# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000088525
**File Stem:** 0001193125-26-258922
**Filing Date:** 2026-6
**Character Count:** 1318670
**Document Hash:** b2606b20472ae690bb537ee5ace802c3
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-26-258922.hdr.sgml**: 20260605

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-26-258922

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 497

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 3

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260605

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260605

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20260605

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** GUGGENHEIM FUNDS TRUST
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000088525

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0930

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 497
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 002-19458
- **FILM NUMBER:** 261067804

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 702 KING FARM BOULEVARD
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 200
- **CITY:** ROCKVILLE
- **STATE:** MD
- **ZIP:** 20850
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 301-296-5100

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 702 KING FARM BOULEVARD
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 200
- **CITY:** ROCKVILLE
- **STATE:** MD
- **ZIP:** 20850

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** SECURITY EQUITY FUND
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19920703

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### Guggenheim Limited Duration Fund (Series ID: S000043985)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name          | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| A-Class             | GILDX         | C000136507 |
| C-Class             | GILFX         | C000136508 |
| Institutional Class | GILHX         | C000136509 |
| R6                  | GIKRX         | C000152100 |
| P                   | GILPX         | C000155965 |

---

### Guggenheim Floating Rate Strategies Fund (Series ID: S000043986)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name          | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| A-Class             | GIFAX         | C000136510 |
| C-Class             | GIFCX         | C000136511 |
| Institutional Class | GIFIX         | C000136512 |
| R6                  | GIFSX         | C000152101 |
| P                   | GIFPX         | C000155966 |

---

### Guggenheim High Yield Fund (Series ID: S000043987)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name          | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| Institutional Class | SHYIX         | C000136513 |
| A-Class             | SIHAX         | C000136514 |
| C-Class             | SIHSX         | C000136516 |
| R6                  | SHYSX         | C000152102 |
| P                   | SIHPX         | C000155967 |

---

### Guggenheim Core Bond Fund (Series ID: S000043988)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name          | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| A-Class             | SIUSX         | C000136517 |
| C-Class             | SDICX         | C000136519 |
| Institutional Class | GIUSX         | C000136520 |
| R6                  | nan           | C000152103 |
| P                   | SIUPX         | C000155968 |

---

### Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund (Series ID: S000043989)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name          | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| A-Class             | GIOAX         | C000136521 |
| C-Class             | GIOCX         | C000136522 |
| Institutional Class | GIOIX         | C000136523 |
| R6                  | GIOSX         | C000152104 |
| P                   | GIOPX         | C000155969 |

---

### Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund (Series ID: S000043990)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name          | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| A-Class             | GIJAX         | C000136524 |
| C-Class             | GIJCX         | C000136525 |
| Institutional Class | GIJIX         | C000136526 |
| R6                  | nan           | C000152105 |
| P                   | GIJPX         | C000155970 |

---

### Guggenheim Total Return Bond Fund (Series ID: S000043991)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name          | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| A-Class             | GIBAX         | C000136527 |
| C-Class             | GIBCX         | C000136528 |
| Institutional Class | GIBIX         | C000136529 |
| R6                  | GIBRX         | C000152106 |
| P                   | GIBLX         | C000155971 |

---

### Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund (Series ID: S000063493)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name    | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| Class R6      | GIYRX         | C000205702 |
| Class A       | GIYAX         | C000205703 |
| Institutional | GIYIX         | C000205704 |
| Class P       | GIYPX         | C000205705 |

---

### Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)-Core Plus Fund (Series ID: S000085233)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| SMA Class  | GUCPX         | C000250200 |

---

### Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)-Limited Duration Fund (Series ID: S000085234)

---

|  |  |  |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Class Name | Ticker Symbol | Class ID   |
| SMA Class  | GULDX         | C000250201 |

---

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### Guggenheim Limited Duration Fund (Series ID: S000043985)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000136507 | A-Class             | GILDX           |
| C000136508 | C-Class             | GILFX           |
| C000136509 | Institutional Class | GILHX           |
| C000152100 | R6                  | GIKRX           |
| C000155965 | P                   | GILPX           |

### Guggenheim Floating Rate Strategies Fund (Series ID: S000043986)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000136510 | A-Class             | GIFAX           |
| C000136511 | C-Class             | GIFCX           |
| C000136512 | Institutional Class | GIFIX           |
| C000152101 | R6                  | GIFSX           |
| C000155966 | P                   | GIFPX           |

### Guggenheim High Yield Fund (Series ID: S000043987)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000136513 | Institutional Class | SHYIX           |
| C000136514 | A-Class             | SIHAX           |
| C000136516 | C-Class             | SIHSX           |
| C000152102 | R6                  | SHYSX           |
| C000155967 | P                   | SIHPX           |

### Guggenheim Core Bond Fund (Series ID: S000043988)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000136517 | A-Class             | SIUSX           |
| C000136519 | C-Class             | SDICX           |
| C000136520 | Institutional Class | GIUSX           |
| C000152103 | R6                  |  |
| C000155968 | P                   | SIUPX           |

### Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund (Series ID: S000043989)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000136521 | A-Class             | GIOAX           |
| C000136522 | C-Class             | GIOCX           |
| C000136523 | Institutional Class | GIOIX           |
| C000152104 | R6                  | GIOSX           |
| C000155969 | P                   | GIOPX           |

### Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund (Series ID: S000043990)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000136524 | A-Class             | GIJAX           |
| C000136525 | C-Class             | GIJCX           |
| C000136526 | Institutional Class | GIJIX           |
| C000152105 | R6                  |  |
| C000155970 | P                   | GIJPX           |

### Guggenheim Total Return Bond Fund (Series ID: S000043991)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000136527 | A-Class             | GIBAX           |
| C000136528 | C-Class             | GIBCX           |
| C000136529 | Institutional Class | GIBIX           |
| C000152106 | R6                  | GIBRX           |
| C000155971 | P                   | GIBLX           |

### Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund (Series ID: S000063493)

| Class ID   | Class Name    | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000205702 | Class R6      | GIYRX           |
| C000205703 | Class A       | GIYAX           |
| C000205704 | Institutional | GIYIX           |
| C000205705 | Class P       | GIYPX           |

### Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)-Core Plus Fund (Series ID: S000085233)

| Class ID   | Class Name   | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000250200 | SMA Class    | GUCPX           |

### Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)-Limited Duration Fund (Series ID: S000085234)

| Class ID   | Class Name   | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000250201 | SMA Class    | GULDX           |

**Guggenheim Funds Trust**

**Statement of Additional Information**

**January 31, 2026, as supplemented June 5, 2026**

RELATING TO THE PROSPECTUSES DATED JANUARY 31, 2026, AS MAY BE SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME

This Statement of Additional Information provides information relating to the following series of Guggenheim Funds Trust (each, a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds") and the respective classes thereof:

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Class A** | **Class C** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Institutional**<br> **Class**<br>| **Class P** | **Class R6** |
| Guggenheim Core Bond Fund  | SIUSX | SDICX | GIUSX | SIUPX | GICRX\* |
| Guggenheim Floating Rate Strategies Fund | GIFAX | GIFCX | GIFIX | GIFPX | GIFSX |
| Guggenheim High Yield Fund | SIHAX | SIHSX | SHYIX | SIHPX | SHYSX |
| Guggenheim Limited Duration Fund | GILDX | GILFX | GILHX | GILPX | GIKRX |
| Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund | GIOAX | GIOCX | GIOIX | GIOPX | GIOSX |
| Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund | GIJAX | GIJCX | GIJIX | GIJPX | GIJRX\* |
| Guggenheim Total Return Bond Fund | GIBAX | GIBCX | GIBIX | GIBLX | GIBRX |
| Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund | GIYAX |  | GIYIX | GIYPX\* | GIYRX\* |

---

\*This share class of the Fund is not currently offered for sale.

This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. This Statement of Additional Information relates to the Funds' prospectuses dated January 31, 2026, as may be supplemented from time to time (the "Prospectuses"), and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectuses. The audited financial statements for each Fund's fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, and the related report of Ernst & Young LLP, the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm, contained in the Funds' report on [Form N-CSR](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/88525/000139834425021766/fp0095396-56_ncsrixbrl.htm), are incorporated herein by reference.

The Prospectuses (and the Funds' annual and semi-annual reports and other information such as the Funds' financial statements) may be obtained without charge by writing Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850, by calling (800) 820-0888 or by visiting www.guggenheiminvestments.com/services/prospectuses-and-reports.

As described herein, the investment manager to each Fund is Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, 330 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

------

**Table of Contents**

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| [General Information](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_1) | 1 |
| [Investment Methods and Risk Factors](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_1) | 1 |
| [Investment Restrictions](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_60) | 60 |
| [Fundamental Policies](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_60) | 60 |
| [Operating Policies](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_62) | 62 |
| [Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_62) | 62 |
| [Management of the Funds](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_63) | 63 |
| [Trustees and Officers](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_63) | 63 |
| [Board Leadership Structure](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_71) | 71 |
| [Qualifications and Experience of Trustees](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_72) | 72 |
| [Board's Role in Risk Oversight](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_73) | 73 |
| [Board Committees](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_74) | 74 |
| [Audit Committee](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_74) | 74 |
| [Contracts Review Committee](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_75) | 75 |
| [Executive Committee](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_75) | 75 |
| [Nominating and Governance Committee](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_75) | 75 |
| [Remuneration of Trustees](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_75) | 75 |
| [Trustees' Ownership of Securities](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_76) | 76 |
| [Principal Holders of Securities](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_77) | 77 |
| [How to Purchase Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_83) | 83 |
| [Canceled Purchase Orders](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_84) | 84 |
| [Alternative Purchase Options](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_85) | 85 |
| [Class A Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_85) | 85 |
| [Class C Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_85) | 85 |
| [Institutional Class Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_85) | 85 |
| [Class P Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_85) | 85 |
| [Class R6 Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_85) | 85 |
| [Sales Charges, Reductions and Waivers](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_85) | 85 |
| [Institutional Class Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_89) | 89 |
| [Class P Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_90) | 90 |
| [Minimum Account Balance](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_91) | 91 |
| [Distribution Plans](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_91) | 91 |
| [Rule 12b-1 Plan Expenses](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_92) | 92 |
| [Arrangements With Broker/Dealers and Others](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_93) | 93 |
| [Other Distribution or Service Arrangements](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_93) | 93 |
| [Purchases At Net Asset Value](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_95) | 95 |
| [Purchases for Retirement Plans](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_95) | 95 |
| [Systematic Withdrawal Plan](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_95) | 95 |
| [Investment Management](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_95) | 95 |
| [Sub-Advisers](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_100) | 100 |
| [Code of Ethics](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_100) | 100 |
| [Portfolio Managers](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_101) | 101 |
| [Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_101) | 101 |
| [Information Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_102) | 102 |

---

i

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---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| [Proxy Voting](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_110) | 110 |
| [Distributor](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_112) | 112 |
| [Portfolio Turnover](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_113) | 113 |
| [Portfolio Brokerage and Investment Allocation](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_114) | 114 |
| [Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_116) | 116 |
| [How Net Asset Value Is Determined](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_117) | 117 |
| [How to Redeem Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_119) | 119 |
| [Receiving Your Redemption Proceeds](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_120) | 120 |
| [Redemptions In-Kind](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_121) | 121 |
| [Telephone Redemptions](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_121) | 121 |
| [How to Exchange Shares](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_121) | 121 |
| [Exchange By Telephone](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_122) | 122 |
| [Dividends and Taxes](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_122) | 122 |
| [Tax Considerations](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_123) | 123 |
| [Cost Basis Reporting](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_126) | 126 |
| [Back-up Withholding](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_126) | 126 |
| [Passive Foreign Investment Companies](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_127) | 127 |
| [Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_127) | 127 |
| [Market Discount](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_128) | 128 |
| [Original Issue Discount](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_128) | 128 |
| [Constructive Sales](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_129) | 129 |
| [REITs](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_129) | 129 |
| [Investment in Taxable Mortgage Pools (Excess Inclusion Income)](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_129) | 129 |
| [Foreign Taxation](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_130) | 130 |
| [Securities Lending](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_131) | 131 |
| [Foreign Currency Transactions](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_131) | 131 |
| [Foreign Shareholders](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_131) | 131 |
| [Other Taxes](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_132) | 132 |
| [Organization](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_132) | 132 |
| [Securities Lending](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_133) | 133 |
| [Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend-Paying Agent](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_133) | 133 |
| [Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_133) | 133 |
| [Legal Counsel](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_133) | 133 |
| [Financial Statements](#xx_1333c4db-7dee-4556-9505-280d6784a7a2_134) | 134 |
| [Appendix A – Description of Securities Ratings](#xx_c59cd5dd-d9bf-44e3-9d35-37d8e2c70c41_1) | A-1 |

---

ii

------

**General Information**

------

Guggenheim Funds Trust (the "Trust"), which was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on November 8, 2013, is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as an investment company. The Trust is an open-end management investment company of the series type that, upon the demand of a shareholder, must redeem its shares and pay the shareholder the next calculated net asset value ("NAV") thereof in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (See "How to Redeem Shares"). This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") relates to the series of the Trust set forth on the cover hereto (each, a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds").

On April 23, 2021, the name of Guggenheim Investment Grade Bond Fund changed to "Guggenheim Core Bond Fund."

The assets of each Fund are held separate from the assets of the other Funds.

The fiscal year end for the Trust (and each Fund) is September 30 of each year.

Each of the Funds has its own investment objective and policies that may differ from those of the other Funds.

Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC ("GPIM") is the investment manager to each of the Funds. GPIM is also referred to as the "Investment Manager."

Although there is no present intention to do so, the investment objective and policies of each Fund, unless otherwise noted, may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") without the approval of shareholders. Each of the Funds is also required to operate within limitations imposed by its fundamental investment policies, which may not be changed without shareholder approval. These limitations are set forth under "Investment Restrictions." Each Fund is classified as a "diversified company" within the meaning of the 1940 Act. An investment in one of the Funds does not constitute a complete investment program.

As disclosed in the Funds' prospectuses, as may be supplemented from time to time, investors should note that each Fund reserves the right to discontinue offering shares at any time, to merge or reorganize itself or a class of shares, or to cease operations and liquidate at any time. In the event the Board determines to liquidate a Fund, shareholders may be adversely affected such as being subject to adverse tax consequences. A shareholder would not be entitled to any refund or reimbursement of expenses incurred, directly or indirectly, by the shareholder (such as sales charges, if any, or fees and expenses) as a result of its investment in the Fund. In addition, the shareholder may receive a liquidating amount that is less than the shareholder's original investment.

**Investment Methods and Risk Factors**

------

Each Fund's principal investment strategies and the summaries of risks associated with the same are described in the "Fund Summaries" and "Descriptions of Principal Risks" sections of the relevant Prospectuses. The following discussion provides additional information about certain of those principal investment strategies and related risks, as well as information about other investment strategies that a Fund may utilize and related risks that may apply to a Fund, even though they are not considered to be "principal" investment strategies of the Fund. Accordingly, an investment strategy and related risk that is described below, but which is not described in a Fund's Summary Prospectus, should not be considered to be a principal investment strategy or principal risk applicable to that Fund.

Some of the risk factors related to certain securities, instruments and techniques that may be used by the Funds are described in the "Fund Summaries" and "Descriptions of Principal Risks" sections of the Prospectuses and in this SAI. The following is a description of certain additional risk factors related to various securities, instruments and techniques. Also included is a general description of some of the investment instruments, techniques and methods that may be used by one or more of the Funds. Although the Funds may employ the techniques, instruments and methods described below, consistent with its investment objective and policies and any applicable law, a Fund is not required to do so.

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Investors should be aware that economies and financial markets have in recent periods experienced increased uncertainty and volatility because of, among other factors, economic developments, geopolitical tensions, labor and public health conditions around the world, inflation, tariffs and changing interest rates. To the extent these or similar conditions continue or occur in the future, the risks below could be heightened significantly compared to normal conditions and therefore a Fund's investments and a shareholder's investment in a Fund may be particularly subject to reduced yield and/or income and to sudden and substantial losses. The fact that a particular risk is not specifically identified as being heightened under current conditions does not mean that the risk is not greater than under normal conditions.

Investment objectives and policies of each Fund are described in the Prospectus. Below are additional details about the investment policies of certain Funds. There are risks inherent in the ownership of any security, and there can be no assurance that a Fund's investment objective(s) will be achieved. The objective(s) and policies of each Fund, except those enumerated under "Investment Restrictions—Fundamental Policies," may be modified at any time without shareholder approval.

The investment methods and risk factors are presented below in alphabetical order and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.

**General Risk Factors**—The NAV per share of each Fund is expected to fluctuate, reflecting fluctuations in the market value of its portfolio positions. The Funds are subject to the risks associated with financial, economic and other global market developments and disruptions, including those arising out of or relating to, real or perceived changes in prevailing interest rates, changes in inflation rates or expectations about inflation rates, deflation, adverse investor confidence or sentiment, general outlook for corporate earnings, changing economic, political (including geopolitical), social or financial market conditions, bank failures, actual or threatened imposition of tariffs (which may be imposed by U.S. and foreign governments) and trade disruptions, recession, changes in currency and inflation rates, increased instability or general uncertainty, environmental or natural disasters, extreme weather or geological events, governmental actions, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics), debt crises, terrorism, actual or threatened wars or other armed conflicts (such as the conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the risk of expansion or collateral economic and other effects thereof) or ratings downgrades, technological developments (including those related to artificial intelligence) or failures (for example, widespread system outages or disruptions or faulty updates to software applications) and other similar events, each of which may be temporary or last for extended periods. Such events may result in, among other things, travel restrictions, closing of borders, exchange closures, health screenings, healthcare service delays, quarantines, cancellations, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, market volatility and general uncertainty. These events may adversely affect the value of a Fund's investments, which are particularly sensitive to these types of market risks given increased globalization and interconnectedness of markets, and the ability of the Investment Manager to execute investment decisions for a Fund (and thus, liquidity may be affected). Such events could adversely impact issuers, markets and economies over the short- and long-term, including in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. Furthermore, the interconnectedness of certain markets, particularly the markets for novel or emerging products or services, such as artificial intelligence or blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies and digital assets, and the related impacts on economies, markets and issuers as well as systemic risk may not be known until a future time, making the potential impact of adverse events occurring in those markets on a Fund difficult to predict. For example, developments related to artificial intelligence and other technologies, which can occur rapidly and unpredictably, may negatively impact the profitability and growth of companies in which the Fund is invested in ways that are difficult to predict and could adversely impact performance/price, market movements, volatility and liquidity, including securities issued by these companies, and the Fund's performance. In addition, a Fund and its investments may be adversely impacted by volatility and other developments associated with domestic and global economies, market trading activity and investor interest, including those driven by factors unrelated to financial performance or market conditions. The value of investments, particularly short positions or exposures, may fluctuate dramatically in these circumstances. Also, changes in inflation rates may adversely affect market and economic conditions, a Fund's investments and an investment in the Fund. Government efforts to support the economy and financial markets may increase the risk that asset prices have a higher degree of correlation than historically seen across markets and asset classes. In addition, uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. government to increase the statutory debt ceiling, which may occur from time to time, could result in increased volatility in both stock and bond markets and various adverse market and economic developments. It may be difficult for the market to assess the immediate impact of an event on an issuer or security due to uncertainty that may surround such events; the impact of such an event on a security's valuation may be delayed. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.

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**American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs")**—A Fund may purchase ADRs. ADRs are dollar-denominated receipts issued generally by U.S. banks and which represent the deposit with the bank of a foreign company's securities. ADRs are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter ("OTC") in the United States. Investors should consider carefully the substantial risks involved in investing in securities issued by companies of foreign nations, which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments. See "Foreign Investment Risks," below. ADRs, European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") or other securities convertible into securities of issuers based in foreign countries are not necessarily denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. In general, ADRs, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, while EDRs (also referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts ("CDRs")), in bearer form, may be denominated in other currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. GDRs are global receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. For purposes of the Funds' investment policies, ADRs, EDRs and GDRs usually are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent. Thus, an ADR, EDR or GDR representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.

Depositary receipts are issued through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the cost of such facilities, and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities.

**Asset-Backed Securities**—A Fund may also invest in any level of the capital structure of "asset-backed securities," which are securities that represent an interest in a pool of assets. These include secured debt instruments collateralized by automobile loans, credit card loans, home equity loans, manufactured housing loans, syndicated bank loans, and other types of debt providing the source of both principal and interest. On occasion, the pool of assets may also include a swap obligation, which is used to change the cash flows on the underlying assets. As an example, a swap may be used to allow floating rate assets to back a fixed rate obligation. The credit quality of an asset-backed security depends primarily on the quality of the underlying assets, the level of credit support, if any, provided by the issuer, and the credit quality of the swap counterparty, if any. Asset-backed securities ("ABS") are subject to risks similar to those discussed below with respect to mortgage-backed securities ("MBS"). Some of the loans or other similar debt obligations to which a Fund may obtain exposure through its investments in asset-backed securities or other types of structured products may lack financial maintenance covenants or possess fewer or contingent financial maintenance covenants or other financial protections than certain other types of loans or other similar debt obligations. These investments subject the Funds to the risks of "Covenant-Lite Obligations" discussed below.

**Automobile Receivable Securities.** Asset-backed securities may be backed by receivables from motor vehicle installment sales contracts or installment loans secured by motor vehicles ("Automobile Receivable Securities"). Since installment sales contracts for motor vehicles or installment loans related thereto ("Automobile Contracts") typically have shorter durations and lower incidences of prepayment, Automobile Receivable Securities generally will exhibit a shorter average life and are less susceptible to prepayment risk. Delinquencies and losses on sub-prime and non-prime automobile loans, which are loans originated under weak underwriting standards, including those issued to borrowers with lower credit ratings and/or a shorter credit history, are subject to greater risks of delinquencies and losses. As a result, issuers of ABS backed by such loans may be adversely affected in their ability to continue to make principal and interest payments and the value of such ABS may decline significantly, such as during economic or market downturns.

Most entities that issue Automobile Receivable Securities create an enforceable interest in their respective Automobile Contracts only by filing a financing statement and by having the servicer of the Automobile Contracts, which is usually the originator of the Automobile Contracts, take custody thereof. In such circumstances, if the servicer of the Automobile Contracts were to sell the same Automobile Contracts to another party, in violation of its obligation not to do so, there is a risk that such party could acquire an interest in the Automobile Contracts superior to that of the holders of Automobile Receivable Securities. Although most Automobile Contracts grant a security interest in the motor vehicle being financed, in most states the security interest in a motor vehicle must be noted on the certificate of title to create an enforceable security interest against competing claims of other parties. Due to the large number of vehicles involved, however, the certificate of title to each vehicle financed,

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pursuant to the Automobile Contracts underlying the Automobile Receivable Security, usually is not amended to reflect the assignment of the seller's security interest for the benefit of the holders of the Automobile Receivable Securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on the securities. In addition, various state and federal securities laws give the motor vehicle owner the right to assert against the holder of the owner's Automobile Contract certain defenses such owner would have against the seller of the motor vehicle. The assertion of such defenses could reduce payments on the Automobile Receivable Securities.

**Credit Card Receivable Securities.** Asset-backed securities may be backed by receivables from revolving credit card agreements ("Credit Card Receivable Securities"). Credit balances on revolving credit card agreements ("Accounts") are generally paid down more rapidly than are Automobile Contracts. Most of the Credit Card Receivable Securities issued publicly to date have been pass-through certificates. In order to lengthen the maturity of Credit Card Receivable Securities, most such securities provide for a fixed period during which only interest payments on the underlying Accounts are passed through to the security holder, and principal payments received on such Accounts are used to fund the transfer to the pool of assets supporting the related Credit Card Receivable Securities of additional credit card charges made on an Account. The initial fixed period usually may be shortened upon the occurrence of specified events which signal a potential deterioration in the quality of the assets backing the security, such as the imposition of a cap on interest rates. The ability of the issuer to extend the life of an issue of Credit Card Receivable Securities thus depends upon the continued generation of additional principal amounts in the underlying accounts during the initial period and the non-occurrence of specified events. An acceleration in cardholders' payment rates or any other event that shortens the period during which additional credit card charges on an Account may be transferred to the pool of assets supporting the related Credit Card Receivable Security could shorten the weighted average life and yield of the Credit Card Receivable Security.

Credit cardholders are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such holders the right to set off certain amounts against balances owed on the credit card, thereby reducing amounts paid on Accounts. In addition, unlike most other Asset-backed securities, Accounts are unsecured obligations of the cardholder.

**Methods of Allocating Cash Flows.** While many asset-backed securities are issued with only one class of security, many asset-backed securities are issued in more than one class, each with different payment terms. Multiple class asset-backed securities are issued for two main reasons. First, multiple classes may be used as a method of providing credit support. This is accomplished typically through creation of one or more classes whose right to payments on the asset-backed security is made subordinate to the right to such payments of the remaining class or classes (See "Types of Credit Support"). Second, multiple classes may permit the issuance of securities with payment terms, interest rates or other characteristics differing both from those of each other and from those of the underlying assets. Examples include so-called "strips" (asset-backed securities entitling the holder to disproportionate interests with respect to the allocation of interest and principal of the assets backing the security) and securities with a class or classes having characteristics which mimic the characteristics of non-asset-backed securities, such as floating interest rates (i.e., interest rates which adjust as a specified benchmark changes) or scheduled amortization of principal.

Asset-backed securities in which the payment streams on the underlying assets are allocated in a manner different than those described above may be issued in the future. A Fund may invest in such asset-backed securities if such investment is otherwise consistent with its investment objectives and policies and with the investment restrictions of the Fund.

**Types of Credit Support.** Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. Such securities may contain elements of credit support that are designed to lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments. Such credit support falls into two classes: liquidity protection and protection against ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that scheduled payments on the underlying pool are made in a timely fashion. Protection against ultimate default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. Examples of asset-backed securities with credit support arising out of the structure of the transaction include "senior-subordinated securities" (multiple class asset-backed securities with certain classes subordinate to other

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classes as to the payment of principal thereon, with the result that defaults on the underlying assets are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class) and asset-backed securities that have "reserve portfolios" (where cash or investments, sometimes funded from a portion of the initial payments on the underlying assets, are held in reserve against future losses) or that have been "over collateralized" (where the scheduled payments on, or the principal amount of, the underlying assets substantially exceeds that required to make payment of the asset-backed securities and pay any servicing or other fees). The degree of credit support provided on each issue is based generally on historical information respecting the level of credit risk associated with such payments. Delinquency or loss in excess of that anticipated could adversely affect the return on an investment in an asset-backed security. Additionally, if the letter of credit is exhausted, holders of asset-backed securities may also experience delays in payments or losses if the full amounts due on underlying sales contracts are not realized. There can be no assurance that credit support of any kind will be successful in lessening the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments or be available upon the occurrence of events adversely affecting the obligor's financial condition.

**Availability and Quality of Data—**The Investment Manager faces the general risk regarding the availability and quality of information concerning a particular asset or investment, and employs a variety of policies, practices and methodologies to minimize that risk. This is particularly relevant in fixed income investment strategies. For example, there is less readily available and reliable information about most bank loans than is the case for many other types of instruments, including listed securities. Another example is the consideration of Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG") criteria where the Investment Manager believes it could have a material impact on an investment's return or issuer's financial performance (though, for avoidance of doubt, the Investment Manager does not offer any ESG products). Similar to the Investment Manager's ability to evaluate traditional factors in making investment decisions, the ability for the Investment Manager to identify and evaluate ESG characteristics and risks, or to engage with an issuer, is limited to the availability and quality of information on an asset or issuer. In some cases, the Investment Manager may decline to consider ESG criteria in an investment decision due to the unavailability of information on an issuer, or the quality of that information. In addition, the Investment Manager often uses data and insights from third-party research to provide additional input in the analysis of ESG-related criteria. Third-party information and data will, from time to time, be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable. As a result, there is a risk that the Investment Manager could incorrectly assess the ESG criteria or risks associated with a particular asset or issuer. The Investment Manager expects from time to time to directly engage with certain corporate credit issuers by requesting improved issuer disclosure relating to ESG factors, as well as discussing potential opportunities to improve various ESG metrics and other related topics. Direct engagement will occur with only a minority of portfolio investments and issuers the Investment Manager considers for investment and will depend on a variety of considerations, including the materiality of ESG criteria to the specific issuer or sector and the size of the Investment Manager's clients' investments in the issuer. There can be no assurance that the Investment Manager's engagement efforts will be successful or provide benefit to clients.

The application of ESG criteria and risk factors to portfolio investments (if any) could result in one or more assets or issuers being excluded from a portfolio, which could have an adverse effect on the performance of that portfolio. Additionally, in some circumstances a client mandate or applicable regulations can cause the Investment Manager to restrict specific investments based on particular ESG characteristics. The Investment Manager also reserves the right, in the future, to implement restrictions or prohibitions on investments within certain industries for all or a sub-set of all client accounts which could be based on particular ESG criteria or other relevant factors. As a result of any of the aforementioned circumstances, clients may be limited as to available investments, which could hinder performance when compared to investments with no such restrictions.

**Borrowing**—A Fund may borrow money from banks as a temporary measure for emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption requests, or for other purposes consistent with the Fund's investment objective and program. For example, it may be advantageous for a Fund to borrow money rather than sell existing portfolio positions to meet redemption requests. As recognized by the SEC, a line of credit can enhance a Fund's ability to manage liquidity risk and to meet shareholder redemption requests.

Accordingly, a Fund may borrow from banks and may borrow through reverse repurchase agreements, derivatives, unfunded commitments and "roll" transactions in connection with meeting requests for the redemption of Fund shares. To the extent that a Fund purchases securities while it has outstanding borrowings, it is using leverage, i.e., using borrowed funds for investment. Leveraging will exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of a Fund's portfolio. Money borrowed for leveraging will be subject to interest costs that may or may not be recovered by any interest or appreciation earned on the securities purchased; in certain cases, interest

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costs may exceed the return received on the securities purchased. When market conditions are deemed appropriate, a Fund may use leveraging as part of its investment strategy to the full extent permitted by its investment policies and restrictions and applicable law. Under the 1940 Act, a Fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage of 300% with respect to borrowing and to sell (within three days) sufficient portfolio holdings or restore such coverage if it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise, even if such liquidations of the Fund's holdings may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint. A Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. The Funds' policy on borrowing is not intended to limit the ability to pledge assets to secure loans as may be permitted under the Funds' policies.

