Statement of Additional Information
Trust History
The Trust is a Massachusetts business trust formed in 1984. It is an open-end, non-diversified management investment company.
Investment Strategies and Risks
Ratings
The ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) , Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, represent their respective opinions of the quality of the municipal bonds and notes which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, obligations with the same maturity, stated interest rate and rating may have different yields, while obligations of the same maturity and stated interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield.
Rating agencies consider municipal obligations that have only the fourth highest credit rating to be of medium quality. Thus, they may present investment risks which do not exist with more highly rated obligations. Such obligations possess less attractive investment characteristics. Changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher-grade bonds.
Credit rating or credit quality of a security is determined at the time of purchase. If, after purchase, the credit rating on a security is downgraded or the credit quality deteriorates, or if the duration of a security is extended, the Trust’s investment adviser will decide whether the security should continue to be held or sold.
See Appendix A to this SAI for further information about the ratings of these organizations that apply to the various rated Hawaiian Obligations which the Trust may purchase.
The table below gives information as to the percentage of Trust net assets invested as of March 31, 2012, in Hawaiian Obligations in the various rating categories:
Highest rating
(1)
|
14.8%
|
Second highest rating
(2)
|
73.6%
|
Third highest rating
(3)
|
7.7%
|
Fourth highest rating
(4)
|
3.5%
|
Not rated:
|
0.4%
|
|
100.0%
|
(1)
Aaa of Moody’s.*
(2)
Aa of Moody’s.
(3)
A of Moody’s.
(4)
Baa of Moody’s.
* Also includes pre-refunded Hawaiian Obligations, which are bonds for which U.S. Government Obligations have been placed in escrow to retire such Obligations at their earliest call date.
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Additional Information About the Hawaii Economy
The following information is a summary of certain factors affecting the credit and financial condition of the State of Hawaii (“Hawaii” or the “State”). The sources of payment for Hawaii municipal obligations and the marketability thereof may be affected by financial or other difficulties experienced by the State and certain of its municipalities and public authorities. This summary does not purport to be a complete description and is derived from information contained in the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (“DBEDT”) Second Quarter 2012 Quarterly Statistical and Economic Reports (“QSER”) or otherwise prepared by DBEDT, and other publicly available documents. Any estimates of future results and other projections are statements of opinion made by DBEDT in, and as of the date of, such QSER and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. The Fund has not independently verified, and is not responsible for, the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this information, and the Fund does not undertake any obligation to update such information. Such information is included herein without the express authority of any Hawaii issuer and is provided without regard to any events that have occurred since the date of such QSER.
State of the Economy
Hawaii’s major economic indicators were all positive in the first quarter of 2012. Visitor arrivals and average daily visitor census both increased significantly, and visitor expenditures increased even more. Private building permits increased. Wage and salary jobs, personal income, and State general fund tax revenues all increased in the quarter as compared to the same quarter last year.
Hawaii’s tourism sector performed very well in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter of 2011. The total number of visitors arriving by air to Hawaii increased 8.6 percent in the quarter. Both international and domestic visitor arrivals increased. Due to slightly shorter lengths of stay, the daily visitor census increased 7.8 percent in the quarter. However, since visitors spent more on a daily basis during the first quarter, total visitor spending by air increased 13.7 percent in the quarter.
In construction, the permit value for private construction increased $178.5 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to the same quarter of 2011. Construction jobs decreased only slightly in the quarter. According to the most recent data available, current construction put-in-place based on excise tax data increased $169.5 million or 12.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with the same quarter of 2010.
In the first quarter of 2012, State general fund tax revenues were up $117.0 million or 11.0 percent over the same period of 2011. As an indicator of current economic activity, state general excise tax revenue increased $58.2 million or 8.9 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter in 2011. For the whole year of 2011, state general fund tax revenues increased $350.2 million or 8.1 percent, and state general excise tax revenue increased $208.5 million or 8.8 percent compared with the previous year.
The labor market conditions also show that the economy is improving. After ten consecutive quarterly decreases in jobs from the second quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2010, Hawaii’s jobs increased for the sixth time. In the first quarter of 2012 Hawaii’s civilian wage and salary jobs averaged 602,350 jobs, an increase of 4,950 jobs or 0.8 percent from the same quarter of 2011.
Job increase in the first quarter of 2012 was completely due to job increases in the private sector. In this quarter, the private sector added about 5,450 jobs compared to the first quarter of 2011. Job growth mainly occurred in visitor-related industries in the quarter. Accommodation experienced the largest job gains, added 2,500 jobs; followed by Food Services and Drinking Places (added 2,050 jobs), and Professional and Business Services (added 1,400 jobs). Private sector job losses were largest in the Information sector (lost 1,500 jobs). During the first quarter of 2012, the three levels of government together lost 500 jobs compared to
the same quarter of 2011.
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The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that Hawaii’s total nominal annualized personal income in the fourth quarter of 2011 increased $2,220 million or 3.9 percent from the same quarter of 2010. This increase includes inflation so that the growth of real personal income was smaller. The increase in nominal personal income during the fourth quarter of 2011 was due to increases in all major components of personal income. In dollar terms, the largest increases occurred in wage and salary disbursements, followed by dividends, interest, and rent, supplements to wage and salaries, which include retirement and unemployment insurance benefits, proprietors' income, and personal current transfer receipts. For the whole year of 2011, total annualized personal income was $59,190 million, increased 4.5 percent from the previous year.
According to the most recent data available, consumer prices in Honolulu increased 4.0 percent in the second half of 2011 compared with the same period of 2010, as measured by the Honolulu Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U). By contrast, the U.S. CPI-U increased 3.5 percent in the second half of 2011. In 2011, the Honolulu CPI-U increased 3.7 percent from the previous year. The higher Honolulu CPI-U in the second half of 2011 was primarily due to relatively large increases in the price index for Transportation (7.0 percent), Food & Beverages (4.4 percent), and Housing (4.0 percent). The prices for Medical Care and Education and Communication both increased 2.3 percent, the prices for Recreation, Other Goods and Services, and Apparel increased 1.9 percent, 1.8 percent, and 1.0 percent, respectively, compared to the second half of 2010.
Outlook for the Economy
Based on the most recent development in the national and global economy, the performance of Hawaii’s tourism industry, the labor market conditions in the state, and growth of personal income and tax revenues, Hawaii’s economy is expected to continue positive growth for the rest of 2012 and into 2013. Overall, the current DBEDT forecast is more optimistic for most of the economic indicators, especially visitor related indicators, compared with the previous forecast.
Hawaii’s economy depends significantly on conditions in the U.S. economy and key international economies, especially Japan. According to the April 2012 Blue Chip Economic Consensus Forecasts, U.S. real GDP is expected to increase by 2.3 percent in 2012 as a whole, slightly higher than the 2.2 percent growth rate projected in the February 2012 forecast. For 2013 the consensus forecast expects an overall 2.6 percent growth in U.S. real GDP, same as the growth rate projected in the February 2012 forecast.
Forecasts for Japan were about the same in the April 2012 Blue Chip Economic Consensus Forecasts. Real GDP growth for Japan is now expected to increase 1.8 percent in 2012, same as the growth rate projected in the February 2012 forecast. For 2013, the consensus forecast now expects an overall 1.7 percent growth in Japanese real GDP, slightly lower than the 1.8 percent growth projected in the February 2012 forecast.
For the local economy, DBEDT expects most of the economic indicators, especially visitor related indicators, will grow at faster rates. Only job growth is expected to remain about the same as previously forecasted.
Overall, Hawaii's economy measured by real GDP is projected to show a 2.2 percent increase in 2012, 0.4 of a percentage point higher than the growth rate forecasted last quarter. Real GDP growth is currently expected to increase to 2.3 percent in 2013, 0.3 of a percentage point higher than the previous forecast.
Visitor arrivals are expected to increase 6.5 percent in 2012, 2.1 percentage points higher than the previous forecast of 4.4 percent. The forecast for visitor days in 2012 is now expected to increase 6.2 percent, 1.8 percentage point higher than the previous forecast. The forecast for visitor expenditure in 2012 is revised upward to 9.0 percent, from 6.4 percent growth projected in the previous forecast. For 2013, the growth rates of visitor arrivals, visitor days, and visitor expenditures are now expected to be 2.2 percent, 2.1 percent, and 3.5 percent, respectively.
The current projection for wage and salary job growth rate in 2012 is 1.5 percent, same as the growth rate in the previous forecast. In 2013, jobs are currently projected to increase 1.7 percent, also same as the growth rate in the previous forecast.
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The Honolulu Consumer Price Index (CPI), which increased 3.7 percent in 2011, is expected to increase 3.0 percent in 2012, 0.2 of a percentage point above the previous forecast. In 2013, the CPI is projected to increase 2.8 percent, 0.3 of a percentage point above the previous forecast. Personal income in current dollars is now expected to increase 4.8 percent in 2012, 0.8 of a percentage point above the growth rate in the previous forecast. The real personal income is currently projected to grow 1.7 percent in 2012, 0.5 of a percentage point above the previous forecast. In 2013, current-dollar personal income and real personal income are expected to increase 5.0 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.
Beyond 2013 the economy will be on the expansion path with job growth expected to increase 1.5 percent in 2014 and 1.3 percent in 2015. Visitor arrivals are expected to increase 2.4 percent in 2014 and 2.3 percent in 2015. Visitor expenditures are expected to increase 4.3 percent in 2014 and 4.4 percent in 2015. Real personal income is projected to increase 2.6 percent in both 2014 and 2015. Hawaii’s real GDP growth is expected to reach 2.4 percent in both 2014 and 2015.
County Economic Conditions
Overall economic conditions were mostly positive across counties in the first quarter of 2012. The unemployment rate decreased in all neighbor island counties, and increased only slightly in Honolulu. Total visitor arrivals by air and visitor days increased in all counties, except Kauai. Total wage and salary jobs increased in all counties. In addition, the value of private building permits increased in all counties, except Kauai. Compared to the same quarter last year, in the first quarter of 2012, the unemployment rate in all neighbor island counties decreased. The unemployment rate in Maui County decreased 1.1 percentage points from 8.1 percent to 7.0 percent; the unemployment rate in Kauai County decreased 0.7 of a percentage point from 8.8 percent to 8.1 percent; and the unemployment rate in Hawaii County decreased 0.6 of a percentage point from 9.8 percent to 9.2 percent. Only the Honolulu unemployment rate increased slightly from 5.5 percent to 5.6 percent.
In the first quarter of 2012, Honolulu gained 1,950 or 0.4 percent non-agricultural wage and salary jobs over the first quarter of 2011. Food Services and Drinking Places added the most jobs in the quarter (1,450 jobs), followed by Accommodation (1,150 jobs), Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (1,050 jobs), and Professional and Business Services (950 jobs). The Government sector lost 350 jobs. The largest private sector job losses occurred in Information (lost 1,550 jobs), followed by Natural Resources, Mining, and Construction (lost 750 jobs), and Manufacturing (lost 450 jobs).
In the first quarter of 2012, Hawaii County gained 450 non-agricultural wage and salary jobs or 0.8 percent from the first quarter of 2011. Job increases in Transportation, Warehousing, and Utility (300 jobs), Retail Trade (250 jobs), Professional and Business Services (200 jobs), and Accommodation (200 jobs) exceeded job losses in Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (lost 350 jobs), Natural Resources, Mining, and Construction (lost 250 jobs), and Other Services (lost 200 jobs). In the first quarter of 2012, Government lost 50 jobs.
Maui County saw a net gain of 1,650 non-agriculture wage and salary jobs or 2.5 percent increase in the first quarter of 2012 from the same quarter of 2011. Job gains in Accommodation (600 jobs), Natural Resources, Mining, and Construction (600 jobs), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utility (400 jobs), and Professional and Business Services (300 jobs) exceeded job losses in Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (lost 500 jobs), and Other Services (lost 150 jobs).
In the first quarter of 2012, Kauai County gained 500 non-agriculture wage and salary jobs or 1.8 percent from the same quarter last year. Accommodation gained 400 jobs, followed by Food Services and Drinking Places (250 jobs). In this quarter, Retail Trade lost 200 jobs and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation lost 150 jobs. In the first quarter of 2012, the performance of both visitor arrivals by air and visitor days were positive among all the counties, as compared to the same quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, visitor arrivals by air increased 9.4 percent in Honolulu, 8.2 percent in Hawaii County, 6.2 percent in Maui, and 10.9 percent in Kauai. Visitor days increased 9.5 percent in Honolulu, 7.9 percent in Hawaii, 8.2 percent in Maui, but decreased 11.1 percent in Kauai, compared to the same quarter of 2011.
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In the first quarter of 2012, the growth rates of the values of total private building permits were positive in most counties, except Kauai County. In this quarter, private building permits increased $121.5 million or 353.6 percent in Maui; increased $55.3 million or 21.0 percent in Honolulu; increased $1.8 million or 2.7 percent in Hawaii County; and decreased $2.8 million or 16.0 percent in Kauai.
Labor Force and Jobs
Hawaii’s labor market conditions continued to improve in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter in 2011. Since the civilian labor force decreased more than the decrease in civilian employment in the quarter, civilian unemployment decreased in the quarter. As a result, Hawaii’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.4 percent in the quarter. For the sixth consecutive quarters since the fourth quarter of 2010, civilian wage and salary jobs increased.
In the first quarter of 2012, the civilian labor force averaged 657,550 people, decreased 2,300 people or 0.3 percent from the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, civilian labor force increased 11,550 people or 1.8 percent from the previous year. Civilian employment totaled 615,700 people in the first quarter of 2012, a decrease of 850 people or 0.1 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011. This is the first quarterly decrease following seven consecutive quarterly increases from the second quarter of 2010 to the fourth quarter of 2011. In the whole year of 2011, average civilian employment increased 11,950 people or 2.0 percent from the previous year.
In the first quarter of 2012, the number of civilian unemployed averaged 41,850, decreased 1,450 people or 3.3 percent from the same quarter of 2011. In the whole year of 2011, the number of unemployed decreased 400 people or 0.9 percent from the previous year. The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) decreased from 6.6 percent in the first quarter of 2011 to 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012. In 2012, unemployment rate averaged 6.7 percent, 0.2 of a percentage point down from the previous year. In the first quarter of 2012, Hawaii’s civilian wage and salary jobs averaged 602,350 jobs, an increase of 4,950 jobs or 0.8 percent from the same quarter of 2011. This is the sixth consecutive quarterly increase in wage and salary jobs after ten consecutive quarterly decreases in jobs since the second quarter of 2008.
In 2011, average wage and salary jobs increased 1.0 percent or 5,800 jobs from the previous year. The job increase in the first quarter of 2012 was completely due to job increases in the private sector. In this quarter, the private sectors added about 5,450 jobs compared to the first quarter of 2011. Job growth mainly occurred in visitor-related industries in the quarter. Accommodation experienced the largest job gains, added 2,500 jobs or 7.1 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011; followed by Food Services and Drinking Places, added 2,050 jobs or 3.6 percent Other private sector industries that gained significant number of jobs in the quarter include Professional and Business Services, added 1,400 jobs or 1.9 percent; Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities sector, added 950 jobs or 3.5 percent; and Financial Activities, added 700 jobs or 2.6 percent.
In the first quarter of 2012, the Information sector lost 1,500 jobs or 16.0 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011. In addition, the Construction sector and the Other Services sector each lost about 400 jobs in the quarter. During the first quarter of 2012, the three levels of government together lost 500 jobs or 0.4 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011. The Federal Government lost 100 jobs; the State Government lost 200 jobs, while Local Government also lost 200 jobs. The initial liable claims for unemployment, which measures the number of people who lost jobs in Hawaii and moved to other states, decreased 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter of 2011. In 2011, the initial liable claims for unemployment decreased 4.5 percent or 154 people from the previous year.
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Income and Prices
Hawaii’s total personal income increased during the fourth quarter of 2011 over the same quarter of 2010, all major components of personal income increased in the quarter. In dollar terms, the largest increases occurred in wage and salary disbursements, followed by dividends, interest, and rent, supplements to wage and salaries, which include retirement and unemployment insurance benefits, proprietors' income, and personal current transfer receipts.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, total nominal annualized personal income (i.e., not adjusted for inflation) increased $2,220 million or 3.9 percent from the fourth quarter of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, total annualized personal income was $59,190 million, an increase of 4.5 percent from the previous year. In the fourth quarter of 2011, wage and salary disbursements increased $918 million or 3.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2010. This was the sixth quarter-over-quarter increase since the third quarter of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, wage and salary disbursements increased 2.8 percent from the previous year.
Supplements to wages and salaries, consisting of employer payments to retirement plans, private group health insurance plans, private workers compensation plans, and other such benefits, increased $163 million or 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 from the same quarter of 2010. In 2011, supplements to wages and salaries increased 3.4 percent from the previous year.
Proprietors' income increased $122 million or 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 over that of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, proprietors’ income was up 4.5 percent from the previous year.
Dividends, interest, and rent increased $718 million or 6.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 from the same quarter of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, income in this category was up 6.0 percent from the previous year. The annualized personal current transfer receipts grew by $11 million or 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 from the same quarter of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, personal current transfer receipts increased 4.2 percent from the previous year.
Contributions to government social insurance, which is subtracted from total personal income, decreased $286 million or 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, contributions to government social insurance decreased 5.4 percent from the same period of 2010.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, total non-farm private sector annualized earnings increased $1,044 million or 3.9 percent from the fourth quarter of 2010. In dollar terms, the largest increase occurred in accommodation and food services, followed by construction, retail trade, health care and social assistance, and administrative and waste services; the largest decrease occurred in information.
During the fourth quarter of 2011, total government earnings increased $181 million or 1.2 percent from the same quarter of 2010. Earnings from the federal government increased $186 million or 2.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. Earnings from the state and local governments decreased slightly in the quarter.
In the second half of 2011, Honolulu’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPIU) increased 4.0 percent from the same period in 2010, higher than the U.S. average CPI-U increase of 3.5 percent for the same period. The Honolulu CPI-U increase in the second half of 2011 was primarily due to relatively large increase in Transportation (7.0 percent), Food & Beverages (4.4 percent), and Housing (4.0 percent). The prices for Medical Care and Education and Communication both increased 2.3 percent, the prices for Recreation, Other Goods and Services, and Apparel increased 1.9 percent, 1.8 percent, and 1.0 percent, respectively, compared to the second half of 2010.
Tax Revenues
The State general fund tax revenues increased in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter of 2011. Decrease in Net Individual Income Tax revenues was more than offset by the increases in GET and Net Corporate Income Tax revenues. In the first quarter of 2012, total tax collections distributed to the State general
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fund totaled $1,185.4 million, increased $117.0 million or 11.0 percent over the same quarter of 2011; this value was only 0.6 percent lower than the previous first quarter peak value realized in the first quarter of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, State general fund tax revenues were up $350.2 million or 8.1 percent over the previous year.
During the first quarter of 2012, GET revenues (excluding the Honolulu County Surcharge) totaled $711.1 million, an increase of $58.2 million or 8.9 percent over the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, GET revenues increased $208.5 million or 8.8 percent from the previous year.
Compared to the first quarter of 2011, Net Individual Income Tax revenues decreased $13.3 million or 4.6 percent to $276.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, Declaration of Estimated Taxes decreased $17.5 million or 21.6 percent; Payments with Returns decreased $2.3 million or 13.2 percent; Revenues from Withholding Tax on Wages increased $12.4 million or 3.4 percent; and Refunds increased $5.8 million or 3.4 percent. For the whole year of 2011, Net Individual Income Tax collections increased When interpreting tax figures in conjunction with other quarterly data in this report, it should be kept in mind that the tax data represent collections during the quarter. The transactions on which the taxes were paid did not necessarily take place during the quarter. $85.5 million or 6.2 percent from the previous year.
Net Corporate Income Tax revenues, which tend to be volatile in nature, increased $41.7 million from negative $8.2 million to positive $33.5 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter of 2011. The increase in Net Corporate Income Tax revenue was mainly due to a $24.5 million decrease in Refunds and an $18.3 million increase in Payment with Returns. The Declaration of Estimated Taxes only decreased $1.1 million. For the whole year of 2011, Net Corporate Income Tax revenues decreased $33.3 million or 63.0 percent from the previous year.
In the first quarter of 2012, Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) revenues increased $11.2 million or 14.0 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, TAT revenues increased $61.0 million or 25.0 percent from the previous
year.
