by a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders. The terms of the contractual expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a
period of up to three years from the date on which the Adviser reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. The Fund will make repayments to the
Adviser only if such repayment does not cause the annual Fund operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both (1) the expense
cap in place when such amounts were waived or reimbursed and (2) the Fund’s current expense limitation.
Example. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual
funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem
all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that all fee waivers or expense limits for the Fund will expire after one year. Although your
actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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Assuming Redemption at End of Period
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Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets (including borrowings for investment purposes)
in equity and equity-related securities issued by companies in foreign countries. The Fund’s 80% policy is a non-fundamental investment policy that can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders. The Fund invests primarily in a portfolio of equity securities such as common stock, preferred stock, and depositary receipts. The Fund will generally consider qualifying investments to be in companies
that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in a foreign country; have securities that
are principally traded in such countries; or derive at least 50% of revenues or profits from, or have at least 50% of their productive assets, as
determined by the Fund’s sub-adviser, Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital”), in such countries. The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its assets in issuers in emerging market or frontier market countries. The Fund generally invests in a concentrated portfolio of 25 to
40 issuers, with position sizes weighted by the conviction Sands Capital has in the investment opportunity. Issuers are selected through fundamental
research undertaken by Sands Capital.
In selecting securities for the Fund, Sands Capital utilizes proprietary, fundamental, business-focused research to identify
companies for investment that it believes have the capacity to generate sustainable, above-average growth over a five-year time horizon. This “bottom-up” approach to investment selection focuses on a company’s long-term business fundamentals, as opposed to sector or regional allocations. Therefore, the Fund may overweight certain geographies or sectors and may underweight other geographies or sectors relative
to the stated benchmark. Sands Capital seeks to identify leading growth businesses that meet the following criteria:
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Sustainable above-average earnings growth
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Leadership position in a promising business space
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Significant competitive advantage/unique business franchise
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Clear mission and value-added focus
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Rational valuation relative to the market and business prospects
As an integral part of the evaluation of a company, Sands Capital considers corporate governance, social, and environmental
practices (collectively, “ESG”) when it believes such practices may be material to the long-term shareowner value-creation potential of the company. Sands Capital utilizes proprietary ESG-related research to enhance its evaluation of portfolio businesses. The relevance and
materiality of ESG practices vary and are highly dependent on the region, country, industry, and company. Sands Capital’s analysis of these practices is integrated into the investment decision making process to the extent it believes they may affect a company’s value creation potential.
Sands Capital generally intends for the Fund’s investments to be held for an average term of three to five years, although the Fund may hold any investment for any length of time. Sands Capital generally considers selling a security when it no longer meets the
investment criteria outlined above, for risk management purposes, or if a more attractive investment opportunity presents itself.
The Fund’s Principal Risks
The Fund’s share price will fluctuate. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund and the Fund could also return less than other investments. Investments in the Fund are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other federal government agency. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve
its investment goal. You can find more information about the Fund’s investments and risks under the “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” section of the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is subject to the principal risks summarized below.
Equity Securities Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments, or as a result
of irregular and/or unexpected trading activity among retail investors. The prices of securities issued by these companies may
decline in response to such developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s shares.
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Preferred Stock Risk: In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may
be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investing in foreign securities poses additional risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers, while such events may not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or issuers
located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result,
changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. There are also risks associated with foreign accounting standards, government regulation, market information, and clearance and settlement procedures.
Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets and offer less protection to investors.
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Depositary Receipts Risk: Foreign receipts, which include American Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, and European Depositary Receipts, are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign
issuer. The risks of depositary receipts include many risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.
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Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments)
in emerging market countries may be more precarious than that of issuers in other countries.
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Frontier Markets Risk: Frontier markets have similar risks to emerging markets, except that these risks are often magnified in a frontier market due to its smaller and less developed economy. As a result, frontier markets may experience greater changes
in market or economic conditions, financial stability, price volatility, currency fluctuations, and other risks inherent in foreign
securities.
Growth-Investing Risk: Growth-oriented funds may underperform when value investing is in favor, and growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth of earnings potential.
Management Risk: In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Adviser engages one or more sub-advisers to make investment decisions for a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Adviser may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisers who
achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisers.
Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times, and for varying periods of time, result
in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause the Fund to experience illiquidity, shareholder redemptions, or other potentially adverse effects. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets could negatively affect
issuers worldwide. Financial institutions could suffer losses as interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate. In addition,
the Funds' service providers are susceptible to operational and information or cyber security risks that could result in losses to a Fund and
its shareholders. Cyber security breaches are either intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to
Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a Fund or Fund service provider to suffer data corruption or lose operational
functionality. A cyber security breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, loss or theft of proprietary
information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs, any of which could
have a substantial impact on a Fund. Such incidents could affect issuers in which a Fund invests, thereby causing the Fund’s investments to lose value.
Sector Focus Risk: A fund that focuses its investments in the securities of a particular market sector is subject to the risk that adverse circumstances will have a greater impact on the fund than a fund that does not focus its investments in a particular sector.
ESG Investing Risk: The Fund's sub-advisor considers ESG factors that it deems relevant or additive, along with other material factors and analysis, when selecting investments for Fund. The Fund’s ESG criteria may cause the Fund to forgo opportunities to buy certain securities, or forgo opportunities to gain exposure to certain industries, sectors, regions and countries. In addition, the
Fund may be required to sell a security when it might otherwise be disadvantageous for it to do so.
The Fund’s Performance
The bar chart and performance table below illustrate some indication of the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund
by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for one year, five years and ten years compare with the MSCI All Country World ex-USA Index. The bar chart does not reflect any sales charges, which would reduce your return. The performance table reflects any applicable sales charges. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available at no cost by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.
On [August 31,] 2023, the Fund changed its name from the Touchstone International ESG Equity Fund to the Touchstone Sands
Capital International Growth Equity Fund. The Fund also changed its principal investment strategies and its sub-adviser from Rockefeller
& Co. LLC (“Rockefeller”) to Sands Capital, the Fund’s current sub-adviser, on [August 31,] 2023. The Fund’s performance shown below might have differed materially if Sands Capital had managed the Fund pursuant to its current principal investment strategies prior
to [August 31,] 2023. In addition, on August 23, 2019, the Fund changed its sub-adviser from Miller/Howard Investments, Inc. (“Miller/Howard”) to Rockefeller. Performance presented prior to August 23, 2019 is attributable to Miller/Howard.
Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund — Class A Shares Total Return as of December 31
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual marginal federal income tax rates in effect on a given distribution
reinvestment date and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after- tax returns may differ from those shown and
depend on your tax situation. The after-tax returns do not apply to shares held in an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401(k), or other tax-advantaged account. The after-tax returns shown in the table are for Class A shares only. The after-tax returns for other classes of shares offered
by the Fund will differ from the Class A shares’ after-tax returns. The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be greater than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Fund shares.
Class R6 shares commenced operations on [August 31], 2023 and do not have a full calendar year of performance. Class R6 shares
would have had substantially similar annual returns to Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class shares because the shares
are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns differ only to the extent that the share classes do not have the same
shareholder fees and operating expenses.
The inception date of Institutional Class shares was August 23, 2019. Institutional Class shares’ performance was calculated using the historical performance of Class A shares for the periods prior to August 23, 2019. Performance for these periods has been
restated to reflect the impact of the fees and expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares.
Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2022
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Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund - Class A
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Return After Taxes on Distributions
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Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
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Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund - Class C
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Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund - Class Y
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Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund - Institutional Class
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MSCI All Country World ex-USA Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
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The Fund’s Management
Investment Adviser
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.
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Investment Experience
with the Fund
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Primary Title with
Sub-Adviser
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Sands Capital Management,
LLC
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Managing the Fund since [ ]
2023
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Managing the Fund since [ ]
2023
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Senior Portfolio Manager,
Research Analyst and
Executive Managing Director
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Managing the Fund since [
]2023
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Senior Research Analyst and
Portfolio Manager
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Buying and Selling Fund Shares
Minimum Investment Requirements
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Retirement Account or Custodial Account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act
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Investments through the Automatic Investment Plan
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Class R6 shares held through Touchstone Securities require a $50,000 minimum initial investment and have a $50 subsequent
investment minimum. Touchstone does not impose a minimum investment requirement on accounts held through a financial intermediary for
Class R6 shares. However, financial intermediaries may set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements, may
impose other restrictions or may charge you fees for their services.
Fund shares may be purchased and sold on days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Existing Class A, C and Institutional Class shareholders may purchase shares directly through Touchstone Funds via the transfer agent, BNY Mellon,
or through their financial intermediary. Class Y shares are available only through financial institutions and financial intermediaries
who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities. Shares may be purchased or sold by writing to Touchstone
Securities at P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold
is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in IRAs and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via the Internet. If your shares are
held by a processing organization or financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures. For more information
about buying and selling shares, see the “Investing with Touchstone” section of the Fund’s prospectus or call 1.800.543.0407.
Tax Information
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains except when shares are held through
a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Withdrawals from a tax-advantaged account, however, may be taxable.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
If you purchase shares in the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and
its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict
of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.
Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Principal Investment Strategies and Risks
How Does The Fund Implement Its Investment Goal?
The investment goal and principal investment strategies of Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (“Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund” or the “Fund”) are described in the “Principal Investment Strategies” section of the Fund’s summary above.
Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund. In selecting securities for the Fund, Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital”) utilizes proprietary, fundamental, business-focused research to identify companies for investment that it believes have the capacity to generate sustainable, above-average growth over a five-year time horizon. This “bottom-up” approach to investment selection focuses on a company’s long-term business fundamentals, as opposed to sector or regional allocations. Therefore, the Fund may overweight certain geographies or sectors and may underweight other geographies or sectors relative to the stated benchmark. Sands Capital
seeks to identify leading growth businesses that meet the following criteria:
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Sustainable above-average earnings growth
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Leadership position in a promising business space
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Significant competitive advantage/unique business franchise
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Clear mission and value-added focus
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Rational valuation relative to the market and business prospects
As an integral part of the evaluation of a business’s fit with the criteria outlined above, Sands Capital considers corporate governance, social, and environmental practices (collectively, “ESG”) when it believes such practices may be material to the long-term shareowner value-creation potential of the company. Sands Capital utilizes proprietary ESG-related research to enhance its evaluation of portfolio
businesses. The relevance and materiality of ESG practices vary and are highly dependent on the region, country, industry, and company.
Sands Capital’s analysis of these practices is integrated into the investment decision making process to the extent it believes they may affect a company’s value creation potential.
Sands Capital generally intends for the Fund’s investments to be held for an average term of three to five years, although the Fund may hold any investment for any length of time. Sands Capital generally considers selling a security when it no longer meets the
investment criteria outlined above, for risk management purposes, or if a more attractive investment opportunity presents itself.
Can the Fund Depart From its Principal Investment Strategies?
In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, the Fund may invest in other securities, use other
strategies and engage in other investment practices. These permitted investments and strategies are described in detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
The Fund’s investment goal is non-fundamental, and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified at least 60 days before any change takes effect.
The investments and strategies described throughout this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal circumstances.
During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in
cash, repurchase agreements, and short-term obligations (i.e., fixed and variable rate securities and high quality debt securities
of corporate and government issuers) that would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s goals. This defensive investing may increase the Fund’s taxable income, and when the Fund is invested defensively, it may not achieve its investment goal. The Fund will do so only if the Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the risk of loss in using the Fund’s normal strategies and investments outweighs the opportunity for gains. Of course, there can be no guarantee that any Fund will achieve its investment goal.
80% Investment Policy. The Fund has adopted a policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its “assets” in certain types of investments suggested by its name (the “80% Policy”). For purposes of this 80% Policy, the term “assets” means net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund must comply with its 80% Policy at the time the Fund invests
its assets. Accordingly, when the Fund no longer meets the 80% requirement as a result of circumstances beyond its control, such as changes
in the value of portfolio holdings, it would not have to sell its holdings but would have to make any new investments in such a way
as to comply with the Fund’s 80% Policy. The 80% Policy is a nonfundamental investment policy that may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days' prior notice to the Fund's shareholders.
Change in Market Capitalization. The Fund may specify in its principal investment strategy a market capitalization range for acquiring portfolio securities. If a security that is within the range for the Fund at the time of purchase later falls outside the
range, which is most likely to happen because of market fluctuation, the Fund may continue to hold the security if, in the sub-adviser’s judgment, the security remains otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment goal and strategies. However, this change in market capitalization could affect the Fund’s flexibility in making new investments.
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), the rules thereunder and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and financial institutions under guidelines adopted by the Board, including a requirement that the Fund must receive collateral equal to no less than 100% of the market
value of the securities loaned. The risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of possible loss
of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In determining whether to lend securities, the Adviser will consider all relevant facts
and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower. More information on securities lending is available in the SAI.
ReFlow Liquidity Program. The Fund may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing net redemptions of their shares. Pursuant to the program, ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) provides participating mutual funds with a source of cash to meet net shareholder redemptions by standing ready each business
day to purchase Fund shares up to the value of the net shares redeemed by other shareholders that are to settle the next business
day. Following purchases of Fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the Fund experiences net sales, at the end of a
maximum holding period determined by ReFlow, or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. While ReFlow holds Fund shares, it will have the same rights and privileges with respect to those shares as any other shareholder. In the event the Fund uses the ReFlow service,
the Fund will pay a fee to ReFlow each time ReFlow purchases Fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined
through an automated daily auction among participating mutual funds. ReFlow’s purchases of Fund shares through the liquidity program are made on an investment-blind basis without regard to the Fund’s objective, policies or anticipated performance. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
What are the Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund?
The following is a list of principal risks that may apply to your investment in the Fund. Further information about investment
risks is available in the Fund’s SAI:
Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in certain sectors historically have resulted, and may in the future result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. These events have included, but are not limited
to: bankruptcies, corporate restructurings, and other similar events; governmental efforts to limit short selling and high frequency trading;
measures to address U.S. federal and state budget deficits; social, political, and economic instability in Europe; economic stimulus by
the Japanese central bank; dramatic changes in energy prices and currency exchange rates; and China’s economic slowdown. Interconnected global economies and financial markets increase the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers
in a different country or region. Both domestic and foreign equity markets have experienced increased volatility and turmoil, with
issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage, and credit markets particularly affected. Financial institutions could suffer
losses as interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate.
In addition, relatively high market volatility and reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect
many issuers worldwide. Actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve (“Fed”) or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, such as interventions in currency markets, could cause high volatility in the equity and fixed-income markets. Reduced liquidity may
result in less money being available to purchase raw materials, goods, and services from emerging markets, which may, in turn, bring down
the prices of these economic staples. It may also result in emerging-market issuers having more difficulty obtaining financing, which may,
in turn, cause a decline in their securities prices.
Beginning in March 2022, the Fed began increasing interest rates and has signaled the potential for further increases. As
a result, risks associated with rising interest rates are currently heightened. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which the
Fed will increase interest rates any further, or the timing, frequency, or magnitude of any such increases, and the evaluation of macro-economic
and other conditions could cause a change in approach in the future. Any such increases generally will cause market interest rates to
rise and could cause the value of a Fund's investments, and the Fund's NAV, to decline, potentially suddenly and significantly. As a result,
the Fund may experience high redemptions and, as a result, increased portfolio turnover, which could increase the costs that the Fund incurs
and may negatively impact the Fund's performance.
In addition, as the Fed increases the target Fed funds rate, any such rate increases, among other factors, could cause markets
to experience continuing high volatility. A significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the market for equity securities.
These events and the possible resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the Fund.
Political turmoil within the United States and abroad may also impact the Fund. Although the U.S. government has honored its
credit obligations, it remains possible that the United States could default on its obligations. While it is impossible to predict
the consequences of such an unprecedented event, it is likely that a default by the United States would be highly disruptive to the U.S. and
global securities markets and could significantly impair the value of the Fund’s investments. Similarly, political events within the United States at times have resulted, and may in the future result, in a shutdown of government services, which could negatively affect the U.S. economy,
decrease the value of many Fund investments, and increase uncertainty in or impair the operation of the U.S. or other securities markets.
In recent years, the U.S. renegotiated many of its global trade relationships and has imposed or threatened to impose significant import tariffs.
These actions could lead to price volatility and overall declines in U.S. and global investment markets.
Uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of European Union (EU) countries and the viability of the EU have
disrupted and may in the future disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If one or more countries leave the EU or
the EU dissolves, the global securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) left the
EU, commonly referred to as “Brexit,” and the UK ceased to be a member of the EU. Following a transition period during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and UK Government signed an agreement regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. While the full impact of Brexit
is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. There remains significant market uncertainty
regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. This uncertainty may affect other countries in the EU and elsewhere, and may cause volatility within
the EU, triggering prolonged economic downturns in certain countries within the EU. Despite the influence of the lockdowns, and the economic
bounce back, Brexit has had a material impact on the UK’s economy. Additionally, trade between the UK and the EU did not benefit from the global rebound in trade in 2021, and remained at the very low levels experienced at the start of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic in 2020, highlighting Brexit’s potential long-term effects on the UK economy.
In addition, Brexit may create additional and substantial economic stresses for the UK, including a contraction of the UK
economy and price volatility in UK stocks, decreased trade, capital outflows, devaluation of the British pound, wider corporate bond spreads
due to uncertainty and declines in business and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. Brexit may also adversely
affect UK-based financial firms that have counterparties in the EU or participate in market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing houses,
settlement facilities) based in the EU. Additionally, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to continue to stretch the resources
and deficits of many countries in the EU and throughout the world, increasing the possibility that countries may be unable to make timely
payments on their sovereign debt. These events and the resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the performance of
the Fund.
A widespread health crisis such as a global pandemic could cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions
and closures, which may lead to less liquidity in certain instruments, industries, sectors or the markets generally, and may ultimately
affect Fund performance. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted and may continue to result in significant disruptions to global
business activity and market volatility due to disruptions in market access, resource availability, facilities operations, imposition
of tariffs, export controls and supply chain disruption, among others. The impact of a health crisis and other epidemics and pandemics that may
arise in the future, could affect the global economy in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. A health crisis may
exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance, resulting in losses to your investment.
The United States responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic distress with fiscal and monetary stimulus packages.
In late March 2020, the government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, a stimulus package providing
for over $2.2 trillion in resources to small businesses, state and local governments, and individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic. In late December 2020, the government also passed a spending bill that included $900 billion in stimulus relief for the COVID-19
pandemic. Further, in March 2021, the government passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill
to accelerate the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, in mid March 2020, the Fed cut interest rates to historically low levels and promised unlimited and open-ended quantitative easing, including purchases
of corporate and municipal government bonds. The Fed also enacted various programs to support liquidity operations and funding in the financial
markets, including expanding its reverse repurchase agreement operations, adding $1.5 trillion of liquidity to the banking
system; establishing swap lines with other major central banks to provide dollar funding; establishing a program to support money
market funds; easing various bank capital buffers; providing funding backstops for businesses to provide bridging loans for up to four years;
and providing funding to help credit flow in asset-backed securities markets. The Fed also extended credit to small- and medium-sized businesses.
Political and military events, including in North Korea, Venezuela, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, and other areas of the Middle
East, and nationalist unrest in Europe and South America, also may cause market disruptions. As a result of continued political tensions
and armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine commencing in February of 2022, the extent and ultimate result of which
are unknown at this time, the United States and the EU, along with the regulatory bodies of a number of countries, have imposed
economic sanctions on certain Russian corporate entities and individuals, and certain sectors of Russia’s economy, which may result in, among other things, the continued devaluation of Russian currency, a downgrade in the country’s credit rating, and/or a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian securities, property or interests. These sanctions could also result in the immediate freeze of Russian
securities and/or funds invested in prohibited assets, impairing the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities and/or
assets. These sanctions or the threat of additional sanctions could also result in Russia taking counter measures or retaliatory actions,
which may further
impair the value and liquidity of Russian securities. The United States and other nations or international organizations may
also impose additional economic sanctions or take other actions that may adversely affect Russia exposed issuers and companies in various
sectors of the Russian economy. Any or all of these potential results could lead Russia’s economy into a recession. Economic sanctions and other actions against Russian institutions, companies, and individuals resulting from the ongoing conflict may also have a substantial negative
impact on other economies and securities markets both regionally and globally, as well as on companies with operations in the conflict
region, the extent to which is unknown at this time. The United States and the EU have also imposed similar sanctions on Belarus for its
support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Additional sanctions may be imposed on Belarus and other countries that support Russia. Any such sanctions could present substantially similar risks as those resulting from the sanctions imposed on Russia, including substantial negative
impacts on the regional and global economies and securities markets.
In addition, there is a risk that the prices of goods and services in the United States and many foreign economies may decline
over time, known as deflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on stock prices and creditworthiness and may make defaults on debt
more likely. If a country’s economy slips into a deflationary pattern, it could last for a prolonged period and may be difficult to reverse. Further, there is a risk that the present value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future, known as inflation. Inflation
rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy, and a Fund’s investments may be affected, which may reduce a Fund’s performance. Further, inflation may lead to the rise in interest rates, which may negatively affect the value of debt instruments held by the Fund, resulting in a negative impact on a Fund’s performance. Generally, securities issued in emerging markets are subject to a greater risk of inflationary or deflationary forces, and more developed
markets are better able to use monetary policy to normalize markets.
In addition, with the increased use of technologies, such as mobile devices and “cloud”-based service offerings and the dependence on the Internet and computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Funds’ service providers are susceptible to operational and information or cyber security risks that could result in losses to a Fund and its shareholders. Cyber security breaches are
either intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information,
or cause a Fund or Fund service provider to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Intentional cyber security incidents
include: unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices (such as through “hacking” activity or “phishing”); infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes,
or website access or functionality. Cyber-attacks can also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access,
such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the service providers’ systems or websites rendering them unavailable to intended users or via “ransomware” that renders the systems inoperable until appropriate actions are taken. In addition, unintentional incidents can occur, such as
the inadvertent release of confidential information (possibly resulting in the violation of applicable privacy laws).
A cyber security breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, loss or theft of proprietary information
or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs, any of which could have a substantial
impact on a Fund. For example, in a denial of service, Fund shareholders could lose access to their electronic accounts indefinitely,
and employees of the Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or the Funds’ other service providers may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Funds, such as trading, NAV calculation, shareholder accounting, or fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions.
Cyber security incidents could cause a Fund, the Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or other service provider to incur regulatory penalties,
reputational damage, compliance costs associated with corrective measures, litigation costs, or financial loss. They may also result in
violations of applicable privacy and other laws. In addition, such incidents could affect issuers in which a Fund invests, thereby causing the Fund’s investments to lose value.
Cyber-events have the potential to materially affect the Funds’, the Adviser and the sub-adviser’s relationships with accounts, shareholders, clients, customers, employees, products, and service providers. The Funds have established risk management systems reasonably
designed to seek to reduce the risks associated with cyber-events. There is no guarantee that the Funds will be able to prevent or
mitigate the impact of any or all cyber-events.
The Funds are exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing
and communication errors, errors of the Funds’ service providers, counterparties, or other third parties, failed or inadequate processes, and technology or system failures.
The Adviser, Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates have established risk management systems that seek to reduce cybersecurity
and operational risks, and business continuity plans in the event of a cybersecurity breach or operational failure. However, there are inherent
limitations in such plans, including that certain risks have not been identified, and there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed,
especially since none of the Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates controls the cybersecurity or operations systems of the Funds’ third party service providers (including the Funds’ custodian), or those of the issuers of securities in which the Funds invest.
In addition, other disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters and public health crises (such as the
COVID-19 pandemic), may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to conduct business, in particular if the Fund’s employees or the employees of its service providers are unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. Even if the Fund’s employees and the employees of its service providers are able to work remotely, those remote work arrangements could result in the Fund’s business operations being less efficient than under normal circumstances, could lead to delays in its processing of transactions, and could increase
the risk of cyber-events.
Equity Securities Risk: A Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments, or as a result of irregular
and/or unexpected trading activity among retail investors. The prices of securities issued by these companies may decline in response
to such developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the Funds’ shares. These factors contribute to price volatility. In addition, common stocks represent a share of ownership in a company, and rank after bonds and preferred stock in their claim on the company’s assets in the event of liquidation.
•
Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an equity interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the
claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed
dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock may
have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions allowing the stock to be called or redeemed prior to its maturity,
both of which can have a negative impact on the stock’s price when interest rates decline.
ESG Investing Risk: Incorporating ESG criteria and investing primarily in instruments that have certain ESG characteristics, as determined by the manager, carries the risk that the Fund may perform differently, including underperforming funds that do
not utilize an ESG investment strategy, or funds that utilize different ESG criteria. The application of ESG investment principles may affect the Fund’s exposure to certain sectors or types of investments and may impact the Fund’s investment performance. A company’s ESG performance or the manager’s assessment of a company’s ESG performance may change over time. In evaluating a company, the manager is reliant upon information and data that may turn out to be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which may negatively impact the manager’s assessment of a company’s ESG performance. Although the manager has established its own process for evaluation of ESG factors, successful application of the Fund’s sustainable investment strategy will depend on the manager’s skill in researching, identifying and analyzing material ESG issues, as well as on the availability of relevant data. ESG factors may be evaluated differently by different
managers, and may not carry the same meaning to all investors and managers.
The risk that the Fund may forego opportunities to buy certain instruments when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so,
or sell securities for ESG-related reasons when it might be otherwise disadvantageous for it to do so is heightened when ESG exclusionary
criteria is applied. The regulatory landscape with respect to ESG investing in the United States is evolving and any future rules or
regulations may require the Fund to change its investment process with respect to ESG integration.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investing in foreign securities poses additional risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers, while such events may not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or issuers
located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result,
changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may happen separately from, or in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. There is a risk that issuers of foreign securities may not be subject to accounting standards or governmental supervision comparable to those
to which U.S. companies are subject and that less public information about their operations may exist. There is risk associated with the
clearance and settlement procedures in non-U.S. markets, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions and
may cause delays. Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets and offer less protection to investors. Over-the-counter
securities may also be less liquid than exchange-traded securities. Investments in securities of foreign issuers may be subject
to foreign withholding and other taxes. In addition, it may be more difficult and costly for the Fund to seek recovery from an issuer
located outside the United States in the event of a default on a portfolio security or an issuer’s insolvency proceeding. To the extent a Fund focuses its investments in a single country or only a few countries in a particular geographic region, economic, political, regulatory
or other conditions affecting such country or region may have a greater impact on Fund performance relative to a more geographically diversified
fund.
While a Fund’s net assets are valued in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of
securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are: (1)
it may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa; (2) complex political and economic factors may significantly
affect the values of various currencies, including U.S. dollars, and their exchange rates; (3) government intervention may increase
risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be
free to fluctuate in response to other market forces; (4) there may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies
or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis; (5) available
quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect
exchange rates
for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and (6) the inter-bank market in
foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies
remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.
Political events in foreign countries may cause market disruptions. Uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number
of European Union (“EU”) countries and the viability of the EU have disrupted and may in the future disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the global securities markets likely will be significantly
disrupted. In January 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) left the EU, commonly referred to as “Brexit,” and the UK ceased to be a member of the EU. Following a transition period during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the
terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK Government signed an agreement regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global
markets. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. This uncertainty may affect other countries in the EU
and elsewhere, and may cause volatility within the EU, triggering prolonged economic downturns in certain European countries. Despite the
influence of the lockdowns, and the economic bounce back, Brexit has had a material impact on the UK's economy. Additionally, trade between
the UK and EU did not benefit from the global rebound in trade in 2021, and remained at the very low levels experienced at the
start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, highlighting Brexit's potential long-term effects on the UK economy. In addition, Brexit may create
additional and substantial economic stresses for the UK, including a contraction of the UK economy and price volatility in
UK stocks, decreased trade, capital outflows, devaluation of the British pound, wider corporate bond spreads due to uncertainty, and
declines in business and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. Brexit may also adversely affect UK-based financial firms
that have counterparties in the EU or participate in market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing houses, settlement facilities)
based in the EU. Additionally, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to continue to stretch the resources and deficits of many countries
in the EU and throughout the world, increasing the possibility that countries may be unable to make timely payments on their sovereign
debt. These events and the resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the performance of the Fund.
•
Depositary Receipts Risk: Foreign receipts, which include American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer. The risks of depositary receipts include many risks associated with investing directly
in foreign securities, such as individual country risk and liquidity risk. Unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by a depositary bank without
the participation or consent of the issuer, involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply, and the
issuing bank will recover shareholder distribution costs from movement of share prices and payment of dividends. Additionally, the Holding
Foreign Companies Accountable Act “HFCAA” could cause securities of foreign companies, including ADRs, to be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges if the companies do not allow the U.S. government to oversee the auditing of their financial information.
Although the requirements of the HFCAA apply to securities of all foreign issuers, the SEC has thus far limited its enforcement efforts
to securities of Chinese companies. If securities are delisted, a Fund’s ability to transact in such securities will be impaired, and the liquidity and market price of the securities may decline. The Fund may also need to seek other markets in which to transact
in such securities, which could increase the Fund’s costs.
•
Emerging Markets Risk: Investments in the securities of issuers based in countries with emerging-market economies are subject to greater levels of risk and uncertainty than investments in more-developed foreign markets, since emerging-market securities
may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political, and other risks greater than, or in addition to, the risks
of investing in developed foreign countries. These risks include high currency exchange-rate fluctuations; increased risk of default (including
both government and private issuers); greater social, economic, and political uncertainty and instability (including the risk of
war); more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets
and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on a fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; unavailability of currency hedging techniques in certain emerging-market countries;
the fact that companies in emerging-market countries may be newly organized, smaller, and less seasoned; the difference in, or
lack of, auditing and financial reporting requirements or standards, which may result in the unavailability of material information
about issuers; different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions
or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions; difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments against
non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, in foreign jurisdictions; and significantly smaller
market capitalizations of emerging-market issuers. In addition, shareholders of emerging market issuers, such as the Fund, often
have limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets. Finally, the risks associated with investments in emerging markets
often are significant, and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and company to company.
•
Frontier Markets Risk: Frontier markets have similar risks to emerging markets, except that these risks are often magnified in a frontier market due to its smaller and less developed economy. As a result, frontier markets may experience greater changes
in market or economic conditions, financial stability, price volatility, currency fluctuations, and other risks inherent in foreign
securities.
Growth-Investing Risk: Growth-oriented funds may underperform when value investing is in favor, and growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth of earnings potential. Also, because growth companies usually reinvest a high portion of earnings in their businesses, growth stocks may lack the
dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market.
Management Risk: In managing a Fund’s portfolio, the Adviser may engage one or more sub-advisers to make investment decisions on a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Adviser may be unable to identify and retain sub- advisers who
achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisers. The value of your investment may decrease if the sub-adviser incorrectly
judges the attractiveness, value, or market trends affecting a particular security, issuer, industry, or sector.
Sector Focus Risk: A Fund that focuses its investments in the securities of a particular market sector is subject to the risk that adverse circumstances will have a greater impact on the Fund than a fund that does not focus its investments in a particular sector.
It is possible that economic, business or political developments or other changes affecting one security in the sector of focus will affect
other securities in that sector of focus in the same manner, thereby increasing the risk of such investments.
Where Can I Find Information About the Fund’s Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies?
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures for disclosing portfolio securities to any person is available in the SAI and can also be found on the Fund’s website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Investment Adviser
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (“Touchstone Advisors” or the “Adviser”)
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Touchstone Advisors has been a registered investment adviser since 1994. As of [ ], 2023, Touchstone Advisors had approximately
$[ ] billion in assets under management. As the Fund’s investment adviser, Touchstone Advisors reviews, supervises, and administers the Fund’s investment programs and also ensures compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines.
Touchstone Advisors is responsible for selecting the Fund’s sub-adviser(s), subject to approval by the Board. Touchstone Advisors selects a sub-adviser that has shown good investment performance in its areas of expertise. Touchstone Advisors considers various factors
in evaluating a sub-adviser, including:
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Level of knowledge and skill;
•
Performance as compared to its peers or benchmark;
•
Consistency of performance over 5 years or more;
•
Level of compliance with investment rules and strategies;
•
Employees, facilities and financial strength; and
Touchstone Advisors will also continually monitor each sub-adviser’s performance through various analyses and through in-person, telephone, and written consultations with a sub-adviser. Touchstone Advisors discusses its expectations for performance with
each sub-adviser and provides evaluations and recommendations to the Board of Trustees, including whether or not a sub-adviser’s contract should be renewed, modified, or terminated.
The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits Touchstone Funds Group Trust (the “Trust”) or Touchstone Advisors, under certain conditions, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisers, enter into new sub-advisory agreements, or amend existing sub-advisory
agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval. The Funds must still obtain shareholder approval of any sub-advisory
agreement with a sub-adviser affiliated with the Trust or Touchstone Advisors other than by reason of serving as a sub-adviser to one
or more Touchstone Funds. Shareholders of a Fund will be notified of any changes to its sub-adviser.
Two or more sub-advisers may manage a Fund, from time to time, with each managing a portion of the Fund’s assets. If a Fund has more than one sub-adviser, Touchstone Advisors allocates how much of a Fund’s assets are managed by each sub-adviser. Touchstone Advisors may change these allocations from time to time, often based upon the results of its evaluations of the sub-advisers.
Touchstone Advisors is also responsible for running all of the operations of the Funds, except those that are subcontracted
to a sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, sub-administrative agent or other parties. For its services, Touchstone Advisors is entitled to
receive an investment advisory fee from each Fund at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Annual Fee Rate
below is the fee paid to Touchstone Advisors by the Fund, net of any advisory fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2023. Touchstone Advisors pays sub-advisory fees to each sub-adviser from its advisory fee.
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Net Annual Fee Rate as a %
of Average Daily Net Assets
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
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Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval. A discussion of the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s advisory and sub-advisory agreement will be included in the Trust’s September 30, 2023 annual report.
Additional Information
The Trustees of the Trust oversee generally the operations of each Fund and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements
with various parties, including, among others, the Funds’ investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants and distributor, who provide services to each Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any such individual shareholder or group of shareholders
any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual
arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.
This prospectus provides information concerning the Trust and the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to
purchase shares of a Fund. The Funds may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any
document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or a Fund and its shareholders, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any such individual shareholder, group of
shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
Sub-Advisers and Portfolio Managers
Listed below are the sub-advisers and their respective portfolio managers that have responsibility for the day-to-day management
of each Fund. A brief biographical description of each portfolio manager is also provided. The SAI provides additional information
about the portfolio managers’ investments in the Fund or Funds that they manage, a description of their compensation structure, and information regarding other accounts that they manage.
Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital”), located at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000, Arlington, Virginia 22209, serves as sub-adviser to the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund. As sub-adviser, Sands Capital makes investment decisions
for the Fund and also ensures compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines. Sands Capital is controlled by Frank M. Sands. As of March 31, 2023 Sands Capital had approximately $42.6 billion in discretionary assets under management in the firm’s public equity strategies. The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the management of the Sands Capital International
Growth Equity Fund.
Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
Sunil H. Thakor, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr. Thakor joined Sands Capital in 2004 as a Research Associate Intern and became a Research Analyst in 2005. In 2007, Mr. Thakor became Co-Portfolio Manager of the firm’s Global Growth strategy. He later helped launch the Global Leaders and International Growth strategies in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Prior to joining
Sands Capital, he was an Associate/Analyst with Charles River Associates, Inc. from 1999 to 2004. Mr. Thakor received his bachelor’s degree from Colby College (1999) and an MBA from the Columbia Business School (2006).
David E. Levanson, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst and Executive Managing Director, worked for Sands Capital from 1992 to 1994 and rejoined Sands Capital in 2002. From 1996 to 1999 he was a Vice President and Research Analyst at State
Street Research & Management and from 1999 to 2002 he worked as a Research Analyst at MFS Investment Management. Prior to
joining Sands Capital in 1992, Mr. Levanson was a Research Analyst at the Capital Management Group, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas, Inc. from 1990 to 1992. Mr. Levanson received his BS degree in Finance from the University of Florida (1990) and
his MBA from the Darden School at University of Virginia (1996).
Danielle Menichella, CFA, Senior Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager, joined Sands Capital in 2013 as a Research Analyst. Ms. Menichella began her career as an Analyst at Emerging Markets Management in 1997, which was later acquired by Ashmore
Group, where she was a Senior Analyst before joining Sands Capital. Ms. Menichella earned an AB in Economics and Public Policy
from Duke University (1997).
Prior Performance for Similar Accounts Managed by Sands Capital
The following table sets forth composite performance data relating to the historical performance of all accounts managed by
Sands Capital for the periods indicated, with investment objectives, policies, strategies, and risks substantially similar to those of the
Fund. The data is provided to illustrate the past performance of Sands Capital in managing substantially similar accounts as measured against
market indices. The information in this section entitled “Prior Performance for Similar Accounts Managed by Sands Capital” does not represent the performance of the Fund and is no indication of how it would have performed in the past or will perform in the future.
Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2022:
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Since Inception
(March 31, 2018)
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Composite (Net)
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The Sands Capital International Growth Equity Composite (the “Composite”), which is managed by Sands Capital, represents the investment performance track record of Sands Capital’s International Growth strategy, which is the strategy used by Sands Capital to manage the Fund. As of December 31, 2022, the Composite was comprised of three accounts. Sands Capital has been responsible
for the day-to-day management of the Composite since its inception. The Composite's inception date is March 31, 2018 and its net assets
as of December 31, 2022 were [ ]. The performance of the Fund may be greater or less than the performance of the Composite due to,
among other things, the number of the holdings in and composition of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as the asset size and cash flow differences between the Fund and the Composite. The accounts comprising the Composite are not subject to the same types of expenses to
which the
Fund is subject, certain investment limitations, diversification requirements, and other restrictions imposed by the 1940
Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Thus, the performance results for the account could have been adversely affected
if the account had been regulated as an investment company under federal securities and tax laws.
The returns of Sands Capital have been independently verified since February 7, 1992, and the current auditor is ACA Performance
Services. Verification assesses whether (1) the firm has complied with all the Composite construction requirements of the
Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS”) on a firm-wide basis and (2) the firm’s policies and procedures are designed to calculate and present performance in compliance with GIPS.
The Composite’s returns are net of management fees (calculated by deducting the highest applicable fee of 0.85% from the monthly gross Composite return) and expenses and reflect the reinvestment of all income. These fees and expenses are not reflective of the
fees and expenses of the Fund and may vary depending on, among other things, the applicable fee schedule and portfolio size. All returns
are expressed in U.S. dollars. The Fund’s fees are reflected in its fee table in the “Summary” section of this prospectus.
Past performance of the Composite is not indicative of future results. As with any investment there is always the potential
for gains as well as the possibility of losses. The Composite performance information presented herein has been calculated and provided by the Fund’s sub-adviser. Although the performance is believed to be reliable, Touchstone Advisors does not guarantee or make any warranty, express
or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of such information.
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
Share Class Offerings. Each class of shares has different sales charges and distribution fees. The amount of sales charges and distribution fees you pay will depend on which class of shares you decide to purchase. In addition, certain intermediaries may provide
different sales charge discounts and waivers. The sales charge variations and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial,
Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert
W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
Class A Shares
The offering price of Class A shares of each Fund is equal to its net asset value (“NAV”) plus a front-end sales charge that you pay when you buy your shares. The front-end sales charge is generally deducted from the amount of your investment. Class A shares are
subject to a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets allocable to Class A shares.
Class A Sales Charge. The following tables show the amount of front-end sales charge you will pay on purchases of Class A shares for the Touchstone equity funds.
For these purposes, the following Funds are “Touchstone equity funds”: Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund.
Applicable to Touchstone equity funds:
Amount of Your Investment
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Sales Charge as % of
Offering Price
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Sales Charge as % of
Net Amount Invested
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Dealer Reallowance as %
of Offering Price
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$25,000 but less than $50,000
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$50,000 but less than $100,000
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$100,000 but less than $250,000
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$250,000 but less than $1 million
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Waiver of Class A Sales Charge.* There is no front-end sales charge if you invest $1 million or more in any share class of the Touchstone equity funds. Additionally, there is no front-end sales charge if you invest $500,000 or more in any share class of the Touchstone
fixed income funds. If you redeem shares that were part of the $1 million or $500,000 breakpoint purchase within one year of that
purchase, you may pay a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% or 0.50%, respectively, on the shares redeemed if a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the “Distributor” or “Touchstone Securities”) to the broker-dealer on the account. There is no front-end sales charge on exchanges between Funds with the same load schedule or from a higher load schedule to a lower load
schedule. In addition, there is no front-end sales charge on the following purchases:
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Purchases by registered representatives or other employees** (and their immediate family members***) of financial intermediaries
having selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
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Purchases in accounts as to which a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary charges an asset management fee economically
comparable to a sales charge, provided the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary has a selling agreement with Touchstone
Securities.
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Purchases by a trust department of any financial intermediary serving in a fiduciary capacity as trustee to any trust over
which it has discretionary trading authority.
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Purchases through a financial intermediary that has agreements with Touchstone Securities, or whose programs are available
through financial intermediaries that have agreements with Touchstone Securities relating to mutual fund supermarket programs, fee-based
wrap or asset allocation programs.
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Purchases by an employee benefit plan having more than 25 eligible employees or a minimum of $250,000 in plan assets. This
waiver applies to any investing employee benefit plan meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and whose transactions are executed
through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to use the Touchstone Funds
in connection with the plan’s accounts. The term “employee benefit plan” applies to qualified pension, profit-sharing, or other employee benefit plans.
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Purchases by an employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third party administrator that has entered
into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
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Reinvestment of redemption proceeds from Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund if the reinvestment occurs within 90 days of
redemption.
*
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Merrill Lynch,
Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
**
The term “employee” is deemed to include current and retired employees.
***
Immediate family members are defined as the parents, mother-in-law or father-in-law, spouse, brother or sister, brother-in-law
or sister-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, niece or nephew and children of a registered representative or employee, and any other individual to whom
the registered representative or employee provides material support.
Touchstone Securities has agreed to waive the Class A sales charge for clients of financial intermediaries that have entered
into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction
fee to their customers. As of the date of this Prospectus, this arrangement applies to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through
platforms at the following intermediaries:
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery
Scott LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. You should
ask your financial intermediary if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether
participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals. The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund
programs may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the funds and investors may receive different levels of services or pay
different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program. Investors should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other
fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.