The Funds have established a line of credit with certain banks from which they may borrow funds for temporary or emergency purposes. The Funds may use lines of credit to meet large or unexpected redemptions that would otherwise force the Funds to liquidate securities under circumstances which are unfavorable to the Funds' remaining shareholders. The Funds may be required to pay fees to the banks to maintain the lines of credit, which increases the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. If a Fund accesses its line of credit, the Fund would bear the cost of the borrowing through interest expenses and other expenses (e.g., commitment fees) that adversely affect the Fund's performance. In some cases, such expenses and the resulting adverse effect on the Fund's performance can be significant. Moreover, if a Fund accesses its line of credit to meet shareholder redemption requests, the Fund's remaining shareholders would bear such costs of borrowing. Borrowing expenses are excluded from any applicable fee waivers or expense limitation agreements.

**Certificates of Deposit and Bankers' Acceptances**—Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers' acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

**Collateralized Loan Obligations ("CLOs") and Collateralized Debt Obligations ("CDOs")**—A CDO is a structured finance security whose underlying collateral is typically a portfolio of bonds, bank loans, commercial real estate, other structured finance securities and/or synthetic instruments. Investors in CDOs bear the credit risk of the underlying securities, as well as the risks associated with the collateral (if any) backing such underlying securities. Multiple classes of securities ("tranches") are issued by the CDO, offering investors various maturity and credit risk characteristics. Tranches are categorized as senior, mezzanine, and subordinated/equity, according to their degree of risk. If there are defaults or the CDO's collateral otherwise underperforms, scheduled payments to senior tranches take precedence over those of mezzanine tranches, and scheduled payments to mezzanine tranches take precedence over those to subordinated/equity tranches. CDOs are subject to the same risk of prepayment described with respect to CLOs, certain mortgage-related securities and asset-backed securities. The value of a CDO security may be affected by, among other things, changes in the market's perception of the credit risk associated with the assets held by the related CDO issuer.

Certain Funds may invest in CLOs, which are another type of asset-backed security. A CLO is a special purpose entity that issues securities collateralized by a pool of primarily commercial loans, including domestic and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The loans generate cash flow that is allocated among one or more tranches that vary in risk and yield. The most senior tranche has the best credit quality and the lowest yield compared to the other tranches. The most subordinated tranche (often referred to as the "equity" of the CLO) has the highest potential yield but also has the greatest risk relative to other tranches, as defaults on the underlying loans are borne by first by the most subordinated tranche, thus providing the more senior tranches a cushion from losses. However, despite the cushion from the equity and other more junior tranches, more senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to defaults or other losses on the assets which exceed those of the more junior tranches. Additionally, the market value of CLO securities can decrease because of, among other things, defaults on the CLO's underlying assets, and market anticipation of defaults or aversion to CLO securities as a class.

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Normally, CLOs are privately offered and sold and are not registered under state or federal securities laws. Therefore, investments in CLOs may be classified as illiquid investments; however, an active dealer market may exist for CLOs allowing a CLO to qualify for transactions pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). Additionally, CLOs normally charge management fees and administrative expenses, which are in addition to those of the Funds.

The riskiness of investing in CLOs depends largely on the quality and type of the collateral loans and the tranche of the CLO in which a Fund invests. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities (such as interest rate risk and credit risk), CLOs carry risks which include, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from the collateral will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the underlying assets may experience defaults; (iii) the value or quality of the underlying assets may decline and the CLO may sell such assets at a loss; (iv) the CLO itself may experience an event of default, which could result in an acceleration of debt and liquidation of its assets at a loss; (v) Funds may invest in CLO tranches that are subordinate to other tranches; and (vi) the complex structure of the CLO may not be fully understood at the time of investment or may result in the quality of the underlying collateral not being fully understood and may produce disputes with the parties involved in the transaction and/or unexpected investment results. In addition, interest on certain tranches of a CLO may be paid in-kind (meaning that unpaid interest is effectively added to principal), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments. Certain CLO securities may benefit from credit enhancement in the form of a senior-subordinate structure or over-collateralization, but such enhancement may not always be present and may fail to protect the Funds against the risk of loss due to defaults on the collateral or other adverse events. Additionally, certain CLOs may not hold loans directly, but rather, use derivatives such as swaps to create "synthetic" exposure to the collateral pool of loans. Such CLOs entail the risks of derivative instruments.

**Collectibles**—The Limited Duration Fund and Macro Opportunities Fund may invest in collectibles, which are rare objects collected by investors. They can include stamps, coins, books, oriental rugs, antiques, sports and other memorabilia, photographs, art and wine. Collectibles are generally expected to rise in value during inflationary periods when investors are trying to move to assets viewed as an inflation hedge. Generally, collectibles can be expected to drop in value during periods of low inflation. Collectible trading for profit is subject to certain risks and other considerations, including that collectibles: (i) have limited buying and selling markets; (ii) are often bought and sold at auction and subject to buyer and/or seller premiums; (iii) experience periods of high and low demand; (iv) must be insured, physically held and properly maintained; (v) may need to have their authenticity and provenance verified from time to time; and (vi) may not have accurate market valuations available. The Limited Duration Fund and Macro Opportunities Fund do not currently intend to invest more than 5% of their total assets in collectibles and would only do so in conformity with applicable laws and after consideration of tax consequences.

**Commercial Paper**—Each Fund may invest in commercial paper. A Fund may invest in fixed rate or variable rate commercial paper, issued by U.S. or foreign entities. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days), unsecured promissory notes issued by U.S. or foreign corporations in order to finance their current operations. Any commercial paper issued by a foreign entity corporation and purchased by a Fund must be U.S. dollar-denominated and must not be subject to foreign withholding tax at the time of purchase. Investing in foreign commercial paper generally involves risks relating to obligations of foreign banks or foreign branches and subsidiaries of U.S. and foreign banks. A Fund may also invest in commercial paper collateralized by other financial assets, such as asset-backed commercial paper, which is a type of securitized commercial paper that is often used to finance purchases of assets (such as pools of trade receivables, car loans and leases, and credit card receivables) by special purpose vehicles. Asset-backed commercial paper may be rated by one or more credit rating agencies and some asset-backed commercial paper programs are supported by liquidity or similar back-up facilities. Investment in asset-backed commercial paper is subject to the risk that proceeds from the projected cash flows of the underlying assets are insufficient or unavailable to repay the commercial paper timely or at all. Asset-backed commercial paper is also subject to risks associated with the underlying assets and asset-backed securities generally as well as those associated with commercial paper. A Fund may also invest in variable rate master demand notes. A variable rate master demand note (a type of commercial paper) represents a direct borrowing arrangement involving periodically fluctuating rates of interest under a letter agreement between a commercial paper issuer and an institutional lender pursuant to which the lender may determine to invest varying amounts.

**Commodities**—The Macro Opportunities Fund may invest in commodities. Commodities are assets that have tangible properties, such as oil, agricultural products and precious metals (such as gold or silver). The value of commodities may be affected by, among other things, changes in overall market movements, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or supply and demand factors

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affecting a particular industry or commodity market, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, global public health pandemics, embargoes, taxation, war, terrorism, tariffs, sanctions and other trade policies and international economic, changes in storage costs and transportation systems, political, regulatory or environmental developments. These factors may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked instruments than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional risks which subject the Fund's investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.

In addition, the Fund may purchase or sell (write) put or call options (including those traded OTC) on precious metals (such as gold or silver) and engage in forward contracts on precious metals, which in each case may involve physical delivery of the underlying precious metal. The risks associated with these transactions include the risks of investing in commodities as described above as well as the risks associated with options and forwards described below. In addition, to the extent such options or contracts are settled on a physical basis, the Fund may need to maintain an amount of liquid assets equal to the notional value of the option or contract.

**Commodity-Linked Investments Risk—**In order to gain exposure to the commodities markets, the Macro Opportunities Fund may invest directly in physical commodities in addition to indirect investments in commodities-linked or related instruments. The performance of commodity-linked notes and related investments may depend on the performance of the overall commodities markets and on other factors that affect the value of commodities noted above. Commodity-linked notes may be leveraged. For example, the price of a three-times leveraged note may change by a magnitude of three for every percentage change (positive or negative) in the value of the underlying index. Commodity-linked investments may be hybrid instruments that can have substantial risk of loss with respect to both principal and interest. Commodity-linked investments may be more volatile and less liquid than the underlying commodity, instruments, or measures, are subject to the credit risks associated with the issuer, and their values may decline substantially if the issuer's creditworthiness deteriorates. As a result, returns of commodity-linked investments may deviate significantly from the return of the underlying commodity, instruments, or measures. Legal and regulatory changes also can affect the value of these investments. They can also generate tax risks.

**Convertible Securities and Warrants**—A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to non-convertible debt or preferred securities, as applicable. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation's capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation's common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed-income security. Convertible securities are subordinate in rank to any senior debt obligations of the issuer, and, therefore, an issuer's convertible securities entail more risk than its debt obligations. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for capital appreciation. In addition, convertible securities are often lower-rated securities.

Because of the conversion feature, the price of the convertible security will normally fluctuate in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying asset, and as such is subject to risks relating to the activities of the issuer and/or general market and economic conditions. The income component of a convertible security may tend to cushion the security against declines in the price of the underlying asset. However, the income component of convertible securities causes fluctuations based upon changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer.

Warrants are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price any time during the life of the warrants (generally two or more years).

**Covenant-Lite Obligations**—Certain Funds invest in or are exposed to loans and other similar debt obligations that are sometimes referred to as "covenant-lite" loans or obligations ("covenant-lite obligations"), which are loans or other similar debt obligations that lack financial maintenance covenants or possess fewer or contingent financial maintenance covenants and other financial protections for lenders and investors. A Fund may also obtain exposure to covenant-lite obligations through investment in securitization vehicles and other structured products. Many new, restructured or reissued loans and similar debt obligations do not feature traditional financial maintenance covenants, which are intended to protect lenders and investors by imposing certain restrictions and other limitations on a borrower's operations or assets and by providing certain information and consent rights to lenders. Covenant-lite

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obligations allow borrowers to exercise more flexibility with respect to certain activities that may otherwise be limited or prohibited under similar loan obligations that are not covenant-lite. In an investment with a traditional financial maintenance covenant, the borrower is required to meet certain regular, specific financial tests over the term of the investment; in a covenant-lite obligation, the borrower would only be required to satisfy certain financial tests at the time it proposes to take a specific action or engage in a specific transaction (e.g., issuing additional debt, paying a dividend, or making an acquisition) or at a time when another financial criteria has been met (e.g., reduced availability under a revolving credit facility, or asset value falling below a certain percentage of outstanding debt obligations). In addition, in a traditional investment, the borrower is required to provide certain periodic financial reporting that typically includes a detailed calculation of certain financial metrics; in a covenant-lite obligation, certain detailed financial information is only required to be provided when a financial metric is required to be calculated, which may result in more limited access to financial information, difficulty evaluating the borrower's financial performance over time and delays in exercising rights and remedies in the event of a significant financial decline. In addition, in the event of default, covenant-lite obligations may exhibit diminished recovery values as the lender may not have the opportunity to negotiate with the borrower or take other measures intended to mitigate losses prior to default. Accordingly, a Fund may have fewer rights with respect to covenant-lite obligations, including fewer protections against the possibility of default and fewer remedies, and may experience losses or delays in enforcing its rights on covenant-lite obligations. As a result, investments in or exposure to covenant-lite obligations are generally subject to more risk than investments that contain traditional financial maintenance covenants and financial reporting requirements.

**Credit Derivative Transactions**—Certain Funds may engage in credit derivative transactions. Credit default derivatives are linked to the price of reference securities or loans after a default by the issuer or borrower, respectively. Market spread derivatives are based on the risk that changes in market factors, such as credit spreads, can cause a decline in the value of a security, loan or index. There are three basic transactional forms for credit derivatives: swaps, options and structured instruments. The use of credit derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions.

A Fund may invest in credit default swap transactions and credit-linked notes (described below) for hedging and investment purposes. The "buyer" in a credit default swap contract is obligated to pay the "seller" a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default on an underlying reference obligation has occurred. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value, or "par value," of the reference obligation. Credit default swap transactions are either "physical delivery" settled or "cash" settled. Physical delivery entails the actual delivery of the reference asset to the seller in exchange for the payment of the full par value of the reference asset. Cash settled entails a net cash payment from the seller to the buyer based on the difference of the par value of the reference asset and the current value of the reference asset that may, after a default, have lost some, most, or all of its value.

A Fund may be either the buyer or seller in a credit default swap transaction and generally will be a buyer in instances in which the Fund actually owns the underlying debt security and seeks to hedge against the risk of default in that debt security. If a Fund is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the Fund will have made a series of periodic payments (in an amount more or less than the value of the cash flows received on the underlying debt security) and recover nothing of monetary value. However, if an event of default occurs, the Fund (if the buyer) will receive the full notional value of the reference obligation either through a cash payment in exchange for such asset or a cash payment in addition to owning the reference asset. A Fund generally will be a seller when it seeks to take the credit risk of a particular debt security and, as a seller, the Fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, which typically is between six months and ten years, provided that there is no event of default. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation through either physical settlement and/or cash settlement. Credit default swap transactions involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly, including counterparty credit risk and leverage risk.

**Cyber Security, Market Disruptions and Operational Risk**—Like other funds and other parts of the modern economy, the Funds and their service providers, as well as exchanges and market participants through or with which the Funds trade and other infrastructures, services and parties on which the Funds or their service providers rely, are susceptible to ongoing risks related to cyber incidents and the risks associated with financial, economic, public health, labor and other global market developments and disruptions, including those arising out of geopolitical events, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics), natural/environmental disasters (such as earthquakes, wildfires and floods), war, terrorism and governmental or quasi-governmental actions as well as technological developments (including those related to artificial intelligence or

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blockchain technology) or failures (for example, widespread system outages or disruptions or faulty updates to software applications) and other similar events, each of which may be temporary or last for extended periods. Cyber incidents can result from unintentional events (such as an inadvertent release of confidential information) or deliberate attacks (such as cyber extortion) by insiders or third parties, including cyber criminals, competitors, nation-states and "hacktivists," and can be perpetrated by a variety of complex means, including the use of stolen access credentials, malware or other computer viruses, ransomware, phishing, structured query language injection attacks, and distributed denial of service attacks, among other means. Cyber incidents and market or other disruptions may result in actual or potential adverse consequences for critical information and communications technology, systems and networks that are vital to the operations of the Funds or their service providers, or otherwise impair Fund or service provider operations. For example, a cyber incident may cause operational disruptions and failures impacting information systems or information that a system processes, stores, or transmits, such as by theft, damage or destruction, or corruption or modification of and denial of access to data maintained online or digitally, denial of service on websites rendering the websites unavailable to intended users or not accessible for such users in a timely manner, and the unauthorized release or other exploitation of confidential information. Recent geopolitical tensions may have increased the scale and sophistication of deliberate cyber attacks and other disruptions, particularly from nation-states or entities with nation-state backing.

Geopolitical tensions may, from time to time, increase the scale and sophistication of cyber incidents and other disruptions. A cyber incident or sudden market, operational, technological (including widespread system outages or disruptions or faulty updates to software applications) or other disruption could adversely impact a Fund and its shareholders by, among other things, interfering with the processing of shareholder transactions or other operational functionality of the Fund, its service providers or those of shareholders, impacting a Fund's ability to calculate its NAV or other data, causing the release of private shareholder information (i.e., identity theft or other privacy breaches) or confidential Fund information or otherwise compromising the security and reliability of information, impeding trading, causing reputational damage, and subjecting a Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation or remediation costs, litigation expenses and additional compliance and cyber security risk management costs, which may be substantial. A cyber incident could also adversely affect the ability of a Fund (and the Investment Manager) to invest or manage the Fund's assets.

Cyber incidents and developments and disruptions to financial, economic, public health, labor and other global market conditions can obstruct the regular functioning of business workforces (including requiring employees to work from external locations or from their homes), cause business slowdowns or temporary suspensions of business activities, each of which can negatively impact Fund service providers and Fund operations. Although the Funds and their service providers, as well as exchanges and market participants through or with which the Funds trade and other infrastructures on which the Funds or their service providers rely, may have established business continuity plans and systems reasonably designed to protect from and/or defend against the risks or adverse consequences associated with cyber incidents and operational and market disruptions, there are inherent limitations in these plans and systems, including that certain risks may not yet be identified, in large part because different or unknown threats may emerge in the future and the threats continue to rapidly evolve and increase in sophistication. As a result, it is not possible to anticipate and prevent every cyber incident and possible obstruction to the normal activities of these entities' employees resulting from market disruptions and attempts to mitigate the occurrence or impact of such events may be unsuccessful. For example, public health emergencies and governmental responses to such emergencies, including through quarantine measures and travel restrictions, can create difficulties in carrying out the normal working processes of these entities' employees, disrupt their operations and hamper their capabilities. The nature, extent, and potential magnitude of the adverse consequences of these events cannot be predicted accurately but may result in significant risks, adverse consequences and costs to the Funds and their shareholders.

The issuers of securities in which a Fund invests are also subject to the ongoing risks and threats associated with cyber incidents and operational and market disruptions. These incidents could result in adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund's investment in such securities to lose value. For example, a cyber incident involving an issuer may include the theft, destruction or misappropriation of financial assets, intellectual property or other sensitive information belonging to the issuer or their customers (i.e., identity theft or other privacy breaches) and a market disruption involving an issuer may include materially reduced consumer demand and output, disrupted supply chains, market closures, travel restrictions and quarantines. As a result, the issuer may experience the types of adverse consequences summarized above, among others (such as loss of revenue), despite having implemented preventative and other measures reasonably designed to protect from and/or defend against the risks or adverse effects associated with cyber incidents and/or market disruptions.

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The Funds and their service providers, as well as exchanges and market participants through or with which the Funds or shareholders trade or invest and other infrastructures on which the Funds or their service providers rely, are also subject to the risks associated with technological and operational disruptions or failures arising from, for example, processing errors and human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, errors in algorithms used with respect to the Funds, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third parties or trading counterparties. In addition, to the extent that the Investment Manager utilizes a sleeve structure and sub-accounts of an individual Fund, the Fund would be more susceptible to operational risks, including (but not limited to) settlement, administrative and accounting errors in monitoring the sub-accounts and processing trades and other transactions within and between sub-accounts. Although the Funds attempt to minimize such failures through controls and oversight, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect a Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence of such failures or other disruptions in service.

Cyber incidents, market disruptions and operational errors or failures or other technological issues may adversely affect a Fund's ability to calculate its NAV correctly, in a timely manner or process trades or Fund or shareholder transactions, including over a potentially extended period. The Funds do not control the cyber security, disaster recovery, or other operational defense plans or systems of its service providers, intermediaries, companies in which it invests or other third parties. The value of an investment in Fund shares may be adversely affected by the occurrence of the cyber incidents, market disruptions and operational errors or failures or technological issues summarized above or other similar events and the Funds and their shareholders may bear costs tied to these risks.

Technological developments such as the use of cloud-based service providers and/or services and the integration of artificial intelligence in systems and operations create new risks that are difficult to assess and anticipate. For example, the Funds' service providers and market participants on which the Funds rely may use artificial intelligence (such as machine learning, generative artificial intelligence or blockchain technology) and similar technologies in the provision of services to the Funds and their operations generally. Such use may subject these service providers and market participants and, in turn, their services and operations to increased risks associated with such technologies, including risk of errors, cybersecurity, data protection and information technology risk, operational risk, and legal, regulatory and compliance risk. In addition, any controls in place designed to mitigate such risks may be ineffective and the use of these technologies may change over time, which may present new risks and vulnerabilities. As a result, a Fund may experience adverse consequences, such as operational errors, from such use of artificial intelligence and similar technologies.

In addition, the use of work-from-home arrangements or the use of contingency plans by the Funds or the Investment Manager (or their service providers) could increase all of the above risks, create additional data and information accessibility concerns, and make the Funds or the Investment Manager (or their service providers) susceptible to operational disruptions, any of which could adversely impact their operations. Furthermore, the Funds may be appealing targets for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware.

**Debt Obligations—**Yields on short, intermediate, and long-term securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money and bond markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. Debt securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields and are generally subject to potentially greater capital appreciation and depreciation than obligations with shorter maturities and lower yields. The market prices of debt securities usually vary, depending upon available yields. An increase in interest rates will generally reduce the value of portfolio investments, and a decline in interest rates will generally increase the value of portfolio investments. The ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objectives is also dependent on the continuing ability of the issuers of the debt securities in which the Fund invests to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal when due. Each Fund may invest in debt obligations with different priority of payment, such as senior (or preferred) and subordinated debt obligations, consistent with the Fund's investment objectives. Despite the protection from subordinated debt obligations, senior debt obligations can experience losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of more subordinate debt obligations, and market anticipation of defaults. Additionally, senior debt obligations are also subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior debt obligation or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior debt obligations.

For example, corporate bonds are debt obligations issued by corporations and other business entities. Corporate bonds may be either secured or unsecured. Corporate bonds contain elements of both interest rate risk and credit risk and are subject to other risks associated with debt instruments, among other risks. The market value of a corporate bond generally is expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates and be affected by the credit rating

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of the corporation, the corporation's performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. Depending on the nature of the seniority provisions, a senior corporate bond may be junior to other credit securities of the issuer. In addition, the market value of (and income generated by) a corporate bond may be affected by factors directly related to the issuer, such as investors' perceptions of the creditworthiness of the issuer, the issuer's financial performance, perceptions of the issuer in the marketplace, performance of management of the issuer, the issuer's capital structure and use of financial leverage and demand for the issuer's goods and services. There is a risk that the issuers of corporate bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument or at all. Corporate bonds of below investment grade quality are often high risk and have speculative characteristics and may be particularly susceptible to adverse issuer-specific and other developments.

**Equity Securities—**Equity securities, such as common stock, represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer and may be obtained through, among other things, an initial public offering ("IPO"). Common stock generally takes the form of shares in a corporation. The value of a company's stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company's products or services. A stock's value also may fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of a company's stock also may be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company's stock generally pays dividends only after the company invests in its own business and makes required payments to holders of its bonds, other debt and preferred stock. For this reason, the value of a company's stock will usually react more strongly than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock to actual or perceived changes in the company's financial condition or prospects. Stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies. Stocks of companies that the portfolio managers believe are fast-growing may trade at a higher multiple of current earnings than other stocks. The value of such stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks.

An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public, typically to raise additional capital. A Fund's investment in securities offered through IPOs may have a magnified performance impact, either positive or negative, on the Fund, particularly if the Fund has a small asset base. IPO securities are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. A Fund's investments in IPOs may make it subject to more erratic price movements, greater risk of loss, lack of information about the issuer, limited operating and little public or no trading history, and higher transaction costs. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, a Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of a Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to a Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs, which decrease the value of investments and may result in additional taxable gains for a Fund and adversely affect a Fund's performance. A Fund may not be able to invest in securities issued in IPOs, or invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO may be made available to the Fund.

A Fund may also invest in warrants and rights with respect to equity securities. Warrants entitle the holder to buy equity securities (notably, common stock) from the issuer of the warrant at a specific price for a specific period of time. Rights are similar to warrants but normally have a shorter duration and are typically distributed directly by the issuers to existing shareholders, while warrants are typically attached to new debt or preferred stock issuances. Warrants may be significantly less valuable or worthless on their expiration date and may also be postponed or terminated early, resulting in a partial or total loss. Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer. Warrants and rights are highly volatile and, therefore, potentially more susceptible to sharp declines in value than the underlying security. The market for rights or warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price and rights and warrants will expire if not exercised on or prior to the expiration date.

**Equity-Linked Securities—**The Funds may invest in equity-linked securities which are primarily used as an alternative means to access the securities markets of emerging market countries more efficiently and effectively. Equity-linked securities may also be known as participation notes, equity swaps, and zero strike calls and warrants. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or "basket" of stocks, or sometimes a single stock. A Fund deposits an amount of cash with its custodian (or broker, if legally permitted) in an amount near or equal to the selling price of the underlying security in exchange for an equity-linked security. Upon sale, the Fund receives cash from the broker or custodian equal to the current value of the underlying security. Aside from market risk of the underlying security, there is the risk that the issuer of an equity-linked security may default on its obligation under the

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security. In addition, while the Fund will seek to enter into such transactions only with parties that are capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out such a transaction with the other party or obtain an offsetting position with any other party, at any time prior to the end of the term of the underlying agreement. This may impair a Fund's ability to enter into other transactions at a time when doing so might be advantageous.

**Foreign Investment Risks—**Investment in foreign securities involves risks and considerations in addition to the risks inherent in domestic investments. Foreign companies generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The securities of non-U.S. issuers generally are not registered with the SEC, nor are these issuers usually subject to the SEC's reporting requirements. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information about foreign securities and issuers than is available with respect to U.S. securities and issuers. Foreign securities markets typically have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets, and securities of foreign companies are generally less liquid and at times their prices may be more volatile than prices of comparable U.S. companies. Various trading risks are greater for foreign securities because foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies generally are subject to less government supervision and regulation than in the United States. The customary settlement time for foreign securities may be longer than the customary settlement time for U.S. securities. A Fund's income and gains from foreign investments may be subject to non-U.S. withholding or other taxes, thereby reducing the Fund's income and gains on such investments. In addition, with respect to some foreign countries, there is the increased possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation or other adverse governmental action, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets of the Fund, political or social instability, diplomatic and other developments that could affect the investments of the Fund in those countries, including the imposition of economic sanctions. Moreover, individual foreign economies differ from the U.S. economy in such respects, among others, as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, rate of savings and capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments positions.

Below is a more detailed summary of certain key risks associated with foreign investments and investments in certain foreign countries. Although a specific country or region may not be discussed below, a Fund may invest in or otherwise have exposure to such country or companies organized or operating in such country.

**Adverse Market Characteristics.** Securities of many foreign issuers may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. In addition, foreign securities exchanges and brokers generally are subject to less governmental supervision and regulation than in the U.S., and foreign securities exchange transactions usually are subject to commissions or other fees that generally are higher than negotiated commissions or other fees on U.S. transactions. In addition, foreign securities exchange transactions may be subject to difficulties associated with the settlement of such transactions, such as delays in settlement that could result in temporary periods when assets of a Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon, or cause other portfolio management or trading challenges. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause it to miss attractive opportunities. Inability to dispose of a portfolio security due to settlement problems either could result in losses to a Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio security or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. In addition, foreign securities may be subject to certain trading blockages that may prevent a Fund from trading in a foreign issuer's securities a period of time.

**Australia.** Australia's agriculture and mining sectors account for a significant portion of its economy, making its economy-and in turn, a Fund's investments in Australian issuers-particularly susceptible to adverse changes in these sectors. In addition, Australia's economy is heavily dependent on international trade, meaning the economic conditions of trading partners such as the United States, Asian nations and other regions or specific countries may affect the value of a Fund's investments in Australian issuers. Australia is also prone to natural disasters such as floods, droughts and fires, and a Fund's investments in Australia may be more likely to be affected by such events than its investments in other geographic regions.

**Brady Bonds.** The Funds may invest in "Brady Bonds," which are debt restructurings that provide for the exchange of cash and loans for newly issued bonds. Brady Bonds are securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to public and private entities in certain emerging markets for new bonds in connection with debt restructuring under a debt restructuring plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady. Brady Bonds may be collateralized or uncollateralized, are issued in various currencies (primarily the U.S. dollar) and are actively traded in the secondary market for Latin American debt.

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U.S. dollar-denominated, collateralized Brady Bonds, which may be fixed rate par bonds or floating rate discount bonds, are collateralized in full as to principal by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds having the same maturity as the bonds. Interest payments on such bonds generally are collateralized by cash or securities in an amount that, in the case of fixed rate bonds, is equal to at least one year of rolling interest payments or, in the case of floating rate bonds, initially is equal to at least one year's rolling interest payments based on the applicable interest rate at the time and is adjusted at regular intervals thereafter.

**Brexit**—The United Kingdom ceased to be a member of the EU on January 31, 2020 (such departure from the EU, "Brexit"). A trade agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom (the "TCA") took effect on May 1, 2021, and now governs the relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom. Although the TCA covers many issues, such as economic partnership, free trade, law enforcement and judicial co-operation and governance, it is silent on items such as financial services equivalence. As such, there remains uncertainty as to the scope, nature and terms of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU and the effect and implications of the TCA. Brexit may have a negative impact on the economy and currency of the United Kingdom and EU as a result of anticipated, perceived or actual changes to the United Kingdom's economic and political relations with the EU. Brexit may also have a destabilizing impact on the EU to the extent other member states similarly seek to withdraw from the union. Any further exits from member states of the EU, or the possibility of such exits, would likely cause additional market disruption globally and introduce new legal and regulatory uncertainties. Any or all of these challenges may affect the value of the Funds' investments that are economically tied to the United Kingdom or the EU, and could have an adverse impact on the Funds' performance.

**Canada.** Investments in Canadian companies, or companies with significant operations in Canada, are subject to the risks associated with the Canadian economy and financial markets, in particular, adverse developments in international trade agreements and fluctuations in prices of certain commodities. The economic and financial integration of the United States, Canada, and Mexico through trade agreements has made, and will likely continue to make, the Canadian economy and financial market more sensitive to North American trade patterns and economic developments. As a result, the Canadian economy and financial markets are significantly impacted by economic, financial and other developments affecting the United States, which is Canada's largest trading partner and foreign investor, and the Canadian economy is heavily dependent on relationships with certain key trading partners, including the United States and Mexico and, for certain trade agreements, European Union countries and China. Further, a reduction in spending on Canadian products and services or the withdrawal from, or renegotiation of, key trade agreements would likely adversely impact the Canadian economy or investments in Canadian companies. In addition, the Canadian market is relatively concentrated in issuers involved in the production and distribution of natural resources and, as a result, the Canadian economy and financial markets are particularly susceptible to fluctuations in certain commodity markets, such as natural resources (e.g., forest products), both domestically and internationally.