According to the most recent data available, in the fourth quarter of 2011, all major categories of the GET tax base increased compared to the same quarter of 2010; Retailing tax base increased 16.8 percent or $994.3 million, the Services tax base increased 12.4 percent or $334.5 million, the Contracting tax base increased 12.3 percent or $169.5 million, and the Hotel Rentals tax base increased 13.8 percent or $87.1 million. For the whole year of 2011, the Retailing tax base, Services tax base, Contracting tax base, and Hotel Rentals tax base increased 14.2 percent, 9.7 percent, 4.4 percent, and 15.6 percent, respectively, from the previous year.
Tourism
Hawaii’s tourism sector continues improving in the first quarter of 2012. Both domestic and international visitor arrivals, especially international visitor arrivals, increased in the quarter compared with the same quarter in 2011. Due to shorter lengths of stay, the increase in daily visitor census was lower than the increase in visitor arrivals. However, since visitors spent more on a daily basis during the first quarter, the increase in total visitor spending was significantly higher than the increase in visitor arrivals in the quarter. For the economy, visitor spending is more important than visitor arrivals.
The total number of visitors arriving by air to Hawaii increased 153,975 or 8.6 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter of 2011. The total average daily census was up 15,330 or 7.8 percent in the quarter. For the whole year of 2011, total visitor arrivals by air increased 242,720 or 3.5 percent, while average daily census increased 9,303 or 5.2 percent from the previous year.
Following a strong 10.9 percent growth in the first quarter last year, in the first quarter of 2012, total visitor arrivals on domestic flights increased 60,146 or 4.8 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, domestic arrivals were up 169,822 or 3.4 percent from the previous year.
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After a modest 3.8 percent growth in the first quarter last year, arrivals on international flights increased a very strong 93,829 or 17.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, international arrivals were up 72,898 or 3.7 percent from the previous year.
In terms of major market areas, from the first quarter of 2011 to the same period of 2012, arrivals from the U.S. West increased 42,356 or 6.3 percent; arrivals from the U.S. East increased 11,876 or 2.7 percent; and arrivals from Japan increased 33,169 or 11.2 percent. For the whole year of 2011, arrivals from U.S. West were up 70,230 or 2.4 percent; arrivals from the U.S. East were up 31,808 or 2.0 percent; and Japanese arrivals were down 62,760 or 5.1 percent from the previous year.
Because of slightly shorter lengths of stay, the average total daily visitor census increased less than the increase in visitor arrivals. The total average daily visitor census was up 7.8 percent or 15,330 visitors per day in the first quarter of 2012 over the same quarter of 2011. Domestic average daily census increased 3.4 percent or 4,977 visitors per day, while international average daily census increased 20.6 percent or 10,354 visitors per day.
In 2011, domestic average daily census increased 5,628 or 4.1 percent; international average daily census increased 3,675 or 8.8 percent from the previous year. Nominal visitor expenditures by air totaled $3,597.3 million in the first quarter of 2012, up 13.7 percent or $433.6 million from the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, visitor expenditures increased $1,689.4 million or 15.6 percent from the previous year.
Total airline capacity, as measured by the number of available seats flown to Hawaii, increased 4.6 percent or 107,688 seats in the first quarter of 2012; domestic seats decreased 0.7 percent or 11,809 seats; international seats increased 16.7 percent or 119,497 seats, compared to the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2012, the number of total available seats increased 1.0 percent or 92,378 seats from the previous year.
According to the most recent data available, in the fourth quarter of 2011, statewide hotel occupancy rate averaged 72.2 percent, up 2.7 percentage points from the same quarter of 2010. For the whole year of 2011, statewide hotel occupancy rate averaged 73.4 percent, up 2.7 percentage points from the previous year.
Construction
The indicators of Hawaii’s construction industry showed signs of improvement in this sector. In the first quarter of 2012, construction jobs decreased slightly, the value of private building authorizations increased in the quarter. Construction was one of the major contributors to job growth in Hawaii over the past few years. From 2002 to 2007, construction job growth averaged 8.0 percent per year. In the fourth quarter of 2007, the average construction job reached a peak of 40,000 jobs. Since the second quarter of 2008; however, the quarter-over-quarter growth rate of construction jobs has been negative in all quarters. In the first quarter of 2012, the construction sector lost 400 jobs or 1.4 percent compared with the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, construction job decreased 2.1 percent or 600 jobs from the previous year.
In the first quarter of 2012, the total value of private building authorizations increased $175.8 million or 46.2 percent compared with the first quarter of 2011; the value of new residential permits was down $1.5 million or 1.0 percent; that of new commercial and industrial permits was up $13.4 million or 27.9 percent; and that of additions and alternations permits was up $163.9 million or 88.1 percent, compared to the same quarter of 2011. In 2011, total private building authorizations decreased $121.5 million or 6.1 percent compared with the previous year.
In the first quarter of 2012, the growth rates of the values of total private building permits were positive in most counties, except Kauai County. In this quarter, private building permits increased $121.5 million or 353.6 percent in Maui; increased $55.3 million or 21.0 percent in Honolulu; increased $1.8 million or 2.7 percent in Hawaii County; and decreased $2.8 million or 16.0 percent in Kauai. For the whole year of 2011, building permits decreased $84.4 million in Honolulu; decreased $77.6 million in Hawaii County; decreased $8.5 million in Kauai; but increased $49.1 million in Kauai.
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Government contracts awarded decreased $4.0 million or 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter of 2010. In 2011, government contracts awarded decreased $626.8 million or 59.3 percent, and State Government CIP expenditures decreased $48.1 million or 4.6 percent compared with the previous year. Readers should note that not all the government contracts awarded are included in the data, only those in the open bid are included. Honolulu rail construction contracts were not included in the data.
In the first quarter of 2012, the single-family housing unit authorizations increased 26 units compared to the first quarter of 2011; the number of multi-family units authorized increased 125 units compared to the same quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, the single-family unit authorizations decreased 199 units, while the number of multi-family unit authorizations decreased 411 units, compared to the previous year.
According to the most recent data available, the Honolulu Construction Cost Indexes increased 2.1 percent for Single Family Residence and increased 2.8 percent for High-Rise Building in the first quarter of 2012 over that of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, Honolulu’s median price for single family re-sales was $616,950, increased $57,950 or 10.4 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011; the median price for condominium units was $310,000, same as the price in the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, the number of single-family unit resales was down 1.3 percent, and the number of condominium unit resales was down 6.0 percent from the first quarter of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, single-family unit resales increased 3.0 percent, and condominium unit resales decreased 3.2 percent in Maui County compared to the same quarter of 2011.
Other Indicators
The total number of bankruptcy filings in Hawaii decreased 21.1 percent or by 188 cases for the first quarter of 2012 from the same quarter of 2011. This was the fifth quarter-over-quarter decrease since the first quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, total filings decreased 15.9 percent or 629 cases from the previous year. The number of Chapter 7 filings, the largest category, decreased 20.3 percent or 137 cases in the first quarter of 2012. Chapter 7 filings are intended to liquidate assets and discharge debt. For the whole year of 2011, Chapter 7 filings were down 16.8 percent or 516 cases from the previous year.
Chapter 11 filings remained the same at 7 cases in the first quarter of 2012. For the whole year of 2011, Chapter 11 filings increased to 26 cases from 23 cases in 2010. Chapter 11 filings involve the structuring of repayment plans for companies. Chapter 13 filings in the first quarter of 2012 decreased 24.4 percent, or 51 cases from the first quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, Chapter 13 filings were down 13.6 percent or 116 cases from the previous year. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows debtors to work out repayment arrangements with creditors.
Litigation
The State has been named as a defendant in numerous lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of operations, which are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the State’s financial position. Lawsuits and claims that, if ultimately resolved against the State, could have a material adverse effect on the State’s financial condition or as to which the State is unable to predict the magnitude of its potential liability, if any, include those involving: (i) the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (“OHA”) and certain lands (the “Ceded Lands”) transferred in 1898 by the Republic of Hawaii to the United States and in 1959, upon the State’s admission to the Union, by the United States to the State (as to, among other things, the adequacy of State payments to OHA from the income and sales of Ceded Lands and whether the State may alienate the Ceded Lands and extinguish claims Hawaiians assert to the Ceded Lands); (ii) the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (as to certain alleged breaches of trust and fiduciary duties and related individual claims by beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920); (iii) the Employees’ Retirement System (“ERS”) (as to the constitutionality of certain 1999 legislation (“Act 100”) relating to employer contributions into the ERS); and (iv) the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (“EUTF”) (as to the alleged rights of retirees and their dependents to health care benefits equivalent to those provided to active employees and their dependents).
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Municipal Bonds
The two principal classifications of municipal bonds are “general obligation” bonds and “revenue” bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and unlimited taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue or special tax bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or projects or, in a few cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other tax, but are not supported by the issuer’s power to levy unlimited general taxes. There are, of course, variations in the security of municipal bonds, both within a particular classification and between classifications, depending on numerous factors. The yields of municipal bonds depend on, among other things, general financial conditions, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue.
Since the Trust may invest in industrial development bonds or private activity bonds, the Trust may not be an appropriate investment for entities that are “substantial users” of facilities financed by those bonds or for investors who are “related persons” of such users. Generally, an individual will not be a “related person” under the Internal Revenue Code unless such investor or his or her immediate family (spouse, brothers, sisters and lineal descendants) owns directly or indirectly in the aggregate more than 50 percent of the equity of a corporation or is a partner of a partnership which is a “substantial user” of a facility financed from the proceeds of those bonds. A “substantial user” of such facilities is defined generally as a “non-exempt person who regularly uses a part of a facility” financed from the proceeds of industrial development or private activity bonds.
As indicated in the Prospectus, there are certain Hawaiian Obligations the interest on which is subject to the Federal alternative minimum tax on individuals. While the Trust may purchase these obligations, it may, on the other hand, refrain from purchasing particular Hawaiian Obligations due to this tax consequence. Also, as indicated in the Prospectus, the Trust will not purchase obligations of Hawaiian issuers the interest on which is subject to regular Federal income tax. The foregoing may reduce the number of issuers of obligations that are available to the Trust.
Portfolio Insurance
The purpose of having insurance on some investments in Hawaiian Obligations in the Trust’s portfolio is to reduce financial risk for investors in the Trust.
Insurance as to the timely payment of principal and interest when due for Hawaiian Obligations is acquired as follows:
(i) obtained by the issuer of the Hawaiian Obligations at the time of original issue of the obligations, known as “New Issue Insurance,” or
(ii) purchased by the Trust or a previous owner with respect to specific Hawaiian Obligations, termed “Secondary Market Insurance.”
The insurance of principal under these types of insurance policies refers to the payment of interest and of the face or par value of the Hawaiian Obligation when due.
Insurance is not affected by nor does it insure the price paid by the Trust for the obligation. The market value of obligations in the Trust will, from time to time, be affected by various factors, including the general movement of interest rates. The value of the Trust’s shares is not insured
.
The Trust may invest in enhanced or insured Hawaiian Obligations, but is not required to do so. Use of insurance is not a fundamental policy of the Trust.
New Issue Insurance is obtained by the issuer of the Hawaiian Obligations and all premiums respecting such securities are paid in advance by such issuer. Such policies are noncancelable and continue in force so long as the Hawaiian Obligations are outstanding and the insurer remains in business.
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The Trust may also purchase Secondary Market Insurance on any Hawaiian Obligation purchased by the Trust. By purchasing Secondary Market Insurance, the Trust will obtain, upon payment of a single premium, insurance against nonpayment of scheduled principal and interest for the remaining term of the Hawaiian Obligation, regardless of whether the Trust then owns such security. Such insurance coverage is noncancelable and continues in force so long as the security so insured is outstanding and the insurer remains in business. The purposes of acquiring Secondary Market Insurance are to insure timely payment of principal and interest when due, and to enable the Trust to sell a Hawaiian Obligation to a third party as a high rated insured Hawaiian Obligation at a market price greater than what otherwise might be obtainable if the security were sold without the insurance coverage. There is no assurance that such insurance can be obtained at rates that would make its purchase advantageous to the Trust.
As a matter of practice, insurers of municipal obligations provide insurance only on issues which, based on their own credit ratings, are of investment grade, i.e., those within the top four credit ratings of the Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations. In some instances, insurers restrict issuance of insurance to those issues which would be credit rated “A” or better by those organizations. These practices by the insurers tend to reduce the risk that they might not be able to respond to the default in payment of principal or interest on any particular issue.
In general, New Issue Insurance provides that if an issuer fails to make payment of principal or interest on an insured obligation, the payment will be made promptly by the insurer. There are no deductible clauses, the insurance is non-cancelable and the tax-exempt character of any payment in respect of interest received is not affected. Premiums for such insurance are not paid by the Trust, but are generally paid by the issuer, although they may sometimes be paid by the underwriter. The premium is paid once at the time the securities are issued, and covers the life of the issue.
The insured Hawaiian Obligations held by the Trust have insurance that is provided by various insurance companies. As a result of widespread deterioration of the claims paying ability of providers of municipal bond insurance since 2008, such insurance can generally no longer be considered an enhancement to the market’s perception of the value of insured obligations.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Obligations
The Trust may buy Hawaiian Obligations on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. The purchase price and the interest rate payable on the Hawaiian Obligations are fixed on the transaction date. At the time the Trust makes the commitment to purchase Hawaiian Obligations on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the value each day of such Hawaiian Obligations in determining its net asset value. The Trust will make commitments for such when-issued transactions only when it has the intention of actually acquiring the Hawaiian Obligations.
Determination of the Marketability of Certain Securities
In determining marketability of floating and variable rate demand notes and participation interests (including municipal lease/purchase obligations) the Board of Trustees will consider the Adviser’s opinion as to marketability of the issue and other factors that may be applicable to any particular issue.
Taxable Short-term Obligations
Although the Trust does not currently do so, it is permitted to purchase taxable short-term obligations. The “Taxable Short-Term Obligations” which the Trust may purchase are obligations maturing in one year or less from the date of purchase by the Trust which are either (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government Obligations”); (ii) commercial paper rated Prime-1 by Moody’s or A-1 by S&P (see Appendix A); or (iii) bank obligations, such as certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and fixed time deposits, issued by a domestic bank subject to regulation by the U.S. Government having total assets of at least $1.5 billion. Under normal market conditions the Trust cannot purchase Taxable Short-Term Obligations or purchase or sell Municipal Bond Index Futures, U.S. Government Securities Futures or options on Futures if thereafter more than 20% of its total assets would consist of such Obligations, cash, margin deposits on such Futures and margin deposits and premiums on options on such Futures, except for defensive purposes, i.e., in
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anticipation of a decline or possible decline in the value of Hawaiian Obligations. The Trust may also invest in Taxable Short-Term Obligations (within such 20% limit) pending investment in Hawaiian Obligations of the proceeds of the sale of shares or the sale of Hawaiian Obligations. The Trust may enter into repurchase agreements as to Taxable Short-Term Obligations (see “Repurchase Agreements” below). Income from Taxable Short-Term Obligations and repurchase agreements is taxable and therefore is not included in the “exempt-interest” dividends which the Trust will pay.
Repurchase Agreements
The Trust may purchase securities (limited to Taxable Short-Term Obligations) subject to repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements may be entered into only with commercial banks or broker/dealers. A repurchase agreement occurs when, at the time the Trust purchases a security, the Trust also resells it to the vendor and must deliver the security (or securities substituted for it) to the vendor on an agreed-upon date in the future. (The securities so resold or substituted are referred to herein as the “Resold Securities.”) The Resold Securities will be held by the Trust’s custodian bank. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price in that it reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate effective for the period of time during which the Trust’s money is invested in the Resold Securities. The majority of these transactions run from day to day, and the delivery pursuant to the resale typically will occur within one to five days of the purchase. The Trust’s risk is limited to the ability of the vendor to pay the agreed-upon sum upon the delivery date; in the event of bankruptcy or other default by the vendor, there may be possible delays and expenses in liquidating the Resold Securities, decline in their value and loss of interest. However, in the opinion of the Trust this risk is not material since, upon default, the Resold Securities constitute security for the repurchase obligation. Repurchase agreements can be considered as “loans” collateralized by the Resold Securities (such agreements being recognized in the definition of “lend” in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”)). The return on such “collateral” may be more or less than that from the repurchase agreement. The Resold Securities under any repurchase agreement will be marked to market every business day so that the value of the “collateral” is at least equal to the value of the loan, including the accrued interest earned thereon, plus sufficient additional market value as is considered necessary to provide a margin of safety. Additionally, the Adviser will regularly review the financial strength of all vendors of repurchase agreements to the Trust.
Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters
The Trust can invest, under appropriate market conditions, in certain derivative instruments known as “inverse floaters” that are offered via “tender option bond” programs (“Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters”). Although volatile, these instruments typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on comparable fixed-rate municipal bonds. The Trust will invest only in Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters qualifying as “Hawaiian Obligations.” Hawaiian Obligations are a type of municipal obligation. They pay interest which in the opinion of bond counsel or other appropriate counsel at the time of issuance is exempt from regular Federal and Hawaii state income taxes. They include obligations of Hawaii issuers and certain non-Hawaii issuers, of any maturity.
Tender option bonds and their related inverse floaters are municipal-bond-derivative securities that provide for tax-free income at variable rates. In the tender option bond programs that the Trust will use, high quality longer-term municipal bonds, all of which will qualify as Hawaiian Obligations, are held in a trust and varying economic interests in the bonds are created and sold to investors. One class of investors earns interest at a rate based on current short-term tax-exempt interest rates and may tender its holdings at par to the program sponsor at agreed-upon intervals. These “tender option bonds” are eligible securities for municipal money market fund investments. A second class of investors has a residual income interest (earning the income produced by the underlying bonds net of program costs and of the variable income paid to the holders of the tender option bonds) and bears the risk that the underlying bonds decline in value due to changes in market interest rates. Both investor classes bear the risk of loss that would result from a default on the underlying bonds as well as from other potential, yet remote, credit or structural events. The value of the residual interest or Tender Option Bond Inverse Floater is accordingly generally more volatile than that of a fixed-rate municipal bond.
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There are risks associated with Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters. Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters have interest rate adjustment formulas which generally reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest rate received when short-term interest rates rise and increase the interest received when short-term rates fall. For these reasons, Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters tend to underperform the market for fixed-rate municipal bonds in a rising interest rate environment due to the risk of reduced or eliminated interest payments on Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters, but tend to outperform the market for fixed-rate municipal bonds when interest rates decline. Shifts in long-term interest rates may, however, alter this tendency.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust will authorize the purchase of Tender Option Bond Inverse Floaters only when they are satisfied that technical issues concerning investment in these securities, such as custody and pricing, have been appropriately addressed.
Limitation to 10% as to Certain Investments
Due to their possible limited liquidity, the Trust cannot make certain investments if thereafter more than 10% of its net assets would consist of such investments. The investments included in this 10% limit are (i) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days; (ii) fixed time deposits subject to withdrawal penalties other than overnight deposits; (iii) restricted securities, i.e., securities which cannot freely be sold for legal reasons (which the Trust is not permitted to own in any event); and (iv) securities for which market quotations are not readily available. However, this 10% limit does not include any investments as to which the Trust can exercise the right to demand payment in full within three days and as to which there is a secondary market. Floating and variable rate demand notes and participation interests (including municipal lease/ purchase obligations) are considered illiquid unless determined by the Board of Trustees to be readily marketable.
Futures Contracts and Options
Although the Trust does not presently do so and may in fact never do so, it is permitted to buy and sell futures contracts relating to municipal security indices (“Municipal Security Index Futures”) and to U.S. Government securities (“U.S. Government Securities Futures,” together referred to as “Futures”), and exchange-traded options based on Futures as a possible means of protecting the asset value of the Trust during periods of changing interest rates. The following discussion is intended to explain briefly the workings of Futures and options on them which would be applicable if the Trust were to use them.