You must notify your financial intermediary (or Touchstone Securities for purchases made directly from the Funds) at the time
of purchase that you believe you qualify for a sales charge waiver, in addition to providing appropriate proof of your eligibility. Failure
to provide such notification and proof may result in you not receiving the sales charge waiver to which you are otherwise entitled. For direct
purchases through Touchstone Securities you may apply for a waiver by marking the appropriate section on the investment application
and completing the “Special Account Options” form. You can obtain the application and form by calling Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. Purchases at NAV may be made for investment only, and the shares may not be resold except through redemption by or on behalf of the Fund. At the option of the Fund, the front-end sales charge
may be included on future purchases.
Reduced Class A Sales Charge. You may also purchase Class A shares of a Fund at the reduced sales charges shown in the table
above through the Rights of Accumulation Program or by signing a Letter of Intent. The following purchasers (“Qualified Purchasers”) may qualify for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
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an individual, an individual’s spouse, or an individual’s children under the age of 21; or
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a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is involved.
The following accounts (“Qualified Accounts”) held in any Touchstone Fund may be grouped together to qualify for the reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
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Joint tenant with rights of survivorship accounts
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Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act (“UGTMA”) Accounts
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Guardian/Conservator accounts
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Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), including Traditional, Roth, Simplified Employee Pension Plans (“SEP”) and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE”)
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Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (“Education IRAs”)
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott
LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
Rights of Accumulation Program. Under the Rights of Accumulation Program, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by aggregating all of your investments held in Qualified Accounts. You or your dealer must notify Touchstone Securities at the time of purchase
that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide either a list of account
numbers or copies of account statements verifying your qualification. If your shares are held directly in a Touchstone Fund or through
a dealer, you may combine the historical cost or current NAV (whichever is higher) of your existing shares of any Touchstone Fund with the
amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. Historical cost is the price you actually paid
for the shares you own, plus your reinvested dividends and capital gains. If you are using historical cost to qualify for a reduced sales charge,
you should retain any records to substantiate your historical costs since the Fund, its transfer agent or your broker-dealer may not maintain
this information.
If your shares are held through a financial intermediary, you may combine the current NAV of your existing shares of any Touchstone
Fund with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. You or your financial intermediary
must notify Touchstone at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation
Program and must provide copies of account statements dated within three months of your current purchase verifying your qualification.
Upon receipt of the above referenced supporting documentation, Touchstone Securities will calculate the combined value of all of
the Qualified Purchaser’s Qualified Accounts to determine if the current purchase is eligible for a reduced sales charge. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of
the customer) may not be aggregated with purchases for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts
unless otherwise qualified as described above.
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott
LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
Letter of Intent. If you plan to invest at least $25,000 in Class A shares of Touchstone equity funds sold with a front-end sales charge or
$50,000 in Class A shares of Touchstone fixed income funds sold with a front-end sales charge (excluding any reinvestment
of dividends and capital gains distributions) during the next 13 months you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by completing a Letter
of Intent. A Letter of Intent indicates your intent to purchase at least $25,000 in Class A shares of any Touchstone equity fund sold with
a front-end sales charge or at least $50,000 in Class A shares of any Touchstone fixed income fund sold with a front-end sales charge
over the next 13 months in exchange for a reduced sales charge indicated on the above chart. The minimum initial investment under a Letter
of Intent is $10,000. You are not obligated to purchase additional shares if you complete a Letter of Intent. If you do not buy enough
shares to qualify for the projected level of sales charge by the end of the 13-month period (or when you sell your shares, if earlier), then
your sales charge will be recalculated to reflect your actual purchase level. During the term of the Letter of Intent, shares representing 5%
of your intended purchase will be held in escrow. If you do not purchase enough shares during the 13-month period to qualify for the projected
reduced sales charge, the additional sales charge will be deducted from your escrow account. If you have purchased Class A shares
of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge within 90 days prior to signing a Letter of Intent, they may be included as part of
your intended purchase, however, previous purchase transactions will not be recalculated with the proposed new breakpoint. You must provide
either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your purchases within the past 90 days.
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott
LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
Other Information. Information about sales charges and breakpoints is also available in a clear and prominent format on the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You can access this information by selecting the “Resources” link and then the “Sales Charges and Breakpoints” link under the heading “Regulatory.” For more information about qualifying for a reduced or waived sales charge, contact your financial adviser or contact Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407.
Class C Shares
Class C shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment
may be immediately invested in the Funds. Class C shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee. A CDSC of 1.00% will be charged on Class
C shares redeemed within 1 year after you purchased them. In most cases it is more advantageous to purchase Class A shares for amounts
of $1 million or more. Therefore, a request to purchase Class C shares for $1 million or more will be considered as a purchase request
for Class A shares or declined. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co.,
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
Effective June 30, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), Class C shares of each Fund automatically convert into Class A shares of the same Fund after they have been held for eight (8) years. The conversion is not considered a taxable event for federal income tax purposes.
These automatic conversions are executed without any sales charge (including CDSCs), redemption or transaction fee, or other charge.
After such a conversion takes place, the shares will be subject to all features, rights and expenses of Class A shares. If you hold Class
C shares through
certain financial intermediaries, such as an omnibus account or group retirement recordkeeping platform, your intermediary
may not be able to track the amount of time you held your Class C shares purchased before June 30, 2020. In that case, Class C shares
held prior to June 30, 2020 would convert to Class A shares eight (8) years after the Effective Date of this policy. In addition, Class
C shares held through certain financial intermediaries may convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in a shorter time frame than shares purchased
directly from the Fund. Please contact your financial intermediary for further information about its Class C shares to Class A shares conversion
policy.
Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment
may be immediately invested in the Funds. Class Y shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC. In addition, Class Y shares
may be purchased through certain mutual fund programs sponsored by qualified intermediaries, such as broker-dealers and investment
advisers. In each case, the intermediary has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to include the Touchstone Funds in their
program where the intermediary provides investors participating in their program with additional services, including advisory, asset
allocation, recordkeeping or other services. You should ask your financial institution if it offers and you are eligible to participate
in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals. The intermediaries sponsoring
or participating in these mutual fund programs may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the funds and investors
may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program. If you purchase
Class Y shares through a broker acting solely as an agent on behalf of its customers, that broker may charge you a commission. Such commissions,
if any, are not charged by the Touchstone Funds and are not reflected in the fee tables or expense examples in this prospectus. Investors
should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each
available share class before selecting a share class.
Institutional Class Shares
Institutional Class shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase
payment may be immediately invested in the Funds. Institutional Class shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC.
Class R6 Shares
No dealer compensation is paid from the sale of Class R6 shares of the Funds. Class R6 shares of the Funds are sold at NAV
and do not pay a sales charge, Rule 12b-1 fee, impose a CDSC, or make payments to financial intermediaries/broker-dealers for assisting
Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the Fund’s distributor) in promoting the sales of the Fund’s shares. In addition, neither the Funds nor its affiliates make any type of administrative, service, relationship, or revenue sharing payments in connection with Class R6 shares. An investor
transacting in Class R6 shares may be required to pay a commission to a broker for effecting such transactions on an agency basis.
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plans. Each Fund offering Class A shares and Class C shares has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans allow each Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares
and for services provided to shareholders. Under the Class A plan, the Funds pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets that
are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class C plan, the Funds pay an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets
that are attributable to Class C shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee).
Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment and over time may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries. Touchstone Securities, the Trust’s principal underwriter, at its expense (from a designated percentage of its income) currently provides additional compensation to certain dealers. Touchstone Securities
pursues a focused distribution strategy with a limited number of dealers who have sold shares of the Touchstone Funds. Touchstone Securities
reviews and makes changes to the focused distribution strategy on a periodic basis. These payments are generally based on a pro rata share of a dealer’s sales or assets. Touchstone Securities may also provide compensation in connection with conferences, sales or training programs
for employees, seminars for the public, advertising and other dealer-sponsored programs. Touchstone Advisors, at its own expense,
may also provide additional compensation to certain broker dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers for certain services
including distribution, administrative, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency and/or shareholder servicing activities. These additional
cash payments to a financial intermediary are payments over and above sales commissions or reallowances, distribution fees or servicing
fees (including networking, administration and sub-transfer agency fees). These additional cash payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement
in cases where the financial intermediary bears certain costs in connection with providing shareholder services to Fund shareholders.
Touchstone Advisors may also reimburse Touchstone Securities for making these payments.
Touchstone Advisors and its affiliates may also pay cash compensation in the form of finders’ fees or referral fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of shares sold. The amount and value of additional cash payments vary for each financial intermediary. The
additional cash payment arrangement between a particular financial intermediary and Touchstone Advisors or its affiliates may provide
for increased rates of compensation as the dollar value of the Fund’s shares or particular class of shares sold or invested through such financial intermediary increases. The availability of these additional cash payments, the varying fee structure within a particular
additional cash payment arrangement and the basis for and manner in which a financial intermediary compensates its sales representatives may
create a financial incentive for a particular financial intermediary and its sales representatives to recommend a Fund’s shares over the shares of other mutual funds based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should consult with your financial adviser and
review carefully any disclosure by the financial firm as to compensation received by your financial adviser. Although the Funds may use financial
firms that sell the Funds’ shares to effect portfolio transactions for the Funds, the Funds and Touchstone Advisors will not consider the sale of a Fund’s shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions. For more information on payment arrangements,
please see the section entitled “Touchstone Securities” in the SAI.
INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE
Choosing the Appropriate Investments to Match Your Goals. Investing well requires a plan. We recommend that you meet with your financial adviser to plan a strategy that will best meet your financial goals.
Purchasing Your Shares
Please read this prospectus carefully and then determine how much you want to invest.
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Classes A and C shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities”) or through your financial intermediary.
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Class Y shares are available through certain financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with
Touchstone Securities.
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Institutional Class and Class R6 shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial
intermediary.
In order to open an account you must complete an investment application. You can obtain an investment application from Touchstone
Securities, your financial adviser or other financial intermediary, or by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Subject to the restrictions on new accounts described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Buying and Selling Fund Shares,” you may purchase shares of the Fund directly from Touchstone Securities or through your financial intermediary.
You may purchase shares in the Fund on a day when the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading (“Business Day”). Currently, the NYSE is normally open for trading every weekday except: (1) in the event of an emergency, or (2) for the following
holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For more information about how to purchase shares, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.
Investor Alert: Each Touchstone Fund reserves the right to restrict or reject any purchase request, including exchanges from other Touchstone
Funds, which it regards as disruptive to efficient portfolio management. For example, a purchase request could be rejected
because of the timing of the investment or because of a history of excessive trading by the investor. (See “Market Timing Policy” in this prospectus.) Touchstone Securities may change applicable initial and additional investment minimums at any time
Opening an Account
Important Information About Procedures for Opening an Account. Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we
will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth, government identification number and other information that will allow
us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. If we do not receive these required pieces of information, there will be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk. If we are
unable to immediately verify your identity, the Fund may restrict further investment until your identity is verified. However, if we
are unable to completely verify your identity through our verification process, the Fund reserves the right to close your account without
notice and return your investment to you at the price determined at the end of business (typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or at such other time
that the NYSE establishes official closing prices), on the day that your account is closed. If we close your account because we are unable
to completely verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of
your principal investment.
Investing in the Funds
By mail or through your financial adviser
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Please make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to the Touchstone Funds. We do not accept
third party checks for initial investments.
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Send your check with the completed investment application by regular mail to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh,
PA 15253-4467, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer
Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581.
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Your application will be processed subject to your check clearing. If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected
funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
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You may also open an account through your financial adviser.
By wire or Automated Clearing House (“ACH”)
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You may open an account by purchasing shares by wire or ACH transfer. Call Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 for wire
or ACH instructions.
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Touchstone Securities will not process wire or ACH purchases until it receives a completed investment application.
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There is no charge imposed by the Funds to make a wire or ACH purchase. Your bank, financial intermediary or processing organization may charge a fee to send a wire or ACH purchase to Touchstone Securities.
Through your financial intermediary
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You may invest in certain share classes by establishing an account through financial intermediaries such as a bank, broker
dealer or mutual fund supermarket that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
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Your financial intermediary will act as the shareholder of record of your shares.
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Financial intermediaries may set different initial minimum and subsequent investment requirements, may impose other restrictions
or may charge you fees for their services.
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Financial intermediaries may designate third party clearing agents to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds’ behalf. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to transmit properly completed orders so that they will be received by Touchstone
Securities in a timely manner.
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Your financial intermediary may receive compensation from the Funds, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors or their affiliates.
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Before investing in the Funds through your financial intermediary, you should read any materials provided by the financial
intermediary together with this prospectus.
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Shares held through a financial intermediary may be transferred into your name following procedures established by that firm
and Touchstone Securities
By exchange
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Class A shares may be exchanged into Class A shares of any other Touchstone Fund at NAV, although Touchstone Funds that are
closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Class C shares may be exchanged into Class C shares of any other Touchstone Fund, although Touchstone Funds that are closed
to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Class Y shares of a Fund are exchangeable for Class Y shares of any other Touchstone Fund, as long as investment minimums
and proper selling agreement requirements are met. Class Y shares may be available through financial intermediaries that have
appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through “processing organizations” (e.g., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers. Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Institutional Class shares of the Funds are exchangeable for Institutional Class shares of any other Touchstone Fund as long
as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Class A, C, Y, and R6 shareholders who are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their
Class A shares, Class C shares, and Class Y shares and Class R6 shares for Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if offered in their
state, and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary. Please see the SAI for more information under “Choosing a Class of Shares”.
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Class A, C, Y and Institutional shareholders who are eligible to invest in R6 Class shares are eligible to exchange their
Class A shares, Class C shares, Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares for R6 shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and
such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary. Please see the SAI for more information under “Choosing a Class of Shares”.
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Class A and Class C shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares
and/or Class C shares for Class Y shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their
financial intermediary.
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Class R6 shares may be exchanged into Class R6 shares of any other Touchstone Fund at NAV, although Touchstone Funds that
are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Class R6 shareholders who are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class R6 shares
for Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial
intermediary. Please see the Fund’s SAI for more information under “Choosing a Class of Shares.”
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EXCHANGES: Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC in an exchange. However, when you redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, the shares you redeem may be subject to a CDSC,
depending on when you originally purchased the exchanged shares. For purposes of computing the CDSC, the length of time you
have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase and will not be affected by any exchange.
Before making an exchange of your Fund shares, you should carefully review the disclosure provided in the prospectus relating
to the Fund into which you are exchanging. Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges. You do not have
to pay any exchange fee for your exchange, but if you exchange from a Fund with a lower load schedule to a Fund with a higher load schedule
you may be charged the load differential.
You may realize a taxable gain if you exchange shares of a Fund for shares of another Fund. See “Distributions and Taxes — Federal Income Tax Information” for more information and the federal income tax consequences of such an exchange.
Through retirement plans.
You may invest in certain Funds through various retirement plans. These include individual retirement plans and employer sponsored
retirement plans.
Individual Retirement Plans
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Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans
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Defined contribution plans (including 401(k) plans, profit
sharing plans and money purchase plans)
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To determine which type of retirement plan is appropriate for you, please contact your tax adviser. For further information
about any of the plans, agreements, applications and annual fees, contact Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407 or contact your financial intermediary.
Through a processing organization. You may also purchase shares of the Funds through a “processing organization,” (e.g., a mutual fund supermarket) which is a broker-dealer, bank or other financial institution that purchases shares for its customers.
Some of the Touchstone Funds have authorized certain processing organizations (each an “Authorized Processing Organization”) to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. Before investing in the Funds through an Authorized Processing Organization, you
should read any materials provided by the processing organization together with this prospectus. You should also ask the processing organization
if they are authorized by Touchstone Securities to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. If the processing organization
is not authorized, then your purchase order could be rejected which could subject your investment to market risk. When shares are purchased through
an Authorized Processing Organization, there may be various differences compared to investing directly with Touchstone Securities.
The Authorized Processing Organization may:
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Charge a fee for its services
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Act as the shareholder of record of the shares
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Set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements
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Impose other charges and restrictions
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Designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds’ behalf
Touchstone Securities considers a purchase or sales order as received when an Authorized Processing Organization, or its authorized
designee, receives the order in proper form.
Shares held through an Authorized Processing Organization may be transferred into your name following procedures established
by your Authorized Processing Organization and Touchstone Securities. Certain Authorized Processing Organizations may receive compensation
from the Funds, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors or their affiliates. It is the responsibility of an Authorized
Processing Organization to transmit properly completed orders so that they will be received by Touchstone Securities in a timely manner.
Pricing of Purchases
Purchase orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial intermediary,
by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or at such other time that the
NYSE establishes official closing prices, are processed at that day’s public offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charge). Purchase orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the public offering price determined on the following
Business Day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that will
be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
Adding to Your Account
By check
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Complete the investment form provided with a recent account statement.
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Make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to Touchstone Funds.
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Write your account number on the check.
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Either mail the check with the investment form to (1) Touchstone Securities; or (2) to your financial intermediary at the
address printed on your account statement. Your financial adviser or financial intermediary is responsible for forwarding payment
promptly to Touchstone Securities.
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If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible
for any resulting loss to the Fund.
Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or Internet
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You can exchange your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically
declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
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You may also exchange your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000.
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In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that
it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone
Securities will not be liable, in those cases. Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions
are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:
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Requiring personal identification.
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Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.
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Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.
By wire or ACH
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Contact your bank and ask it to wire or ACH funds to Touchstone Securities. Specify your name and account number when remitting
the funds.
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Your bank may charge a fee for handling wire transfers. ACH transactions take 2-3 business days but can be transferred from
most banks without a fee.
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If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH instructions on file for your non-retirement individual
or joint account you may initiate a purchase transaction through the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
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Purchases in the Funds will be processed at that day’s NAV (or public offering price, if applicable) if Touchstone Securities receives a properly executed wire or ACH by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time
or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading.
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Contact Touchstone Securities or your financial intermediary for further instructions.
By exchange
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You may add to your account by exchanging shares from another Touchstone Fund. • For information about how to exchange shares among the Touchstone Funds, see “Investing in the Funds - By exchange” in this prospectus. • Exchange transactions can also be initiated for non-retirement individual or joint accounts via the Touchstone Funds’ website TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Purchases with Securities
Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities, including but not limited to, shares
of common stock, provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the applicable Fund’s investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to Touchstone Advisors. Transactions of this type are generally a taxable transaction. Shareholders should consult
with their particular tax adviser regarding their personal tax situation.
Automatic Investment Options
The various ways that you can automatically invest in the Funds are outlined below. Touchstone Securities does not charge
any fees for these services. For further details about these services, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares
through a financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization, please contact them for further details on automatic investment options.
Automatic Investment Plan. You can pre-authorize monthly investments in a Fund of $50 or more to be processed electronically from a checking or savings account. You will need to complete the appropriate section in the investment application or special account
options to do this. Amounts that are automatically invested in a Fund will not be available for redemption until three business days
after the automatic reinvestment.
Reinvestment/Cross Reinvestment. Dividends and capital gains can be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them or in another Touchstone Fund within the same class of shares without a fee or sales charge. Dividends and capital gains will be reinvested
in the Fund that pays them, unless you indicate otherwise on your investment application. You may also choose to have your dividends or
capital gains paid to you in cash if such amounts are greater than $25; lesser amounts will be automatically reinvested in the Fund. Dividends
are taxable for federal income tax purposes whether you reinvest such dividends in additional shares of a Fund or choose to receive cash.
If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash for a non–retirement account and the payment (1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested
in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the payable date. In addition, any undeliverable checks from non-retirement accounts will
be deposited into an account for potential escheatment to your state of residence. Checks from open non-retirement accounts that are not
cashed for six months will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation, which
may be higher or lower than the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. Otherwise, no action will be taken regarding undeliverable
or uncashed checks.
Direct Deposit Purchase Plan. You may automatically invest Social Security checks, private payroll checks, pension payouts or any other pre-authorized government or private recurring payments in our Funds.
Dollar Cost Averaging. Our dollar cost averaging program allows you to diversify your investments by investing the same amount on a regular basis. You can set up periodic automatic exchanges of at least $50 from one Touchstone Fund to any other. The applicable
sales charge, if any, will be assessed.
Selling Your Shares
If you elect to receive your redemption proceeds from a non–retirement account in cash, the payment is not cashed for six months and the account remains open, the redemption check will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined
as of the date of cancellation, which may be higher or lower than the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. Otherwise, no
action will be taken.
Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or Internet
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You can sell your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically
declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
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You may also sell your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.
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You may sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet only if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000.
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Shares held in qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via Internet.
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If we receive your sale request by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, typically 4:00 p.m., Eastern time
or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading, the sale
of your shares will be processed at the next determined NAV on that Business Day. Otherwise it will occur on the next Business Day.
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Interruptions in telephone or Internet service could prevent you from selling your shares when you want to. When you have
difficulty making telephone or Internet sales, you should mail to Touchstone Securities (or send by overnight delivery) a written request
for the sale of your shares.
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In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone or online
that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine
and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases as long as Touchstone Securities has followed established procedures
to confirm that telephone and/or internet trade instructions are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case,
it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:
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Requiring personal identification details to validate identity.
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Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Directing wires or ACH payments only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone or internet.
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Digitally recording instructions received by telephone and/or internet.
Through Touchstone Securities - By mail
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Write to Touchstone Securities, P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467.
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Indicate the number of shares or dollar amount to be sold.
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Include your name and account number.
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Sign your request exactly as your name appears on your investment application.
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You may be required to have your signature guaranteed. (See “Signature Guarantees” in this prospectus for more information).
Through Touchstone Securities - By wire
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Complete the appropriate information on the investment application.
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If your proceeds are $1,000 or more, you may request that Touchstone Securities wire them to your bank account.
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You may be charged a fee of up to $15 for wiring redemption proceeds. You may also be charged an additional fee by your bank
or financial intermediary. Certain institutional shareholders who trade daily are not charged wire redemption fees.
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Your redemption proceeds may be deposited directly into your bank account through an ACH transaction. There is no fee imposed
by the Funds for ACH transactions, however, you may be charged a fee by your bank to receive an ACH transaction. Contact Touchstone Securities for more information.
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If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH or wire instructions on file for your non-retirement
account you may transact through the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Through Touchstone Securities - Through a systematic withdrawal plan
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You may elect to receive, or send to a third party, withdrawals of $50 or more if your account value is at least $5,000.
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Systematic withdrawals can be made monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually.
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There is no fee for this service.
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There is no minimum account balance required for retirement plans.
Through your Financial intermediary
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You may also sell shares by contacting your financial intermediary, which may charge you a fee for this service. Shares held
in street name must be sold through your financial intermediary
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Your financial intermediary is responsible for making sure that sale requests are transmitted to Touchstone Securities in
proper form and in a timely manner.
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Your financial intermediary may charge you a fee for selling your shares.
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Redemption proceeds will only be sent to your account at the financial intermediary.
Investor Alert: Unless otherwise specified, proceeds will be sent to the record owner at the address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Pricing of Redemptions
Redemption orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial
intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, are processed at that day’s NAV. Redemption orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the NAV determined on the following
business day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that
will be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”)
If you purchase $1 million or more in Touchstone equity fund Class A shares at NAV or $500,000 or more in Touchstone fixed
income fund Class A shares at NAV and a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities to a participating broker dealer, a CDSC of
up to 1.00% or 0.50%, respectively, may be charged on redemptions made within 1 year of your purchase. Additionally, when an upfront commission
is paid to a participating broker dealer on transactions of $1 million or more in Touchstone equity fund Class A shares or
$500,000 or more in Touchstone fixed income fund Class A shares, the Fund will withhold any 12b-1 fee for the first 12 months following the
purchase date. If you redeem Class C shares within 12 months of your purchase, a CDSC of 1.00% will be charged.
The CDSC will not apply to redemptions of shares you received through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions
and may be waived under certain circumstances described below. The CDSC will be assessed on the lesser of your shares’ NAV at the time of redemption or the time of purchase. The CDSC is paid to Touchstone Securities to reimburse expenses incurred in providing
distribution-related services to the Funds.
All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to Touchstone Securities. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it
is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The
CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing
share appreciation.
No CDSC is applied if:
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The redemption is due to the death or post-purchase disability of a shareholder. Touchstone Securities may require documentation
prior to waiver of the charge.
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Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of
the charge, including death certificates, physicians’ certificates, etc.
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Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. The CDSC will be waived if the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, and systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or
number of shares per year, as of the date the transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan must
be based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account
value at the time of withdrawal.
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Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by Touchstone Securities directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting
from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9)
of the Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply
in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial intermediary.
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The redemption is for a mandatory withdrawal from a traditional IRA account after reaching the qualified age based on applicable
IRS regulations.
The above mentioned CDSC waivers do not apply to Class A share redemptions made within one year of the date of purchase where
a Finder’s Fee was paid. The SAI contains further details about the CDSC and the conditions for waiving the CDSC. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Merrill Lynch,
Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
Signature Guarantees
Some circumstances may require that your request to sell shares be made in writing accompanied by an original Medallion Signature
Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps protect you against fraud. You can obtain one from many banks or securities
dealers, but not from a notary public. Each Fund reserves the right to require a signature guarantee for any request related to your
account including, but not limited to:
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Proceeds to be paid when information on your account has been changed within the last 30 days (including a change in your
name or your address, or the name or address of a payee).
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Proceeds are being sent to an address other than the address of record.
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Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred from unlike registrations such as a joint account to an individual’s account.
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Sending proceeds via wire or ACH when bank instructions have been added or changed within 30 days of your redemption request.
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Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred between accounts with different account registrations.
Market Timing Policy
Market timing or excessive trading in accounts that you own or control may disrupt portfolio investment strategies, may increase
brokerage and administrative costs, and may negatively impact investment returns for all shareholders, including long- term shareholders
who do not generate these costs. The Funds will take reasonable steps to discourage excessive short-term trading and will not knowingly
accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by shareholders. The Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies
and procedures with respect to market timing of the Funds by shareholders. The Funds will monitor selected trades on a daily basis
in an effort to deter excessive short-term trading. If a Fund has reason to believe that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term
trading, the Fund may ask the shareholder to stop such activities, or restrict or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholder’s accounts. While a Fund cannot assure the prevention of all excessive trading and market timing, by making these judgments the Fund believes
it is acting in a manner that is in the best interests of its shareholders. However, because the Funds cannot prevent all market
timing, shareholders may be subject to the risks described above.
Generally, a shareholder may be considered a market timer if he or she has (i) requested an exchange or redemption out of
any of the Touchstone Funds within 2 weeks of an earlier purchase or exchange request into any Touchstone Fund, or (ii) made more than 2 “round-trip” exchanges within a rolling 90 day period. A “round-trip” exchange occurs when a shareholder exchanges from one Touchstone Fund to another Touchstone Fund and back to the original Touchstone Fund. If a shareholder exceeds these limits, the Funds may
restrict or suspend that shareholder’s exchange privileges and subsequent exchange requests during the suspension will not be processed. The Funds may also restrict or refuse to process purchases by the shareholder. These exchange limits and excessive trading policies
generally do not apply to systematic purchases and redemptions.
Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Funds for
their customers through which transactions are placed. If a Fund identifies excessive trading in such an account, the Fund may instruct the
intermediary to restrict the investor responsible for the excessive trading from further trading in the Fund. In accordance with Rule 22c-2
under the 1940 Act, the Funds have entered into information sharing agreements with certain financial intermediaries. Under these agreements,
a financial intermediary is obligated to: (1) enforce during the term of the agreement, the Funds’ market-timing policy; (2) furnish the Funds, upon their request, with information regarding customer trading activities in shares of the Funds; and (3) enforce the Funds’ market-timing policy with respect to customers identified by the Funds as having engaged in market timing. When information regarding transactions
in the Funds’ shares is requested by a Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Funds have an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Funds, to restrict
or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Funds on behalf of other persons.
The Funds apply these policies and procedures uniformly to all shareholders believed to be engaged in market timing or excessive
trading. The Funds have no arrangements to permit any investor to trade frequently in shares of the Funds, nor will they enter into
any such arrangements in the future.
Householding Policy (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities)
Each Fund you invest in will send one copy of its prospectus and shareholder reports to households containing multiple shareholders
with the same last name. This process, known as “householding”, reduces costs and provides a convenience to shareholders. If you share the same last name and address with another shareholder and you prefer to receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, call
Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 and we will begin separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request. If you or others
in your household invest in the Funds through a financial intermediary, you may receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports,
regardless of whether or not you have consented to householding on your investment application.
In addition, eDelivery is available for statements, confirms, prospectuses and shareholder reports for shareholders holding
accounts directly with Touchstone Securities, please contact Shareholder Services at 1.800.534.0407 for more information. If you hold your account
through a Broker Dealer or Financial Intermediary please contact them directly to inquire about eDelivery opportunities.
Receiving Sale Proceeds
Touchstone Securities will forward the proceeds of your sale to you (or to your financial intermediary) within 7 days (normally
within 3 business days) after receipt of a proper request. Under normal conditions, each Fund typically expects to meet redemption
requests through the use of the Fund’s holdings of cash or cash equivalents, lines of credit, an interfund loan (as discussed in the SAI) or by selling other Fund assets. A redemption-in-kind may be used under certain circumstances and is discussed below in more detail.
Proceeds Sent to Financial Intermediaries. Proceeds that are sent to your financial intermediary will not usually be reinvested for you unless you provide specific instructions to do so. Therefore, the financial adviser or financial institution may benefit from
the use of your money.
Fund Shares Purchased by Check (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities). We may delay the processing and payment of redemption proceeds for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may
take up to 15 days. If you believe you may need your money sooner, you should purchase shares by bank wire.
Reinstatement Privilege (Classes A and C shares only). You may, within 90 days of redemption, reinvest all or part of your sale proceeds by sending a written request and a check to Touchstone Securities. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of Class
A shares and the sales load that you incurred on the initial purchase is less than the sales charge for the Fund in which you are reinvesting,
you will incur a sales charge representing the difference. Reinvestment will be at the NAV next calculated after Touchstone Securities receives
your request. If the reinvestment proceeds were from the sale of your Class C shares, you can reinvest those proceeds into Class C shares
of any Touchstone Fund. If you paid a CDSC on the reinstated amount, that CDSC will be reimbursed to you upon reinvestment. For federal
income tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares is treated as the sale of the shares of one Fund and the purchase of the shares
of the other Fund. As a result, the exchange may result in a tax consequence if you have a capital gain or loss in the Fund shares you
are selling.
Low Account Balances (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities). If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market
changes), Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you. This involuntary sale does not apply to retirement
accounts or custodian accounts under the UGTMA. Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares are about to be sold and you will
have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.
Delay of Payment. It is possible that the payment of your sale proceeds could be postponed or your right to sell your shares could be suspended during certain circumstances. These circumstances can occur:
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When the NYSE is closed on days other than customary weekends and holidays;
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When trading on the NYSE is restricted; or
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During any other time when the SEC, by order, permits.
Redemption in-Kind. Under certain circumstances (such as a market emergency), when the Board of Trustees deems it appropriate, a Fund may make payment for shares redeemed in portfolio securities of the Fund taken at current value in order to meet redemption
requests. Shareholders may incur transaction and brokerage costs when they sell these portfolio securities. Until such time
as the shareholder sells the securities they receive in-kind, the securities are subject to market risk. Redemptions in- kind are
taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash. The Funds may also process as a redemption in-kind certain
Fund shares redeemed by ReFlow or other large institutional investors.
Pricing of Fund Shares
Each Fund’s share price (also called “NAV”) and public offering price (NAV plus a sales charge, if applicable) is determined as of the close of regular trading (typically 4:00 p.m., Eastern time or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices)
every day the NYSE is open. Each Fund calculates its NAV per share for each class, generally using market prices, by dividing the total
value of its net assets by the number of shares outstanding.
The Funds’ equity investments are valued based on market value or, if no market value is available, based on fair value as determined by the Adviser, which has been designated by the Board as the valuation designee for the Funds pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the
1940 Act. The Adviser as the valuation designee may use pricing services to determine market value for investments. Some specific pricing
strategies follow:
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All short-term dollar-denominated investments that mature in 60 days or less may be valued on the basis of amortized cost
which the Adviser as the valuation designee has determined as fair value.
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Securities mainly traded on a U.S. exchange are valued at the last sale price on that exchange or, if no sales occurred during
the day, at the last quoted bid price.
Any foreign securities held by a Fund will be priced as follows:
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All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currency values will be converted into U.S. dollar values.
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Securities mainly traded on a non-U.S. exchange are generally valued according to the preceding closing values on that exchange.
However, if an event that may change the value of a security occurs after the time that the closing value on the non-U.S.
exchange was determined, but before the close of regular trading on the NYSE, the security may be priced based on fair value. This may
cause the value of the security on the books of the Fund to be significantly different from the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange
and may affect the calculation of the NAV.
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Because portfolio securities that are primarily listed on a non-U.S. exchange may trade on weekends or other days when a Fund
does not price its shares, a Fund’s NAV may change on days when shareholders will not be able to buy or sell shares.
Securities held by a Fund that do not have readily available market quotations are priced at their fair value using procedures
established by the Adviser and adopted by the Board. Any debt securities held by a Fund for which market quotations are not readily available
are generally priced at their most recent bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities.
The Funds may use fair value pricing under the following circumstances, among others:
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If the validity of market quotations is deemed to be not reliable.
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If the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets on which the security is traded.
•
If a security is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading.
•
If the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closes early or if trading in a particular portfolio security
was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation.
The use of fair value pricing has the effect of valuing a security based upon the price a Fund might reasonably expect to
receive if it sold that security but does not guarantee that the security can be sold at the fair value price. The Funds have established fair
value policies and procedures that delegate fair value responsibilities to the Adviser, as the Fund's valuation designee. These policies and
procedures outline
the fair value method for the Adviser. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security
may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available. With respect to any portion of a Fund’s assets that is invested in other mutual funds, that portion of the Fund’s NAV is calculated based on the NAV of that mutual fund. The prospectus for the other mutual fund explains the circumstances and effects of fair value pricing for that mutual fund.
Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment income and capital gains. The
table below outlines when net investment income dividends are declared and paid by each Fund. If you own shares on a Fund’s distribution record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution. Each Fund makes distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually.
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Touchstone Sands Capital
International Growth Equity Fund
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Each Fund makes distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own shares on a Fund’s distribution record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
You will receive income dividends and distributions of capital gains in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect
to receive payment in cash. Cash payments will only be made for amounts equal to or exceeding $25; for amounts less than $25, the dividends
and distributions will be automatically reinvested in the paying Fund and class. To elect cash payments, you must notify the Funds
in writing or by phone prior to the date of distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after
we receive your notice. To cancel your election, simply send written notice to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467,
or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough,
Massachusetts 01581, or call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares through a financial institution,
you must contact the institution to elect cash payment. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and the payment
(1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of payment.
A Fund’s dividends and other distributions are taxable to shareholders (other than retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors) whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. A dividend or distribution paid by a Fund has the effect
of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend or distribution. A dividend or distribution declared shortly
after a purchase of shares by an investor would, therefore, represent, in substance, a return of capital to the shareholder with respect
to such shares even though it would be subject to federal income taxes.
For most shareholders, a statement will be sent to you within 45 days after the end of each year detailing the federal income
tax status of your distributions. Please see “Federal Income Tax Information” below for more information on the federal income tax consequences of dividends and other distributions made by a Fund.
Federal Income Tax Information
The tax information in this prospectus is provided only for general information purposes for U.S. taxpayers and should not
be considered as tax advice or relied on by a shareholder or prospective investor.
General. The Funds intend to qualify annually to be treated as regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under Subchapter M of Chapter 1, Subtitle A of the Code. As such, the Funds will not be subject to federal income taxes on the earnings they distribute
to shareholders provided they satisfy certain requirements and restrictions of the Code, one of which is to distribute to a Fund’s shareholders substantially all of the Fund’s net investment income and net short-term capital gains each year. If for any taxable year a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC: (1) it will be subject to tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and thus will be subject to federal income tax
at the corporate tax rate; and (2) distributions from its earnings and profits (as determined under federal income tax principles) will be
taxable as ordinary dividend income and generally eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for “qualified dividend income” treatment for non-corporate shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial
taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying for RIC treatment.
Distributions. Your Fund will make distributions to you that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, foreign, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation.
Distributions are taxable whether you reinvest such distributions in additional shares of the Fund or choose to receive cash. Taxable Fund distributions
are taxable to a shareholder even if the distributions are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund prior to the shareholder’s investment and, thus, were included in the price the shareholder paid for the shares. For example, a shareholder who purchases shares on or
just before the record date of a Fund distribution will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of the investment back as
a taxable distribution. Distributions declared by a Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record during such
month and paid by January 31 of the following year are treated for federal income tax purposes as if received by shareholders and paid
by the Fund on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.
Ordinary Income. Net investment income, except for qualified dividend income and income designated as tax-exempt, and short-term capital gains that are distributed to you are taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes regardless of how
long you have held your Fund shares. Certain dividends distributed to non-corporate shareholders and designated by a Fund as “qualified dividend income” are eligible for the long-term capital gains rate, provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.
Net Capital Gains. Net capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) distributed to you,
if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your Fund
shares.
Sale or Exchange of Shares. It is a taxable event for you if you sell shares of a Fund or exchange shares of a Fund for shares of another Touchstone Fund. Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you sell or exchange, you may have a taxable
gain or loss on the transaction. Any realized gain or loss, generally, will be a capital gain or loss, assuming you held the shares
of the Fund as a capital asset. The capital gain will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Sales
of shares of a Fund that you have held for twelve months or less will be a short-term capital gain or loss and if held for more than twelve
months will constitute a long-term capital gain or loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held for six months
or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder
and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends, if any, received by the shareholder with respect to such shares,
unless the Fund declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and
distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis.
Returns of Capital. If a Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated
as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.
Backup Withholding. A Fund (or a financial intermediary, such as a broker, through which a shareholder holds Fund shares) may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all distributions and sales proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide
their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding.
Medicare Tax. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends and distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates
and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
Foreign Taxes. Income received by a Fund or underlying fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding
and other taxes. If a Fund qualifies (by having more than 50% of the value of its total assets at the close of the taxable
year consist of stock or securities in foreign corporations or by being a qualified fund of funds) and elects to pass through foreign taxes paid
on its investments during the year, such taxes will be reported to you as income. You may, however, be able to claim an offsetting tax credit
or deduction on your federal income tax return, depending on your particular circumstances and provided you meet certain holding period and
other requirements. Tax-exempt holders of Fund shares, such as qualified tax-advantaged retirement plans, will not benefit from
such a deduction or credit.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax as a result of an investment in a Fund. This prospectus does not discuss the U.S. or foreign tax consequences of an investment by a non-U.S. shareholder in a Fund. Accordingly, non-U.S.
shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers as to the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of an investment in a Fund.
Statements and Notices. You will receive an annual statement outlining the tax status of your distributions. You may also receive written notices of certain foreign taxes paid by a Fund during the prior taxable year.
Important Tax Reporting Considerations. The Funds are required to report cost basis and holding period information to both the IRS and shareholders for gross proceeds from the sales of Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”). This information is reported on Form 1099-B. The average cost method will be used to determine the cost basis of covered shares
unless the shareholder instructs a Fund in writing that the shareholder wants to use another available method for cost basis reporting
(for example, First In, First Out (FIFO), Last In, First Out (LIFO), Specific Lot Identification (SLID) or High Cost, First Out (HIFO)).
If the shareholder designates SLID as the shareholder’s tax cost basis method, the shareholder will also need to designate a secondary cost basis method (Secondary Method). If a Secondary Method is not provided, a Fund will designate FIFO as the Secondary Method and will
use the Secondary Method with respect to systematic withdrawals. If you hold shares of a Fund through a financial intermediary,
the financial intermediary will be responsible for this reporting and the financial intermediary’s default cost basis method may apply. Please consult your tax adviser for additional information regarding cost basis reporting and your situation.
Redemptions by S corporations of covered shares are required to be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-B. If a shareholder is
a corporation and has not instructed the Fund that it is a C corporation in its Account Application or by written instruction, the Fund
will treat the shareholder as an S corporation and file a Form 1099-B.
This section is only a summary of some important federal income tax considerations that may affect your investment in a Fund.
More information regarding these considerations is included in the Funds’ SAI. You are urged and advised to consult your own tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment in a Fund on your tax situation, including the application of foreign, state,
local and other tax laws to your particular situation.
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five years, or if shorter, the period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and distributions. The financial highlights for the Fund were audited by [ ], an independent registered public accounting firm,
whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements and related notes, are included in the Fund's annual report. The financial highlights for Class R6 shares of the Fund are not included because this share class did not commence operations until [August 31], 2023.
You can obtain the Fund’s most recent annual report at no charge by calling 1.800.543.0407 or by downloading a copy from the Touchstone Investments website at: TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources. The annual report has been incorporated by reference
into the SAI.
[financial highlights to be updated by amendment]
DISTRIBUTOR
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
1.800.638.8194
TouchstoneInvestments.com
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
TRANSFER AGENT
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
1.800.543.0407
*
A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group
The following are federal trademark registrations and applications owned by either IFS Financial Services, Inc. or Touchstone
Advisors, Inc., each a member of Western & Southern Financial Group: Touchstone, Touchstone Funds, Touchstone Investments, the Touchstone
Family of Funds and Distinctively Active.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
Go paperless, sign up today at:
TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources
For investors who want more information about the Funds, the following documents are available free upon request:
Appendix A: Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts is a separate document that provides additional information about the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts and is incorporated into this prospectus,
which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI provides more detailed information about the Funds and is incorporated herein by reference, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
Annual/Semiannual Reports (“Financial Reports”): The Funds’ Financial Reports provide additional information about the Funds’ investments. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly
affected a Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
As of January 1, 2021, paper copies of the Funds’ shareholder reports are no longer sent by mail. Instead, the reports are made available on the Touchstone Funds website (TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources/Fund-Shareholder-Reports), and you will be notified and
provided with a link each time a report is posted to the website. You may request to receive paper reports from a Fund or from your
financial intermediary, free of charge, at any time. You may also request to receive documents through eDelivery.
You can get free copies of Appendix A, the SAI, the Financial Reports, other information and answers to your questions about
the Funds by contacting your financial adviser or by contacting Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407. Appendix A, the SAI and Financial
Reports are also available without charge on the Touchstone Investments website at: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources.
Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR database of the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov. For a fee, you may obtain text-only copies of these reports and other information, after paying a duplicating fee, by sending
an e-mail request to: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Investment Company Act File No. 811-08104
[ ]
Appendix A - Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts
As noted in the Funds’ prospectus, the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from a Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures
regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (“CDSC”) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify a Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. The sales charge waivers and discounts described in this Appendix A are available only if you purchase shares through the designated intermediary. The information
disclosed in this Appendix A is part of, and incorporated in, the Funds’ prospectus.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Ameriprise Financial
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares
through Ameriprise Financial:
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial brokerage or account are eligible for the following front-end
sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI:
•
Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money
purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do
not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the
same Fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
•
Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase
date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or conversion
of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply.
•
Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.
•
Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs
subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial adviser
and/or the adviser’s spouse, adviser’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), adviser’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90
days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject
to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).
* * * * * *
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”)
Effective August 9, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions
held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the mutual fund prospectus or statement of additional
information (“SAI”) or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder’s responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Touchstone Fund Complex, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts
or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have
questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
•
Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”)
•
The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except
certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Touchstone Fund Complex held by the shareholder or in an account
grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another
platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones
of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the
time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge.
•
The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group
level.
•
ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).
Letter of Intent (“LOI”)
•
Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make
over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market
value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month
period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that
13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible
fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of
calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge
previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.
•
If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts
associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the
employer.
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
•
Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by
Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate’s life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones’ policies and procedures.
•
Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met:
1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share
class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement
account.
•
Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated
at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any
future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.
•
Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of
the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the
shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
•
The death or disability of the shareholder.
•
Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value.
•
Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after
the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
•
Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones.
•
Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
•
Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement.
•
Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below.
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
•
Initial purchase minimum: $250
•
Subsequent purchase minimum: none
Minimum Balances
•
Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples
of accounts that are not included in this policy:
•
A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform
•
A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform
•
An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI
Exchanging Share Classes
•
At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder’s holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”)
Effective May 1, 2020, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Janney account will be eligible only for the following
load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ
from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at Janney
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the
same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
•
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated
by Janney.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety
(90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were
subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).
•
Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the
same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.
Sales charge waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney
Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
•
Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching
the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
•
Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, and/or rights of accumulation
•
Breakpoints as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
•
Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial adviser about
such assets.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”)
The following information is provided by Merrill Lynch: Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform
or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end,
sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch
•
Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts
used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held
for the benefit of the plan
•
Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents)
•
Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program
•
Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch
brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers
•
Shares purchased by third party investment advisers on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform
•
Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable)
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the
same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
•
Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers
•
Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members
•
Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in the this Prospectus
•
Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs
within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were
subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases
and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement
CDSC Waivers on Class A Shares and Class C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch
•
Death or disability of the shareholder
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
•
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code
•
Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
•
Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee
based accounts or platforms (applicable to A and C shares only)
•
Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program
to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch’s policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers
Front-end Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and Letters of Intent
•
Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus
•
Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in the Fund’s prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings,
where applicable) within the purchaser’s household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial adviser about such assets
•
Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through
Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable)
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”)
The following information is provided by Morgan Stanley: Unless otherwise noted herein, effective June 1, 2020, shareholders
purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following
front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere
in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
•
Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money
purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do
not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
•
Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund
•
Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account
•
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class
A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90
days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject
to a front-end or deferred sales charge
•
Your financial intermediary, on your behalf, can convert Class S shares of the Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income
Fund to Class A shares of the same fund, without a sales charge and on a tax free basis, if they are held in a brokerage account
•
Effective July 1, 2020, shares of the Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund purchased in a Morgan Stanley transactional
brokerage account.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Oppenheimer & Co. Inc (“OPCO”)
Effective February 26, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an OPCO platform or account are eligible only for
the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts,
which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO
•
Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts
used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held
for the benefit of the plan
•
Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan
•
Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the
same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90
days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject
to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).
•
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures
of OPCO
•
Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family members
•
Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus
CDSC Waivers on A and C Shares available at OPCO
•
Death or disability of the shareholder
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
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Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the
qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the prospectus
•
Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
•
Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
•
Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on
the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial adviser about such
assets.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services & Raymond James affiliates (“Raymond James”)
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account will be eligible
only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts,
which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Raymond James
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Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.
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Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the
same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
•
Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond
James.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90
days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject
to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).
•
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures
of Raymond James.
CDSC Waivers on Classes A, B and C shares available at Raymond James
•
Death or disability of the shareholder.
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
•
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the
qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
•
Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James.
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, and/or Rights of Accumulation
•
Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
•
Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated
holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the rights of accumulation calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her
financial adviser about such assets.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
The following information is provided by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (“Baird”): Effective June 15, 2020, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales
charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Investors A-shares Available at Baird
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the
same Fund
•
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliate and their family members as designated
by Baird
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Touchstone Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within
90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject
to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)
•
A shareholder in the Fund’s Investor C Shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Investor A shares of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird
•
Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k)
plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes
of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs
CDSC Waivers on Investor A and C shares Available at Baird
•
Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
•
Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age
72 as described in the Fund’s prospectus
•
Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations
•
Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
•
Rights of accumulations which entitles shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the
aggregated holding of Touchstone Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Touchstone Fund assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial
adviser about such assets
•
Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Touchstone Funds through Baird, over
a 13-month period of time
The information in this SAI is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This SAI is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting
an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION - DATED June 20, 2023
Touchstone Funds Group Trust
Statement of Additional Information
[ ], 2023
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Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
(formerly, Touchstone International ESG Equity Fund)
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This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and relates only to the above-referenced fund (the “Fund”). It is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of Touchstone Funds Group Trust (the
“Trust”) and should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ prospectus dated [ ], 2023, as may be amended. The Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, including the notes thereto and the report of [ ] thereon,
included in the annual report to shareholders (the “Annual Report”), are hereby incorporated into this SAI by reference. A copy of the Trust’s prospectus and the Annual Report may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust at P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467, by calling 1.800.543.0407, or by downloading a copy at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
THE TRUST
Touchstone Funds Group Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company, was organized as a Delaware statutory trust under an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 25, 1993, as amended (“the Declaration of Trust”). Prior to November 20, 2006, the name of the Trust was Constellation Funds. Effective November 20, 2006, the Trust’s name changed to Touchstone Funds Group Trust. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series of units of beneficial interest
(the “shares”) and separate classes of shares. The Fund is a separate mutual fund and each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund. This SAI relates to the following series of the Trust: Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth
Equity Fund (the “Fund” or the “Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund”). The Fund is diversified.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser and administrator for the Fund. The Adviser has selected one or more sub-adviser(s) to manage, on a daily basis, the assets of the Fund. The Adviser has sub-contracted certain of the Trust complex’s administrative and accounting services to The Bank of New York Mellon and the Trust complex’s transfer agent services to BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (collectively referred to herein as “BNY Mellon”). Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities” or the “Distributor”) is the principal distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of the Adviser.
The Fund offers five separate classes of shares: Classes A, C, Y, R6 and Institutional Class. The shares of the Fund represent
an interest in the same assets of that Fund. The shares have the same rights and are identical in all material respects except that: (i)
each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (ii) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales charges;
(iii) certain other class specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees
attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders
of a specific class, registration fees incurred by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required
to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees’ fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares; (iv)
each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements; and (v) certain classes offer different
features and services to shareholders and may have different investment minimums. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) may classify and reclassify the shares of the Fund into additional classes of shares at a future date.
History of the Fund
Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund. The inception date of the Fund is December 3, 2007. On August 23, 2019, the Fund changed its name from the Touchstone Premium Yield Equity Fund to the Touchstone International ESG Equity Fund and changed
its investment goal, principal investment strategies and investment sub-adviser. Institutional Class shares of the Fund commenced
operations on August 23, 2019. On [ ], 2023, the Fund changed its name from the Touchstone International ESG Equity Fund to the Touchstone
Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund and changed its investment goal, principal investment strategies and investment
sub-adviser. Class R6 shares of the Fund commenced operations on [ ], 2023.
PERMITTED INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS
The Fund’s principal investment strategies and principal risks are described in the Fund’s prospectus. The following supplements the information contained in the prospectus concerning the Fund’s principal investment strategies and principal risks. In addition, although not principal strategies of the Fund, the Fund may invest in other types of securities and engage in other investment practices
as described in the prospectus or in this SAI. Unless otherwise indicated, the Fund is permitted to invest in each of the investments listed
below, or engage in each of the investment techniques listed below if such investment or activity is consistent with the Fund’s investment goals, investment limitations, policies and strategies. In addition to the fundamental and non-fundamental investment limitations
set forth under the section of this SAI entitled “Investment Limitations,” the investment limitations below are considered to be non-fundamental policies which may be changed at any time by a vote of the Trust’s Board, unless designated as a “fundamental” policy. In addition, any stated percentage limitations are measured at the time of the purchase of a security.
ADRs, ADSs, EDRs, CDRs, and GDRs. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts typically issued by domestic banks or trust companies that represent the deposit with those entities
of securities of a foreign issuer. They are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States. European Depositary Receipts
(“EDRs”), which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts (“CDRs”), and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) may also be purchased by the Funds. EDRs, CDRs and GDRs are generally issued by foreign banks and evidence ownership of either
foreign or domestic securities. Certain institutions issuing ADRs, ADSs, EDRs or GDRs may not be sponsored by the issuer of the underlying
foreign securities. A non-sponsored depositary may not provide the same shareholder information that a sponsored depositary
is required to provide under its contractual arrangements with the issuer of the underlying foreign securities. Holders of an unsponsored
depositary receipt generally bear all the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is
under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through to the holders
of the receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
Borrowing and Leveraging. The Funds may borrow money from banks (including their custodian bank) or from lenders to the extent permitted by applicable law. The 1940 Act requires the Fund to maintain asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired
with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of at least 300% for all such borrowings. If at any time the value of the Fund’s assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce
the amount of its borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this test. The Fund will not make any borrowing or enter into a reverse repurchase
agreement that would cause its outstanding borrowings to exceed one-third of the value of its total assets.
Leveraging a Fund through borrowing or other means (e.g., certain uses of derivatives) creates an opportunity for increased
net income, but, at the same time, creates special risk considerations. Leveraging creates interest expenses for a Fund which could exceed
the income from the assets retained. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest
that a Fund will have to pay, a Fund’s net income will be greater than if leveraging were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets retained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of a Fund will be less than if leveraging
were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced. As further outlined in the “Derivatives” subsection, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 (the “Derivatives Rule”) on October 28, 2020, and in doing so announced it would rescind SEC releases, guidance and no-action letters related to funds’ coverage and asset segregation practices. Funds were required to comply with the Derivatives Rule requirements by August 19, 2022. Interest rate arbitrage transactions, reverse repurchase agreements and
dollar roll transactions create leverage and will be entered into in accordance with the regulatory requirements described in the “Derivatives” subsection.
In an interest rate arbitrage transaction, a Fund borrows money at one interest rate and lends the proceeds at another, higher
interest rate. These leverage transactions involve a number of risks; including the risk that the borrower will fail or otherwise become
insolvent or that there will be a significant change in prevailing interest rates. The Funds may be required to liquidate portfolio securities
at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so in order to make payments with respect to any borrowing. The Funds have adopted fundamental
limitations and non-fundamental limitations which restrict circumstances in which and degrees to which the Funds can engage
in borrowing. See the section entitled “Investment Limitations,” below.
Common Stocks. Common stocks are securities that represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but
are declared at the discretion of the board of directors of the issuing company.
Credit Risk. The fixed-income securities in a Fund’s portfolio are subject to the possibility that a deterioration, whether sudden or gradual, in the financial condition of an issuer, or a deterioration in general economic conditions, could cause an issuer to fail
to make timely payments of principal or interest when due. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value. Credit risk is particularly relevant to those portfolios that invest a significant amount of their assets in non-investment grade (or “junk”) bonds or lower-rated securities.
Emerging Markets and Frontier Market Securities. Emerging market countries are generally countries that are included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Emerging Markets Index, or otherwise excluded from the MSCI World Index. As of March 31, 2023, the countries in the MSCI World Index included: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
the United Kingdom, and the United States. As of March 31, 2023, the countries in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index included:
Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Frontier market countries, which
are those emerging market countries that have the smallest, least mature economies and least developed capital markets, are generally
countries that are included in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index. As of March 31, 2023, the countries in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index included:
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mauritius,
Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Vietnam. The country composition
of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, the MSCI World Index and the MSCI Frontier Markets Index can change over time.
Investments in the securities of issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets involve certain additional risks
that do not generally apply to investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or non-existent
trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable
issuers in more developed capital markets; (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the
potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments; (iii) possible
fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions
or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments; (iv) national policies that may limit a Fund’s investment opportunities such as restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; and (v)
the lack or relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property. In addition to withholding
taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose capital gains taxes on foreign investors.
Political and economic structures in emerging market countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development,
and these countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. In such a dynamic
environment, there can be no assurance that any or all of these capital markets will continue to present viable investment opportunities
for a Fund. Some
of these countries may have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated
the assets of private companies. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such an event, it is possible that
a Fund could lose the entire value of its investments in the affected market. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of
nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value
of investments in these countries and the availability to a Fund of additional investments. The small size and inexperience of the securities
markets in certain of these countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in these countries may make investments in the
countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in Japan or most Western European countries.
Also, there may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers
in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and
requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. In certain countries with emerging capital markets, reporting standards
vary widely. As a result, traditional investment measurements used in the United States, such as price/earnings ratios, may not
be applicable. Emerging market securities may be substantially less liquid and more volatile than those of mature markets, and company shares
may be held by a limited number of persons. This may adversely affect the timing and pricing of a Fund’s acquisition or disposal of securities.
Practices in relation to settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed
markets, in part because a Fund will need to use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody and registration
of assets in some countries may be unreliable. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by the issuer or refusal
to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets, and, along with other factors, could result in ownership registration being completely
lost. A Fund would absorb any loss resulting from such registration problems and may have no successful claim for compensation.
Some emerging market countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain
emerging market countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges
through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds may be subject to the provisions
of the 1940 Act limiting investments in other investment companies. Shareholders of a Fund that invests in such investment funds will
bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of a Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the adviser), but also will
indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a discount or premium to the fund’s NAV.
Participatory notes (commonly known as P-notes) are offshore derivative instruments issued to foreign institutional investors
and their sub-accounts against underlying Indian securities listed on the Indian bourses. These securities are not registered with the Securities
and Exchange Board of India. Participatory notes are similar to ADRs, which are negotiable certificates issued by a U.S. bank
and traded on U.S. exchanges. ADRs are denominated in U.S. dollars and represent a specified number of shares in a foreign security held
by a U.S. financial institution located in a foreign country. Both P-notes and ADRs are subject to the risks discussed above with respect
to securities of foreign issuers in general. The Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund may invest up to 30% of its net assets in
securities of companies domiciled in emerging and frontier markets.
Risk of Investing in China A-shares. The Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund may invest in China A-shares of certain Chinese companies listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (“SSE”) and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“SZSE”) through the Shanghai-Hong Kong and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (“Stock Connect”). Stock Connect is a securities trading and clearing program developed by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEX”), the SSE, the SZSE and the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited. Stock Connect facilitates foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) via brokers in Hong Kong. Investors through Stock Connect are subject to PRC regulations and SSE listing rules, among others. These could
include limitations on trading or suspension of trading. There are special considerations and risks associated with investing in A-shares
via Stock Connect.
Quota Limitation Risk: Trades through Stock Connect are subject to daily quotas. If the daily quota is reached during continuous trading or the opening call session, new buy orders will be rejected for the remainder of the day. Thus, there is no guarantee that
a buy order can be effectively placed through Stock Connect. Such limitations may restrict the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
from investing in A-shares at the desired time or for the desired quantity, which could have an effect on the Fund’s capacity to successfully follow its investment strategy.
Block or Manual Trade Not Allowed: All trading must be conducted on SSE and/or SZSE, which means that no over-the-counter or manual trades are permitted. Investment opportunities may be limited because block trades, manual trades, reporting or internalization
are not permitted for Stock Connect shares.
Clearing, Settlement and Custody Risks: The Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Security Clearing Company (“HKSCC”) and ChinaClear, the national central counterparty of China’s securities market that serves as a comprehensive network of clearing, settlement and stock holding infrastructure, establishes the clearing links. Both HKSCC
and ChinaClear participate in facilitating the clearing and settlement of the cross-border trades of the other. In the event of
ChinaClear defaulting, HKSCC will in good faith seek recovery of stocks and monies from ChinaClear through the accessible legal channels.
In such an event, the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund may not fully recover its losses. In addition, the Stock Connect program’s
trading, clearance and settlement procedures are relatively untested in China, which could pose risks to the Fund, including
uncertainty related to “single-sided settlement” procedures in which local sub-custodians receive settlement instructions from the Fund’s executing broker as opposed to the Fund’s custodian.
Overseas investors, such as the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund, will not hold physical A-shares, but rather
maintain their SSE securities with broker or custodial accounts with the HKSCC. Additionally, all trades of eligible Stock Connect A-shares
must be settled in renminbi (RMB). This may require that investors have well-timed access to a reliable source of offshore RMB, which
cannot always be guaranteed.
Nominee Arrangements and Legal Rights: Under a nominee structure, HKSCC is the nominee holder of the Stock Connect A-shares acquired by overseas investors, including the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund. HKSCC will be the named registrar
of the purchased shares. A-shares purchased through the Northbound Trading Link (i.e., non-Mainland investor market access channel)
entitles foreign investors to proprietary rights and benefits in accordance with applicable laws. Under the Stock Connect guidelines,
overseas investors may exercise their shareholder rights as beneficial owners of SSE securities in accordance with the laws and regulations
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Beneficial owners of SSE Securities may exercise their rights with the HKSCC as the
nominee holder, including the right to call, participate in shareholders’ meetings, right to exercise voting rights, the right to receive dividends, amongst other rights.
Current PRC law does not expressly provide clear guidance for a beneficial owner under a nominee structure to pursue or prevent
legal action. However, the HKSCC, as nominee holder of SSE Securities, may exercise shareholder rights and take legal actions for
its foreign investors. The courts in China may find that the registrar, as a nominee or custodian, has full ownership of the Stock Connect
shares. PRC laws have not distinguished between legal ownership and beneficial ownership, particularly regarding the Sands Capital International
Growth Equity Fund and its investors. Furthermore, there have been few cases involving a nominee account structure in the
PRC courts. Other considerations regarding the rights and interests of the Fund relate to uncertain enforcement mechanisms under PRC law.
Consequently, the Fund is not assured that its ownership of A-shares is in full possession at all times. Furthermore, the
Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund may face delays or difficulties in enforcing its ownership rights in A-shares.
Tax & Expense Risks: Additional considerations include different fees, costs and taxes imposed on foreign investors purchasing A-shares through Stock Connect. The Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund’s investment may be subject to a number of tax rules. Application of these rules may be uncertain. Mainland China implemented tax reforms in recent years, and may amend or revise
its existing tax laws in the future. These amendments may have retroactive effects. Changes in applicable Chinese tax law could reduce
after-tax profits of the Fund. This could include reducing the after-tax profits of companies in China in which the Fund invests. Chinese taxes
that may apply to the Fund's investments include income tax or withholding tax on dividends, interest or gains earned by the Fund.
These various uncertainties in Chinese tax rules could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. Additionally, taxes and related
expenses may be higher than comparable expenses and taxes imposed on foreign owners of other securities providing similar investment exposure.
Additional Considerations and Risks: There is a risk that information technology and networking systems will not properly function and that changes may occur as the market develops. Thus, A-shares trading may be disrupted if systems do not function properly. There
may also be information technology capabilities and other risk management requirements specified by the relevant exchanges or clearinghouses.
See “Emerging Markets and Frontier Market Securities” above for more information on other risks.
Equity-Linked Notes (“ELNs”). A Fund may purchase ELNs. The principal or coupon payment on an ELN is linked to the performance of an underlying security or index. ELNs may be used, among other things, to provide a Fund with exposure to international
markets while providing a mechanism to reduce foreign tax or regulatory restrictions imposed on foreign investors. The risks associated
with purchasing ELNs include the creditworthiness of the issuer and the risk of counterparty default. Further, a Fund’s ability to dispose of an ELN will depend on the availability of liquid markets in the instruments. The purchase and sale of an ELN is also subject to the risks
regarding adverse market movements, possible intervention by governmental authorities, and the effects of other political and economic
events.
Equity-Linked Warrants. Equity-linked warrants provide a way for investors to access markets where entry is difficult and time consuming due to regulation. Typically, a broker issues warrants to an investor and then purchases shares in the local market and issues
a call warrant hedged on the underlying holding. If the investor exercises his call and closes his position, the shares are sold and the
warrant is redeemed with the proceeds.
Each warrant represents one share of the underlying stock. Therefore, the price, performance and liquidity of the warrant
are all directly linked to the underlying stock. The warrants can be redeemed for 100% of the value of the underlying stock (less transaction
costs). Being American style warrants, they can be exercised at any time. The warrants are U.S. dollar denominated and priced daily on several
international stock exchanges.
Equity-Related Securities. A Fund may invest in equity-related securities, including low-exercise-price options (“LEPOs”), low exercise price warrants (“LEPWs”), and participatory notes (“P-notes”) to gain exposure to issuers in certain emerging or frontier market countries. LEPOs, LEPWs, and P-notes are offshore derivative instruments issued to foreign institutional investors and their sub-accounts
against underlying securities traded in emerging or frontier markets. These securities may be listed on an exchange or traded over-the-counter,
and are similar to ADRs. As a result, the risks of investing in LEPOs, LEPWs, and P-notes are similar to depositary receipts risk
and foreign
securities risk in general. Specifically these securities entail both counterparty risk—the risk that the issuer of the LEPO, LEPW, or P-Note may not be able to fulfill its obligations or that the holder and counterparty or issuer may disagree as to the meaning or
application of contractual terms—and liquidity risk—the risk that a liquid market may not exist for such securities.
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”). The Funds may invest in ETFs. An ETF is a fund that holds a portfolio of common stocks and is often designed to track the performance of a particular securities index or sector of an index, like the S&P 500® Index or NASDAQ, or a portfolio of bonds that may be designed to track a bond index. Because they may be traded like stocks on a securities exchange
(e.g., the New York Stock Exchange; the NYSE MKT or the NASDAQ Stock Market), ETFs may be purchased and sold throughout the trading day based on their market price. Each share of an ETF represents an undivided ownership interest in the portfolio held by
an ETF. ETFs that track indices or sectors of indices hold either:
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shares of all of the companies (or, for a fixed-income ETF, bonds) that are represented by a particular index in the same
proportion that is represented in the index itself; or
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shares of a sampling of the companies (or, for a fixed-income ETF, bonds) that are represented by a particular index in a
proportion meant to track the performance of the entire index.
ETFs are generally registered as investment companies and issue large blocks of shares (typically 50,000) called “creation units” in exchange for a specified portfolio of the ETF’s underlying securities, plus a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends of the securities (net of expenses) up to the time of deposit. Creation units are redeemed in kind for a portfolio of the underlying securities
(based on the ETF’s NAV), together with a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends as of the date of redemption. As investment companies, ETFs incur fees and expenses such as advisory fees, trustee fees, operating expenses, licensing fees, registration
fees, and marketing expenses, each of which will be reflected in the NAV of ETFs. Accordingly, ETF shareholders pay their proportionate
share of these expenses.
Fixed Income Risk. The market value of a Fund’s fixed-income securities responds to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers, including governments. Generally, a Fund’s fixed-income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall. Normally, the longer
the maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities a Fund owns, the more sensitive the value of the Fund’s shares will be to changes in interest rates. The fixed-income securities market has been and may continue to be negatively affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As with other
serious economic disruptions, governmental authorities and regulators are responding to this crisis with significant fiscal
and monetary policy changes, including considerably lowering interest rates, which, in some cases could result in negative interest rates.
These actions, including their possible unexpected or sudden reversal or potential ineffectiveness, could further increase volatility in
securities and other financial markets and reduce market liquidity. To the extent a Fund has a bank deposit or holds a debt instrument with a negative
interest rate to maturity, a Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. Similarly, negative rates on investments by
money market funds and similar cash management products could lead to losses on investments, including on investments of a Fund’s uninvested cash.
Foreign Securities. Except as expressly set forth herein and in the prospectus, the Funds may invest in securities of foreign issuers and in
sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts. Foreign companies are companies that: (i) are organized under the laws of a
foreign country or maintain their principal place of business in a foreign country; (ii) the principal trading market for their securities
is located in a foreign country; or (iii) derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from operations in a foreign country or have
at least 50% of their assets located in a foreign country. Investing in securities issued by foreign companies and governments involves considerations
and potential risks not typically associated with investing in obligations issued by the U.S. government and domestic corporations.
Less information may be available about foreign companies than about domestic companies and foreign companies generally are not
subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards or to other regulatory practices and requirements comparable
to those applicable to domestic companies. The values of foreign investments are affected by changes in currency rates or exchange
control regulations, restrictions or prohibitions on the repatriation of foreign currencies, application of foreign tax laws, including
withholding taxes, changes in governmental administration or economic or monetary policy (in the United States or abroad) or changed circumstances
in dealings between nations. Costs are also incurred in connection with conversions between various currencies. In addition,
foreign brokerage commissions and custody fees are generally higher than those charged in the United States, and foreign securities
markets may be less liquid, more volatile and less subject to governmental supervision than in the United States. Investments in foreign
countries could be affected by other factors not present in the United States, including expropriation, confiscatory taxation, lack of uniform
accounting and auditing standards and potential difficulties in enforcing contractual obligations and could be subject to extended clearance
and settlement periods.
In addition, there are risks relating to ongoing concerns regarding the economies of certain European countries and their
sovereign debt, as well as the potential for one or more countries to leave the European Union (“EU”).
Brexit Risk. Uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of EU countries and the viability of the EU have disrupted and may
in the future disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves,
the global securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. In January 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) left the EU, commonly referred to as “Brexit”, and the UK ceased to be a member of the EU. Following a transition period during which the EU and the UK Government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK
Government signed an agreement regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. While the full impact of Brexit
is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. There remains significant market uncertainty
regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. The uncertainty resulting from the transition period may affect other countries in the EU and elsewhere,
cause volatility within the EU, or trigger prolonged economic downturns in certain European countries. Despite the influence of the lockdowns,
and the economic bounce back, Brexit has had a material impact on the UK’s economy. Additionally, trade between the UK and the EU did not benefit from the global rebound in trade in 2021, and remained at the very low levels experienced at the start of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic in 2020, highlighting Brexit’s potential long-term effects on the UK economy. In addition, Brexit may create additional and substantial economic stresses for the UK, including a contraction of the UK economy and price volatility in UK stocks, decreased
trade, capital outflows, devaluation of the British pound, wider corporate bond spreads due to uncertainty, and declines in business
and consumer spending as well as foreign direct investment. Brexit may also adversely affect UK-based financial firms that have counterparties
in the EU or participate in market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing houses, settlement facilities) based in the EU. Additionally,
the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to continue to stretch the resources and deficits of many countries in the EU and throughout
the world, increasing the possibility that countries may be unable to make timely payments on their sovereign debt. These events and
the resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the performance of a Fund.
Foreign Market Risk. A Fund is subject to the risk that, because there are generally fewer investors on foreign exchanges and a smaller number of shares traded each day, it may be difficult for a Fund to buy and sell securities on those exchanges. In addition,
prices of foreign securities may fluctuate more than prices of securities traded in the United States. Investments in foreign markets may also
be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of punitive taxes. In addition, the governments of certain countries
may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain industries. Any of these actions
could severely affect security prices, impair a Fund’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer a Fund’s assets or income back into the United States or otherwise adversely affect a Fund’s operations. Other potential foreign market risks include exchange controls, difficulties in pricing securities, defaults on foreign government securities, difficulties in enforcing favorable legal judgments in foreign
courts and political and social conditions, such as diplomatic relations, confiscatory taxation, expropriation, limitation on the removal
of funds or assets or imposition of (or change in) exchange control regulations. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign
countries may be less extensive than those available to investors in the United States or other foreign countries. In addition, changes
in government administrations or economic or monetary policies in the United States or abroad could result in appreciation or depreciation
of portfolio securities and could favorably or adversely affect a Fund’s operations.
Public Availability of Information. In general, less information is publicly available with respect to foreign issuers than is available with respect to U.S. companies. Most foreign companies are also not subject to the uniform accounting and financial reporting requirements
applicable to issuers in the United States. A Fund’s foreign investments may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than comparable investments in securities in U.S. companies. In addition, there is generally less government supervision and regulation
of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers in foreign countries than in the United States.
Settlement Risk. Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets differ significantly from those in the United States. Foreign
settlement procedures and trade regulations also may involve certain risks (such as delays in payment for or delivery of securities)
not typically generated by the settlement of U.S. investments. Communications between the United States and certain non-U.S. countries
may be unreliable, increasing the risk of delayed settlements or losses of security certificates in markets that still rely on
physical settlement. Settlements in certain foreign countries at times have not kept pace with the number of securities transactions; these problems
may make it difficult for a Fund to carry out transactions. If a Fund cannot settle or is delayed in settling a purchase of securities,
it may miss attractive investment opportunities and certain of its assets may be uninvested with no return earned thereon for some period. If a Fund
cannot settle or is delayed in settling a sale of securities, it may lose money if the value of the security then declines or, if it has
contracted to sell the security to another party; a Fund could be liable to that party for any losses incurred. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds
from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes on income from sources in such countries.
Governmental Supervision and Regulation/Accounting Standards. Many foreign governments supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities less than does the United States. Some countries may not have laws to protect investors
comparable to the U.S. securities laws. For example, some foreign countries may have no laws or rules against insider trading. Insider trading
occurs when a person buys or sells a company’s securities based on nonpublic information about that company. In addition, the U.S. government has from time to time in the past imposed restrictions, through penalties and otherwise, on foreign investments by U.S. investors.
Accounting standards in other countries are not necessarily the same as in the United States. If the accounting standards in another
country do not require as much detail as U.S. accounting standards, it may be harder for a Fund to completely and accurately determine a company’s financial condition. Also, brokerage commissions and other costs of buying or selling securities often are higher in foreign
countries than they are in the United States. This reduces the amount a Fund can earn on its investments.
Foreign Currency Risk. While a Fund’s net assets are valued in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding
change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency
are: (1) it may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa; (2) complex political and economic factors
may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including U.S. dollars, and their exchange rates; (3) government intervention
may
increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since
exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces; (4) there may be no systematic reporting of last sale information
for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised
on a timely basis; (5) available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market
and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and
(6) the inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets
for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.
Restrictions on Investments. There may be unexpected restrictions on investments in companies located in certain foreign countries. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order prohibiting U.S. persons from
purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as “Communist Chinese military companies,” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, such securities. In addition, to
the extent that a Fund holds such a security, one or more Fund intermediaries may decline to process customer orders with respect to such Fund
unless and until certain representations are made by the Fund or the prohibited holdings are divested. As a result of forced sales of
a security, or inability to participate in an investment the manager otherwise believes is attractive, a Fund may incur losses.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. The Funds may enter into forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure and as a hedge against possible variations in foreign exchange rates. A Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts
to hedge a specific security transaction or to hedge a portfolio position.
These contracts may be bought or sold to protect a Fund, to some degree, against possible losses resulting from an adverse
change in the relationship between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. A Fund also may invest in foreign currency futures and in options
on currencies. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency amount at a future date, agreed
upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A Fund may enter into a contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S.
dollars or other appropriate currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of a Fund’s securities denominated in such foreign currency.
By entering into forward foreign currency contracts, a Fund will seek to protect the value of its investment securities against
a decline in the value of a currency. However, these forward foreign currency contracts will not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying
prices of the securities. Rather, they simply establish a rate of exchange which one can obtain at some future point in time. Although such
contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also tend to limit any potential gain
which might result should the value of such currency increase. At the maturity of a forward contract, a Fund may either sell a portfolio
security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or it may retain the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the foreign
currency by purchasing an “offsetting” contract with the same currency trader, obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the foreign currency. A Fund may realize a gain or loss from currency transactions.
When entering into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security in a foreign currency, a Fund may enter into a forward
foreign currency contract for the amount of the purchase or sale price to protect against variations, between the date the security is purchased
or sold and the date on which payment is made or received, in the value of the foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar or other foreign
currency.
Also, when a Fund’s portfolio manager anticipates that a particular foreign currency may decline substantially relative to the U.S. dollar or other leading currencies, in order to reduce risk, a Fund may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount, the
amount of foreign currency approximating the value of its securities denominated in such foreign currency. With respect to any such forward
foreign currency contract, it will not generally be possible to match precisely the amount covered by that contract and the value of the securities
involved due to changes in the values of such securities resulting from market movements between the date the forward contract is entered
into and the date it matures. In addition, while forward foreign currency contracts may offer protection from losses resulting from
declines in value of a particular foreign currency, they also limit potential gains which might result from increases in the value of such currency.
A Fund will also incur costs in connection with forward foreign currency contracts and conversions of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars.
A Fund will only enter into Forward Foreign Currency Contracts subject to the regulatory limitations outlined in the “Derivatives” subsection.
The forecasting of currency market movement is extremely difficult, and whether any hedging strategy will be successful is
highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration
of a forward foreign currency contract. Accordingly, a Fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the
expense of such transaction) if the Sub-Adviser’s predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. Because foreign currency forward contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that a Fund will have
flexibility to roll-over a forward foreign currency contract upon its expiration if it desires to do so. Additionally, there can be no assurance that
the other party to the contract will perform its services thereunder.
Illiquid Securities. Subject to the limitations in the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, the Funds may invest in illiquid securities. No Fund may acquire an illiquid security if, immediately after the acquisition, it would have invested more than 15% of its net
assets in illiquid securities. Certain Funds may have additional limitations on investments in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities
that a 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 security.
The Trust has implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “LRM Program”) and related procedures to manage the liquidity risk of each Fund in accordance with Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 22e-4”). Rule 22e-4 defines “liquidity risk” as the risk that a fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of the remaining investors’ interests in the fund. The Board has designated Touchstone Advisors to serve as the program administrator (“Program Administrator”) of the LRM Program and the related procedures. As a part of the LRM Program, the Program Administrator is responsible for identifying
illiquid investments and categorizing the relative liquidity of each Fund’s investments in accordance with Rule 22e-4. Under the LRM Program, the Program Administrator assesses, manages, and periodically reviews each Fund’s liquidity risk, and is responsible for making periodic reports to the Board and the SEC regarding the liquidity of each Fund’s investments, and for notifying the Board and the SEC of certain liquidity events specified in Rule 22e-4. The liquidity of each Fund’s portfolio investments is determined based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations under the LRM Program.
Illiquid securities include, among others, demand instruments with demand notice periods exceeding seven days, securities
for which there is no active secondary market, and repurchase agreements with maturities of over seven days in length. A Fund may invest in
securities that are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded over-the-counter, including privately placed securities. Investing in such
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. Because these types of securities are thinly traded, if at all, and market prices for these types of securities
are generally not readily available, a Fund typically determines the price for these types of securities in good faith in accordance with policies and
procedures adopted by the Board. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from
these sales could be less than those originally paid by a Fund, or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities. Further,
companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements which might
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, a Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration.
In addition, the Funds believe that certain investments in joint ventures, cooperatives, partnerships, private placements,
unlisted securities and other similar situations (collectively, “special situations”) could enhance a Fund’s capital appreciation potential. To the extent these investments are deemed illiquid, a Fund’s investment in them will be consistent with their applicable restriction on investment in illiquid securities. Investments in special situations and certain other instruments may be liquid, as determined by the Program Administrator
of the Funds’ LRM Program.
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). Due to the typically small size of the IPO allocation available to the Funds and the nature and market capitalization of the companies involved in IPOs, the sub-advisers will often purchase IPO shares that would qualify as a
permissible investment for a Fund but will instead decide to allocate those IPO purchases to other funds they advise. Any such allocation
will be done in a fair and equitable manner according to a specific and consistent process. Because IPO shares frequently are volatile
in price, a Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of a Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to a Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling shares of an IPO, a Fund may realize taxable capital
gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.
Most IPOs involve a high degree of risk not normally associated with offerings of more seasoned companies. Companies involved
in IPOs generally have limited operating histories, and their prospects for future profitability are uncertain. These companies often
are engaged in new and evolving businesses and are particularly vulnerable to competition and to changes in technology, markets and economic
conditions. They may be dependent on certain key managers and third parties, need more personnel and other resources to manage
growth and require significant additional capital. They may also be dependent on limited product lines and uncertain property rights
and need regulatory approvals. Investors in IPOs can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of
additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders. Stock prices of IPOs can also be highly unstable,
due to the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available for trading and limited investor information.
Interest Rate Risk. The market price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest
rates rise, the prices of debt securities fall, and when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities rise. The price
volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration
of these securities, the greater their price risk. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates that incorporates a security’s yield, coupon, final maturity, and call features, among other characteristics. The longer a fixed-income security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. Specifically, duration is the change in the value of a fixed-income security that will result from a 1% change in interest rates, and generally is stated in years. For example, as a general
rule a 1% rise in interest rates means a 1% fall in value for every year of duration. Maturity, on the other hand, is the date on which a fixed-income
security becomes due for payment of principal. There may be less governmental intervention in the securities markets in the near future. An
increase in interest rates could negatively impact a Fund’s net asset value. Recent and potential future changes in government monetary policy may affect rates.
Beginning in March 2022, the Fed began increasing interest rates and has signaled the potential for further increases. It
is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which the Fed will increase interest rates any further, or the timing, frequency or magnitude
of any such increases, and the evaluation of macro-economic and other conditions could cause a change in approach in the future. Any such
increases
generally will cause market interest rates to rise and could cause the value of a Fund's investments, and the Fund's NAV,
to decline, potentially suddenly and significantly. As a result, the Fund may experience high redemptions and, as a result, increased
portfolio turnover, which could increase the costs that the Fund incurs and may negatively impact the Fund's performance.
Interfund Lending. Each Fund’s investment restrictions and an SEC exemptive order permit the Funds to participate in an interfund lending program with other funds in the Touchstone family of funds. This program allows the Touchstone Funds to borrow money
from, and lend money to, each other for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to satisfy redemption requests or to cover unanticipated
cash shortfalls. A Fund may not borrow through the interfund lending program for leverage purposes. To the extent permitted by
its investment objective, strategies, and policies, a Fund may (1) lend uninvested cash to other Touchstone Funds in an amount up to 15%
of the lending Fund’s net assets at the time of the loan (including lending up to 5% of its net assets to any single Touchstone Fund) and (2) borrow money from other Touchstone Funds provided that total outstanding borrowings from all sources do not exceed 331/3% of its total assets. A Fund may borrow through the interfund lending program on an unsecured basis (i.e., without posting collateral) if its aggregate
borrowings from all sources immediately after the interfund borrowing represent 10% or less of the Fund’s total assets. However, if a Fund’s aggregate borrowings from all sources immediately after the interfund borrowing would exceed 10% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund may borrow through the interfund lending program on a secured basis only. Any Fund that has outstanding interfund borrowings may not
cause its outstanding borrowings, from all sources, to exceed 10% of its total assets without first securing each interfund loan. If
a Fund has any outstanding secured borrowings from other sources, including another fund, at the time it requests an interfund loan, the Fund’s interfund borrowing will be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan
value as any outstanding collateralized loan.
Any loan made through the interfund lending program is required to be more beneficial to a borrowing Fund (i.e., at a lower
interest rate) than borrowing from a bank and more beneficial to a lending Fund (i.e., at a higher rate of return) than an alternative short-term
investment. The term of an interfund loan is limited to the time required to obtain sufficient cash to repay the loan through
either the sale of the Fund’s portfolio securities or net sales of Fund shares, but in no event more than seven days. In addition, an interfund loan is callable with one business day’s notice.
The limitations discussed above, other conditions of the SEC exemptive order, and related policies and procedures implemented
by Touchstone are designed to minimize the risks associated with interfund lending for both borrowing Funds and lending Funds.
However, no borrowing or lending activity is without risk. When a Fund borrows money from another Touchstone Fund, there is a risk
that the loan could be called on one business day’s notice or not renewed, in which case the Fund may need to borrow from a bank at higher rates if an interfund loan were not available from another Touchstone Fund. Furthermore, a delay in repayment to a lending Fund could
result in a lost investment opportunity or additional lending costs.
Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk. Investment-grade debt securities may be downgraded by a NRSRO to below-investment-grade status, which would increase the risk of holding these securities. Investment-grade debt securities rated in the lowest rating
category by a NRSRO involve a higher degree of risk than fixed-income securities with higher credit ratings. While such securities are considered
investment-grade quality and are deemed to have adequate capacity for payment of principal and interest, such securities lack
outstanding investment characteristics and may share certain speculative characteristics with non-investment-grade securities.
LIBOR Transition. Many debt securities, derivatives and other financial instruments in which the Funds may invest, as well as any borrowings made by the Funds from banks or from other lenders, may have or may continue to utilize the London Interbank Offered
Rate (“LIBOR”) as the reference or benchmark index for interest rate calculations. LIBOR is a measure of the average interest rate at which major global banks can borrow from one another. It is quoted in multiple currencies and tenors using data reported by a panel
of private-sector banks. Following allegations of rate manipulation in 2012 and concerns regarding its thin liquidity, the use of LIBOR came
under increasing pressure, and in July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it would
stop encouraging banks to provide the quotations needed to sustain LIBOR. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, the administrator
of LIBOR, ceased publishing certain LIBOR maturities, including some US LIBOR maturities, on December 31, 2021, and is expected
to cease publishing the remaining and most liquid US LIBOR maturities on June 30, 2023. It is expected that market participants
have or will transition to the use of different reference or benchmark indices. Additionally, although regulators have encouraged
the development and adoption of alternative rates such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement rate remains uncertain.
Although the transition process away from LIBOR has become increasingly well-defined in advance of the anticipated discontinuation
dates, the impact on certain debt securities, derivatives and other financial instruments remains uncertain. While it is expected
that market participants will adopt alternative rates such as SOFR or otherwise amend financial instruments referencing LIBOR to include
fallback provisions and other measures that contemplate the discontinuation of LIBOR or other similar market disruption events, neither
the effect of the transition process nor the viability of such measures is known. Further, uncertainty and risk remain regarding the
willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include alternative rates and revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments.