**China.** To the extent a Fund invests in Chinese securities, its investments may be impacted by the economic, political, diplomatic, and social conditions within China. Moreover, investments may be impacted by geopolitical developments such as China's posture regarding Hong Kong and Taiwan, international scrutiny of China's human rights record to include China's treatment of some of its minorities, competition between the United States and China and the resulting increased tariffs and restrictions on trade between the two countries, and any of China's military or diplomatic moves or other regional developments. These domestic and external conditions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the institution of tariffs, sanctions by governmental entities or other trade barriers, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China's export industry. In particular, trade tensions could escalate between the United States and China, resulting in further tariffs and other measures against China that might adversely affect investments in China. China's actual or threatened responses to such measures may also further impact Chinese economy and Chinese issuers. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and could have a negative impact on a Fund's performance, including the loss incurred from a forced sale when trade barriers or other investment restrictions cause a security to become restricted. Also, China generally has less established legal, accounting and financial reporting systems than those in more developed markets, which may reduce the scope or quality of financial information relating to Chinese issuers and limited rights and remedies of investors as a matter of law. An economic downturn in China or geopolitical tensions involving China could adversely impact investments in Chinese or Chinese-related issuers. In addition, certain securities of such issuers are, or may in the future become restricted, and/or sanctioned by the U.S. government or other governments and a Fund may be forced to sell

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such restricted securities and incur a loss as a result. These and other developments, including government actions, may result in significant illiquidity risk or forced disposition for investments in securities of Chinese or Chinese-related issuers.

Chinese operating companies sometimes rely on variable interest entity ("VIE") structures to raise capital from non-Chinese investors. In a VIE structure, a China-based operating company establishes an entity (typically offshore) that enters into contracts with the Chinese operating company designed to provide economic exposure to the Chinese operating company. The offshore entity then issues exchange-traded shares (such as on the NYSE) that are sold to the public, including non-Chinese investors (such as the Funds). Shares of the offshore entity are not equity ownership interests in the Chinese operating company. The ability of the offshore entity to control the activities at the Chinese operating company are limited and the Chinese operating company may engage in activities that negatively impact investment value. Investments through these structures are subject to risks in addition to those generally associated with investments in China, such as breaches of the contractual arrangements, changes in Chinese law or regulation with respect to enforceability or permissibility of these arrangements or failure of these contracts to function as intended. In addition, these investments are also subject to the risk of inconsistent and unpredictable application of Chinese law, loss of control over the Chinese operating company and that the equity owners of the Chinese operating company may have interests conflicting with those of the non-Chinese investors. There is also uncertainty related to the Chinese taxation of VIEs and the Chinese tax authorities may take positions that result in increased tax liabilities. Thus, there are risks and uncertainty about future actions or intervention by the government of China at any time and without notice that could suddenly and significantly affect these structures. If any of the foregoing (or similar) risks materialize, the value and liquidity of these investments could be significantly adversely affected and cause significant losses with no recourse available.

**Costs.** Certain expenses of a Fund's investments in foreign securities are typically greater than those of funds investing in solely domestic securities because, among other things, such Funds may pay a higher overall cost to maintain the custody of foreign securities.

**Currency Fluctuations.** Each Fund may invest a portion of its total assets in the securities of foreign issuers that are denominated (or pay dividends) in foreign currencies. To the extent a Fund makes such investments, the strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar against such foreign currencies will account for part of the Fund's investment performance. A decline in the value of any particular currency against the U.S. dollar will cause a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's holdings of securities denominated in such currency and, therefore, will cause an overall decline in the Fund's NAV and any net investment income and capital gains to be distributed in U.S. dollars to shareholders of the Fund. In addition, derivative instruments that provide exposure to foreign currencies may also be adversely affected in these circumstances.

The rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is determined by several factors, including the supply and demand for particular currencies, central bank efforts to support particular currencies, the movement of interest rates, the pace of business activity in certain other countries and the United States, and other economic and financial conditions affecting the global economy. In addition, currency rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including: changes in interest rates, sovereign debt levels and trade deficits; domestic and foreign inflation and interest rates and investors' expectations concerning those rates; currency exchange rates; investment and trading activities of other funds, including hedge funds and currency funds; global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations; and the imposition of currency controls or tax developments in the United States or abroad. Foreign governments may from time to time take actions with respect to their currencies that could significantly affect the value of a Fund's investments denominated in such currencies or the liquidity of such investments.

Although the Funds value their assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, the Funds do not intend to convert holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. A Fund will do so from time to time, and will bear the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference ("spread") between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to sell that currency to the dealer.

**Eastern Europe.** Social, political (including geopolitical), economic and other developments in Eastern Europe and Russia could have long-term potential consequences for investments in this region. Because of the global sanctions on Russia due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, investments in Russia are prohibited or

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extremely restricted. Investment in the countries of Eastern Europe is highly speculative. Political and economic reforms have not yet established a definite trend away from centrally-planned economies and state-owned industries. In many of the countries of Eastern Europe, there is no stock exchange or formal market for securities. Such countries may also have government exchange controls, currencies with no recognizable market value relative to the established currencies of western market economies, little or no experience trading securities, no financial reporting standards, a lack of a banking and securities infrastructure to handle such trading, and a legal tradition that does not recognize private property rights. In addition, these countries may have national policies that restrict investments in companies deemed sensitive to the country's national interest. Further, the governments in such countries may require governmental or quasi-governmental authorities to act as custodian of a Fund's assets invested in such countries, and these authorities may not qualify as a foreign custodian under the 1940 Act, and exemptive relief from the 1940 Act may be required. In February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The extent and duration of this military action, and resulting market and economic disruption and uncertainty, is difficult to accurately predict. The United States and other countries have imposed significant sanctions against Russia and could impose additional sanctions or other measures. As a result, there are significant risks and uncertainties to investment in Eastern Europe and Russia.

**Emerging Markets.** Certain Funds may invest in debt and equity securities in emerging markets. Investing in securities in emerging countries generally entails greater risks of loss or inability to achieve the Fund's investment objective than investing in securities in developed countries. Securities issued by governments or issuers in emerging market countries are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities. These risks are elevated from time to time based on geopolitical conditions and include: (1) less social, political and economic stability; (2) the small size of the markets for such securities, limited access to investments in the event of market closures (including due to local holidays) and the low or nonexistent volume of trading, which result in a lack of liquidity, greater price volatility, and higher risk of failed trades or other trading issues; (3) certain national policies that may restrict a Fund's investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (4) foreign taxation; (5) inflation and rapid fluctuations in interest rates; (6) currency devaluations; (7) dependence on a few key trading partners; and (8) the absence of developed structures governing private or foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress for investment losses or injury to private property, which may limit legal rights and remedies available to a Fund and the ability of U.S. authorities (e.g., the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice) to bring actions against bad actors may be limited. Sovereign debt of emerging countries may be in default or present a greater risk of default. In addition, emerging markets generally involve risks associated with greater market volatility, less reliable financial and other information, less stringent investor protections and disclosure standards, higher transaction and custody costs and risks, decreased market liquidity and less government and exchange regulation. For example, certain emerging market countries may be subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record keeping and therefore, material information related to an investment may be unavailable or unreliable. These risks are heightened for investments in frontier markets.

The Investment Manager has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as "emerging markets." In determining whether a country is an emerging market, each Fund's Investment Manager may take into account specific or general factors that the Investment Manager deems to be relevant, including interest rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies, trade and current account balances and/or legal, social and political developments, as well as whether the country is considered to be emerging or developing by supranational organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, or other similar entities. Emerging market countries generally will include countries with low gross national product per capita and the potential for rapid economic growth and are likely to be located in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Central Europe and Central and South America.

**Europe.** The European Union ("EU") is an intergovernmental and supranational organization comprised of most Western European countries and an increasing number of Eastern European countries (each such country, a "Member State"). The EU aims to establish and administer a single market among Member States-consisting of a common trade policy and a single currency-and Member States established the European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU") in pursuit of this goal. The EMU sets forth certain policies intended to increase economic coordination and monetary cooperation. Many Member States have adopted the EMU's euro as their currency and other Member States are generally expected to adopt the euro in the future. When a Member State adopts the euro as its currency, the Member State cedes its authority to control monetary policy to the European Central Bank.

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Member States face a number of challenges, including, but not limited to: tight fiscal and monetary controls, complications that result from adjustment to a new currency; the absence of exchange rate flexibility; and the loss of economic sovereignty. Unemployment in some European countries has been historically higher than in the United States, potentially exposing investors to political risk. These types of challenges may affect the value of a Fund's investments.

In addition, changes to the value of the euro against the U.S. dollar could also affect the value of a Fund's investments. Investing in euro-denominated securities or securities denominated in other European currencies entails risk of exposure to a currency that may not fully reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the disparate European economies. It is possible that the euro could be abandoned in the future by those countries that have adopted it and the effects of such abandonment on individual countries and the EMU as a whole are uncertain, but could be negative. Any change in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar can have a positive or negative effect upon valuation, and thus upon profits.

A Fund's Europe-linked investments are subject to considerable uncertainty and risk. In recent years, many European countries and banking and financial sectors have experienced significant financial and economic challenges. In addition, some European countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, in which a Fund may invest, may be dependent on assistance from other governments or international organizations. Such assistance may be subject to a country's successful implementation of certain reforms. An insufficient level of assistance (whether triggered by a failure to implement reforms or by any other factor) could cause an economic downturn and affect the value of a Fund's investments.

Certain European countries have experienced significant governmental debt levels and, for some countries, the ability to repay their debt may be in question, and the possibility of default may be heightened, any of which could affect their ability to borrow in the future. A default or debt restructuring of any European country would adversely impact holders of that country's debt and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country's creditworthiness, which may be located outside the country defaulting or restructuring. Furthermore, there is the risk of contagion that could occur if one country defaults on its debt, and that a default in one country could trigger declines and cause other countries in the region to default as well.

Significant risks, such as high official debts and deficits, aging populations, over-regulation of non-financial businesses, and doubts about the sustainability of the EMU continue to present economic and financial challenges in Europe. These countries will likely need to make further economic and political decisions in order to restore sustainable economic growth and fiscal policy. While many initiatives intended to strengthen regulation and supervision of financial markets in the EU have been instituted, greater regulation may occur.

The EU currently faces major issues involving its membership, structure, procedures, and policies, including: the adoption, abandonment, or adjustment of the constitutional treaty; the EU's expansion to the south and east; and resolution of the EU's fiscal and democratic accountability problems. As Member States unify their economic and monetary policies, movements in European markets will lose the benefit of diversification within the region. One or more Member States might exit the EU, placing its currency and banking system in jeopardy. The national policies of European countries can be unpredictable and subject to influence by disruptive political groups or ideologies. The occurrence of conflicts, war or terrorist activities in Europe could have an adverse impact on financial markets. An increasingly assertive Russia poses its own set of risks for the EU, as evidenced by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Opposition to EU expansion to members of the former Soviet bloc may prompt more intervention by Russia, which may carry various negative consequences, including direct effects, such as export restrictions, Russian support for separatist groups located within EU countries, interference by Russia in internal affairs of EU countries, and externalities of ongoing conflict, such as an influx of refugees, all of which could impact EU economic activity. In connection with these uncertainties, currencies have become more volatile, subjecting a Fund's investments to additional risks.

A Fund may also invest in Eurodollar bonds and obligations, which are securities that pay interest and principal in Eurodollars (U.S. dollars held in banks outside the U.S., typically Europe) and are often issued by foreign branches of U.S. banks and by foreign banks. These securities are not registered with the SEC. Eurodollar bonds and obligations are subject to the same types of risks that pertain to domestic issuers, such as income risk, credit risk, market risk, and liquidity risk, as well as risks relating to such non-U.S. country, including the risks associated with foreign investments.

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**Foreign Investment Restrictions.** Certain countries prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets, particularly their equity markets, by foreign entities such as the Funds. As illustrations, certain countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular company, or limit the investments by foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of a company that may have less advantageous terms than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. Moreover, the national policies of certain countries may restrict investment opportunities in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests. In addition, some countries require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales by foreign investors. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation, as well as by the application to it of other restrictions on investments. These restrictions may, at times, limit or preclude investment in certain countries and may increase the costs and expenses of a Fund.

**Information and Supervision.** There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies comparable to reports and ratings that are published about companies in the United States. Foreign companies are also generally subject to less stringent and uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements than those applicable to U.S. companies. Therefore, financial information and related audits can be unreliable and not subject to verification. Also, auditing firms in some foreign countries are not subject to independent inspection or oversight of audit quality. In addition, foreign investments are subject to various operational and settlement risks, including failures or defects of the settlement system, improper recordkeeping, and other issues that may adversely affect a Fund's investments. Foreign companies and financial markets may also be subject to government involvement and control, which may adversely affect a Fund's investments.

**Investment and Repatriation Restrictions.** Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain foreign countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may at times limit or preclude investment in certain countries and may increase the costs and expenses of a Fund. Investments by foreign investors are subject to a variety of restrictions in many developing countries, such as requirements for prior governmental approval, limits on the amount or type of securities held by foreigners, and limits on the types of companies in which foreigners may invest. Additional or different restrictions may be imposed at any time by these or other countries in which a Fund invests. In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and capital from several foreign countries is restricted and controlled under certain regulations, including in some cases the need for certain government consents. These restrictions may make investing in these countries less desirable or undesirable.

**Japan.** Though Japan is one of the world's largest economic powers, a Fund's investments in Japan are subject to special risks. Japan's population is aging and shrinking, increasing the cost of Japan's pension and public welfare system, lowering domestic demand, and making the country more dependent on exports to sustain its economy. The economic conditions of Japan's trading partners may therefore affect the value of a Fund's Japan-linked investments. Currency fluctuations may also significantly affect Japan's economy. Japan is also prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and a Fund's investments in Japan may be more likely to be affected by such events than its investments in other geographic regions. In addition, in recent years, a territorial dispute between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands has heightened, which may result in discord between the two countries that, in turn, may negatively impact a Fund's investments.

**Market Characteristics.** Foreign securities may be purchased in OTC markets or on stock exchanges located in the countries in which the respective principal offices of the issuers of the various securities are located. Foreign stock markets are generally not as developed or efficient as, and may be more volatile than, those in the United States, and foreign stock markets usually have substantially less volume than U.S. markets. As a result, a Fund's portfolio securities may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. Equity securities may trade at price/earnings multiples higher than comparable domestic securities, and such levels may not be sustainable. Commissions on foreign stock exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies than in the United States. As a result, foreign securities markets may be more susceptible to market manipulation. Moreover, securities trading practices in foreign countries may offer fewer protections for investors such as the Funds and the settlement practices for transactions in foreign markets may

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differ from those in U.S. markets and may include delays beyond periods customary in the United States or less frequent settlement than in the United States. In addition, it is generally more difficult to obtain and enforce legal judgments against foreign issuers than against domestic issuers.

**Natural Disasters.** Natural disasters, public health emergencies (including pandemics and epidemics) and other global events of force majeure can negatively affect the Funds' investments. Such events can cause unemployment and economic downturns within an industry or a geographic region in which a Fund invests. They can also directly disrupt the operations, cash flows and overall financial condition of a company in which a Fund invests.

**Non-Uniform Corporate Disclosure Standards and Governmental Regulation.** Non-U.S. companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements that differ, in some cases significantly, from those applicable to U.S. companies. In particular, the assets, liabilities and profits appearing on the financial statements of such a company may not reflect its financial position or results of operations in the way they would be reflected had such financial statements been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Foreign securities held by the Funds in many cases will not be registered with the SEC or regulators of any foreign country, nor will the issuers thereof be subject to the SEC's reporting requirements. Thus, there will be less available information concerning foreign issuers of securities held by the Funds than is available concerning U.S. issuers. In instances where the financial statements of an issuer are not deemed to accurately reflect the financial situation of the issuer, the Investment Manager will take steps it deems appropriate to evaluate the proposed investment, which may include on-site inspection of the issuer, interviews with its management, and consultations with accountants, bankers and other specialists. There is substantially less publicly available information about foreign companies than there are reports and ratings published about U.S. companies and the U.S. government. In addition, where public information is available, it may be less reliable than such information regarding U.S. issuers.

**Non-U.S. Withholding Taxes.** A Fund's investment income and gains from foreign issuers may be subject to non-U.S. withholding and other taxes, thereby reducing the Fund's investment income and gains on such investments.

**Other.** With respect to certain foreign countries, especially developing and emerging ones, there is the possibility of adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, international trade patterns, imposition or modification of foreign currency or foreign investment controls, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets of a Fund, political or social instability, or diplomatic or other developments, conditions or events (such as civil unrest, hostile relations, military conflicts, war and terrorism) that could affect investments in those countries.

**Political, Economic and Other Risks.** Investing in securities of non-U.S. companies may entail additional risks due to the potential political, geopolitical and economic instability of certain countries and the risks of military and other conflicts, expropriation, nationalization, seizure, confiscation of companies or assets, or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investment and on repatriation of capital invested. In the event of such expropriation, seizure, nationalization or other confiscation by any country, a Fund could lose its entire investment in the country.

Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital, making these markets more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against particular countries or industries, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures.

As a result of any investments in non-U.S. companies, a Fund would be subject to the political and economic risks associated with investments in emerging markets. Changes in the leadership or policies of the governments of emerging market countries or in the leadership or policies of any other government that exercises a significant influence over those countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and thereby eliminate any investment opportunities that may currently exist.

Upon the accession to power of authoritarian regimes, the governments of a number of emerging market countries previously expropriated large quantities of real and personal property similar to the property represented by the securities purchased by a Fund. The claims of property owners against those governments were never settled. There can be no assurance that any property represented by securities purchased by a Fund

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will not also be expropriated, nationalized, seized or otherwise confiscated. If such confiscation were to occur, a Fund could lose a substantial portion or all of its investments in such countries. A Fund's investments would similarly be adversely affected by exchange control regulation in any of those countries.

Certain countries in which a Fund may invest may have vocal factions that advocate radical or revolutionary philosophies or support independence. Any disturbance on the part of such individuals could carry the potential for widespread destruction or confiscation of property owned by individuals and entities foreign to such country and could cause the loss of a Fund's investment in those countries.

Political and economic developments, or adverse investor perceptions of such developments, may affect a Fund's foreign holdings or exposures and may cause the Fund's investments to become less liquid.

The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments (such as is currently the case against Russia), or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is difficult to accurately predict. These types of measures may include, but are not limited to, banning a sanctioned country from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, restricting the settlement of securities transactions by certain investors, and freezing the assets of particular countries, entities, or persons. The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures likely would, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, downgrades in the credit ratings of the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, devaluation of the sanctioned country's currency, and increased market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent a Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact a Fund's liquidity, valuation and performance.

**Singapore and Hong Kong.** Although the economies of Singapore and Hong Kong have experienced growth and development, they were in the past, and may in the future be, subject to over-extension of credit, currency devaluations and restrictions, high unemployment, high inflation, reliance on exports and economic cycles. These factors may affect the value of a Fund's investments. In addition, these economies are heavily dependent on international trade, meaning the economic conditions of trading partners such as the United States, Japan, China, and certain European countries may also affect the value of a Fund's investments. During recent periods, the region's exports and foreign investments experienced significant difficulties. Moreover, as demonstrated by recent protests in Hong Kong over political, economic, and legal freedoms, and the Chinese government's response to them, political uncertainty exists within Hong Kong and there is no guarantee that additional protests will not arise in the future. Hostilities between China and Hong Kong may present a risk to a Fund's investment in Hong Kong.

**Sovereign and Supranational Obligations.** Certain Funds may invest in sovereign debt securities, which are debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governmental entities, such as foreign government debt or foreign treasury bills. Investments in sovereign debt securities involve special risks in addition to those risks usually associated with investments in debt securities, including risks associated with economic or political uncertainty and the risk that the governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due. Certain Funds may also invest in securities or other obligations issued or backed by supranational organizations, which are international organizations that are designated or supported by government entities or banking institutions typically to promote economic reconstruction or development. These obligations are subject to the risk that the government(s) on whose support the organization depends may be unable or unwilling to provide the necessary support. With respect to both sovereign and supranational obligations, a Fund may have little recourse against the foreign government or supranational organization that issues or backs the obligation in the event of default. These obligations may be denominated in foreign currencies and the prices of these obligations may be more volatile than corporate debt obligations.

Sovereign debt instruments in which the Funds invest may involve great risk and may be deemed to be the equivalent in terms of credit quality to securities rated below investment grade by Moody's and S&P. Some governmental entities depend on disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies, and

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international organizations to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt obligations. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies, and others to make such disbursements are often conditioned on a governmental entity's implementation of economic or other reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of the governmental entity's obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance, or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of the commitments to lend funds or other aid to the governmental entity, which may further impair the governmental entity's ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Some of the countries in which a Fund may invest have encountered difficulties in servicing their sovereign debt obligations and have withheld payments of interest and/or principal of sovereign debt. These difficulties have also led to agreements to restructure external debt obligations, which may result in costs to the holders of the sovereign debt. Consequently, a government obligor may default on its obligations and/or the values of its obligations may decline significantly, which would adversely affect a Fund's investments.

**Futures, Options and Other Derivative Transactions—**

**Futures and Options on Futures.** A Fund may invest in futures and options on futures contracts (i) to attempt to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; (ii) to attempt to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; (iii) to attempt to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies; (iv) for hedging purposes; or (v) for other risk management purposes. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price.

An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. Futures contracts are traded on futures exchanges known as designated contract markets that are regulated by the CFTC, which reduces the risk that a Fund will be unable to close out a futures contract or option on a futures contract. To the extent a Fund, other than Macro Opportunities Fund, uses futures and/or options on futures, it would do so in accordance with Rule 4.5 under the CEA, unless otherwise disclosed.

Each Fund may buy and sell index futures contracts with respect to any index traded on a recognized exchange or board of trade. An index futures contract is an agreement pursuant to which the Fund may agree to take or make a cash payment on an index value. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made. Instead, settlement in cash generally must occur daily and upon the termination of the contract. Generally, index futures contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") futures contracts are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts that are based on SOFR. These contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A Fund may use SOFR futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in SOFR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked, or for other purposes.

There are significant risks associated with the Funds' use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the ability of the Investment Manager to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by a Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures. In addition, some strategies reduce a Fund's exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

**Options.** Each Fund may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on securities, stock indices and currencies listed on national securities exchanges or traded in the OTC market for the purpose of pursuing each Fund's investment objective and except as restricted by a Fund's investment restrictions. In addition, the Macro Opportunities Fund may also purchase or sell (write) put or call options (including those traded OTC) on precious metals (such as gold or silver), as described above. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period or on expiration, depending on the terms. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the

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option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period or on expiration, depending on the terms. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or OTC markets) to manage its exposure to exchange rates.

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an "opening transaction." In order to close out an option position prior to expiration, a Fund may enter into a "closing transaction," which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

Each Fund may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that a Fund may seek to purchase in the future. A Fund purchasing put and call options pays a premium; therefore, if price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for a Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Funds' securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

A Fund may write call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in the securities' market value. When a Fund writes such an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option. When a call option of which a Fund is the writer is exercised and requires physical delivery, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option of which a Fund is the writer is exercised and requires physical delivery, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.

Each Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or OTC. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker.

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designed to achieve, before fees and expenses, returns that exceed those of the Underlying Bond ETF. Although the Debt Overlay Basket is intended to outperform the Underlying Bond ETF (and the performance of the Debt Overlay Basket is otherwise intended to generally be correlated with that of the Underlying Bond ETF), the options sold as part of these structures are not intended to be "covered," meaning that the Funds will generally not hold shares in the Underlying Bond ETF as part of these investments (or have an absolute and immediate right to purchase the Underlying Bond ETF's shares) in the amount necessary to meet the Funds' contingent obligation to deliver cash or shares of the Underlying Bond ETF to the Funds' options counterparties. As a result, the Funds are subject to risks associated with investing in the investments comprising the Debt Overlay Basket as well as the risks associated with selling call options on the Underlying Bond ETF. The risks of these investments include, among others, Debt Obligations risk, High Yield and Unrated Securities Risk, Investment in Investment Vehicles Risk, Derivatives Risk and Options Risk. Additionally, these investments are subject to imperfect matching or price correlation between the Underlying Bond ETF and the Debt Overlay Basket, which could reduce the Funds' returns and expose the Funds to additional losses. In particular, the Funds are subject to the risk of loss associated with the Underlying Bond ETF outperforming the Debt Overlay Basket because the Funds' obligation under the options on the Underlying Bond ETF at expiration is determined by the market price of the shares of the Underlying Bond ETF. The Funds' potential gain in selling a call option on the Underlying Bond ETF is the premium received from the purchaser of the option; however, the Funds risks a loss equal to the entire exercise price of the option minus the call premium (although the extent of such loss could be offset by the performance of the Debt Overlay Basket). The call options sold as part of the Debt Overlay Strategy are generally not "covered." For cash-settled call options sold by the Funds referencing the Underlying Bond ETF, if the market price of the Underlying Bond ETF is above the strike price of the options, the Funds would owe the difference between the market price of the shares of the Underlying Bond ETF and the strike price of the options. For physically-settled call options sold by the Funds referencing the Underlying Bond ETF, if the options are exercised and assigned, the Funds will be obligated to sell to the options' counterparty shares of the Underlying Bond ETF at the strike price. Pursuant to this sale upon assignment, the Funds will not be able to deliver the Debt Overlay Basket to satisfy its delivery obligations and will be required to buy shares of the Underlying Bond ETF at the prevailing market price, which may be greater in aggregate cost than the value of the corresponding Debt Overlay Basket. To the extent that the market price of the shares of the Underlying Bond ETF experiences proportionately greater appreciation than the value of the Debt Overlay Basket, the Funds are subject to additional risks associated with selling "naked" call options on the Underlying Bond ETF. Selling naked, or uncovered, call options can be considerably riskier than selling covered call options. Although the Debt Overlay Basket is intended to outperform the Underlying Bond ETF and the performance of the Debt Overlay Basket is otherwise intended to generally be correlated with that of the Underlying Bond ETF, it is possible that the market price of the shares of the Underlying Bond ETF will experience greater appreciation than the value of the Debt Overlay Basket, subjecting the Funds to the risk of a loss that is uncovered by the Debt Overlay Basket. The potential appreciation of the market price of the shares of the Underlying Bond ETF is theoretically unlimited, and the Funds are therefore subject to the risk of total loss. To the extent that the market price of the shares of the Underlying Bond ETF experience less appreciation than the Debt Overlay Basket, the Funds are subject to additional risks, including the risk of losing the ability to benefit from the capital appreciation of its Debt Overlay Basket (i.e., net of any losses from the call options sold by the Funds referencing the Underlying Bond ETF). Additionally, for certain types of options, the Funds have no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation under the option. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist for the options if and when the Funds seek to close out an option position.

The Macro Opportunities Fund may also engage in long and short "straddles" and "strangles," which each consist of a combination of both a put option and a call option purchased or written on the same underlying security, instrument or other asset. A straddle represents a put and call purchased or written on same underlying with the same exercise or strike price. In comparison, a strangle represents the same trade (i.e., a put and call purchased or written on same underlying) with a different exercise or strike price. Additionally, the Macro Opportunities Fund may engage in swaptions, which give the buyer the right but not the obligation to enter into an underlying swap agreement. The Fund's use of swaptions is generally subject to the same risks associated with OTC options described above.

The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security. Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date. The market value of an option also may be adversely affected if the market for the option is reduced or becomes less liquid. Additionally, the market for an option may be

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impacted by the availability of additional expiry cycles, which may lead trading volume into contracts closer to expiration, including zero days to expiration contracts ("0DTE" contracts). 0DTE contracts may involve substantially greater volatility than other options contracts.

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for all options and, in particular, for OTC options; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; (5) counterparty risk; and (6) while a Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.

**Forwards.** A Fund may engage in forward contracts, including non-deliverable forwards. Non-deliverable forwards are forward contracts on foreign currencies that are cash settled and that do not involve delivery of the currency specified in the contract. A Fund typically will use non-deliverable forwards for hedging purposes, but may also use such instruments to increase income or investment gains. The use of forwards for hedging or to increase income or investment gains may not be successful, resulting in losses to the Fund, and the cost of such strategies may reduce the Fund's returns. Forwards are subject to the risks associated with derivatives.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in the transactions discussed above. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" below.

**Guaranteed Investment Contracts ("GICs")—**Certain Funds may invest in GICs. When investing in GICs, a Fund makes cash contributions to a deposit fund of an insurance company's general account. The insurance company then credits guaranteed interest to the deposit fund on a monthly basis. The GICs provide that this guaranteed interest will not be less than a certain minimum rate. The insurance company may assess periodic charges against a GIC for expenses and service costs allocable to it, and the charges will be deducted from the value of the deposit fund. Because a Fund may not receive the principal amount of a GIC from the insurance company on 7 days' notice or less, the GIC is considered an illiquid investment. In determining average portfolio maturity, GICs generally will be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period of time remaining until the next readjustment of the guaranteed interest rate.

**Hybrid Instruments—**Certain Funds may invest in hybrid instruments. A hybrid instrument is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid instrument is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor ("underlying benchmark"). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed-income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid instrument may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the underlying benchmark. An example of a hybrid instrument could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.

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

Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative securities with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options, or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or debt

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securities, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable.

Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Funds' investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and other restrictions contained in the 1940 Act.

**Credit-Linked Notes.** Each Fund may invest in credit-linked notes, which is a type of structured note. The difference between a credit default swap and a credit-linked note is that the seller of a credit-linked note receives the principal payment from the buyer at the time the contract is originated. Through the purchase of a credit-linked note, the buyer assumes the risk of the reference asset and funds its exposure through the purchase of the note. The buyer takes on the exposure to the seller to the full amount of the funding it has provided. The seller has hedged its risk on the reference asset without acquiring any additional credit exposure. The Fund has the right to receive periodic interest payments from the issuer of the credit-linked note at an agreed-upon interest rate and a return of principal at the maturity date.

Credit-linked notes are subject to the credit risk of the corporate credits referenced by the note. If one of the underlying corporate credits defaults, the Fund may receive the security that has defaulted, and the Fund's principal investment would be reduced by the difference between the original face value of the reference security and the current value of the defaulted security. Credit-linked notes are typically privately negotiated transactions between two or more parties. The Fund bears the risk that the issuer of the credit-linked note will default or become bankrupt. The Fund bears the risk of loss of its principal investment, and the periodic interest payments expected to be received for the duration of its investment in the credit-linked note.