Unlike when the Trust purchases or sells a Hawaiian Obligation, no price is paid or received by the Trust upon the purchase or sale of a Future. Initially, however, when such transactions are entered into, the Trust will be required to deposit with the futures commission merchant (“broker”) an amount of cash or Hawaiian Obligations equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as initial margin. Subsequent payments, called variation margin, to and from the broker, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying index or security fluctuates making the Future more or less valuable, a process known as marking to market. Insolvency of the broker may make it more difficult to recover initial or variation margin. Changes in variation margin are recorded by the Trust as unrealized gains or losses. Margin deposits do not involve borrowing by the Trust and may not be used to support any other transactions. At any time prior to expiration of the Future, the Trust may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate to terminate the Trust’s position in the Future. A final determination of variation margin is then made. Additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Trust and it realizes a gain or a loss. Although Futures by their terms call for the actual delivery or acceptance of cash, in most cases the contractual obligation is fulfilled without having to make or take delivery. All transactions in the futures markets are subject to commissions payable by the Trust and are made, offset or fulfilled through a clearing house associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded. Although the Trust intends to buy and sell Futures only on an exchange where there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular Future at any particular time. In such event, or in the event of an equipment failure at a clearing house, it may not be possible to close a futures position.
Municipal Security Index Futures are futures contracts based on an index of municipal bonds. Daily values are assigned to the bonds included in the index based on the independent assessment of a pricing service, and the
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value of the index fluctuates with changes in those constituent values. The two parties to the contract agree to take or make delivery of a cash amount based on the difference between the value of the index on the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was originally struck.
There are as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information U.S. Government Securities Futures contracts based on long-term Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, GNMA Certificates and three-month Treasury bills. U.S. Government Securities Futures have traded longer than Municipal Security Index Futures, and the depth and liquidity available in the trading markets for them are in general greater.
Call Options on Futures Contracts. The Trust may also purchase and sell exchange-traded call and put options on Futures. The purchase of a call option on a Future is analogous to the purchase of a call option on an individual security. Depending on the pricing of the option compared to either the Future upon which it is based, or upon the price of the underlying debt securities, it may or may not be less risky than ownership of the futures contract or underlying debt securities. Like the purchase of a futures contract, the Trust may purchase a call option on a Future to hedge against a market advance when the Trust is not fully invested.
The writing of a call option on a Future constitutes a partial hedge against declining prices of the securities which are deliverable upon exercise of the Future. If the price at expiration of the Future is below the exercise price, the Trust will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the Trust’s portfolio holdings.
Put Options on Futures Contracts. The purchase of put options on a Future is analogous to the purchase of protective put options on portfolio securities. The Trust may purchase a put option on a Future to hedge the Trust’s portfolio against the risk of rising interest rates.
The writing of a put option on a Future constitutes a partial hedge against increasing prices of the securities which are deliverable upon exercise of the Future. If the Future price at expiration is higher than the exercise price, the Trust will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any increase in the price of securities which the Trust intends to purchase.
The writer of an option on a Future is required to deposit initial and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those applicable to Futures. Premiums received from the writing of an option will be included in initial margin. The writing of an option on a Future involves risks similar to those relating to Futures.
Risk Factors in Futures Transactions and Options
One risk in employing Futures or options on Futures to attempt to protect against the price volatility of the Trust’s Hawaiian Obligations is that the Adviser could be incorrect in its expectations as to the extent of various interest rate movements or the time span within which the movements take place. For example, if the Trust sold a Future in anticipation of an increase in interest rates, and then interest rates went down instead, the Trust would lose money on the sale.
Another risk as to Futures or options on them arises because of the imperfect correlation between movement in the price of the Future and movements in the prices of the Hawaiian Obligations which are the subject of the hedge. The risk of imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the Trust’s portfolio diverges from the municipal securities included in the applicable index or from the securities underlying the U.S. Government Securities Futures. The price of the Future or option may move more than or less than the price of the Hawaiian Obligations being hedged. If the price of the Future or option moves less than the price of the Hawaiian Obligations which are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully effective but, if the price of the Hawaiian Obligations being hedged has moved in an unfavorable direction, the Trust would be in a better position than if it had not hedged at all. If the price of the Hawaiian Obligations being hedged has moved in a favorable direction, this advantage will be partially offset by the Future or option. If the price of the Future or option has moved more than the price of the Hawaiian Obligations, the Trust will experience either a loss or gain on the Future or option which will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the Hawaiian Obligations which are the subject of the
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hedge. To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the price of the Hawaiian Obligations being hedged and movements in the price of the Futures or options, the Trust may buy or sell Futures or options in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of the Hawaiian Obligations being hedged if the historical volatility of the prices of the Hawaiian Obligations being hedged is less than the historical volatility of the debt securities underlying the hedge. It is also possible that, where the Trust has sold Futures or options to hedge its portfolio against decline in the market, the market may advance and the value of the Hawaiian Obligations held in the Trust’s portfolio may decline. If this occurred the Trust would lose money on the Future or option and also experience a decline in value of its portfolio securities.
Where Futures or options are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in the price of Hawaiian Obligations before the Trust is able to invest in them in an orderly fashion, it is possible that the market may decline instead; if the Trust then decides not to invest in the Hawaiian Obligations at that time because of concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, the Trust will realize a loss on the Futures or options that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the Hawaiian Obligations which it had anticipated purchasing.
The particular municipal securities comprising the index underlying Municipal Security Index Futures will vary from the bonds held by the Trust. The correlation of the hedge with such bonds may be affected by disparities in the average maturity, ratings, geographical mix or structure of the Trust’s investments as compared to those comprising the Index, and general economic or political factors. In addition, the correlation between movements in the value of the Municipal Security Index may be subject to change over time, as additions to and deletions from the Municipal Security Index alter its structure. The correlation between U.S. Government Securities Futures and the municipal bonds held by the Trust may be adversely affected by similar factors and the risk of imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of such Futures and the prices of municipal obligations held by the Trust may be greater.
Trading in Municipal Security Index Futures may be less liquid than trading in other Futures. The trading of Futures and options is also subject to certain market risks, such as inadequate trading activity or limits on upward or downward price movements which could at times make it difficult or impossible to liquidate existing positions.
Regulatory Aspects of Futures and Options
The Trust will, due to requirements under the 1940 Act, deposit in a segregated account Hawaiian Obligations maturing in one year or less or cash, in an amount equal to the fluctuating market value of long Futures or options it has purchased, less any margin deposited on long positions.
The “sale” of a Future means the acquisition by the Trust of an obligation to deliver an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the value of the index or government security at the close of the last trading day of the Future and the price at which the Future is originally struck (which the Trust anticipates will be lower because of a subsequent rise in interest rates and a corresponding decline in the index value). This is referred to as having a “short” Futures position. The “purchase” of a Future means the acquisition by the Trust of a right to take delivery of such an amount of cash. In this case, the Trust anticipates that the closing value will be higher than the price at which the Future is originally struck. This is referred to as having a “long” futures position. No physical delivery of the bonds making up the index or the U.S. government securities, as the case may be, is made as to either a long or a short futures position.
Europe - Recent Events
Some countries in Europe have experienced severe economic and financial difficulties. Many non-governmental issuers, and even certain governments, have defaulted on, or been forced to restructure, their debts; many other issuers have faced difficulties obtaining credit or refinancing existing obligations; financial institutions have in many cases required government or central bank support, have needed to raise capital, and/or have been impaired in their ability to extend credit; and financial markets in Europe and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and declines in asset values and liquidity. These difficulties may continue, worsen or spread within and without Europe. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including
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austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro, the common currency of the European Union, and/or withdraw from the European Union. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching. Whether or not the Trust invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, the value and liquidity of the Trust’s investments may be negatively affected by the countries experiencing the difficulties
Percentage Limitations
The Trust’s compliance with its investment limitations and requirements is determined at the time of investment unless otherwise stated herein or in the Trust’s policies and procedures. If a percentage limitation is complied with at the time of an investment, any subsequent change in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets, or a change in credit quality, will not constitute a violation of that limitation.
Trust Policies
Investment Restrictions
The Trust has a number of policies concerning what it can and cannot do. Those that are called fundamental policies cannot be changed unless the holders of a “majority,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust’s outstanding shares vote to change them. Under the 1940 Act, the vote of the holders of a “majority” of the Trust’s outstanding shares means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the dollar value of the Trust’s shares present at a meeting or represented by proxy if the holders of more than 50% of the dollar value of its shares are so present or represented; or (b) more than 50% of the dollar value of the Trust’s outstanding shares. Those fundamental policies not set forth in the Prospectus are set forth below:
1. The Trust has industry investment requirements.
The Trust cannot buy the obligations of issuers in any one industry if more than 25% of its total assets would then be invested in securities of issuers of that industry; Hawaiian Obligations (except for the industrial development bonds discussed below), U.S. Government Securities and domestic bank obligations are not included in this limit. In applying this restriction, the Trust will consider that a non-governmental user of facilities financed by industrial development bonds is an issuer in an industry.
2. The Trust can make loans only by lending securities or entering into repurchase agreements.
The Trust can buy those obligations which it is permitted to buy (see “Investment of the Trust’s Assets” in the Prospectus); this is investing, not making a loan. The Trust can, to increase its income, lend its portfolio securities up to 10% of the value of its total assets on a collateralized basis to broker/dealers, banks and certain financial institutions, and enter into repurchase agreements (see “Repurchase Agreements” above). The Trust may be considered as the beneficial owner of the loaned securities in that any gain or loss in their market price during the loan inures to the Trust and its shareholders; thus, when the loan is terminated, the value of the securities may be more or less than their value at the beginning of the loan. Income from securities loans is taxable and therefore it is not included in the “exempt-interest” dividends which the Trust may pay.
3. The Trust can only borrow in limited amounts for special purposes.
The Trust can borrow from banks for temporary or emergency purposes but only up to 10% of its total assets and can mortgage or pledge its assets only in connection with such borrowing and only up to the lesser of the amounts borrowed or 5% of the value of its total assets. However, this shall not prohibit margin arrangements in connection with the purchase or sale of Municipal Security Index Futures, U.S. Government Securities Futures or
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options on them; or the payment of premiums on those options. Interest on borrowings would reduce the Trust’s income. The Trust will not purchase any obligations while it has any outstanding borrowings which exceed 5% of the value of its total assets.
Except in connection with borrowings, the Trust will not issue senior securities.
4. The Trust is prohibited from making certain investments.
The Trust cannot buy any commodities or commodity contracts other than Municipal Security Index Futures and U.S. Government Securities Futures or any mineral related programs or leases.
The Trust cannot purchase or hold the securities of any issuer if, to its knowledge, any Trustee, Director or officer of the Trust or its Adviser individually own beneficially more than 0.5% of the securities of that issuer, and all such Trustees, Directors and officers together own in the aggregate more than 5% of such securities.
The Trust cannot buy real estate or any non-liquid interests in real estate investment trusts; however, it can buy any securities which it can otherwise buy even though the issuer invests in real estate or has interests in real estate.
5. The Trust does not buy for control.
The Trust cannot invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of other companies.
6. The Trust does not sell securities it does not own or borrow from brokers to buy securities.
Thus, it cannot sell short or buy on margin; however, the Trust can make margin deposits in connection with the purchase or sale of Municipal Security Index Futures, U.S. Government Securities Futures or options on them, and can pay premiums on these options.
7. The Trust is not an underwriter
.
The Trust cannot engage in the underwriting of securities, that is, the selling of securities for others. Also, it cannot invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities which cannot freely be sold for legal reasons.
Management of the Trust
The Board of Trustees
The business and affairs of the Trust are managed under the direction and control of its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has authority over every aspect of the Trust’s operations, including approval of the advisory and any sub-advisory agreements and their annual renewal, contracts with all other service providers and payments under the Trust’s Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan.
The Trust has an Audit Committee, consisting of all of the Trustees who are “independent” and are not “interested persons” of the Trust. The Committee determines what independent registered public accounting firm will be selected by the Board of Trustees, reviews the methods, scope and result of audits and the fees charged, and reviews the adequacy of the Trust’s internal accounting procedures and controls. The Audit Committee had two meetings during the last fiscal year.
The Trust has a Nominating Committee, consisting of all of the non-interested Trustees. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the last fiscal year. The committee will consider nominees recommended by the shareholders who may send recommendations to the Trust at its principal address for the attention of the Chair of the Nominating Committee.
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The Board seeks continuously to be alert to potential risks regarding the Trust’s business and operations as an integral part of its responsibility for oversight of the Trust.
The Trust faces a number of risks, such as investment risk, counterparty risk, valuation risk, reputational risk, risk of operational failure or lack of business continuity, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk. The goal of risk management is to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Trust. Under the overall oversight of the Board, the Adviser, the Administrator, or other service providers to the Trust, employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls in an effort to identify, address and mitigate risks.
The Board has a Chair who is an Independent Trustee. The Board and its Chair address risk management as a regular part of their oversight responsibilities through contact with the Chief Compliance Officer and other key management personnel, and through policies and procedures in place for regulation of the Trust’s activities and conduct.
In addition, a Risk Identification Group, consisting of the Chief Compliance Officer, President, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the Trust, as well as the Co-Presidents of the Distributor, meets and reports to the Board as to significant risks and compliance matters. Issues raised are considered by the Board as it deems appropriate. Service providers to the Trust, such as the Trust’s independent accountants, also make periodic reports to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management.
The Chair also participates in discussions with the Chairs of other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, to facilitate the orderly and efficient flow of information to the trustees of such other funds. These discussions can include risk and compliance matters as appropriate which the Chair can refer to the Board for appropriate action, including reports by others.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Trust can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Trust’s goals, that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and that some risks are simply beyond the control of the Trust, the Adviser, the Administrator or other service providers. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.
The Board has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate because it serves to facilitate the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Trustees from management, including the Adviser and Administrator, and otherwise enhance the Board's oversight role. The Board has also determined that its leadership structure is appropriate given the circumstances that the Fund invests in obligations issued by the State of Hawaii, its counties and various other local authorities, and the Board uses the local knowledge of its Trustees as well as their business experience.
Trustees and Officers
The following material includes information about each Trustee and officer of the Trust. All shares of the Trust listed as owned by the Trustees are Class A Shares unless indicated otherwise.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
19
HIB12
Name, Address
(1)(2)
and Year of Birth
Interested
Trustee
(5)
|
Positions Held with
Trust and Length of
Service
(3)
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
(4)
Overseen
by Trustee
|
Other Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
Diana P. Herrmann
New York, NY
(1958)
|
President since 1998 and
Vice Chair of the Board
of Trustees and Trustee
since 2004
|
Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Aquila Management Corporation, Founder and Sponsor of the Aquila Group of Funds
(6)
and parent of Aquila Investment Management LLC, Administrator, since 2004, President since 1997, Chief Operating Officer, 1997-2008, a Director since 1984, Secretary since 1986 and previously its Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, 1986-1997; Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair since 2004, President and Manager since 2003, and Chief Operating Officer (2003-2008), of the Administrator; Chair, Vice Chair, President, Executive Vice President and/or Senior Vice President of funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 1986; Director of the Distributor since 1997; Governor, Investment Company Institute (the U.S. mutual fund industry trade organization dedicated to protecting shareholder interests and educating the public about investing) for various periods since 2004, and head of its Small Funds Committee, 2004-2009; active in charitable and volunteer organizations.
|
11
|
ICI Mutual Insurance Company, a Risk Retention Group (2006-2009 and since 2010); Vice Chair and Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three Aquila money-market funds) 2004-2012
|
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
20
HIB12
Name, Address
(1)(2)
and Year of Birth
|
Positions Held with
Trust and Length of
Service
(3)
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
(4)
Overseen
by Trustee
|
Other Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
Non-interested
Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
Theodore T. Mason
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
(1935)
|
Chair of the Board of
Trustees since 2004 and
Trustee since 1984
|
Executive Director, East Wind Power Partners Ltd. since 1994 and Louisiana Power Partners, 1999-2003; Assistant Treasurer, Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association, Inc., successor to Alumni Association of SUNY Maritime College, since 2010 (previously Treasurer, President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President) and director of the same organization since 1997; Director, STCM Management Company, Inc., 1973-2004; twice national officer of Association of the United States Navy (formerly Naval Reserve Association), Commanding Officer of four naval reserve units and Captain, USNR (Ret); director, The Navy League of the United States New York Council since 2002; trustee, The Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler, 2000-2004; and Fort Schuyler Maritime Foundation, Inc., successor to the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler Foundation, Inc., 2000-2012.
|
4
|
Trustee Emeritus, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky and Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund since 2011; Trustee, 1987-2011 and 2009-2011, respectively; Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of
Cash Assets Trust (three Aquila money-market funds, consisting of Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust (1984-2012), Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust (1988-2012), and Pacific Capital U.S. Government Securities Cash Assets Trust (1988-2012)) and Chair of the Board of each, 2004-2012; formerly Trustee, Premier VIT
|
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
21
HIB12
Name, Address
(1)(2)
and Year of Birth
|
Positions Held with
Trust and Length of
Service
(3)
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
(4)
Overseen
by Trustee
|
Other Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
Stanley W. Hong
(7)
Honolulu, HI
(1936)
|
Trustee since 1992
|
President, Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc. and Corporate Vice President – Hawaii Area for Waste Management, Inc., 2001-2005; Trustee, The King William Charles Lunalilo Trust Estate since 2001; President and Chief Executive Officer, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, 1996-2001; Regent, Chaminade University of Honolulu since 1991; Trustee, the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii since 1998; Trustee, Child and Family Service since 2005; Director, The East West Center Foundation since 2006 and St. Louis School since 2007; and a director of other corporate and community organizations.
|
1
|
First Insurance Co. of Hawaii, Ltd., Lanihau Properties, Ltd., Riggs Distributing Co.; formerly Trustee, Pacific Capital Funds
®;
Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three Aquila money-market funds) 1993-2012
|
Richard L. Humphreys
Kaneohe, HI
(1943)
|
Trustee since 2009
|
President, Hawaii Receivables Management, LLC (a factoring company) since 2001; President, Lynk Payment Systems Hawaii, LLC (credit card processing) since 2002. Formerly Chairman, Bank of America, Hawaii; President, Hawaiian Trust Co.; President, First Federal S&L; and, E.V.P., Bank of Hawaii.
|
1
|
Board of Directors, Bishop Museum; Board of Directors, Friends of the Cancer Research Center; Board of Directors, The Castle Group, Inc.; formerly Trustee, Pacific Capital Funds
®;
Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three Aquila money-market funds) 2009-2012
|
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
22
HIB12
Name, Address
(1)(2)
and Year of Birth
|
Positions Held with
Trust and Length of
Service
(3)
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
(4)
Overseen
by Trustee
|
Other Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
Bert A. Kobayashi, Jr.
(8)
Honolulu, HI
(1970)
|
Trustee since 2009
|
Managing Partner, BlackSand Capital, LLC (private equity real estate investment company) since 2010; Partner, Kobayashi Group, LLC (a group of companies primarily engaged in real estate enterprises) since 2001; Managing Director, KG Holdings, LLC (real estate investment) since 2009; Vice President, Nikken Holdings, LLC (real estate investment) since 2003; interested in a number of other real estate companies in Hawaii.
|
1
|
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three Aquila money-market funds) 2009-2012
|
Glenn P. O’Flaherty
Denver, CO
(1958)
|
Trustee since 2009
|
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Lizard Investors, LLC, 2008; Co-Founder, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Three Peaks Capital Management, LLC, 2003-2005; Vice President – Investment Accounting, Global Trading and Trade Operations, Janus Capital Corporation, and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Janus Funds, 1991-2002.
|
3
|
Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three Aquila money-market funds) 2009-2012
|
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
23
HIB12
Name, Address
(1)(2)
and Year of Birth
|
Positions Held with
Trust and Length of
Service
(3)
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
(4)
Overseen
by Trustee
|
Other Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
|
Russell K. Okata
Honolulu, HI
(1944)
|
Trustee since 1992
|
Executive Director, Hawaii Government Employees Association AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO 1981-2007; International Vice President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO 1981-2007; Hawaii Democratic Party National Committeeman; director of various civic and charitable organizations.
|
2
|
Hawaii Client Services (part of Hawaii Dental Services Group); formerly Trustee and Chairman, Pacific Capital Funds
®
; past Chair of the Royal State Group (insurance); Trustee of Pacific Capital Funds of Cash Assets Trust (three Aquila money-market funds) 1993-2012
|
The specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that these persons should serve as Trustees of the Trust at this time in light of the Trust’s business and structure, in addition to those listed above, were as follows.