To facilitate the transition of legacy derivatives contracts referencing LIBOR, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association,
Inc. launched a protocol to incorporate fallback provisions. However, while market participants have begun transitioning away from
LIBOR, there are obstacles to converting certain longer term securities and transactions to a new benchmark or benchmarks. The effectiveness
of
multiple alternative reference indices as opposed to one primary reference index has not been determined. Certain proposed
replacement rates to LIBOR, such as SOFR, which is a broad measure of secured overnight US Treasury repo rates, are materially different
from LIBOR, and changes in the applicable spread for financial instruments transitioning away from LIBOR will need to be made to accommodate
the differences. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition to replacement rates
may be exacerbated if an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. The effectiveness
of alternative reference indices used in new or existing financial instruments and products has also not yet been determined.
As market participants transition away from LIBOR, LIBOR’s usefulness may deteriorate, and these effects could be experienced until the permanent cessation of the majority of U.S. LIBOR rates in 2023. The transition process may lead to increased volatility and
illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest indices. LIBOR’s deterioration may adversely affect the liquidity and/or market value of securities that use LIBOR as a benchmark interest index, including securities and other financial instruments held
by the Funds. Further, the utilization of an alternative reference index, or the transition process to an alternative reference index, may
adversely affect the Funds’ performance. Alteration of the terms of a debt instrument or a modification of the terms of other types of contracts to replace LIBOR or another interbank offered rate (“IBOR”) with a new reference rate could result in a taxable exchange and the realization of income and gain/loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The IRS has issued final regulations regarding the tax consequences
of the transition from IBOR to a new reference rate in debt instruments and non-debt contracts. Under the final regulations, alteration
or modification of the terms of a debt instrument to replace an operative rate that uses a discontinued IBOR with a qualified
rate (as defined in the final regulations) including true up payments equalizing the fair market value of contracts before and after such IBOR
transition, to add a qualified rate as a fallback rate to a contract whose operative rate uses a discontinued IBOR or to replace a fallback
rate that uses a discontinued IBOR with a qualified rate would not be taxable. The IRS may provide additional guidance, with potential retroactive
effect.
Micro-Cap Securities. The Funds may invest in companies whose total market capitalization at the time of investment is generally between $30 million and $500 million, referred to as micro-cap companies. Micro-cap companies may not be well-known to the
investing public, may not have significant institutional ownership and may have cyclical, static or only moderate growth prospects.
Micro-cap companies may have greater risk and volatility than large companies and may lack the management depth of larger, mature issuers.
Micro-cap companies may have relatively small revenues and limited product lines, markets, or financial resources, and their securities
may trade less frequently and in more limited volume than those of larger, more mature companies. In addition, micro-cap companies may
be developing or marketing new products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never become established.
As a result, the prices of their securities may fluctuate more than those of larger issuers.
Money Market Instruments. Money market securities are high-quality, dollar-denominated, short-term debt instruments. They include: (i) bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposits, notes and time deposits of highly-rated U.S. banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks; (ii) U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by the agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government;
(iii) high-quality commercial paper issued by U.S. and foreign corporations; (iv) debt obligations with a maturity of one year or less issued
by corporations with outstanding high-quality commercial paper ratings; and (v) repurchase agreements involving any of the foregoing
obligations entered into with highly-rated banks and broker-dealers.
Natural Disasters, Adverse Weather Conditions and Climate Change. Certain areas of the world may be exposed to adverse weather conditions, such as major natural disasters and other extreme weather events, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons,
floods, tidal waves, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, droughts, windstorms, coastal storm surges, heat waves, and rising sea levels,
among others. Some countries and regions may not have the infrastructure or resources to respond to natural disasters, making them more
economically sensitive to environmental events. Such disasters, and the resulting damage, could have a severe and negative impact on a Fund’s investment portfolio and, in the longer term, could impair the ability of issuers in which a Fund invests to conduct their businesses
in the manner normally conducted. Adverse weather conditions also may have a particularly significant negative effect on issuers in the
agricultural sector and on insurance companies that insure against the impact of natural disasters.
Climate change, which is the result of a change in global or regional climate patterns, may increase the frequency and intensity
of such adverse weather conditions, resulting in increased economic impact, and may pose long-term risks to a Fund’s investments. The future impact of climate change is difficult to predict but may include changes in demand for certain goods and services, supply
chain disruption, changes in production costs, increased legislation, regulation, international accords and compliance-related costs, changes
in property and security values, availability of natural resources and displacement of peoples. Climate change regulation may result in increased
operations and capital costs for the companies in which the Fund invests. Voluntary initiatives and mandatory controls have been adopted
or are being discussed both in the U.S. and worldwide to reduce emissions of “greenhouse gases” such as carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, which some scientists and policymakers believe contribute to global climate change. These current and future measures
may result in certain companies in which the Fund invests incurring increased costs to generally continue operating its business, to operate
and maintain facilities specifically, or to administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program. Additionally, the effects of these
measures may result in a reduction of the demand for goods or services that produce significant greenhouse gas emissions or are related
to carbon-based energy sources.
Operational Risk and Cyber Security. With the increased use of technologies, such as mobile devices and “cloud”-based service offerings and the dependence on the Internet and computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Funds’ service providers are susceptible to operational and information or cyber security risks that could result in losses to a Fund and its shareholders.
Cyber security
breaches are either intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer
data, or proprietary information, or cause a Fund or Fund service provider to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality.
Intentional cyber security incidents include: unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices (such as through “hacking” activity or “phishing”); infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise
disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cyber-attacks can also be carried out in a manner that
does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the service providers’ systems or websites rendering them unavailable to intended users or via “ransomware” that renders the systems inoperable until appropriate actions are taken. In addition, unintentional incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information (possibly resulting in the
violation of applicable privacy laws).
A cyber security breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, loss or theft of proprietary information
or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs, any of which could have a substantial
impact on a Fund. For example, in a denial of service, Fund shareholders could lose access to their electronic accounts indefinitely,
and employees of the Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or the Funds’ other service providers may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Funds, such as trading, NAV calculation, shareholder accounting, or fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions.
Cyber security incidents could cause a Fund, the Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or other service provider to incur regulatory penalties,
reputational damage, compliance costs associated with corrective measures, litigation costs, or financial loss. They may also result in
violations of applicable privacy and other laws. In addition, such incidents could affect issuers in which a Fund invests, thereby causing the Fund’s investments to lose value.
Cyber-events have the potential to materially affect the Funds’ and the Adviser’s relationships with accounts, shareholders, clients, customers, employees, products, and service providers. The Funds have established risk management systems reasonably designed
to seek to reduce the risks associated with cyber-events. There is no guarantee that the Funds will be able to prevent or mitigate
the impact of any or all cyber-events.
The Funds are exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing
and communication errors, errors of the Funds’ service providers, counterparties, or other third parties, failed or inadequate processes, and technology or system failures.
The Adviser, each Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates have established risk management systems that seek to reduce cybersecurity
and operational risks, and business continuity plans in the event of a cybersecurity breach or operational failure. However, there
are inherent limitations in such plans, including that certain risks have not been identified, and there is no guarantee that such efforts
will succeed, especially since none of the Adviser, each Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates controls the cybersecurity or operations systems of the Funds’ third party service providers (including the Funds’ custodian), or those of the issuers of securities in which the funds invest.
In addition, other disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters and public health crises (such as the
COVID-19 pandemic), may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to conduct business, in particular if the Fund’s employees or the employees of its service providers are unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. Even if the Fund’s employees and the employees of its service providers are able to work remotely, those remote work arrangements could result in the Fund’s business operations being less efficient than under normal circumstances, could lead to delays in its processing of transactions, and could increase
the risk of cyber-events.
Options. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the
underlying security at any time during the option period. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer
of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The premium paid to the writer is the
consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract. The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, a Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If
a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying
security until the option expires or a Fund delivers the security upon exercise.
A Fund may purchase put and call options to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio
or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that a Fund may seek to purchase in the future. A Fund will pay a premium when
purchasing put and call options. If price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable
for a Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of a Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by a Fund.
A Fund may write both covered call and put options. A Fund may write covered call options as a means of increasing the yield
on its portfolio and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value. When a Fund sells an option,
if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to
the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and a Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option.
When a call
option written by a Fund is exercised, a Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the
strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option written by
a Fund is exercised, a Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at the strike price, which may be in excess of the market value
of such securities.
A Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter. Over-the-counter options (“OTC options”) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation,
and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a
wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on
an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker. It is the position of the staff of the SEC that
OTC options are generally illiquid.
A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter
markets) to manage its exposure to exchange rates. Call options on foreign currencies written by a Fund will be “covered,” which means that the Fund will own an equal amount of the underlying foreign currency.
Buyers and sellers of foreign currency options are subject to the same risks that apply to options generally. There are certain
additional risks associated with foreign currency options. The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new, and a Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. There can be no assurance
that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. In addition, options on foreign currencies are affected
by all of those factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.
The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a
result, the price of the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies and may have no relationship to the
investment merits of a foreign security. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially
larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in
an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that
are less favorable than for round lots.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations
available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Available quotation information is generally
representative of very large transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions (i.e., less than
$1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that
the U.S. option markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take
place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets until they reopen.
A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on indices and enter into related closing transactions. Put and call options
on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of
the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise
price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option,
expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or
loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.
A Fund may choose to terminate an option position by entering into a closing transaction. The ability of a Fund to enter into closing
transactions depends upon the existence of a liquid secondary market for such transactions.
Options written on indices may be covered and all options will be entered into in accordance with the regulatory requirements
described in the “Derivatives” subsection.
A Fund will not engage in transactions involving interest rate futures contracts for speculation but only as a hedge against
changes in the market values of debt securities held or intended to be purchased by a Fund and where the transactions are appropriate to reduce a Fund’s interest rate risks. There can be no assurance that hedging transactions will be successful. A Fund also could be exposed
to risks if it cannot close out its futures or options positions because of any illiquid secondary market.
Futures and options have effective durations that, in general, are closely related to the effective duration of the securities
that underlie them. Holding purchased futures or call option positions will lengthen the duration of a Fund’s portfolio.
Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict
movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect
correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market
for options; and (4) while a Fund may receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in
the market value of the underlying security. As further outlined in the “Derivatives” subsection, all options will be entered into in accordance with the regulatory requirements described in the “Derivatives” subsection.
Caps, Collars and Floors. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For
example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an
agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below
an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.
Inverse Floaters. A Fund may invest in inverse floaters. Inverse floaters are derivative securities whose interest rates vary inversely to
changes in short-term interest rates and whose values fluctuate inversely to changes in long-term interest rates. The value of certain
inverse floaters will fluctuate substantially more in response to a given change in long-term rates than would a traditional debt security.
These securities have investment characteristics similar to leverage, in that interest rate changes have a magnified effect on the value of
inverse floaters.
Ordinary Shares. Ordinary shares are shares of foreign issuers that are traded abroad and on a United States exchange. Ordinary shares may be purchased with and sold for U.S. dollars. Investing in foreign companies may involve risks not typically associated
with investing in United States companies. See “Foreign Securities.”
Other Investment Companies. Investment companies include open- and closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and any other pooled investment vehicle that meets the definition of an investment company under the 1940 Act, whether such companies are required
to register under the 1940 Act or not. As a shareholder of another investment company, a Fund would be subject to the same risks
as any other investor in that investment company. A Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including
advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses. Investments in registered investment company shares are subject to limitations
prescribed by the 1940 Act and its rules, and applicable SEC staff interpretations or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC. The 1940
Act currently provides, in part, that a Fund generally may not purchase shares of a registered investment company if (a) such a purchase
would cause a Fund to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company or (b) such a purchase
would cause a Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company or (c) more than 10% of a Fund’s total assets would be invested in the aggregate in all registered investment companies.
Over-The-Counter Stocks. A Fund may invest in over-the-counter stocks. In contrast to securities exchanges, the over-the-counter market is not a centralized facility that limits trading activity to securities of companies which initially satisfy certain defined
standards. Generally, the volume of trading in an unlisted or over-the-counter common stock is less than the volume of trading in a listed stock.
This means that the depth of market liquidity of some stocks in which each Fund invests may not be as great as that of other securities and,
if a Funds were to dispose of such a stock, they might have to offer the shares at a discount from recent prices, or sell the shares in small
lots over an extended period of time.
Preferred Stock. Preferred stock has a preference over common stock in liquidation (and generally for dividend receipt as well) but is subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer in all respects. As a general rule, the market value of preferred stock with
a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk, while the market price of convertible
preferred stock generally also reflects some element of conversion value. Because preferred stock is junior to debt securities and other obligations
of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than
in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends
generally are payable only if declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Preferred stock also may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.
Prepayment Risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Prepayment risk is more prevalent during periods of falling interest rates. Prepayment impacts both the interest rate sensitivity
of the underlying asset, such as an asset-backed or mortgage-backed security, and its cash flow projections. Therefore, prepayment
risk may make it difficult to calculate the average duration of a Fund’s asset- or mortgage-backed securities which in turn would make it difficult to assess the interest rate risk of a Fund.
Privatization. Privatizations are foreign government programs for selling all or part of the interests in government owned or controlled
enterprises. The ability of a U.S. entity to participate in privatizations in certain foreign countries may be limited by
local law, or the terms on which a Fund may be permitted to participate may be less advantageous than those applicable for local investors. There
can be no assurance that foreign governments will continue to sell their interests in companies currently owned or controlled by them
or that privatization programs will be successful.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). The Funds may invest in REITs, which pool investors’ money for investment in income producing commercial real estate or real estate related loans or interests.
A REIT is not subject to federal income tax on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders 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. Generally, REITs can be classified as
Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and 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. 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 and Mortgage REITs. A shareholder in a Fund should realize that by investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, he
or she will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of a Fund, but also indirectly, similar expenses of underlying
REITs.
A Fund may be subject to certain risks associated with the direct investments of the REITs. REITs may be affected by changes
in their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit
extended. Furthermore, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills. Some REITs may have limited diversification and may be
subject to risks inherent in financing a limited number of properties. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow
to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, and may be subject to defaults by borrowers and to self-liquidations. In addition,
the performance of a REIT may be affected by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code or its
failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.
ReFlow Liquidity Program. The Funds may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing redemptions of their shares. In order to pay cash to shareholders who redeem
their shares on a given day, a mutual fund typically must hold cash in its portfolio, liquidate portfolio securities, or borrow money,
all of which impose certain costs on the fund. ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) provides participating mutual funds with another source of cash by standing ready to purchase shares from a fund up to the amount of the fund’s net redemptions on a given day. ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the fund experiences net sales. In return for this service, the Fund will pay a fee to ReFlow at a rate determined
by a daily auction with other participating mutual funds. The costs to the Fund for participating in ReFlow are expected to be influenced
by and comparable to the cost of other sources of liquidity, such as the Fund’s short-term lending arrangements or the costs of selling portfolio securities to meet redemptions. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than
3% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. There is no assurance that ReFlow will have sufficient funds available to meet the Fund’s liquidity needs on a particular day. Investments in the Fund by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program are not subject
to the market timing limitations described in the Funds’ prospectus.
Royalty Trusts. Royalty trusts are structured similarly to REITs. A royalty trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource companies
or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to the investors of the royalty trust. A sustained decline in
demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could adversely affect income and royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Factors
that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price
of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand for such
products. A rising interest rate environment could adversely impact the performance of royalty trusts. Rising interest rates could limit
the capital appreciation of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies. The Funds may invest in stock, warrants, and other securities of SPACs or similar special purpose entities that pool funds to seek potential acquisition opportunities. SPACs are collective investment structures that
allow public stock market investors to invest in private equity type transactions (“PIPE”). Until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets in US government securities, money market securities and cash. The Funds may enter into a contingent commitment
with a SPAC to purchase PIPE shares if and when the SPAC completes its merger or acquisition.
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. An investment
in a SPAC is subject to a variety of risks, including that (i) a significant portion of the monies raised by the SPAC for the purpose
of identifying and effecting an acquisition or merger may be expended during the search for a target transaction; (ii) an attractive acquisition
or merger target may not be identified at all and the SPAC will be required to return any remaining monies to shareholders; (iii) any proposed
merger or acquisition may be unable to obtain the requisite approval, if any, of shareholders; (iv) an acquisition or merger once effected
may prove unsuccessful and an investment in the SPAC may lose value; (v) the warrants or other rights with respect to the SPAC held
by a Fund may expire worthless or may be repurchased or retired by the SPAC at an unfavorable price; (vi) a Fund may be delayed in receiving
any redemption or liquidation proceeds from a SPAC to which it is entitled; (vii) an investment in a SPAC may be diluted by additional
later offerings of interests in the SPAC or by other investors exercising existing rights to purchase shares of the SPAC; (viii)
no or only a thinly traded market for shares of or interests in a SPAC may develop, leaving a Fund unable to sell its interest in a SPAC or to
sell its interest only at a price below what the Fund believes is the SPAC interest’s intrinsic value; and (ix) the values of investments in SPACs may be highly volatile and may depreciate significantly over time.
Purchased PIPE shares will be restricted from trading until the registration statement for the shares is declared effective.
Upon registration, the shares can be freely sold; however, in certain circumstances, the issuer may have the right to temporarily suspend trading
of the shares in the first year after the merger. The securities issued by a SPAC, which are typically traded either in the over-the-counter
market or on an exchange, may be considered illiquid, more difficult to value, and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.
Sector Focus. If a Fund’s portfolio is overweighted in a certain sector or related sectors, any negative development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on a Fund than a fund that is not overweighted in that sector.
Communication Services Sector Risk. The communication services sector is subject to extensive government regulation. The costs of complying with governmental regulations, delays or failure to receive required regulatory approvals, or the enactment of new
regulatory requirements may negatively affect the business of communications services companies. Government actions around the world,
specifically in the area of pre-marketing clearance of products and prices, can be arbitrary and unpredictable. The domestic communications
services market is characterized by increasing competition and regulation by various state and federal regulatory authorities. Companies
in the communication services sector may encounter distressed cash flows due to the need to commit substantial capital to meet increasing
competition, particularly in formulating new products and services using new technology. Technological innovations may make
the products and services of certain communications services companies obsolete.
Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. Because companies in the consumer discretionary sector manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the
overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household
income and consumer spending. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes also can affect the demand for, and success of, consumer discretionary
products in the marketplace.
Consumer Staples Sector Risk. The consumer staples sector may be affected by food and drug regulations and production methods, fads, marketing campaigns and other factors affecting consumer demand. In particular, tobacco companies may be adversely affected
by new laws, regulations and litigation. The consumer staples sector may also be adversely affected by changes or trends in commodity
prices, which may be influenced or characterized by unpredictable factors.
Energy Sector Risk. The profitability of companies in the energy sector is related to worldwide energy prices, exploration, and production spending. Such companies also are subject to risks of changes in exchange rates, government regulation, world events, depletion
of resources and economic conditions, as well as market, economic and political risks of the countries where energy companies are located
or do business. Oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters. Oil exploration and production
companies may be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events, and
economic conditions. Oil exploration and production companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims.
Financial Sector Risk. The financial services industries are subject to extensive government regulation, can be subject to relatively rapid change due to increasingly blurred distinctions between service segments, and can be significantly affected by availability
and cost of capital funds, changes in interest rates, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaults, and price competition. Numerous financial
services companies have experienced substantial declines in the valuations of their assets, taken action to raise capital (such as
the issuance of debt or equity securities), or even ceased operations. These actions have caused the securities of many financial services companies
to experience a dramatic decline in value. Issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly
affected by the foregoing events and the general market turmoil, and it is uncertain whether or for how long these conditions will continue.
Healthcare Sector Risk. The profitability of companies in the healthcare sector may be affected by extensive government regulation, restrictions on government reimbursement for medical expenses, rising costs of medical products and services, pricing pressure,
an increased emphasis on outpatient services, limited number of products, industry innovation, changes in technologies and other
market developments. Many healthcare companies are heavily dependent on patent protection. The expiration of patents may adversely
affect the profitability of these companies. Many healthcare companies are subject to extensive litigation based on product liability
and similar claims. Healthcare companies are subject to competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices and, in fact, may result
in price discounting. Many new products in the healthcare sector may be subject to regulatory approvals. The process of obtaining such
approvals may be long and costly.
Industrials Sector Risk. The stock prices of companies in the industrials sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service, industrials sector products in general, and the costs of materials and other commodities. The products
of manufacturing companies may face product obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. Government
regulation, world events and economic conditions may affect the performance of companies in the industrials sector. Companies
in the industrials sector may be at risk for environmental damage and product liability claims.
Information Technology Sector Risk. Information technology companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on profit margins. Like other technology companies, information technology companies may
have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face
product obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth
rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially
those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Companies in the information technology
sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect
the profitability of these companies. Finally, while all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the
information technology sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions
in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses. These risks are heightened for information technology companies
in foreign markets.
Materials Sector Risk. Companies in the materials sector could be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, exchange rates, import controls and increased competition. Production of industrial materials often exceeds demand as a result of overbuilding or
economic downturns, leading to poor investment returns. Companies in the materials sector are at risk for environmental damage and
product liability claims. Companies in the materials sector may be adversely affected by depletion of resources, technical progress,
labor relations, and government regulations.
Real Estate Sector Risk. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including, by way of example, the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty
or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws,
regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because
they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property.
Securities Lending. In order to generate additional income, a Fund may lend its securities pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by collateral consisting of: (1) cash in U.S. dollars; (2) securities issued or fully guaranteed by
the United States government or issued and unconditionally guaranteed by any agencies thereof; or (3) irrevocable performance letters of credit
issued by banks approved by each Fund. All collateral must equal at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. A Fund
continues to receive interest on the loaned securities while simultaneously earning interest on the investment of cash collateral. Collateral
is marked to market daily. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the
borrower of the securities fail financially or become insolvent. In addition, cash collateral invested by the lending Fund is subject to investment
risk and the Fund may experience losses with respect to its collateral investments. The SEC currently requires that the following conditions
must be met whenever a Fund’s portfolio securities are loaned: (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral;
(3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends,
interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian
fees approved by the Board in connection with the loan; (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower,
the Fund must have the ability to terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting
the investment occurs, and (7) the Fund may not loan its portfolio securities so that the value of the loaned securities is more than one-third
of its total asset value, including collateral received from such loans. The lending of securities is considered a form of leverage that
is included in a lending Fund’s investment limitation related to borrowings. See “Investment Limitations” below.
The Trust has appointed Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) as its lending agent in connection with the Funds’ securities lending program. BBH administers the securities lending program in accordance with operational procedures it has established in conjunction
with the Funds. As the securities lending agent, BBH lends certain securities, which are held in custody accounts maintained with
BBH, to borrowers that have been approved by the Funds. As securities lending agent, BBH is authorized to execute certain agreements
and documents and take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the securities lending program. The dollar
amounts of income and fees and compensation paid to all service providers related to the Funds that participated in securities lending
activities during the fiscal year (or period) ended September 30, 2022 were as follows:
|
Sands Capital
International
Growth Equity Fund
|
Gross Income from securities lending activities
|
|
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
|
|
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)
that
are not included in the revenue split
|
|
Administrative fees not included in revenue split
|
|
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split
|
|
Rebate (paid to borrower)
|
|
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)
|
|
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities
|
|
Net Income from securities lending activities
|
|
Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a Fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities,
such as certain borrowings, and firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to
cover such obligation. As further outlined in the “Derivatives” subsection, the SEC adopted the “Derivatives Rule” on October 28, 2020, and in doing so announced it would rescind SEC releases, guidance and no-action letters related to funds’ coverage and asset segregation practices. Funds were required to comply with the Derivatives Rule requirements by August 19, 2022.
Short Sales. In a short sale, a Fund sells a security, which it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the
security. To complete the sale, the Fund must borrow the security (generally from the broker through which the short sale is made) in
order to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund must replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement.
The Fund is said to have a “short position” in the securities sold until it delivers them to the broker. The period during which the Fund has a short position can range from one day to more than a year. Until the Fund replaces the security, the proceeds of the short
sale are retained by the broker, and the Fund must pay to the broker a negotiated portion of any dividends or interest, which accrue during
the period of the loan. A short sale is “against the box” if at all times during which the short position is open, a Fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for, securities of the same issue
as the securities that are sold short. A short sale against the box is a taxable transaction to the Fund with respect to the securities that
are sold short.
To the extent a Fund engages in short sales, such transactions will comply with the Derivatives Rule requirements set forth
in the “Derivatives” subsection. Further, if other short positions of the same security are closed out at the same time, a “short squeeze” can occur where demand exceeds the supply for the security sold short. A short squeeze makes it more likely that the Fund will need
to replace the borrowed security at an unfavorable price.
Stressed and Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities are speculative and involve significant risks in addition to the risks generally applicable to non-investment grade debt securities. Distressed securities bear a substantial risk of default, and may be in
default at the time of investment. A Fund will generally not receive interest payments on distressed securities, and there is a significant risk
that principal will not be repaid, in full or at all. A Fund may incur costs to protect its investment in distressed securities, which may include
seeking recovery from the issuer in bankruptcy. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to the issuer of distressed securities,
a Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment.
Distressed securities, and any securities received in exchange for distressed securities, will likely be illiquid and may be subject to restrictions
on resale.
Temporary Defensive Investments. A Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest up to 100% of its total assets in money market instruments (including U.S. government securities, bank obligations, commercial paper rated in the highest rating category
by an NRSRO and repurchase agreements involving the foregoing securities), shares of money market investment companies (to the extent
permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions) and cash. When a Fund invests in defensive investments, it may not achieve
its investment goal.
U.S. Government Securities. U.S. government securities are obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. Some U.S. government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, U.S. Treasury notes, U.S.
Treasury bonds and securities of Ginnie Mae, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance, are supported by the
full faith and credit of the United States. Others are supported by: (i) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities
of the Federal Home Loan Banks; (ii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations, such as securities of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; or (iii) only the credit of the issuer, such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing Association.
No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support in the future to U.S. government agencies, authorities or
instrumentalities that are not supported by the full faith and credit of the United States.
Securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities
include: (i) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. government
or any of its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (ii) participation interests in loans made to foreign governments or other
entities that are so guaranteed. The secondary market for certain of these participation interests is limited and, therefore, may be regarded as
illiquid.
Warrants and Rights. Warrants are instruments giving holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy equity or fixed income securities of a company at a given price during a specified period. Rights are similar to warrants but normally have a short life span
to expiration. The purchase of warrants or rights involves the risk that a Fund could lose the purchase value of a warrant or right if the right
to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrants’ and rights’ expiration. Also, the purchase of warrants and/or rights involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrants and/or rights added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed
the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security. Buying a warrant does not make a Fund a shareholder of the underlying stock. The warrant holder has no voting or dividend rights with respect to the
underlying stock. A warrant does not carry any right to assets of the issuer, and for this reason investment in warrants may be more
speculative than other equity-based investments.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Fundamental Investment Limitations. Below are the Fund’s fundamental investment limitations (or policies), which the Fund cannot change without the consent of the holders of a majority of that Fund’s outstanding shares. The term “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of a Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of that Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of a Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.
For the illiquid securities and bank borrowing fundamental policies, which contains percentage limits, the Fund must meet
these percentage limits at all times, regardless of whether a portfolio transaction is occurring or the changes are caused by market
conditions or other circumstances beyond the Fund’s control. For all other fundamental policies with a percentage limit (collectively, the “Other Policies”), the Fund must apply each policy to each proposed portfolio transaction. For example, both the initial purchase of a security and each subsequent addition to that position must satisfy the Other Policies. However, if a Fund satisfies the Other Policies
at the time of a transaction, then later changes in percentages resulting from market conditions or other circumstances beyond the Fund’s control will not violate those policies; but the Fund would not be able to make subsequent additions to that position and other similar positions
until the Other Policies are satisfied.
Several of these fundamental investment limitations include the defined term “1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.” This term means the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as such statutes, rules and regulations are amended
from time to time or are interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC and any exemptive order or similar relief applicable
to the Fund.
The Fund's investment restrictions are subject to, and may be impacted and limited by, the federal securities laws, rules
and regulations, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 18f-4 thereunder.
The Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund may not:
1.
Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the net assets of a Fund to be invested in the securities of one
or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that this limitation does not apply
to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
2.
Borrow money from banks in an amount which exceeds 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less a Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings), except that a Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed) from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes.
3.
Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase or sell securities secured by real estate or interests therein, or
securities issued by companies which invest in real estate, or interests therein (including REITs).
4.
Purchase or sell physical commodities (which shall not, for purposes of this restriction, include currencies), or commodities
contracts, except that each Fund may (i) purchase or sell marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in
commodities (including currencies), or commodities contracts; and (ii) enter into commodities and futures contracts relating
to securities, currencies, indexes or any other financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such
contracts.
5.
Make loans to other persons except through the lending of its portfolio securities, provided that this limitation does not
apply to the purchase of debt securities and loan participations or engaging in direct corporate loans or repurchase agreements in accordance
with its investment objectives and policies. The loans cannot exceed 33 1/3% of a Fund’s assets. A Fund may also make loans to other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any exemptions which may be granted to the Fund by the SEC.
For example, at a minimum, a Fund will not make any such loans unless all requirements regarding common control and ownership
of Fund shares are met.
6.
Issue senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) except as permitted by rule, regulation, or order of the SEC, or SEC
staff interpretation.
7.
Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except as it may be deemed an underwriter in selling a portfolio security
or when selling its own shares.
8.
The Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund may not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, (i) purchase the securities
of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government, its agencies or instrumentalities or cash
items) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (ii) acquire more than
10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer.
Non-Fundamental Investment Limitations. The Fund also has adopted certain non-fundamental investment limitations. A non-fundamental investment limitation may be amended by the Board without a vote of shareholders upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders. The non-fundamental investment limitations listed below are in addition to other non-fundamental investment limitations disclosed
elsewhere in this SAI and in the prospectus.
For the illiquid securities policy, which contains percentage limits, the Fund must meet these percentage limits at all times,
regardless of whether a portfolio transaction is occurring or the changes are caused by market conditions or other circumstances beyond the Fund’s control. For all other non-fundamental policies with a percentage limit (collectively, the “Other Policies”), the Fund must apply each policy to each proposed portfolio transaction. For example, both the initial purchase of a security and each subsequent addition
to that position must satisfy the Other Policies. However, if the Fund satisfies the Other Policies at the time of a transaction, then later
changes in percentages resulting from market conditions or other circumstances beyond the Fund’s control will not violate those policies; but the Fund would not be able to make subsequent additions to that position and other similar positions until the Other Policies are satisfied.
The following non-fundamental limitation applies to the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund:
1.
The Fund will not invest in any illiquid investment if, immediately after such acquisition, the Fund would have invested more
than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.
The following non-fundamental investment limitations also apply to the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund. The
Fund may not:
1.
Pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate assets except to secure borrowings (not to exceed 33 1/3% of a Fund’s assets) permitted by the Fund’s fundamental limitation on borrowing.
2.
Purchase securities on margin or effect short sales, except that the Fund may (i) obtain short-term credits as necessary for
the clearance of security transactions; (ii) provide initial and variation margin payments in connection with transactions involving
futures contracts and options on such contracts; and (iii) make short sales “against the box” or in compliance with the SEC’s position regarding the asset segregation requirements imposed by Section 18 of the 1940 Act.
3.
Purchase or hold illiquid securities, i.e., securities that cannot be disposed of for their approximate carrying value in
seven days or less (which term includes repurchase agreements and time deposits maturing in more than seven days) if, in the aggregate,
more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in illiquid securities. Unregistered securities sold in reliance on the exemption
from registration in Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and securities exempt from registration on re-sale pursuant to Rule 144A under
the 1933 Act may be treated as liquid securities under procedures adopted by the Board.
4.
Make investments in securities when outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of a Fund’s total assets.
The following non-fundamental investment policies also apply to the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund:
1.
The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis and borrow money (borrowing money is permitted by the Funds’ fundamental limitation on borrowing).
2.
The Fund may enter into futures and options transactions.
3.
The Fund may hold up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
4.
The Fund may purchase convertible securities.
5.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements not to exceed 33 1/3% of a Fund’s assets.
6.
The Fund may purchase fixed-income securities, including variable- and floating-rate instruments and zero coupon securities.
7.
The Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities and other restricted securities.
8.
The Fund may purchase obligations of supranational entities in an amount totaling less than 25% of the Fund’s total assets.
9.
The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest up to 100% of its total assets in money market instruments (including
U.S. government securities, bank obligations, commercial paper rated in the highest rating category by an NRSRO and repurchase
agreements involving the foregoing securities), shares of money market investment companies (to the extent permitted by applicable
law and subject to certain restrictions) and cash.
The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies
and restrictions.
1.
Diversification. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified investment management company may not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, (i) purchase securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agents or instrumentalities,
cash item or, in certain circumstances, securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total
assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (ii) acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one
issuer.
2.
Borrowing. The 1940 Act allows a fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets).
3.
Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940
Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of
which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.
4.
Lending. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies. The Fund’s current investment policy on lending is as follows: the Fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment
objective
and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully; and (iii) engage in securities lending
as described in its SAI.
5.
Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities,
such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with
appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.
A Fund will determine compliance with the fundamental and non-fundamental investment restriction percentages above (with the
exception of the restriction relating to borrowing) and other investment restrictions in this SAI immediately after and as
a result of its acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, a Fund will not consider changes in values, net assets, or other
circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment restrictions.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, the length of time served, principal occupations
for the past five years, number of funds overseen in the Touchstone Fund Complex and other directorships held. All funds managed by the Adviser,
the “Touchstone Funds,” are part of the “Touchstone Fund Complex.” The Touchstone Fund Complex consists of the Trust, Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone ETF Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust. The Trustees who are not interested persons of
the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.”
Interested Trustees(1):
Name
Address
Year of Birth
|
|
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number
of Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
Fund
|
Other
Directorships
Held During the
Past 5 Years(3)
|
Jill T. McGruder
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1955
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until she resigns or
is removed
Trustee since 1999
|
President of Touchstone
Funds from 1999 to 2020;
Director and CEO of IFS
Financial Services, Inc. (a
holding company) since
1999; and Senior Vice
President and Chief
Marketing Officer of
Western & Southern
Financial Group, Inc. (a
financial services
company) since 2016.
|
|
Director, Integrity Life
Insurance Co. and
National Integrity Life
Insurance Co. since 2005;
Director, Touchstone
Securities (the
Distributor) since 1999;
Director, Touchstone
Advisors (the Adviser)
since 1999; Director, W&S
Brokerage Services, Inc.
since 1999; Director, W&S
Financial Group
Distributors, Inc. since
1999; Director, Insurance
Profillment Solutions LLC
since 2014; Director,
Columbus Life Insurance
Co. since 2016; Director,
The Lafayette Life
Insurance Co. since 2016;
Director, Gerber Life
Insurance Company
since 2019; Director,
Western & Southern
Agency, Inc. since 2018;
and Director, LL Global,
Inc. (not-for-profit trade
organization with
operating divisions
LIMRA and LOMA) since
2016.
|
Name
Address
Year of Birth
|
|
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number
of Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
Fund
Complex(2)
|
Other
Directorships
Held During the
Past 5 Years(3)
|
E. Blake Moore, Jr.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1958
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until he resigns or
is removed
Trustee since 2021
|
President, Touchstone
Funds since 2021; Chief
Executive Officer of
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
and Touchstone
Securities, Inc. since
2020; President, Foresters
Investment
Management Company,
Inc. from 2018 to 2020;
President, North
American Asset
Management at
Foresters Financial from
2018 to 2020; Managing
Director, Head of
Americas at UBS Asset
Management from 2015
to 2017; and Executive
Vice President, Head of
Distribution at
Mackenzie Investments
from 2011 to 2014.
|
|
Trustee, College of
Wooster since 2008; and
Director, UBS Funds from
2015 to 2017.
|
Independent Trustees:
Name
Address
Year of Birth
|
|
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number
of Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
|
Other
Directorships
Held During the
|
Karen Carnahan
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1954
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until she resigns
or is removed
Trustee since 2019
|
Retired; formerly Chief
Operating Officer of
Shred-it (a business
services company)
from 2014 to 2015;
formerly President &
Chief Operating Officer
of the document
management division
of Cintas Corporation
(a business services
company) from 2008
to 2014.
|
|
Director, Cintas
Corporation since
2019; Director, Boys &
Girls Club of West
Chester/Liberty since
2016; and Board of
Advisors, Best Upon
Request from 2020 to
2021.
|
William C. Gale
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1952
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until he resigns
or is removed
Trustee since 2013
|
Retired; formerly
Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial
Officer of Cintas
Corporation (a
business services
company) from 1995
to 2015.
|
|
|
Name
Address
Year of Birth
|
|
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number
of Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
Fund Complex(2)
|
Other
Directorships
Held During the
Past 5 Years(3)
|
Susan M. King
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1963
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until she resigns
or is removed
Trustee since 2021
|
Formerly, Partner of ID
Fund LLC (2020 to
2021); formerly, Senior
Vice President, Head of
Product and Marketing
Strategy of Foresters
Financial (2018 to
2020); formerly,
Managing Director,
Head of Sales Strategy
and Marketing,
Americas of UBS Asset
Management (2015 to
2017); formerly,
Director, Allianz Funds,
Allianz Funds
Multi-Strategy Trust
and AllianzGI
Institutional
Multi-Series Trust
(2014 to 2015); and
formerly, Director,
Alliance Capital Cash
Management Offshore
Funds (2003 to 2005).
|
|
Trustee, Claremont
McKenna College
since 2017; Trustee,
Israel Cancer Research
Fund since 2019; and
Board Member of
WHAM! (Women’s
Health Access Matters)
since 2021.
|
Kevin A. Robie
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1956
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until he resigns
or is removed
Trustee since 2013
|
Retired; formerly Vice
President of Portfolio
Management at Soin
LLC (private
multinational holding
company and family
office) from 2004 to
2020.
|
|
Director, SaverSystems,
Inc. since 2015;
Director, Buckeye
EcoCare, Inc. from
2013 to 2018; Director,
Turner Property
Services Group, Inc.
since 2017; Trustee,
Dayton Region New
Market Fund, LLC
(private fund) since
2010; and Trustee,
Entrepreneurs Center,
Inc. (business
incubator) since 2006.
|
Sally J. Staley(4)
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1956
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until she resigns
or is removed
Trustee since 2023
|
Independent
Consultant to
Institutional Asset
Owners since 2017;
formerly Chief
Investment Officer and
Corporate Officer for
Case Western Reserve
University from 2006
to 2017; formerly
Adviser to Fairport
Asset Management
LLC/Luma Wealth
Advisors from 2011 to
2019.
|
|
Trustee, College of
Wooster since 2006
(Chair since 2021);
Trustee, Great Lakes
Theater Festival since
2005; and Member of
Advisory Committee,
Certified Investment
Fund Director Institute
from 2015 to 2020.
|
Name
Address
Year of Birth
|
|
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number
of Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
Fund Complex(2)
|
Other
Directorships
Held During the
Past 5 Years(3)
|
William H. Zimmer III
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1953
|
|
Until retirement at age
75 or until he resigns
or is removed
Trustee since 2019
|
Independent Treasury
Consultant since 2014.
|
|
Director, Deaconess
Associations, Inc.
(healthcare) since
2001; Trustee,
Huntington Funds
(mutual funds) from
2006 to 2015; and
Director, National
Association of
Corporate Treasurers
from 2011 to 2015.
|
(1)
Ms. McGruder, as a director of the Adviser and the Distributor, and an officer of affiliates of the Adviser and the Distributor, is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Mr. Moore, as an officer of the Adviser and the Distributor, is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
(2)
As of [ ], 2023, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 12 series of the Trust, 5 series of Touchstone ETF Trust, 19
series of Touchstone Strategic Trust and 4 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(3)
Each Trustee is also a Trustee of Touchstone ETF Trust, Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(4)
Ms. Staley was elected as a Trustee of the Trust effective January 1, 2023.
Principal Officers:
Name
Address
Year of Birth
|
|
Term of Office and
Length of Time
Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
E. Blake Moore, Jr.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway,
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1958
|
|
Until resignation, removal or disquali-
fication
President since January 2021
|
|
Timothy D. Paulin
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1963
|
|
Until resignation, removal or disquali-
fication Vice
President since 2010
|
Senior Vice President of Investment
Research and Product Management of
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
|
Timothy S. Stearns
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1963
|
|
Until resignation, removal or disquali-
fication
Chief Compliance Officer since 2013
|
Chief Compliance Officer of
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and
Touchstone Securities, Inc.
|
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1962
|
|
Until resignation, removal or disquali-
fication
Controller and Treasurer since 2006
|
Senior Vice President and Chief
Administration Officer within the
Office of the Chief Marketing Officer of
Western & Southern Financial Group
(since 2021); and Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, and Chief
Operations Officer of IFS Financial
Services, Inc. (a holding company).
|
Name
Address
Year of Birth
|
Position Held
with Trust(1)
|
Term of Office and
Length of Time
Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Meredyth A. Whitford-Schultz
Western & Southern Financial Group
400 Broadway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1981
|
|
Until resignation, removal or disquali-
fication
Secretary since 2018
|
Senior Counsel - Securities/Registered
Funds of Western & Southern Financial
Group (2015 to present); Associate at
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (law firm)
(2014 to 2015); Associate at Bingham
McCutchen LLP (law firm) (2008 to
2014).
|
(1)Each officer also holds the same office with Touchstone ETF Trust, Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
Additional Information about the Trustees
The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Trustees possess the requisite experience, qualifications, attributes,
and skills to serve on the Board. The Board believes that the Trustees’ ability to review critically, evaluate, question, and discuss information provided to them; to interact effectively with the Adviser, sub-advisers, other service providers, counsel and independent auditors; and to
exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion. The Board has also considered the contributions
that each Trustee can make to the Board and the Funds.
In addition, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills apply as to the Trustees: Ms. McGruder
has experience as a chief executive officer of a financial services company and director of various other businesses, as well as executive and
leadership roles within the Adviser; Mr. Moore has experience as a managing director and president of global financial services firms, as well
as executive and leadership roles within the Adviser; Ms. Carnahan has experience as a president and chief operating officer of a division
of a global company and as treasurer of a global company; Mr. Gale has experience as a chief financial officer, an internal auditor of
various global companies, and has accounting experience as a manager at a major accounting firm; Ms. King has experience as a senior sales
and marketing executive at global financial services firms; Mr. Robie has portfolio management experience at a private multinational holding
company; Ms. Staley has investment experience from positions at various entities, including as chief investment officer for a university;
and Mr. Zimmer has experience as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and treasurer of various financial services,
telecommunications and technology companies.