Each Fund may also invest in credit-linked notes and credit risk transfer securities (which may be referred to as structured agency credit risk debt instruments) issued by government sponsored enterprises or related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or a special purpose vehicle sponsored by these enterprises or organizations. Investments in these instruments are subject to the types of risks associated with mortgage and other asset-backed securities, and may be particularly sensitive to these risks as a result of the tranche of notes in which a Fund invests. In addition, these investments are unsecured and non-guaranteed notes whose principal payments are determined by the delinquency and principal payment performance of a reference pool, typically consisting of recently acquired single-family mortgages from a specified period, and are not backstopped by the federal government or obligations of the government sponsored enterprise. Where a special purpose vehicle issues the credit-linked note, it may enter into a credit default swap or similar instrument with the related government sponsored enterprise. Such a swap is subject to additional risks. See "Swap Agreements" for a description of additional risks associated with credit default swaps.

**Structured Notes.** Certain Funds are permitted to invest in structured notes, which are debt obligations that also contain an embedded derivative component with characteristics that adjust the obligation's risk/return profile. Generally, the performance of a structured note will track that of the underlying debt obligation and the derivative embedded within it. A Fund has the right to receive periodic interest payments from the issuer of the structured notes at an agreed-upon interest rate and a return of the principal at the maturity date.

Structured notes are typically privately negotiated transactions between two or more parties. A Fund bears the risk that the issuer of the structured note would default or become bankrupt which may result in the loss of principal investment and periodic interest payments expected to be received for the duration of its investment in the structured notes.

In the case of structured notes on credit default swaps, a Fund would be subject to the credit risk of the corporate credit instruments underlying the credit default swaps. If one of the underlying corporate credit instruments defaults, the Fund may receive the security or credit instrument that has defaulted, or alternatively a cash settlement may occur wherein the Fund's principal investment in the structured note would be reduced by the corresponding face value of the defaulted security.

The market for structured notes may be, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Other parties to the transaction may be the only investors with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in bidding for it. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid, and unpredictable changes in the prices for structured notes. In certain

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cases, a market price for a credit-linked security may not be available. The collateral for a structured note may be one or more credit default swaps, which are subject to additional risks. See "Swap Agreements" for a description of additional risks associated with credit default swaps.

**Inflation-Protected Securities—**Certain Funds may invest in inflation-protected securities (also called "inflation-indexed" or "inflation-linked" securities). Inflation protected securities are income-generating instruments intended to provide protection against inflation (*i.e*., an increase in the price of goods and services and, in effect, a reduction in the value of money) by, for example, paying an interest rate applied to inflation-adjusted principal. The interest and principal payments for these instruments are periodically adjusted for inflation (*i.e*., with inflation, the principal increases, and with deflation, it decreases). Inflation-linked securities are issued by governments, including foreign governments, their agencies or instrumentalities and corporations. For example, TIPS, or Treasury inflation-protected securities, are inflation-linked securities issued by the U.S. government. The principal of a TIPS increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), and the interest rate is applied to such principal. Thus, the interest stream on a TIPS should rise as long as inflation continues to rise. When a TIPS matures, the investor is paid the adjusted principal or original principal, whichever is greater. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of your investment. Because of this inflation-adjustment feature, inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than conventional fixed-rate bonds. Municipal inflation bonds generally have a fixed principal amount, and the inflation component is reflected in the nominal coupon. There can be no assurance that the CPI or any non-U.S. inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-protected bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. TIPS, even during a period of deflation. However, because the principal amount of U.S. TIPS would be adjusted downward during a period of deflation, the Funds will be subject to deflation risk with respect to its investments in these securities. Additionally, the current market value of the securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. A Fund also may invest in other inflation related securities which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

Inflation-protected bonds normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise. A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate. For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and rate of inflation is 2%, the real interest rate is 3%. If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected bond will decline and could result in losses. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the security's inflation measure.

**Investment in the Subsidiary**—The Macro Opportunities Fund may invest a portion of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary may invest in commodity and financial futures, options, forward contracts, and swap contracts, fixed-income securities, pooled investment vehicles, including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act, and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary's derivatives positions or investments that create tax concerns if held directly by the Fund. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, but is subject to certain of the investor protections of the 1940 Act, as noted in this SAI. As a result, the Macro Opportunities Fund, as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, will not have all of the protections offered to investors in registered investment companies. Although the Subsidiary has its own board of directors that is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Subsidiary, the Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiary. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus or SAI, the Investment Manager will be subject to the same fundamental policies, investment restrictions, compliance policies and procedures when investing through the Subsidiary, as investing through the Fund. Changes in U.S. laws (where the Fund is organized) and/or the Cayman Islands (where the Subsidiary is organized) could prevent the fund and/or the Subsidiary from operating as described in the Fund's Prospectus and this SAI and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose certain taxes on the Subsidiary, including any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax. If Cayman Islands laws were changed to require the Subsidiary to pay Cayman Islands taxes, the investment returns of the Fund would likely decrease.

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In order to qualify for favorable tax treatment as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross annual income from qualifying sources under Subchapter M of the Code. Generally, income derived from direct and certain indirect investments in commodities is not considered qualifying income.

The Treasury Department issued regulations that generally would treat the Fund's income inclusion with respect to the Subsidiary as qualifying income if there is a distribution in the same taxable year out of the earnings and profits of the Subsidiary that is attributable to such inclusion or if the income is related to the Fund's business of investing in securities. The tax treatment of investments in commodities through the Subsidiary may be adversely affected by future legislation, Treasury regulations and/or guidance issued by the IRS that could affect the character, timing and/or amount of the Fund's taxable income or any gains and distributions made by the Fund and whether income derived from the Fund's investments in the Subsidiary is considered qualifying income. If the Fund does not meet the qualifying income test, it may be able to cure such a failure. However, if the Fund attempts to cure the failure of the qualifying income test, significant taxes may be incurred by the Fund and its shareholders.

**Investments by Investing Funds and Other Large Shareholders—**To the extent shares of a Fund are offered to certain other investment companies and other investors capable of purchasing a large percentage of Fund shares, the Fund may experience adverse effects when these large shareholders purchase or redeem a large percentage of Fund shares.

A Fund is subject to the risk that large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund's liquidity levels and performance to the extent that the Fund is forced to hold a large uninvested cash position or more liquid securities and is delayed in investing new cash. A Fund's performance may also be adversely affected by large redemptions of Fund shares to the extent the Fund is forced to sell portfolio securities at a disadvantageous price or time to meet the large redemption request. Additionally, because Fund costs and expenses are shared by remaining Fund investors, large redemptions relative to the size of a Fund will result in decreased economies of scale and increased costs and expenses for the Fund.

Large redemptions that necessitate the sale of portfolio securities will accelerate the realization of taxable capital gains or losses. Furthermore, purchases or redemptions of a large number of Fund shares relative to the size of a Fund will have adverse tax consequences limiting the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset any future realized capital gains.

**Investments in Guggenheim Short-Term Funds.** Upon entering into certain derivatives contracts, such as futures contracts, and to maintain open positions in certain derivatives contracts, a Fund may be required to post collateral for the contract, the amount of which may vary. As such, or for other portfolio management purposes, a Fund may maintain significant cash balances (including foreign currency balances). A Fund may also have cash balances for other reasons, including cash proceeds from the Fund's short sales.

Each Fund may invest a substantial portion of its respective assets in certain Guggenheim short-term funds advised by GPIM, or an affiliate of GPIM, that invest in short-term fixed-income or floating rate securities. These funds are designed primarily to provide an alternative to investing directly and separately in various short-term fixed-income or floating rate securities. These Guggenheim short-term funds invest in: (i) a broad range of high yield, high risk debt securities rated below the top four long-term rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (also known as "junk bonds") or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Manager, to be of comparable quality; (ii) CLOs, other asset-backed securities and similarly structured debt investments; and (iii) other short-term fixed or floating rate debt securities. Accordingly, to the extent a Fund invests in such Guggenheim funds, the Fund would be subject to the risks tied to all of those investments and investment returns will vary based on the performance of those asset classes.

These investment companies are registered open-end investment companies primarily available only to other investment companies and separately managed accounts managed by the Investment Manager and its affiliates. The subscription and redemption activities of these large investors can have a significant adverse effect on these investment companies and thus the Funds. For example, the liquidity of the investment companies can be limited as a result of large redemptions.

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**Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments—**The laws and regulations that apply to derivatives (e.g., swaps, futures, etc.) and persons who use them (including a Fund, the Investment Manager and others) are continuously changing in the U.S. and abroad. As a result, restrictions and additional regulations may be imposed on these parties, trading restrictions may be adopted and additional trading costs are possible. The impact of these changes on the Funds, their investment strategies and performance is difficult to predict.

The CFTC and various exchanges have rules limiting the maximum net long or short positions which any person or group may own, hold or control in any given futures contract or option on such futures contract. The Investment Manager must consider the effect of these limits in managing the Funds. In addition, the CFTC has position limits rules that establish certain limits for specified physical commodity futures and related options contracts traded on exchanges, other futures contracts and related options directly or indirectly linked to such contracts, and any OTC transactions that are economically equivalent. These position limits may adversely affect market liquidity of the futures, options and economically equivalent derivatives in which a Fund may enter. It is possible that positions held by a Fund may have to be liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits. These limitations may adversely affect the operations and performance of a Fund.

The SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions by registered investment companies requires the Funds to trade derivatives and other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations (except reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions) subject to value-at-risk ("VaR") leverage limits and derivatives risk management program and reporting requirements. Generally, these requirements apply unless a Fund satisfies a "limited derivatives users" exception. When a Fund trades reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, including certain tender option bonds, it needs to aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the Funds' asset coverage ratio or treat all such transactions as derivatives transactions. Reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions aggregated with other indebtedness do not need to be included in the calculation of whether a Fund satisfies the limited derivatives users exception, but for Funds subject to the VaR testing requirement, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions must be included for purposes of such testing whether treated as derivatives transactions or not. The SEC also provided guidance in connection with the rule regarding the use of securities lending collateral that may limit the Funds' potential securities lending activities. In addition, a Fund is permitted to invest in a security on a when-issued or forward-settling basis, or with a non-standard settlement cycle, and the transaction will be deemed not to involve a senior security, provided that (i) the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and (ii) the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date (the "Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision"). A Fund may otherwise engage in such transactions that do not meet the conditions of the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision so long as the Fund treats any such transaction as a "derivatives transaction" for purposes of compliance with the rule. Furthermore, under the rule, a Fund is permitted to enter into an unfunded commitment agreement, and such unfunded commitment agreement will not be subject to the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act, if the Fund reasonably believes, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all such agreements as they come due. These requirements limit the ability of a Fund to use derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, and the other relevant categories of transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may increase the cost of a Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the performance of the Fund.

These and other regulatory changes may negatively impact a Fund's ability to meet its investment objective either through limits or requirements imposed on it or upon its counterparties. New requirements, even if not directly applicable to the Funds, including capital requirements, changes to the CFTC speculative position limits regime and mandatory clearing, exchange trading and margin requirements may increase the cost of a Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which would adversely affect the performance of the Fund.

Except with respect to the Macro Opportunities Fund, the Investment Manager, on behalf of each Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association a notice of eligibility claiming an exclusion from the definition of "commodity pool operator" ("CPO") under CFTC Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the "CEA"), with respect to each Fund's operation. Accordingly, the Investment Manager, with respect to each Fund for which a notice has been filed, is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO. Changes to a Fund's investment strategies or investments may cause the Fund to lose the benefits of the Investment Manager's exclusion under CFTC Rule 4.5 under the CEA and may trigger additional CFTC regulation. If the Investment Manager becomes subject to CFTC

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regulation, the Fund or the Investment Manager may incur additional expenses.

<br>Additionally, the Investment Manager is subject to registration and regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to its service as investment adviser to the Macro Opportunities Fund. The CFTC adopted rules regarding the disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements that apply with respect to the Fund as a result of the Investment Manager's registration as a CPO. Generally, these rules allow for substituted compliance with CFTC disclosure and shareholder reporting requirements, based on the Investment Manager's compliance with comparable SEC requirements. This means that for most of the CFTC's disclosure and shareholder reporting applicable to the Investment Manager as the Fund's CPO, the Fund's compliance with SEC disclosure and shareholder reporting will be deemed to fulfill the Investment Manager's CFTC compliance obligations. However, as a result of CFTC regulation with respect to the Fund, the Fund may incur additional compliance and other expenses. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Fund, its investment strategies, the Prospectus or this SAI.

In December 2023, the SEC adopted rule amendments providing that any covered clearing agency ("CCA") for U.S. Treasury securities require that every direct participant of the CCA (which generally would be a bank or broker-dealer) submit for clearance and settlement all eligible secondary market transactions in U.S. Treasury securities to which it is a counterparty. The clearing mandate includes in its scope all repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements of such direct participants collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities (collectively, "Treasury repo transactions") of a type accepted for clearing by a registered CCA, including both bilateral Treasury repo transactions and triparty Treasury repo transactions where a bank agent provides custody, collateral management and settlement services.

The Treasury repo transactions of registered funds with any direct participants of a CCA for U.S. Treasury securities will be subject to the mandatory clearing requirement. The Fixed Income Clearing Corporation ("FICC") is one such CCA. FICC currently operates a "Sponsored Program" for clearing of Treasury repo transactions pursuant to which a registered fund may enter into a clearing arrangement with a "sponsoring member" bank or broker-dealer that is a direct participant of FICC as a "sponsored member" of FICC.

Market participants, absent an exemption, will be required to clear Treasury repo transactions under the rule as of June 30, 2027. The clearing mandate is expected to result in each Fund being required to clear all or substantially all of its Treasury repo transactions as of the compliance date. There are currently substantial regulatory and operational uncertainties associated with the implementation which may affect the cost, terms and/or availability of cleared repo transactions.

Pursuant to regulatory changes effective May 28, 2024, many U.S. securities transitioned to a "T+1" (trade date plus one day) settlement cycle. Securities trading in many non-U.S. markets (among other securities) are not impacted by these regulatory changes and typically have longer settlement cycles. As a result, there can be potential operational, settlement and other risks for a Fund with a significant portion of its assets invested in securities not subject to T+1 settlement. These risks include, but are not limited to, the need to maintain more cash and liquid securities (thereby creating cash drag on the Fund's portfolio) and a potential increase in custodial overdraft charges, in each case to facilitate settlement of Fund share redemptions on a T+1 basis.

**Lending of Portfolio Securities—**For the purpose of realizing additional income, certain of the Funds may make secured loans of Fund securities. Securities loans are made to broker/dealers, institutional investors, or other persons pursuant to agreements requiring that the loans be continuously secured by collateral at least equal at all times to the value of the securities loaned, marked to market on a daily basis. The collateral received will consist of cash, U.S. government securities, letters of credit or such other collateral (or combination thereof) as may be permitted under its investment program. While the securities are being loaned, a Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the issuer on the securities, as well as interest on the investment of the collateral or a fee from the borrower, although a portion can be payable to a collateral agent for certain services. When a Fund invests collateral, the Fund will bear the risk of loss, which depends on the nature and type of investment made with the collateral. Costs of underlying securities lending activities are not typically reflected in a Fund's fee and expense ratios.

The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of secured credit, consist of possible delay in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. Voting rights may pass with the lending of securities, and a Fund may be obligated to call

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back loans of securities to vote proxies if a material event affecting the investment is to occur. The lending of portfolio securities may adversely affect pass through tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies by Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.

**Leverage—**Certain Funds may use leverage. Leveraging a Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income but, at the same time, creates special risk considerations. For example, leveraging may exaggerate changes in the NAV of a Fund's shares and in the yield on a Fund's portfolio. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, a Fund's assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Since any decline in value of a Fund's investments will be borne entirely by the Fund's shareholders (and not by those persons providing the leverage to the Fund), the effect of leverage in a declining market would be a greater decrease in NAV than if the Fund were not so leveraged. Leveraging will create interest and other expenses for a Fund, which can exceed the investment return from the borrowed funds. To the extent the investment return derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest a Fund will have to pay, the Fund's investment return will be greater than if leveraging were not used. Conversely, if the investment return from the assets retained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the investment return of the Fund will be less than if leveraging were not used.

Under the 1940 Act, a Fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage of 300% with respect to borrowings and to sell (within three days) sufficient portfolio holdings to restore such coverage if it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise, even if such liquidations of the Fund's holdings may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint. The Funds' policy on borrowing is not intended to limit the ability to pledge assets to secure loans permitted under the Funds' policies. A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in certain transactions that create leverage. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Liquidity and Valuation—**Many factors may influence the price at which a Fund could sell an investment at a given time. Investments are subject to liquidity risk when they are difficult to purchase or sell under favorable conditions. Investments in certain securities or other assets, such as high-yield bonds, loans or those traded in OTC markets, may be particularly subject to liquidity risk. A Fund's ability to sell an instrument may be negatively impacted as a result of various market events or circumstances, legal or regulatory changes or other governmental policies, or characteristics of the particular instrument. In addition, market participants attempting to sell the same or similar instruments at the same time as a Fund may increase the Fund's exposure to liquidity risk. Investments in less liquid or illiquid investments may reduce the returns of a Fund because it may be unable to sell such investments at an advantageous time or price. Thus, a Fund may be forced to accept a lower sale price for the investments, sell other investments or forgo another more attractive investment opportunity. Subject to its investment strategies, a significant portion of a Fund's investments can be difficult to value and potentially less liquid and thus particularly prone to the foregoing risks. However, liquid investments purchased by a Fund may subsequently become less liquid or illiquid, and harder to value.

Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 ("Liquidity Rule") under the 1940 Act, a Fund may not acquire any "illiquid investment" if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. An "illiquid investment" is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects it cannot sell or dispose of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Under Rule 22e-4, investments that a Fund reasonably expects can be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment are not considered "illiquid" investments for purposes of this limitation on illiquid investments, even if the sale or disposition is reasonably expected to settle in more than seven calendar days. As required by the Liquidity Rule, the Trust has implemented a written liquidity risk management program and related procedures ("Liquidity Program") that are reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund's "liquidity risk" (defined in the Liquidity Rule as the risk that a Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Funds without significant dilution of remaining investors' interests in the Funds). Consistent with the Liquidity Rule, among other things, the Liquidity Program provides for classification of each portfolio investment of a Fund into one of four liquidity categories (including "illiquid investments," discussed above). These liquidity classifications are made after reasonable inquiry and taking into account, among other things, market, trading and investment-specific considerations deemed to be relevant to the liquidity classification of the Funds' investments in accordance with the Liquidity Program. Liquidity classifications under the Liquidity Program also

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reflect consideration of whether trading varying portions of a position, in sizes that the Fund would reasonably anticipate trading, is reasonably expected to significantly affect the position's liquidity, and if so, whether that fact is taken into account when classifying the investment's liquidity.

In addition, applicable regulatory guidance and interpretations provide examples of factors that may be taken into account in determining a particular instrument's classification as illiquid or as one of the other liquidity categories defined under the Liquidity Rule. For example, certain loans may not be readily marketable and/or may be subject to restrictions on resale or assignments. Consequently, the Funds may determine that it is reasonable to expect that such a loan cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. To the extent that the Funds invest in such loans, they may be subject to increased liquidity and valuation risks. As the market develops, the liquidity of these instruments could improve. Accordingly, loans for which there is no readily available market may be classified as illiquid investments but, at the same time, other loans may be classified as other than illiquid investments under the Liquidity Program based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations (such as trading in the loans among specialized financial institutions). In addition, certain CLOs/CDOs (as described above) may be classified as illiquid investments, depending upon the assessment of relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations under the Liquidity Program. However, an active dealer market or other relevant measure of liquidity may exist for certain CLOs/CDOs, which may result in such instruments being classified as other than illiquid investments under the Liquidity Program based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations.

At times, market quotations may not be readily available and the Funds may be unable to obtain prices or other reliable information from third-parties to support valuation. In these circumstances, it may be difficult for a Fund to accurately value certain investments and the Fund may need to value investments using fair value methodologies. There are multiple methods to establish fair value and different methods or other factors may lead to different fair values. As a result, the price a Fund could receive for a security may differ from the Fund's valuation of the security, particularly during periods of market turmoil or volatility or for securities that are thinly traded, including under current conditions, or valued using a fair value methodology or information provided by third-party pricing services. Thus, a Fund may realize a loss or gain that is greater than expected upon the sale of the security. Fair valued securities may be subject to greater fluctuations than securities valued based on readily available market quotations. Some securities, while not technically fair valued, may nevertheless be difficult to value and rely on limited and difficult to assess inputs and market data.

The SEC has proposed amendments to its rule regarding investments in illiquid investments by registered investment companies such as a Fund. If the proposed amendments are adopted, the Fund's operations and investment strategies may be adversely impacted.

**Loans—**A Fund may invest in loans directly or through participations or assignments. A Fund may acquire a loan interest directly by acting as a member of the original lending syndicate or direct lender in other direct lending opportunities. A Fund may also acquire some or all of the interest in a loan originated by a bank or other financial institution through an assignment or a participation in the loan. Loans may include syndicated bank loans, senior floating rate loans ("senior loans"), secured and unsecured loans, second lien, subordinated or more junior loans ("junior loans"), bridge loans and unfunded commitments. Loans are typically arranged through private negotiations between borrowers in the U.S. or in foreign or emerging markets which may be corporate issuers or issuers of sovereign debt obligations ("borrowers") and one or more financial institutions and other lenders ("lenders"). Investments in, or exposure to, loans that lack financial maintenance covenants or possess fewer or contingent financial maintenance covenants or other financial protections than certain other types of loans or other similar debt obligations subject a Fund to the risks of "Covenant-Lite Obligations" discussed above.

Typically, loans are made by a syndicate of commercial and investment banks and other financial institutions that are represented by an agent bank or similar party. The agent bank is responsible for acting on behalf of the group of lenders and structuring the loan, administering the loan, negotiating on behalf of the syndicate, and collecting and disbursing payments on the loan. The agent also is responsible for monitoring collateral, distributing required reporting, and for exercising remedies available to the lenders such as foreclosure upon collateral. In a syndicated loan, each of the lending institutions, which may include the agent, lends to the borrower a portion of the total amount of the loan, and retains the corresponding interest in the loan. Unless, under the terms of the loan, a Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, a Fund may have to rely on the agent or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. Because the agent is acting on behalf of multiple lenders in the syndicate, a Fund's interest in a loan may be subject to changes in terms or additional risks resulting from actions taken or not taken by the agent following an instruction from other creditors holding interests in the same loan.

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Participation interests are interests issued by a lender, which represent a fractional interest in a loan that continues to be directly owned by the issuing lender. A Fund may acquire participation interests from a lender or other holders of participation interests. An assignment represents a portion of a loan previously owned by a different lender. Unlike a participation interest, a Fund will generally become a lender for the purposes of the relevant loan agreement by purchasing an assignment. If a Fund purchases an assignment from a lender, the Fund will generally have direct contractual rights against the borrower in favor of the lenders as if it was a direct lender. If a Fund purchases a participation interest either from a lender or a participant, the Fund typically will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller or issuer of the participation interest, but not with the borrower. Consequently, a Fund can be subject to the credit risk of the lender or participant who sold the participation interest to the Fund, in addition to the usual credit risk of the borrower. Therefore, when a Fund invests in syndicated bank loans through the purchase of participation interests, the Investment Manager must consider the creditworthiness of the agent and any lenders and participants interposed between the Fund and a borrower.

Purchases of loans in the primary or secondary markets may take place at, above, or below the par value of the loans. Purchases above par will effectively reduce the amount of interest being received by a Fund through the amortization of the purchase price premium, whereas purchases below par will effectively increase the amount of interest being received by the Fund through the amortization of the purchase price discount.

Secondary trades of senior loans may have extended settlement periods. Any settlement of a secondary market purchase of senior loans in the ordinary course, on a settlement date beyond the period expected by loan market participants (i.e., T+7 for par/near par loans and T+20 for distressed loans, in other words more than seven or twenty business days beyond the trade date, respectively) is subject to the "delayed compensation" rules prescribed by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association ("LSTA") and addressed in the LSTA's standard loan documentation for par/near par trades and for distressed trades. "Delayed compensation" is a pricing adjustment comprised of certain interest and fees, which is payable between the parties to a secondary loan trade. The LSTA introduced a requirements-based rules program in order to incentivize shorter settlement times for secondary transactions and discourage certain delay tactics that create friction in the loan syndications market by, among other things, mandating that the buyer of a senior loan satisfy certain "basic requirements" as prescribed by the LSTA no later than T+5 in order for the buyer to receive the benefit of interest and other fees accruing on the purchased loan from and after T+7 for par/near par loans (for distressed trades, T+20) until the settlement date, subject to certain specific exceptions. These "basic requirements" generally require a buyer to execute the required trade documentation and to be, and remain, financially able to settle the trade no later than T+7 for par/near par loans (and T+20 for distressed trades). In addition, buyers are required to fund the purchase price for a secondary trade upon receiving notice from the agent of the effectiveness of the trade in the agent's loan register. A Fund, as a buyer of a senior loan in the secondary market, would need to meet these "basic requirements" or risk forfeiting all or some portion of the interest and other fees accruing on the loan from and after T+7 for par/near par loans (for distressed trades, T+20) until the settlement date. The "delayed compensation" mechanism does not mitigate the other risks of delayed settlement or other risks associated with investments in senior loans.

In addition, the resale, or secondary, market for loans is limited and it may become more limited or more difficult to access and such changes may be sudden or unpredictable. For example, there is no organized exchange or board of trade on which loans are traded, and loans often trade in large denominations (typically $1 million and higher) and trades can be infrequent. As a result, a Fund may seek to dispose of loans in certain cases, to the extent possible, through selling participations in the loan, usually until the loan is assigned ("elevated") to the buyer. In that case, the Fund would remain subject to certain obligations, which may result in expenses for the Fund and certain additional risks. A Fund may also seek to dispose of loans by engaging in transactions in alternative trading venues (such as dark pools) or accessing other available channels. There is no guarantee that such alternatives will be available at any time for a particular loan investment. Accordingly, some of the loans in which a Fund may invest will be relatively illiquid and a Fund may have difficulty in disposing of loans in a favorable or timely fashion, which could result in losses to the Fund.

A loan may be secured by collateral that, at the time of origination, has a fair market value equivalent to the amount of the loan. The Investment Manager generally will determine the value of the collateral by customary valuation techniques that it considers appropriate. However, the value of the collateral may decline following a Fund's investment. Also, collateral may be difficult to hold and sell, and there are other risks which may cause the collateral to be insufficient in the event of a default. Consequently, a Fund might not receive payments to which it is entitled.

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The collateral may consist of various types of assets or interests including working capital assets or intangible assets. The borrower's owners may provide additional collateral, typically by pledging their ownership interest in the borrower as collateral for the loan.

In the process of buying, selling and holding loans, a Fund may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to the interest payments received and may include facility, closing or upfront fees, commitment fees and commissions. A Fund may receive or pay a facility, closing or upfront fee when it buys or sells a loan. A Fund may receive a commitment fee throughout the life of the loan or as long as the Fund remains invested in the loan (in addition to interest payments) for any unused portion of a committed line of credit. Other fees received by the Fund may include prepayment fees, covenant waiver fees, ticking fees and/or modification fees. Related legal fees may also be borne by the Fund (including legal fees to assess conformity of a loan investment with 1940 Act provisions).

Should a loan in which a Fund is invested be foreclosed on, the Fund may become owner of the collateral and will be responsible for any costs and liabilities associated with owning the collateral. If the collateral includes a pledge of equity interests in the borrower by its owners, the Fund may become the owner of equity in the borrower and may be responsible for the borrower's business operations and/or assets. The applicability of the securities laws is subject to court interpretation of the nature of the loan and its characterization as a security. Accordingly, a Fund cannot be certain of any protections it may be afforded under the securities or other laws against fraud or misrepresentation by the borrower, assignor or seller of participations.

Loans are subject to the risks associated with other debt obligations, including: interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and risks associated with high yield securities. Many loans in which a Fund may invest may not be rated by a rating agency, will not be registered with the SEC or any state securities commission, and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information with respect to loans will generally be less extensive than that available for registered or exchange-listed securities. A Fund will make an investment in a loan only after the Investment Manager determines that the investment is suitable for the Fund. Generally, this means that the Investment Manager has determined that the likelihood that the borrower will meet its obligations is acceptable.

A Fund may be unable to enforce its rights (or certain other provisions of loan agreements or other documents) relating to a loan under applicable state law, judicial decisions or for other reasons. For example, uncertainty exists with respect to a Fund's ability to enforce the terms of certain bank-originated loans that the Fund may purchase. Based on concepts of federal preemption, bank loans generally are subject to the usury laws applicable in the state where the lending bank is located rather than the state where the borrower is located. Recent court decisions have called into question whether the benefits of federal preemption will be available to non-bank purchasers of loans originated by banks. If federal preemption is not available to loans acquired by the Fund from banks, the loans may be subject to more restrictive limits on interest rates or rendered unenforceable by the Fund. To the extent a Fund is unable to enforce its rights with respect to a loan, the Fund may be adversely affected. A Fund may also gain exposure to loans through investment in structured finance vehicles, which could face similar challenges in enforcing the terms of loans and any such challenges could adversely affect the Fund.

In addition, the Funds may have arrangements with loan, administrative and similar agents under which they provide recordkeeping or other services (such as interest payment services) with respect to loan positions and loan documentation. These services may be subject to risks of, among other things, fraud, computational errors, cyber-attacks, delays, or if these agents become subject to a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. The Funds are also subject to the risk of loss caused by inadequate procedures and controls, human error and system failures by these agents. All these risks may affect the Funds, the Funds' investments and the Funds' investment performance.

**Additional Information Concerning Bridge Loans.** Bridge loans are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., maturities that are generally less than one year) typically made by a borrower following the failure of the borrower to secure other intermediate-term or long-term permanent financing. A bridge loan remains outstanding until more permanent financing, often in the form of high yield notes, can be obtained. Most bridge loans have a step-up provision under which the interest rate increases incrementally the longer the loan remains outstanding so as to incentivize the borrower to refinance as quickly as possible. In exchange for entering into a bridge loan, a Fund typically will receive a commitment fee and interest payable under the bridge loan and may also have other expenses reimbursed by the borrower. Bridge loans may be subordinate to other debt and generally are unsecured. They also often are illiquid and difficult to value.