Diana P. Herrmann:
|
Over 25 years of experience in mutual fund management.
|
Theodore T. Mason:
|
Extensive financial and management experience; knowledgeable about operation and management of mutual funds.
|
Stanley W. Hong:
|
Experienced business executive with knowledge of local government and mutual fund governance.
|
Richard L. Humphreys:
|
Experienced in banking and finance.
|
Bert A. Kobayashi, Jr.:
|
Experienced in local government affairs and local real estate.
|
Glenn P. O’Flaherty:
|
Knowledgeable about financial markets and operation of mutual funds.
|
Russell K. Okata:
|
Experienced in local government affairs and mutual fund governance.
|
References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out of the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
24
HIB12
Name, Address
(2)
and Year of Birth
|
Positions Held with Trust
and Length of
Service
(3)
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Officers
|
|
|
Charles E.
Childs, III
New York, NY
(1957)
|
Executive Vice President
since 2003 and Secretary
since 2011
|
Executive Vice President of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds and the Administrator and the Administrator’s parent since 2003; Chief Operating Officer of the Administrator and the Administrator’s parent since 2008; Secretary of all funds in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2011; formerly Senior Vice President, corporate development, Vice President, Assistant Vice President and Associate of the Administrator’s parent since 1987; Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President or Assistant Vice President of the Aquila money-market funds, 1988-2012.
|
Marie E. Aro
Denver, CO
(1955)
|
Senior Vice President
since
2010
|
Co-President of the Distributor since 2010, Vice President, 1993-1997; Senior Vice President, Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund since 2004; Senior Vice President, Tax-Free Trust of Arizona since 2010 and Vice President, 2004-2010; Senior Vice President, Aquila Three Peaks High Income Fund since 2006; Senior Vice President, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund, Tax-Free Fund For Utah, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado and Tax-Free Trust of Oregon since 2010; Vice President, INVESCO Funds Group, 1998-2003.
|
Sherri Foster
Lahaina, HI (1950)
|
Senior Vice President
since
1993
|
Senior Vice President, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust since 1993 and formerly Vice President or Assistant Vice President; Vice President 1997-2012 and formerly Assistant Vice President of the three Aquila money-market funds; Vice President, Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund since 2006; Registered Representative of the Distributor since 1985.
|
Paul G. O’Brien
Charlotte, NC
(1959)
|
Senior Vice President
since
2010
|
Co-President, Aquila Distributors, Inc. since 2010, Managing Director, 2009-2010; Senior Vice President of Aquila Three Peaks High Income Fund, Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund, and each of the Aquila Municipal Bond Funds since 2010; held various positions to Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Evergreen Investments Services, Inc., 1997-2008; Mergers and Acquisitions Coordinator for Wachovia Corporation, 1994-1997.
|
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
25
HIB12
Name, Address
(2)
and Year of Birth
|
Positions Held with Trust
and Length of
Service
(3)
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Stephen J. Caridi
New York, NY (1961)
|
Vice President since 1998
|
Vice President of the Distributor since 1995; Vice President, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust since 1998; Senior Vice President, Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund since 1998, Vice President 1996-1997; Senior Vice President, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado 2004-2009; Vice President, Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund since 2006.
|
Randall S. Fillmore
New York, NY
(1960)
|
Chief Compliance Officer
since 2012
|
Chief Compliance Officer of each fund in the Aquila Group of Funds, the Administrator and the Distributor since 2012; Managing Director, Fillmore & Associates, 2009-2012; Fund and Adviser Chief Compliance Officer (2002-2009), Senior Vice President - Broker Dealer Compliance (2004-2009), Schwab Funds Anti Money Laundering Officer and Identity Theft Prevention Officer (2004-2009), Vice President - Internal Audit (2000-2002), Charles Schwab Corporation; National Director, Information Systems Risk Management - Consulting Services (1999-2000), National Director, Investment Management Audit and Business Advisory Services (1992-1999), Senior Manager, Manager, Senior and Staff Roles (1983-1992), PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
|
Joseph P. DiMaggio
New York, NY
(1956)
|
Chief Financial Officer
since
2003 and Treasurer
since
2000
|
Chief Financial Officer of each fund in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2003 and Treasurer since 2000.
|
Yolonda S. Reynolds
New York, NY
(1960)
|
Assistant Treasurer since
2010
|
Assistant Treasurer of each fund in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2010; Director of Fund Accounting for the Aquila Group of Funds since 2007; Investment Accountant, TIAA-CREF, 2007; Senior Fund Accountant, JP Morgan Chase, 2003-2006.
|
Lori A. Vindigni
New York, NY
(1966)
|
Assistant Treasurer since
2000
|
Assistant Treasurer of each fund in the Aquila Group of Funds since 2000; Assistant Vice President of the Administrator or its predecessor and current parent since 1998; Fund Accountant for the Aquila Group of Funds, 1995-1998.
|
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
26
HIB12
(1)
From time to time Bank of Hawaii may enter into normal investment management, commercial banking and/or lending arrangements with one or more of the Trustees of the Trust and their affiliates. The Asset Management Group of Bank of Hawaii is the Trust's Adviser.
(2)
The mailing address of each Trustee and officer is c/o Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017.
(3)
Each Trustee holds office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.
The term of office of each officer is one year.
(4)
Includes certain Aquila-sponsored funds that are dormant and have no public shareholders.
(5)
Ms. Herrmann is an interested person of the Trust as an officer of the Trust, as a director, officer and shareholder of the Administrator’s corporate parent, as an officer and Manager of the Administrator, and as a shareholder and director of the Distributor. Ms. Herrmann is the daughter of Lacy B. Herrmann, the Founder and former Trustee, Chairman and Chairman Emeritus of the Trust.
(6)
The “Aquila Group of Funds” includes: Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Aquila Narragansett Tax-Free Income Fund (Rhode Island) and Tax-Free Fund For Utah, each of which is a tax-free municipal bond fund and are called the “Aquila Municipal Bond Funds”; Aquila Three Peaks Opportunity Growth Fund, which is an equity fund; and Aquila Three Peaks High Income Fund, which is a high-income corporate bond fund.
(7)
Peter S. Ho, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Hawaii, is the nephew of Mr. Hong’s wife.
(8)
During the two most recently completed calendar years, Mr. Kobayashi held direct or indirect interests in entities that entered into loan and other transactions with Bank of Hawaii (of which the Adviser is a division): (a) Mr. Kobayashi is the manager of, and holds an interest in, a limited liability company that obtained a loan from Bank of Hawaii in the total amount of $4,000,000. There were no amounts outstanding with respect to the loan as of December 31, 2011. (b) Mr. Kobayashi is the managing member of, and holds an interest in, an entity which has an interest in a limited liability company that (i) has an outstanding loan with Bank of Hawaii , and (ii) has entered into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) master swap agreement with Bank of Hawaii. The total loan amount is $8,200,000 and the amount outstanding on December 31, 2011 was $7,725,960. The notional amount of the swap agreement is $8,091,760. (c) Mr. Kobayashi is the manager of, and holds direct and indirect interests in, an entity which has an interest in a limited liability company that has entered into a ISDA master swap agreement with Bank of Hawaii. The notional amount of the swap agreement is $41,500,000. (d) Mr. Kobayashi is the manager of, and holds interests in, two entities which have an indirect interest in a limited liability company that has an outstanding loan with Bank of Hawaii. Bank of Hawaii ’s share of the total loan amount is $10,711,007.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
27
HIB12
Securities Holdings of the Trustees
(as of 12/31/11)
|
Dollar Range of
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of
|
Name of
Trustee
|
Ownership in Hawaiian
Tax-Free Trust
(1)
|
Ownership in funds in the
Aquila Group of Funds
(1)
|
Interested
Trustee
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diana P. Herrmann
|
C
|
E
|
|
|
|
Non-interested
Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
|
Theodore T. Mason
|
C
|
E
|
|
|
|
Stanley W. Hong
|
C
|
C
|
|
|
|
Richard L. Humphreys
|
E
|
E
|
|
|
|
Bert A. Kobayashi, Jr.
|
C
|
C
|
|
|
|
Glenn P. O’Flaherty
|
C
|
C
|
|
|
|
Russell K. Okata
|
E
|
E
|
|
|
|
(1)
A. None
B. $1-$10,000
C. $10,001-$50,000
D. $50,001-$100,000
E. Over $100,000
None of the non-interested Trustees or their immediate family members holds of record or beneficially any securities of the Adviser or the Distributor.
Trustee Compensation
The Trust does not currently pay fees to any of the Trust’s officers or to Trustees affiliated with the Adviser or Administrator. For its fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, the Trust paid a total of $245,690 in compensation and reimbursement of expenses to the Trustees. No other compensation or remuneration of any type, direct or contingent, was paid by the Trust to its Trustees.
The Fund is one of the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, which, as of the date of this SAI, consist of seven tax-free municipal bond funds, a high-income corporate bond fund and an equity fund. The following table lists the compensation of all non-interested Trustees who received compensation from the Trust and the compensation they received during the Trust’s fiscal year from other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds. None of such Trustees has any pension or retirement benefits from the Trust or any of the other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
28
HIB12
Name
|
Compensation from the Trust
|
Compensation from all funds
in the Aquila Group of Funds
|
Number of boards on
which the Trustee served*
|
Theodore T. Mason
|
$38,813
|
$141,438
|
4
|
Stanley W. Hong
|
$31,382
|
$ 70,563
|
1
|
Richard L. Humphreys
|
$35,334
|
$ 75,388
|
1
|
Bert A. Kobayashi, Jr.
|
$31,382
|
$ 70,563
|
1
|
Glenn P. O’Flaherty
|
$31,979
|
$123,238
|
3
|
Russell K. Okata
|
$31,057
|
$ 90,813
|
2
|
*
Includes certain Aquila-sponsored funds that are dormant and have no public shareholders.
Class A Shares may be purchased without a sales charge by the Trust’s Trustees and officers. (See “Reduced Sales Charges for Certain Purchases of Class A Shares,” below.)
Ownership of Securities
On July 2, 2012, the following persons held 5% or more of any class of the Trust’s outstanding shares. On the basis of information received from the institutional holders, the Trust’s management believes that all of the shares indicated are held by them for the benefit of clients.
Name and address of the holder of record
|
Number of shares
|
Percent of class
|
|
|
|
Institutional 5% shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merrill Lynch Pierce
|
|
|
Fenner & Smith, Inc.,
|
5,826,810 Class A Shares
|
8.94%
|
4800 Deer Lake Drive,
|
1,660,602 Class C Shares
|
22.63%
|
Jacksonville, FL
|
562,006 Class Y Shares
|
21.03%
|
|
|
|
NFS LLC FEBO
|
|
|
Bank of Hawaii
|
|
|
DBA Hawko
|
|
|
P.O. Box 1930
|
|
|
Honolulu, HI
|
476,113 Class Y Shares
|
17.82%
|
|
|
|
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
29
HIB12
Name and address of the holder of record
|
Number of shares
|
Percent of class
|
|
|
|
Additional 5% shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martha S.N. Steele
|
|
|
FBO the Martha
|
|
|
San Nicholas Steele
|
|
|
Declaration of Trust
|
|
|
2505 Pali Hwy
|
|
|
Honolulu, HI
|
279,403 Class Y Shares
|
10.45%
|
|
|
|
Martha S.N. Steele
|
|
|
FBO R. Dwayne Steele Trust
|
|
|
2505 Pali Hwy
|
|
|
Honolulu, HI
|
188,566 Class Y Shares
|
7.06%
|
|
|
|
The Trust’s management is not aware of any other person beneficially owning more than 5% of any class of its outstanding shares as of such date.
Management Ownership
As of the date of this SAI, all of the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of its
outstanding shares.
Investment Advisory and Other Services
Information about the Adviser, the Administrator and the Distributor
Management Fees
During the fiscal years listed, the Trust incurred management fees (investment advisory fees and administration fees) as follows:
|
Adviser
|
Administrator
|
2012
|
$1,168,948
|
$2,170,916
|
2011
|
$1,140,397
|
$2,117,893
|
2010
|
$1,060,905
|
$1,970,264
|
The management fees are treated as Trust expenses and, as such, are allocated to each class of shares based on the relative net assets of that class.
Aquila Distributors, Inc. 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017 is the Trust’s Distributor. The Distributor currently handles the distribution of the shares of the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, including the Trust. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is responsible for the payment of certain printing and distribution costs relating to prospectuses and reports as well as the costs of supplemental sales literature, advertising and other promotional activities.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
30
HIB12
The shares of the Distributor are owned 98% by members of the family of Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann, Founder of the Trust, and by the Estate of Lacy B. Herrmann, and 2% by Aquila Investment Management LLC.
The Advisory Agreement
Asset Management Group of the Bank of Hawaii, Financial Plaza of the Pacific, 130 Merchant Street, Suite 370, Honolulu, HI 96813, supervises the investment program of the Trust and the composition of its portfolio. The Adviser is a division of Bank of Hawaii (“BOH”), all of whose shares are owned by Bank of Hawaii Corporation (“BOH Corp.”). As of March 31, 2012, the Adviser had approximately $6 billion in assets under management. BOH Corp. is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and its common stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. BOH Corp. files annual and periodic reports with the SEC which are available for public inspection.
The services of the Adviser are rendered under an Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) which provides, subject to the control of the Board of Trustees, for investment supervision. The Advisory Agreement states that the Adviser shall, at its expense, provide to the Trust all office space and facilities, equipment and clerical personnel necessary for the carrying out of the Adviser’s duties under the Advisory Agreement.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays all compensation of those officers and employees of the Trust and of those Trustees, if any, who are affiliated with the Adviser, provided that if a Trustee is an affiliate of the Adviser solely by reason of being a member of its Board of Directors, the Trust may pay compensation to such Trustee, but at a rate no greater than the rate it pays to its other Trustees. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Trust bears the cost of preparing and setting in type its prospectuses, statements of additional information, and reports to its shareholders and the costs of printing or otherwise producing and distributing those copies of such prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports as are sent to its shareholders. Under the Advisory Agreement, all costs and expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser or by the Administrator under the Administration Agreement or by the Trust’s Distributor (principal underwriter) are paid by the Trust. The Advisory Agreement lists examples of such expenses borne by the Trust, the major categories of such expenses being: legal and audit expenses, custodian and transfer agent, or shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses, stock issuance and redemption costs, certain printing costs, registration costs of the Trust and its shares under Federal and State securities laws, interest, taxes and brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, including litigation.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Trust currently pays an investment advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.23% of the Trust’s net asset value on assets up to and including $875 million; 0.17% of the Trust’s net asset value on assets between $875 million and $1.5 billion; and 0.155% of the Trust’s net asset value on assets over $1.5 billion. Prior to November 1, 2012, the Trust paid an investment advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.14% of the Trust’s net asset value.
The Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser at any time without penalty upon giving the Trust sixty days’ written notice, and may be terminated by the Trust at any time without penalty upon giving the Adviser sixty days’ written notice, provided that such termination by the Trust shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority of all its Trustees in office at the time or by the vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of its voting securities at the time outstanding and entitled to vote; it automatically terminates in the event of its assignment (as so defined).
The Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Adviser is not liable for any loss sustained by the adoption of any investment policy or the purchase, sale or retention of any security and permits the Adviser to act as investment adviser for any other person, firm or corporation. The Trust agrees to indemnify the Adviser to the full extent permitted under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.
Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
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The Advisory Agreement states that it is agreed that the Adviser shall have no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the Trust’s Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act except for the information supplied by the Adviser for inclusion therein.
The Advisory Agreement contains the provisions as to the Trust’s portfolio transactions described under “Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices.”
The Administration Agreement
Under an Amended and Restated Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”), Aquila Investment Management LLC as Administrator, at its own expense, provides office space, personnel, facilities and equipment for the performance of its functions thereunder and as is necessary in connection with the maintenance of the headquarters of the Trust and pays all compensation of the Trust’s Trustees, officers and employees who are affiliated persons of the Administrator. The Administrator’s offices are located at 380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10017
Under the Administration Agreement, subject to the control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Administrator provides all administrative services to the Trust other than those relating to its investment portfolio. Such administrative services include, but are not limited to, maintaining books and records (other than accounting books and records) of the Trust, and overseeing all relationships between the Trust and its transfer agent, custodian, legal counsel, auditors and principal underwriter, including the negotiation of agreements in relation thereto, the supervision and coordination of the performance of such agreements, and the overseeing of all administrative matters which are necessary or desirable for effective operation of the Trust and for the sale, servicing, or redemption of the Trust’s shares.
Under the Administration Agreement, the Trust currently pays an administration fee at the annual rate of 0.22% of the Trust’s net asset value. Prior to November 1, 2012, the Trust paid an administration fee at the annual rate of 0.26% of the Trust’s net asset value.
As part of its administrative services to the Trust; the Administrator (i) provides office space, personnel, facilities, and equipment for the performance of the following functions and for the maintenance of the Trust’s headquarters; (ii) oversees all relationships between the Trust and its transfer agent, custodian, legal counsel, auditors and principal underwriter, including the negotiation, subject to the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, of agreements in relation thereto, the supervision and coordination of the performance of such agreements, and the overseeing of all administrative and management matters which are necessary or desirable for effective operation and for the sale, servicing, or redemption of the Trust’s shares; (iii) provides to the Adviser and to the Trust statistical and other factual information and advice regarding economic factors and trends, but does not generally furnish advice or make recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities; (iv) maintains the Trust’s books and records (other than accounting books and records), and prepares (or assists counsel and auditors in the preparation of) all required proxy statements, reports to shareholders and Trustees, reports to and other filings with the SEC and any other governmental agencies, and tax returns, and oversees the Trust’s insurance relationships; (v) prepares, on the Trust’s behalf and at its expense, such applications and reports as may be necessary to register or maintain the Trust’s registration or that of its shares under the securities or “Blue-Sky” laws of all such jurisdictions as may be required from time to time; and (vi) responds to any inquiries or other communications from shareholders and broker/dealers, or if any such inquiry or communication is more properly to be responded to by the Trust’s shareholder servicing and transfer agent or distributor, oversees such shareholder servicing and transfer agent’s or distributor’s response thereto. Since the Trust pays its own legal and audit expenses, to the extent that the Trust’s counsel and accountants prepare or assist in the preparation of prospectuses, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, the costs of such preparation or assistance are paid by the Trust.
The Administration Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by the Administrator upon sixty days’ written notice to the Trust and the Adviser; it may be terminated by the Trust at any time without penalty upon giving the Administrator sixty days’ written notice, provided that such termination by the Trust shall be
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directed or approved by a vote of a majority of the Trustees in office at the time, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust. In either case the notice provision may be waived.
The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error in judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Administrator in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under the Administration Agreement. The Trust agrees to indemnify the Administrator to the full extent permitted by the Declaration of Trust.
Additional Information About the Portfolio Management Team
The municipal management team consists of Mr. Stephen Rodgers, Ms. Janet Katakura, and Mr. Denis Massey who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust. The team also manages two other tax free mutual funds with total aggregate assets of approximately $300 million. These bond funds are managed with similar strategies and objectives; however, the duration targets may differ depending on client needs and they are, therefore, managed to differing benchmark indices.
In addition, in aggregate, they manage 84 other accounts with aggregate assets of approximately $606 million as investment managers for BOH, but not under the Asset Management Group. The compensation paid by these clients varies, based on the type of account and services provided, and, in some situations, it is individually negotiated. Generally, compensation by these clients and the funds is computed as a percentage of assets under management. No account or fund has performance-based fees. There are in general no situations where the Trust’s opportunities or the execution of its investment program may be compromised or limited by the investments of the other accounts, except that there may be occurrences where a scarcity of Hawaii-issued bonds hinders the execution of the Trust’s investment program - a factor that affects all accounts sharing the same investment strategy. In such situations, the Investment Adviser is bound to allocate trades fairly among all such accounts, adhering to its policies and procedures on trade allocations, its Code of Ethics and applicable compliance procedures.
Mr. Rodgers, Mr. Massey, and Mrs. Katakura are employed and compensated by BOH, and not the Trust. Under BOH's compensation program, a portfolio manager's incentive compensation is based on a number of factors, including fund and account performance measured against appropriate benchmarks selected by the fund(s) or by BOH's management in the case of separate accounts. BOH's overall compensation program is also designed to attract and retain highly qualified investment management professionals and to motivate individuals to create shareholder value.