In its periodic self-assessment of its effectiveness, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience
of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Funds. References to the qualifications, attributes
and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special
expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility on any Trustee or on the Board by reason thereof.
Board Structure
The Board is composed of six Independent Trustees and two Interested Trustees: Jill T. McGruder, who is Chairperson of the
Board, and E. Blake Moore, Jr. The Independent Trustees have appointed William C. Gale to serve as the Lead Independent Trustee. Ms.
McGruder oversees the day-to-day business affairs of the Trust and communicates with Mr. Gale regularly on various Trust issues, as
appropriate. Mr. Gale, among other things, chairs meetings of the Independent Trustees, serves as a spokesperson for the Independent Trustees,
and serves as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and the Trust’s management between Board meetings. Except for any duties specified, the designation of Lead Independent Trustee does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations, or liability
that is greater than the duties, obligations, or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally. The Independent Trustees
are advised at these meetings, as well as at other times, by separate, independent legal counsel.
The Board holds four regular meetings each year to consider and address matters involving the Trust and its Funds. The Board
also may hold special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet outside
the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel. These meetings may take place in-person or by telephone.
The Board has established a committee structure that includes an Audit Committee and a Governance Committee (discussed in
more detail below). The Board conducts much of its work through these Committees. Each Committee is comprised entirely of Independent
Trustees, which ensures that the Funds have effective and independent governance and oversight.
The Board reviews its structure regularly and believes that its leadership structure, including having a super-majority of
Independent Trustees, coupled with an Interested Chairperson and a Lead Independent Trustee, is appropriate and in the best interests
of the Trust because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview, and it allocates
areas of responsibility among the Committees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight. The Board believes that
having an Interested Chairperson is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust given: (1) the extensive oversight provided by the Trust’s Adviser
over the affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers that conduct the day-to-day management of the Funds of the Trust; (2) the
extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the standing Committees; (3) the extent to which the Independent Trustees meet
regularly, together with independent legal counsel, in the absence of the Interested Chairperson; and (4) the Interested Chairperson’s additional roles as a director of the Adviser and the Distributor and senior executive of IFS Financial Services, Inc., the Adviser’s parent company, and of other affiliates of the Adviser, which enhance the Board’s understanding of the operations of the Adviser and the role of the Trust and the Adviser within Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. The Board also believes that the role of the Lead Independent Trustee
within the leadership structure is integral to promoting independent oversight of the Funds’ operations and meaningful representation of the shareholders’ interests. In addition, the Board believes its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from the Trust’s management.
Board Oversight of Risk
Consistent with its responsibilities for oversight of the Trust and its Funds, the Board, among other things, oversees risk
management of each Fund’s investment program and business affairs directly and through the committee structure that it has established. Risks to the Funds include, among others, investment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk and operational risk, as well as
the overall business risk relating to the Funds. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address these
risks. Under the overall oversight of the Board, the Adviser, sub-advisers, and other key service providers to the Funds, including the
administrator, the distributor, the transfer agent, the custodian, and the independent auditors, have also implemented a variety of processes,
procedures and controls to address these risks. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types
of risks. These processes include those that are embedded in the conduct of regular business by the Board and in the responsibilities of officers
of the Trust and other service providers.
The Board requires senior officers of the Trust, including the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), to report to the Board on a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board, including matters relating to risk management. The Board and the Audit
Committee receive regular reports from the Trust’s independent auditors on internal control and financial reporting matters. On at least a quarterly basis, the Board meets with the Trust’s CCO, including meetings in executive sessions, to discuss issues related to portfolio compliance and, on at least an annual basis, receives a report from the CCO regarding the effectiveness of the Trust’s compliance program. In addition, the Board also receives reports from the Adviser on the investments and securities trading of the Funds, including their investment
performance and asset weightings compared to appropriate benchmarks, as well as reports regarding the valuation of those investments.
The Board also receives reports from the Trust’s primary service providers on a periodic or regular basis, including the sub-advisers to the Funds.
Standing Committees of the Board
The Board is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and
other applicable laws and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The Board has established the following Committees to assist in its oversight functions. Each Committee is composed entirely of Independent Trustees.
Audit Committee. All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies, practices and internal controls; overseeing the quality and integrity of the Trust’s financial statement and the independent audits thereof; overseeing, or, as appropriate, assisting the Board’s oversight of the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting; internal control over financial reporting and independent audits; approving prior to appointment the engagement of the Trust’s independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Trust’s independent auditors; and acting as a liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board. Ms. Carnahan is the Chair of the Audit Committee. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. the Audit Committee held four meetings.
Anyone with complaints relating to accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters may contact the Funds' Chief
Compliance Officer via the Touchstone website (TouchstoneInvestments.com), by direct mail or by direct telephone call. All
contact information is provided on the Touchstone website under the “Contact” tab.
Governance Committee. All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s compliance program and compliance issues, procedures for valuing securities and responding to any pricing issues. Mr. Zimmer is the Chair of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee held four meetings during the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.
In addition, the Governance Committee is responsible for recommending candidates to serve on the Board. The Governance Committee
will consider shareholder recommendations for nomination to the Board only in the event that there is a vacancy on the Board.
Shareholders who wish to submit recommendations for nominations to the Board to fill the vacancy must submit their recommendations
in writing to Mr. William H. Zimmer III, Chair of the Governance Committee, c/o Touchstone Funds, 303 Broadway, Suite 1100,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Shareholders should include appropriate information on the background and qualifications of any person
recommended to the Governance Committee (e.g., a resume), as well as the candidate’s contact information and a written consent from the candidate to serve if nominated and elected. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board will be accepted
on an ongoing basis and such recommendations will be kept on file for consideration in the event of a future vacancy on the Board.
Trustee Ownership in the Touchstone Fund Complex
The following table reflects the Trustees’ beneficial ownership in the Funds (i.e. dollar range of securities in each Fund) and the Touchstone Fund Complex as of December 31, 2022.
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
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Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities in the Touchstone Fund
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(1)
As of [ ], 2023, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 12 series of the Trust, 5 series of Touchstone ETF Trust, 19 series
of Touchstone Strategic Trust and 4 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(2)
Ms. Staley was elected as a Trustee of the Trust effective January 1, 2023.
Trustee Compensation
The following table shows the compensation paid to the Trustees by the Trust and the aggregate compensation paid by the Touchstone
Fund Complex during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.
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Compensation from the Trust
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Aggregate Compensation from the
Touchstone Fund Complex(1)
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(1)
As of [ ], 2023, the Touchstone Fund Complex consists of 12 series of the Trust, 5 series of the Touchstone ETF Trust, 19
series of Touchstone Strategic Trust and 4 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(2)
(3)
Ms.Hickenlooper retired as a Trustee of the Trust effective at the close of business on December 31, 2022.
(4)
Ms. Staley was elected as a Trustee of the Trust effective January 1, 2023.
The following table shows the Trustee quarterly compensation schedule:
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Governance
Committee
Meeting
Attendance
Fees
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Audit
Committee
Meeting
Attendance
Fees
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Board
Meeting
Attendance
Fees
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Retainer and Meeting Attendance Fees
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Lead Independent Trustee Fees
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Telephonic/Virtual Meeting Attendance Fee = $2,500
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Limited items in-person meeting = $3,500
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Independent Trustee compensation and Trustee and officer expenses are typically divided equally among the series comprising
the Touchstone Fund Complex.
THE ADVISER
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (previously defined as the “Adviser” or “Touchstone Advisors”), is the Funds’ investment adviser under the terms of an advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) dated February 17, 2006, as amended. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser reviews, supervises, and administers the Funds’ investment program, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board. The Adviser determines the appropriate allocation of assets to each Fund’s sub-adviser(s).
The Advisory Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any
loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in carrying out its duties, but shall not be protected against any liability
to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties
or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties.
The continuance of the Advisory Agreement as to the Funds after the first two years must be specifically approved at least
annually (i) by the vote of the Board or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund, and, in either case, (ii) by the vote of a majority of
the Board who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment, and is terminable at any time with respect to any Fund(s), without payment of any penalty, by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected Fund(s) upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Adviser and by the Adviser upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Trust.
The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IFS Financial Services, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western-Southern
Life Assurance Company. Western-Southern Life Assurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. Western & Southern Financial
Group Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company (“Western & Southern”). Western & Southern is located at 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Ms. Jill T. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of the
Adviser because she is a Director of the Adviser and an officer of affiliates of the Adviser. Mr. E. Blake Moore Jr. may be deemed
an affiliate of the Adviser because he is an officer of the Adviser. Ms. McGruder and Mr. Moore, by reason of these affiliations, may directly
or indirectly receive benefits from the advisory fees paid to the Adviser.
Manager-of-Managers Structure
The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits the Trust or the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to select or change
unaffiliated sub-advisers, enter into new sub-advisory agreements or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder
approval (a “manager-of-managers structure”). The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, seeks to achieve its investment goal by using a “manager-of-managers” structure. Under a manager-of-managers structure, the Adviser acts as investment adviser, subject to direction from and oversight by the Board, to allocate and reallocate the Fund’s assets among sub-advisers, and to recommend that the Trustees hire, terminate or replace unaffiliated sub-advisers without shareholder approval. By reducing the number of shareholder meetings that may
have to be held to approve new or additional sub-advisers for the Fund, the Trust anticipates that there will be substantial potential
cost savings, as well as the opportunity to achieve certain management efficiencies, with respect to any Fund in which the manager-of-managers
approach is chosen. Shareholders of a Fund will be notified of a change in its sub-adviser.
Fees Paid to the Adviser
For its services, the Adviser is entitled to receive an investment advisory fee from each Fund at an annualized rate, based
on the average daily net assets of the Fund, as set forth below. Each Fund’s advisory fee is accrued daily and paid monthly, based on the Fund’s average net assets during the current month.
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
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0.65% on the first $1 billion; and
0.60% on assets over $1 billion
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The Fund shall pay the expenses of its operation, including but not limited to (i) charges and expenses of outside pricing
services, (ii) the charges and expenses of auditors; (iii) the charges and expenses of its custodian, transfer agent and administrative agent
appointed by the Trust with respect to a Fund; (iv) brokers’ commissions, and issue and transfer taxes chargeable to a Fund in connection with securities transactions to which a Fund is a party; (v) insurance premiums, interest charges, dues and fees for membership in trade associations
and all taxes and fees payable to federal, state or other governmental agencies; (vi) fees and expenses involved in registering
and maintaining registrations of the Fund with the SEC, state or blue sky securities agencies and foreign countries; (vii) all expenses of
meetings of Trustees and of shareholders of the Trust and of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses, notices, proxy statements and all
reports to shareholders and to governmental agencies; (viii) charges and expenses of legal counsel to the Trust and the Independent Trustees;
(ix) compensation of the Independent Trustees of the Trust; (x) compliance fees and expenses; and (xi) interest on borrowed money,
if any. The
compensation and expenses of any officer, Trustee or employee of the Trust who is an affiliated person of the Adviser is paid
by the Adviser, except with respect to certain compensation of the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, which is paid by the Funds. Each class
of shares of a Fund pays its pro rata portion of the advisory fee payable by the Fund.
Expense Limitation Agreement. Touchstone Advisors has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to ensure each Fund’s total annual operating expenses do not exceed the contractual limits set forth in the Fund’s Fees and Expenses table in the Summary section of the Prospectus. Expenses that are not waived or reimbursed by the Adviser include
dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction
and investment related expenses, including expenses associated with the Fund's liquidity providers; other expenditures which are
capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any, and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business (“Excluded Expenses”). Each Fund bears the costs of these Excluded Expenses. The contractual limits set forth in each Fund's Fees and Expenses table in the Summary section of the Prospectus
have been adjusted to include the effect of Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees and other anticipated class specific expenses,
if applicable. Fee waivers or expense reimbursements are calculated and applied monthly, based on the Fund’s average net assets during the month. The terms of Touchstone Advisors’ expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Fund’s Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date on which Touchstone Advisors reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. No recoupment will occur unless the Fund’s operating expenses are below the expense limitation amount in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. The Fund will make repayments to the Adviser only
if such repayment does not cause the annual Fund operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both (1)
the expense cap in place when such amounts were waived or reimbursed and (2) the Fund’s current expense limitation.
Advisory Fees and Fee Waivers or Reimbursements. For the fiscal years ended 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Funds paid advisory fees and received waivers or reimbursements as shown in the following table:
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Date of Fiscal
Period End
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly,
International ESG Equity Fund)
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THE SUB-ADVISERS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
The Adviser has selected sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser” or collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) to manage all or a portion of a Fund’s assets, as allocated by the Adviser. The Sub-Advisers make the investment decisions for the Fund assets allocated to it, and continuously
reviews, supervises and administers a separate investment program, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board.
Each sub-advisory agreement provides that a Sub-Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties, or from reckless
disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.
For their respective services, each Sub-Adviser receives fees from the Adviser with respect to each Fund that it sub-advises.
As described in the prospectus, each Sub-Adviser receives sub-advisory fees with respect to each Fund that it sub-advises. Each Sub-Adviser’s fee with respect to each Fund is accrued daily and paid monthly, based on the Fund’s average net assets allocated to that Sub-Adviser during the current month.
The Adviser pays sub-advisory fees to the Sub-Adviser from its advisory fee. The compensation of any officer, director or
employee of each Sub-Adviser who is rendering services to a Fund is paid by each Sub-Adviser. For the fiscal years ended 2020, 2021 and 2022,
the Adviser paid the following sub-advisory fees with respect to each Fund:
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Date of Fiscal
Period End
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly, International ESG Equity Fund)(1)(2)
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(1)
Effective [ ], 2023, the Fund's sub-adviser has agreed to waive certain sub-advisory fees received until Fund assets reach
a certain threshold. Amounts shown are net of sub-advisory fee waivers.
(2)
On [ ], 2023, the Adviser entered into a new Sub-Advisory Agreement with Sands Capital with respect to the Fund. Prior to
this date, the Fund was sub-advised by another sub-advisor pursuant to a separate sub-advisory agreement.
Sub-Adviser Control. This section presents each Sub-Adviser’s control persons.
Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital”) is an SEC registered investment adviser. The firm is controlled by Frank M. Sands.
The following charts list the Fund’s portfolio managers (i) the number of their other managed accounts per investment category; (ii) the number of and total assets of such other investment accounts managed where the advisory fee is based in the performance of
the account; and (iii) their beneficial ownership in their managed Fund(s) at the end of the September 30, 2022 fiscal year. Listed below
the charts applicable to each Sub-Adviser’s group of portfolio managers is (i) a description of the portfolio managers’ compensation structure as of September 30, 2022, and (ii) a description of any material conflicts that may arise in connection with the portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments and the investments of the other accounts included in the chart and any material conflicts in allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager as of September 30, 2022.
Portfolio Manager/Types of Accounts
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Total
Number of
Other
Accounts
Managed
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Total Other
Assets (million)
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Number of
Other Accounts
Managed subject
to a Performance
Based Advisory Fee
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Total Other Assets
Managed subject
to a Performance
Based Advisory
Fee (million)
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Registered Investment Companies
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Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
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Registered Investment Companies
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Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
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Registered Investment Companies
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Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
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Ownership of Shares of the Funds. The following table indicates for the Fund, the dollar range of shares beneficially owned
by the portfolio managers as of September 30, 2022:
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Dollar Range of Beneficial Ownership
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
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Compensation. Investment professionals benefit from a salary competitive in the industry, an annual qualitative bonus based on subjective
review of the employees’ overall contribution, and a standard profit sharing plan and 401(k) plan. Additional incentives include equity participation. The investment professionals also participate in an investment results bonus. The investment results bonus
is calculated from the pre-tax performance variance of the Sands Capital composite returns and their respective benchmarks over 1, 3, and 5 year
periods, weighted towards the 3 and 5 year results.
Material Conflicts of Interest. As an investment adviser to a variety of clients, Sands Capital recognizes there may be actual or potential conflicts of interest inherent in its business. For example, conflicts of interest could result from a portfolio manager’s management of multiple accounts for multiple clients, the execution and allocation of investment opportunities, the use of brokerage commission
to obtain research, and personal trading by firm employees. Sands Capital has addressed these conflicts by developing policies and procedures
it believes are reasonably designed to treat all clients in a fair and equitable manner over time. Sands Capital’s policies and procedures address such issues as execution of portfolio transactions, aggregation and allocation of trades, directed brokerage, and the use
of brokerage commissions. Additionally, Sands Capital maintains a Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policies and Procedures that address
rules on personal trading and insider information.
THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Adviser entered into an Administration Agreement with the Trust, whereby the Adviser is responsible for: supplying executive
and regulatory compliance services; supervising the preparation of tax returns; coordinating the preparation of reports to shareholders
and reports to, and filings with, the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities authorities, as well as materials
for meetings of the Board of Trustees; calculating the daily NAV per share; and maintaining the financial books and records of each Fund.
For its services the Adviser’s annual administrative fee is:
0.145% on the first $20 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets;
0.11% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets;
0.09% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and
0.07% on the aggregate average daily net assets over $40 billion.
The fee is computed and allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex on the basis of relative daily net assets.
The Adviser has engaged BNY Mellon as the sub-administrative and transfer agent to the Trust. BNY Mellon provides administrative,
accounting, and transfer agent services to the Trust and is compensated directly by the Adviser, not the Trust. (See “Transfer and Sub-Administrative Agent” in this SAI.)
The following table shows administrative fees incurred by the Funds listed below for the three most recent fiscal years (or
periods) ended September 30.
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Date of Fiscal Period End
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly, International ESG
Equity Fund)
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TOUCHSTONE SECURITIES
Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities” or the “Distributor”) and the Trust are parties to a distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) with respect to the Funds. The Distributor’s principal place of business is 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer, and an affiliate of the Adviser by reason of common
ownership. The Distributor is obligated to sell shares on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares. Shares of each
Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The Distributor currently allows concessions to dealers who sell shares of the Funds. The
Distributor retains that portion of the sales charge that is not re-allowed to dealers who sell shares of a Fund. The Distributor retains
the entire sales charge on all direct initial investments in a Fund and on all investments in accounts with no designated dealer of record.
The table below sets forth the aggregate underwriting commissions on sales of the Funds and the amounts of underwriting commissions
retained by the Distributor for the three most recent fiscal years ended September 30.
The Distributor retains the contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) on redemptions of Class A and Class C shares of the Funds that are subject to such CDSC. For the three most recent fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Distributor retained
the following CDSCs:
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Date of Fiscal
Period End
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Aggregate
Underwriting
Commissions on Sales
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Amount Retained
in Underwriting
Commissions
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CDSC Retained
by Distributor
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
(formerly, International ESG Equity Fund)
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Ms. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor because she is a Director of the Distributor and an officer
of affiliates of the Distributor. Mr. Moore may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor because he is an officer of the Distributor.
Ms. McGruder and Mr. Moore, by reason of such affiliation, may directly or indirectly be deemed to receive benefits from the underwriting
fees paid to the Distributor.
The Distribution Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years after the effective date of the agreement and
is renewable annually thereafter. The Distribution Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time by (i) the Trust, (a) by the
vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust or the Distributor, (b) by vote of the Board of the Trust, or (c) by
the “vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, or (ii) by the Distributor, in any case without payment of any penalty on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the other party. The Distribution Agreement shall also automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
Touchstone Securities may pay from its own resources cash bonuses or other incentives to selected dealers in connection with
the sale of shares of the Funds. On some occasions, such bonuses or incentives may be conditioned upon the sale of a specified minimum
dollar amount of the shares of the Funds or other funds in the Touchstone Fund Complex during a specific period of time. Such bonuses
or incentives may include financial assistance to dealers in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for their
employees, seminars for the public, advertising, sales campaigns and other dealer-sponsored programs or events. The Adviser, at its expense,
may also provide additional compensation to certain affiliated and unaffiliated dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers
for distribution, administrative or shareholder servicing activities. The Adviser may also reimburse the Distributor for making these payments.
Touchstone Securities, at its expense, may provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries which sell or arrange
for the sale of shares of the Touchstone Funds. Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by federal or state laws or
any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Touchstone Securities makes payments for entertainment events it deems appropriate, subject to its guidelines and applicable
law. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event or the relationship. As of December 31, 2022, the Distributor anticipates
that the following broker-dealers or their affiliates will receive additional payments as described in the Funds’ prospectus and SAI:
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American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc.
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Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company
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Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
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LPL Financial Corporation
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Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc.
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Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
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National Financial Services LLC
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Principal Life Insurance Company
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Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
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RBC Capital Markets Corporation
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UBS Financial Services, Inc.
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Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
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Touchstone Securities is motivated to make payments to the broker-dealers described above because they promote the sale of
Fund shares and the retention of those investments by clients of financial advisers. To the extent financial advisers sell more shares
of the Funds or retain shares of the Funds in their clients’ accounts, the Adviser benefits from the incremental management and other fees paid to the Adviser by the Funds with respect to those assets.
Your financial intermediary may charge you additional fees or commissions other than those disclosed in this SAI. You can
ask your financial intermediary about any payments it receives from Touchstone Securities or the Funds, as well as about fees or commissions
it charges. You should consult disclosures made by your financial intermediary at the time of purchase.
The Funds may compensate dealers, including the Distributor and its affiliates, based on the average balance of all accounts
in the Funds for which the dealer is designated as the party responsible for the account.
The Adviser recommends and the Funds utilize the Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund - Institutional Shares (the “Dreyfus Fund”) as the cash sweep vehicle for the excess cash of the Funds. Touchstone Securities receives a fee based on a percentage of average daily net assets of the Touchstone Funds invested in the Dreyfus Fund from BNY Mellon Securities Corporation, the distributor of
the Dreyfus Fund, for providing certain support services, including monitoring and due diligence. The payment of compensation by BNY Mellon
Securities Corporation creates a conflict of interest because the Adviser is incentivized to recommend the Dreyfus Fund over
other investment options for which it or its affiliates are not similarly compensated.
Distribution Plans and Shareholder Service Arrangements
Certain Funds have adopted a distribution or shareholder-servicing plan for certain classes of shares which permits a Fund
to pay for expenses incurred in the distribution and promotion of its shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act as well as account
maintenance and other shareholder services in connection with maintaining such an account. Touchstone Securities may provide
those services itself or enter into arrangements under which third parties provide such services and are compensated by the Distributor.
Class A Shares. With respect to its Class A shares, each Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the “Class A Plan”) under which the Distributor is paid up to, but not exceeding, twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for distribution payments.
Of the total compensation authorized, the Fund may pay for shareholder services in an amount up to 0.25%.
Class C Shares. With respect to its Class C shares, each Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the “Class C Plan” and, together with the Class A Plan, the “Plans”) under which the Distributor is paid up to, but not exceeding, one hundred basis points (1.00%) in the aggregate, with up to twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for shareholder service fees and up to seventy-five
basis points (0.75%) for distribution payments.
General Information. In connection with the distribution of shares, the Distributor may use the payments for: (i) compensation for its services in distribution assistance; or (ii) payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings
and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries as compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance.
In addition, the Distributor may use payments to provide or enter into written agreements with service providers who will
provide shareholder services, including: (i) maintaining accounts relating to shareholders that invest in shares; (ii) arranging for
bank wires; (iii) responding to client inquiries relating to the services performed by the Distributor or service providers; (iv) responding
to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in shares; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations
and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in shares; (vii) forwarding shareholder
communications from the Funds such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, dividend distribution and tax notices
to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Funds or the service
providers; (ix) processing dividend payments from the Funds on behalf of shareholders; and (x) providing such other similar services
as a Fund may reasonably request.
Agreements implementing the Plans (the “Implementation Agreements”), including agreements with dealers wherein such dealers agree for a fee to act as agents for the sale of the Funds’ shares, are in writing and have been approved by the Board. All payments made pursuant to the Plans are made in accordance with written Implementation Agreements. Some financial intermediaries charge fees in excess
of the amounts available under the Plans, in which case the Adviser pays the additional fees.
The continuance of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements must be specifically approved at least annually by a vote of
the Board and by a vote of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or any Implementation
Agreement at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. A Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority
of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund or the applicable class
of a Fund. In the event a Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms, the affected Fund (or class) will not be required to make any payments
for expenses incurred by the Distributor after the termination date. Each Implementation Agreement terminates automatically in the event
of its assignment and may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund (or the applicable class) on not more than 60 days’ written notice to any other party to the Implementation Agreement. The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution without
shareholder approval. All material amendments to the Plans must be approved by a vote of the Trust’s Board and by a vote of the Independent Trustees.
In approving the Plans, the Trustees determined, in the exercise of their business judgment and in light of their fiduciary
duties as Trustees, that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit the Funds and their shareholders. The Board believes that
expenditure of the Funds’ assets for distribution expenses under the Plans should assist in the growth of the Funds, which will benefit each Fund and its shareholders through increased economies of scale, greater investment flexibility, greater portfolio diversification, and
less chance of disruption of planned investment strategies. The Plans will be renewed only if the Trustees make a similar determination for
each subsequent year of the Plans. There can be no assurance that the benefits anticipated from the expenditure of the Funds’ assets for distribution will be realized. While the Plans are in effect, all amounts spent by the Funds pursuant to the Plans and the
purposes for which such expenditures were made must be reported quarterly to the Board for its review. Distribution expenses attributable to
the sale of more than one class of shares of a Fund will be allocated at least annually to each class of shares based upon the ratio in which
the sales of each class of shares bears to the sales of all the shares of the Fund. In addition, the selection and nomination of those Trustees
who are not interested persons of the Trust are committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees during such period.
Jill T. McGruder and E.Blake Moore, Jr., as interested persons of the Trust, may be deemed to have a financial interest in
the operation of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements.
The Funds paid the following in distribution and shareholder servicing fees for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022:
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Compensation
to Broker
Dealers
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Compensation
to Sales
Personnel
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
(formerly, International ESG Equity Fund)
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BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
Decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds and the placing of the Funds’ securities transactions and negotiation of commission rates where applicable are made by the Sub-Advisers and are subject to oversight by the Adviser and the Board. In the purchase and
sale of portfolio securities, the sub-adviser’s primary objective will be to obtain the most favorable price and execution for a Fund, taking into account such factors as the overall direct net economic result to a Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest
available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range), the financial strength and stability of
the broker, the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is
involved and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future.
Each sub-adviser is specifically authorized, subject to certain limitations, to pay a trading commission to a broker who provides
research services that is higher than the amount of trading commission another broker would have charged for the same transaction.
This excess commission recognizes the additional research services rendered by the broker, but only if the sub- adviser determines in
good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the research services provided and that a Fund derives or
will derive a reasonably significant benefit from such research services. Research services include securities and economic analyses, reports on issuers’ financial conditions and future business prospects, newsletters and opinions relating to interest trends, general advice on
the relative merits of possible investment securities for the Funds and statistical services and information with respect to the availability
of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities. Although this information is useful to the Funds and the sub-advisers, it is not possible
to place a dollar value on it.
Research services furnished by brokers through whom a Fund effects securities transactions may be used by the sub-adviser
in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Sub-Adviser in connection with a Fund.
The Funds have no obligation to deal with any broker or dealer in the execution of securities transactions. However, the Funds
may execute securities transactions on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market conducted on an agency basis.
A Fund will not execute any brokerage transactions in its portfolio securities with an affiliated broker if such transactions would be unfair
or unreasonable to its shareholders. Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers.
Although the Funds do not anticipate any ongoing arrangements with other brokerage firms, brokerage business may be transacted
with other firms. Affiliated broker-dealers of the Trust will not receive reciprocal brokerage business as a result of the brokerage
business transacted by the Funds with other brokers. The Funds may direct transactions to certain brokers in order to reduce brokerage
commissions through a commission recapture program offered by Frank Russell Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company LLC.
In certain instances, there may be securities that are suitable for a Fund as well as for one or more of the respective sub- adviser’s other clients. The sub-adviser makes investment decisions for a Fund and for its other clients to achieve their respective investment
objectives. The sub-adviser may buy or sell a particular security for one client even though it is buying, selling, or holding the same
security for another client. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several clients receive investment advice from the same investment
adviser, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one client. When two or more clients
are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the sub-adviser will allocate the securities among clients
in a fair and equitable manner. This system may detrimentally affect the price of a security purchased, sold, or held by the Fund, but this
detrimental effect is offset by a Fund’s ability to participate in volume transactions, which could lead to better executions for the Fund.
The following table shows the amount the Funds paid in aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions and the amount
of brokerage transactions and related commissions the Funds directed to brokers in return for research services for the most
recent fiscal years (or periods):
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Aggregate Brokerage Commissions
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly, International ESG Equity Fund)
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Amount of
Transactions
Directed to
Brokers
Providing
Research
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Brokerage
Commissions
Related to
Transactions
Directed to
Brokers
Providing
Research
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly, International ESG Equity Fund)
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There were no securities of regular broker-dealers held by the Funds for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.
PROXY VOTING
Each Fund has adopted the policies and procedures of its Sub-Adviser for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held
by the Funds, including procedures used when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates. A copy or summary of each Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policies is included in Appendix B. Information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to their portfolio securities during the most recent year ending June 30 is available by August 31st
of that year without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 1.800.543.0407, on the Touchstone website at TouchstoneInvestments.com
and on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Each Fund’s N-PX is available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov and on the Touchstone website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, each Sub-Adviser
and Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities
of Trustees, officers, and certain employees (“access persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted
to invest in securities (including securities that may be purchased or held by a Fund), but are required to report their personal securities
transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public
offerings or private placements. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.
Portfolio Turnover
A Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. High portfolio turnover
involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund. High
turnover may result in a Fund recognizing greater amounts of income and capital gains, which would increase the amount of taxes payable
by shareholders and increase the amount of commissions paid by the Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of a Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period. The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions,
and will not be a limiting factor when the Sub-Adviser believes that portfolio changes are appropriate. A Fund may engage in active
trading to achieve its investment goals and, as a result, may have substantial portfolio turnover.
During the most recent fiscal years ended September 30 (or periods), the portfolio turnover rate for each Fund was as follows:
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Date of Fiscal Period End
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly, International ESG Equity
Fund)
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DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Touchstone Funds have adopted policies and procedures for disclosing the Funds’ portfolio holdings to any person requesting this information. These policies and procedures are monitored by the Board through periodic reporting by the Funds’ CCO. No compensation will be received by a Fund, the Adviser, any Sub-Adviser, or any other party in connection with the disclosure of information
about portfolio securities.
The procedures prohibit the disclosure of portfolio holdings except under the following conditions:
1.
A request made by a Sub-Adviser for a Fund (or that portion of a Fund) that it manages.
2.
A request by executive officers of the Adviser for routine oversight and management purposes.
3.
For use in preparing and distributing routine shareholder reports, including disclosure to the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, typesetter, and printer. Routine shareholder reports are filed as of the end of each fiscal quarter with
the SEC within 60 days after the quarter end and routine shareholder reports are distributed to shareholders within 60 days after the applicable
six-month semi-annual period. The Funds provide their full holdings to their independent registered public accounting firm annually,
as of the end of their fiscal year, within one to ten business days after fiscal year end. The Funds provide their full holdings
to their typesetter at least 50 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The Funds provide their full holdings to their printer
at least 50 days after the applicable six-month semi-annual period.
4.
A request by service providers to fulfill their contractual duties relating to the Fund, subject to approval by the CCO.
5.
A request by a newly hired sub-adviser or sub-adviser candidate prior to the commencement of its duties to facilitate its
transition as a new sub-adviser, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
6.
A request by a potential merger candidate for the purpose of conducting due diligence, subject to the conditions set forth
in Item 8.
7.
A request by a rating or ranking agency, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
Other portfolio holdings disclosure policies of the Funds include:
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The Funds provide their top ten holdings on their publicly available website and to market data agencies monthly, as of the
end of a calendar month, generally within 15 days after month end.
•
The Funds provide their full holdings on their publicly available website and to market data agencies quarterly, as of the
end of a calendar quarter, generally within 30 days after quarter end.
•
You may access this portfolio holdings information via the Funds’ public website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
8.
The CCO may authorize disclosing non-public portfolio holdings to third parties more frequently or at different periods than
as described above prior to when such information is made public, provided that certain conditions are met. The third-party must
(i) specifically request in writing the more current non-public portfolio holdings, providing a reasonable basis for the request;
(ii) execute an agreement to keep such information confidential, to only use the information for the authorized purpose, and not
to use the information for their personal benefit; (iii) agree not to trade on such information, either directly or indirectly; and
(iv) unless specifically approved by the CCO in writing, the non-public portfolio holdings are subject to a ten day time delay before
dissemination. Any non-public portfolio holdings that are disclosed will not include any material information about a Fund’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions.
As of [ ], 2023 one or more Touchstone Funds discloses portfolio holdings information to the following parties based on
ongoing arrangements:
Bloomberg LP
Morningstar, Inc.
Style Analytics, Inc.
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.
Employees of the Adviser and the Funds’ Sub-Advisers that are access persons under the Funds’ Code of Ethics have access to Fund holdings on a regular basis, but are subject to confidentiality requirements and trading prohibitions in the Code of Ethics. In addition,
custodians of the Funds’ assets and the Funds’ accounting services agent, each of whose agreements contains a confidentiality provision (which includes a duty not to trade on non-public information), have access to the current Fund holdings on a daily basis.
The CCO is authorized to determine whether disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio securities is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders. Any conflict between the interests of shareholders and the interests of the
Adviser, Touchstone Securities, or any affiliates, will be reported to the Board, which will make a determination that is in the best interests
of shareholders.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The securities of each Fund are valued by the Adviser, which has been designated by the Trustees as the valuation designee
for the Funds pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. The Adviser or its delegates may use independent pricing services to obtain valuations
of securities. The pricing services rely primarily on prices of actual market transactions as well as on trade quotations obtained
from third parties. Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices. If market prices are unavailable or believed
to be unreliable, the Sub-Administrative Agent will initiate a process by which the Adviser’s Fair Value Committee will make a good faith determination as to the “fair value” of the security using procedures approved by the Trustees. The pricing services may use a matrix system to determine valuations of fixed income securities when market prices are not readily available. This system considers such factors as
security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. The
procedures used by any
such pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the Adviser, as the valuation designee. Some Funds may hold
portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges. Under certain circumstances, these investments may be valued under the Adviser’s fair value policies and procedures, such as when U.S. exchanges are open but a foreign exchange is closed.
Securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less may be valued by the amortized cost method, which involves valuing
a security at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter (absent unusual circumstances) assuming a constant amortization of maturity
of any discount or premium, provided such amount approximates market value.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Funds and shares of each Fund. Each share of a Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that Fund with each other share. Upon liquidation, shares are entitled to a
pro rata share in the net assets of the Fund, after taking into account additional distribution and shareholder servicing expenses attributable
to the Class. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees of the Trust may create additional
series of shares or separate classes of funds. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any portfolio or separate class
and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that portfolio or separate class and would be subject to the liabilities related
thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued.
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust states that neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any shareholder,
nor, except as specifically provided therein, to call upon any shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever
other than such as the shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of duties as a Trustee and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents,
employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that
the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation
in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration
of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However,
nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
Each whole share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional share
shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. Shares issued by each Fund have no preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights. Voting
rights are not cumulative. Each Fund, as a separate series of the Trust, votes separately on matters affecting only that Fund. Shareholders
of each Class of each Fund will vote separately on matters pertaining solely to that Fund or that Class. The Trust is not required to hold
annual meetings of shareholders, but approval will be sought for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees
under certain circumstances.
In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written
request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the
Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE TRUST'S BY-LAWS
Derivative Claims of Shareholders
The Trust’s Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) contain provisions regarding derivative claims of shareholders. Under these provisions, a shareholder must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause
the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, a demand on the Trustees shall only
be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board, or a majority of any committee of the Board established
to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and a Trustee shall not be deemed interested
in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee
receives remuneration for his service on the Board or on the boards of one or more Trusts that are under common management with or
otherwise affiliated with the Trust.
Unless a demand is not required under the foregoing paragraph, (a) shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under
the Delaware Statutory Trust Act who hold at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust, or 10% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund or class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and (b) the Trustees must be
afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall
be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the shareholders
making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring
such action.
Forum for Adjudication of Disputes
The By-Laws provide that, unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive
forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary
duty owed by any Trustee, officer, or other employee of the Trust to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, (iv) any action to interpret,
apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the
internal affairs doctrine shall be the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware or the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware,
or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (each, a “Covered Action”). The By-Laws further provide that if any Covered Action is filed in a court other than the U.S. District Court for the District
of Delaware, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any shareholder, such shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court
for the District of Delaware or the Superior Court of the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce
the preceding sentence (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such shareholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such shareholder.
The By-Laws provide that any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest
of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of the foregoing paragraph and (ii) deemed to have waived
any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forums referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described
in the foregoing paragraph.
This forum selection provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with Trustees, officers or other agents of the Trust and its service providers, which may discourage such lawsuits with respect
to such claims. If a court were to find the forum selection provision contained in the By-Laws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action,
the Trust may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
The Fund offers the following classes of shares.
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Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
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The Fund participates in fund “supermarket” arrangements. In such an arrangement, a program is made available by a broker or other institution (a sponsor) that allows investors to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund through the sponsor of the fund supermarket.
In connection with these supermarket arrangements, the Fund has authorized one or more brokers to accept on its behalf purchase
and redemption orders. In turn, the brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption
orders on the Fund’s behalf. As such, a Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, accepts the order. The customer order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after acceptance by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee. In addition, a broker may charge transaction fees on the purchase or sale of Fund shares. Also in connection with fund supermarket arrangements, the performance of a participating Fund may be compared in
publications to the performance of various indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available and compared in publications
to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. The Fund’s annual report contains additional performance information and will be made available to investors upon request and without charge.
The Touchstone Funds are intended for sale to residents of the United States, and, with very limited exceptions, are not registered
or otherwise offered for sale in other jurisdictions. The above restrictions are generally not applicable to sales in United
States territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands or to diplomatic staff members or members of the U.S. military with an APO or FPO
address outside of the U.S. Investors are responsible for compliance with tax, securities, currency exchange or other regulations
applicable to redemption and purchase transactions in any state or jurisdiction to which they may be subject. Investors should consult with
their financial intermediary and appropriate tax and legal advisers to obtain information on the rules applicable to these transactions.
The shares of the Fund may not be directly or indirectly offered or distributed in any country outside of the United States.
If an investor becomes a resident of another jurisdiction after purchasing shares of the Touchstone Funds, the investor will not be able
to purchase any additional shares of the Funds (other than reinvestment of dividends and capital gains) or exchange shares of the Touchstone
Funds for other U.S. registered Touchstone Funds.
Class A Shares. For purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more of Touchstone equity funds and subsequent purchases further increasing the size of a purchaser’s aggregate account value, participating dealers may receive compensation of up to 1.00% for equity funds (each, a “Finder’s Fee”). For these purposes, the Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund is considered a “Touchstone Equity Fund.” The below schedules outline the Finder’s Fee payable for eligible purchases of Class A shares.
Touchstone Equity Funds
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$1 million but less than $5 million
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$5 million but less than $25 million
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The Distributor does not have an annual reset for Finder’s Fees. In determining a dealer’s eligibility for a Finder’s Fee, all purchases in the Touchstone Fund Complex may be aggregated for that individual shareholder in accordance with a Fund’s Rights of Accumulation Program. Please see the “Choosing a Class of Shares - Reduced Class A Sales Charge” and “Choosing a Class of Shares - Rights of Accumulation Program” sections in the Fund’s prospectus to determine whether accounts may be aggregated for purposes of determining eligibility for a Finder’s Fee. If a Finder’s Fee was paid to a participating dealer, that dealer is not eligible to receive 12b-1 fees on the shares that were used to generate the Finder’s Fee until they have aged for a period of one year. Additionally, if a Finder’s Fee was paid related to a purchase of equity fund Class A shares and those shares are redeemed within a year of their purchase, a contingent deferred
sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% will be charged on the redemption. Dealers should contact the Distributor for more information on the calculation of the dealer’s commission in the case of combined purchases.
A dealer is eligible for a Finder’s Fee only if the dealer has not previously received a Finder’s Fee on the assets used to meet the required investment amount. Similarly, an exchange from any other Touchstone Fund will not qualify for a Finder’s Fee unless the dealer did not receive any compensation on those assets at the time of the initial investment. In all cases, Touchstone Securities reserves
the right to deny payment of a Finder’s Fee if it reasonably believes such a fee has already been paid on those assets.
Class R6 Shares. No dealer compensation is paid from the sale of Class R6 shares of the Fund. Class R6 shares of the Fund are sold at NAV
and do not pay a sales charge, Rule 12b-1 fee, impose a CDSC, or make payments to financial intermediaries broker dealers
for assisting the Distributor in promoting the sales of the Fund’s shares. In addition, neither the Fund nor its affiliates make any type of administrative, service, relationship, or revenue sharing payments in connection with Class R6 shares. An investor transacting in Class R6
shares may be required to pay a commission to a broker for effecting such transactions on an agency basis.
Exchanging Your Shares. Class A, Class C and Class R6 shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares or Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares, Class C and/or Class R6 shares for Class Y shares or Institutional Class shares
of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution. Class Y shares may be available
through financial institutions that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through “processing organizations” (e.g., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers. Additionally, Class C shareholders may exchange their
Class C shares for Class A shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial
institution. No front-end sales charges will apply to any such exchange. However, if the Class A or C shares have been held less than 12 months
and a Finder’s Fee or 1% commission, respectively, was paid to the broker at the time of purchase, a CDSC will be assessed on the exchange transaction, which may be processed as a liquidation and a purchase. The CDSC will be equal to the Finder’s fee paid for Class A shares and the 1% commission paid for C shares. Class Y shareholders that meet the required minimum for Institutional Class shares
may exchange their Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares within the same Fund if offered in their state and if such an
exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution.
Class R6 shares may be exchanged into Class R6 shares of any other Touchstone Fund at NAV, although Touchstone Funds that
are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges. Class R6 shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares or Institutional
Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class R6 shares for Class Y shares or Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if offered
in their state, and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary.
For federal income tax purposes, exchanges of one share class for a different share class of the same Fund (even if processed
as a liquidation and a purchase) should not result in the realization by the investor of a capital gain or loss. There can be no assurance
of any particular tax treatment and you are urged and advised to consult with your own tax adviser before entering into a share class exchange.