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**Additional Information Concerning Junior Loans.** Junior loans include secured and unsecured loans, such as subordinated loans, second lien and more junior loans, and bridge loans. Second lien and more junior loans are generally second or further in line in terms of repayment priority and priority with respect to an exercise of remedies. In addition, junior loans may have a claim on the same collateral pool as the first lien or other more senior liens, or may be secured by a separate set of assets. Junior secured loans generally give investors priority over general unsecured creditors and stockholders in the event of an asset sale.

**Additional Information Concerning Revolving Credit Facilities.** Revolving credit facilities ("revolvers") are borrowing arrangements in which the lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. As the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be borrowed again during the term of the revolver. Revolvers usually provide for floating or variable rates of interest.

Revolvers may expose a lender to credit and liquidity risk. Revolvers have the effect of requiring a lender to increase its investment in a company at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when the company's financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). Revolvers may be subject to restrictions on transfer, including restrictions that are more burdensome than transfer restrictions that apply to non-revolving loans, and only limited opportunities may exist to resell such instruments. As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell such investments at an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value.

**Additional Information Concerning Syndicated Bank Loans and Other Senior Loans.** Syndicated bank loans and other senior loans are usually secured by liens on the assets of the borrower. Their seniority can vary.

**Additional Information Concerning Unfunded Commitments.** Unfunded commitments are contractual obligations pursuant to which a Fund agrees in writing to make one or more loans up to a specified amount at one or more future dates. The underlying loan documentation sets out the terms and conditions of the lender's obligation to make the loans as well as the economic terms of such loans. Loan commitments are made pursuant to a term loan, a revolving credit line or a combination thereof. A term loan is generally a loan in a fixed amount that borrowers repay in a scheduled series of repayments or a lump-sum payment at maturity and may not be reborrowed. A revolving credit line permits borrowers to draw down, repay, and reborrow specified amounts on demand. The portion of the amount committed by a lender that the borrower has not drawn down is referred to as "unfunded." Loan commitments may be traded in the secondary market through dealer desks at large commercial and investment banks although these markets are generally not considered liquid. They also are difficult to value. Borrowers pay various fees in connection with loans and related commitments and typically a Fund receives a commitment fee for amounts that remain unfunded under its commitment. Unfunded commitments may subject the Fund to risks that are similar to the risks described under "When-Issued and Forward Commitment Securities" and "TBA Purchase Commitments" discussed below.

Unfunded loan commitments expose lenders to credit risk. A lender typically is obligated to advance the unfunded amount of a loan commitment at the borrower's request, subject to satisfaction of certain contractual conditions, such as the absence of a material adverse change. Borrowers with deteriorating creditworthiness may continue to satisfy their contractual conditions and therefore be eligible to borrow at times when the lender might prefer not to lend. In addition, a lender may have assumptions as to when a borrower may draw on an unfunded loan commitment when the lender enters into the commitment. If the borrower does not draw as expected, the commitment may not prove as attractive an investment as originally anticipated.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Management—**The Funds are subject to management risk because they are actively managed investment portfolios. The Investment Manager and each individual portfolio manager will apply investment techniques and risk analysis in making decisions for a Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results. Furthermore, active and frequent trading will increase the costs the Fund incurs because of higher brokerage charges or mark-up charges and tax costs, which are passed on to shareholders of the Fund and as a result, may lower the Fund's performance and have a negative tax impact. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to the Investment Manager and each individual portfolio manager in connection with managing a Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objectives.

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Income from a Fund's portfolio may decline when the Fund invests the proceeds from investment income, sales of investments or matured, traded or called debt securities. For example, during periods of declining interest rates, an issuer of debt securities held by a Fund may exercise an option to redeem securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to reinvest the proceeds in lower-yielding securities. A decline in income received by a Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on the yield and total return of the Fund's shares.

**Mezzanine Securities.** A Fund may invest in mezzanine securities, which generally are rated below investment grade (or unrated) and are subject to similar risks as high yield securities and loans (as described above). Mezzanine securities are typically subject to additional risks because they often are the most subordinated debt obligation in an issuer's capital structure and are often unsecured. As a result, these investments are particularly prone to risks such as the cash flow of the borrower and/or any assets securing the loan being insufficient to repay the scheduled payments after giving effect to any senior obligations of the borrower. If the borrower is unable to meet its obligations, the Fund's investment in the securities would likely be adversely affected. In addition, these investments are commonly classified as illiquid investments and may rely more heavily on the Investment Manager's analysis of credit and other risks than certain other types of debt investments.

**Mortgage-Backed Securities and Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—**The Funds may invest in any level of the capital structure of MBS, which are securities that represent an interest in a pool of underlying mortgage loans. MBS, including mortgage pass-through securities and CMOs, include certain securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA" or "Ginnie Mae"), the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA" or "Fannie Mae"), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC" or "Freddie Mac"); securities issued by private issuers that represent an interest in or are collateralized by mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities; securities issued by private issuers that represent an interest in or are collateralized by mortgage loans; and reperforming/non-performing loans, reperforming/non-performing loan securitizations, and resecuritizations of existing MBS and/or asset-backed securities ("Re-REMICS").

Mortgage-backed securities are subject to scheduled and unscheduled principal payments as homeowners pay down or prepay their mortgages. As these payments are received, they must be reinvested when interest rates may be higher or lower than on the original mortgage security. Therefore, these securities are not an effective means of locking in long-term interest rates. In addition, when interest rates fall, the pace of mortgage prepayments picks up. These refinanced mortgages are paid off at face value (par), causing a loss for any investor who may have purchased the security at a price above par. In such an environment, this risk limits the potential price appreciation of these securities and can negatively affect a Fund's NAV. When rates rise, the prices of mortgage-backed securities can be expected to decline, although historically these securities have experienced smaller price declines than comparable quality bonds. In addition, when rates rise and prepayments slow, the effective duration of mortgage-backed securities extends, resulting in increased volatility. A decline of housing values may cause delinquencies in the mortgages (especially sub-prime or non-prime mortgages) underlying MBS and thereby adversely affect the ability of the MBS issuer to make principal and interest payments to MBS holders.

MBS include commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") and residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"). Many of the risks of investing in MBS reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage. The value of both CMBS and RMBS, like all MBS, depends on national, state and local conditions. RMBS are subject to credit risks arising from delinquencies and defaults on underlying mortgage loans by borrowers and breaches of underlying loan documentation by loan originators and servicers. CMBS are subject to credit risks because they tend to involve relatively large underlying mortgage loans and the repayment of commercial mortgages depends on the successful operation of, and cash flows from, mortgaged properties. The risks associated with CMBS include the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, government mandated closures of retail spaces (such as the closures during the recent public health situation), increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses, changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. CMBS depend on cash flows generated by underlying commercial real estate loans, receivables, and other assets, and can be significantly affected by changes in market and economic conditions, the availability of information regarding the underlying assets and their structures, and the creditworthiness of the borrowers or tenants. CMBS may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities. CMBS issued by private issuers may offer higher yields than CMBS issued by government issuers, but also may be subject to greater volatility than CMBS issued by government issuers. In addition, the CMBS market has in the past experienced, and, may in the future experience, substantially lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. CMBS held by the Fund

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may be subordinated to one or more other classes of securities of the same series for purposes of, among other things, establishing payment priorities and offsetting losses and other shortfalls with respect to the related underlying mortgage loans. There can be no assurance that the subordination will be sufficient on any date to offset all losses or expenses incurred by the underlying trust.

A mortgage pass-through security is a pro rata interest in a pool of mortgages where the cash flow generated from the mortgage collateral is passed through to the security holder.

CMOs may be issued in a variety of classes, and the Funds may invest in several CMO classes, including, but not limited to Floaters, Planned Amortization Classes ("PACs"), Scheduled Classes ("SCHs"), Sequential Pay Classes ("SEQs"), Support Classes ("SUPs"), Target Amortization Classes ("TACs") and Accrual Classes ("Z Classes"). CMO classes vary in the rate and time at which they receive principal and interest payments. SEQs, also called plain vanilla, clean pay, or current pay classes, sequentially receive principal payments from underlying mortgage securities when the principal on a previous class has been completely paid off. During the months prior to their receipt of principal payments, SEQs receive interest payments at the coupon rate on their principal. PACs are designed to produce a stable cash flow of principal payments over a predetermined period of time. PACs guard against a certain level of prepayment risk by distributing prepayments to SUPs, also called companion classes. TACs pay a targeted principal payment schedule, as long as prepayments are not made at a rate slower than an expected constant prepayment speed. If prepayments increase, the excess over the target is paid to SUPs. SEQs may have a less stable cash flow than PACs and TACs and, consequently, have a greater potential yield. PACs generally pay a lower yield than TACs because of PACs' lower risk. Because SUPs are directly affected by the rate of prepayment of underlying mortgages, SUPs may experience volatile cash flow behavior. When prepayment speeds fluctuate, the average life of a SUP will vary. SUPs, therefore, are priced at a higher yield than less volatile classes of CMOs. Z

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Classes do not receive payments, including interest payments, until certain other classes are paid off. At that time, the Z Class begins to receive the accumulated interest and principal payments. A Floater has a coupon rate that adjusts periodically (usually monthly) by adding a spread to a benchmark index subject to a lifetime maximum cap. The yield of a Floater is sensitive to prepayment rates and the level of the benchmark index.

Investment in MBS poses several risks, including prepayment, market and credit risks. Prepayment risk reflects the chance that borrowers may prepay their mortgages faster than expected, thereby affecting the investment's average life and perhaps its yield. Borrowers are most likely to exercise their prepayment options at a time when it is least advantageous to investors, generally prepaying mortgages as interest rates fall and slowing payments as interest rates rise. Certain classes of CMOs may have priority over others with respect to the receipt of prepayments on the mortgages, and a Fund may invest in CMOs which are subject to greater risk of prepayment, as discussed above. Market risk reflects the chance that the price of the security may fluctuate over time. The price of MBS may be particularly sensitive to prevailing interest rates, the length of time the security is expected to be outstanding and the liquidity of the issue. In a period of unstable interest rates, there may be decreased demand for certain types of MBS, and if a Fund is invested in such securities and wishes to sell them, it may find it difficult to find a buyer, which may in turn decrease the price at which they may be sold. IOs and POs are acutely sensitive to interest rate changes and to the rate of principal prepayments. They are very volatile in price and may have lower liquidity than most mortgage-backed securities. Certain CMOs may also exhibit these qualities, especially those which pay variable rates of interest which adjust inversely with and more rapidly than short-term interest rates. Credit risk reflects the chance that the Fund may not receive all or part of its principal because the issuer or credit enhancer has defaulted on its obligations. Obligations issued by U.S. government-related entities are guaranteed by the agency or instrumentality, and some, such as GNMA certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. Although securities issued by U.S. government-related agencies are guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, shares of the Funds are not so guaranteed in any way.

Mortgage-related securities that are backed by pools of subprime mortgages are generally subject to a greater level of non-payment risk than mortgage-related securities that are not backed by pools of subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages are loans originated under weak underwriting standards, including those made to borrowers with lower credit ratings and/or a shorter credit history, and such borrowers are more likely to default on their obligations under the loan than more creditworthy borrowers. As a result, subprime mortgages underlying a mortgage-related security can experience a significant rate of non-payment. To the extent a Fund invests in mortgage-related securities backed by subprime mortgages, the Fund's investment will be particularly susceptible to non-payment risk and the risks generally associated with investments in mortgage-related securities. Thus, the value of the Fund's investment may be adversely affected by borrower non-payments, changes in interest rates, developments in the real estate market and other market and economic developments. The value of MBS backed by subprime loans have in the past declined, and may in the future decline, significantly during market downturns.

Historically, FHLMC and FNMA were agencies sponsored by the U.S. government that were supported only by the credit of the issuing agencies and not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. In 2008, however, due to the declining value of FHLMC and FNMA securities and concerns that the firms did not have sufficient capital to offset losses resulting from the mortgage crisis, FHLMC and FNMA were placed into conservatorship by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The effect that this conservatorship will have on FHLMC and FNMA and their guarantees remains uncertain. Although the U.S. government or its agencies provided financial support to FHLMC and FNMA, no assurance can be given that they will always provide support. Congress continues to evaluate proposals to reduce the role of the U.S. government in the mortgage market, including whether FHLMC and FNMA should be nationalized, privatized, restructured or eliminated. If any such proposal is adopted, the value of a Fund's investments in securities issued by FHLMC and FNMA would be impacted. The U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities; consequently, the value of such securities will fluctuate.

The performance of private label MBS, issued by private institutions, is based on the financial health of those institutions. There is no guarantee that a Fund's investment in MBS will be successful, and the Fund's total return could be adversely affected as a result.

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**Municipal Bond Insurance—**A Fund may purchase a Municipal Bond (as defined below) that is covered by insurance that guarantees the bond's scheduled payment of interest and repayment of principal. This type of insurance may be obtained by either: (i) the issuer at the time the Municipal Bond is issued (primary market insurance); or (ii) another party after the bond has been issued (secondary market insurance). Both of these types of insurance seek to guarantee the timely and scheduled repayment of all principal and payment of all interest on a Municipal Bond in the event of default by the issuer, and cover a Municipal Bond to its maturity, typically enhancing its credit quality and value.

Even if a Municipal Bond is insured, it is still subject to market fluctuations, which can result in fluctuations in a Fund's share price. In addition, a Municipal Bond insurance policy will not cover: (i) repayment of a Municipal Bond before maturity (redemption); (ii) prepayment or payment of an acceleration premium (except for a mandatory sinking fund redemption) or any other provision of a bond indenture that advances the maturity of the bond; or (iii) nonpayment of principal or interest caused by negligence or bankruptcy of the paying agent. A mandatory sinking fund redemption may be a provision of a Municipal Bond issue whereby part of the Municipal Bond issue may be retired before maturity.

Some of the Municipal Bonds outstanding are insured by a small number of insurance companies, not all of which have the highest credit rating. As a result, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the securities insured by that insurance company and on the municipal markets as a whole. If the Municipal Bond is not otherwise rated, the ratings of insured bonds reflect the credit rating of the insurer, based on the rating agency's assessment of the creditworthiness of the insurer and its ability to pay claims on its insurance policies at the time of the assessment. While the obligation of a Municipal Bond insurance company to pay a claim extends over the life of an insured bond, there is no assurance that Municipal Bond insurers will meet their claims. A higher-than-anticipated default rate on Municipal Bonds (or other insurance the insurer provides) could strain the insurer's loss reserves and adversely affect its ability to pay claims to bondholders.

A Fund's Investment Manager may decide to retain an insured Municipal Bond that is in default, or, in the view of the Investment Manager, in significant risk of default. While a Fund holds a defaulted, insured Municipal Bond, the Fund collects interest payments from the insurer and retains the right to collect principal from the insurer when the Municipal Bond matures, or in connection with a mandatory sinking fund redemption.

**Municipal Securities—**

**General Risks.** A Fund may invest in municipal securities issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, the payments from which, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, are excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes ("Municipal Bonds"). Municipal Bonds in which a Fund invests may include those backed by state taxes and essential service revenues as well as health care and higher education issuers, among others, or be supported by dedicated revenue streams and/or statutory liens.

A Fund may also invest in Municipal Bonds that pay interest excludable from gross income for purposes of state and local income taxes of the designated state and/or allow the value of the Fund's shares to be exempt from state and local taxes of the designated state. A Fund may also invest in securities not issued by or on behalf of a state or territory or by an agency or instrumentality thereof, if the Investment Manager believes such securities to pay interest excludable from gross income for purposes of Federal income tax and state and local income taxes of the designated state and/or state and local personal property taxes of the designated state ("Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities"). Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities could include trust certificates or other instruments evidencing interest in one or more long term municipal securities. Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities also may include securities issued by other investment companies that invest in Municipal Bonds, to the extent such investments are permitted by applicable law. Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities that pay interest excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes will be considered "Municipal Bonds" for purposes of a Fund's investment objective and policies.

The value of Municipal Bonds may also be affected by uncertainties with respect to the taxation of Municipal Bonds as a result of legislative or other changes. Neither a Fund nor the Investment Manager can guarantee the accuracy of any opinion issued by bond counsel regarding the tax-exempt status of a Municipal Bond or the issuer's compliance with terms of the offering or representations in such opinion. Furthermore, there can be no guarantee that the IRS will agree with such counsel's opinion. The value of Municipal Bonds may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of Municipal Bonds

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or the rights of Municipal Bond holders in the event of a bankruptcy. From time to time, Congress has introduced proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on Municipal Bonds. State legislatures may also introduce proposals that would affect the state tax treatment of a Fund's distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of Municipal Bonds and the value of a Fund's holdings would be affected, and the investment objectives and policies of a Fund would likely be re-evaluated.

Investments in Municipal Bonds present certain risks, including credit, interest rate, liquidity, and prepayment risks. Municipal Bonds may also be affected by local, state, and regional factors, including erosion of the tax base and changes in the economic climate. In addition, municipalities and municipal projects that rely directly or indirectly on federal funding mechanisms may be negatively affected by actions of the federal government including reductions in federal spending, increases in federal tax rates, or changes in fiscal policy.

The marketability, valuation or liquidity of Municipal Bonds may be negatively affected in the event that states, localities or their authorities default on their debt obligations or other market events arise, which in turn may negatively affect a Fund's performance, sometimes substantially. A credit rating downgrade relating to, default by, or insolvency or bankruptcy of, one or several municipal issuers in a particular state, territory, or possession could affect the market value or marketability of Municipal Bonds from any one or all such states, territories, or possessions.

Issuers of Municipal Bonds have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, significant financial difficulties for various reasons, including as the result of events that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled such as economic downturns or similar periods of economic stress, social conflict or unrest, labor disruption, extreme weather conditions, natural or man-made disasters, or public health conditions. Such financial difficulties may lead to credit rating downgrades or defaults of such issuers which, in turn, could affect the market values and marketability of many or all Municipal Bonds of such issuers. For example, the recent economic and public health situation significantly stressed the financial resources of many municipal issuers, which at times impaired their ability to meet their financial obligations when due and adversely impacted the value of their Municipal Bonds. In addition, preventative or protective actions that governments took in response to these types of conditions have in the past, and may in the future, result in periods of business disruption and reduced or disrupted operations, which could have long-term negative economic effects on state and local economies and budgets as well as various municipal or similar projects and could affect the value of Municipal Bonds held by a Fund.

Accordingly, the ability of an issuer of Municipal Bonds to make payments or repay interest (and a Fund's investments in such issuer's securities) may be affected by litigation or bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, a Fund investing in the issuer's securities could experience delays in collecting principal and interest, and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, a Fund may, in some instances, take possession of, and manage, the assets securing the issuer's obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund's operating expenses. Any income derived from the Fund's ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt.

The value of Municipal Bonds may also be affected by uncertainties with respect to the rights of holders of Municipal Bonds in the event that an insolvent municipality takes steps to reorganize its debt, which might include engaging in into municipal bankruptcy proceedings, extending debt maturities, reducing the amount of principal or interest, refinancing the debt or taking other similar measures. Under bankruptcy law, certain municipalities that meet specific conditions may be provided protection from creditors while they develop and negotiate plans for reorganizing their debts.

Municipal bankruptcies have in the past been relatively rare, and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcies are unclear and remain untested. Legislative developments may result in changes to the laws relating to municipal bankruptcies, which may adversely affect a Fund's investments in Municipal Bonds. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states or among Municipal Bond issuers within a state. These legal uncertainties could affect the Municipal Bond market generally, certain specific segments of the market, or the relative credit quality of particular securities. Any of these effects could have a significant impact on the prices of some or all of the Municipal Bonds held by a Fund.

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From time to time, the Municipal Income Fund may invest a substantial amount of its assets in municipal securities issued by or on behalf of a particular municipality. As a result, the Fund would be more exposed to risks affecting these issuers than a municipal securities fund that invests more widely. The Investment Manager's allocation of the Fund's assets among the issuers of municipal securities (and associated municipalities) may vary significantly from time to time. Please refer to the Fund's most recent annual or semi-annual report to shareholders for portfolio holdings information as of the end of a recent fiscal period. Certain of the issuers in which a Fund may invest have in the past experienced, or may in the future experience, significant financial difficulties.

When the Municipal Income Fund invests a substantial amount of its assets in municipal securities issued in specific states, such as in California and Texas, its performance will be particularly susceptible to the ability of the issuers of that state to continue to make principal and interest payments on their securities, which, in turn, depends on economic and other conditions within each state. Many complex factors may influence California's economy and finances, including, but not limited to: (i) the performance of the high technology, trade, manufacturing, entertainment, government, agriculture, tourism, construction, and services industries; (ii) developments in the national and California economies; (iii) the collection of revenues above or below projections; (iv) a delay in, or an inability of, California to implement budget solutions as a result of, among other things, costs deferred in prior years to balance budgets or costs related to current or future litigation; (v) an inability to implement expenditure reductions; (vi) natural disasters, such as wildfires, droughts, earthquakes, flood and changing climate; (vii) actions performed by the federal government, including, but not limited to, disallowances, audits, and changes in aid levels; and (viii) the high level of unfunded pensions and other debt obligations. Additionally, Texas's economy and finances may be affected by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) the performance of the oil and gas industry, including drilling production, refining, chemical and energy-related manufacturing, the high technology manufacturing industry, including manufacturing of computers, electronics, and telecommunications equipment, and international trade; and (ii) developments in the national and Texas economies.

These or other adverse changes or developments may cause unanticipated adverse results on the fiscal and economic status of California or Texas or municipal issuers in any of these states. Any such change(s) may adversely impact cash flows, expenditures, or revenues of California or Texas municipal issuers, or otherwise negatively impact the current or anticipated financial situation of California or Texas or their respective municipalities, which in turn could hurt the Fund's performance. As of the date of this SAI, the Municipal Income Fund held a portion of its assets in California as indicated in its Schedule of Investments. It is difficult to assess at this point whether the recent California wildfires will impact the value of the Fund's holdings.

Below are some of the additional risks of investments in particular segments of the Municipal Bonds market.

**Electric Utilities.** The electric utilities industry has been experiencing, and will likely continue to experience, increased competitive pressures. Federal legislation is expected to open transmission access to any electricity supplier, although it is not presently known to what extent competition will evolve. Other risks include: (i) the availability and cost of fuel, (ii) the availability and cost of capital, (iii) the effects of conservation on energy demand, (iv) the effects of rapidly changing environmental, safety, and licensing requirements, and other federal, state, and local regulations, (v) timely and sufficient rate increases, and (vi) opposition to nuclear power.

**Health Care.** The health care industry is subject to regulatory action by a number of private and governmental agencies, including federal, state, and local governmental agencies. A major source of revenues for the health care industry is payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As a result, the industry is sensitive to legislative changes and reductions in governmental spending for such programs. General and local economic conditions, demand for services, expenses (including malpractice insurance premiums) and competition among health care providers may also affect the industry. In the future, the following elements may adversely affect health care facility operations: (i) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and any other federal legislation relating to health care reform; (ii) any state or local health care reform measures; (iii) medical and technological advances which dramatically alter the need for health services or the way in which such services are delivered; (iv) changes in medical coverage which alter the traditional fee-for-service revenue stream; and (v) efforts by employers, insurers, and governmental agencies to reduce the costs of health insurance and health care services.

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**Higher Education.** In general, there are two types of education-related bonds: (i) those relating to projects for public and private colleges and universities; and (ii) those representing pooled interests in student loans. Bonds issued to supply educational institutions with funds are subject to the risk of unanticipated revenue decline resulting primarily from a decrease in student enrollment or reductions in state and federal funding. Restrictions on students' ability to pay tuition, a reduction of the availability of state and federal funding, and declining general economic conditions are factors that may lead to declining or insufficient revenues. Student loan revenue bonds are generally offered by state authorities or commissions and are backed by pools of student loans. Underlying student loans may be guaranteed by state guarantee agencies and may be subject to reimbursement by the United States Department of Education through its guaranteed student loan program. Others student loans may be private, uninsured loans made to parents or students that are supported by reserves or other forms of credit enhancement. Recoveries of principal due to loan defaults may be applied to redemption of bonds or may be used to re-lend, depending on program latitude and demand for loans. Cash flows supporting student loan revenue bonds are impacted by numerous factors, including: (i) the rate of student loan defaults; (ii) seasoning of the loan portfolio; and (iii) student repayment deferral periods of forbearance. Other risks associated with student loan revenue bonds include: (i) potential changes in federal legislation regarding student loan revenue bonds; (ii) state guarantee agency reimbursement; and (iii) continued federal interest and other program subsidies currently in effect.

**Housing.** Housing revenue bonds are generally issued by a state, county, city, local housing authority, or other public agencies. Such bonds generally are secured by the revenues derived from mortgages purchased with the proceeds of the bond issue. Because it is extremely difficult to predict the supply of available mortgages to be purchased with the proceeds of an issue or the future cash flow from the underlying mortgages, there are risks that proceeds will exceed supply, resulting in early retirement of bonds, or that homeowner repayments will create an irregular cash flow. Many factors may affect the financing of multi-family housing projects, including: (i) acceptable completion of construction; (ii) proper management, occupancy and rent levels; (iii) economic conditions; and (iv) changes to current laws and regulations.

**Similar Projects Risk.** To the extent that a Fund invests its assets in Municipal Bonds that finance similar projects, such as those relating to education, healthcare, housing, utilities, or water and sewers, the Fund will be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political or other developments affecting such projects.

**Transportation.** Bonds may be issued to finance the construction of airports, toll roads, highways or other transit facilities. Airport bonds are dependent on the specific carriers who use the particular airport as well as by the general stability of the airline industry, which can be affected by broader economic trends and events and the price and availability of fuel. Bonds issued to construct toll roads are affected by the cost and availability of fuel as well as toll levels, the presence of competing roads and the general economic health of an area. Other transportation-related securities are also affected by fuel costs and availability of other forms of transportation, such as public transportation.

**Water and Sewer.** Water and sewer revenue bonds are often considered to have relatively secure credit as a result of their issuer's importance, monopoly status, and generally unimpeded ability to raise rates. Despite this, lack of water supply due to insufficient rain, run-off, or snow pack is a concern that has led to past defaults. Further, public resistance to rate increases, costly environmental litigation, and Federal environmental mandates may impact issuers of water and sewer bonds.

**Political Uncertainty Risk—**Markets in which a Fund is invested or is exposed to may experience political uncertainty that subjects the Fund's investments to heightened risks, even when made in established markets. These risks include: greater fluctuations in currency exchange rates; increased risk of default (by both government and private issuers); greater social, economic, and political instability (including the risk of war or natural disaster); increased risk of nationalization, greater governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment, capital controls and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on a clients' ability to exchange currencies; inability to purchase and sell investments or otherwise settle security or derivative transactions (i.e., a market freeze); unavailability of currency hedging techniques; slower clearance; and difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments.

During times of political uncertainty, the securities, derivatives and currency markets may become volatile. There also may be a lower level of monitoring and regulation of markets while a country is experiencing political uncertainty, and the activities of investors in such markets and enforcement of existing regulations may be extremely limited. Markets

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experiencing political uncertainty may have substantial rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates may have negative effects on such countries' economies and securities markets. In certain countries, inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. The disruption to, or adverse impact on, markets and economies caused by political uncertainty may adversely affect a Fund.

**Preferred Securities—**Certain Funds may purchase preferred securities, which represent an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company, to the extent such proceeds are available after paying any more senior creditors. Some preferred stocks also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of a company's common stock, and thus also represent an ownership interest in that company.

Preferred stocks may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred stock is subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company's preferred stock generally pays dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of the preferred stock will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company's financial condition or prospects. Preferred stock of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

**Private Securities Risk—**Each Fund may invest directly or indirectly in privately issued securities of both public and private companies. Private securities have additional risk considerations relative to investments in comparable public investments and are subject to a greater degree of investment risk. Whenever a Fund invests in companies that do not publicly report financial and other material information, it assumes a greater degree of investment risk and reliance upon the Investment Manager's ability to obtain and evaluate applicable information concerning such companies' creditworthiness and other investment considerations, which information cannot be independently verified. The Funds also depends on the expertise, skill and network of business contacts of the Investment Manager to evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute and monitor the private securities. Private securities are often subject to strict restrictions on resale, and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities and such securities are often illiquid. Because there is often no readily available trading market for private securities, a Fund will not be able to readily dispose of such investments at prices that approximate those at which a Fund could sell them if they were more widely traded and may be subject to higher transaction costs. Subscriptions to purchase private securities are typically subject to restrictions or delays. Private securities are also more difficult to value. Valuation will require more research, and elements of judgment will play a greater role in the valuation of private securities as compared to public securities because there is less reliable objective data available.

In addition to the risks discussed above, investments in private companies are also subject to risks associated with limited operating histories, concentration and non-diversification of businesses, and increased liquidity and valuation risks, among other risks.

Private securities that are debt instruments generally are of below-investment grade quality, frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks as investing in high yield securities. Investing in private debt instruments is a highly specialized investment practice that depends more heavily on independent credit analysis than investments in other types of obligations.

In selecting put bonds, the Investment Manager takes into consideration the creditworthiness of the issuers of the underlying bonds and the creditworthiness of the providers of the tender option features. A sponsor may withdraw the tender option feature if the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest or principal payments or the bond's rating is downgraded. Put bonds often pay a variable or floating rate of interest and therefore are subject to many of the same risks associated with investing in floating rate instruments, as described below under "Variable and Floating Rate Instruments."

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**Qualified Financial Contracts**—Qualified financial contracts include agreements relating to swaps, currency forwards and other derivatives as well as repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements. Regulations adopted by prudential regulators require that certain qualified financial contracts entered into with certain counterparties that are part of a U.S. or foreign banking organization designated as a global-systemically important banking organization include contractual provisions that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Funds, to exercise certain close-out, cross-default and similar rights under certain conditions. Qualified financial contracts are subject to a stay for a specified time period during which counterparties, such as the Funds, will be prevented from closing out a qualified financial contract if the counterparty is subject to resolution proceedings and prohibit the Funds from exercising default rights due to a receivership or similar proceeding of an affiliate of the counterparty. Implementation of these requirements may increase credit and other risks to the Funds. Similar requirements may apply under the special resolution regime applicable to certain counterparties organized in other financial markets.