The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of a base salary, an annual performance incentive bonus, if performance warrants it, participation in BOH Retirement Savings Plan, if eligible, and eligibility to participate in long term awards of restricted shares in connection with the common stock of BOH's holding company parent. The base pay component is reviewed regularly to ensure that it reflects the performance and skills of the individual relative to the requirement(s) of the managed portfolio(s) and is determined within a market competitive salary range and internal equity. Additional factors considered in the incentive bonus include: growth of assets under management and corresponding revenues, support for improved efficiency and enhanced investment performance, and expense management. The incentive bonus can range from 0-50% of the base salary dependent on the variables discussed above. For the portion of the incentive bonus related to portfolio performance, two measures are used: 1) performance of the portfolio relative to the benchmark index, and 2) performance of the portfolio relative to a peer group of similarly managed funds. The percentage payout calculations are scaled such that if performance is at or below a minimum threshold (i.e. below the benchmark or peer group median), no bonus for performance will be paid, if slightly above, a small percentage is paid and if well above, the maximum percentage can be paid.
Like all employees of BOH, the portfolio managers are eligible to participate in BOH's Retirement Savings Plan. Under the Plan, various types of contributions are made for employees by BOH including value (profit) sharing, BOH match (which is linked to a participant’s 401(k) savings contributions) and BOH fixed contribution. If the portfolio manager is a certain grade level or higher, he or she is also eligible to participate in a restricted share program where awards may be granted to employees whose responsibilities place them in a position to make a
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substantial contribution to the financial success of BOH. This component of the compensation program is intended to be internally equitable and serve to reduce potential conflicts of interest between the Trusts and other funds and accounts managed by the portfolio manager. The compensation structure of the other funds and accounts managed by the portfolio manager is the same as the compensation structure of the Trusts.
As of March 31, 2012, Mr. Rodgers and his immediate family owned greater than $100,000 of securities of the Trust. Ms. Katakura and her immediate family owned between $10,000 - $50,000 of securities of the Trust. Mr. Massey and his immediate family did not own shares of the Trust.
Information about the Administrator
The Trust’s Administrator is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aquila Management Corporation (“AMC”), founder and sponsor of each fund in the Aquila Group of Funds. As of May 31, 2012, the Aquila Group of Funds consisted of seven tax-free municipal bond funds, a high income corporate bond fund and an equity fund, with aggregate assets of approximately $3.3 billion, of which approximately $2.9 billion consisted of assets of the tax-free municipal bond funds. AMC’s address is the same as that of the Manager. AMC was founded in 1984 by Mr. Lacy B. Herrmann and is principally owned by Diana P. Herrmann, his daughter, members of her family and by the Estate of Lacy B. Herrmann. Ms. Herrmann is Vice Chair, a Trustee and the President of the Trust and Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer of AMC. Performance of the Administration Agreement is guaranteed by AMC.
Underwriting Commissions
During the fiscal years listed, the aggregate dollar amount of sales charges on sales of Class A shares of the Trust and the amount retained by the Distributor, respectively, were as follows:
|
Sales Charges
|
Retained by Distributor
|
2012
|
$1,490,859
|
$140,000
|
2011
|
$1,613,896
|
$144,165
|
|
|
|
2010
|
$1,647,677
|
$146,715
|
In connection with sales of Class A Shares, the Distributor pays a portion of the sales charge on such shares to dealers in the form of discounts and to brokers in the form of agency commissions (together, “Commissions”), in amounts that vary with the size of the sales charge as follows:
Amount of Purchase Plus Value of
All Other Shares Held by A Single
Purchaser
|
Sales Charge as Percentage of
Public Offering Price
|
Commissions as Percentage of
Offering Price
|
|
|
|
Less than $25,000
|
4.00%
|
3.50%
|
$25,000 but less than $50,000
|
3.75%
|
3.50%
|
$50,000 but less than $100,000
|
3.50%
|
3.25%
|
$100,000 but less than $250,000
|
3.25%
|
3.00%
|
$250,000 but less than $500,000
|
3.00%
|
2.75%
|
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000
|
2.50%
|
2.25%
|
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Distribution Plan
The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Trust’s Distribution Plan has four parts, relating respectively to distribution payments with respect to Class A Shares (Part I), to distribution payments relating to Class C Shares (Part II), to distribution payments relating to Class I Shares (Part III) and to certain defensive provisions (Part IV).
For purposes of Parts I, II and III, the Distributor will consider shares which are not Qualified Holdings of broker/dealers unaffiliated with the Adviser, Administrator, or Distributor to be Qualified Holdings of the Distributor and will authorize Permitted Payments to the Distributor with respect to such shares whenever Permitted Payments are being made under the Plan.
Provisions Relating to Class A Shares (Part I)
Part I of the Plan applies only to the Front-Payment Class Shares (“Class A Shares”) of the Trust (regardless of whether such class is so designated or is redesignated by some other name).
As used in Part I of the Plan, “Qualified Recipients” shall mean broker/dealers or others selected by Aquila Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), including but not limited to any principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Trust or the Distributor has entered into written agreements in connection with Part I (“Class A Plan Agreements”) and which have rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative, or both) in the distribution and/or retention of the Trust’s Front-Payment Class Shares or servicing of shareholder accounts with respect to such shares. “Qualified Holdings” shall mean, as to any Qualified Recipient, all Front-Payment Class Shares beneficially owned by such Qualified Recipient, or beneficially owned by its brokerage customers, other customers, other contacts, investment advisory clients, or other clients, if the Qualified Recipient was, in the sole judgment of the Distributor, instrumental in the purchase and/or retention of such shares and/or in providing administrative assistance or other services in relation thereto.
Subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Trust may make payments (“Class A Permitted Payments”) to Qualified Recipients, which Class A Permitted Payments may be made directly, or through the Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent, which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year which is not a full fiscal year), 0.20 of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust represented by the Front-Payment Class Shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust’s assets allocable to the Front-Payment Class Shares.
The Distributor shall have sole authority (i) as to the selection of any Qualified Recipient or Recipients; (ii) not to select any Qualified Recipient; and (iii) as to the amount of Class A Permitted Payments, if any, to each Qualified Recipient provided that the total Class A Permitted Payments to all Qualified Recipients do not exceed the amount set forth above. The Distributor is authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a) the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient; (b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with respect to holders of Front-Payment Class Shares, including without limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares; verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder designated accounts; furnishing (either alone or together with other reports sent to a shareholder by such person) monthly and year-end statements and confirmations of purchases and redemptions; transmitting, on behalf of the Trust, proxy statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other communications from the Trust to its shareholders; receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Trust proxies executed by shareholders with
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respect to meetings of shareholders of the Trust; and providing such other related services as the Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time; and (c) the possibility that the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient would be redeemed in the absence of its selection or continuance as a Qualified Recipient. Notwithstanding the foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees (as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to subsequent years.
While Part I is in effect, the Trust’s Distributor shall report at least quarterly to the Trust’s Trustees in writing for their review on the following matters: (i) all Class A Permitted Payments made under the Plan, the identity of the Qualified Recipient of each payment, and the purposes for which the amounts were expended; and (ii) all fees of the Trust paid to the Adviser, Administrator or Distributor or accrued during such quarter. In addition, if any such Qualified Recipient is an affiliated person, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust, Adviser, Administrator or Distributor, such person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than annually.
Part I originally went into effect when it was approved (i) by a vote of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on Part I of the Plan; and (ii) by a vote of holders of at least a “majority” (as so defined) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Front-Payment Class Shares class (or of any predecessor class or category of shares, whether or not designated as a class) and a vote of holders of at least a “majority” (as so defined) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Level-Payment Class Shares and/or of any other class whose shares are convertible into Front-Payment Class Shares. Part I has continued, and will, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, continue in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Trustees and its Independent Trustees with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. Part I may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust to which Part I applies. Part I may not be amended to increase materially the amount of payments to be made without shareholder approval of the class or classes of shares affected by Part I as set forth in (ii) above, and all amendments must be approved in the manner set forth in (i) above.
In the case of a Qualified Recipient which is a principal underwriter of the Trust, the Class A Plan Agreement shall be the agreement contemplated by Section 15(b) of the 1940 Act since each such agreement must be approved in accordance with, and contain the provisions required by, the Rule. In the case of Qualified Recipients which are not principal underwriters of the Trust, the Class A Plan Agreements with them shall be (i) their agreements with the Distributor with respect to payments under the Trust’s Distribution Plan in effect prior to April 1, 1996 or (ii) Class A Plan Agreements entered into thereafter.
Provisions Relating to Class C Shares (Part II)
Part II of the Plan applies only to the Level-Payment Shares Class (“Class C Shares”) of the Trust (regardless of whether such class is so designated or is redesignated by some other name).
As used in Part II of the Plan, “Qualified Recipients” shall mean broker/dealers or others selected by the Distributor, including but not limited to any principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Trust or the Distributor has entered into written agreements in connection with Part II (“Class C Plan Agreements”) and which have rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative, or both) in the distribution and/or retention of the Trust’s Level-Payment Class Shares or servicing of shareholder accounts with respect to such shares. “Qualified Holdings” shall mean, as to any Qualified Recipient, all Level-Payment Class Shares beneficially owned by such Qualified Recipient, or beneficially owned by its brokerage customers, other customers, other contacts, investment advisory clients, or other clients, if the Qualified Recipient was, in the sole judgment of the Distributor, instrumental in the
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purchase and/or retention of such shares and/or in providing administrative assistance or other services in relation thereto.
Subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Trust may make payments (“Class C Permitted Payments”) to Qualified Recipients, which Class C Permitted Payments may be made directly, or through the Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent, which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year which is not a full fiscal year), 0.75 of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust represented by the Level-Payment Class Shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust’s assets allocable to the Level-Payment Class Shares. The Distributor shall have sole authority (i) as to the selection of any Qualified Recipient or Recipients; (ii) not to select any Qualified Recipient; and (iii) as to the amount of Class C Permitted Payments, if any, to each Qualified Recipient provided that the total Class C Permitted Payments to all Qualified Recipients do not exceed the amount set forth above. The Distributor is authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a) the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient; (b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with respect to holders of Level-Payment Class Shares, including without limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares; verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder designated accounts; furnishing (either alone or together with other reports sent to a shareholder by such person) monthly and year-end statements and confirmations of purchases and redemptions; transmitting, on behalf of the Trust, proxy statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other communications from the Trust to its shareholders; receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Trust proxies executed by shareholders with respect to meetings of shareholders of the Trust; and providing such other related services as the Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time; and (c) the possibility that the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient would be redeemed in the absence of its selection or continuance as a Qualified Recipient. Notwithstanding the foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees (as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to subsequent years.
While Part II is in effect, the Trust’s Distributor shall report at least quarterly to the Trust’s Trustees in writing for their review on the following matters: (i) all Class C Permitted Payments made under the Plan, the identity of the Qualified Recipient of each payment, and the purposes for which the amounts were expended; and (ii) all fees of the Trust paid to the Adviser, Administrator or Distributor or accrued during such quarter. In addition, if any such Qualified Recipient is an affiliated person, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust, Adviser, Administrator or Distributor such person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than annually.
Part II originally went into effect when it was approved (i) by a vote of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on Part II of the Plan; and (ii) by a vote of holders of at least a “majority” (as so defined) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Level- Payment Class Shares. Part II has continued, and will, unless terminated as therein provided, continue in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Trustees and its Independent Trustees with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. Part II may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust to which Part II applies. Part II may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
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payments to be made without shareholder approval of the class or classes of shares affected by Part II as set forth in (ii) above, and all amendments must be approved in the manner set forth in (i) above.
In the case of a Qualified Recipient which is a principal underwriter of the Trust, the Class C Plan Agreement shall be the agreement contemplated by Section 15(b) of the 1940 Act since each such agreement must be approved in accordance with, and contain the provisions required by, the Rule. In the case of Qualified Recipients which are not principal underwriters of the Trust, the Class C Plan Agreements with them shall be (i) their agreements with the Distributor with respect to payments under the Trust’s Distribution Plan in effect prior to April 1, 1996 or (ii) Class C Plan Agreements entered into thereafter.
Provisions Relating to Class I Shares (Part III)
Part III of the Plan applies only to the Financial Intermediary Class Shares (“Class I Shares”) of the Trust (regardless of whether such class is so designated or is redesignated by some other name).
As used in Part III of the Plan, “Qualified Recipients” shall mean broker/dealers or others selected by the Distributor, including but not limited to any principal underwriter of the Trust, with which the Trust or the Distributor has entered into written agreements in connection with Part III (“Class I Plan Agreements”) and which have rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative, or both) in the distribution and/or retention of the Trust’s Class I Shares or servicing of shareholder accounts with respect to such shares. “Qualified Holdings” shall mean, as to any Qualified Recipient, all Class I Shares beneficially owned by such Qualified Recipient, or beneficially owned by its brokerage customers, other customers, other contacts, investment advisory clients, or other clients, if the Qualified Recipient was, in the sole judgment of the Distributor, instrumental in the purchase and/or retention of such shares and/or in providing administrative assistance or other services in relation thereto.
Subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Trust may make payments (“Class I Permitted Payments”) to Qualified Recipients, which Class I Permitted Payments may be made directly, or through the Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent, which may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which payments under the Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year which is not a full fiscal year), 0.25 of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust represented by Class I Shares. A distribution fee of up to 0.15 of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust represented by Class I Shares is currently authorized by the Trustees of the Trust. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust’s assets allocable to Class I Shares. The Distributor shall have sole authority (i) as to the selection of any Qualified Recipient or Recipients; (ii) not to select any Qualified Recipient; and (iii) as to the amount of Class I Permitted Payments, if any, to each Qualified Recipient provided that the total Class I Permitted Payments to all Qualified Recipients do not exceed the amount set forth above. The Distributor is authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a) the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient; (b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with respect to holders of Class I Shares, including without limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares; verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder designated accounts; furnishing (either alone or together with other reports sent to a shareholder by such person) monthly and year-end statements and confirmations of purchases and redemptions; transmitting, on behalf of the Trust, proxy statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other communications from the Trust to its shareholders; receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Trust proxies executed by shareholders with respect to meetings of shareholders of the Trust; and providing such other related services as the Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time; and (c) the possibility that the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient would be redeemed in the absence of its selection or continuance as a Qualified Recipient. Notwithstanding the foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees (as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a Qualified Recipient
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but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to subsequent years.
While Part III is in effect, the Trust’s Distributor shall report at least quarterly to the Trust’s Trustees in writing for their review on the following matters: (i) all Class I Permitted Payments made under the Plan, the identity of the Qualified Recipient of each payment, and the purposes for which the amounts were expended; and (ii) all fees of the Trust paid to the Adviser, Administrator or Distributor or accrued during such quarter. In addition, if any such Qualified Recipient is an affiliated person, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust, Adviser, Administrator or Distributor such person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than annually.
Part III originally went into effect when it was approved (i) by a vote of the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on Part III of the Plan; and (ii) by a vote of holders of at least a “majority” (as so defined) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Class I Shares Class. Part III has continued, and will, unless terminated as thereinafter provided, continue in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Trustees and its Independent Trustees with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. Part III may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust to which Part III applies. Part III may not be amended to increase materially the amount of payments to be made without shareholder approval of the class or classes of shares affected by Part III as set forth in (ii) above, and all amendments must be approved in the manner set forth in (i) above.
In the case of a Qualified Recipient which is a principal underwriter of the Trust, the Class I Plan Agreement shall be the agreement contemplated by Section 15(b) of the 1940 Act since each such agreement must be approved in accordance with, and contain the provisions required by, the Rule. In the case of Qualified Recipients which are not principal underwriters of the Trust, the Class I Plan Agreements with them shall be (i) their agreements with the Distributor with respect to payments under the Trust’s Distribution Plan in effect prior to April 1, 1996 or (ii) Class I Plan Agreements entered into thereafter.
Defensive Provisions (Part IV)
Another part of the Plan (Part IV) states that if and to the extent that any of the payments listed below are considered to be “primarily intended to result in the sale of” shares issued by the Trust within the meaning of Rule 12b-1, such payments are authorized under the Plan: (i) the costs of the preparation of all reports and notices to shareholders and the costs of printing and mailing such reports and notices to existing shareholders, irrespective of whether such reports or notices contain or are accompanied by material intended to result in the sale of shares of the Trust or other funds or other investments; (ii) the costs of the preparation and setting in type of all prospectuses and statements of additional information and the costs of printing and mailing all prospectuses and statements of additional information to existing shareholders; (iii) the costs of preparation, printing and mailing of any proxy statements and proxies, irrespective of whether any such proxy statement includes any item relating to, or directed toward, the sale of the Trust’s shares; (iv) all legal and accounting fees relating to the preparation of any such reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxies and proxy statements; (v) all fees and expenses relating to the registration or qualification of the Trust and/or its shares under the securities or “Blue-Sky” laws of any jurisdiction; (vi) all fees under the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act, including fees in connection with any application for exemption relating to or directed toward the sale of the Trust’s shares; (vii) all fees and assessments of the Investment Company Institute or any successor organization, irrespective of whether some of its activities are designed to provide sales assistance; (viii) all costs of the preparation and mailing of confirmations of shares sold or redeemed or share certificates, and reports of share balances; and (ix) all costs of responding to telephone or mail inquiries of investors or prospective investors.
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The Plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such disinterested Trustees but that nothing in the Plan shall prevent the involvement of others in such selection and nomination if the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a majority of such disinterested Trustees.
The Plan defines as the Trust’s Independent Trustees those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan. The Plan, unless terminated as therein provided, continues in effect from year to year only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and its Independent Trustees with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. In voting on the implementation or continuance of the Plan, those Trustees who vote to approve such implementation or continuance must conclude that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Trust and its shareholders. The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the dollar value of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of payments to be made without shareholder approval and all amendments must be approved in the manner set forth above as to continuance of the Plan.
The Plan and each Part of it shall also be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act as now in force or hereafter amended. Specifically, but without limitation, the provisions of Part IV shall be deemed to be severable, within the meaning of and to the extent required by Rule 18f-3, with respect to each outstanding class of shares of the Trust.
Payments Under the Plan
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, payments were made under Part I and Part II of the Plan. All payments were to Qualified Recipients and were for compensation. No payments were made under Part III of the Plan because no Class I Shares were outstanding during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.
Payments to Qualified Recipients
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, payments to Qualified Recipients under each part of the Plan and the amounts of such payments to the Distributor and others were as follows:
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To All Qualified Recipients
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To Distributor
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To Other Qualified Recipients
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Part I
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$1,469,455
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$ 63,759
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$1,405,696
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Part II
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$ 534,193
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$139,570
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$ 394,623
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All payments to Other Qualified Recipients, most of whom are broker/dealers, and to the Distributor, were for compensation. Payments with respect to Class C Shares during the first year after purchase are paid to the Distributor and thereafter to Other Qualified Recipients.
Amounts paid under the Plan as compensation to Qualified Recipients, including the Distributor, are not based on the recipient’s expenses in providing distribution, retention and/or shareholder servicing assistance to the Trust and, accordingly, are not regarded as reimbursement of such expenses.
Shareholder Services Plan
Separate from the Trust’s Distribution Plan, the Trust has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the “Services Plan”) to provide for the payment with respect to Class C Shares and Class I Shares of the Trust of “Service Fees” within the meaning of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers (as incorporated in the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)). The Services Plan applies only
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to the Class C Shares and Class I Shares of the Trust (regardless of whether such class is so designated or is redesignated by some other name).
Provisions for Level-Payment Class Shares (Class C Shares) (Part I)
As used in Part I of the Services Plan, “Qualified Recipients” shall mean broker/dealers or others selected by the Distributor, including but not limited to the Distributor and any other principal underwriter of the Trust, who have, pursuant to written agreements with the Trust or the Distributor, agreed to provide personal services to shareholders of Level-Payment Class Shares and/or maintenance of Level-Payment Class Shares shareholder accounts. “Qualified Holdings” shall mean, as to any Qualified Recipient, all Level-Payment Class Shares beneficially owned by such Qualified Recipient’s customers, clients or other contacts. “Administrator” shall mean Aquila Investment Management LLC or any successor serving as administrator of the Trust.
Subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Trust may make payments (“Service Fees”) to Qualified Recipients, which Service Fees (i) may be paid directly or through the Distributor or shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent and (ii) may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which payments under the Services Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year which is not a full fiscal year), 0.25 of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust represented by the Level-Payment Class Shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust’s assets allocable to the Level-Payment Class Shares. The Distributor shall have sole authority with respect to the selection of any Qualified Recipient or Recipients and the amount of Service Fees, if any, paid to each Qualified Recipient, provided that the total Service Fees paid to all Qualified Recipients may not exceed the amount set forth above and provided, further, that no Qualified Recipient may receive more than 0.25 of 1% of the average annual net asset value of shares sold by such Recipient. The Distributor is authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a) the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient and (b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with respect to holders of Level-Payment Class Shares, including without limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares; verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder designated accounts; and providing such other related services as the Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees (as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to subsequent years. Service Fees with respect to Class C Shares will be paid to the Distributor. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, $178,064 was paid to the Distributor under Part I of the Plan.
Provisions for Financial Intermediary Class Shares (Class I Shares) (Part II)
As used in Part II of the Services Plan, “Qualified Recipients” shall mean broker/dealers or others selected by the Distributor, including but not limited to the Distributor and any other principal underwriter of the Trust, who have, pursuant to written agreements with the Trust or the Distributor, agreed to provide personal services to shareholders of Financial Intermediary Class Shares, maintenance of Financial Intermediary Class Shares shareholder accounts and/or pursuant to specific agreements entering confirmed purchase orders on behalf of customers or clients. “Qualified Holdings” shall mean, as to any Qualified Recipient, all Financial Intermediary Class Shares beneficially owned by such Qualified Recipient’s customers, clients or other contacts. “Administrator” shall mean Aquila Investment Management LLC or any successor serving as administrator of the Trust.
Subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Trust may make payments (“Service Fees”) to Qualified Recipients, which Service Fees (i) may be paid directly or through the Distributor or
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shareholder servicing agent as disbursing agent and (ii) may not exceed, for any fiscal year of the Trust (as adjusted for any part or parts of a fiscal year during which payments under the Services Plan are not accruable or for any fiscal year which is not a full fiscal year), 0.25 of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Trust represented by the Financial Intermediary Class Shares. Such payments shall be made only out of the Trust’s assets allocable to the Financial Intermediary Class Shares. The Distributor shall have sole authority with respect to the selection of any Qualified Recipient or Recipients and the amount of Service Fees, if any, paid to each Qualified Recipient, provided that the total Service Fees paid to all Qualified Recipients may not exceed the amount set forth above and provided, further, that no Qualified Recipient may receive more than 0.25 of 1% of the average annual net asset value of shares sold by such Recipient. The Distributor is authorized, but not directed, to take into account, in addition to any other factors deemed relevant by it, the following: (a) the amount of the Qualified Holdings of the Qualified Recipient and (b) the extent to which the Qualified Recipient has, at its expense, taken steps in the shareholder servicing area with respect to holders of Financial Intermediary Class Shares, including without limitation, any or all of the following activities: answering customer inquiries regarding account status and history, and the manner in which purchases and redemptions of shares of the Trust may be effected; assisting shareholders in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; providing necessary personnel and facilities to establish and maintain shareholder accounts and records; assisting in processing purchase and redemption transactions; arranging for the wiring of funds; transmitting and receiving funds in connection with customer orders to purchase or redeem shares; verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders and transfers and changes in shareholder designated accounts; and providing such other related services as the Distributor or a shareholder may request from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing two sentences, a majority of the Independent Trustees (as defined below) may remove any person as a Qualified Recipient. Amounts within the above limits accrued to a Qualified Recipient but not paid during a fiscal year may be paid thereafter; if less than the full amount is accrued to all Qualified Recipients, the difference will not be carried over to subsequent years. No Class I Shares were outstanding during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.
General Provisions
While the Services Plan is in effect, the Trust’s Distributor shall report at least quarterly to the Trust’s Trustees in writing for their review on the following matters: (i) all Service Fees paid under the Services Plan, the identity of the Qualified Recipient of each payment, and the purposes for which the amounts were expended; and (ii) all fees of the Trust paid to the Distributor or accrued during such quarter. In addition, if any Qualified Recipient is an “affiliated person,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust, Adviser, Administrator or Distributor, such person shall agree to furnish to the Distributor for transmission to the Board of Trustees of the Trust an accounting, in form and detail satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, to enable the Board of Trustees to make the determinations of the fairness of the compensation paid to such affiliated person, not less often than annually.
The Services Plan has been approved by a vote of the Trustees, including those Trustees who, at the time of such vote, were not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and had no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Services Plan or in any agreements related to the Services Plan (the “Independent Trustees”), with votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Services Plan. It will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from its original effective date only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually as set forth in the preceding sentence. It may be amended in like manner and may be terminated at any time by vote of the Independent Trustees.
The Services Plan shall also be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act as now in force or hereafter amended.
While the Services Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, shall be committed to the discretion of such disinterested Trustees. Nothing therein shall prevent the involvement of others in such selection and nomination if the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a majority of such disinterested Trustees.
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Codes of Ethics
The Trust, the Administrator, the Distributor and the Adviser have adopted codes of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. The codes permit personnel of these organizations who are subject to the codes to purchase securities, including the types of securities in which the Trust invests, but only in compliance with the provisions of the codes.
Transfer Agent, Custodian and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Trust’s Shareholder Servicing Agent (transfer agent) is BNY Mellon, 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581.
The Trust’s Custodian, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 1111 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, Ohio 43240, is responsible for holding the Trust’s assets.
The Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm, Tait, Weller & Baker LLP, 1818 Market Street, Suite 2400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, performs an annual audit of the Trust’s financial statements.
Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices
During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, all of the Trust’s transactions were principal transactions and no brokerage commissions were paid.
The Adviser shall select such broker/dealers (“dealers”) as shall, in the Adviser’s judgment, implement the policy of the Trust to seek to achieve “best execution,” i.e., prompt, efficient, and reliable execution of orders at the most favorable net price. Municipal obligations, including state obligations, purchased and sold by the Trust are generally traded in the over-the-counter market on a net basis (
i.e.
, without commission) through broker-dealers and banks acting for their own account rather than as brokers, or otherwise involve transactions directly with the issuer of such obligations. Such firms attempt to profit from such transactions by buying at the bid price and selling at the higher asked price of the market for such obligations, and the difference between the bid and asked price is customarily referred to as the spread. The Trust may also purchase municipal obligations from underwriters, and dealers in fixed-price offerings, the cost of which may include undisclosed fees and concessions to the underwriters. On occasion it may be necessary or appropriate to purchase or sell a security through a broker on an agency basis, in which case the Trust will incur a brokerage commission. In allocating transactions to dealers, the Adviser is authorized to consider, in determining whether a particular dealer will provide best execution, the dealer’s reliability, integrity, financial condition and risk in positioning the securities involved, as well as the difficulty of the transaction in question, and thus need not pay the lowest spread or, if applicable, commission available if the Adviser determines in good faith that the amount of the spread or, if applicable, commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) provided by the dealer, viewed either in terms of the particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities. If, on the foregoing basis, the transaction in question could be allocated to two or more dealers, the Adviser is authorized, in making such allocation, to consider whether a dealer has provided such brokerage or research services. The Trust recognizes that no dollar value can be placed on such brokerage or research services and that such brokerage or research services may or may not be useful to the Trust and may be used for the benefit of the Adviser or its other clients. The Trust did not engage in any such affiliated brokerage transactions during its three most recent fiscal years.
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Capital Stock
The Trust has four classes of shares.
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* Front-Payment Class Shares (“Class A Shares”)
are offered to investors at net asset value plus a sales charge, paid at the time of purchase, at the maximum rate of 4.0% of the public offering price, with lower rates for larger purchases including previous purchases of shares of any class of any of the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds. There is no sales charge on purchases of $1 million or more, but redemptions of shares so purchased are generally subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”). Class A Shares are subject to a fee under the Trust’s Distribution Plan at the rate of 0.20 of 1% of the average annual net assets represented by the Class A Shares.
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* Level-Payment Class Shares (“Class C Shares”)
are offered to investors at net asset value with no sales charge payable at the time of purchase but with a level charge for service and distribution fees for six years after the date of purchase at the aggregate annual rate of 1% of the average annual net assets of the Class C Shares. Six years after the date of purchase, Class C Shares are automatically converted to Class A Shares. If you redeem Class C Shares before you have held them for 12 months from the date of purchase you will pay a CDSC; this charge is 1%, calculated on the net asset value of the Class C Shares at the time of purchase or at redemption, whichever is less. There is no CDSC after Class C Shares have been held beyond the applicable period. For purposes of applying the CDSC and determining the time of conversion, the 12-month and six-year holding periods are considered modified by up to one month depending upon when during a month your purchase of such shares is made. Class C Shares are subject to a fee under the Trust’s Distribution Plan at the rate of 0.75 of 1% of the average annual net assets represented by the Class C Shares and a service fee of 0.25 of 1% of such assets.
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* Institutional Class Shares (“Class Y Shares”)
are offered and sold only through institutions acting for investors in a fiduciary, advisory, agency, custodial or similar capacity, and are not offered directly to retail customers. Class Y Shares are offered at net asset value with no sales charge, no redemption fee, no contingent deferred sales charge and no distribution fee.
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*Financial Intermediary Class Shares (“Class I Shares”)
are offered and sold only through financial intermediaries with which Aquila Distributors, Inc. has entered into sales agreements, and are not offered directly to retail customers. Class I Shares are offered at net asset value with no sales charge and no redemption fee or contingent deferred sales charge, although a financial intermediary may charge a fee for effecting a purchase or other transaction on behalf of its customers. Class I Shares may carry a distribution fee of up to 0.25 of 1% of average annual net assets allocable to Class I Shares. A distribution fee of up to 0.15 of 1% of such net assets is currently authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. In addition, Class I Shares may pay a service fee of up to 0.25 of 1% of such assets.
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The Trust’s four classes of shares differ in their sales charge structures and ongoing expenses, which are likely to be reflected in differing yields and other measures of investment performance. All four classes represent interests in the same portfolio of Hawaiian Obligations and have the same rights, except that each class bears the separate expenses, if any, of its participation in the Distribution Plan and Shareholder Services Plan and has exclusive voting rights with respect to such participation.
At any meeting of shareholders, shareholders are entitled to one vote for each dollar of net asset value (determined as of the record date for the meeting) per share held (and proportionate fractional votes for fractional dollar amounts). Shareholders will vote on the election of Trustees and on other matters submitted to the vote of shareholders. Shares vote by classes on any matter specifically affecting one or more classes, such as an amendment of an applicable part of the Distribution Plan. No amendment, whether or not affecting the rights of the shareholders, may be made to the Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
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the dollar value of the outstanding shares of the Trust, except that the Trust’s Board of Trustees may change the name of the Trust.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares and to divide or combine the shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Each share represents an equal proportionate interest in the Trust with each other share of its class; shares of the respective classes represent proportionate interests in the Trust in accordance with their respective net asset values. Upon liquidation of the Trust, shareholders are entitled to share pro-rata in the net assets of the Trust available for distribution to shareholders, in accordance with the respective net asset values of the shares of each of the Trust’s classes at that time. All shares are presently divided into four classes; however, if they deem it advisable and in the best interests of shareholders, the Board of Trustees of the Trust may create additional classes of shares, which may differ from each other as provided in rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or by exemptive order. The Board of Trustees may, at its own discretion, create additional series of shares, each of which may have separate assets and liabilities (in which case any such series will have a designation including the word “Series”). Shares are fully paid and non-assessable, except as set forth in the next paragraph; the holders of shares have no pre-emptive or conversion rights, except that Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares after being held for six years.
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a trust such as the Trust, may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. For shareholder protection, however, an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust is contained in the Declaration of Trust, which requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust’s property of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to the relatively remote circumstances in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations. In the event the Trust had two or more Series, and if any such Series were to be unable to meet the obligations attributable to it (which, as with the Trust, is relatively remote), the other Series would be subject to such obligations, with a corresponding increase in the risk of the shareholder liability mentioned in the prior sentence.
Purchase, Redemption, and Pricing of Shares
The following supplements the information about purchase, redemption and pricing of shares set forth in the Prospectus.
Sales Charges for Purchases of $1 Million or More of Class A Shares
You will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase when you purchase “CDSC Class A Shares.” CDSC Class A Shares include:
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(i) Class A Shares issued in a single purchase of $1 million or more by a single purchaser; and
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(ii) Class A Shares issued when the value of the purchase, together with the value (based on purchase cost or current net asset value, whichever is higher) of shares of the Trust or any other fund in the Aquila Group of Funds that are owned by the purchaser is $1 million or more.
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CDSC Class A Shares do not include Class A Shares purchased without a sales charge as described under “General” below.
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Broker/Dealer Compensation - Class A Shares
Upon notice to all selected dealers, the Distributor may distribute up to the full amount of the applicable sales charge to broker/dealers. Under the Securities Act of 1933, broker/dealers may be deemed to be underwriters during periods when they receive all, or substantially all, of the sales charge.
Redemption of CDSC Class A Shares
If you redeem all or part of your CDSC Class A Shares during the four years after you purchase them, you may have to pay a special CDSC upon redemption of those shares. CDSC Class A Shares purchased without a sales charge pursuant to a Letter of Intent are subject to the CDSC (see “Reduced Sales Charges for Certain Purchases of Class A Shares” below). The CDSC will not apply to shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends or distributions on CDSC Class A Shares.
When a CDSC is calculated, it will be applied to the lower of the original cost of the shares being redeemed or the current market value of those shares. Therefore, you do not pay a sales charge on amounts representing appreciation or depreciation. The rate used to calculate the CDSC is based on the value of all shares of funds in the Aquila Group of Funds (“Aquila fund shares”) that you own at the time the shares being redeemed were originally purchased and will vary based on the number of years since the CDSC Class A Shares were purchased, according to the following table:
Value of All Aquila Fund Shares at Time Shares Being Redeemed were Originally Purchased
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CDSC Rate on Shares Redeemed
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$1 million and up to $2.5 million
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1% on shares redeemed in years 1 & 2
0.50 of 1% on shares redeemed in years 3 & 4
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Over $2.5 million and up to $5 million
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0.50 of 1% on shares redeemed in year 1
0.25 of 1% on shares redeemed in year 2
0.0 on shares redeemed in years 3 & 4
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Over $5 million
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None
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The CDSC will not apply to CDSC Class A Shares held for longer than four years.
Each time you place a request to redeem shares, the Trust will first redeem any shares in your account that are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, and then will redeem shares in your account that are subject to the lowest CDSC rate, unless otherwise instructed. A series of investments may increase the total value of all shares of funds in the Aquila Group of Funds that you own so that subsequent purchases may qualify for a shorter holding period and a lower CDSC rate, as described in the table above, without altering the holding period or CDSC rate for shares acquired when the total value of Aquila fund shares you owned was lower.
The Trust will treat all CDSC Class A Share purchases made during a calendar month as if they were made on the first business day of that month at the average cost of all purchases made during that month. Therefore, the four-year holding period will end on the first business day of the 48th calendar month after the date of those purchases. Accordingly, the holding period may, in fact, be almost one month less than the full 48 depending on when your actual purchase was made.
The CDSC will be waived for:
·
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Redemption following the death of the shareholder or beneficial owner.
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·
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Redemption by the Trust when an account falls below the minimum required account size.
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·
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Redemption by an investor who purchased $1 million or more without an initial sales charge if the securities dealer of record waived or deferred its commission in connection with the purchase, with notice to the investor and the Trust at the time of purchase.
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Broker/Dealer Compensation - CDSC Class A Shares
The Distributor currently intends to pay any dealer executing a purchase of CDSC Class A Shares as follows:
Amount of Purchase
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Amount Distributed to Broker/Dealer as a Percentage of Purchase Price
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$1 million but less than $2.5 million
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1%
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$2.5 million but less than $5 million
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0.50 of 1%
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$5 million or more
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0.25 of 1%
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Reduced Sales Charges for Certain Purchases of Class A Shares
Right of Accumulation
“Single purchasers” may qualify for a reduced sales charge in accordance with the schedule set forth in the Prospectus when making subsequent purchases of Class A Shares. A reduced sales charge applies if the cumulative value (based on purchase cost or current net asset value, whichever is higher) of shares previously purchased, together with Class A Shares of your subsequent purchase, amounts to $25,000 or more.
Letters of Intent
“Single purchasers” may also qualify for reduced sales charges, in accordance with the same schedule, after a written Letter of Intent (included in the New Account Application) is received by the Distributor. The Letter of Intent confirms that you intend to purchase, with a sales charge, within a thirteen-month period, Class A Shares of the Trust through a single selected dealer or the Distributor. Class A Shares of the Trust which you previously purchased, also with a sales charge, within 90 days prior to the Distributor’s receipt of your Letter of Intent and which you still own may also be included in determining the applicable reduction. For more information, including escrow provisions, see the Letter of Intent provisions of the New Account Application.
General
Class A Shares may be purchased without a sales charge by:
* current and former Trustees and officers of any funds in the Aquila Group of Funds,
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*
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the directors, managers, officers and certain employees, former employees and representatives of the Administrator, the Distributor, the Adviser and the sub-adviser of any fund in the Aquila Group of Funds and the parents and/or affiliates of such companies,
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* selected broker dealers, their officers and employees and other investment professionals,
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*
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certain persons connected with firms providing legal, advertising or public relations assistance,
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* certain family members of, and plans for the benefit of, the foregoing; and
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*
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plans for the benefit of trust or similar clients of banking institutions over which these institutions have full investment authority, if the Distributor has an agreement relating to such purchases.
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Except for the last category, purchasers must give written assurance that the purchase is for investment and that the Class A Shares will not be resold except through redemption. Since there may be tax consequences of these purchases, your tax advisor should be consulted.
Class A Shares may also be issued without a sales charge in a merger, acquisition or exchange offer made pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which the Trust is a party.
The Trust permits the sale of its Class A Shares at prices that reflect the reduction or elimination of the sales charge to investors who are members of certain qualified groups.
A qualified group is a group or association that
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(i)
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satisfies uniform criteria, which enable the Distributor to realize economies of scale in its costs of distributing shares;
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(ii)
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gives its endorsement or authorization (if it is a group or association) to an investment program to facilitate solicitation of its membership by a broker or dealer; and
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(iii)
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complies with the conditions of purchase that make up an agreement between the Trust and the group, representative or broker or dealer.
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At the time of purchase, the Distributor must receive information sufficient to permit verification that the purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge, either directly or through a broker or dealer.
Examples of a qualified group include, but are not limited to:
*
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certain wrap accounts, asset allocation programs or other fee-based arrangements for the benefit of clients of investment professionals or other financial intermediaries; and
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*
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certain retirement plans that are part of a retirement plan or platform offered by banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or insurance companies, or serviced by recordkeepers.
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Investors may exchange securities acceptable to the Adviser and the Administrator for shares of the Trust. The Trust believes such exchange provides a means by which holders of certain securities may invest in the Trust without the expense of selling the securities in the open market. The investor should furnish, either in writing or by FAX or e-mail, to the Administrator a list with a full and exact description (including CUSIP numbers) of all securities proposed for exchange. The Administrator will then notify the investor as to whether the securities are acceptable and, if so, will send a letter of transmittal to be completed and signed by the investor. The Administrator has the right to reject all or any part of the securities offered for exchange. The securities must then be sent in proper form for transfer with the letter of transmittal to the Custodian of the Trust’s assets. The investor must certify that there are no legal or contractual restrictions on the free transfers and sale of the securities. Upon receipt by the Custodian of the securities and all required documents for transfer, the securities will be valued as of the close of business on that day in the same manner as the Trust’s portfolio securities are valued each day. Shares of the Trust having an equal net asset value as of the close of the same day will be registered in the investor’s name. Applicable sales charges, if any, will apply, but there is no charge for making the exchange and no brokerage commission on the securities accepted, although applicable stock transfer taxes, if any, may be deducted. The exchange of securities by the investor pursuant to this offer may constitute a taxable transaction and may result in a gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes. The tax treatment experienced by investors may vary depending upon individual circumstances. Each investor should consult a tax adviser to determine Federal, state and local tax consequences.
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Additional Compensation for Financial Intermediaries
The Distributor and/or its related companies may pay compensation out of their own assets to certain broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries (“financial advisors”) above and beyond sales commissions, 12b-1 or certain service fees and certain recordkeeping/sub-transfer agency fees paid by the Trust, in connection with the sale, servicing or retention of Trust shares. This compensation, which may be significant in dollar amounts to the Distributor, could create an incentive for a financial advisor to sell Trust shares. You should ask your financial advisor to obtain more information on how this additional compensation may have influenced your advisor’s recommendation of the Trust.