Automated Share Class Conversions. Effective June 30, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), Class C shares of the Fund automatically convert into Class A shares of the same Fund after they have been held for eight (8) years. The conversion is not considered a taxable
event for federal income tax purposes. These automatic conversions are executed without any sales charge (including CDSCs), redemption or transaction
fee, or other charge. After such a conversion takes place, the shares will be subject to all features, rights and expenses
of Class A shares. If you hold Class C shares through certain financial intermediaries, such as an omnibus account or group retirement recordkeeping
platform, your intermediary may not be able to track the amount of time you held your Class C shares purchased before June 30, 2020.
In that case, Class C shares held prior to June 30, 2020 would convert to Class A shares eight (8) years after the Effective Date of this
policy. In addition, Class C shares held through certain financial intermediaries may convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in a shorter time
frame than shares purchased directly from the Fund. Please contact your financial intermediary for further information about its Class
C shares to Class A shares conversion policy.
Financial intermediaries may convert shares in a customer or client’s account to a more expensive share class if prior to the conversion the intermediary determines that the higher priced share class is more suitable to the customer’s interests and the intermediary discloses any additional compensation to the customer, including revenue sharing arrangements with the Adviser or Distributor.
If a financial institution or intermediary (a “converting entity”) is initiating a share class conversion(s) for Touchstone Funds on a platform, then the converting entity should contact Touchstone Securities at least 60 days in advance and obtain Touchstone Securities’ approval of the share class conversion.
Additional Information on the CDSC. The CDSC is waived under the following circumstances:
Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Code) of a shareholder (including one
who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled
is named. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians’ certificates, etc.
Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number
of shares, systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of
the date the transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed percentage of your account value,
each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made
by Touchstone directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death,
disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code), in-service
distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination
of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial institution.
Redemptions that are mandatory withdrawals from a traditional IRA account after reaching the qualified age based on applicable
IRS regulations.
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott
LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
General. The above mentioned CDSC waivers do not apply to Class A share redemptions made within one year of the date of purchase where a Finder’s Fee was paid by Touchstone Securities due to an investment in the Touchstone equity funds totaling $1 million or more or an investment of $500,000 or more Touchstone fixed income funds. All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to the
Distributor. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed
followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested
dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.
CDSC for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares. A CDSC is imposed upon certain redemptions of Class A shares of the Fund (or shares into which such Class A shares were exchanged) purchased at NAV due to an individual shareholder investment amount
in the Touchstone Fund Complex of $1 million or more where a Finder’s Fee was paid by the Distributor and the shares were redeemed within one year from the date of purchase. The CDSC will be paid to the Distributor and will be equal to the commission percentage
paid at the time of purchase as applied to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the Class A shares being redeemed, or
(2) the NAV of such Class A shares at the time of redemption. If a purchase of Class A shares is subject to the CDSC, you will be notified
on the confirmation you receive for your purchase. Redemptions of such Class A shares of the Funds held for at least one year will
not be subject to the CDSC.
Examples. The following example will illustrate the operation of the CDSC. Assume that you open an account and purchase 1,000 shares
at $10 per share and that six months later the NAV per share is $12 and, during such time, you have acquired 50 additional
shares through reinvestment of distributions. If at such time you should redeem 450 shares (totaling proceeds of $5,400), then 50 shares
will not be subject to the charge because of dividend reinvestment. With respect to the remaining 400 shares, the charge is applied only to the
original cost of $10 per share and not to the increase in NAV to $12 per share. Therefore, $4,000 of the $5,400 redemption proceeds will pay
the charge. At the rate of 1.00%, the CDSC would be $40 for redemptions of Class C shares. In determining whether an amount is available
for redemption without incurring a deferred sales charge, the purchase payments made for all shares in your account are aggregated.
OTHER PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Waiver of Minimum Investment Requirements. The minimum and subsequent investment requirements for purchases of Class A & Y shares of the Fund may not apply to:
1.
Any director, officer or other employee* (and their immediate family members**, as defined below) of Western & Southern Financial
Group, Inc. or any of its affiliates or any portfolio adviser or service provider to the Trust.
2.
Any employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third-party administrator that has entered into a
special
service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
Class R6 shares held on a Fund’s records require a $50,000 minimum initial investment and have a $50 subsequent investment minimum. Financial intermediaries may set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements, may impose other restrictions
or may charge you fees for their services.
In addition, a Fund reserves the right to waive investment minimums in the case of extenuating circumstances or to allow a
reasonable period of time for an investor to meet minimum requirements.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charges***. In addition to the categories of purchasers described in the prospectus for whom the sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds may be waived, Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are
not subject to sales charges (and no concessions are paid by the Distributor on such purchases):
1.
Purchases into a Fund by any director, officer, employee* (and their immediate family members**, as defined below), or current
separate account client of or referral by a Sub-Advisor to that particular Fund;
2.
Purchases by any director, officer or other employee* (and their immediate family members**, as defined below) of Western
& Southern Financial Group or any of its affiliates; and
3.
Purchases by any employees of BNY Mellon who provide services for the Touchstone Funds, Touchstone Advisors, or Touchstone
Securities.
Exemptions must be qualified in advance by the Distributor. At the option of the Trust, the front-end sales charge may be
included on purchases by such persons in the future.
*
The term “employee” is deemed to include current and retired employees.
**
Immediate family members are defined as the parents, mother-in-law or father-in-law, spouse, brother or sister, brother-in-law
or sister- in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, nephew or niece and children of a registered representative or employee, and any other individual to whom
the registered representative or employee provides material support.
***
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Merrill Lynch,
Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for Clients of Financial Intermediaries. Touchstone Securities has agreed to waive the Class A sales charge for clients of financial intermediaries as defined in the Appendix to each Funds’ prospectus. In addition to those firms included in the Appendix to the Prospectus, the following firms have entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to offer shares
to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to their customers:
•
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the Funds’ prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery
Scott LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for former Constellation Shareholders. Shareholders who owned shares of the Trust as of November 17, 2006 who are purchasing additional shares for their accounts or opening new accounts in any Touchstone Fund are
not subject to the front-end sales charge for purchases of Class A shares. If you are purchasing shares through a financial intermediary,
you must notify the intermediary at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a sales load waiver and you may be required
to provide copies of account statements verifying your qualification.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for former Bramwell Shareholders. Former shareholders of the Bramwell Growth Fund or the Bramwell Focus Fund, each a series of the Bramwell Funds, Inc., who in those funds’ 2006 reorganization received Class A shares of the Sentinel Capital Growth or Sentinel Growth Leaders Funds who are purchasing additional shares for their accounts or opening new accounts
in any Touchstone Fund are not subject to the front–end sales charge for purchases of Class A shares. If you are purchasing shares through a financial intermediary, you must notify the intermediary at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a sales load
waiver and you may be required to provide copies of account statements verifying your qualification.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for former Citizens Shareholders. Former shareholders of the Citizens Funds, who in those funds’ 2008 reorganization received shares of a Sentinel Fund who are purchasing additional shares for their accounts or opening new accounts
in any Touchstone Fund are not subject to the front–end sales charge for purchases of Class A shares. If you are purchasing shares through a financial intermediary, you must notify the intermediary at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a sales load
waiver and you may be required to provide copies of account statements verifying your qualification.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for Former Shareholders of Sentinel Group Funds, Inc. Shareholders who received Class A shares of Touchstone Funds pursuant to the October 27, 2017 reorganization of their respective Sentinel Funds and whose Sentinel Fund
account was established with a net asset value purchase privilege may purchase additional Class A shares of Touchstone Funds at net
asset value, provided that such shareholders provide notice of such eligibility prior to or at the time of purchase.
Shareholders who are eligible for the sales charge waivers listed above may open an account with the Fund directly to receive
the sales charge waiver.
Class Y Shares “Grandfather” Clause. Except in limited circumstances, new purchases of the Class Y shares are no longer available directly through Touchstone Securities. Those shareholders who owned Class Y shares purchased directly through Touchstone Securities
prior to February 2, 2009, or those former Old Mutual shareholders who owned Class Z shares which became Class Y shares on April 16,
2012, or those former Fifth Third Mutual Fund Shareholders who owned Institutional Class shares which became Class Y shares on September 10, 2012, or those former Sentinel Shareholders who owned Institutional Class shares which became Class Y shares
on October 27, 2017 or those former AIG Shareholders who owned Class W shares that became Class Y shares on July 16, 2021 may
continue to hold Class Y shares of the corresponding Fund(s). In addition, those shareholders may continue to make subsequent purchases
into existing accounts of Class Y shares of the Fund(s) they owned prior to February 2, 2009, April 16, 2012, and September 10,
2012, October 27, 2017, and July 16, 2021 respectively.
Purchases in-Kind. In limited circumstances and subject to the prior consent of the Fund, the Fund may accept payment for shares in securities. Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities, including but not limited
to shares of common stock, provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the applicable Fund’s investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to the Adviser. Transactions of this type are generally a taxable transaction. Before purchasing shares by tendering
payment in-kind, investors are urged and advised to consult with their own tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of such a transaction.
Redemptions in-Kind. Under unusual circumstances, when the Board deems it in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders, the Fund may make payment for shares repurchased or redeemed in whole or in part in securities of the Fund taken at current value.
Should payment be made in securities, the redeeming shareholder will bear the market risk until the securities are sold and the redeeming
shareholder will generally incur brokerage costs and other costs in converting such securities to cash. Portfolio securities that are issued
in an in-kind redemption will be readily marketable. The Trust has filed an irrevocable election with the SEC under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940
Act wherein the Funds are committed to pay redemptions in cash, rather than in-kind, to any shareholder of record of a Fund who redeems
during any ninety-day period, the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of a Fund’s NAV at the beginning of such period. Redemptions in-kind are taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash. The Funds may also use redemption in-kind for certain
Fund shares held by ReFlow.
Undeliverable Checks. Dividend and distribution checks issued from non-retirement accounts for less than $25 will be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them. If your redemption proceeds, dividend, or distribution check is returned as “undeliverable”, your account will be considered a lost shareholder account, correspondence will be sent to you requesting that you contact the
Fund, and the outstanding payment will be deposited into an account for potential escheatment to your state of residence. If you contact
the Fund and provide proper documentation to update the address on the account, the Fund will no longer consider your account to be a lost
shareholder account, and your outstanding payment will be reissued to your corrected address. Also, if your dividend or distribution check
is returned as “undeliverable”, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the payable date.
Uncashed Checks. All uncashed checks on your account will appear with your monthly or quarterly statement for your convenience. If your redemption proceeds, dividend, or distribution check from a non-retirement account is not cashed within six months (an
“outstanding payment”) and the account remains open, the outstanding payment on your account will be cancelled and the proceeds will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation, which may be higher or lower than
the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. In addition, if the payment was for dividends or distributions, your cash election
will be automatically changed and future dividends and distributions will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined
as of the payable date. For outstanding payments in retirement accounts, no action will be taken.
For redemption checks returned as “undeliverable”, the check will be voided and deposited into a lost shareholder account for the Fund. If the account holder contacts the Fund and provides proper documentation to update the address on the account, a check for the
previously voided amount will be re-issued to the shareholder and sent to the new address of record.
Fund Shares Purchased by Check. We may delay the processing and payment of a redemption request for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may take up to 15 days. If you need your money sooner, you should purchase shares
by bank wire.
Low Account Balances. (only applicable for shares held through Touchstone Securities directly). If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market changes),
Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you. Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares
are about to be sold and you will have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.
Facilitated Transfers. In the event an existing Touchstone shareholder wishes to move money between their Touchstone mutual fund account and a money market fund, Touchstone has partnered with The BNY Mellon Securities Corporation to help facilitate this
type of transaction pursuant to certain limitations. Please contact Touchstone Shareholder Services at 1.800.543.0407 for more information
if you are interested in pursuing this type of transaction.
DISTRIBUTIONS
A Fund’s dividends and other distributions are taxable to shareholders (other than retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors) whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. A dividend or distribution paid by a Fund has the effect
of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend or distribution. A dividend or distribution declared shortly
after a purchase of shares by an investor would, therefore, represent, in substance, a return of capital to the shareholder with respect
to such shares even though it would be subject to federal income taxes. For most shareholders, a statement will be sent to you within 45
days after the end of each year detailing the federal income tax status of your distributions.
Please see “Federal Income Taxes” below for more information on the federal income tax consequences of dividends and other distributions made by the Funds.
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Funds and their shareholders.
This discussion is for general information only and does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that
might be relevant to beneficial owners of shares of the Funds. Therefore, the summary discussion that follows may not be considered
to be individual tax advice and may not be relied upon by any shareholder. The summary is based upon current provisions of the Code, applicable
U.S. Treasury Regulations (the “Regulations”), and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, which change could be retroactive, and may affect the conclusions expressed herein. The summary applies only to beneficial owners of a Fund’s shares in whose hands such shares are capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and may not apply to
certain types of beneficial owners of a Fund’s shares, including, but not limited to insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, shareholders holding a Fund’s shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as an individual retirement account (an “IRA”), a 401(k) plan account, or other qualified retirement account), financial institutions, pass-through entities, broker-dealers, entities that are not organized
under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, persons who are neither a citizen nor resident of the United States,
shareholders holding a Fund’s shares as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction, and shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax. Persons who may be subject to tax in more than one country should consult the provisions of any applicable tax treaty to determine
the potential tax consequences to them.
No Fund has requested nor will any Fund request an advance ruling from the IRS as to the federal income tax matters described
below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. In addition, the following
discussion applicable to shareholders of a Fund addresses only some of the federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments
in such Fund.
Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of the ownership, purchase
and disposition of an investment in a Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign, and other tax laws affecting
the particular shareholder and to possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
General. For federal income tax purposes, each Fund is treated as a separate corporation. Each Fund has elected, and intends to continue
to qualify for, taxation as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Code. By qualifying as a RIC, a Fund (but not the shareholders) will not be subject to federal income tax on that portion of its investment company taxable income and realized
net capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders.
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by a Fund, some of which are described below, may involve complex tax rules
some of which may result in income or gain recognition by the Fund without the concurrent receipt of cash. Although each Fund seeks
to avoid significant noncash income, such noncash income could be recognized by a Fund, in which case it may distribute cash derived
from other sources in order to meet the minimum distribution requirements described below. Cash to make the required minimum distributions
may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by a Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous) or, if permitted by
its governing documents and other regulatory restrictions, through borrowing the amounts required to be distributed.
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. Qualification as a RIC under the Code requires, among other things, that a Fund: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, 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 and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies,
and (ii) net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (together with (i), the “Qualifying Income Requirement”); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is comprised
of cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with those other
securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of its total assets and that does not represent
more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested
in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities
of other RICs) of two or more issuers controlled by it and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities
of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (together with (i) the “Diversification Requirement”); and (c) distribute for each taxable year at least the sum of (i) 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable
original issue discount income, market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term
capital loss, certain net realized foreign currency exchange gains, and any other taxable income other than “net capital gain” as defined below and is reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid; and (ii) 90% of its tax-exempt
interest, if any, net of certain expenses allocable thereto (“net tax-exempt interest”) (together with (i), the “Distribution Requirement”).
Each Fund may use “equalization payments” in determining the portion of its net investment income and net realized capital gains that have been distributed. A Fund that elects to use equalization payments will allocate a portion of its investment income and
capital gains to the amounts paid in redemption of Fund shares, and such income and gains will be deemed to have been distributed by the Fund
for purposes of the distribution requirements described above. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of income and gains
that the Fund is required to distribute to shareholders in order for the Fund to avoid federal income tax and excise tax and also may
defer the recognition of taxable income by shareholders. This process does not affect the tax treatment of redeeming shareholders and,
since the
amount of any undistributed income and/or gains will be reflected in the value of the Fund’s shares, the total return on a shareholder’s investment will not be reduced as a result of the Fund’s distribution policy. The IRS has not published any guidance concerning the methods to be used in allocating investment income and capital gain to redemptions of shares. In the event that the IRS determines
that a Fund is using an improper method of allocation and has under-distributed its net investment income or net realized capital
gains for any taxable year, such Fund may be liable for additional federal income or excise tax or may jeopardize its treatment as a RIC.
The U.S. Treasury Department is authorized to promulgate regulations under which gains from foreign currencies (and options,
futures, and forward contracts on foreign currency) would constitute qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement
only if such gains are directly related to the principal business of a Fund of investing in stock or securities or options and
futures with respect to stock or securities. To date, the U.S. Treasury Department has not issued such regulations.
As a RIC, a Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its income and capital gains that
it distributes to its shareholders in any taxable year for which it distributes, in compliance with the Code’s timing and other requirements, at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and 90%
of its net tax-exempt interest. Each Fund may retain for investment all or a portion of its net capital gain (i.e., the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss). If a Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital
gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If a Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate
the retained amount as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who will be (i) required to include in income for federal
income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount; and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate
shares of tax paid by such Fund against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds
such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of the shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by the amount
of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by the Fund on that amount of capital gain.
The Qualifying Income Requirement and Diversification Requirement that must be met under the Code in order for a Fund to qualify
as a RIC, as described above, may limit the extent to which it will be able to engage in derivative transactions. Rules governing
the federal income tax aspects of derivatives, including swap agreements, are not entirely clear in certain respects, particularly in
light of two IRS revenue rulings issued in 2006. Revenue Ruling 2006-1 held that income from a derivative contract with respect to a commodity
index is not qualifying income for a RIC. Subsequently, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2006-31 in which it stated that the holding in
Revenue Ruling 2006-1 “was not intended to preclude a conclusion that the income from certain instruments (such as certain structured notes) that create a commodity exposure for the holder is qualifying income.” Accordingly, the Qualifying Income Requirement may limit each Fund’s ability to invest in commodity-related derivative transactions and other derivative transactions. Each Fund will account for
any investments in commodity derivative transactions in a manner it deems to be appropriate; the IRS, however, might not accept such treatment.
If the IRS did not accept such treatment, the status of such Fund as a RIC might be jeopardized.
In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above, income derived from a partnership is treated
as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income
if realized directly by the RIC. However, all of the net income of a RIC derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership
(defined as a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary
market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that meets certain qualifying income requirements but derives less than 90% of
its income from the qualifying income described in clause (i) of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above) will be treated as qualifying
income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes if they meet the passive income
requirement under Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs,
such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.
For purposes of the Diversification Requirement described above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement or the Diversification Requirement in any taxable year, such
Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is
paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures to satisfy
the Diversification Requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. If the applicable relief provisions are
not available or cannot be met, such Fund will fail to qualify as a RIC and will be subject to federal income tax in the same manner as an
ordinary corporation at a tax rate of 21% and all distributions from earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income
tax principles) to its shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate
shareholders and for qualified dividend income treatment for non-corporate shareholders.
Excise Tax. If a Fund fails to distribute by December 31 of a calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its taxable
ordinary income (excluding capital gains and losses) for such year, (2) at least 98.2% of the excess of its capital gains
over its capital losses (as adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the twelve month period ending on October 31 of such year, and (3) all taxable
ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the prior year that were not distributed during such year and on which
it did not pay federal income tax, such Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on the undistributed amounts. A
distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the calendar year if it is declared by a Fund in October, November,
or December of that year to shareholders of record on a date in such month and paid by it during January of the following year. Such distributions
will be taxable to shareholders (other than those not subject to federal income tax) in the calendar year in which the distributions
are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received. Each Fund generally intends to actually distribute
or be deemed to have distributed substantially all of its net income and gain, if any, by the end of each calendar year in compliance with
these requirements so that it will generally not be required to pay the Excise Tax. A Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate
its investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid the Excise Tax liability at a time when its Adviser might not otherwise
have chosen to do so. Liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of a Fund to satisfy the requirements for qualification
as a RIC. However, no assurances can be given that a Fund will not be subject to the Excise Tax and, in fact, in certain instances if
warranted, a Fund may choose to pay the Excise Tax as opposed to making an additional distribution.
Capital Loss Carryforwards. For capital losses realized with respect to a tax year of a Fund that exceed the Fund’s capital gains for such year, the Fund may carry such excess capital losses forward indefinitely. The excess of a Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gain is treated as short-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year and the excess of a Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gain is treated as long-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. If carried forward capital losses offset future capital gains, such future capital gains are not subject to
Fund-level federal income taxation, regardless of whether they are distributed to shareholders. A Fund cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating
losses.
Original Issue Discount and Market Discount. A Fund may acquire debt securities that are treated as having original issue discount (“OID”) (generally a debt obligation with a purchase price less than its principal amount, such as a zero coupon bond). Generally, a Fund will be required to include the OID in income over the term of the debt security, even though it will not receive cash payments
for such OID until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to
debt securities having OID which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income. Inflation-protected bonds generally can be
expected to produce OID income as their principal amounts are adjusted upward for inflation. The IRS may treat a portion of the OID includible
in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities as a dividend for federal income tax purposes.
A debt security acquired in the secondary market by a Fund may be treated as having market discount if acquired at a price
below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with OID. The Fund’s market discount accrues ratably, on a daily basis, over the period from the date of acquisition to the date of maturity even though the Fund will not receive cash. Absent an election by a Fund
to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on its disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income
rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.
In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though
a Fund holding such securities receives no interest payments in cash on such securities during the year.
Each Fund generally will be required to make distributions to shareholders representing the income accruing on the securities,
described above, that is currently includable in income, even though cash representing such income may not have been received by such
Fund. Cash to pay these distributions may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by a Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous)
or, if permitted by such Fund’s governing documents, through borrowing the amounts required to be distributed. In the event a Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they
would have in the absence of such transactions.
Options, Futures and Forward Contracts. The writing (selling) and purchasing of options and futures contracts and entering into forward currency contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character
and timing of recognition of the gains and losses a Fund realizes in connection with such transactions.
Gains and losses on the sale, lapse, or other termination of options and futures contracts, options thereon and certain forward
contracts (except certain foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts) will generally be treated as capital gains
and losses. Some regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency contracts, and certain non-equity options (such as certain listed options
or options on broad based securities indexes) held by a Fund (“Section 1256 contracts”), other than contracts on which it has made a “mixed-straddle election”, will be required to be “marked-to-market” for federal income tax purposes, that is, treated as having been sold at their market value on the last day of such Fund’s taxable year. These provisions may require a Fund to recognize income or gains without a concurrent receipt of cash. Any gain or loss recognized on actual or deemed sales of Section 1256 contracts will be treated as 60% long-term
capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts
may be treated as ordinary income or loss as described below. Transactions that qualify as designated hedges are exempt from the mark-to-market
rule, but may require a Fund to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts, foreign currency contracts and certain options
to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions held by it.
The tax provisions described above applicable to options, futures and forward contracts may affect the amount, timing, and
character of a Fund’s distributions to its shareholders. For example, the Section 1256 rules described above may operate to increase the amount a Fund must distribute to satisfy the minimum distribution requirement for the portion treated as short-term capital gain which will
be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income, and to increase the net capital gain it recognizes, without, in either case, increasing
the cash available
to it. A Fund may elect to exclude certain transactions from the operation of Section 1256, although doing so may have the
effect of increasing the relative proportion of net short-term capital gain (taxable as ordinary income) and thus increasing the amount
of dividends it must distribute. Section 1256 contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of the Excise Tax.
When a covered call or put option written (sold) by a Fund expires such Fund will realize a short-term capital gain equal
to the amount of the premium it received for writing the option. When a Fund terminates its obligations under such an option by entering into
a closing transaction, it will realize a short-term capital gain (or loss), depending on whether the cost of the closing transaction
is less than (or exceeds) the premium received when it wrote the option. When a covered call option written by a Fund is exercised, such Fund
will be treated as having sold the underlying security, producing long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the
holding period of the underlying security and whether the sum of the option price received upon the exercise plus the premium received when
it wrote the option is more or less than the basis of the underlying security.
Straddles. Section 1092 deals with the taxation of straddles which also may affect the taxation of options in which a Fund may invest.
Offsetting positions held by a Fund involving certain derivative instruments, such as options, futures and forward currency
contracts, may be considered, for federal income tax purposes, to constitute “straddles.” Straddles are defined to include offsetting positions in actively traded personal property. In certain circumstances, the rules governing straddles override or modify the provisions of Section
1256, described above. If a Fund is treated as entering into a straddle and at least one (but not all) of its positions in derivative
contracts comprising a part of such straddle is governed by Section 1256, then such straddle could be characterized as a “mixed straddle.” A Fund may make one or more elections with respect to mixed straddles. Depending on which election is made, if any, the results with
respect to a Fund may differ. Generally, to the extent the straddle rules apply to positions established by a Fund, losses realized by
it may be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in any offsetting positions. Moreover, as a result of the straddle rules, short-term capital
loss on straddle positions may be characterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gain may be characterized as short-term capital
gain. In addition, the existence of a straddle may affect the holding period of the offsetting positions and cause such sales to be subject to the “wash sale” and “short sale” rules. As a result, the straddle rules could cause distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” to fail to satisfy the applicable holding period requirements, described below, and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income. Further, a Fund may be required to capitalize, rather than deduct currently, any interest expense and carrying charges applicable
to a position that is part of a straddle. Because the application of the straddle rules may affect the character and timing of
gains and losses from affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders
as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to the situation where a Fund had
not engaged in such transactions.
In circumstances where a Fund has invested in certain pass-through entities, the amount of long-term capital gain that it
may recognize from certain derivative transactions with respect to interests in such pass-through entities is limited under the Code’s constructive ownership rules. The amount of long-term capital gain is limited to the amount of such gain a Fund would have had if it directly
invested in the pass-through entity during the term of the derivative contract. Any gain in excess of this amount is treated as ordinary
income. An interest charge is imposed on the amount of gain that is treated as ordinary income.
Swaps and Derivatives. As a result of entering into swap or derivative agreements, a Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. A Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap or derivative is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of
the swap or derivative or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or deductions, while
termination of a swap or derivative will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the
Fund has been a party to a swap or derivative for more than one year). With respect to certain types of swaps or derivatives, a Fund may be required
to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or derivatives or may elect under certain circumstances
to mark such swaps or derivatives to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss.
Rules governing the tax aspects of swap or derivative agreements are not entirely clear in certain respects, in particular
whether income generated is Qualifying Income. Accordingly, while each Fund intends to account for such transactions in a manner it deems
appropriate, the IRS might not accept such treatment. If the IRS did not accept such treatment, the status of the Fund as a RIC might be
adversely affected. The Funds intend to monitor developments in this area. Certain requirements that must be met under the Code in order
for each Fund to qualify as a RIC may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in swap agreements and certain derivatives.
Constructive Sales. Certain rules may affect the timing and character of gain if a Fund engages in transactions that reduce or eliminate its
risk of loss with respect to appreciated financial positions. If a Fund enters into certain transactions (including a short
sale, an offsetting notional principal contract, a futures or forward contract, or other transactions identified in U.S. Treasury regulations)
in property while holding an appreciated financial position in substantially identical property, it will be treated as if it had sold and immediately
repurchased the appreciated financial position and will be taxed on any gain (but not loss) from the constructive sale. The character
of gain from a constructive sale will depend upon a Fund’s holding period in the appreciated financial position. Loss from a constructive sale would be recognized when the position was subsequently disposed of, and its character would depend on a Fund’s holding period and the application of various loss deferral provisions of the Code.
In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially
identical property by a Fund will be deemed a constructive sale. The foregoing will not apply, however, to a Fund’s transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that
year and such Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged for 60 days after that closing (i.e., at no time during that 60-day
period is such Fund’s risk of loss regarding the position reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale or granting an option
to buy substantially identical stock or securities).
Wash Sales. A Fund may in certain circumstances be impacted by special rules relating to “wash sales.” In general, the wash sale rules prevent the recognition of a loss by a Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical
or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired by it within 30 days before
or 30 days after the sale.
Short Sales. A Fund may make short sales of securities. Short sales may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by a Fund,
which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to its shareholders. Short sales also may be subject to the “Constructive Sales” rules, discussed above.
Tax Credit Bonds. If a Fund holds (directly or indirectly) one or more “tax credit bonds” (defined below) on one or more specified dates during a Fund’s taxable year, and it satisfies the minimum distribution requirement, it may elect for U.S. federal income tax purposes to pass through to shareholders tax credits otherwise allowable to it for that year with respect to such tax credit bonds. A
tax credit bond is defined in the Code as a “qualified tax credit bond” (which includes a qualified forestry conservation bond, a new clean renewable energy bond, a qualified energy conservation bond, or a qualified zone academy bond, each of which must meet certain requirements
specified in the Code), a “build America bond” (which includes certain qualified bonds issued before January 1, 2011) or certain other bonds specified in the Code. New tax credit bonds may not be issued after December 31, 2017. If a Fund were to make an election, a shareholder
of such Fund would be required to include in gross income an amount equal to such shareholder’s proportionate share of the interest income attributable to such credits and would be entitled to claim as a tax credit an amount equal to a proportionate share of such
credits. Certain limitations may apply on the extent to which the credit may be claimed.
Other Regulated Investment Companies. Generally, the character of the income or capital gains that a Fund receives from another investment company will pass through to the Fund’s shareholders as long as the Fund and the other investment company each qualify as RICs under the Code. However, to the extent that another investment company that qualifies as a RIC realizes net losses on
its investments for a given taxable year, a Fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses until it disposes of shares of such
investment company. Moreover, even when a Fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss.
As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, it is possible that the amounts of net investment income
and net capital gains that a Fund will be required to distribute to shareholders will be greater than such amounts would have been had the
Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies in which it invests, rather than investing in shares of the investment
companies. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from a Fund (e.g., long-term capital gain, qualified dividend income,
etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies
in which it invests.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. A Fund may invest in a non-U.S. corporation, which could be treated as a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”) or become a PFIC under the Code. A PFIC is generally defined as a foreign corporation that meets either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income for its taxable year is income from passive sources (such as
interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains); or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the
production of, such passive income. If a Fund acquires any equity interest in a PFIC, such Fund could be subject to federal income tax and interest
charges on “excess distributions” received with respect to such PFIC stock or on any gain from the sale of such PFIC stock (collectively “PFIC income”), even if such Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in such Fund’s investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to its shareholders. A Fund’s distributions of PFIC income will be taxable as ordinary income even though, absent the application of the PFIC rules, some portion of the distributions may have been classified as capital gain.
A Fund will not be permitted to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for taxes and interest charges incurred
with respect to a PFIC. Payment of this tax would therefore reduce a Fund’s economic return from its investment in PFIC shares. To the extent a Fund invests in a PFIC, it may elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), then instead of the tax and interest obligation described above on excess distributions, such Fund would be required to include in income each taxable year its pro rata share of the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain. As a result of a QEF election, a Fund would likely have to distribute to its
shareholders an amount equal to the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain to satisfy the Code’s minimum distribution requirement described herein and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax, even if the QEF did not distribute those earnings and gain to such
Fund. In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain requirements in making the
election.
A Fund may elect to “mark-to-market” its stock in any PFIC. “Marking-to-market,” in this context, means including in ordinary income each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock over such Fund’s adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year. Pursuant to the election, a Fund also may deduct (as an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted
basis in the PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains
with respect to that stock it included in income for prior taxable years under the election. A Fund’s adjusted basis in its PFIC stock subject to the election would be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder. In either case, a Fund may be
required to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash.
Foreign Currency Transactions. Foreign currency gains and losses realized by a Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt instruments, certain options, futures contracts, forward contracts, and similar instruments
relating to foreign currency, foreign currencies, and foreign currency-denominated payables and receivables are subject to Section 988
of the Code, which causes such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income or loss and may affect the amount and timing of recognition
of such Fund’s income. In some cases elections may be available that would alter this treatment, but such elections could be detrimental to a Fund by creating current recognition of income without the concurrent recognition of cash. If a foreign currency loss treated as
an ordinary loss under Section 988 were to exceed a Fund’s investment company taxable income (computed without regard to such loss) for a taxable year the resulting loss would not be deductible by it or its shareholders in future years. The foreign currency income or loss
will also increase or decrease a Fund’s investment company income distributable to its shareholders.
Foreign Taxes. Income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. If a Fund qualifies (by having more than 50% of the value of its total assets at the close of the taxable year consist of
stock or securities in foreign corporations or by being a qualified fund of funds) and elects to pass through foreign taxes paid on its investments
during the year, such taxes will be reported to you as income. You may, however, be able to claim an offsetting tax credit or deduction on
your federal income tax return, depending on your particular circumstances and provided you meet certain holding period and other requirements.
Tax-exempt holders of Fund shares, such as qualified tax-advantaged retirement plans, will not benefit from such a deduction or credit.
REITs. A Fund may invest in REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require a Fund to accrue and distribute taxable income
without the concurrent receipt of cash. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be required
to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in its receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if such Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to its shareholders for federal income
tax purposes.
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, qualified REIT dividends (i.e., REIT dividends
other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income) are eligible for a 20%
federal income tax deduction in the case of individuals, trusts and estates. A Fund that receives qualified REIT dividends may elect to pass
the special character of this income through to its shareholders. To be eligible to treat distributions from a Fund as qualified REIT
dividends, a shareholder must hold shares of the Fund 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 and the shareholder must not be under an obligation
(whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related
property. If a Fund does not elect to pass the special character of this income through to shareholders or if a shareholder does not satisfy
the above holding period requirements, the shareholder will not be entitled to the 20% deduction for the shareholder's share of the Fund's qualified
REIT dividend income).
A Fund may invest in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs or taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”), or such REITs may themselves constitute TMPs. Under an IRS notice, and U.S. Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively,
a portion of a Fund’s income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC or a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC, such as the Funds, will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends
received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or invested
in the TMP directly. Tax exempt-shareholders, including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a
Keogh plan and other tax-exempt entities should consider this before investing in a Fund. See “Tax-Exempt Shareholders.”
MLPs. A Fund may invest to a limited degree in MLPs that are treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships for federal income
tax purposes. Net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership is included in the sources of income
that satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement. However, under the Diversification Requirement, no more than 25% of the value of a RIC’s total assets at the end of each fiscal quarter may be invested in securities of qualified publicly traded partnerships. If an MLP
in which a Fund invests is taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the Fund will be taxable on its allocable share of the MLP’s income regardless of whether the Fund receives any distribution from the MLP. Thus, the Fund may be required to sell other securities
in order to satisfy the distribution requirements to qualify as a RIC and to avoid federal income tax and the Excise Tax. Distributions
to a Fund from an MLP that is taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital to the extent of the Fund’s basis in its interest in the MLP. If a Fund’s basis is reduced to zero, distributions will generally constitute capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, individuals, trusts and estates are eligible
for a 20% federal income tax deduction for certain income from investments in MLPs that is included in the “combined qualified business income amount”. The Code currently does not contain a provision permitting a RIC to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. As a result, direct investors in MLPs may be entitled to this deduction while investors that invest in a Fund
that invests in MLPs will not.
Distributions. Distributions paid out of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined at the end of the year), whether reinvested in additional shares or paid in cash, are generally taxable and must be reported by each shareholder who
is required to file a federal income tax return. Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, as computed for federal income tax purposes, will first be treated as a return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares and then as capital gain.
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income, and distributions
of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is treated as owning) for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary
income. Distributions designated by a Fund as “capital gain dividends” (distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital losses) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain regardless of the length of time they have held
their shares of such Fund. Such dividends do not qualify as dividends for purposes of the dividends received deduction or for qualified dividend
income purposes as described below.
Distributions of “qualified dividend income” received by non-corporate shareholders of a Fund may be eligible for the long-term capital gain rate. A Fund’s distribution will be treated as qualified dividend income and therefore eligible for the long-term capital gain rate to the extent the Fund receives dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, provided
that certain holding period and other requirements are met. A corporate shareholder of a Fund may be eligible for the dividends
received deduction on such Fund’s distributions attributable to dividends received by such Fund from domestic corporations, which, if received directly by the corporate shareholder, would qualify for such a deduction. For eligible corporate shareholders, the dividends
received deduction may be subject to certain reductions, and a distribution by a Fund attributable to dividends of a domestic corporation
will be eligible for the deduction only if certain holding period and other requirements are met.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends and capital gain distributions
received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of shares of a Fund) of U.S. individuals, estates
and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
Each Fund will furnish a statement to shareholders providing the federal income tax status of its dividends and distributions
including the portion of such dividends, if any, that qualifies as long-term capital gain.
Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement
distributions, and certain prohibited transactions, is accorded to accounts maintained as qualified retirement plans.
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisers for more information.
Purchases of Fund Shares. Prior to purchasing shares in a Fund, the impact of dividends or distributions which are expected to be or have been declared, but not paid, should be carefully considered. Any dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase
of shares of a Fund prior to the record date will have the effect of reducing the per share NAV by the per share amount of the dividend or
distribution, and to the extent the distribution consists of the Fund’s taxable income, the purchasing shareholder will be taxed on the taxable portion of the dividend or distribution received even though some or all of the amount distributed is effectively a return of capital.
Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Upon the disposition of shares of a Fund (whether by redemption, sale or exchange), a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for the shares. The capital gain will be long-term if the shares were held for more than 12 months and short-term if held
for 12 months or less. If a shareholder sells or exchanges Fund shares within 90 days of having acquired such shares and if, before January
31 of the calendar year following the calendar year of the sale or exchange, as a result of having initially acquired those shares, the shareholder
subsequently pays a reduced sales charge on a new purchase of shares of the Fund or another Fund, the sales charge previously incurred
in acquiring the Fund’s shares generally shall not be taken into account (to the extent the previous sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales charges on the new purchase) for the purpose of determining the amount of gain or loss on the disposition, but generally will be treated
as having been incurred in the new purchase. Any loss realized on a disposition will be disallowed under the “wash sale” rules to the extent that the shares disposed of by the shareholder are replaced by the shareholder (including through dividend reinvestment) within a period
of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired
will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held by the shareholder for
six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder
and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to such shares unless
the Fund
declared exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and
distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. Capital losses are generally deductible only against capital gains except that
individuals may deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses against ordinary income.
The 3.8% Medicare contribution tax (described above) will apply to gains from the sale or exchange of a Fund’s shares.
Backup Withholding. Each Fund (or a financial intermediary, such as a broker, through which a shareholder holds Fund shares) generally is required to withhold, and remit to the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain exemptions, an amount equal to 24% of all distributions
and redemption proceeds paid or credited to a shareholder of such Fund if (i) the shareholder fails to furnish such Fund with
the correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) certified under penalties of perjury, (ii) the shareholder fails to provide a certified statement that the shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (iii) the IRS or a broker has notified such Fund that the number
furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report interest
or dividend income. If the backup withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions or proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested
in shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be
credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
State and Local Taxes. State and local laws often differ from federal income tax laws with respect to the treatment of specific items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisers for more information.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. Distributions made to non-U.S. shareholders attributable to net investment income generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at a 30% rate (or such lower rate provided under an applicable income tax treaty). However,
a Fund or broker will generally not be required to withhold tax on any amounts paid to a non-U.S. investor with respect to dividends
attributable to “qualified short-term gain” (i.e., the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) designated as such by the Fund and dividends attributable to certain U.S. source interest income that would not be subject to federal withholding tax if
earned directly by a non-U.S. person, provided such amounts are properly designated by the Fund. A Fund may choose not to designate such amounts.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a distribution described above is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business
carried on by a non-U.S. shareholder within the U.S. (or, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment
in the U. S.), federal income tax withholding and exemptions attributable to foreign persons will not apply and such distribution will be
subject to the federal income tax, reporting and withholding requirements generally applicable to U.S. persons described above.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a non-U.S. shareholder is not, in general, subject to federal income tax or withholding tax on
capital gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or on capital gain dividends, provided that
the Fund obtains a properly completed and signed certificate of foreign status, unless (i) such gains or distributions are effectively connected
with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by the non-U.S. shareholder within the U.S. (or, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable
to a permanent establishment in the U.S. of the non-U.S. shareholder); (ii) in the case of an individual non-U.S. shareholder,
the shareholder is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale and certain other
conditions are met; or (iii) the shares of the Fund constitute U.S. real property interests (“USRPIs”), as described below.
Special rules apply to foreign persons who receive distributions from a Fund that are attributable to gains from USRPIs. The
Code defines USRPIs to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and any interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in a “U.S. real property holding corporation” or former U.S. real property holding corporation. The Code defines a U.S. real property holding corporation as any corporation whose USRPIs make up 50% or more of the fair market value of its USRPIs, its interests in real property located
outside the U.S., plus any other assets it uses in a trade or business. In general, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation
(determined without regard to certain exceptions), distributions by the Fund that are attributable to (a) gains realized on the disposition
of USRPIs by the Fund and (b) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI
gain in its hands will retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the foreign persons and will be subject to
U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, such distributions could result in a foreign shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return
and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder, including the rate
of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., ordinary income or USRPI gain) will vary depending on the extent of
the non-U.S. shareholder’s current and past ownership of a Fund.
In addition, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation or former U. S. real property holding corporation, the
Fund may be required to withhold U.S. tax upon a redemption of shares by a greater-than-5% shareholder that is a foreign person, and that
shareholder would be required to file a U.S. income tax return for the year of the disposition of the USRPI and pay any additional tax
due on the gain. However, no such withholding is generally required with respect to amounts paid in redemption of shares of a Fund if the Fund
was a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, or, in certain other limited cases, if a Fund (whether or not domestically
controlled) holds substantial investments in RICs that are domestically controlled qualified investment entities.
Subject to the additional rules described herein, federal income tax withholding will apply to distributions attributable
to dividends and other investment income distributed by the Funds. The federal income tax withholding rate may be reduced (and, in some cases,
eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the U.S. and the non-U.S. shareholder’s country of residence or incorporation. In order to qualify for treaty benefits, a non-U.S. shareholder must comply with applicable certification requirements relating to
its foreign status (generally by providing a Fund with a properly completed Form W-8BEN).
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally requires a Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, a Fund may be required to withhold
under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on Fund dividends and distributions. Proposed regulations (effective
while pending) eliminate the withholding tax that was scheduled to apply, starting in 2019, to the proceeds of the sale, redemption,
or exchange of Fund shares. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from (or concerning) its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S.
taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA, related intergovernmental agreements or other applicable law
or regulation. Each investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting
requirements with respect to the investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts and Foreign Financial Assets Reporting Requirements. A shareholder that owns directly or indirectly more than 50% by vote or value of a Fund, is urged and advised to consult its own tax adviser regarding its filing
obligations with respect to FinCen Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders. A tax-exempt shareholder could realize unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) by virtue of its investment in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning
of Code Section 514(b).