**Quantitative Investing Risk—**The Investment Manager may use quantitative models, algorithms, methods or other similar techniques or analytical tools ("quantitative tools") in managing the Funds, including to generate investment ideas, identify investment opportunities or as a component of its overall portfolio construction processes and investment selection or screening criteria. Quantitative tools may also be used in connection with risk management and hedging processes. The value of securities selected using quantitative tools can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole or securities selected using only fundamental or other similar means of analysis. The factors used in quantitative tools and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security's value or a successful weighting. In addition, factors that affect a security's value can change over time and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative tools. Thus, a Fund is subject to the risk that any quantitative tools used by the Investment Manager will not be successful in, among other things, forecasting movements in industries, sectors or companies and/or in determining the size, direction, and/or weighting of investment positions.

There is no guarantee that quantitative tools, and the investments selected based on such tools, will produce the desired results or enable a Fund to achieve its investment objective. A Fund may be adversely affected by imperfections, errors or limitations in construction and implementation (for example, limitations in a model, proprietary or third-party data imprecision or unavailability, software or other technology malfunctions, or programming inaccuracies) and the Investment Manager's ability to monitor and timely adjust the metrics or update the data or features underlying the quantitative tools, including accounting for changes in the overall market environment, and identify and address omissions of relevant data or assumptions.

A quantitative tool may not perform as expected and a quantitative tool that has been formulated on the basis of past market data or trends may not be predictive of future price movements. A Fund may also be adversely affected by the Investment Manager's ability to make accurate qualitative judgments regarding a quantitative tool's output or operational complications relating to a quantitative tool.

**Real Estate Securities—**Certain Funds may invest in equity securities of real estate companies and companies related to the real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and companies with substantial real estate investments, and therefore, such Funds may be subject to certain risks associated with direct ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general. The risks associated with direct ownership of real estate and the real estate industry include, among others: possible declines in the value of real estate; declines in rental income; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds; extended vacancies of properties; risks related to national, state and local economic conditions (such as the turmoil experienced during 2007 through 2009 in the residential and commercial real estate market); overbuilding; increases in competition, property taxes and operating expenses; changes in building, environmental, zoning and other laws; costs resulting from the clean-up of, and liability to third parties for damages resulting from, environmental problems; casualty or condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods, earthquakes, wildfires, terrorist acts or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents; changes in interest rates; reduced demand for commercial and office space as well as increased maintenance or tenant improvement costs or costs to convert properties for other uses; default risk and credit quality of tenants and borrowers; the financial condition of tenants, buyers and sellers; and the inability to re-lease space on attractive terms or to obtain mortgage financing on a timely basis or at all. The value of real estate securities are also subject to the management skill, insurance coverage and creditworthiness of their issuer. Because many real estate projects are dependent upon financing, rising interest rates, which increase the costs of obtaining financing, may cause the value of real estate securities to decline. Real estate income and values may be greatly affected by demographic trends, such as population shirts or changing tastes and values.

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The prices of real estate company securities may drop because of the failure of borrowers to repay their loans, poor management, and the inability to obtain financing either on favorable terms or at all. If the properties do not generate sufficient income to meet operating expenses, including, where applicable, debt service, ground lease payments, tenant improvements, third-party leasing commissions and other capital expenditures, the income and ability of the real estate company to make payments of interest and principal on their loans will be adversely affected. Many real estate companies utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and could adversely affect a company's operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates.

Real estate-related investments that are concentrated in one geographic area, one property type or one particular industry are particularly subject to the risks affecting such areas, property types or industries.

**REITs—**REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. A hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs, generally by holding both direct ownership interests and mortgage interests in real estate.

In addition to the risks affecting real estate securities generally, REITs are also subject to additional risks. REITs may invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area or a single type of property, which may increase the risk that the Fund could be adversely affected by the poor performance of a single investment or type of investment. REITs are also susceptible to the risks associated with the types of real estate securities they own and adverse economic or market events with respect to these securities and property types (e.g., apartment properties, retail shopping centers, office and industrial properties, hotels, health-care facilities, manufactured housing and mixed-property types). REITs have their own expenses, and as a result, the Fund and its shareholders will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses paid by each REIT in which it invests. Finally, certain REITs may be self-liquidating in that a specific term of existence is provided for in the trust document. Such trusts run the risk of liquidating at an economically inopportune time.

The value of REITs may be affected by the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer, changes in interest rates and development or occupancy rates of the underlying properties. REITs may be more volatile and/or more illiquid than other types of securities.

REITs are also subject to unique federal tax requirements. A REIT that fails to comply with federal tax requirements affecting REITs may be subject to federal income taxation, which may affect the value of the REIT and the characterization of the REIT's distributions, and a REIT that fails to comply with the federal tax requirement that a REIT distribute substantially all of its net income to its shareholders may result in the REIT having insufficient capital for future expenditures. The failure of a company to qualify as a REIT could have adverse consequences for a Fund, including significantly reducing return to the Fund on its investment in such company. In the event of a default of an underlying borrower or lessee, a REIT could experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. Investments in REIT equity securities may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund's investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund's receipt of cash in excess of the REIT's earnings; if the Fund distributes such amounts, such distribution could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income but do qualify for a 20% deduction available for potential passthrough to Fund shareholders. REITs often do not provide complete tax information to the Fund until after the calendar yearend. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for the Fund to request permission from the IRS to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV.

**Repurchase Agreements, Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Roll Transactions—**Each of the Funds may enter into bi-lateral and tri-party repurchase agreements. In a typical Fund repurchase agreement, a Fund enters into a contract with a broker, dealer, or bank (the "counterparty" to the transaction) for the purchase of securities or other assets. The counterparty agrees to repurchase the securities or other assets at a specified future date, or on demand, for a price that is sufficient to return to the Fund its original purchase price, plus an additional amount representing the return on the Funds' investment. Such repurchase agreements economically function as a

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secured loan from the Fund to a counterparty. If the counterparty defaults on the repurchase agreement, a Fund will retain possession of the underlying securities or other assets. If bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller, realization on the collateral by a Fund may be delayed or limited and the Fund may incur additional costs. In such case, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with changes in market value of the collateral securities or other assets. A Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with brokers, dealers, or banks or other permitted counterparties after the Investment Manager evaluates the creditworthiness of the counterparty. The Funds will not enter into repurchase agreements with the Investment Manager or their affiliates. Except as described elsewhere in this SAI and as provided under applicable law, a Fund may enter into repurchase agreements without limitation.

Repurchase agreements, the underlying collateral of which consists entirely of cash items, U.S. government securities or by securities issued by an issuer that the Funds' Board of Trustees, or its delegate, has determined at the time the repurchase agreement is entered into has an exceptionally strong capacity to meet its financial obligations ("Qualifying Collateral") and meeting certain liquidity and other standards generally may be deemed to be "collateralized fully" and may be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities for certain purposes. A Fund may accept collateral other than Qualifying Collateral determined by the Investment Manager to be in the best interests of the Fund to accept as collateral for such repurchase agreement (which may include high yield debt instruments that are rated below investment grade) ("Alternative Collateral"). Repurchase agreements that are secured by Alternative Collateral are not deemed to be "collateralized fully" under applicable regulations and the repurchase agreement is therefore considered a separate security issued by the counterparty to the Fund. Accordingly, a Fund must include repurchase agreements that are not "collateralized fully" in its calculations of securities issued by the selling institution held by the Fund for purposes of various portfolio diversification and concentration requirements applicable to the Fund. In addition, Alternative Collateral may not qualify as permitted or appropriate investments for a Fund under the Fund's investment strategies and limitations. Accordingly, if a counterparty to a repurchase agreement defaults and a Fund takes possession of Alternative Collateral, the Fund may need to promptly dispose of the Alternative Collateral (or other securities held by the Fund, if the Fund exceeds a limitation on a permitted investment by virtue of taking possession of the Alternative Collateral). The Alternative Collateral may be particularly illiquid, especially in times of market volatility or in the case of a counterparty insolvency or bankruptcy, which may restrict a Fund's ability to dispose of Alternative Collateral received from the counterparty. Depending on the terms of the repurchase agreement, a Fund may determine to sell the collateral during the term of the repurchase agreement and then purchase the same collateral at the market price at the time of the resale. (See "Short Sales"). In tri-party repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for a Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. Securities subject to repurchase agreements (other than tri-party repurchase agreements) and purchase and sale contracts will be held by the Fund's custodian (or sub-custodian) in the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry system or by another authorized securities depository.

Each of the Funds may also enter into reverse repurchase agreements with the same parties with whom they may enter into repurchase agreements. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund would sell securities or other assets and agree to repurchase them at a particular price at a future date. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities or other assets retained in lieu of sale by a Fund may decline below the price of the securities or other assets the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase. In the event the buyer of securities or other assets under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to repurchase the securities or other assets, and the Fund's use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision.

Each of the Funds may also enter into "dollar rolls," in which a Fund sells MBS or other fixed-income securities for delivery and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities or other assets on a specified future date. A Fund may also enter into "TBA rolls," in which the Fund agrees to sell a TBA, itself a forward transaction, and to buy forward a subsequent TBA. During the roll period, the Fund would forego principal and interest paid on such securities or other assets sold; however, the Fund would be permitted to invest the sale proceeds during the period. The Fund would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the sale proceeds of the initial sale, minus the principal and interest paid on the securities or other assets during the period. When the Fund enters into a dollar roll, it becomes subject to the risk that any fluctuation in the market value of the security or other asset transferred or the securities or other assets in which the sales proceeds are invested can affect the market value of the Fund's assets, and therefore, of the Fund's NAV. Dollar rolls also subject the Fund to the risk that the market

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value of the securities or other assets the Fund is required to deliver may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities or other assets. In addition, in the event that the Fund's counterparty becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of the proceeds may become restricted pending a determination as to whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to purchase the substantially similar securities or other assets.

A Fund must comply with the SEC Rule 18f-4 when engaging in reverse repurchase agreements or dollar roll transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Restricted Securities—**A Fund may invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities cannot be sold to the public without registration under the 1933 Act. Unless registered for sale, restricted securities can be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Restricted securities may be classified as illiquid investments.

Restricted securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk which may result in substantial losses. The securities may be less liquid than publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid for by a Fund. A Fund may invest in restricted securities, including securities initially offered and sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act ("Rule 144A Securities") and securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers initially offered and sold outside the United States without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S under the 1933 Act ("Regulation S Securities"). Rule 144A Securities and Regulation S Securities generally may be traded freely among certain qualified institutional investors, such as a Fund, and non-U.S. persons, but resale to a broader based of investors in the United States may be permitted only in significantly more limited circumstances. A qualified institutional investor is defined by Rule 144A under the 1933 Act generally as an institution, acting for its own account or for the accounts of other qualified institutional investors, that in the aggregate owns and invests on a discretionary basis at least $100 million in securities of issuers not affiliated with the institution. A dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934 Act"), acting for its own account or the accounts of other qualified institutional investors, that in the aggregate owns and invests on a discretionary basis at least $10 million in securities of issuers not affiliated with the dealer may also qualify as a qualified institutional investor, as well as a 1934 Act registered dealer acting in a riskless principal transaction on behalf of a qualified institutional investor.

A Fund also may purchase restricted securities that are not eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S under the 1933 Act. The Funds may acquire such securities through private placement transactions, directly from the issuer or from security holders, generally at higher yields or on terms more favorable to investors than comparable publicly traded securities. However, the restrictions on resale of such securities may make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of such securities at the time considered most advantageous and/or may involve expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Risks associated with restricted securities include the potential obligation to pay all or part of the registration expenses in order to sell certain restricted securities. A considerable period of time may elapse between the time of the decision to sell a security and the time a Fund may be permitted to sell it under an effective registration statement. If, during a period, adverse conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailing when it decided to sell.

**Risk-Linked Securities ("RLS")—**Risk-linked securities ("RLS") are a form of derivative issued by insurance companies and insurance-related special purpose vehicles that apply securitization techniques to catastrophic property and casualty damages. RLS are typically debt obligations for which the return of principal and the payment of interest are contingent on the non-occurrence of a pre-defined "trigger event." Investments in RLS may be linked to a broad range of insurance risks, which can be broken down into three major categories: natural risks (such as hurricanes and earthquakes), weather risks (such as insurance based on a regional average temperature and non-natural events (such as aerospace and shipping catastrophes). Accordingly, depending on the specific terms and structure of the RLS, this trigger could be the result of a hurricane, earthquake or some other catastrophic event. Insurance companies securitize this risk to transfer to the capital markets the truly catastrophic part of the risk exposure. A typical RLS provides for income and return of capital similar to other fixed-income investments, but would involve full or partial default if losses resulting from a certain catastrophe exceeded a predetermined amount. RLS typically have relatively high yields compared with similarly rated fixed-income securities, and also have low correlation with the returns of traditional securities. Investments in RLS may be linked to a broad range of insurance risks, which can be broken down into three major categories: natural risks (such as hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes), weather risks (such as insurance based on a regional average temperature) and non-natural events (such as aerospace and shipping catastrophes). Although property-casualty RLS have been in existence for over a decade, significant developments have started to occur in securitizations done by life insurance companies. In general, life insurance industry securitizations could fall into a number of categories. Some are driven primarily by the

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desire to transfer risk to the capital markets, such as the transfer of extreme mortality risk (mortality bonds). Others, while also including the element of risk transfer, are driven by other considerations. For example, a securitization could be undertaken to relieve the capital strain on life insurance companies caused by the regulatory requirements of establishing very conservative reserves for some types of products. Another example is the securitization of the stream of future cash flows from a particular block of business, including the securitization of embedded values of life insurance business or securitization for the purpose of funding acquisition costs.

**Risks Associated with Low-Rated and Comparable Unrated Securities (Junk Bonds)—**Low-rated and comparable unrated securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment-grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks than higher quality debt instruments, particularly the possibility of default or bankruptcy. Low-rated and comparable unrated securities are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Accordingly, the performance of a Fund and a shareholder's investment in the Fund may be adversely affected if an issuer is unable to pay interest and repay principal, either on time or at all. Subject to its investment strategies, a significant portion of a Fund's investments can be comprised of low-rated and comparable unrated securities and thus particularly prone to the foregoing risks, which may result in substantial losses to the Fund. A Fund may also purchase low-rated and comparable unrated securities which are in default when purchased. The special risk considerations in connection with such investments are discussed below. See the Appendix of this SAI for a discussion of securities ratings.

The low-rated and comparable unrated securities market is still relatively new, and its growth paralleled a long economic expansion. As a result, it is not clear how this market may withstand a prolonged recession or economic downturn. Such a prolonged economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for and adversely affect the value of such securities.

Fixed rate securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. The market values of low-rated and comparable unrated securities tend to reflect individual corporate, consumer, and commercial developments to a greater extent than do higher-rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Low-rated and comparable unrated securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the higher-rated categories. During an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of low-rated and comparable unrated securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their payment obligations. The issuer's ability to service its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, the issuer's inability to meet specific projected business forecasts, or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of low-rated and comparable unrated securities is significantly greater than issuers of higher-rated securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors. Further, if the issuer of a low-rated and comparable unrated security defaulted, a Fund might incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of low-rated and comparable unrated securities, including possibly greater volatility than is experienced by other types of securities, and thus a Fund's performance and a shareholder's investment in the Fund may be adversely affected.

As previously stated, the value of such a fixed rate security will decrease in a rising interest rate market and accordingly, so will a Fund's NAV. If a Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions, particularly in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits. Due to the volatility of high-yield securities (discussed below) a Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a substantial discount. Any such liquidation would reduce the Fund's asset base over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of return for the Fund.

Low-rated and comparable unrated securities typically contain redemption, call, or prepayment provisions which permit the issuer of such securities containing such provisions to, at their discretion, redeem the securities. During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of high-yield securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them with debt securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities or otherwise redeem them, a Fund may have to replace the securities with a lower-yielding security, which would result in a lower return for the Fund and reduce the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund.

Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of low-rated and comparable unrated securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit-rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the

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market value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality. Investments in low-rated and comparable unrated securities will be more dependent on the credit analysis of the Investment Manager than would be the case with investments in investment-grade debt securities. The Investment Manager employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, the issuer's sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history, and the current trend of earnings. The Investment Manager continually monitors the investments in the Fund's portfolio and carefully evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain low-rated and comparable unrated securities whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.

A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain low-rated and comparable unrated securities because there may be a thin trading market for such securities. Because not all dealers maintain markets in all low-rated and comparable unrated securities, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these securities. The Funds anticipate that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher-rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security. As a result, the Fund's asset value and the Fund's ability to dispose of particular securities, when necessary to meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, may be impacted. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund. Market quotations are generally available on many low-rated and comparable unrated issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. During periods of thin trading, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of low-rated and comparable unrated securities, especially in a thinly-traded market. The High Yield Fund may acquire lower quality debt securities during an initial underwriting or may acquire lower quality debt securities, which are sold without registration under applicable securities laws.

Legislation has been adopted, and from time to time, proposals have been discussed regarding new legislation designed to limit the use of certain low-rated and comparable unrated securities by certain issuers. An example of such legislation is a law which requires federally insured savings and loan associations to divest their investment in these securities over time. New legislation could further reduce the market because such legislation, generally, could negatively affect the financial condition of the issuers of unrated securities and could adversely affect the market in general. It is difficult to determine the impact of legislative changes on this market. However, it is anticipated that if additional legislation is enacted or proposed, it could have a material effect on the value of low-rated and comparable unrated securities and the existence of a secondary trading market for the securities.

**Risks of Private Investments in Private Companies—**Private companies are generally not subject to SEC reporting requirements, are not required to maintain their accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and are not required to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting. As a result, the Investment Manager may not have timely or accurate information about the business, financial condition and results of operations of the private companies in which a Fund invests.

There is risk that a Fund will invest on the basis of incomplete or inaccurate information, which will adversely affect the Fund's investment performance. Some private companies in which a Fund may invest may have limited financial resources, shorter operating histories, more asset concentration risk, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render such private companies more vulnerable to competitors' actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns. In addition, the management of private companies may depend on one or two key individuals, and the loss of the services of any such individual may adversely affect the performance of the private company.

Private companies generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position. These companies may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity. In addition, a Fund's investment also may be structured as pay-in-kind securities with minimal or no cash interest or dividends until the company meets certain growth and liquidity objectives.

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Typically, investments in private companies are in restricted securities that are not traded in public markets and subject to substantial holding periods, so that a Fund may not be able to resell some of its holdings for extended periods, which may be several years. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to realize the value of private company investments in a timely manner, and these investments are subject to heightened valuation risks.

**Risks of Private Investments in Public Companies—**The Funds may also make private investments in public companies whose stocks are quoted on stock exchanges or which trade in the OTC securities market, a type of investment commonly referred to as a "PIPE" transaction. PIPE transactions may be entered into with smaller capitalization public companies, which will entail business and financial risks comparable to those of investments in the publicly-issued securities of smaller capitalization companies, which may be less likely to be able to weather business or cyclical downturns than larger companies and are more likely to be substantially hurt by the loss of a few key personnel. In addition, PIPE transactions will generally result in a Fund acquiring either restricted stock or an instrument convertible into restricted stock. As with investments in other types of restricted securities, such an investment may be illiquid. A Fund's ability to dispose of securities acquired in PIPE transactions may depend on the registration of such securities for resale. Any number of factors may prevent or delay a proposed registration. Alternatively, it may be possible for securities acquired in a PIPE transaction to be resold in transactions exempt from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as amended, or otherwise under the federal securities laws. There can be no guarantee that there will be an active or liquid market for the stock of any small capitalization company due to the possible small number of stockholders. As a result, even if a Fund is able to have securities acquired in a PIPE transaction registered or sell such securities through an exempt transaction, the Fund may not be able to sell all the securities on short notice, and the sale of the securities could lower the market price of the securities. There is no guarantee that an active trading market for the securities will exist at the time of disposition of the securities, and the lack of such a market could hurt the market value of the Fund's investments. For more detail, please refer to the "Restricted Securities" section of this SAI's discussion of investment methods and risk factors.

**Shares of Other Investment Vehicles—**Each of the Funds may invest in shares of other investment companies or other investment vehicles, which may include, among others, mutual funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), such as actively-managed or index-based investments, and private or foreign investment funds. The Funds may also invest in investment vehicles that are not subject to regulation as registered investment companies, which may be classified as illiquid investments.

The investment companies in which the Fund invests may have adopted certain investment restrictions that are different than the Fund's investment restrictions. For example, to the extent the Fund invests in underlying investment companies that concentrate their investments in an industry, a corresponding portion of the Fund's assets may be indirectly exposed to that particular industry.

A Fund may purchase securities of other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief. It is the Funds' policy that if shares of a Fund are purchased by another fund (including any other registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust advised by Guggenheim Investments or its affiliates) in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act, for so long as shares of the Fund are held by such other fund, the Fund will not purchase securities of a registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

A Fund may invest in other registered investment companies, such as mutual funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds, and in business development companies (an underlying fund) in excess of statutory limits imposed by the 1940 Act in reliance on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. These investments would be subject to the applicable conditions of Rule 12d1-4, which in part would affect or otherwise impose certain limits on the investments and operations of the underlying fund (notably such fund's ability to invest in other investment companies and private funds, which include certain structured finance vehicles).

The main risk of investing in index-based investment companies is the same as investing in a portfolio of securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specified index because of, among other things, transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.

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To the extent a Fund invests in other investment companies, or other investment vehicles, it will incur its pro rata share of the underlying investment companies' expenses (including, for example, investment advisory and other management fees and expenses). In addition, a Fund will be subject to the effects of business and regulatory developments that affect an underlying investment company or the investment company industry generally.

A Fund may invest in other funds in the same "group of investment companies" as permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Funds in the same "group of investment companies" as the Funds are other Guggenheim open-end funds, Guggenheim closed-end funds and Rydex funds, each of which is advised by Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC or GPIM, which are under common control.

**Short Sales—**Certain Funds may make short sales "against the box," in which the Fund enters into a short sale of a security it owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost. A Fund may also make short sales of securities the Fund does not own. If a Fund makes a short sale, the Fund does not immediately deliver from its own account the securities sold and does not receive the proceeds from the sale. To complete the sale, the Fund must borrow the security (generally from the broker through which the short sale is made, and potentially via repurchase agreement) in order to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund must replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement or delivering the security from its own portfolio. The Fund is said to have a "short position" in securities sold until it delivers them to the broker at which time it receives the proceeds of the sale.

A Fund may make short sales that are not "against the box." Short sales by a Fund that are not made "against the box" create opportunities to increase the Fund's return but, at the same time, involve specific risk considerations and may be considered a speculative technique. Since the Fund in effect profits from a decline in the price of the securities sold short without the need to invest the full purchase price of the securities on the date of the short sale, the Fund's NAV per share tends to increase more when the securities it has sold short decrease in value, and to decrease more when the securities it has sold short increase in value, than would otherwise be the case if it had not engaged in such short sales. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale. Short sales theoretically involve unlimited loss potential, as the market price of securities sold short may continually increase, although a Fund may mitigate such losses by replacing the securities sold short before the market price has increased significantly. Under adverse market conditions the Fund might have difficulty purchasing securities to meet its short sale delivery obligations and might have to sell portfolio securities to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

A Fund's decision to make a short sale "against the box" may be a technique to hedge against market risks when the Investment Manager believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund or a security convertible into or exchangeable for such security. In such case, any future losses in the Fund's long position would be reduced by a gain in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses in the long position are reduced will depend upon the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount of the securities the Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where the Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the investment values or conversion premiums of such securities. The Fund can close out its short position by purchasing and delivering an equal amount of the securities sold short, rather than by delivering securities already held by the Fund, because the Fund might want to continue to receive interest and dividend payments on securities in its portfolio that are convertible into the securities sold short.

While the short sale is outstanding, a Fund will be required to pledge a portion of its assets to the broker as collateral for the obligation to deliver the security to the broker at the close of the transaction. The broker will also hold the proceeds of the short sale until the close of the transaction. A Fund is often obligated to pay over interest and dividends on the borrowed security to the broker.

A Fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expense, in connection with opening, maintaining and closing short sales.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Short-Term Instruments—**When the Funds experience large cash inflows through the sale of securities and desirable equity securities that are consistent with the Funds' investment objectives are unavailable in sufficient quantities or at attractive prices, the Funds may hold short-term investments for a limited time at the discretion of the

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Investment Manager. Short-term instruments consist of: (1) short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or by any of the states; (2) other short-term debt securities; (3) commercial paper; (4) bank obligations, including negotiable certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances; (5) repurchase agreements; (6) shares of money market funds; and (7) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities as of the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that are rated in the top-two short-term categories by two Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organizations ("NRSROs"), or if unrated, deemed to be of equal quality by the Investment Manager.

**Special Purpose Acquisition Companies—**A Fund may invest in stock, warrants, rights and other securities of special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs") or similar special purpose entities in a private placement transaction or as part of a public offering. A SPAC, sometimes referred to as "blank check company," is a private or publicly traded company that raises investment capital for the purpose of acquiring or merging with an existing company. The shares of a SPAC are typically issued in "units" that include one share of common stock and one right or warrant (or partial right or warrant) conveying the right to purchase additional shares of common stock. At a specified time, the rights and warrants may be separated from the common stock at the election of the holder, after which time each security typically is freely tradeable. Private companies can combine with a SPAC to go public by taking the SPAC's place on an exchange as an alternative to making an initial public offering.

As an alternative to obtaining a public listing through a traditional IPO, SPAC investments carry many of the same risks as investments in IPO securities. These may include, but are not limited to, erratic price movements, greater risk of loss, lack of information about the issuer, limited operating and little public or no trading history, and higher transaction costs. Please refer to the discussions of risks related to investments in "Equity Securities" for additional information concerning risks associated with IPOs.

Investments in SPACs also have risks peculiar to the SPAC structure and investment process. Until an acquisition or merger is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets, less a portion retained to cover expenses, in U.S. government securities, money market securities and cash and does not typically pay dividends in respect of its common stock. To the extent a SPAC is invested in cash or similar securities, this may impact a Fund's ability to meet its investment objective. SPAC shareholders may not approve any proposed acquisition or merger, or an acquisition or merger, once effected, may prove unsuccessful. If an acquisition or merger is not completed within a pre-established period (typically, two years), the remainder of the funds invested in the SPAC are returned to its shareholders unless shareholders approve alternative options. While a SPAC investor may receive both stock in the SPAC, as well as warrants or other rights at no marginal cost, those warrants or other rights may expire worthless or may be repurchased or retired by the SPAC at an unfavorable price. A Fund may also be delayed in receiving any redemption or liquidation proceeds from a SPAC to which it is entitled. An investment in a SPAC is typically subject to a higher risk of dilution by additional later offerings of interests in the SPAC or by other investors exercising existing rights to purchase shares of the SPAC.

SPAC investments are also subject to the risk that a significant portion of the funds raised by the SPAC may be expended during the search for a target acquisition or merger. Because SPACs only business is to seek acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the SPAC's management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition or merger target. Among other conflicts of interest, the economic interests of the management, directors, officers and related parties of a SPAC can differ from the economic interests of public shareholders, which may lead to conflicts as they evaluate, negotiate and recommend business combination transactions to shareholders. For example, since the sponsor, directors and officers of a SPAC may directly or indirectly own interests in a SPAC, the sponsor, directors and officers may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate a business combination. This risk may become more acute as the deadline for the completion of a business combination nears. In addition, the requirement that a SPAC complete a business combination within a prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over the SPAC in negotiating a business combination, and may limit the time the SPAC has in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, which could undermine the SPAC's ability to complete a business combination on terms that would produce value for its shareholders. Some SPACs pursue acquisitions and mergers only within certain market sectors or regions, which can increase the volatility of their prices. Conversely, other SPACs may invest without such limitations, in which case management may have limited experience or knowledge of the market sector or region in which the transaction is contemplated. Moreover, interests in SPACs may be illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale, which may remain for an extended time, and may

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only be traded in the over-the-counter market. If there is no market for some interests in a SPAC, or only a thinly traded market, a Fund may not be able to sell its interest, or may be able to sell its interest only at a price below what the Fund believes is the SPAC interest's value.

**Spread Transactions—**A Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. Such covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives a Fund the right to put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to a Fund in purchasing covered spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the spread option and any transaction costs. In addition, there is no assurance that closing transactions will be available. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. Such protection is only provided during the life of the spread option.

**Swap Agreements—**Each Fund may enter into swap agreements, including, but not limited to, total return swaps, index swaps, interest rate swaps, municipal market data rate locks and credit default swaps. Swaps are particularly subject to counterparty credit, correlation (imperfect correlations with underlying investments or a Fund's other portfolio holdings), valuation, liquidity and leveraging risks and could result in substantial losses to a Fund and a shareholder's investment in a Fund. A Fund may utilize swap agreements in an attempt to gain exposure to the securities or other assets in a market without actually purchasing those securities or other assets, or to hedge a position or to generate income. Swap agreements are contracts for periods ranging from a day to more than one-year and may be negotiated bilaterally and traded OTC between two parties or, in some instances, must be transacted through a futures commission merchant and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or "swapped" between the parties are calculated with respect to a "notional amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in an issuer, a "basket" of securities or other assets or ETFs. Forms of swap agreements may include (i) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or "cap;" (ii) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or "floor;" and (iii) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. Certain interest rate swaps and forwards are subject to mandatory central clearing and execution on swap execution facilities, as noted further herein.

Another form of swap agreement is a credit default swap. A credit default swap enables a Fund to buy or sell protection against a defined credit event of an issuer or a basket of securities or other assets or ETFs. Generally, the seller of credit protection against an issuer or basket of securities or other assets receives a periodic payment to compensate against potential default events. If a default event occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation, or a cash-settlement payment. Any such physical or cash settlement may be effected through an auction settlement process, if agreed to by the parties when they enter the transaction. If no default occurs, the counterparty will pay the stream of payments and have no further obligations to the Fund selling the credit protection.

In contrast, the buyer of a credit default swap would have the right to deliver a referenced debt obligation and receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of such debt obligation from the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event (such as a credit downgrade) by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporation, with respect to its debt obligations, or a cash-settlement payment. In return, the buyer of the credit protection would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the counterparty would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligations to the Fund purchasing the credit protection. Certain credit default swap products are subject to mandatory central clearing and execution on swap execution facilities, as noted further herein.

Each Fund also may enhance income by selling credit protection or attempt to mitigate credit risk by buying protection. Credit default swaps could result in losses if the creditworthiness of an issuer or a basket of securities or other assets is not accurately evaluated.