Such additional compensation (which is sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing”) is paid out of the Distributor’s (or related company’s) own resources, without additional charge to the Trust or its shareholders, although such resources may include profits derived from services provided to the Trust. Additional cash payments may be based on a percentage of gross sales, a percentage of assets or number of accounts maintained or serviced by the financial advisor, and/or a fixed dollar amount, and is different for different financial advisors.
At its discretion, the Distributor determines whether to pay additional compensation and the amount of any such payments based on factors the Distributor deems relevant. Factors considered by the Distributor generally include the financial advisor’s reputation, training of the financial advisor’s sales force, quality of service, ability to attract and retain assets for the Trust, expertise in distributing a particular class of shares of the Trust, and/or access to target markets. The Distributor may pay additional compensation for services with respect to the Trust and other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds without allocation for services provided to particular funds.
Typically, additional compensation in the form of education and/or marketing support payments is made towards one or more of the following:
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assistance in training and educating the financial advisor’s personnel;
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participation in the financial advisor’s conferences and meetings;
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advertising of the Trust’s shares;
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payment of travel expenses, including lodging, for attendance at sales seminars by qualifying registered representatives;
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other incentives or financial assistance to financial advisors in connection with promotional, training or educational seminars or conferences;
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shareholder education events;
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exhibit space or sponsorships at regional or national events of financial intermediaries;
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participation in special financial advisor programs;
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continued availability of the Trust’s shares through the financial advisor’s automated trading platform;
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access to the financial advisor’s sales representatives and national sales management personnel by the Distributor or Trust representatives;
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inclusion of the Trust and/or the Aquila Group of Funds on preferred or recommended sales lists; and
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other comparable expenses at the discretion of the Distributor.
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The financial advisors to whom the Distributor may pay, or has paid additional compensation in the form of education and/or marketing support payments since January 1, 2004, include Bank One Securities Corp., Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., DA Davidson & Co., Edward D. Jones & Co., Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, First Federal Savings Bank, Invest Financial Corporation, J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Inc., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, LPL Financial, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, National Financial Services LLC, Pershing LLC, RBC Dain Rauscher Inc., Raymond James Securities, Sovereign Bank, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co., The Glenview Trust Co., The Investment Center Inc., UBS Financial Services, US Bancorp Investments, Inc., US Bank Securities, UVEST Investment Services, Inc., Wedbush Securities Inc, Wells Fargo Advisors, Inc., and Zions Investment Securities Inc.
The Distributor and/or related companies may compensate financial advisors not listed above. The Distributor and/or related companies may enter into additional compensation arrangements or change arrangements at any time without notice.
The Distributor and/or its related companies currently compensate financial advisors on a case by case basis. Any of the foregoing payments to be made by the Distributor may be made instead by the Administrator out of its own funds, directly or through the Distributor.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan
You may establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan if you own or purchase Class A Shares of the Trust having a net asset value of at least $5,000. The Automatic Withdrawal Plan is not available for Class C Shares, Class I Shares or Class Y Shares.
Under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan you will receive a monthly or quarterly check in a stated amount, not less than $50. If such a plan is established, all dividends and distributions must be reinvested in your shareholder account. Redemption of shares to make payments under the Automatic Withdrawal Plan will generally give rise to a gain or loss for tax purposes. (See the Automatic Withdrawal Plan provisions of the New Account Application.)
Purchases of additional Class A Shares concurrently with withdrawals are undesirable because of sales charges when purchases are made. Accordingly, you may not maintain an Automatic Withdrawal Plan while simultaneously making regular purchases. While an occasional lump sum investment may be made, such investment should normally be an amount at least equal to three times the annual withdrawal or $5,000, whichever is less.
Share Certificates
The Trust no longer issues share certificates. If you own certificated shares and have lost the certificates, you may incur delay and expense when redeeming the shares.
Reinvestment Privilege
If you reinvest proceeds of a redemption of Class A or Class C Shares within 120 days of the redemption you will not have to pay any additional sales charge on the reinvestment, and any CDSC deducted upon the redemption will be refunded. You must reinvest in the same class as the shares redeemed. You may exercise this privilege only once a year, unless otherwise approved by the Distributor.
The Distributor will refund to you any CDSC deducted at the time of redemption by adding it to the amount of your reinvestment. The Class C or CDSC Class A Shares purchased upon reinvestment will be deemed to have been outstanding from the date of your original purchase of the redeemed shares, less the period from redemption to reinvestment.
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Exchange Privilege
Shareholders of the Trust have an exchange privilege as set forth below. Exchanges can be made among this Fund and other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds. All exchanges are subject to certain conditions described below.
Generally, you can exchange shares of any class of the Trust for shares of the same class of other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds without the payment of a sales charge or any other fee. The exchange privilege is available to Class I or Class Y Shares to the extent that other Aquila-sponsored funds are made available to its customers by your financial intermediary. All exchanges of Class I or Class Y Shares must be made through your financial intermediary. Call 800-437-1020 for more information on the exchange privilege.
Because excessive trading in Trust shares can be harmful to the Trust and its other shareholders, the right is reserved to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, to limit the number of exchanges or to reject any exchange if (i) the Trust or any of the other Aquila Funds believe that it or they would be harmed or be unable to invest effectively or (ii) it or they receive or anticipate receiving simultaneous orders that may significantly affect the Trust or any other Aquila Fund.
The following important information should be noted:
CDSCs Upon Redemptions of Shares Acquired Through Exchanges
. If you exchange shares subject to a CDSC, no CDSC will be imposed at the time of exchange, but the shares you receive
in
exchange
for them will be subject to the applicable CDSC if you redeem them before the requisite holding period (extended, if required) has expired.
If the shares you redeem would have incurred a CDSC if you had not made any exchanges, then the same CDSC will be imposed upon the redemption regardless of the exchanges that have taken place since the original purchase.
This Trust, as well as the other funds in the Aquila Group of Funds, reserves the right to reject any exchange into its shares, if shares of the fund into which exchange is desired are not available for sale in your state of residence. The Trust may also modify or terminate this exchange privilege at any time on not less than 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.
All exercises of the exchange privilege are subject to the conditions that (i) the shares being acquired are available for sale in your state of residence; (ii) the aggregate net asset value of the shares surrendered for exchange is at least equal to the minimum investment requirements of the investment company whose shares are being acquired and (iii) the ownership of the accounts from which and to which the exchange is made are identical.
The Agent will accept telephone exchange instructions from anyone. To make a telephone exchange telephone:
800-437-1000 toll-free
Note: The Trust, the Agent, and the Distributor will not be responsible for any losses resulting from unauthorized telephone transactions if the Agent follows reasonable procedures designed to verify the identity of the caller. The Agent will request some or all of the following information: account name(s) and number, name of the caller, the social security number registered to the account and personal identification. The Agent may also record calls. You should verify the accuracy of confirmation statements immediately upon receipt.
Exchanges will be effected at the relative exchange prices of the shares being exchanged next determined after receipt by the Agent of your exchange request. The exchange prices will be the respective net asset values of the shares, unless a sales charge is to be deducted in connection with an exchange of shares, in which case the
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exchange price of shares of a Bond or Equity Fund will be their public offering price. Prices for exchanges are determined in the same manner as for purchases of the Trust’s shares.
An exchange is generally treated for Federal tax purposes as a redemption and purchase of shares and will generally result in the realization of a capital gain or loss, depending on the cost or other tax basis of the shares exchanged and the holding period; should any capital loss be realized, no representation is made as to its deductibility.
Dividends paid by a fund into which exchange is desired may be taxable to you. You should consult your tax adviser before acquiring shares of another fund under the exchange privilege arrangement.
If you are considering an exchange into one of the funds listed above, you should send for and carefully read its Prospectus.
Same Fund Exchange Privilege
Certain shareholders may be eligible to exchange their shares for the Trust’s Class Y shares. If eligible, no sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange. Generally, shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes upon such an exchange. Investors should contact their financial intermediary to learn more about the details of this privilege.
Conversion of Class C Shares
Class C Shares automatically convert to Class A Shares six years after the date of purchase. Conversion of Class C Shares into Class A Shares will be effected at relative net asset values after the sixth anniversary of your purchase of Class C Shares, on the 15
th
day of the month (or the next business day thereafter), except as noted below. Accordingly, if the sixth anniversary of your purchase of Class C Shares occurs on or after the 15th day of the month, conversion will be effected on the 15th day of the following month. Thus, the holding period applicable to your Class C Shares may be up to five weeks more than the six years depending upon when your actual purchase was made during a month. Because the per share value of Class A Shares may be higher than that of Class C Shares at the time of conversion, you may receive fewer Class A Shares than the number of Class C Shares converted. If you have made one or more exchanges of Class C Shares among the Aquila-sponsored Bond or Equity Funds under the Exchange Privilege, the six-year holding period is deemed to have begun on the date you purchased your original Class C Shares of the Trust or of another of the Aquila Bond or Equity Funds.
“Transfer on Death” Registration (Not Available for Class I or Class Y Shares)
Each of the funds in the Aquila Group of Funds now permits registration of its shares in beneficiary form, subject to the funds’ rules governing Transfer on Death (“TOD”) registration, if the investor resides in a state that has adopted the Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration Act (a “TOD State”; for these purposes, Missouri is deemed to be a TOD State). This form of registration allows you to provide that, on your death, your shares are to be transferred to the one or more persons that you specify as beneficiaries. To register shares of the Trust in TOD form, complete the special TOD Registration Request Form and review the Rules Governing TOD Registration; both are available from the Agent. The Rules, which are subject to amendment upon 60 days’ notice to TOD account owners, contain important information regarding TOD accounts with the Trust; by opening such an account you agree to be bound by them, and failure to comply with them may result in your shares’ not being transferred to your designated beneficiaries. If you open a TOD account with the Trust that is otherwise acceptable but, for whatever reason, neither the Trust nor the Agent receives a properly completed TOD Registration Request Form from you prior to your death, the Trust reserves the right not to honor your TOD designation, in which case your account will become part of your estate.
You are eligible for TOD registration only if, and as long as, you reside in a TOD State
. If you open a TOD account and your account address indicates that you do not reside in a TOD State, your TOD registration will be ineffective and the Trust may, in its discretion, either open the account as a regular (non-TOD) account or
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redeem your shares. Such a redemption may result in a gain or loss to you and may have tax consequences. Similarly, if you open a TOD account while residing in a TOD State and later move to a non-TOD State, your TOD registration will no longer be effective. In both cases, should you die while residing in a non-TOD State the Trust reserves the right not to honor your TOD designation. At the date of this SAI, almost all states are TOD States, but you should consult your tax advisor regarding the circumstances in your state of residence.
Computation of Net Asset Value
The net asset value of the shares of each of the Trust’s classes is determined as of 4:00 p.m., New York time, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open, by dividing the value of the Trust’s net assets allocable to each class by the total number of its shares of such class then outstanding. With the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees the Trust’s normal practice is that most or all of the Hawaiian Obligations in the Trust’s portfolio are priced using a reputable pricing service which may employ differential comparisons to the market in other municipal bonds under methods which include consideration of the current market value of tax-free debt instruments having varying characteristics of quality, yield and maturity. Portfolio securities other than those with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are valued at the mean between bid and asked quotations, if available, which, for Hawaiian Obligations, may be obtained from a reputable pricing service which may, in turn, obtain quotations from broker/dealers or banks dealing in Hawaiian Obligations. Any securities or assets for which market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures subject to the general supervision and responsibility of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. Securities having a remaining maturity of sixty days or less when purchased and securities originally purchased with maturities in excess of sixty days but which currently have maturities of sixty days or less are valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. With the approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser may at its own expense and without reimbursement from the Trust employ a pricing service, bank or broker/dealer experienced in such matters to perform any of the above described functions.
Reasons for Differences in Public Offering Price
As described herein and in the Prospectus, there are a number of instances in which the Trust’s Class A Shares are sold or issued on a basis other than the maximum public offering price, that is, the net asset value plus the highest sales charge. Some of these relate to lower or eliminated sales charges for larger purchases, whether made at one time or over a period of time as under a Letter of Intent or right of accumulation. (See the table of sales charges in the Prospectus.) The reasons for these quantity discounts are, in general, that (i) they are traditional and have long been permitted in the industry and are therefore necessary to meet competition as to sales of shares of other funds having such discounts; and (ii) they are designed to avoid an unduly large dollar amount of sales charge on substantial purchases in view of reduced selling expenses. Quantity discounts are made available to certain related persons (“single purchasers”) for reasons of family unity and to provide a benefit to tax-exempt plans and organizations.
The reasons for the other instances in which there are reduced or eliminated sales charges for Class A Shares are as follows. Exchanges at net asset value are permitted because a sales charge has already been paid on the shares exchanged. Sales without sales charge are permitted to Trustees, officers and certain others due to reduced or eliminated selling expenses and/or since such sales may encourage incentive, responsibility and interest and an identification with the aims and policies of the Trust. Limited reinvestments of redemptions of Class A Shares and Class C Shares at no sales charge are permitted to attempt to protect against mistaken or incompletely informed redemption decisions. Shares may be issued at no sales charge in plans of reorganization due to reduced or eliminated sales expenses and since, in some cases, such issuance is exempted in the 1940 Act from the otherwise applicable restrictions as to what sales charge must be imposed. In no case in which there is a reduced or eliminated sales charge are the interests of existing shareholders adversely affected since, in each case, the Trust receives the net asset value per share of all shares sold or issued.
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Purchases and Redemptions Through Broker/Dealers
A broker/dealer may charge its customers a processing or service fee in connection with the purchase or redemption of Trust shares. The amount and applicability of such a fee is determined and should be disclosed to its customers by each individual broker/dealer. These processing or service fees are typically fixed, nominal dollar amounts and are in addition to the sales and other charges described in the Prospectus and this SAI. Your broker/dealer should provide you with specific information about any processing or service fees you will be charged.
Purchases and Redemptions of Class I and Class Y Shares
The Trust has authorized one or more financial intermediaries or institutions to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders for Class I or Class Y Shares; one or more of those financial intermediaries are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders for Class I or Class Y Shares on the Trust’s behalf. The Trust will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order for Class I or Class Y Shares when an authorized financial intermediary or, if applicable, the financial intermediary’s authorized designee receives the order. Such orders will be priced at the Trust’s net asset value for Class I or Class Y Shares next determined after they are received by the authorized financial intermediary or institution or, if applicable, its authorized designee and accepted by the Trust.
Limitation of Redemptions in Kind
The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, pursuant to which the Trust is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1 percent of the net asset value of the Trust during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Should redemptions by any shareholder exceed such limitation, the Trust will have the option of redeeming the excess in cash or in kind. If shares are redeemed in kind, the redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage costs in converting the assets into cash. The method of valuing securities used to make redemptions in kind will be the same as the method of valuing portfolio securities described under “Net Asset Value Per Share” in the Prospectus, and such valuation will be made as of the same time the redemption price is determined.
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
Under Trust policies, the Administrator publicly discloses the complete schedule of the Trust’s portfolio holdings, as reported at the end of each calendar quarter, generally by the 15th day after the end of each calendar quarter. Such information will remain accessible until the next schedule is made publicly available. It may also publicly disclose other portfolio holdings as of a specified date. You may obtain a copy of the Trust’s schedule of portfolio holdings for the most recently completed period by accessing the information on the Trust’s website at www.aquilafunds.com. The Trust also discloses the five largest holdings by market value as of the close of the last business day of each calendar month by posting the same to its web site on the 5th business day of the following calendar month. Such information remains on the web site until the next such posting.
In addition, the Administrator may share the Trust’s non-public portfolio holdings information with pricing services and other service providers to the Trust who require access to such information in order to fulfill their contractual duties to the Trust. The Administrator may also disclose non-public information regarding the Trust’s portfolio holdings to certain mutual fund analysts and rating and tracking entities, or to other entities that have a legitimate business purpose in receiving such information on a more frequent basis. Exceptions to the frequency and recipients of the disclosure may be made only with the advance authorization of the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer upon a determination that such disclosure serves a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Trust and will be reported to the Board of Trustees at the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Any permitted release of non-public holdings information is provided in accordance with the then-current policy on approved methods or arrangements for communicating confidential information.
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Whenever portfolio holdings disclosure made pursuant to these procedures involves a possible conflict of interest between the Trust’s shareholders and the Trust’s Administrator, Adviser, Distributor or any affiliated person of the Trust, the disclosure may not be made unless a majority of the independent Trustees or a majority of a board committee consisting solely of independent Trustees approves such disclosure. The Trust, the Administrator and the Adviser shall not enter into any arrangement providing for the disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information for the receipt of compensation or benefit of any kind. Any material changes to the policies and procedures for the disclosure of portfolio holdings will be reported to the Board on at least an annual basis.
The Trust currently provides holdings information to the following service providers with which it has ongoing relationships:
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Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data, Inc. (pricing services) on a daily basis with no lag;
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Tait, Weller & Baker LLP, its independent registered public accounting firm, as soon as practicable following the Trust’s fiscal year-end and on an as-needed basis; and
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Fitch, its financial printer, as soon as practicable following each fiscal quarter-end.
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It also currently provides holdings information to Bloomberg, Morningstar and Lipper Analytical Services (analysts, rating and tracking entities) on a quarterly basis with a 15-day lag.
Additional Tax Information
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. Federal income tax considerations affecting the Trust and its shareholders. The discussion is very general. Current and prospective shareholders are therefore urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the specific Federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in the Trust. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this SAI and existing judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.
The Trust and Its Investments
The Trust has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify each year, as a “regulated investment company” or “RIC” under Subchapter M of the Code. To so qualify, the Trust must, among other things: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains, and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income); and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Trust’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Trust’s assets is represented by cash, securities of other regulated investment companies, U.S. Government securities and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the Trust’s assets and not greater 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 regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, in the securities (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any two or more issuers that the Trust controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships.”
As a regulated investment company, the Trust will not be subject to U.S. Federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders, provided that it satisfies a minimum distribution requirement. To satisfy the minimum distribution requirement, the Trust must distribute to its shareholders at least the sum of (i) 90% of its “investment company taxable income” for the taxable year (i.e.,
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generally, the taxable income of a RIC other than its net capital gain, plus or minus certain other adjustments), and (ii) 90% of its net tax-exempt income for the taxable year. The Trust will be subject to income tax at regular corporate tax rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders.
If, for any taxable year, the Trust were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code or were to fail to meet the distribution requirement, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Trust in computing its taxable income. In addition, in the event of a failure to qualify, the Trust’s distributions, to the extent derived from current or accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividend income for Federal income tax purposes. However, such dividends would be eligible, subject to any generally applicable limitations, (i) for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2012, to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. Moreover, if the Trust were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it would be required to pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment company. Under certain circumstances, the Trust may cure a failure to qualify as a regulated investment company, but in order to do so the Trust may incur significant Trust-level taxes and may be forced to dispose of certain assets. If the Trust failed to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Trust would generally be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets within ten years of qualifying as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.
The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Trust to the extent it does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for that year and (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain net income (both long-term and short-term) for the one-year period ending, as a general rule, on October 31 of that year. For this purpose, however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income that is retained by the Trust and subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by year-end. In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any under-distribution or over-distribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. The Trust anticipates that it will pay such dividends and will make such distributions as are necessary in order to avoid the application of this excise tax.
The Trust’s transactions in zero coupon securities, foreign currencies, forward contracts, options and futures contracts (including options and futures contracts on foreign currencies), if any, will be subject to special provisions of the Code (including provisions relating to “hedging transactions” and “straddles”) that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Trust (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Trust, and defer Trust losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require the Trust to “mark to market” certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year) and (b) may cause the Trust to recognize income prior to the receipt of cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes. In order to distribute this income and avoid a tax on the Trust, the Trust might be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss. The Trust will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any zero coupon securities, foreign currency, forward contract, option, futures contract or hedged investment in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company.