It is possible that a tax-exempt shareholder of a Fund will also recognize UBTI if such Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” (as described above) derived from direct or indirect investments in REMIC residual interests or TMPs. Furthermore, any investment
in a residual interest of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if a
Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.
In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in TMPs.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, 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 are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisers to determine the applicability
of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax adviser with respect to the tax consequences of an investment
in a Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax laws affecting the particular shareholder
and to possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS
Persons or organizations beneficially owning more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund are presumed to “control” the Fund. As a result, those persons or organizations could have the ability to influence an action taken by a Fund if such action requires
a shareholder vote.
As of [ ], 2023 the name, address and percentage ownership of each entity or person that owned of record or beneficially
5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of a Fund are as follows:
[to be updated by amendment]
[As of [ ,] 2023 the Trustees and principal officers of the Trust as a group owned of record or beneficially less than 1%
of any class of the Fund’s outstanding shares.]
CUSTODIAN
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”), 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, is the Trust’s custodian. BBH acts as the Trust’s depository, safe keeps its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses money as instructed and maintains records in connection with its duties.
LEGAL COUNSEL
K&L Gates LLP, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, serves as counsel to the Trust.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The firm of [ ], 221 E. 4th Street, Suite 2900, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, has been selected as the independent registered public
accounting firm for the Trust for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023. [ ] will perform an annual audit of the Trust’s financial statements, and advise the Trust as to certain accounting matters.
TRANSFER AND SUB-ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Transfer Agent. The Trust’s transfer agent is BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon IS”), 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581. BNY Mellon IS maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Funds’ shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent and performs other shareholder servicing functions. For providing transfer agent and shareholder services to the Trust, BNY
Mellon IS receives a monthly per account fee from each Fund, plus out of-pocket expenses.
The Funds may also pay a fee to certain servicing organizations (such as broker-dealers and financial institutions) that provide
sub-transfer agency services. These services include maintaining shareholder records, processing shareholder transactions and distributing
communications to shareholders.
Sub-Administrative Agent. The Adviser provides administrative services to the Trust under an Administration Agreement and has sub-contracted certain accounting and administrative services to The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”). The sub-administrative services sub-contracted to BNY Mellon include certain accounting and pricing services, SEC and state security filings, providing
executive and administrative services, and providing reports for meetings of the Board. The Adviser pays BNY Mellon a sub-administrative
fee out of its administration fee.
Set forth below are the sub-administrative fees paid by the Adviser to BNY Mellon with respect to each Fund during the fiscal
years (or periods) ended September 30.
|
Date of Fiscal Period End
|
Sub-Administration
Fees Paid
|
Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (formerly, International ESG
Equity Fund)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 including the notes thereto and the report of [ ] thereon, included in the annual report to shareholders (the “Annual Report”), are hereby incorporated into this SAI by reference. A copy of the Trust’s prospectus and the Annual Report may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust at P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467, by calling 1.800.543.0407, or by downloading a copy at TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources. You may also obtain
the annual report or unaudited semi-annual report, as well as other information about the Trust, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
[ ]
APPENDIX A — DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS(1)
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s® (“S&P”) are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moody’s and S&P are provided below. These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services as to the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that
ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. An adviser attempts to discern variations in credit rankings of the rating services
and to anticipate changes in credit ranking. However, subsequent to purchase by a fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its
rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the fund. In that event, an adviser will consider whether it is
in the best interest of a fund to continue to hold the securities.
Moody’s credit ratings are current opinions of the relative future credit risk of entities, credit commitments, or debt or debt-like securities. Moody’s defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual, financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default. Credit ratings do not address any other risk, including but not limited to: liquidity
risk, market value risk, or price volatility. Credit ratings are not statements of current or historical fact. Credit ratings do not constitute
investment or financial advice, and credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, sell, or hold particular securities. Credit ratings do not
comment on the suitability of an investment for any particular investor. Moody’s issues its credit ratings with the expectation and understanding that each investor will make its own study and evaluation of each security that is under consideration for purchase, holding, or sale.
An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note
programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit
enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
(1)
This Appendix A may contain information obtained from third parties, including ratings from credit ratings agencies such as
S&P. Reproduction and distribution of third party content in any form is prohibited except with the prior written permission of the related third
party. Third party content providers do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of any information, including ratings, and are not
responsible for any errors or omissions (negligent or otherwise), regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of such content. THIRD PARTY CONTENT
PROVIDERS GIVE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. THIRD PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, COMPENSATORY, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, LEGAL FEES, OR LOSSES (INCLUDING LOST INCOME OR PROFITS AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS OR LOSSES CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE) IN CONNECTION WITH ANY USE OF THEIR CONTENT, INCLUDING RATINGS. Credit ratings are statements of opinions and are not statements
of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell securities. They do not address the suitability of securities or the suitability
of securities for investment purposes, and should not be relied on as investment advice. they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables
or other financial assets.
Short-Term Credit Ratings
Moody’s
Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity
not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
“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.
Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the
issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.
S&P
S&P’s short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days-including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are
also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual
rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating.
The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P for short-term issues:
“A-1” - Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
“A-2” - Obligations are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
“A-3” - Obligations exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
“B” - Obligations are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
“C” - Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
“D” - Obligations are in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer
than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&P’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific
issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign
risks make them different for the same issuer.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
Moody’s
Moody’s long-term ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised. Such ratings use Moody’s Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:
“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 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.
S&P
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:
Likelihood of payment — capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement
under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery
in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy,
as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations,
or operating company and holding company obligations.)
The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P for long-term issues:
“AAA” - An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment 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 commitment 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 commitment 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 lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC,” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
“BB” - An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment 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 commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
“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 commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
“CC” - An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
“C” - An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.
“D” - An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will
be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an
obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
Plus (+) or minus (-) - The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
“NR” - This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&P’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific
issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign
risks make them different for the same issuer.
Municipal Note Ratings
Moody’s
Moody’s uses three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) and are divided into three levels - “MIG 1” through “MIG 3”. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated “SG”, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for these short-term obligations:
“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.
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned; a long- or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” rating scale.
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated “NR”, e.g., “Aaa/NR” or “NR/VMIG 1”.
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.
“VMIG 1” - This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
“VMIG 2” - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
“VMIG 3” - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon
demand.
“SG” - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary
to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
S&P
An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most
likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:
Amortization schedule-the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a
note; and
Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as
a note.
Note rating symbols are as follows:
“SP-1” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service are given a plus (+) designation.
“SP-2” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
“SP-3” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
Appendix B
Sands Capital Management, LLC
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures
Most Recent Amendment: March 2020
Implementation Date: November 2006
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Issue
Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act requires registered investment advisers to adopt and implement written policies and procedures
reasonably designed to ensure advisers vote proxies in the best interest of their clients. The procedures must address material
conflicts that may arise in connection with proxy voting. Rule 206(4)-6 further requires advisers to describe to clients their proxy voting
policies and procedures and to provide copies of such policies and procedures to clients upon their request. Lastly, the Rule requires
advisers to disclose how clients may obtain information on how the adviser voted their proxies.
To comply with Rule 206(4)-6, Sands Capital Management, LLC (“SCM”) has adopted and implemented this Policy and the procedures described herein.
Policy
SCM’s policy is to vote client proxies in the best interest of its clients. Proxies are an asset of a client, which must be treated by SCM with the same care, diligence and loyalty as any asset belonging to a client. In voting proxies SCM should consider the short-
and long-term implications of each proposal. In voting proxies, SCM typically is neither an activist in corporate governance nor an automatic
supporter of management. However, because SCM believes that the management teams of most companies it invests in generally seek to serve
shareholder interests, SCM believes that voting proxy proposals in the client’s best economic interests usually means voting with the recommendations of these management teams. Any specific voting instructions provided by an advisory client or its designated
agent in writing will supersede this Policy. Clients with their own general or specific proxy voting and governance policies may wish
to have their proxies voted by an independent third party or other named fiduciary or agent, at the client’s expense.
Proxy Committee
SCM has established a Proxy Committee, which consists of five permanent members: the Chief Administrative Officer (“CAO”), the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), a Director of Client Relations, the Director of ESG Research, and a member of the Directing Research Team (the “DRT”). The Proxy Committee meets at least annually, and as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. A majority of the members of the Proxy Committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The CAO or designee acts as secretary of the
Proxy Committee and maintains a record of Proxy Committee meetings and actions.
The Proxy Committee is responsible for: (i) the oversight and administration of proxy voting on behalf of SCM’s clients, including developing, authorizing, implementing and updating this Policy and the procedures described herein; (ii) overseeing the proxy
voting process, including reviewing reports on proxy voting activity at least annually, and as necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities;
and (iii) engaging and overseeing third-party service provider(s), as necessary or appropriate, to ensure SCM receives the applicable
proxy statements or to provide SCM information, research or other services to facilitate SCM’s proxy voting decisions.
The Proxy Committee has developed a set of criteria to be used when evaluating proxy issues. These criteria and general proxy
voting guidelines are set forth in the Proxy Voting Guidelines, which are attached hereto as Attachment A (the “Guidelines”). The Proxy Committee may amend or supplement the Guidelines from time to time. All Guidelines are to be applied generally and not absolutely,
such that the evaluation of each proposal incorporates considerations specific to the company whose proxy is being voted.
Retention and Oversight of Proxy Advisory Firms
Institutional Shareholder Service (ISS), Glass Lewis, and Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) (“Proxy Research Providers”) re independent advisers that specialize in providing a variety of fiduciary-level proxy-related services to institutional investment
managers, plan sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other institutional investors. The services provided may include in-depth research,
global issuer analysis and voting recommendations. SCM has retained Proxy Research Providers to analyze proxy issues and to make vote recommendations on those issues. While we review the recommendations of one or more Proxy Research Providers in making proxy
voting decisions, we are in no way obligated to follow such recommendations. SCM votes all proxies based on its own proxy voting
policies in the best interests of clients. In addition to research, ISS provides vote execution, reporting, and recordkeeping services to
SCM. As part of SCM’s ongoing oversight responsibilities, SCM performs periodic due diligence on the Proxy Research Providers.
Procedures for Identification and Voting of Proxies
The following procedures are designed to resolve material conflicts of interest before voting client proxies.
1.
SCM maintains a list of all clients for which it votes proxies. The list may be maintained either in hard copy or electronically,
and is updated by the Investment Operations Team, which obtains proxy voting information from client agreements or internal account
onboarding documentation.
2.
As part of the account opening procedure, the Investment Operations Team will note whether or not SCM is responsible for voting
proxies for the client.
3.
Where SCM has the authority to vote proxies, the Investment Operations and Client Relations Teams will work with the client
to ensure that SCM is designated to receive proxy voting materials from companies or intermediaries.
4.
SCM has retained one or more third parties to assist in the coordination, voting and recordkeeping of proxies (see Retention
and Oversight of Proxy Advisory Firms).
5.
The CAO, through a proxy voting designee working as a proxy administrator, receives all proxy voting materials and has overall
responsibility for ensuring that proxies are voted and submitted in a timely manner.
6.
SCM’s Investment Research Team (the “Research Team”) is responsible for reviewing proxy proposals for portfolio securities. Prior to a proxy voting deadline, the appropriate Research Team member will decide as how to vote each proxy proposal based on his
or her analysis of the proposal and the Guidelines. In evaluating a proxy proposal, a Research Team member may consider information
from a number of sources, including management of the company, shareholder groups and independent proxy research services.
7.
If the Research Team or Proxy Administrator becomes aware of potential factual errors, incompleteness or methodological weaknesses in the Proxy Research Providers analysis, they must escalate this issue to the CAO or CCO.
8.
SCM believes that engagement with issuers is important to good corporate governance and to assist in making proxy voting decisions. SCM may engage with issuers to discuss specific ballot items to be voted on in advance of an annual or special
meeting to obtain further information or clarification on the proposals. SCM may also engage with management on a range of environmental,
social or corporate governance issues throughout the year.
9.
SCM Staff Members involved in the process are responsible for assessing whether there is any material conflict between the
interests of SCM or its affiliates or associates and the interests of its clients with respect to proxy voting by considering the situations
identified in the Conflicts of Interest section of this Policy.
10.
If no material conflicts of interest have been identified, SCM will vote proxies according to this Policy (including by not
voting if SCM deems that to be in its clients’ best interest).
11.
Upon detection of a conflict of interest, the conflict will be brought to the attention of the Proxy Committee for resolution.
See Conflicts of Interest section for additional information.
12.
SCM is not required to vote every client proxy provided that electing not to vote is consistent with SCM’s fiduciary obligations. SCM shall at no time ignore or neglect its proxy voting responsibilities. However, there may be times when refraining from
voting is in the client’s best interest, such as when an analysis of a particular client proxy reveals that the cost of voting the proxy may exceed the expected benefit to the client. See Proxies of Certain Global Issuers below.
13.
SCM may process certain proxies without voting them or may systematically vote with management. Examples include, without
limitation, proxies issued by companies SCM has decided to sell, proxies issued for securities that SCM did not select for
a client portfolio, such as, securities that were selected by a previous adviser, unsupervised or non-managed securities held in a client’s account (such as ETFs), money market securities, or other securities selected by clients or their representatives other than
SCM.
14.
In the event that SCM votes the same proxy in two directions, it shall maintain documentation to support its voting (this
may occur if a client requires SCM to vote a certain way on an issue, while SCM deems it beneficial to vote in the opposite direction
for its other clients) in SCM’s files.
15.
The CAO and the applicable Research Team member must report any attempts by SCM’s personnel to influence the voting of client proxies in a manner that is inconsistent with this Policy, as well as any attempts by persons or entities outside SCM seeking
to influence the voting of client proxies. Reporting shall be made to the CCO, or if the CCO is the person attempting to influence
the voting, then to SCM’s General Counsel.
16.
All proxy votes will be recorded, and the following information must be maintained:
a.
The name of the issuer of the portfolio security;
b.
The security identifier of the portfolio holding.
c.
The Council on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) or similar number, in each case, if any, for the security;
d.
The shareholder meeting date;
e.
The number of shares SCM is voting firm-wide;
f.
A brief identification of the matter voted on;
g.
Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder;
h.
Whether or not SCM cast its vote on the matter;
i.
How SCM voted (e.g., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding election of directors);
j.
Whether SCM cast its vote with or against management; and
i. Whether any client requested an alternative vote of its proxy.
Securities Lending
If a client participates in a securities lending program, SCM will not be able to vote the proxy of the shares out on loan.
SCM will generally not seek to recall for voting the client shares on loan. However, under rare circumstances, for voting issues that may have
a particularly significant impact on the investment (a “Significant Event”), SCM may request a client to recall securities that are on loan if SCM determines that the benefit of voting outweighs the costs and lost revenue to the client and the administrative burden of
retrieving the securities. The Research Team member who is responsible for voting the proxy will notify the Proxy Committee in the event
they believe a recall of loaned securities is necessary.
In determining whether a recall of a security is warranted, SCM will take into consideration whether the benefit of the vote
would be in the client’s best interest despite the costs and the lost revenue to the client and the administrative burden of retrieving the securities. SCM may use third-party service providers to assist it in identifying and evaluating whether an event constitutes a Significant
Event. From time to time, the Proxy Committee will deem certain matters to be Significant Events and will adjust the foregoing standard accordingly.
Proxies of Issuers in Certain Countries
It is SCM’s policy to seek to vote all proxies for client securities over which it has proxy voting authority where SCM can reasonably determine that voting such proxies will be in the best interest of its clients.
Voting proxies of issuers in certain countries may give rise to a number of administrative or operational issues that may
cause SCM to determine that voting such proxies are not in the best interest of its clients or that it is not reasonably possible to determine
whether voting such proxies will be in the best interests of its clients. While not exhaustive, the following list of considerations highlights
some potential instances in which a proxy vote might not be entered.
•
SCM may receive meeting notices without enough time to fully consider the proxy or after the cut-off date for voting.
•
A market may require SCM to provide local agents with a power of attorney or consularization prior to implementing SCM’s voting instructions.
•
Proxy materials may not be available in English.
•
SCM may be unable to enter an informed vote in certain circumstances due to the lack of information provided in the proxy
statement or by the issuer or other resolution sponsor.
•
Proxy voting in certain countries may require “share blocking.” In such cases, shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares shortly before the date of the meeting with a designated depositary. During this blocking period, shares that
will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the clients’ custodian banks. Absent compelling reasons to the contrary, SCM believes that the benefit to the client of exercising the vote is outweighed by the
cost of voting (i.e., not being able to sell the shares during this period). Accordingly, if share blocking is required SCM generally elects
not to vote those shares. The applicable Research Team member in conjunction with the Proxy Committee retains the final authority to determine
whether to block the shares in the client’s portfolio or to pass on voting the meeting.
The rationale for not voting a client proxy must be documented and the documentation must be maintained in SCM’s files.
Conflicts of Interest
The following potential conflicts of interest have been identified:
•
SCM provides services to an institutional client or is in the process of being engaged to provide services to an institutional
client that is affiliated with an issuer that is held in the SCM’s client portfolios. For example, SCM may be retained to manage Company A’s
pension fund, where Company A is a public company and SCM’s client accounts hold shares of Company A. Another example is SCM’s clients may hold an investment in an issuer affiliated with an adviser of a fund vehicle sub-advised by SCM.
•
SCM provides services to an individual, or is in the process of being engaged to provide services to an individual, who is
an officer or director of an issuer that is held in SCM’s client portfolios;
•
A Staff Member maintains a personal or business relationship (not an advisery relationship) with issuers or individuals that
serve as officers or directors of issuers. For example, the spouse of a Staff Member may be a high-level executive of an issuer that
is held in SCM’s client portfolios. The spouse could attempt to influence SCM to vote in favor of management; and
•
SCM or a Staff Member personally owns a significant number of an issuer’s securities that are also held in SCM’s client portfolios. The Staff Member may seek to vote proxies in a different direction for his or her personal holdings than would otherwise be warranted
by this Policy. The Staff Member could oppose voting the proxies according to the policy and successfully influence SCM to vote
proxies in contradiction to this Policy.
•
The issuer is a vendor whose products or services are material or significant to the business of to the business of SCM or
its affiliates.
Due to the difficulty of predicting and identifying all material conflicts, Staff Members are responsible for notifying the
CAO or the CCO of any material conflict that may impair SCM’s ability to vote proxies in an objective manner. Upon such notification, the CAO or the CCO will notify the Proxy Committee of the conflict.
In the event that the Proxy Committee determines that SCM has a conflict of interest with respect to a proxy proposal, the
Proxy Committee will also determine whether the conflict is “material” to that proposal. The Proxy Committee may determine on a case‑by-case basis that a particular proposal does not involve a material conflict of interest. To make this determination, the Proxy Committee
must conclude that the proposal is not directly related to SCM’s conflict with the issuer. If the Proxy Committee determines that a conflict is not material, then SCM may vote the proxy in accordance with the recommendation of the relevant Research Team member.
In the event that the Proxy Committee determines that SCM has a material conflict of interest with respect to a proxy proposal,
SCM will vote on the proposal in accordance with the determination of the Proxy Committee. Prior to voting on the proposal, SCM may:
(i) contact an independent third party (such as another plan fiduciary) to recommend how to vote on the proposal and vote in accordance
with the recommendation of such third party (or have the third party vote such proxy); or (ii) with respect to clients that are not
subject to ERISA, fully disclose the nature of the conflict to the client and obtain the client’s consent as to how SCM will vote on the proposal (or otherwise obtain instructions from the client as to how to vote the proxy).
Recordkeeping
SCM must maintain the documentation described in the following section for a period of not less than five years in an easily
accessible place, the first two years at its principal place of business. The CAO will be responsible for the following procedures and
for ensuring that the required documentation is retained.
Outside third party request to review proxy votes:
•
Staff Members must be thoughtful and cautious in sharing how SCM plans to vote its clients’ proxies. Until the vote has been cast and the relevant shareholder meeting has transpired, SCM generally treats information about SCM’s voting as confidential. Staff Members may not disclose SCM’s vote prior to the meeting or commit to any third party to vote a certain way without the prior consent of the CCO or General Counsel. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, Staff Members are permitted to prudently express SCM’s thoughts or opinions on topics in discussions with the relevant companies, advisers (3rd party research providers), and other shareholders
prior to voting as a part of SCM’s ongoing education and engagement.
•
Once the vote has been cast and the relevant shareholder meeting has transpired, analysts can choose to share how SCM voted
with the relevant company or other shareholders, if necessary, as part of SCM’s ongoing engagement with management and the company’s shareholder base.
•
All disclosures of votes in response to requests for vote information not originating from the company must be approved by
the CAO prior to the disclosure of the vote. All written requests must be retained in the permanent file. The CAO or designee will
record the identity of the outside third party, the date of the request, and the disposition (e.g., provided a written or oral response to client’s request, referred to third party, not a proxy voting client, other dispositions, etc.) in a suitable place.
•
As is consistent with SCM’s Advertising and Marketing Policy, all Staff Members must refer inquiries from the press to the Director, Portfolio Analysis and Communications.
Proxy statements received regarding client securities:
•
Proxy statements must be maintained in accordance with this Policy.
Note: SCM is permitted to rely on proxy statements filed on the SEC’s EDGAR system instead of keeping its own copies.
Proxy voting records:
•
Documents prepared or created by SCM that were material to deciding on how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for the
decision, must be maintained in accordance with this Policy.
•
Documentation or notes or any communications received from third parties, other industry analysts, third-party service providers,
company’s management discussions, etc. that were material in the basis for the decision, must be maintained in accordance with this Policy.
•
Clients may request their proxy voting record for the 5-year period prior to their request. Records prior to that 5-year request
will be provided on a best efforts basis.
Disclosure
SCM will ensure that Part 2A of Form ADV is updated as necessary to reflect: (i) all material changes to this Policy and the
procedures described herein; and (ii) information about how clients may obtain information on how SCM voted their securities. In addition,
certain voting records are available on SCM’s website at www.sandscapital.com.
Procedures for SCM’s Receipt of Class Actions
SCM will not file “Class Actions” on behalf of any client. If “Class Action” documents are received by SCM from a client’s custodian, SCM will make a commercially reasonable best effort to forward the documents to the client. Likewise, if “Class Action” documents are received by SCM from a client, SCM will make a commercially reasonable effort to gather, at the client’s request, any requisite information it has regarding the matter and forward it to the client, to enable the client to file the “Class Action.”
Responsibility
The CAO is responsible for overseeing and implementing this Policy.
Attachment A
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
The majority of votes presented to shareholders are proposals made by management, which have been approved and recommended
by its board of directors. One of the primary factors SCM considers when determining the desirability of investing in a particular
company is the quality and depth of its management. Accordingly, SCM believes that the recommendation of management on any issue should be
given substantial weight in determining how proxy issues are resolved. For routine matters (e.g., those matters that are not expected
to measurably change the structure, management, control or operation of the company and are consistent with customary industry standards
and practices, and the laws of the state of incorporation of the applicable company), SCM will vote in accordance with the recommendation
of management, unless, in SCM’s opinion, such recommendation is not conducive to long term value creation or otherwise in the best interest of its clients. Non-routine matters (e.g., those matters relating to directors’ liability and indemnity proposals; executive compensation plans; mergers, acquisitions, and other restructurings submitted to a shareholder vote; anti-takeover and related provisions; and
shareholder proposals) require company-specific and a case-by-case review and analysis. With respect to matters that do not fit in the
categories stated below, SCM will exercise its best judgment as a fiduciary to vote in accordance with the best interest of its clients.
I. The Board of Directors
A. Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections
These votes are made on a case-by-case basis, and SCM may consider the following:
•
Long-term performance record relative to a market index;
•
Composition of board (e.g., diversity and independence) and key board committees;
•
Attendance at board and committee meetings;
•
Corporate governance provisions and takeover activity;
•
Board decisions regarding executive pay; and
B. Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection
These votes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
C. Voting for Director Nominees in Contest Elections
These are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and SCM may consider the following:
•
Long-term performance relative to its industry;
•
Management’s track record;
•
Background to the proxy contest;
•
Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);
•
Evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders and the likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals can be met;
and
•
Stock ownership positions.
D. Size of the Board
Proposals to limit the size of the Board will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
E. Majority Vote for Director Elections
SCM will evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, proposals asking the Board to initiate the process to provide that director nominees
be elected by the affirmative majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders. Resolutions should specify a carve-out for
a plurality vote standard when there are more nominees than board seats.
F. Require Independent Board Chairman
SCM will evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether the role of board chair should be a separate position. Secondary
considerations include the role of the board’s Lead Independent Director and the board’s overall composition.
II. Auditors
Ratifying Auditors
SCM generally votes for proposals to ratify auditors, unless:
•
an auditor is not independent (i.e., it has a financial interest in or association with the company);
•
there is reason to believe the auditor’s opinion is not accurate or indicative of the company’s financial position;
•
poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP;
or material weaknesses in internal controls;
•
Evidence that the committee approved an inappropriate indemnification agreement with the auditor; or
•
Non-audit fees are excessive in relation to audit-related fees without adequate explanation.
III. Proxy Contest Defenses
A. Cumulative Voting
Proposals on cumulative voting are voted on a case-by-case basis. SCM may consider the following, among other, factors:
•
the ability of significant stockholders to elect a director of their choosing;
•
the ability of minority shareholders to concentrate their support in favor of a director or directors of their choosing; and
•
the potential to limit the ability of directors to work for all shareholders.
B. Proxy Contests
Votes on proxy contests are made on a case-by-case basis considering the long-term financial performance of the company relative
to its industry, management’s track record, the qualifications of the shareholder’s nominees, and other factors.
C. Proxy Solicitation Expenses
Decisions to provide full reimbursement for dissidents waging a proxy contest are made on a case-by-case basis.
D. Proxy Access
Shareholder proposals to provide shareholders proxy access are voted on a case-by-case basis taking into account, among other
factors:
•
Company-specific factors; and
•
Proposal-specific factors including:
•
the ownership thresholds proposed in the resolutions;
•
the maximum proportion of directors that shareholders may nominate each year; and
•
the method of determining which nominations should appear on the ballot if multiple shareholders submit nominations.
IV. Anti-Takeover Issues
SCM conducts an independent review of each anti-takeover proposal. SCM may vote with management when it concludes that the
proposal is not onerous and would not harm clients’ interests as shareholders. Anti-takeover issues include the following:
A. Poison Pills
The “poison pill” entitles shareholders to purchase certain securities at discount prices in the event of a change in corporate control. Such a measure would make a potential takeover prohibitively expensive to the acquirer.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis for management proposals to ratify a poison pill.
B. Fair Price Provisions
Fair price provisions attempt to ensure approximately equal treatment for all shareholders in the event of a takeover. SCM
may consider, among other factors:
a.
the vote required to approve the proposed acquisition;
b.
the vote required to repeal the fair price provision;
c.
the mechanism for determining fair price; and
d.
whether these provisions are bundled with other anti-takeover measures (e.g., supermajority voting requirements) that may
entrench management and discourage attractive tender offers.
Fair price proposals are voted on a case-by-case basis.
C. Greenmail
Greenmail payments are targeted share repurchases by management of company stock from individuals or groups seeking control
of the company. Since only the hostile party receives payment, usually at a substantial premium over the market value of its shares,
the practice discriminates against all other shareholders.
Proposals to adopt anti-greenmail charter or bylaw amendments or otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments are voted on a case-by-case basis.
D. Superstock/Duel-class Equity
Another takeover defense is superstock, i.e., shares that give holders disproportionate voting rights. For example, a company
could propose authorizing a class of preferred stock which “could be issued in a private placement with one or more institutional investors” and “could be designated as having voting rights which might dilute or limit the present voting rights of the holders of common stock….” The purpose of this additional class of stock would be to give insiders an edge in fending off an unsolicited or hostile takeover attempt.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis for proposals that would authorize the creation/removal of new classes of “superstock.”
E. Supermajority Rules
Supermajority provisions require approval by holders of minimum amounts of the common shares (usually 75% to 80%). While applied
mainly to merger bids, supermajority rules also may be extended to cover substantive transfers of corporate assets, liquidations,
reverse splits and removal of directors for reasons other than cause. A supermajority provision would make it nearly impossible in some cases
for shareholders to benefit from a takeover attempt.
Supermajority shareholder vote requirements to approve mergers, amend the charter or bylaws are voted on a case-by-case basis.
F. Board Classification
A “classified” or “staggered” board is a structure in which only a portion of a company’s board of directors (typically one-third) is elected each year. A company may employ such a structure to promote continuity of leadership and thwart takeover attempts. In evaluating
a classified board proposal, SCM may consider the following factors, among others:
•
the company’s long-term strategic plan;
•
the extent to which continuity of leadership is necessary to advance that plan; and
•
the need to guard against takeover attempts.
SCM votes on board classification on a case-by-case basis.
V. Miscellaneous Governance Provision
A. Approval of Financial Statements
In some markets, companies are required to submit their financial statements for shareholder approval. Approval of financial
statements is voted on a case-by-case basis. However, SCM may abstain if the information is not available in advance of the meeting.
B. Adopting or Amending the Charter, Bylaws, or Articles of Association
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals on adopting or amending the charter, bylaws, or articles of association, and may
consider whether:
•
Shareholder rights are protected;
•
There is negligible or positive impact on shareholder value;
•
Management provides sufficiently valid reasons for the amendments;
•
The company is required to do so by law (if applicable); and
•
They are of a housekeeping nature (updates or corrections).
C. Bundled Proposals
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis bundled or “conditioned” proxy proposals. In this case where items are conditioned upon each other, SCM examines the benefits and costs of the packages items. In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned items is
not in shareholder’s best interests, SCM votes against the proposals. If the combined effect is positive, SCM votes for such proposals.
D. Share Re-Registration Consent
SCM will typically vote for this proposal. Certain securities are subject to share re-registration in order to receive and
vote the shareholder meeting. In order to be eligible to vote, shares must be re-registered in the beneficial owner’s name by a certain deadline. SCM will vote these proposals on a case-by-case basis.
E. “Other Business”
SCM will typically vote against this proposal if there is a lack of information available. While this request is usually routine,
the potential for the discussion and subsequent approval of items could be dangerous to minority shareholders. SCM will vote these proposals
on a case-by-case basis.
VI. Capital Structure
A. Common Stock Authorization
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis for proposals that increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issue.
B. Stock Distributions; Splits and Dividends
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis for proposals that increase the common share authorization for a stock split or share dividend.
C. Debt Restructuring
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis for proposals that increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of
a debt restructuring plan.
VII. Executive and Director Compensation
SCM believes that because a company has exclusive knowledge of material information not available to shareholders regarding
its business, financial condition, and prospects, the company itself usually is in the best position to make decisions about compensation
and benefits. Accordingly, SCM generally votes with management on such matters. However, SCM may oppose management on a case-by-case basis
if it deems a company’s compensation to be excessive or inconsistent with its peer companies’ compensation, SCM believes a company’s compensation measures do not foster a long-term focus among its executive officers and other employees, or SCM believes a
company has not met performance expectations, among other reasons. Discussed below are some specific types of compensation-related proposals
that SCM may encounter.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis items related to executive pay and practices.
A. Management Say on Pay
“Say on pay” proposals give shareholders a nonbinding vote on executive compensation. These proposals are designed to serve as a means of conveying to company management shareholder concerns, if any, about executive compensation.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis for management proposals seeking approval of advisory vote on executive compensation.
B. Equity-Based Compensation Plans
A company’s equity-based compensation plan should be in alignment with the shareholders’ long-term interests. SCM believes that executive compensation should be directly linked to the performance of the company.
SCM vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals for equity-based compensation plans.
C. Incentive Bonus Plans and Tax Deductibility Proposals (Section 163(m))
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals for incentive bonus plans and tax deductibility proposals.
D. Golden Parachutes
Golden Parachutes assure key officers of a company lucrative compensation packages if the company is acquired and/or if the
new owners terminate such officers. SCM recognizes that offering generous compensation packages that are triggered by a change in control
may help attract qualified officers. However, such compensation packages cannot be so excessive that they are unfair to shareholders
or make the company unattractive to potential bidders, thereby serving as a constructive anti-takeover mechanism.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals to submit severance plans.
E. Golden Coffins / Executive Death Benefits
Survivor benefit compensation plans, or “golden coffins,” can require a company to make substantial payments or awards to a senior executive’s beneficiaries following the death of the senior executive. The compensation can take the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards. This
compensation would not include compensation that the senior executive chooses to defer during his or her lifetime.
SCM recognizes that offering generous compensation packages that are triggered by the passing of senior executives may help
attract qualified officers. However, such compensation packages cannot be so excessive that they are unfair to shareholders or make
the company unattractive to potential bidders, thereby serving as a constructive anti-takeover mechanism.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals on Golden Coffins / Executive Death Benefits.
VIII. State of Incorporation
G. Voting on State Takeover Statutes
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition
statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freeze-out provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance
pay and labor contract provisions, anti-greenmail provisions and disgorgement provisions).
H. Voting on Reincorporation Proposals
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation.
IX. Mergers and Corporate Restructurings
I. Mergers and Acquisitions
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals on mergers and acquisitions.
J. Corporate Restructuring
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposal on corporate restructuring, including minority squeeze outs, leveraged buyouts,
spin-offs, liquidations, and asset sales.
K. Spin-offs
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals on spin-offs.
L. Changing Corporate Name
SCM votes on changing the corporate name on a case-by-case basis.
E. Authority to Issue Shares without Preemptive Rights
SCM votes on giving authority to issue shares without preemptive rights on a case-by-case basis.
X. Socially Oriented Proposals
A. Proposals of a Social or Environmental Nature
Consistent with its fiduciary duty to clients, SCM will vote on social and environmental issues with a view toward promoting
good corporate citizenship. However, SCM realizes that it cannot require a portfolio company to go beyond applicable legal requirements
or put itself in a non‑competitive position.
SCM considers environmental and social issues alongside traditional financial measures to provide a more comprehensive view
of the value, risk, and return potential of an investment. Companies may face significant financial, legal and reputational risks resulting
from poor environmental and social practices, or negligent oversight of environmental or social issues. SCM’s Environmental, Social, and Governance Framework describes SCM’s approach to consideration of environmental, social, and governance issues within its processes and ownership practices.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals regarding environmental or social issues. To do this, SCM uses research reports from SCM’s external proxy advisers, company filings and sustainability reports, research from other investors and non-governmental organizations,
and the Research Team.
B. Political Spending and Lobby Proposals
Companies may engage in certain political activities, within legal and regulatory limits, in order to influence public policy
consistent with the companies’ values and strategies, and thus serve shareholders’ best long-term economic interests. These activities can create risks, including: the potential for allegations of corruption; the potential for reputational issues associated with a candidate,
party or issue; and risks that arise from the complex legal, regulatory and compliance considerations associated with corporate political activity.
SCM believes that companies which choose to engage in political activities should develop and maintain robust processes to guide these
activities and to mitigate risks, including a level of board oversight.
When presented with shareholder proposals requesting increased disclosure on corporate political activities, SCM may consider
the political activities of that company and its peers, the existing level of disclosure, and its view regarding the associated
risks. SCM generally believes that it is the duty of boards and management to determine the appropriate level of disclosure of all types of corporate
activity.
SCM votes on a case-by-case basis proposals regarding political spending and lobbying activities.
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 28. EXHIBITS:
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Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 8, 1998 is herein incorporated by reference
to Exhibit (a)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File
No. 033-70958), filed with the SEC on November 24, 1998.
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Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 23, 1998 is
herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registrant’s Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-70958), filed with the SEC on January 27, 1999.
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Opinion and consent of counsel to be filed by amendment.
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Consent of independent public accounting firm to be filed by amendment.
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ITEM 29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE REGISTRANT.
None.
ITEM 30. INDEMNIFICATION.
Article VII of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust empowers the Trustees of the Trust, to the full extent permitted by
law, to purchase with Trust assets insurance for indemnification from liability and to pay for all expenses reasonably incurred or
paid or expected to be paid by a Trustee or officer in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he or she becomes
involved by virtue of his or her capacity or former capacity with the Trust.
Article VI of the By-Laws of the Trust provides that the Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the Trust, against expenses, judgments,
fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if that person acted
in good faith and reasonably believed his or her conduct to be in the best interests of the Trust. Indemnification will not be provided
in certain circumstances, however, including instances of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, and reckless disregard of
the duties involved in the conduct of the particular office involved.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to the Trustees, officers
and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such Trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
ITEM 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”) is a registered investment advisor that provides investment advisory services to the Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone ETF Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust and Touchstone Funds Group Trust (the “Touchstone Fund Complex”). The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of the Advisor. Unless otherwise noted, the address of the corporations listed below is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
*
The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
(1)
Jill T. McGruder - Director, Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
President and Chief Executive Officer - IFS Financial Services, Inc.
(b)
President - Integrity Life Insurance Co.
(c)
President - National Integrity Life Insurance Co.
(d)
Trustee - Touchstone Fund Complex
(e)
Senior Vice President — Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*
(f)
Senior Vice President — W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
(g)
Director — Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(h)
Director - IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
(2)
Donald J. Wuebbling - Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
Director - Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Integrity Life Insurance Company,* National Integrity Life Insurance Company,* Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, IFS Financial Services, Inc., Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Capital Partners, LLC, Gerber Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Agency, Inc.
(3)
Jay J. Johnson — Vice President, Corporate Finance and Treasurer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
Vice President, Corporate Finance and Treasurer - Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company.*, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Gerber Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Agency, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.
(4)
Terrie A. Wiedenheft - Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - IFS Financial Services, Inc.
(b)
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
(c)
Chief Financial Officer - Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(d)
Senior Vice President - Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
(e)
Vice President, Commission Accounting and Finance - Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company
(f)
Treasurer and Controller - Touchstone Fund Complex
(5)
James N. Clark - Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
Director - Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company*
(b)
Director - Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, IFS Financial Services, Inc.
(6)
Sarah S. Herron - Secretary - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
Secretary - Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(b)
Corporate Secretary - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
(c)
Assistant General Councel - Investment & Regulations - Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*
(7)
Timothy S. Stearns - Chief Compliance Officer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Fund Complex, Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(a)
Vice President - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
(8)
Timothy D. Paulin - Senior Vice President, Investment Research and Product Management - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
Vice President - Touchstone Fund Complex
(9)
Jonathan D. Niemeyer - Director, Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
Board of Directors, Bethesda, Inc., Cincinnati Art Museum, Association of Life Insurance Counsel
(b)
Sr. Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company
(c)
Director, Eagle Realty Capital Partners, LLC, Gerber Life Agency, LLC, IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc., Western & Southern Agency, Inc.
(d)
Director, Sr. Vice President, Gerber Life Insurance Company
(10)
E. Blake Moore, Jr. - President & Chief Executive Officer, Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
(a)
President & Chief Executive Officer of Touchstone Securities, Inc.
(b)
Senior Vice President of Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company, The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company
(c)
President - Touchstone Fund Complex
*
The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. (“Fort Washington”) is the sub-advisor for the Touchstone Active Bond Fund, Touchstone Dividend Equity Fund, Touchstone High Yield Fund and Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund. The principal address
of Fort Washington is 303 Broadway, Suite 1200, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Fort Washington is an investment advisor registered
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). Except as stated below, no director, officer or partner of Fort Washington has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
*
The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of Fort Washington.
(1) Maribeth S. Rahe, President & Chief Executive Officer
(a) Life Trustee, New York Landmarks Conservancy; Life Trustee, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center; Board Member, Chair, Audit Committee, Member, Compensation Committee, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings, Inc.; Vice Chair, Executive/Finance Committee, Cincinnati Arts Association; Member, Advisory Board and Partner-In-Action Committee, Sisters
of Notre Dame de Namur; Member Advisory Board, Williams College of Business, Xavier University; Fund Advisory Board, Finance/Budget Committee, Cintrifuse; Board Member, Member Audit Committee, Chair Capital Markets Committee, First Financial Bank; Board Member, Marketing Committee, Greater Cincinnati Foundation; Member, Former President, Women’s Capital Club; Member, Former Executive Committee, Cincinnati Women’s Executive Committee; Member, Former President, Executive Committee Commonwealth Club
(b) President & CEO of Tristate Ventures, LLC*
(c) President, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC
(d) President, W&S Investment Holdings, LLC
(e) President & CEO of Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC
(2) Nicholas P. Sargen, Director
(3) John F. Barrett, Director
(a) Chairman of Board & CEO, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company
(b) Director & Chairman, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance
Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Gerber Life Insurance Company
(c) Director, Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments
(d) President & Trustee, Western & Southern Financial Fund
(e) Board Member, Cintas Corporation
(f) Board Member, Americans for the Arts; Member & Executive Committee, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC); REDI Cincinnati; Member, Cincinnati Business Committee; Co-Chairman, Greater Cincinnati Scholarship Association; Member, Cincinnati Equity Fund; Honorary Trustee, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation; former Chairman, Medical Center Fund, UC;
Advisory Board, Barrett Cancer Center; former Vice Chairman, UC Foundation Capital Campaign; Honorary Chairman, UC Presidential Bicentennial Commission; Member, Business Roundtable; Former Director, American Council of Life Insurers; former
member, Financial Services Roundtable
(4) Brendan M. White, Senior Vice President Co-Chief Investment Officer
(a) Board Member, Good Samaritan Hospital
(b) Board Member, Cincinnati Cancer Foundation
(5) James J. Vance, Senior Vice President, Co-Chief Investment Officer
(a) Board Member, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati
(b) Committee Member, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
(c) Board Member, Pro Football Focus, LLC
(d) Board Member, Global Graphene Inc.
(6) Michele Hawkins, Chief Compliance Officer & Managing Director
(a) Advisory Board Member, Xavier University Cintas Institute for Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
(7) Jay V. Johnson, Vice President and Treasurer
(8) Martin W. Flesher, Managing Director of Business Development and Client Service
(9) Jonathan D. Niemeyer, Director
(a) Board of Directors, Bethesda, Inc., Cincinnati Art Museum, Association of Life Insurance Counsel
(b) Director, Sr. Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Eagle Realty
Group, LLC, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc., Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., The Lafayette Life Insurance Company
(c) Sr. Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western
& Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company
(d) Director, Sr. Vice President, Gerber Life Insurance Company
(10) Donald J. Wuebbling, Director
(a) Secretary & Counsel, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western- Southern Life Assurance Company, Western
& Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette
Life Insurance Company
(b) Director, Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc., IFS Financial
Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments, Integrity
Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Agency, Inc.