Most swap agreements (but generally not credit default swaps) that a Fund might enter into require the parties to calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a "net basis." Swap agreements may not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Consequently, a Fund's obligations (or rights) and risk of loss under

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such a swap agreement would generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the "net amount"). Other swap agreements, such as credit default swaps, may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation.

Because they may be two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be classified as illiquid investments. A Fund would not enter into any swap agreement unless the Investment Manager believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy. A Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty, or in the case of a credit default swap in which a Fund is selling credit protection, the default of a third party issuer.

Each Fund may enter into swap agreements, for example, to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of the underlying securities or other assets in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. The counterparty to any swap agreement would typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker-dealer or, in the case of a cleared swap, the clearinghouse. The counterparty would generally agree to pay a Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. The Fund would agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to a Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.

A Fund may also enter into swaps on an index, including credit default index swaps ("CDX"), which are swaps on an index of credit default swaps. For example, a commercial mortgage-backed index ("CMBX") is a type of CDX made up of tranches of commercial mortgage-backed securities rather than CDS. Unlike other CDX contracts where credit events are intended to capture an event of default, CMBX involves a pay-as-you-go settlement process designed to capture non-default events that affect the cash flow of the reference obligation. Pay-as-you-go settlement involves ongoing, two-way payments over the life of a contract between the buyer and the seller of protection and is designed to closely mirror the cash flow of a portfolio of cash commercial mortgage-backed securities. Certain CDX are subject to mandatory central clearing and exchange trading, which may reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity compared to other credit default swap or CDS index transactions. Investments in CMBX are also subject to the risks associated with MBS, which are described above, as well as the risks associated with the types of properties tied to the underlying mortgages (e.g., apartment properties, retail shopping centers, office and industrial properties, hotels, health-care facilities, manufactured housing and mixed-property types) and adverse economic or market events with respect to these property types.

The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments that are traded in the OTC market but remains subject to significant risks. The Investment Manager is primarily responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions.

As noted above, certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory exchange-trading and/or central clearing. While exchange-trading and central clearing are intended to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity, they do not make swap transactions risk-free. The Dodd-Frank Act and related regulatory developments require the clearing and exchange-trading of certain OTC derivative instruments that the CFTC and SEC have defined as "swaps" (such as certain interest rate swaps and forwards and certain index credit default swaps). Depending on a Fund's size and other factors, the margin required under the rules of the clearinghouse and by the clearing member may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by a Fund to support its obligations under a similar bilateral swap. Moving trading to an exchange-type system may increase market transparency and liquidity but may require a Fund to incur increased expenses to access the same types of cleared and uncleared swaps. In addition, the CFTC, SEC and the prudential regulators have adopted rules imposing certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps which may result in a Fund and its counterparties posting higher margin amounts for uncleared swaps. Rules also require centralized reporting of detailed information about many types of cleared and uncleared swaps. Reporting of swap data may result in greater market transparency, but may subject a Fund to additional administrative burdens and the safeguards established to protect trader anonymity may not function as expected. The Investment Manager will continue to monitor developments in this area, particularly to the extent regulatory

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changes affect the ability of the Funds to enter into swap agreements. Regulatory changes and additional requirements may increase costs associated with derivatives transactions and may subject a Fund to additional administrative burdens, which may adversely affect Fund performance.

The use of swap agreements, including credit default swaps, is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a counterparty's creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap would likely decline. Moreover, there is no guarantee that a Fund could eliminate its exposure under an outstanding swap agreement by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same or another party.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Synthetic Autocallable Contracts**—The Macro Opportunities Fund may invest in derivatives instruments, such as swaps, that are intended to synthetically replicate exposure similar to autocallable equity-linked notes ("Synthetic Autocallable Contracts"), and will typically not invest directly in autocallable ELNs. The Fund may invest in Synthetic Autocallable Contracts to seek to generate current income based on equity market performance rather than traditional fixed income and credit factors, such as duration and interest rates, and seek to convert equity market performance into an income source, which may provide the potential for higher income than traditional fixed income assets and which exposes the Fund to risks such as those associated with the autocallable structure and equity markets such as market downturns interrupting coupon payments or resulting in principal loss as described below.

An autocallable ELN (i.e., the instrument that the Fund intends to synthetically replicate by investing in derivatives instruments) is a debt instrument with coupon payments (i.e., income) made at regular intervals and linked to equity market performance. The autocallable ELNs that the Fund seeks to replicate synthetically, as further described below, are typically linked to one or more broad-based equity market indexes (e.g., the S&P 500 Index, Russell 2000 Index, or "worst of" two or more indices) (the "Autocallable ELN Reference Index"). These autocallable ELNs provide coupon payments at predefined intervals (which may be deferred to maturity) so long as the value of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index does not fall below certain prescribed thresholds at specified dates. In such circumstances, the autocallable ELNs would be automatically called (i.e., cancelled without further coupon payments and with principal returned) or no coupon payment will be made, respectively. Autocallable ELNs may also provide for the return of a reduced amount of principal when the Autocallable ELN Reference Index falls below a certain prescribed threshold at maturity.

The Synthetic Autocallable Contracts are designed to provide exposure similar to autocallable ELNs, with the value of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index at the beginning of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract defining when a contract is automatically called, when the counterparty will make its coupon payment(s) for such period, when no coupon payments are made for such period and a "Maturity Barrier" (as defined below) below which the Fund would be exposed to a loss corresponding to a reduced return of principal. A Synthetic Autocallable Contract is a bespoke product agreed to between the Fund as "buyer" and its counterparty as "seller". The description below is generally representative of Synthetic Autocallable Contracts, but the Fund's Synthetic Autocallable Contracts may be structured differently. Additionally, notwithstanding the description below, the Fund's Synthetic Autocallable Contracts will typically provide for a single net payment at maturity.

At each payment date, the buyer will owe to the Synthetic Autocallable Contract counterparty a financing amount based on a financing rate (which may be a fixed rate or otherwise). At any payment date prior to the final scheduled payment date, the buyer will receive scheduled coupon payments and potentially an early principal payment (as applicable, a "Coupon Payment" and a "Principal Payment") net of the financing amount owed to the counterparty, subject to the following structure:

*Autocall Zone*. If on a specified observation date the price level of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index reaches or exceeds a certain level, typically the initial value of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index at the time of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract (the "Autocall Barrier"), then the Synthetic Autocallable Contract will automatically terminate early and the buyer will receive both a Coupon Payment for the observation period and the Principal Payment, but will not receive future Coupon Payments for that Synthetic Autocallable Contract.

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*Coupon Zone*. If on a specified observation date the price level of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index equals or exceeds a certain level (the "Coupon Barrier") but is below the Autocall Barrier, the buyer will receive a Coupon Payment for the observation period. The Synthetic Autocallable Contract will not automatically terminate early (and the buyer will not receive an early Principal Payment).

*No-Coupon Zone*. If on a specified observation date the price level of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract Reference Index is below the Coupon Barrier, the buyer will not receive a Coupon Payment for the observation period (such unpaid coupon, a "Missed Coupon"), but the buyer would still be obligated to pay the financing amount to the counterparty. Certain Synthetic Autocallable Contracts may have memory features in which the buyer may receive a Missed Coupon if the price level of the Synthetic Autocallable ELN Reference Index equals or exceeds the Coupon Barrier at a subsequent observation date.

If the Synthetic Autocallable Contract has not been terminated early, then at the maturity date of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract, the buyer will receive a Principal Payment and Coupon Payment subject to the following structure:

*Full Principal Zone*. If on the final specified observation date the price level of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index is above a certain level (the "Maturity Barrier"), which may be the same as the Coupon Barrier, the buyer will receive the scheduled Principal Payment.

*Reduced Principal Zone*. If on the final specified observation date/maturity date the price level of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index is below the Maturity Barrier, the buyer will receive a reduced Principal Payment, which will result in losses to the buyer.

Investing in Synthetic Autocallable Contracts is subject to risks associated with investing in autocallable ELNs directly and derivatives instruments on the Autocallable ELN Reference Index, including Equity Securities Risk, Market Risk, Prepayment Risk, Synthetic Investments Risk, Derivatives Risk, Hybrid Securities Risk, and Swap Agreements Risk.

Investing in Synthetic Autocallable Contracts is also subject to certain additional or heightened risks, including:

*Contingent Income Risk*. Coupon Payments from the Synthetic Autocallable Contract are not guaranteed and will not be made if the price level of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index falls below the Coupon Barrier on one or more observation dates. This means the Fund may generate significantly less income than anticipated from a Synthetic Autocallable Contract during equity market downturns. The Coupon Payments of Synthetic Autocallable Contracts are not linked to the performance of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index at any time other than on maturity dates and observation dates. Moreover, because the payoff of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract is linked to the price level of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index, the Fund is exposed to the market risk of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index and may not receive any return on the Synthetic Autocallable Contract and may lose a portion or all of the notional value of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract even if the performance of one or more of component securities of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index has exceeded the initial value of such security.

*Early Redemption Risk*. Synthetic Autocallable Contracts may be called (i.e., cancelled) before their scheduled maturity if the Autocallable ELN Reference Index reaches or exceeds the Autocall Barrier on an observation date. Synthetic Autocallable Contracts limit the positive investment return that can be achieved due to this automatic call feature. This automatic early redemption could result in significantly less income than anticipated from a Synthetic Autocallable Contract and force reinvestment of that principal investment amount at less advantageous terms based on prevailing market conditions. For example, if the automatic call feature is triggered, the Fund would forego any remaining Coupon Payments and may be unable to invest in another Synthetic Autocallable Contract (or other investment) with a similar level of risk and comparable return potential. If the automatic call feature is not triggered, and the Maturity Barrier has been breached as of the maturity date, the Fund will receive less than the initial notional amount regardless of any outperformance of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index (or any component security thereof) throughout the term of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract.

*Barrier Risk*. The Coupon Barrier and Maturity Barrier levels of a Synthetic Autocallable Contract set forth the threshold amount of loss the Autocallable ELN Reference Index could experience before the Fund would forfeit Coupon Payments and/or pay a portion or all of the initial notional amount of such contract. If the Coupon Barrier level is breached on an observation date, the Fund will not receive the Coupon Payment for such period (subject to any features that may provide the Fund to receive a Missed Coupon under certain conditions). Accordingly, it is possible that the Fund may not receive any Coupon Payments under a Synthetic Autocallable Contract. If

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the Maturity Barrier level is breached on the maturity date, the Fund may be required to pay a percentage of the initial notional amount of the Synthetic Autocallable Contract. If the Autocallable ELN Reference Index falls below the Maturity Barrier at the maturity of a Synthetic Autocallable Contract, the Fund is exposed to the negative performance of the Autocallable ELN Reference Index from a specified level. This could result in sudden, significant losses if the Maturity Barrier is breached. Under some Synthetic Autocallable Contracts, it is possible that the Fund could be required to pay the entire initial notional amount, in addition to forfeiting some or all of the Coupon Payments.

*Limited Available Counterparty Risk*. Synthetic Autocallable Contracts are bespoke contracts and the Fund may have limited available counterparties. The Fund will be subject to credit and default risk with respect to the counterparties to the Synthetic Autocallable Contracts entered into by the Fund. If a Synthetic Autocallable Contract counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery, may obtain only a limited recovery, or may obtain no recovery at all. The Fund may have substantial exposure to one or a limited number of counterparties, which may result in the Fund being more susceptible to a single economic or regulatory occurrence affecting such counterparty(ies).

**TBA Purchase Commitments.** A Fund may enter into "To Be Announced" ("TBA") purchase commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date, typically not exceeding 75-90 days. TBA purchase commitments may be considered securities in themselves and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of a Fund's other assets. Unsettled TBA purchase commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities. A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above. If a Fund chooses to dispose of the TBA security prior to its settlement, it could, as with the disposition of any other portfolio obligation, incur a gain or loss due to market fluctuation. In addition, FINRA rules include mandatory margin requirements that require the Funds to post collateral in connection with their TBA transactions. There is no similar requirement applicable to the Funds' TBA counterparties. The required collateralization of TBA trades could increase the cost of TBA transactions to the Funds and impose added operational complexity.

**Temporary Investments—**Each Fund may, from time to time and in the discretion of the Investment Manager, take temporary positions that are inconsistent with the Fund's principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse or unstable market, economic, political or other conditions or abnormal circumstances, such as large cash inflows or anticipated large redemptions. For example, the Fund may invest some or all of its assets in cash, derivatives, fixed-income instruments, government bonds, money market instruments, repurchase agreements or securities of other investment companies, including money market funds. Each Fund may be unable to pursue or achieve its investment objective during that time and temporary investments could reduce the benefit to the Fund from any upswing in the market.

A Fund holding the second class of interests may be required to comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

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**U.S. Government Securities—**Consistent with its investment objective and strategies, a Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, including: (1) direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury and (2) obligations issued by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. Included among direct obligations of the U.S. are Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds, which differ in terms of their interest rates, maturities, and dates of issuance. Treasury Bills have maturities of less than one year, Treasury Notes have maturities of one to 10 years and Treasury Bonds generally have maturities of greater than 10 years from the date of issuance. Included among the obligations issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. are: instruments that are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S., such as certificates issued by Ginnie Mae; instruments that are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such as securities of Federal Home Loan Banks); and instruments that are supported solely by the credit of the instrumentality, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In September 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA") placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship. At the same time, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality. Under these Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements ("SPAs"), as amended, the U.S. Treasury has pledged to provide financial support to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in any quarter which the respective entity has a net worth deficit as defined in the respective SPA, as amended.

Also in December 2009, the U.S. Treasury amended the SPAs to provide Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with some additional flexibility to meet the requirement to reduce their mortgage portfolios. The actions of the U.S. Treasury are intended to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury initiatives will be successful. Other U.S. government securities a Fund may invest in include (but are not limited to) securities issued or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Loan Administration, Export-Import Bank of the U.S., Small Business Administration, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Maritime Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, District of Columbia Armory Board and Student Loan Marketing Association. Because the U.S. government is not obligated by law to provide support to an instrumentality it sponsors, a Fund will invest in obligations issued by such an instrumentality only if the Investment Manager determines that the credit risk with respect to the instrumentality does not make its securities unsuitable for investment by the Fund.

No assurance can be given as to whether the U.S. government will continue to support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, the future for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remains uncertain. Congress has considered proposals to reduce the U.S. government's role in the mortgage market of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including proposals as to whether Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be nationalized, privatized, restructured or eliminated altogether. Should the federal government adopt any such proposal, the value of a Fund's investments in securities issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac would be impacted. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are also the subject of continuing legal actions and investigations which may have an adverse effect on these entities. In the event that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are taken out of conservatorship, it is unclear whether Treasury would continue to enforce its rights or perform its obligations under the SPAs. It is also unclear how the capital structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be constructed post-conservatorship, and what effects, if any, the privatization of the enterprises will have on their creditworthiness and guarantees of certain MBS. Accordingly, should the FHFA take the enterprises out of conservatorship, there could be an adverse impact on the value of their securities, which could cause a Fund to lose value.

Under a letter agreement entered into in January 2021, each enterprise is permitted to retain earnings and raise private capital to enable them to meet the minimum capital requirements under the FHFA's Enterprise Regulatory Capital Framework. The letter agreement also permits each enterprise to develop a plan to exit conservatorship, but may not do so until all litigation involving the conservatorships is resolved and each enterprise has the minimum capital required by FHFA's rules.

Any controversy or ongoing uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. Congress to increase the statutory debt ceiling may impact the creditworthiness of the U.S. Government and the liquidity and/or market value of U.S. government debt securities held by a Fund. If the U.S. Congress is unable to negotiate an adjustment to the statutory debt ceiling, there is also the risk that the U.S. government may default on payments on certain U.S. government securities (including U.S. Treasury securities), including those held by a Fund, which could have a

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material negative impact on the Fund. These types of situations could result in higher interest rates, lower prices of U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government securities and could adversely affect a Fund's investments, including in other types of debt instruments.

A Fund may invest in securities issued by government agencies and sold through an auction process, which may be subject to certain risks associated with the auction process. A Fund may also invest in separately traded principal and interest components of securities guaranteed or issued by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if such components trade independently under the Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities program ("STRIPS") or any similar program sponsored by the U.S. government. STRIPS may be sold as zero coupon securities.

**Variable and Floating Rate Instruments—**Certain Funds may invest in variable or floating rate instruments and variable rate demand instruments, including variable amount master demand notes. These instruments will normally involve industrial development or revenue bonds that provide that the rate of interest is set as a specific percentage of a designated base rate (such as the prime rate, SOFR or another rate based on SOFR) at a major commercial bank. In addition, the interest rates on these securities may be reset daily, weekly or on some other reset period and may have a floor or ceiling on interest rate changes. Such Funds can demand payment of the obligation at all times or at stipulated dates on short notice (not to exceed 30 days) at par plus accrued interest. Because of the interest rate adjustment feature, floating rate and variable securities provide a Fund with a certain degree of protection against interest rate increases, although floating rate and variable securities are subject to any declines in interest rates as well. Generally, changes in interest rates will have a smaller effect on the market value of floating rate and variable securities than on the market value of comparable fixed-income obligations. Thus, investing in floating rate and variable securities generally allows less opportunity for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in comparable fixed-income securities.

Debt instruments purchased by a Fund may be structured to have variable or floating interest rates. These instruments may include variable amount master demand notes that permit the indebtedness to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rates.

Other variable and floating rate instruments include but are not limited to certain corporate debt securities, asset-backed securities, MBS, CMBS, collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), government and agency securities. The Investment Manager will consider the earning power, cash flows and other liquidity ratios of the issuers and guarantors of such instruments and, if the instrument is subject to a demand feature, will continuously monitor their financial ability to meet payment on demand. Where necessary to ensure that a variable or floating rate instrument is equivalent to the quality standards applicable to a Fund's fixed-income investments, the issuer's obligation to pay the principal of the instrument will be backed by an unconditional bank letter or line of credit, guarantee or commitment to lend. Any bank providing such a bank letter, line of credit, guarantee or loan commitment will meet a Fund's investment quality standards relating to investments in bank obligations. The Investment Manager will also continuously monitor the creditworthiness of issuers of such instruments to determine whether the Funds should continue to hold the investments.

The absence of an active secondary market for certain variable and floating rate notes could make it difficult to dispose of the instruments, and a Fund could suffer a loss if the issuer defaults or during periods in which the Fund is not entitled to exercise its demand rights.

Variable and floating rate instruments may be classified as illiquid investments (e.g., when a reliable trading market for the instruments does not exist and the Fund may not demand payment of the principal amount of such instruments within seven days).

**When-Issued and Forward Commitment Securities—**The purchase of securities on a "when-issued" basis and the purchase or sale of securities on a "forward commitment" basis may be used to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. The price, which is generally expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date. When-issued securities and forward commitments may be sold prior to the settlement date, but the Funds will enter into when-issued and forward commitments only with the intention of actually receiving or delivering the securities, as the case may be; however, a Fund may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement if the Investment Manager deems it appropriate to do so. No income accrues on securities which have been purchased pursuant to a forward commitment or on a when-issued basis prior to delivery of the securities. If a Fund disposes of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or disposes of its right to deliver or receive against a forward commitment, it may incur a gain or

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loss. A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above. There is a risk that the securities may not be delivered and that the Fund may incur a loss. Forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund's other assets. In addition, FINRA rules include mandatory margin requirements that will require the Funds to post collateral in connection with certain of these transactions. There is no similar requirement applicable to the Funds' counterparties. The required collateralization of these transactions could increase the cost of such transactions to the Funds and impose added operational complexity.

**Zero Coupon and Payment-In-Kind Securities—**Zero coupon securities pay no interest to holders prior to maturity, and payment-in-kind securities pay interest in the form of additional securities. The market value of a zero-coupon or payment-in-kind security, which usually trades at a deep discount from its face or par value, is generally more volatile than the market value of, and is more sensitive to changes in interest rates and credit quality than, other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality that pay interest in cash periodically. Zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities also may be less liquid than other fixed-income securities with similar maturities and credit quality that pay interest in cash periodically. In addition, zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities may be more difficult to value than other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality that pay interest in cash periodically.

When held to maturity, the entire income from zero coupon securities, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. Zero coupon securities, which are convertible into common stock, offer the opportunity for capital appreciation as increases (or decreases) in market value of such securities closely follows the movements in the market value of the underlying common stock. Zero coupon convertible securities generally are expected to be less volatile than the underlying common stocks, as they usually are issued with maturities of 15 years or less and are issued with options and/or redemption features exercisable by the holder of the obligation entitling the holder to redeem the obligation and receive a defined cash payment.

Zero coupon securities include securities issued directly by the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Treasury bonds or notes and their unaccrued interest coupons and receipts for their underlying principal ("coupons") which have been separated by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. A holder will separate the interest coupons from the underlying principal (the "corpus") of the U.S. Treasury security. A number of securities firms and banks have stripped the interest coupons and receipts and then resold them in custodial receipt programs with a number of different names, including "Treasury Income Growth Receipts" (TIGRSTM) and Certificate of Accrual on Treasuries (CATSTM). The underlying U.S. Treasury bonds and notes themselves are held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Counsel to the underwriters of these certificates or other evidences of ownership of the U.S. Treasury securities have stated that, for federal tax and securities purposes, in their opinion purchasers of such certificates, such as a Fund, most likely will be deemed the beneficial holder of the underlying U.S. government securities.

The U.S. Treasury has facilitated transfers of ownership of zero coupon securities by accounting separately for the beneficial ownership of particular interest coupon and corpus payments on Treasury securities through the Federal Reserve book-entry recordkeeping system. The Federal Reserve program as established by the Treasury Department is known as "STRIPS" or "Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities." Under the STRIPS program, a Fund will be able to have its beneficial ownership of zero coupon securities recorded directly in the book-entry recordkeeping system in lieu of having to hold certificates or other evidences of ownership of the underlying U.S. Treasury securities.

When U.S. Treasury obligations have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons by the holder, the principal or corpus is sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment in the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Once stripped or separated, the corpus and coupons may be sold separately. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the Treasury sells itself.

A portion of the original issue discount on zero coupon securities and the "interest" on payment-in-kind securities will be included in a Fund's taxable income. Accordingly, for the Fund to qualify for tax treatment as a regulated investment company and to avoid certain taxes, the Fund will generally be required to distribute to its shareholders an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash it actually receives with respect to these securities. These

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distributions must be made from the Fund's cash assets or, if necessary, from the proceeds of sales of portfolio securities. The Fund will not be able to purchase additional income-producing securities with cash used to make any such distributions, and its current income ultimately may be reduced as a result.

**Investment Restrictions**

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Each of the Funds operates within certain fundamental policies. These fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of the lesser of (1) 67% or more of a Fund's shares present at a meeting of shareholders if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy or (2) more than 50% of a Fund's outstanding shares. Other restrictions in the form of operating policies are subject to change by a Fund's Board of Trustees without shareholder approval; however, should any Fund with a name subject to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, change its policy of investing in at least 80% of its assets (net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the type of investment suggested by that Fund's name, the Fund will provide shareholders at least 60 days' notice prior to making the change, or such other period as is required by applicable law, as interpreted or modified by a regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time. If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment or transaction, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changing values of portfolio securities or amount of total assets will not be considered a violation of any of the following limitations, except with respect to the borrowing limitation. With regard to the borrowing limitation, each Fund will comply with the applicable restrictions of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Any investment restrictions that involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition of securities or assets of a Fund. Calculation of a Fund's total assets for compliance with any of the following fundamental or operating policies or any other investment restrictions set forth in the Fund's Prospectus or SAI will not include cash collateral held in connection with the Fund's securities lending activities.

**Fundamental Policies**—The fundamental policies of each Fund are:

1. Each Fund shall be a "diversified company", as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

2. Each Fund may not act as an underwriter of securities issued by others, except to the extent it could be considered an underwriter in the acquisition and disposition of restricted securities.

3. Each Fund may not "concentrate" its investments in a particular industry, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

4. Each Fund may purchase real estate or any interest therein (such as securities or instruments backed by or related to real estate) to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

5. Each Fund may purchase or sell commodities, including physical commodities, or contracts, instruments and interests relating to commodities to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

6. Each Fund may make loans to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

7. Each Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

8. Each Fund may issue senior securities to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

9. Municipal Income Fund will invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of municipal securities whose interest is free from federal income tax.

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For purposes of Fundamental Policy One, a "diversified company" is currently defined under the 1940 Act as a company which meets the following requirements: at least 75 percent of the value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), Government securities, securities of other investment companies, and other securities for the purposes of this calculation limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5 percent of the value of the total assets of such company and to not more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. For the purposes of this Fundamental Policy, each governmental subdivision, i.e., state, territory, possession of the United States or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, including agencies, authorities, instrumentalities, or similar entities, or of the District of Columbia shall be considered a separate issuer if its assets and revenues are separate from those of the governmental body creating it and the security is backed only by its own assets and revenues. For the purposes of this Fundamental Policy, a Fund generally will consider the borrower of a syndicated bank loan to be the issuer of the syndicated bank loan, but may under unusual circumstances also consider the lender or person inter-positioned between the lender and the Fund to be the issuer of a syndicated bank loan. In making such a determination, the Fund will consider all relevant factors, including the following: the terms of the Loan Agreement and other relevant agreements (including inter-creditor agreements and any agreements between such person and the Fund's custodian); the credit quality of such lender or inter-positioned person; general economic conditions applicable to such lender or inter-positioned person; and other factors relating to the degree of credit risk, if any, of such lender or inter-positioned person incurred by the Fund.

For purposes of Fundamental Policy Three, a Fund may not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry. Industries are determined by reference to the classifications of industries set forth in a Fund's report on Form N-CSR. For the purposes of this Fundamental Policy, the limitation will not apply to a Fund's investments in: (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities; (ii) municipal securities; (iii) repurchase agreements collateralized by the instruments described in (i); and (iv) other investment companies.

For purposes of Fundamental Policy Five, investors should note that as of the date of the Funds' SAI, the 1940 Act permits investments in commodities and commodity interests.

For purposes of Fundamental Policy Seven, if at any time the amount of total Fund assets less all liabilities and indebtedness (but not including the Fund's borrowings) ("asset coverage") is less than an amount equal to 300% of any such borrowings, the Fund will reduce its borrowings within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations so that such asset coverage is again equal to 300% or more.

For purposes of Fundamental Policies Seven and Eight, the term "as permitted under the 1940 Act" indicates that, unless otherwise limited by non-fundamental investment policies, a Fund can borrow and issue senior securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and interpretations thereof, and that no further action generally would be needed to conform the Fund's Fundamental Policies relating to borrowing and senior securities to future change in the 1940 Act and interpretations thereof. Pursuant to the provisions of the 1940 Act and interpretations thereof, a Fund is permitted to borrow from banks and may also enter into certain transactions that are economically equivalent to borrowing (e.g., reverse repurchase agreements).

Under current law as interpreted by the SEC and its staff, a Fund may borrow from: (a) a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund's total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude a Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund, in accordance with Rule 18f-4, aggregates the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the Fund's asset coverage ratio or treats all such transactions as derivatives transactions. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by an investment company evidencing indebtedness. A Fund's limitation with respect to issuing senior securities is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund's engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. SEC Rule 18f-4 governs the use of derivatives and other similar transactions by an investment company. Under Rule 18f-4, a Fund's trading of derivatives and other similar

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transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations is generally subject to value-at-risk leverage limits, derivatives risk management program and reporting requirements, unless the Fund satisfies a "limited derivatives users" exception that is included in the rule.

**Operating Policies**—The operating policy (i.e., that which is non-fundamental) of the Funds is:

**Liquidity** The Funds may invest up to 15% of their net assets in illiquid investments that are assets, which are investments that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.

For purposes of the Operating Policy directly above, under normal circumstances, a Fund will not hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets; however, if investments that were liquid at the time of purchase subsequently become illiquid and result in the Fund holding illiquid investments in excess of 15% of its net assets, the Fund will no longer purchase additional illiquid investments and may reduce its holdings of illiquid investments in an orderly manner, but it is not required to dispose of illiquid holdings immediately if it is not in the interest of the Fund. This test does not require that the disposition of holdings "settle" within seven days, which means that the Fund could meet the liquidity test but be unable to obtain proceeds to pay redemption requests within seven days. In addition, in the event an instrument classified as illiquid that has no value under the Funds' valuation policy and procedures, and the Investment Manager's Rule 2a-5 fair valuation policy and Rule 2a-5 fair valuation procedures, is given a value under such procedures and, as a result, the Fund holds illiquid investments in excess of 15% of its net assets, the Fund will no longer purchase additional illiquid investments. In such case, the Fund may reduce its holdings of illiquid investments in an orderly manner, but it is not required to dispose of illiquid holdings immediately if it is not in the interest of the Fund. Funds with investments subject to liquidity risks tend to hold higher positions of uninvested cash or borrow to meet redemption requests, which hurts Fund performance.

**Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings**

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It is the policy of the Funds to protect the confidentiality of their portfolio holdings and information derived from the portfolio holdings and prevent the selective disclosure of such non-public information. Accordingly, the Board has adopted formal procedures governing compliance with this policy, which are subject to periodic evaluation and review. Any violations of this policy are reported to the Board on a quarterly basis.

Non-public portfolio holdings information may not be disclosed to any unaffiliated third party, except when the Funds have a legitimate business purpose for doing so. Specifically, non-public portfolio holdings information may only be made available to third parties if: (i) such availability is disclosed in the Funds' registration statement, as required by applicable law, as well as on the Funds' website, if applicable; (ii) the Funds' officers determine such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders; (iii) such information is made available, on an equal basis, to anyone requesting it; and (iv) the Investment Manager determines that the disclosure does not present the risk of such information being used to trade against the Funds to their detriment. In addition, prior to authorizing the disclosure of a Fund's non-public portfolio holdings, the Fund's President and/or the Chief Compliance Officer must determine that: (i) such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose and is in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders; and (ii) no conflict exists between the interests of the Fund's shareholders and those of (1) the Investment Manager, (2) the Distributor, or (3) any affiliated person of the Fund, the affiliated person's investment adviser, or the affiliated person's principal underwriter. Each Fund or its duly authorized service providers may publicly disclose holdings of the Fund in accordance with regulatory requirements, such as periodic portfolio disclosure in filings with the SEC.