The Trust may be required to treat amounts as taxable income or gain, subject to the distribution requirements referred to above, even though no corresponding amounts of cash are received concurrently, as a result of (1) mark-to-market rules, constructive sale rules or rules applicable to certain options, futures or forward contracts, or “appreciated financial positions” or (2) tax rules applicable to debt obligations acquired with “original issue discount,” including zero-coupon or deferred payment bonds and pay-in-kind debt obligations, or to market discount if an election is made with respect to such market discount. In order to distribute this income and avoid a tax on the Trust, the Trust might be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued
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to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss. The Trust might also meet the distribution requirements by borrowing the necessary cash, thereby incurring interest expense.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, unused capital loss carryforwards that arose in tax years that began on or before December 22, 2010 (“Pre-2011 Carryforwards”) are available to be applied against future capital gains, if any, realized by the fund prior to expiration of the carryforwards. Net short- and long-term capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward without limit, and such carryforwards must be exhausted before the Fund will be permitted to utilize any Pre-2011 Carryforwards. At March 31, 2012 the Trust had a capital loss carryover of $8,081,187, of which $2,273,607 expires in 2015, $1,251,412 expires in 2016, $1,198,556 expires in 2017, $3,244,561 expires in 2018, $62,543 expires in 2019 and $50,508 which has no expiration and retains its character as long-term. Under certain circumstances, the Trust may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred.
Taxation of U.S. Shareholders
Dividends and other distributions by the Trust are generally treated under the Code as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However, if any dividend or distribution is declared by the Trust in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month but is actually paid during the following January, such dividend or distribution will be deemed to have been received by each shareholder on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.
The Trust intends to distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment company taxable income, and any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers). If, however, the Trust retains for investment an amount equal to all or a portion of its net long-term capital gains in excess of its net short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers), it will be subject to a corporate tax (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount retained. In that event, the Trust will designate such retained amounts as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (a) will be required to include in income for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount, (b) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the 35% tax paid by the Trust on the undistributed amount against their U.S. Federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent their credits exceed their liabilities, if any, and (c) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, in their shares by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s income. Organizations or persons not subject to U.S. Federal income tax on such capital gains will be entitled to a refund of their pro rata share of such taxes paid by the Trust upon timely filing appropriate returns or claims for refund with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”).
Exempt-interest dividends paid by the Trust are exempt from regular Federal income taxes. Dividends of taxable net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term capital gains are taxable to a U.S. shareholder as ordinary income, whether paid in cash or in shares. Distributions of net realized long-term capital gains, if any, that the Trust reports as capital gain dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains, whether paid in cash or in shares, and regardless of how long a shareholder has held shares of the Trust. None of the Trust’s distributions are expected to be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders or for treatment as “qualified dividend income” in the hands of an individual shareholder.
Dividends and distributions from the Trust(other than exempt-interest dividends) and net gain from redemptions of Trust shares will generally be taken into account in determining a shareholder’s “net investment income” for purposes of the Medicare contribution tax applicable to certain individuals, estates and trusts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012.
Distributions in excess of the Trust’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will, as to each shareholder, be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares of the
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Trust, and as a capital gain thereafter (if the shareholder holds his or her shares of the Trust as capital assets). Each shareholder who receives dividends or distributions in the form of additional shares will generally be treated for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that the shareholder would have received if he or she had instead elected to receive cash distributions. A shareholder’s tax basis in the shares so received will be equal to such amount.
Investors considering buying shares just prior to a taxable dividend or capital gain distribution should be aware that, although the price of shares purchased at that time may reflect the amount of the forthcoming distribution, such dividend or distribution may nevertheless be taxable to them.
Because the Trust will distribute exempt-interest dividends, interest on indebtedness incurred by shareholders, directly or indirectly, to purchase or carry shares in the Trust is not deductible for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. Investors receiving social security or railroad retirement benefits should be aware that exempt-interest dividends may, under certain circumstances, cause a portion of such benefits to be subject to Federal income tax. Furthermore, a portion of any exempt-interest dividend paid by the Trust that represents income derived from certain revenue or private activity bonds held by the Trust may not retain its tax-exempt status in the hands of a shareholder who is a “substantial user” of a facility financed by such bonds, or a “related person” thereof. Moreover, some or all of the exempt-interest dividends distributed by the Trust may be a specific preference item, or a component of an adjustment item, for purposes of the Federal individual and corporate alternative minimum taxes.
Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors as to whether they are (i) “substantial users” with respect to a facility or “related” to such users within the meaning of the Code or (ii) subject to a Federal alternative minimum tax, the Federal “branch profits” tax, or the Federal “excess net passive income” tax.
Sales of Shares
Upon the sale or exchange of his or her shares (other than an exchange for shares of another share class of the Trust), a shareholder will generally recognize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and his or her basis in the shares. A redemption of shares by the Trust will normally be treated as a sale for this purpose. Such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for one year or less. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced, including replacement through the reinvesting of dividends and capital gains distributions in the Trust, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be increased to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on the sale of Trust shares held by the shareholder for six months or fewer will be treated for U.S. Federal income tax purposes as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions or deemed distributions of long-term capital gains received by the shareholder (including amounts credited to the shareholder as undistributed capital gains) with respect to such shares.
If a shareholder incurs a sales charge in acquiring shares of the Trust, disposes of those shares within 90 days and then acquires, before February 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year of the disposition, shares in a mutual fund for which the otherwise applicable sales charge is reduced by reason of a reinvestment right (e.g., an exchange privilege), the original sales charge will not be taken into account in computing gain or loss on the original shares to the extent the subsequent sales charge is reduced. Instead, the disregarded portion of the original sales charge will be added to the tax basis in the newly acquired shares. Furthermore, the same rule also applies to a disposition of the newly acquired shares made within 90 days of the second acquisition. This provision prevents a shareholder from immediately deducting the sales charge by shifting his or her investment within a family of mutual funds.
If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Trust’s shares 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. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting
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requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Backup Withholding
The Trust may be required in certain circumstances to apply backup withholding on dividends (including exempt-interest dividends), distributions and redemption proceeds payable to non-corporate shareholders who fail to provide the Trust with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rate is currently 28% and is scheduled to increase to 31% in 2013. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. Federal income tax liabilities. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have already been subject to the 30% withholding tax described below under “Non-U.S. Shareholders.”
Non-U.S. Shareholders
Ordinary dividends and certain other payments made by the Trust to non-U.S. shareholders (but not exempt-interest dividends or capital gain dividends) are generally subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be determined in accordance with any applicable treaty. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a non-U.S. shareholder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. The withholding tax does not apply to regular dividends paid to a non-U.S. shareholder who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax as if the non-U.S. shareholder were a U.S. shareholder. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate). A non-U.S. shareholder who fails to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable form may be subject to backup withholding at the appropriate rate.
The 30% withholding tax generally will not apply to exempt-interest dividends, to distributions of the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses or to redemption proceeds.
Distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) paid after December 31, 2013 and redemption payments and certain capital gain dividends paid after December 31, 2014 to a shareholder that is a “foreign financial institution” as defined in Section 1471 of the Code and that does not meet the requirements imposed on foreign financial institutions by Section 1471 will generally be subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate. Distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) paid after December 31, 2013 and redemption payments and certain capital gain dividends paid after December 31, 2014 to a non-U.S. shareholder that is not a foreign financial institution will generally be subject to such withholding tax if the shareholder fails to make certain required certifications. The extent, if any, to which such withholding tax may be reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty is unclear.
Basis Reporting
The Trust or your broker will report to the IRS the amount of proceeds that a shareholder receives from a redemption or exchange of Trust shares. For redemptions or exchanges of shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Trust will also report the shareholder’s basis in those shares and the character of any gain or loss that the shareholder realizes on the redemption or exchange (i.e., short-term or long-term), and certain related tax information. If a shareholder has a different basis for different shares of the Trust held in the same account (e.g., if a shareholder purchased Trust shares held in the same account when the shares were at different prices), the Trust expects to use an average basis default method, in which the basis per share is reported as an average of the bases of the shareholder’s Trust shares in the account. For these purposes, shares acquired prior to January 1, 2012 and shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012 will be treated as held in separate accounts.
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Shareholders may instruct the Trust to use a method other than average basis for an account, but the application of that other method will depend on whether shares have previously been redeemed or exchanged. Shareholders who hold shares through a broker should contact the broker for further assistance or for information regarding the broker’s default method for calculating basis and procedures for electing to use an alternative method. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers concerning the tax consequences of applying the average basis method or electing another method of basis calculation.
Underwriters
The Distributor acts as the Trust’s principal underwriter in the continuous public offering of all of the Trust’s classes of shares. The Distributor is not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is responsible for the payment of certain printing and distribution costs relating to prospectuses and reports as well as the costs of supplemental sales literature, advertising and other promotional activities. Payments of the amounts listed below for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 were as follows:
Name of Principal Underwriter
|
Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions
|
Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases
|
Other Brokerage Commissions
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aquila Distributors Inc.
|
$140,000
|
None
|
None
|
None
(1)
|
(1)
Amounts paid to the Distributor under the Trust’s Distribution Plan are for compensation.
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APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
The ratings of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group and Fitch Ratings represent their opinions as to the quality of various debt obligations. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, debt obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while debt obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. As described by the rating agencies, ratings are generally given to securities at the time of issuances. While the rating agencies may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do so.
Description of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.’s Long-Term Obligation Ratings:
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.
Aaa
—Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal 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 considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa
—Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba
—Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements 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 class 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.
Description of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.’s Short-Term Obligation Ratings:
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.
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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.
Description of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.’s US Municipal Ratings:
US Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings:
There are 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.
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.
US Municipal Demand Obligation Ratings:
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 the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.
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.
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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.
Description of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings:
Long-term issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor’s analysis of the following considerations: (1) 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; (2) nature of and provisions of the obligation; and (3) 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.)
AAA
—An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
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.
BB, B, CCC, CC, and C
—Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major 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.
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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.
C
—A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
D
—An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
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 Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Description of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings:
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 date 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.
A-1
—A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2
—A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
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A-3
—A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B
—A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and ‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B-1
—A short-term obligation rated ‘B-1’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
B-2
—A short-term obligation rated ‘B-2’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
B-3
—A short-term obligation rated ‘B-3’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
C
—A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D
—A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Description of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings Definitions:
A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the 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, Standard & Poor’s has indicated that its analysis will review the following considerations: (1) amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and (2) 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
—Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2
—Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3
—Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
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Description of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group’s Dual Ratings:
Standard & Poor’s assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure. The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short term rating symbols for the put option (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).
Description of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group’s Active Qualifiers (Currently applied and/or outstanding)
i: This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation. The ‘i’ subscript indicates that the rating addresses the interest portion of the obligation only. The ‘i’ subscript will always be used in conjunction with the ‘p’ subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of “AAAp NRi” indicating that the principal portion is rated “AAA” and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.
L: Ratings qualified with ‘L’ apply only to amounts invested up to Federal deposit insurance limits.
p: This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation. The ‘p’ subscript indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. The ‘p’ subscript will always be used in conjunction with the ‘i’ subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of interest. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of “AAAp NRi” indicating that the principal portion is rated “AAA” and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.
pi: Ratings with a ‘pi’ subscript are based on an analysis of an issuer’s published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. They do not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer’s management and therefore may be based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a ‘pi’ subscript. Ratings with a ‘pi’ subscript are reviewed annually based on a new year’s financial statements, but may be reviewed on an interim basis if a major event occurs that may affect the issuer’s credit quality.
preliminary: Preliminary ratings, with the ‘prelim’ qualifier, may be assigned to obligors or obligations, including financial programs, in the circumstances described below. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt by Standard & Poor’s of appropriate documentation. Standard & Poor’s reserves the right not to issue a final rating. Moreover, if a final rating is issued, it may differ from the preliminary rating. (1) Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions. (2) Preliminary ratings are assigned to Rule 415 Shelf Registrations. As specific issues, with defined terms, are offered from the master registration, a final rating may be assigned to them in accordance with Standard & Poor’s policies. (3) Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations that will likely be issued upon the obligor’s emergence from bankruptcy or similar reorganization, based on late-stage reorganization plans, documentation and discussions with the obligor. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligors. These ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the reorganized or post-bankruptcy issuer as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s). (4) Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in Standard & Poor’s opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to these entities’ obligations. (5) Preliminary ratings may be assigned when a previously unrated entity is undergoing a well-formulated restructuring, recapitalization, significant financing or other transformative event, generally at the point that investor or lender commitments are invited. The preliminary rating may be assigned to the entity and to its proposed obligation(s). These preliminary ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the obligor, as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s), assuming successful completion of the transformative event. Should the
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transformative event not occur, Standard & Poor’s would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings. (6) A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.
t: This symbol indicates termination structures that are designed to honor their contracts to full maturity or, should certain events occur, to terminate and cash settle all their contracts before their final maturity date.
unsolicited: Unsolicited ratings are those credit ratings assigned at the initiative of Standard & Poor’s and not at the request of the issuer or its agents.
Description of Fitch Ratings’ Corporate Finance Long-Term Obligation Ratings:
Ratings of individual securities or financial obligations of a corporate issuer address relative vulnerability to default on an ordinal scale. In addition, for financial obligations in corporate finance, a measure of recovery given default on that liability is also included in the rating assessment. This notably applies to covered bonds ratings, which incorporate both an indication of the probability of default and of the recovery given a default of this debt instrument.
The relationship between issuer scale and obligation scale assumes an historical average recovery of between 30% and 50% on the senior, unsecured obligations of an issuer. As a result, individual obligations of entities, such as corporations, are assigned ratings higher, lower, or the same as that entity’s issuer rating or Issuer Default Rating. At the lower end of the ratings scale, Fitch Ratings now additionally publishes explicit Recovery Ratings in many cases to complement issuer and obligation ratings.
AAA
—Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA
—Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A
—High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB
—Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB
—Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.
B
—Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.
CCC
—Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.
CC
—Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.
C
—Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.
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Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘B’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.
Note:
The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below ‘B’.
Description of Fitch Ratings’ Structured, Project & Public Finance Long-Term Obligation Ratings:
Ratings of structured finance, project finance and public finance obligations on the long-term scale, including the financial obligations of sovereigns, consider the obligations’ relative vulnerability to default. These ratings are typically assigned to an individual security or tranche in a transaction and not to an issuer.
AAA
—Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA
—Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A
—High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB
—Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB
—Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time.
B
—Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC
—Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that default is a real possibility.
CC
—Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate that default of some kind appears probable.
C
—Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate that default appears imminent or inevitable.
D
—Default. ‘D’ ratings indicate a default. Default generally is defined as one of the following: (1) failure to make payment of principal and/or interest under the contractual terms of the rated obligation; (2) the bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other winding-up or cessation of the business of an issuer/obligor; or (3) the coercive exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation.
Structured Finance Defaults
—”Imminent” default, categorized under ‘C’, typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. “Imminent” default alternatively
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refers to the case where an issuer has formally announced a coercive debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.
Additionally, in structured finance transactions, where analysis indicates that an instrument is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full in accordance with the terms of the obligation’s documentation during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default in accordance with the terms of the documentation is imminent, the obligation will typically be rated in the ‘C’ category.
Structured Finance Write-downs
—Where an instrument has experienced an involuntary and, in Fitch Ratings’ opinion, irreversible “write-down” of principal (
i.e.
, other than through amortization, and resulting in a loss to the investor), a credit rating of ‘D’ will be assigned to the instrument. Where Fitch Ratings believes the “write-down” may prove to be temporary (and the loss may be “written up” again in future if and when performance improves), then a credit rating of ‘C’ will typically be assigned. Should the “write-down” then later be reversed, the credit rating will be raised to an appropriate level for that instrument. Should the “write-down” later be deemed irreversible, the credit rating will be lowered to ‘D’.
Notes:
In the case of structured and project finance, while the ratings do not address the loss severity given default of the rated liability, loss severity assumptions on the underlying assets are nonetheless typically included as part of the analysis. Loss severity assumptions are used to derive pool cash flows available to service the rated liability.
In the case of public finance, the ratings also do not address the loss given default of the rated liability, focusing instead on the vulnerability to default of the rated liability.
The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-Term Rating category, or categories below ‘B’.
Description of Fitch Ratings’ Corporate, Public and Structured Finance Short-Term Obligation Ratings:
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
F1
—Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2
—Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3
—Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B
—Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C
—High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.
RD
—Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Or, the default of a specific short-term obligation.
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D
—Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of all short-term obligations.
Notes to Fitch Ratings’ Long-Term and Short-Term Obligation Ratings:
Rating Watch: Rating Watches indicate that there is a heightened probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such a change. These are designated as “Positive”, indicating a potential upgrade, “Negative”, for a potential downgrade, or “Evolving”, if ratings may be raised, lowered or affirmed. However, ratings that are not on Rating Watch can be raised or lowered without being placed on Rating Watch first, if circumstances warrant such an action.
A Rating Watch is typically event-driven and, as such, it is generally resolved over a relatively short period. The event driving the Watch may be either anticipated or have already occurred, but in both cases, the exact rating implications remain undetermined. The Watch period is typically used to gather further information and/or subject the information to further analysis. Additionally, a Watch may be used where the rating implications are already clear, but where a triggering event (
e.g.
, shareholder or regulatory approval) exists. The Watch will typically extend to cover the period until the triggering event is resolved or its outcome is predictable with a high enough degree of certainty to permit resolution of the Watch.
Rating Watches can be employed by all analytical groups and are applied to the ratings of individual entities and/or individual instruments. At the lowest categories of speculative grade (‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’) the high volatility of credit profiles may imply that almost all ratings should carry a Watch. Watches are nonetheless only applied selectively in these categories, where a committee decides that particular events or threats are best communicated by the addition of the Watch designation.
Rating Outlook: Rating Outlooks indicate the direction a rating is likely to move over a one- to two-year period. They reflect financial or other trends that have not yet reached the level that would trigger a rating action, but which may do so if such trends continue. The majority of Outlooks are generally Stable, which is consistent with the historical migration experience of ratings over a one- to two-year period. Positive or Negative rating Outlooks do not imply that a rating change is inevitable and, similarly, ratings with Stable Outlooks can be raised or lowered without a prior revision to the Outlook, if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, where the fundamental trend has strong, conflicting elements of both positive and negative, the Rating Outlook may be described as Evolving.
Outlooks are currently applied on the long-term scale to issuer ratings in corporate finance (including sovereigns, industrials, utilities, financial institutions and insurance companies) and public finance outside the U.S.; to issue ratings in public finance in the U.S.; to certain issues in project finance; to Insurer Financial Strength Ratings; to issuer and/or issue ratings in a number of National Rating scales; and to the ratings of structured finance transactions. Outlooks are not applied to ratings assigned on the short-term scale and are applied selectively to ratings in the ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ categories. Defaulted ratings typically do not carry an Outlook.
Expected Ratings: Where a rating is referred to as “expected”, alternatively referred to as “expects to rate” or suffixed as (EXP), this indicates that a full rating has been assigned based upon Fitch Ratings’ expectations regarding final documentation, typically based upon a review of the final draft documentation provided by the issuer. No other conditionality pertains to an expected rating. While expected ratings typically convert to final ratings within a short time, as determined by the issuer’s decisions regarding timing of transaction closure, in the period between assignment of an expected rating and a final rating, expected ratings may be raised, lowered or placed on Rating Watch, as with final ratings.
Program Ratings: Program ratings assigned to corporate and public finance note issuance programs (
e.g.
, medium-term note programs) relate only to standard issues made under the program concerned; it should not be assumed that these ratings apply to every issue made under the program.
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“Interest-Only” Ratings: Interest-only ratings are assigned to interest strips. These ratings do not address the possibility that a security holder might fail to recover some or all of its initial investment due to voluntary or involuntary principal repayments.
“Principal-Only” Ratings: Principal-only ratings address the likelihood that a security holder will receive its initial principal investment either before or by the scheduled maturity date.
“Rate of Return” Ratings: Ratings also may be assigned to gauge the likelihood of an investor receiving a certain predetermined internal rate of return without regard to the precise timing of any cash flows.
Paid-In-Full: This tranche has reached maturity, regardless of whether it was amortized or called early. As the issue no longer exists, it is therefore no longer rated. Indicated in rating databases with the symbol “PIF”.
NR: A designation of “Not Rated” or “NR” is used to denote securities not rated by Fitch where Fitch has rated some, but not all, securities comprising an issuance capital structure.
Withdrawn: The rating has been withdrawn and the issue or issuer is no longer rated by Fitch Ratings. Indicated in rating databases with the symbol ‘WD’.
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