(11) Eric J. Walzer, Vice President , Investment Operations
(12) David T. Henderson, Sr. Vice President, Chief Actuary, Risk and Data Officer
(13) Jeffrey L. Stainton, Secretary
(14) Gerald J. Ulland, Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director Private Client Group
(a) Board Member, Mount Notre Dame Board of Trustees
(b) Finance Committee, Scripps Foundation
Sands Capital Management, LLC
Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital”) is the sub-advisor for the Touchstone Sands Capital Select Growth Fund. The principal business address of Sands Capital is 1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 3000, Arlington, VA 22209. Sands Capital is an investment
adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The directors, officers and/or partners of Sands Capital have been engaged in the
capacities listed below with other companies within the last two fiscal years:
Name and Position with
Company
|
|
Position with Other
Company
|
Frank M. Sands
Chief Executive Officer
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
Investment Board Member
Executive Management Team
|
Jonathan Goodman
General Counsel
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
|
Name and Position with
Company
|
|
Position with Other
Company
|
Dana McNamara
Chief Administrative Officer
Executive Managing Director
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
Executive Management Team
|
Stephen Nimmo
Executive Managing Director
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
Provides client relations
service
|
Thomas Perry Williams
President, Executive Managing
Director, Director of Research,
Sr. Portfolio Manager
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
Executive Management Team
|
Luke Iglehart
Executive Managing Director,
Client and Consultant
Relations
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
Executive Management Team
|
Brian Christiansen
Executive Managing Director,
Sr. Portfolio Manager
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
Executive Management Team
|
Ian Ratcliffe
Executive Managing Director,
Managing Partner
|
Sands Capital Ventures, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
|
Portfolio Manager, Managing
Partner, Executive
Management Team
|
Leeward Investments, LLC
Leeward Investments, LLC (“Leeward”) is the sub-advisor for the Touchstone Mid Cap Value Fund and Touchstone Small Cap Value Fund. The principal business address of Leeward is One Boston Place, 201 Washington Street, 29th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts,
02108. Leeward is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act. Except as stated below, no director, officer or
partner has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
Effective on March 1, 2022, Leeward replaced LMCG Investments, LLC (“LMCG”) as the Fund's sub-advisor. Leeward was formed as result of the reorganization of LMCG's U.S. value equity team into an employee-owned asset management firm.
EARNEST Partners, LLC
EARNEST Partners, LLC (“EARNEST Partners”) is the sub-advisor for the Touchstone Impact Bond Fund. The principal business address of EARNEST Partners is 1180 Peachtree Street, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA, 30309. EARNEST Partners is an investment advisor
registered under the Advisers Act. Except as stated below, no director, officer or partner has been engaged in any other business
or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
NAME AND POSITION
WITH COMPANY
|
|
POSITION WITH
OTHER COMPANY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maple Capital Partners, LLC
|
|
|
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member of the Board of
Managers
|
|
|
|
|
Maple Capital Partners, LLC
|
|
|
|
Co‐founder and Chief
Investment Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NAME AND POSITION
WITH COMPANY
|
|
POSITION WITH
OTHER COMPANY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maple Capital Partners, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maple Capital Partners, LLC
|
|
The London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company
London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (“The London Company”) is a registered advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Small Cap Fund and the Touchstone Mid Cap Fund. The address of The London Company is 1800 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia, 23226. No director, officer or partner of The London Company has been engaged
in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
TOBAM S.A.S.
TOBAM S.A.S. (“TOBAM”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing sub-advisory services to Touchstone Anti-Benchmark International Core Equity Fund and Touchstone Anti-Benchmark US Core Equity Fund. The address is 49-53 Avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris, France. No director, officer or partner of TOBAM has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
Ares Capital Management II, LLC
Ares Capital Management II, LLC (“Ares”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Ares Credit Opportunities Fund. The address of Ares is 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90067. No
director, officer or partner of Ares has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two
fiscal years.
Rockefeller & Co., LLC
Rockefeller & Co., LLC (“Rockefeller”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone International ESG Equity Fund. The address of Rockefeller is 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Fifth Floor, New York, New York 10111.
Officers and employees of Rockefeller and its affiliates may serve as non-executive directors of for-profit businesses, including financial
services companies that provide services to Rockefeller and/or to clients of Rockefeller. Rockefeller has adopted procedures
and practices in seeking to mitigate conflicts of interests that may result from such outside business affiliations. No director,
officer or partner of Rockefeller has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal
years.
ITEM 32. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS:
(a)
Touchstone Securities, Inc. acts as underwriter for the Touchstone Fund Complex.
(b)
The following are the directors and officers of the underwriter. Unless otherwise noted, the address of the persons named
below is 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
*
The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
|
POSITION WITH
UNDERWRITER
|
|
|
President & Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer
|
|
|
POSITION WITH
UNDERWRITER
|
|
|
|
|
|
Divisional Vice President
|
|
|
Divisional Vice President
|
|
|
Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
|
|
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Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM 33. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and
the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:
(a)
With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1); (2)(a) and (b); (3);(6); (8); (12); and 31a-1(d), the required books and records will be maintained at the offices of Registrant’s Custodian:
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
40 Water Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(b)
With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1),(4); (2)(C) and (D);(4); (5); (6); (8); (9); (10); (11); and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of the Registrant’s Administrator and Sub-Administrator:
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
The Bank of New York Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
201 Washington Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(c)
With respect to Rules 31a-1(b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the principal offices of the Registrant’s Advisor and sub-advisors:
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Sands Capital Management, LLC
1000 Wilson Blvd, Suite 3000
Arlington, VA 22209
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1200
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Leeward Investments, LLC
One Boston Place,
201 Washington Street, 29th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
EARNEST Partners, LLC
1180 Peachtree Street, Suite 2300
Atlanta, GA 30309
The London Company
1800 Bayberry Court, Suite 301
Richmond, VA 23226
TOBAM S.A.S.
49-53 Avenue des Champs Elysées,
75008 Paris, France
Ares Capital Management II, LLC
2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Rockefeller & Co., LLC
45 Rockefeller Plaza, Fifth Floor
New York, New York 10111
ITEM 34. MANAGEMENT SERVICES NOT DISCUSSED IN PART A OR PART B
None.
ITEM 35. UNDERTAKINGS
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 to its
Registration Statement on Form N-1A under Rule 485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, on June 20, 2023.
|
TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST
|
By: /s/ E. Blake Moore, Jr.
E. Blake Moore, Jr.
Trustee and President
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended this PEA No. 134 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacity on the date indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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Controller, Treasurer and Principal
Financial Officer
|
|
|
*By: /s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
*(Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Power of Attorney)
|
|
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Sands Capital Management, LLC with respect
to the Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund.
|
FORM-OF SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund
a series of
Touchstone Funds Group Trust
This Sub-Advisory Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of [ ], 2023, between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor") and Sands Capital Management, LLC (the "Sub- Advisor").
WHEREAS, Touchstone Funds Group Trust (the "Trust") is a Delaware statutory trust organized pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated [[May 19, 1993]], as amended, and registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, Touchstone Sands Capital International Growth Equity Fund (the "Fund") is a series of the Trust;
WHEREAS, the Advisor is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and has been retained by the Trust to provide investment advisory services with respect to certain assets of the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor attached as Exhibit A (the "Advisory Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Sub-Advisor is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act;
and
WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to retain the Sub-Advisor to furnish it with the Services (as defined below) in connection with the Advisor's investment advisory activities on behalf of the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor desires to furnish the Services to the Advisor subject to the terms and conditions in this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions set forth below, the parties agree as follows:
1.Appointment of the Sub-Advisor.
a. The Advisor hereby appoints the Sub-Advisor to perform the Services with respect to the assets of the Fund allocated by the Advisor to the Sub-Advisor from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (such assets, together with any current income and capital gains derived therefrom, the "Fund Assets"), in conformity with the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information, as amended, in each case as furnished to the Sub-Advisor under Section 2(q) (collectively, the "Disclosure Documents) and the investment guidelines and policies, if any, agreed upon in writing by the parties from time to time (collectively with the Disclosure Documents, the "Investment Guidelines"), and subject to the control and direction of the Advisor and the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Board"), for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor accepts such appointment with respect to the Fund Assets on and subject to the terms of
1
this Agreement and agrees during such period to render the Services and to perform the duties called for by this Agreement for the compensation provided in Section 3. The Sub- Advisor shall not be responsible for aspects of the Fund's investment program other than the management of the Fund Assets expressly set forth in this Agreement.
b.Promptly following the initial funding of the segregated custodial account established to maintain the assets of the Fund (the "Account"), the Advisor shall specify (or cause the Fund's agent to specify) to the Sub-Advisor in writing the assets initially comprising the Fund Assets and information regarding the Account. The Advisor may from time to time, upon prior written notice to the Sub-Advisor, cause Fund Assets to be contributed to or withdrawn from the Account. Notices with respect to the initial funding of, and any contribution to and withdrawal from, the Account shall be furnished to the Sub-Advisor at the following email addresses: recon@sandscap.com and clientservice@sandscap.com, or such other email address(es) communicated to the Advisor in writing by the Sub-Advisor from time to time. The initial funding of the Account and any subsequent contribution thereto shall be made only in cash unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Sub-Advisor; provided that for reasonable requests the Sub-Advisor does not withhold consent. As investment advisers to the Fund, each Advisor is required to maintain registration as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act. If the registration of the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor under the Advisers Act ceases, such party shall notify the other at least 90 days prior to such cessation.
c.For purposes of this Agreement, the Sub-Advisor shall be deemed an independent contractor and shall, except as expressly provided or authorized by written agreement with the Advisor, Fund, or Trust, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund.
2.Services and Duties. The Sub-Advisor will provide to the Advisor the services set forth in Sections 2(a), (b), and (j) (collectively, the "Services") and undertake the duties applicable to the Sub-Advisor in this Section 2:
a.The Sub-Advisor will manage the investment and reinvestment of the Fund Assets, subject to and in accordance with the Investment Guidelines and any written directions that the Advisor, the Board, or any Authorized Person (as defined below) may give to the Sub-Advisor in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, the Sub- Advisor shall not be obligated to follow any direction that it reasonably believes may violate applicable law or regulation. In furtherance of this Section 2(a), the Sub-Advisor will make all determinations with respect to the investment and reinvestment of the Fund Assets and the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and shall take such steps as may be necessary or advisable in the Sub-Advisor's discretion to implement the same. Subject to Sections 2(c) and 2(d), the Sub-Advisor also will determine the manner in which voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action, and any other rights pertaining to the Fund's portfolio securities will be exercised; provided, that the Fund's custodian (the "Custodian") furnishes to the Sub-Advisor in a timely manner all materials necessary for the Sub-Advisor to make such determinations.
2
b.As reasonably requested by the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor will render regular reports regarding transactions in the Fund Assets to the Board and to the Advisor (or such other service providers as the Advisor shall engage to assist it in the evaluation of the performance and activities of the Sub-Advisor). Such reports shall be made in such form as the Trust or the Advisor shall reasonably request; provided, however, that in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, an individual primarily responsible for management of Fund Assets for the Sub-Advisor will not be required to attend in-person more than one meeting per year with the Board.
c.The Sub-Advisor may utilize the services of one or more third-party service providers to research and vote proxies on its behalf and on behalf of the Fund.
d.The Sub-Advisor shall not have custody of any of the Fund Assets and is not authorized to provide, nor shall be responsible for providing, the Fund or the Advisor with legal or tax advice or to engage the Fund in any legal proceedings, including responding to class action claims; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor shall promptly forward any notices it receives relating to class action claims involving securities presently or formerly comprising Fund Assets to the Custodian or other duly designated Fund agent. The Sub-Advisor shall not be obligated to assist the Advisor, Custodian, or other duly designated Fund agent in evaluating any legal proceeding or potential legal proceeding, including securities class action claims. The Advisor acknowledges that it or another duly designated Fund agent will be responsible for evaluating and making all decisions for the Trust regarding legal proceedings and potential legal proceedings, including class action claims, involving securities presently or formerly comprising Fund Assets. The Advisor shall instruct the Custodian to: (i) act, within the limits of the Sub-Advisor's authority under this Agreement, in accordance with instructions from the Sub-Advisor, and (ii) provide the Sub-Advisor with such periodic reports concerning the status of the Account and the Fund Assets as the Sub-Advisor may reasonably request from time to time. The Advisor shall promptly notify the Sub-Advisor in writing of the termination or replacement of the Custodian or the appointment of any additional Custodian. The Advisor agrees to promptly notify the Sub-Advisor if there is a change in or appointment of a Custodian. The Sub-Advisor shall have no responsibility for the collection of dividends and interest on securities or other assets, or for paying any fees or charges of the Custodian, and shall not be liable for any act or omission of the Custodian or the Custodian's affiliates.
e.The Sub-Advisor may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate purchase and sale orders of securities placed with respect to the Fund Assets with similar orders being made simultaneously for other vehicles or accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates, if the Sub-Advisor in good faith determines that such aggregation shall result in terms no less advantageous to the Fund than to any other participant. In the event that a purchase or sale of the Fund Assets occurs as part of any aggregate sale or purchase order, an objective of the Sub-Advisor and any of its affiliates involved in such transaction shall be to allocate the securities so purchased or sold, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, among the Fund and other relevant vehicles and accounts in a fair and equitable manner.
3
f.Whenever the Fund and one or more other investment advisory clients of the Sub-Advisor have available funds for investment and substantially similar investment strategies, guidelines, and policies; investments satisfying such strategies, guidelines, and policies will be allocated in a manner consistent with applicable law. It is possible that due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons, the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates may purchase or recommend purchasing securities of an issuer for one client and at approximately the same time recommend selling or sell the same or similar types of securities for another client, including the Fund.
g.The Sub-Advisor will not arrange purchases or sales of securities between the Fund and other accounts advised by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates unless (a) such purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law and regulation (including Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act) and the Investment Guidelines, (b) the Sub-Advisor determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of the Fund, and (c) the Fund's Board has approved these types of transactions.
h.The Sub-Advisor shall upon request reasonably assist the Advisor and any Fund pricing agent in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sub- Advisor (i) is not responsible for making determinations regarding the valuations of Fund holdings and (ii) is not an official pricing source, and shall not be liable for any valuation determinations (and has no responsibility for calculating the Fund's net asset value).
i.Regulatory Compliance.
(i)In performing the Services, the Sub-Advisor will comply in all material respects with relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a- 1 of the Investment Company Act), the Investment Guidelines, and any directions of the Advisor or its Authorized Persons given in accordance with this Agreement. In performing its obligations with respect to the Fund, including any obligations under this Agreement, the Advisor shall comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, state and non-U.S. laws and regulations, including the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, each as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, or state securities regulator that are applicable to a registered investment adviser providing services to registered open-end investment companies including Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act (collectively, "Applicable Law"). The Advisor shall update the Investment Guidelines (and provide the Sub-Advisor prior written notice of the substance of such updates) to include guidelines reasonably designed to ensure the Sub-Advisor's activities under this Agreement satisfy any obligations under relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act) other than the Advisers Act.
(ii)The Sub-Advisor acknowledges the intention of the Advisor to cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income
4
requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for qualification as a regulated investment company. The Advisor shall revise the Investment Guidelines from time to time to include guidelines reasonably designed to ensure compliance with such requirements.
(iii)The Sub-Advisor will reasonably cooperate with the Trust's Chief Compliance Officers in the execution of his or her responsibilities to monitor the Sub-Advisor as a service provider with respect to the Fund pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.
(iv)Subject to the Advisor's supervision, the Sub-Advisor will prepare and cause to be filed in a timely manner Form 13F and, if required, Schedule 13G, each under the 1934 Act, with respect to securities comprising Fund Assets.
(v)The Sub-Advisor has adopted a written code of ethics that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Code of Ethics"). Prior to the effective date of this Agreement and upon any subsequent request by the Advisor or Board, the Sub-Advisor shall provide the Fund with (i) a copy of the Sub-Advisor's Code of Ethics, then in effect, and (ii) a certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its Access Persons (as defined under Rule 17j-1(c) under the 1940 Act) from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Sub-Advisor's Code of Ethics. No less frequently than annually, the Sub-Advisor shall furnish to the Fund and the Advisor a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1(c)(2)(ii) under the 1940 Act, concerning the Sub-Advisor's Code of Ethics. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly respond to any requests for information from the Advisor as to violations of the Sub-Advisor's Code of Ethics by Access Persons and the Sub-Advisor's response to such violations. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor of any material violation of the Sub-Advisor's Code of Ethics, whether or not such violation relates to a security held by the Fund.
(vi)The Sub-Advisor shall notify the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer and the Advisor promptly upon detection of (i) any material failure to manage the Fund Assets in accordance with the Investment Guidelines or any relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act); (ii) any material breach of the Fund's policies, guidelines, or procedures (to the extent such policies, guidelines, or procedures have been provided to the Sub-Advisor in writing); or (iii) any material breach of any directions issued to the Sub-Advisor in accordance with Section 2(a). In addition, the Sub-Advisor shall upon request furnish certifications on a quarterly basis regarding its compliance with the Investment Guidelines and relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act), in each case in connection with performing the Services. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Advisor may, in its sole discretion, provide such quarterly compliance certifications to the Board. The Sub-Advisor agrees to promptly correct any failure to comply identified by the Board. The Sub-Advisor shall also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting
5
certifications, to the extent applicable, regarding the Services in connection with certifications of the Fund's financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended. Each party to this Agreement will promptly notify the other in the event (i) the party is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Fund (excluding class action suits in which the Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Fund's ownership of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the party with the federal or state securities laws in connection with the Services provided to the Fund or (ii) an "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred.
(vii)The Sub-Advisor shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Fund Assets advised by the Sub-Advisor as required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the Advisor, Custodian, or transfer agent appointed by the Fund), and relating to its responsibilities under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the "Fund Books and Records"). The Fund Books and Records shall be reasonably available to the Advisor and the Board, which shall be delivered upon request to the Trust, at the Advisor's expense, upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be reasonably available for telecopying during any day the Sub-Advisor is open for business. The Sub-Advisor may retain a copy of the Fund Books and Records for its own recordkeeping purposes.
j.The Sub-Advisor shall provide the following support to the Advisor with respect to the marketing of the Fund: (i) permission to use the Sub-Advisor's name as provided in Section 7 of this Agreement; (ii) permission to use the past performance and investment history of the Sub-Advisor with respect to a composite of funds managed by the Sub-Advisor that are comparable, in investment objective and composition, to the Fund to the extent and in the manner agreed in writing by the Sub-Advisor; provided that the Sub-Advisor shall not be liable to any person for the Advisor's use of such information in violation of Applicable Law; (iii) reasonable access to the individual(s) responsible for day-to-day investment management of the Fund for marketing conferences, teleconferences, and other activities involving the promotion of the Fund, subject to the reasonable request of the Advisor; and (iv) permission to use biographical and historical data of the Sub-Advisor and individual portfolio manager(s) involved in the Fund that has been furnished in writing by the Sub-Advisor to the Advisor for this express purpose.
k.The Sub-Advisor will, in the name of the Fund, place orders for the execution of all portfolio transactions in accordance with the policies set forth in Exhibit B, if any, and the Disclosure Documents, which may be revised by the Fund or the Advisor from time to time upon prior written notice to the Sub-Advisor. When placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Advisor shall seek to obtain the best overall execution available for the Fund and the other accounts and vehicles to which the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates perform investment advisory services, and in placing such orders the Sub-
6
Advisor may consider all factors that it reasonably deems relevant, including the overall direct net economic result to the Fund and such other accounts and vehicles both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis; price; the financial strength and stability of the broker or dealer; the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected; the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved; the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future; and the brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act provided to the Fund, the Sub-Advisor and such other accounts and vehicles. The Sub- Advisor is specifically authorized, to the extent authorized by law (including Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act), to pay a broker or dealer who provides research services to the Sub- Advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting such transaction. This excess payment (often referred to as "soft dollar" payments) in recognition of such additional research services rendered by the broker or dealer shall only be made if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction or the Sub-Advisor's overall responsibilities with respect to discretionary accounts that it manages, and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonable benefit from such research services. The Sub-Advisor will present a written report to the Board, at least quarterly, indicating total brokerage expenses, actual or imputed, as well as the services obtained in consideration for such expenses, broken down by broker-dealer and containing such information as the Board reasonably shall request. The Sub-Advisor shall not be liable to any person for any acts or omissions of any broker or dealer (or any of their affiliates) with respect to the Account or the Fund Assets.
l.The Sub-Advisor shall maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance policies related to the Services. Furthermore, the Sub-Advisor shall, upon reasonable request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.
m.Reserved.
n.The Sub-Advisor shall not be responsible for any expenses associated with the Fund or the Advisor except the Sub-Advisor's own expenses of providing the Services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Trust shall be responsible for payment of brokerage commissions, transfer fees, registration costs, taxes and other similar costs, and transaction-related expenses and fees arising out of transactions in the Account, and the Advisor hereby authorizes the Sub-Advisor to incur such expenses for the Fund.
o.The Advisor and Sub-Advisor acknowledge and agree that the Sub-Advisor shall be required to provide only the Services, and shall have no responsibility to provide any other services to the Advisor or the Fund except as required by law. The Advisor,
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subject to the Board's oversight, shall remain responsible for the Fund's overall compliance with Applicable Law. The Sub-Advisor, subject to oversight by the Advisor, shall be responsible for its overall compliance with relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act) in connection with its performance of the Services.
p.The Advisor agrees to provide the Sub-Advisor with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Sub-Advisor in connection with its activities under this Agreement, including information concerning the Fund; its cash available, or to become available, for investment; and generally as to the conditions of the Fund or its affairs. The Advisor shall, and shall cause the Trust to, promptly provide to the Sub-Advisor all information requested by the Sub-Advisor in order to comply with relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act) and to assist in the performance of the Sub-Advisor's obligations under this Agreement.
q.The Advisor will provide the Sub-Advisor with advance written notice of, and the opportunity to comment on, any change in the Fund's investment objectives, investment policy risks, and restrictions as stated in the Investment Guidelines, or in any procedures and policies adopted by the Board or the Advisor that may affect the Sub- Advisor's provision of the Services or its obligations under this Agreement. The Sub- Advisor shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Fund Assets in compliance with any changes made to the Investment Guidelines following reasonable written notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Advisor. In addition to such notice, the Advisor shall provide to the Sub-Advisor a copy of any amendments or supplements to the Disclosure Documents. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Disclosure Documents will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Fund.
r.The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Sub-Advisor does not guarantee the future performance or any specific level of performance for the Fund Assets, the success of any investment decision or strategy that the Sub-Advisor may use, or the success of the Sub-Advisor's overall management of the Fund Assets. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that investment decisions made with regard to the Fund Assets by the Sub-Advisor are subject to various market, currency, economic, political, and business risks, and that those investment decisions will not always be beneficial to the Fund. Additionally, there may be loss or depreciation of the value of the Fund Assets because of fluctuation of market values. These risks will be disclosed in the Fund's Disclosure Documents.
3.The Sub-Advisor's Authority.
a.In performing the Services and its other obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Advisor's authority and discretion shall include, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the authority and discretion to: (i) purchase, sell, and generally deal in or exchange Fund Assets for the Account; (ii) exercise whatever powers the Fund or the Advisor may possess with respect to any Fund Assets, including the power to exercise
8
rights, options, warrants, conversion privileges, and redemption privileges, and to tender securities pursuant to a tender offer; (iii) to enter into, and bind the Fund in respect of, foreign exchange transactions that settle by an actual delivery of the relevant currencies within a settlement period that is the customary timeline in the relevant market for spot foreign exchange transactions (or that is otherwise a bona fide spot foreign exchange transaction for purposes of applicable foreign exchange regulatory requirements) (each, a "Spot FX Transaction"); (iv) on behalf of each of the Fund, as agent and attorney-in-fact,
(A)open account(s) with and to issue to brokers, dealers, introducing brokers and banks, or any affiliate of any of the foregoing, instructions to purchase, sell or otherwise trade in or deal with, any security or other Fund Assets in the Account for the account and at risk of, and in the name of, the Fund; and (B) negotiate and execute agreements, indemnities, and representations letters for all purposes the Sub-Advisor determines are necessary or desirable in connection with the Services, provided that an officer of the Fund execute any such agreement, indemnity, or representation letter to which the Fund is a named party; and (v) instruct the Custodian with respect to the Fund Assets, including to: (A) accept or make delivery of any securities and other assets acquired, converted, exchanged, redeemed, or disposed of for the Account and pay cash for any such securities and other assets, and (B) deliver any securities and other assets sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of in the Account; and (C) generally perform any other act deemed necessary or desirable by the Sub-Advisor to assist it in carrying out the Services, including in connection with effecting Spot FX Transactions for the Fund.
b.In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the Sub-Advisor shall have no obligation to consult with or obtain the consent of any person, including the Advisor or the Board, except as expressly provided in this Agreement or under relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act).
4.Compensation of the Sub-Advisor.
a. As compensation for the Services to be rendered and duties undertaken under this Agreement by the Sub-Advisor, the Advisor will pay to the Sub-Advisor a
monthly fee equal on an annual basis to [ ]% of the average daily net asset value of the Fund Assets without regard to any total expense limitation or other fee waiver applied by the Trust or the Advisor. Such fee shall be computed and accrued daily. If the Sub- Advisor serves in such capacity for less than the whole of any period specified in Section 12a of this Agreement, the compensation to the Sub-Advisor shall be prorated. For purposes of calculating the Sub-Advisor's fee, the daily asset value of the Fund Assets shall be computed by the same method as the Trust uses to compute the Fund's net asset value for purposes of purchases and redemptions of shares.
b.The Sub-Advisor reserves the right to waive all or part of its fees.
5.Ongoing Reporting of the Sub-Advisor.
a.Financial Reporting. The Sub-Advisor will upon request report to the Board (at regular quarterly meetings and at such other times as the Board reasonably shall request, subject to the limitation on personal attendance at such meetings set forth in
9
Section 2b of this Agreement): (i) any financial condition of the Sub-Advisor that is reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Fund, (ii) information regarding any potential conflicts of interest between the Fund and the Sub-Advisor arising by reason of the Sub-Advisor's continuing provision of advisory services to the Fund and to its other accounts (the disclosure of any immaterial conflicts in the Sub-Advisor's Form ADV shall be deemed to satisfy the reporting obligation under this clause (ii); material conflicts must be immediately reported to the Advisor), and (iii) such other information reasonably requested by the Board, including the performance of the specific strategy used to manage the Fund Assets. Upon request by the Advisor or the Board, the Sub-Advisor agrees to discuss with the Board its plans for the allocation of remaining capacity in the strategy used to manage the Fund, with respect to the Fund and to the Sub-Advisor's other clients.
i.The Sub-Advisor will annually, or upon reasonable request by the Board, provide the Advisor with certain financial information. For purposes of this paragraph 4(a), "financial information" means a summary of the Sub-Advisor's balance sheet and the independent auditor's report, if any, issued in connection with the most recent audit of the Sub-Advisor's financial statements.
ii.The Sub-Advisor also agrees to notify the Advisor if any single client (other than all Touchstone Funds for whom the Sub-Advisor provides investment advisory services) accounts for 30% or more of the Sub-Advisor's and its affiliate's assets under management.
b.Key Personnel Reporting. The Sub-Advisor agrees to promptly notify the Advisor upon becoming aware of any incapacity, resignation, or termination of key personnel. For purposes of this Section 5(b), "key personnel" comprise: (i) any portfolio manager of the Fund; and (ii) any chief executive officer, chief compliance officer, chief operating officer, chief investment officer, chief financial officer, chief administration officer, or any other principal or officer of similar title or position with the Sub-Advisor; and (iii) any member of its executive management committee.
6.Representations of the Advisor. The Advisor represents as applicable, to the Sub-
Advisor that: (a) the Advisory Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by, and constitutes a legal obligation of, the Advisor and the Trust; (b) the Advisor has been duly appointed by the Board under the Advisory Agreement to provide investment services with respect to the Fund Assets as contemplated in the Advisory Agreement; (c) a true and complete copy of the Advisory Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A; (d) the Advisor has all necessary power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement, and such execution, delivery, and performance will not (i) require any license, registration, consent or approval that has not been lawfully and validly obtained, and any such license, registration, consent or approval shall be maintained to the extent required during the term of this Agreement; or (ii) violate any Applicable Law, organizational document, policy, or agreement binding on the Advisor or the Trust or their property; (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on its part; (d) the Trust has the full power and authority to enter into all transactions contemplated under this Agreement, to perform its obligations under
10
such transactions and to authorize the Advisor to procure the Sub-Advisor to enter into such transactions on the Trust's and Fund's behalf; (e) the Advisor's decision to appoint the Sub- Advisor was made in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law and the governing documents, contracts, or other material agreements or instruments governing the Fund's investment or trading activities; (f) the Advisor will deliver to the Sub-Advisor a true and complete copy of the Fund's Disclosure Documents, such other documents or instruments governing the investments of Fund Assets, and such other information as is necessary for the Sub-Advisor to carry out its obligations under this Agreement; and (g) the Trust is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code; (h) no restrictions exist on the transfer, sale or other disposition of any Fund Assets and no option, lien, charge, security or encumbrance exists over any Fund Assets; (i) each Authorized Person is, and until otherwise notified to the Sub- Advisor in writing shall be, authorized to give instructions, approvals and notices on behalf of the Advisor and the Trust; (j) the information in Exhibit D hereto is complete and correct and has been provided separately for each Client; and (j) the Advisor shall promptly notify the Sub-Advisor in writing in the event that any of the representations or warranties contained in this Section 6 is no longer true and accurate.
7.Use of Names.
a.Neither the Advisor nor the Trust shall use the name of the Sub-Advisor in any prospectus, sales literature, or other material relating to the Advisor or the Trust in any manner not approved in advance by the Sub-Advisor in writing; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor will approve all uses of its name which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment as sub-advisor with respect to the Fund or which are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or a state securities commission; and provided, further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.
b.The Sub-Advisor shall not use the name of the Advisor or the Trust in any material relating to the Sub-Advisor in any manner not approved in advance by the Advisor or the Trust, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Advisor and the Trust will each approve all uses of their respective names which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Sub-Advisor as the Fund's Sub-Advisor under this Agreement or which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and, provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld. The Sub-Advisor shall be the owner of all performance data it generates in connection with the Fund (the "Sub- Advisor's Performance History") for its track record, provided that the Fund is not specifically identified by name without approval in writing by the Advisor. For clarification, the Sub-Advisor's Performance History may be separate from the Fund's performance history to the extent that the Sub-Advisor either ceases to be the sole sub- adviser to the Fund or ceases to sub-advise any Fund Assets.
c.Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 12, the Advisor shall cease using any references to the Sub-Advisor in Fund and Advisor documents unless such reference is required by law. Similarly, the Sub-Advisor shall cease using any references to the Advisor or Fund in any documents unless such reference is required by law. For purposes of this paragraph, documents include marketing materials, regulatory filings, and performance reporting.
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8.Liability; Indemnification.
a.To the fullest extent permitted by relevant law, the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates and their respective members, partners, officers, employees, and controlling persons (collectively, "Sub-Advisor Covered Persons") shall not be liable to any person (including the Account, the Fund, the Trust, the Board, or the Advisor or any of their respective affiliates, members, partners, officers, employees, or controlling persons (each a "Covered Person")) for any expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges, and claims of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses, and costs; and expenses relating to investigating or defending any demands, charges, and claims) (collectively "Losses") arising from or relating to any act performed or omission made by any person in connection with the Agreement (including in connection with making any investment decisions), except to the extent that such Losses have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment on the merits to be the direct result of and primarily attributable to an act or omission of the Sub-Advisor during the term of this Agreement that constitutes (i) the Sub-Advisor's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or a material violation by the Sub-Advisor of the Investment Guidelines or relevant Federal Securities Laws (as defined under Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act) (collectively, "Culpable Conduct"). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Sub-Advisor Covered Person shall be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, consequential damages, or other similar Losses (regardless of whether such Losses were reasonably foreseeable) (collectively, "Special Damages").
b.The Sub-Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless each Covered Person against any and all direct Losses (other than Special Damages) incurred by a Covered Person that have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment on the merits to be the direct result of and primarily attributable to an act or omission of the Sub-Advisor that constitutes Culpable Conduct.
c.The Advisor and the Trust shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each Sub-Advisor Covered Person against any and all direct Losses (other than Special Damages) incurred by a Sub-Advisor Covered Person that have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment on the merits to be the direct result of and primarily attributable to an act or omission of the Advisor, the Trust, or the Board that constitutes (i) a material violation of any Applicable Law or any policy of the Board; or (ii) the Advisor's or the Trust's (including the Board's) willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
d.The Advisor and the Trust shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each Sub-Adviser Covered Person (as defined herein) from and against any and all Losses (other than Special Damages) incurred in connection with any Failed Trade (as defined below), subject to the Sub-Adviser being obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any Losses associated with a Trade Fail Action. For purposes of this provision, a "Failed Trade" means any transaction initiated by the Sub-
12
Adviser in compliance with this Agreement that fails to be executed or settled as a result of any action or instruction by the Advisor or the Board.
9.Limitation of Trust's Liability. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges that it has received notice of and accepts the limitations upon the Trust's liability set forth in its Declaration of Trust. The Sub-Advisor agrees that (i) the Trust's obligations to the Sub-Advisor under this Agreement (or indirectly under the Advisory Agreement) shall be limited in any event to the Fund Assets and (ii) the Sub-Advisor shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Fund in their capacities as shareholders of the Fund, other than the Advisor.
10.Force Majeure. The Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for delays or errors occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or failure of communication or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its control, the Sub-Advisor shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions.
11.Confidentiality.
a.Each party expressly undertakes to protect and to preserve the confidentiality of all information and know-how made available under or in connection with this Agreement, or the parties' activities that are either designated as being confidential or which, by the nature of the circumstances surrounding the disclosure, ought in good faith to be treated as proprietary or confidential (collectively, the "Confidential Information"). Each party shall take reasonable security precautions, at least as great as the precautions it takes to protect its own confidential information but in any event using a commercially reasonable standard of care, to keep confidential the Confidential Information. Neither party shall disclose Confidential Information except: (a) to its employees, directors, officers, advisors, agents, or auditors having a need to know such Confidential Information; (b) in accordance with a judicial or other governmental order or when such disclosure is required by law, provided that prior to such disclosure the receiving party shall provide (to the extent legally permissible) the disclosing party with written notice and shall comply with any protective order or equivalent; (c) in accordance with a regulatory audit or inquiry, without prior notice to the disclosing party, provided that the receiving party shall seek to obtain a confidentiality undertaking from the regulatory agency where possible; or (d) in the case of the Sub-Advisor, to the extent necessary or desirable in connection with performing the Services and its other obligations under this Agreement, including to brokers and dealers, whether executing or clearing.
b.Further, the Advisor expressly acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Confidential Information and advice furnished by the Sub-Advisor hereunder (including information regarding the Sub-Advisor's expertise, investment strategies, trading activities, or financial affairs) have been developed by the Sub-Advisor through the application of proprietary methods and standards of judgment and through the expenditure of considerable work, time, and money and is the exclusive and proprietary intellectual property of the Sub-Advisor, and as such, shall be deemed Confidential Information; and
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(ii)in additional to any other restrictions set forth herein shall not be used by any person other than the Sub-Advisor as the basis for effecting transactions in any account or vehicle.
c.Neither party will make use of any Confidential Information except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or as agreed to in writing between the parties. However, the receiving party shall have no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information that: (a) is or becomes available to the recipient party or its representatives from a source other than the other party to this Agreement or the Trust, which source, to the knowledge of the recipient party or its representatives, does not have an obligation of confidentiality to the other party or the Trust with respect to such information; (b) the disclosing party discloses generally without any obligation of confidentiality; (c) is or subsequently becomes publicly available without the receiving party's breach of any obligation owed the disclosing party; (d) is independently developed by the receiving party without reliance upon or use of any Confidential Information; or (e) was already in the receiving party's possession or the possession of its representatives prior to receiving such information from the other party or the Trust, and was not subject to any other confidentiality provisions. Each party's obligations under this clause shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
d.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each party to this Agreement may disclose any information with respect to the United States federal income tax treatment and tax structure (and any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transaction) of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
e.The Advisor shall ensure that each person receiving reports under Section 2(b) agrees to maintain the confidentiality of such reports and not to use such reports for any purpose other than in connection with their services with respect to the Fund. The Advisor shall be liable for the failure of any report recipient to comply with the provisions of Section 2(b).
12.Renewal, Termination and Amendment.
a.This Agreement shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated under
this Agreement, through [ ], 2025; and it shall thereafter continue for successive annual terms; provided that such continuance is specifically approved by the parties and, provided, further, that, at least annually (i) the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund have approved the continuance or (ii) a majority of the Board, including the vote of a majority of the trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor, have approved the continuance in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
b.This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, (i) by the Advisor upon not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' prior written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Sub-Advisor; (ii) by the Sub-Advisor upon not less than 60 days' prior written notice delivered or mailed by
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registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Advisor; or (iii) by the Trust, upon either (y) the majority vote of the Board or (z) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
c.Any trades entered but not settled as of the date of termination of this Agreement shall be honored by the parties.
d.This Agreement may be amended at any time by the parties, subject to approval by the Board and, if required by applicable SEC rules and regulations, a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such change.
e.The terms "assignment," "interested persons," and "majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in the 1940 Act.
13.Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall become or shall be found to be invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected.
14.Notice.
a.Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the address or facsimile number, as applicable, of the party receiving such notice or instruction and
(a) delivered personally; (b) sent by electronic mail ("email") or facsimile transmission, with notice or confirmation of receipt received; (c) delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier; or (d) sent by prepaid first-class mail. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the addresses of the Trust and the Advisor for this purpose shall be
303Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and that the address of the Sub- Advisor shall be 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 2300, Arlington, Virginia 22209.
b.All instructions, approvals, and notices given under this Agreement by the Advisor shall be in writing signed by one or more of those persons designated as representatives of the Advisor whose names, titles, and specimen signatures appear in Exhibit C, as may be amended from time to time (the "Authorized Persons"). The Advisor may revise the list of Authorized Persons from time to time by furnishing the Sub-Advisor a revised list, which has been certified by the Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall be authorized to rely, and shall incur no liability for relying, upon the instructions, approvals, and notices given by, and the documents signed by, any person the Sub-Advisor reasonably believes is an Authorized Person. The Sub-Advisor shall have no duty to make any investigation or inquiry as to any statement contained in any writing and may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of the statements therein contained. Instructions given by an Authorized Person hereunder shall be effective only upon actual receipt by the Sub-Advisor and shall be acknowledged by the Sub-Advisor through its actions hereunder or by communications to the Advisor or an Authorized Person.
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15.Miscellaneous. Each party to this Agreement shall perform such further actions and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or delimit any of this Agreement's provisions or otherwise affect their construction or effect. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to a Section or Exhibit of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The word "including" and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean "including, without limitation," unless otherwise specified. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
16.Entire Agreement. All Exhibits are hereby incorporated into this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties with respect to this Agreement's subject matter.
17.Customer Notification. By executing this Agreement, the Advisor acknowledges that as required by the Advisers Act the Sub-Advisor has supplied to the Advisor and the Trust copies of the Sub-Advisor's Form ADV Part 2A or equivalent disclosure document required by Rule 204-3 under the Advisers Act. Otherwise, the Advisor's rights under federal law allow termination of this contract without penalty within five business days after entering into this contract. U.S. law also requires the Sub-Advisor to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. The Sub-Advisor will ask for the Trust's legal name, principal place of business address, and Taxpayer Identification or other identification number, and may ask for other identifying information.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank. The signature page follows.]
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Each party's duly authorized signatories have signed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC.
BY:BY:
Name:Name:
Title:Title:
SANDS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
BY:
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT A
(Advisory Agreement)
1
EXHIBIT B
(Brokerage Policies)
1
EXHIBIT C
(Authorized Persons)
1
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EXHIBIT D |
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1 |
Please check type of |
⬜(A) |
INDIVIDUAL |
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Account |
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(Includes trusts, estates, and 401(k) plans and IRAs of individuals and their family members, |
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but does not include businesses organized as sole proprietorships and other than high net worth |
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individuals.) |
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⬜(B) HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS |
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(A "qualified purchaser" as defined in section 2(a)(51)(A) of the Investment Company Act of |
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1940. For natural persons this means net worth of not less than $5,000,000. Net worth |
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includes assets held jointly with a spouse and means the excess of total assets (excluding primary |
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residence) at fair market value, over total liabilities, including mortgage debt (other than |
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mortgage debt secured by the primary residence, up to the fair market value of such residence).) |
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⬜(C) BANKING OR THRIFT INSTITUTION |
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⬜(D) |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES |
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(U.S. investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.) |
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⬜(E) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES |
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(U.S. companies that have made an election pursuant to section 54 of the Investment Company |
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Act of 1940.) |
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⬜F) POOLED INVESTMENT VEHICLES |
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(Other than U.S. investment companies and business development companies, e.g., U.S. |
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private funds or UCITS Type I, II and III Funds regulated by an OECD country regulator.) |
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⬜(G) PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS |
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(U.S. pension or other employee benefit plan regulated by ERISA, but not the plan |
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participants or government pension plans.) |
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⬜(H) |
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS |
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⬜(I) STATE OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES |
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(U.S. entities and plans only, including government pension plans.) |
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⬜(J) |
OTHER INVESTMENT ADVISERS |
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⬜(K) |
INSURANCE COMPANIES |
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⬜(L) |
SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUNDS AND FOREIGN OFFICIAL |
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INSTITUTIONS |
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(Foreign official institutions include: treasuries, ministries of finance, or corresponding |
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departments of national governments; central banks; international and regional organizations; |
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and banks, corporations, or other agencies that are fiscal agents of national governments.) |
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⬜(M) CORPORATIONS OR OTHER BUSINESSES NOT LISTED ABOVE |
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⬜(N) |
OTHER |
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(E.g., U.S. collective investment trusts and foreign government or corporate pension plans.) |
2 |
Please indicate the legal |
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jurisdiction in which |
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Account is domiciled |
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3 |
Please indicate the name of |
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the Account's custodian |
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bank (or Prime Broker, if |
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applicable) |
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4 |
For entities with a U.S. |
Please note that this information is sought solely for the purpose of meeting the Sub- |
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federal income tax filing |
Adviser's regulatory reporting obligations and not for the purpose of managing the tax |
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obligation: |
consequences arising out of the tax status of the Account. |
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Please supply a copy of |
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your W-9, W-8ECI, W- |
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8EXP, W-8IMY or W- |
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8BEN-E, as applicable. |
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1 |