Recipients of non-public portfolio holdings information, such as mutual fund evaluation services and due diligence departments of broker-dealers and wirehouses, will be subject to a duty of confidentiality, and a duty to not trade based on the non-public information and/or other restrictions on the use and dissemination of the information.

Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to certain service providers and no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals. The policy does not require a delay between the date of the portfolio holding information and the date on which the information is disclosed.

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The Funds also may disclose portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis to certain service providers of the Funds and others, who either by agreement or because of their respective duties to the Funds are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed. The Funds' service providers and others who generally are provided such information in the performance of their contractual duties and responsibilities may include The Bank of New York Mellon ("BNY") (the Funds' custodian and administrator), the Investment Manager, Ernst & Young LLP (the Funds' independent registered public accountant), Dechert LLP (legal counsel to the Funds), Vedder Price P.C. (legal counsel to the Funds' Independent Trustees, as defined below), investment management trade associations (e.g., Investment Company Institute), officers and directors, and each of their respective affiliates. In addition, at this time, portfolio holdings information is shared as follows:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Individual/Entity** | **Frequency** | **Time Lag** |
| Bloomberg | Quarterly | 60 calendar days |
| FactSet | Monthly | 30 calendar days |
| Lipper | Monthly | 30 calendar days |
| Morningstar | Monthly | 30 calendar days |
| State Street | Monthly | 60 calendar days |
| Thompson Financial | Quarterly | 30 calendar days |
| Vickers Stock Research | Monthly | 30 calendar days |

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In addition, the following entities receive this information on a daily basis: FactSet (an analytical system used for portfolio attribution and performance); The Bank of New York Mellon (the Funds' custodian bank); Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) (the Funds' pricing services); Institutional Shareholder Services (proxy voting services); and NEXEN (Eagle) (the Funds' accounting system).

Neither the Funds, their service providers, nor the Investment Manager may receive compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of information about portfolio securities.

Each Fund will publish a complete list of its quarter-end portfolio holdings on its website at www.guggenheiminvestments.com within 60 days of the quarter-end. Such information will remain available, free of charge, on the website for 12 months, or as otherwise required by law. Also, certain Funds may disclose top 10 holdings on a quarterly or other periodic basis through publicly available marketing materials.

The Investment Manager seeks to limit the selective disclosure of portfolio holdings information and such selective disclosure is monitored under the Funds' compliance program for conformity with the policies and procedures. However, there can be no assurance that these policies will protect the Funds from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.

**Management of the Funds**

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**<u>Trustees and Officers</u>**

Oversight of the management and affairs of the Trust and the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Investment Manager for the Funds under the Investment Management Agreement ("Management Agreement") is the responsibility of the Board. Among other things, the Board considers the approval of contracts, described herein, under which certain companies provide essential management and administrative services to the Trust. Once the contracts are approved, the Board monitors the level and quality of services. Annually, the Board evaluates the services received under the contracts by receiving reports covering, among other things, investment performance, administrative services, competitiveness of fees and the Investment Manager's profitability.

The Board currently has 6 Trustees, 5 of whom are not "interested persons" (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Trust (each, an "Independent Trustee" and collectively, the "Independent Trustees"). Each Independent Trustee does not own, nor do any of his or her immediate family members own, any stock or other securities issued by the Investment Manager or the Distributor or a person (other than a registered investment company, if applicable) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager or the Distributor as of December 31, 2025. Ms. Amy J. Lee is an "interested person" (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Trust (an "Interested Trustee") because of her position with the Investment Manager and/or the parent of the Investment Manager.

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The Trustees, their term of office and length of time served, their principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Guggenheim Funds Group fund complex ("Fund Complex") overseen by each Trustee, and other directorships, if any, held by the Trustee are shown below. The Fund Complex includes all closed- and open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment adviser or servicing agent that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund Complex is comprised of 4 closed-end funds and 123 open-end funds advised or serviced by the Investment Manager or its affiliates.

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** |
| Angela Brock-Kyle <br> (1959)<br>| Trustee | Since 2019 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Retired.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Founder and Chief <br> Executive Officer, <br> B.O.A.R.D.S. (consulting <br> firm) (2013-2023); Senior <br> Leader, TIAA (financial <br> services firm) (1987-2012).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Kelly Services, <br> Inc. (2026-present); <br> Global X Venture Fund <br> (2025-present); Hunt <br> Companies, Inc. (2019-<br> present); Mutual Fund <br> Directors Forum (2022-<br> present); Bowhead <br> Specialty Holdings Inc. <br> (2024-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2019-2025); Bowhead <br> Insurance GP, LLC <br> (2020-2024); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2019-2023); Fiduciary/<br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2019-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2019-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2019-2021); Infinity <br> Property & Casualty <br> Corp. (2014-2018).<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. <br> (1960)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee and <br> Chair of the <br> Contracts <br> Review <br> Committee<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Since 2019<br> (Trustee)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2020<br> (Chair of the<br> Contracts Review<br> Committee)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: President, Global <br> Trends Investments <br> (registered investment <br> adviser) (1996-present); <br> CEO, Lydon Media (2016- <br> present). <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Vice Chairman, <br> VettaFi, a wholly owned <br> subsidiary of The TMX <br> Group (financial advisor <br> content, research, index <br> and digital distribution <br> provider) (2022-2024); <br> CEO, ETF Flows, LLC <br> (financial advisor education <br> and research provider) <br> (2019-2023); Director, GDX <br> Index Partners, LLC (index <br> provider) (2021-2023).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: 2023 ETF <br> Series Trust (12) (2023-<br> present); US Global <br> Investors, Inc. (GROW) <br> (1995-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: 2023 ETF <br> Series Trust II (6) <br> (2023-2025); <br> Transparent Value Trust <br> (4) (2019-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2019-2023); Fiduciary/<br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2019-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2019-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2019-2021).<br>|
| Ronald A. Nyberg<br> (1953)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee and <br> Chair of the <br> Nominating <br> and <br> Governance <br> Committee<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Of Counsel <br> (formerly Partner), Momkus <br> LLP (law firm) (2016-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Partner, Nyberg & <br> Cassioppi, LLC (law firm) <br> (2000-2016); Executive <br> Vice President, General <br> Counsel, and Corporate <br> Secretary, Van Kampen <br> Investments (1982-1999).<br>| 127 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Advent <br> Convertible and Income <br> Fund (2003-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2015-2025); PPM <br> Funds (2) (2018-2024); <br> Endeavor Health <br> (2012-2024); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2015-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2004-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2005-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2013-2021).<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| Sandra G. Sponem <br> (1958)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee and <br> Chair of the <br> Audit <br> Committee<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Since 2019<br> (Trustee)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2020<br> (Chair of the<br> Audit Committee)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Retired.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Senior Vice <br> President and Chief <br> Financial Officer, M.A. <br> Mortenson Companies, Inc. <br> (construction and real <br> estate development <br> company) (2007-2017).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: SPDR Series <br> Trust (86) (2018- <br> present); SPDR Index <br> Shares Funds (25) <br> (2018-present); SSGA <br> Active Trust (35) (2018- <br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2019-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2019-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2019-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2019-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2019-2021).<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.<br> (1958)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee,<br> Chair of the <br> Board and <br> Chair of the<br> Executive <br> Committee<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Portfolio <br> Consultant (2010-present); <br> Member, Governing <br> Council, Independent <br> Directors Council (2013-<br> present); Governor, Board <br> of Governors, Investment <br> Company Institute (2018-<br> present); Member, Board of <br> Governors Investment <br> Committee, Investment <br> Company Institute (2026-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Member, Executive <br> Committee, Independent <br> Directors Council <br> (2016-2018); Vice <br> President, Manager and <br> Portfolio Manager, Nuveen <br> Asset Management <br> (1998-1999); Vice <br> President, Nuveen <br> Investment Advisory Corp. <br> (1992-1999); Vice <br> President and Manager, <br> Nuveen Unit Investment <br> Trusts (1991-1999); and <br> Assistant Vice President <br> and Portfolio Manager, <br> Nuveen Unit Investment <br> Trusts (1988-1999), each of <br> John Nuveen & Co., Inc. <br> (registered broker-dealer) <br> (1982-1999).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2015-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2015-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2004-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2005-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2013-2021).<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** |
| Amy J. Lee\*\*\*\* <br> (1961)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee, <br> Vice <br> President <br> and <br> Chief Legal <br> Officer<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Since 2018<br> (Trustee)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2014<br> (Chief Legal <br> Officer)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2007<br> (Vice <br> President)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Interested Trustee, <br> certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2018-<br> present); Chief Legal <br> Officer, certain other funds <br> in the Fund Complex (2014-<br> present); Vice President, <br> certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2007-<br> present); Senior Managing <br> Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2012-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: President and/or <br> Chief Executive Officer, <br> certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2017- <br> 2019); Vice President, <br> Associate General Counsel <br> and Assistant Secretary, <br> Security Benefit Life <br> Insurance Company and <br> Security Benefit <br> Corporation (2004-2012).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2018-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2018-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2018-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2018- 2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2018-2021).<br>|

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\*

The business address of each Trustee is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

\*\*

Each Trustee serves during the lifetime of the Trust or until he or she dies, resigns, has reached the mandatory retirement age, is declared incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, is removed or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to the Trust's Independent Trustees Retirement Policy and the Trust's organizational documents. Time served may include time served in the respective position for certain predecessor entities of the Trust.

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Each Trustee also serves on the boards of trustees of Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, Guggenheim Variable Funds Trust, Rydex Dynamic Funds, Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Variable Trust, Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund, Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund, and Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust. Mr. Nyberg also serves on the board of trustees of Advent Convertible and Income Fund. Together with the Trust, these funds are referred to as the "Fund Complex." Figures provided in parentheses after the name of a fund complex indicate the number of funds overseen in that complex.

\*\*\*\*

This Trustee is deemed to be an "interested person" of the Trust under the 1940 Act by reason of her position with the Funds' Investment Manager and/or the parent of the Investment Manager.

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The executive officers of the Trust (other than Ms. Lee), length of time served, and principal business occupations during the past five years are shown below.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Address\*** <br> **and Year of** <br> **Birth of the** <br> **Officers**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s) Held** <br> **with the Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of Office** <br> **and Length of** <br> **Time Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s) During** <br> **the Past 5 Years**<br>|
| Brian E. Binder<br> (1972)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; President and <br> Chief Executive <br> Officer<br>| Since 2018 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Board Member and Chief <br> Executive Officer, Guggenheim <br> Investments Private Credit Fund <br> (2026-present); President, Mutual <br> Funds Boards, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2022-present); <br> President and Chief Executive <br> Officer, certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2018-present); <br> President, Mutual Funds Board <br> and Senior Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Funds Investment <br> Advisors, LLC and Security <br> Investors, LLC (2018-present); <br> Board Member, Guggenheim <br> Partners Investment Funds plc <br> (2022-present); Board Member, <br> Guggenheim Global Investments <br> plc (2022-present). <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Board Member and <br> Chairman, Guggenheim Credit <br> Income Fund (2024-2025); Board <br> Member, Guggenheim Partners <br> Fund Management (Europe) <br> Limited (2018-2024); Senior <br> Managing Director and Chief <br> Administrative Officer, <br> Guggenheim Investments <br> (2018-2022); Managing Director <br> and President, Deutsche Funds, <br> and Head of US Product, Trading <br> and Fund Administration, <br> Deutsche Asset Management <br> (2013-2018); Managing Director, <br> Chairman of North American <br> Executive Committee and Head of <br> Business Management and <br> Consulting, Invesco Ltd. <br> (2010-2012).<br>|
| James Howley<br> (1972)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer, <br> Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, and <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2022 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2004-<br> present); Chief Financial Officer, <br> Chief Accounting Officer, and <br> Treasurer, certain other funds in <br> the Fund Complex (2022-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Assistant Treasurer, <br> certain other funds in the Fund <br> Complex (2006-2022); Manager, <br> Mutual Fund Administration of <br> Van Kampen Investments, Inc. <br> (1996-2004).<br>|

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Address\*** <br> **and Year of** <br> **Birth of the** <br> **Officers**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s) Held** <br> **with the Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of Office** <br> **and Length of** <br> **Time Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s) During** <br> **the Past 5 Years**<br>|
| Mark E. Mathiasen<br> (1978)<br>| Secretary | Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Secretary, certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2007-<br> present); Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2007-<br> present).<br>|
| Glenn McWhinnie<br> (1969)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2016 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Vice President, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2009-<br> present); Assistant Treasurer, <br> certain other funds in the Fund <br> Complex (2016-present).<br>|
| Michael Megaris<br> (1984)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Secretary<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Assistant Secretary, <br> certain other funds in the Fund <br> Complex (2014-present); <br> Managing Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2012-present).<br>|
| Elisabeth Miller<br> (1968)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Chief<br> Compliance<br> Officer<br>| Since 2012 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Chief Compliance <br> Officer, certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2012-present); <br> Senior Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2012-<br> present); Senior Managing <br> Director, Guggenheim Funds <br> Distributors, LLC (2014-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Chief Compliance Officer, <br> Security Investors, LLC and <br> Guggenheim Funds Investment <br> Advisors, LLC (2012-2018); Chief <br> Compliance Officer, Guggenheim <br> Distributors, LLC (2009-2014); <br> Senior Manager, Security <br> Investors, LLC (2004-2014); <br> Senior Manager, Guggenheim <br> Distributors, LLC (2004-2014).<br>|
| Margaux Misantone<br> (1978)<br>| AML Officer | Since 2017 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Chief Compliance <br> Officer, Security Investors, LLC <br> and Guggenheim Funds <br> Investment Advisors, LLC (2018-<br> present); AML Officer, Security <br> Investors, LLC and certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2017-<br> present); Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2015-<br> present).<br>|

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Address\*** <br> **and Year of** <br> **Birth of the** <br> **Officers**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s) Held** <br> **with the Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of Office** <br> **and Length of** <br> **Time Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s) During** <br> **the Past 5 Years**<br>|
| Kimberly J. Scott <br> (1974)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2012-present); <br> Assistant Treasurer, certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2012-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Financial Reporting <br> Manager, Invesco, Ltd. <br> (2010-2011); Vice President/<br> Assistant Treasurer, Mutual Fund <br> Administration for Van Kampen <br> Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley <br> Investment Management <br> (2009-2010); Manager of Mutual <br> Fund Administration, Van Kampen <br> Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley <br> Investment Management <br> (2005-2009).<br>|
| Jon Szafran<br> (1989)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2017 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2017-present); <br> Assistant Treasurer, certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2017-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Assistant Treasurer of <br> Henderson Global Funds and <br> Manager of US Fund <br> Administration, Henderson Global <br> Investors (North America) Inc. <br> ("HGINA") (2017); Senior Analyst <br> of US Fund Administration, <br> HGINA (2014-2017); Senior <br> Associate of Fund Administration, <br> Cortland Capital Market Services, <br> LLC (2013-2014); Experienced <br> Associate, <br> PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP <br> (2012-2013).<br>|

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\*

The business address of each officer is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

\*\*

Each officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, inability to serve, resignation or removal. Time served may include time served in the respective position for certain predecessor entities of the Trust.

**Board Leadership Structure**

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The primary responsibility of the Board is to represent the interest of the Funds and to provide oversight of the management of the Funds. The Funds' day-to-day operations are managed by the Investment Manager and other service providers who have been approved by the Board. The Board is currently comprised of six Trustees, five of whom (including the chairperson) are Independent Trustees. The Board generally acts by majority vote of all the Trustees and, if required by applicable laws, also by a majority vote of the Independent Trustees.

The Board has appointed an Independent Chair, Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., who presides at Board meetings and who is responsible for, among other things, participating in the planning of Board meetings, setting the tone of Board meetings and seeking to encourage open dialogue and independent inquiry among the Trustees and management. In addition, the Independent Chair acts as a liaison with officers, counsel and other Trustees between meetings of the Board. The Independent Chair may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from

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time to time. The Board has established four standing committees (as described below) and has delegated certain responsibilities to those committees, each of which is comprised solely of Independent Trustees. The Board and its committees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds' activities, including through the review of the Trust's: contractual arrangements with service providers; the Funds' financial statements; compliance with regulatory requirements; and performance. The Board may also establish informal working groups from time to time to review and address the policies and practices of the Trust or the Board with respect to certain specified matters. The Independent Trustees are advised by independent legal counsel experienced in 1940 Act matters and are represented by such independent legal counsel at Board and committee meetings. The Board has determined that this leadership structure, including an Independent Chair, a supermajority of Independent Trustees and committee membership limited to Independent Trustees, is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust because it allocates responsibilities among the Committees and the Board in a manner that further enhances effective oversight. The Board considered, among other things: the number of portfolios that comprise the Trust and other trusts in the Guggenheim Family of Funds overseen by members of the Board; the variety of asset classes those portfolios include; the net assets of each Fund, the Trust and the Guggenheim Family of Funds; and the management, distribution and other service arrangements of each Fund, the Trust and the Guggenheim Family of Funds. The Board may at any time and in its discretion change this leadership structure.

**Qualifications and Experience of Trustees**

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The Trustees considered the educational, business and professional experience of each Board member and the service by each Trustee as a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex. The Trustees were selected to serve on the Board based upon their skills, experience, judgment, analytical ability, diligence, ability to work effectively with other Trustees, availability and commitment to attend meetings and perform the responsibilities of a Trustee and, for the Independent Trustees, a demonstrated willingness to take an independent and questioning view of management. The Trustees also considered, among other factors, the particular attributes described below with respect to the individual Board members. References to the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") requirements, do not constitute holding out of the Board or any Trustee as having special expertise and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

**Angela Brock-Kyle—**Ms. Brock-Kyle has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2019 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2016. Through her service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, her service on another registered investment company board, prior employment experience, including at TIAA where she spent 25 years in leadership roles, her professional training in law and business and her experience serving on the boards of public, private and non-profit organizations, including service as audit committee chair and as a member of governance and nominating committees, Ms. Brock-Kyle is experienced in financial, accounting, regulatory, governance and investment matters.

**Thomas F. Lydon, Jr.—**Mr. Lydon has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2019 and as a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex since 2005. Through his service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as Chair of the Contracts Review Committee, his service on other registered investment company boards, his experience as President of Global Trends Investments, a registered investment adviser, his service on the board of U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW), an investment adviser and transfer agent, and his authorship and editorial experience regarding exchange-traded funds, Mr. Lydon is experienced in financial, investment and governance matters.

**Ronald A. Nyberg—**Mr. Nyberg has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2014 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2003. Through his service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, his service on other registered investment company boards, his professional training and experience as an attorney and his former experience as a partner of the law firm, Momkus LLP, and Nyberg & Cassioppi, LLC, and Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Van Kampen Investments, an asset management firm, Mr. Nyberg is experienced in financial, regulatory and governance matters.

**Sandra G. Sponem—**Ms. Sponem has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2019 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2016. Through her service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as Chair of the Audit Committee, her service on other registered investment company boards, her prior employment experience, including as Chief Financial Officer of Piper Jaffray Companies, Inc. (now Piper Sandler Companies) and its predecessor, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Inc., and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of M.A. Mortenson Companies, Inc., a construction and real estate development company, her Certified Public Accountant (inactive) designation and previously held securities licenses and extensive knowledge of

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accounting and finance and the financial services industry, Ms. Sponem is experienced in accounting, financial, governance and investment matters. The Board has determined that Ms. Sponem is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC.

**Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.—**Mr. Toupin has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2014 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2003. Mr. Toupin currently serves on the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council ("IDC") of the Investment Company Institute ("ICI") and on the Board of Governors of the ICI. Through his service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as the Independent Chair of the Board, his prior service on other registered investment company boards, and his professional training and prior employment experience, including as Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Nuveen Asset Management, an asset management firm, Mr. Toupin is experienced in financial, regulatory, governance and investment matters.

**Amy J. Lee—**Ms. Lee has served as a Trustee of the Trust and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2018. Through her service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, her service as Chief Legal Officer of the Trust and certain other funds in the Fund Complex, her service as Senior Managing Director of Guggenheim Investments, as well as her prior experience as Associate General Counsel, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Security Benefit Life Insurance Company and Security Benefit Corporation, Ms. Lee is experienced in financial, legal, regulatory and governance matters.

Each Trustee also has considerable familiarity with the Trust, the Funds, the Investment Manager and other service providers, and their operations, as well as the special regulatory requirements governing registered investment companies and the special responsibilities of investment company trustees as a result of his/her substantial prior service as a Trustee of the funds in the Fund Complex, or with respect to Ms. Lee, her extensive experience in the financial industry, including her experience with the parent of the investment advisers of the funds of the Fund Complex.

**Board's Role in Risk Oversight**

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The day-to-day business of the Funds, including the day-to-day management and administration of the Funds and of the risks that arise from the Funds' investments and operations, is performed by third-party service providers, primarily the Investment Manager and the Distributor. Consistent with its responsibility for oversight of the Trust, the Board is responsible for overseeing the service providers and thus, has oversight responsibility with respect to the risk management functions performed by those service providers. Risks to the Funds and the Trust include, among others, investment risk, credit risk, derivatives risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, compliance risk and operational risk, as well as the overall business risk relating to the Funds. The risk management function seeks to identify and mitigate the potential effects of risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, investment performance or reputation of the Funds. Under the oversight of the Board, the service providers to the Funds employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to seek to identify risks relevant to the operations of the Funds and to lessen the probability of the occurrence of such risks and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Funds' business and consequently, for managing risks associated with that activity. Each of the Investment Manager, the Distributor and other service providers has its own independent interest in risk management, and its policies and methods of carrying out risk management functions will depend, in part, on its analysis of the risks, functions and business models. Accordingly, Board oversight of different types of risks may be handled in different ways. As part of the Board's periodic review of the Funds' advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of the service providers' operations and the functions for which they are responsible.

The Board oversees risk management for the Funds directly and through the committee structure it has established. The Board has established the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Contracts Review Committee to assist in its oversight functions, including its oversight of the risks each Fund faces. For instance, the Audit Committee receives reports from the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm on internal control and financial reporting matters. In addition, the Board has established an Executive Committee to act on the Board's behalf, to the extent permitted and as necessary, in between meetings of the Board. Each committee reports its activities to the Board on a regular basis, as applicable. The Board also oversees the risk management of the Funds' operations by requesting periodic reports from and otherwise communicating with various personnel of the Trust and its service providers, including, in particular, the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, its independent registered public accounting firm and Guggenheim Investments' risk management personnel and internal auditors for the Investment Manager or its affiliates, as applicable. In this connection, the Board requires officers of the Trust to report a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board and its committees, as applicable, including matters relating to risk management. On at least a quarterly basis, the Board meets with the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, including separate meetings with the Independent Trustees in executive session, to discuss

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compliance matters and, on at least an annual basis, receives a report from the Chief Compliance Officer regarding the adequacy of the policies and procedures of the Trust and certain service providers and the effectiveness of their implementation. The Board, with the assistance of Trust management, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of the Funds' performance. In addition, the Board receives reports from the Investment Manager on the investments and securities trading of the Funds. With respect to valuation, the Board oversees the Investment Manager as valuation designee in the performance of fair value determinations of the Funds' securities and/or other assets in accordance with Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. The Board has approved the Funds' valuation policy and procedures and the Investment Manager's Rule 2a-5 fair valuation policy and procedures applicable to valuing the Funds' securities and other assets, which the Board and the Audit Committee periodically review. The Board reviews, at least annually, a written report from the valuation designee that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the valuation designee's fair value process and also receives periodic and prompt reporting on fair value matters from the valuation designee, in accordance with the Trust's valuation policy and procedures. The Board also requires the Investment Manager to report to the Board on other matters relating to risk management on a regular and as-needed basis.

The Board oversees the Funds' liquidity risk through, among other things, receiving periodic reporting and presentations by investment and other personnel of the Investment Manager. Additionally, as required by Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Trust implemented the Liquidity Program, which is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Funds' liquidity risk. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the designation of a liquidity risk management program administrator (the "Liquidity Program Administrator") which is responsible for administering the Liquidity Program. The Board reviews, no less frequently than annually, a written report prepared by the Liquidity Program Administrator that addresses the operation of the Liquidity Program and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation.

The Board oversees the Funds' use of derivatives in accordance with Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. As required by Rule 18f-4, with respect to each of the Funds that is not classified as a "limited derivatives user fund" (as defined in Rule 18f-4) (each a "Full Compliance Fund"), the Trust has implemented a Derivatives Risk Management Program, which is reasonably designed to manage the Full Compliance Funds' derivatives risks and to reasonably segregate the functions associated with the Program from the portfolio management of such Funds. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the designation of a Derivatives Risk Manager (the "DRM"), which is responsible for administering the Derivatives Risk Management Program for the Full Compliance Funds. To facilitate the Board's oversight, the Board reviews, no less frequently than annually, a written report on the effectiveness of the Derivatives Risk Management Program and also more frequent reports regarding certain derivatives risk matters. With respect to each Fund that is classified as a limited derivatives user fund (each an "LDU Fund"), the Board oversees the Fund's derivatives risks through, among other things, receiving written reports by the Investment Manager regarding any LDU Fund's exceedance of the derivatives exposure threshold set forth in Rule 18f-4. Additionally, as required by Rule 18f-4, the Trust has implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage the LDU Funds' derivatives risks.

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds 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 seek to achieve the Funds' investment objectives, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and assessments and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel. Moreover, despite the periodic reports the Board receives, it may not be made aware of all of the relevant information of a particular risk. Most of the Funds' investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Investment Manager, Distributor and other service providers, most of whom employ professional personnel who have risk management responsibilities and each of whom has an independent interest in risk management, which interest could differ from or conflict with that of the other funds that are advised by the Investment Manager. The role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust's investments, operations or activities. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board's risk management oversight is subject to limitations. The Board may at any time and in its discretion change how it administers its risk oversight function.

**Board Committees**

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**Audit Committee—**The Board has an Audit Committee, which is composed of Angela Brock-Kyle, Thomas F. Lydon, Jr., Ronald A. Nyberg, Sandra G. Sponem, and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Ms. Sponem serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is generally responsible for certain oversight matters, such as reviewing the Funds' systems for accounting, financial reporting and internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers, overseeing the integrity of the Funds' financial

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statements (and the audit thereof), reviewing reports from the Investment Manager on portfolio securities pricing errors and errors in the calculation of the net asset value of a Fund, as well as overseeing the qualifications, independence and performance of the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for recommending to the Board the appointment, retention and termination of the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm and acting as a liaison between the Board and the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Contracts Review Committee—**The Board has a Contracts Review Committee, which is composed of Angela Brock-Kyle, Thomas F. Lydon, Jr., Ronald A. Nyberg, Sandra G. Sponem, and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Lydon serves as Chair of the Contracts Review Committee. The purpose of the Contracts Review Committee is to assist the Board in overseeing the evaluation of certain contracts to which the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, is or is proposed to be a party to ensure that the interests of the Fund and its shareholders are served by the terms of these contracts. The Contracts Review Committee's primary function is to oversee the process of evaluating existing investment advisory and subadvisory agreements, distribution agreements, distribution and/or shareholder services plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and certain other agreements and plans. In addition, at its discretion or at the request of the Board, the Contracts Review Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to any contract to which the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, is or is proposed to be a party. The Contracts Review Committee held two meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Executive Committee—**The Board has an Executive Committee, which is composed of Sandra G. Sponem and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management of the business of the Funds. Mr. Toupin serves as Chair of the Executive Committee. However, the Executive Committee cannot, among other things, authorize dividends or distributions on shares, amend the bylaws or recommend to the shareholders any action which requires shareholder approval. The Executive Committee held no meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Nominating and Governance Committee—**The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee, which is composed of Angela Brock-Kyle, Thomas F. Lydon, Jr., Ronald A. Nyberg, Sandra G. Sponem, and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Nyberg serves as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

The purpose of the Nominating and Governance Committee is to review matters pertaining to the composition, committees, and operations of the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for recommending qualified candidates to the Board in the event that a position is vacated or created. The Nominating and Governance Committee would consider recommendations by shareholders if a vacancy were to exist and shall assess shareholder recommendations in the same manner as it reviews its own candidates. To have a candidate considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee, a shareholder should submit the recommendation in writing, delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Trust at 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850 to the attention of the Nominating and Governance Committee, care of the Secretary of the Trust. Additional requirements and procedures relating to shareholder submissions may be communicated to the shareholder in response to the submission. The Nominating and Governance Committee periodically reviews other governance and policy matters affecting the operation of the Board and Board committees, including the Independent Trustee compensation structure. The Nominating and Governance Committee held three meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Remuneration of Trustees**

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The Independent Trustees of the Trust receive from the Fund Complex a general annual retainer for service on covered boards. Additional annual retainer fees are paid to: the Independent Chair of the Board; and the Chair (and Vice Chair, if any) of each of the Audit Committee, the Contracts Review Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. In addition, fees are paid for special Board or Committee meetings, whether telephonic or in-person. The Trust also reimburses each Independent Trustee for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket

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expenses incurred in attending in-person meetings, which are not included in the compensation amounts shown below. Each Fund pays proportionately its respective share of Independent Trustees' fees and expenses based in part on a per capita allocation and in part based on relative net assets.

The Trustees did not accrue any pension or retirement benefits as part of Trust expenses, nor will they receive any annual benefits upon retirement. The Trustees also did not accrue any deferred compensation nor is any amount of deferred compensation payable by the Trust. The aggregate compensation paid by the Trust, and the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund Complex, including the Guggenheim Family of Funds, to each of the Independent Trustees during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 are set forth below.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Independent Trustees** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate** <br> **Compensation** <br> **from the Trust\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate Compensation** <br> **from the Fund Complex\*\*,**<br> **including the Family of**<br> **Funds**<br>|
| Angela Brock-Kyle | $138693 | $377500 |
| Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. | $149559 | $406250 |
| Ronald A. Nyberg | $149559 | $504750 |
| Sandra G. Sponem | $155642 | $422500 |
| Ronald E. Toupin, Jr. | $185775 | $502500 |

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\*

In accordance with the Trust's Independent Trustee Retirement Policy, Mr. Randall C. Barnes resigned from the Board effective on April 2, 2026. For the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, Mr. Barnes received $149,559 in aggregate compensation from the Trust and $506,750 in total compensation from the Fund Complex.

\*\*

The "Fund Complex" includes all closed- and open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment adviser or servicing agent that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager.

The Investment Manager compensates its officers and directors who may also serve as officers or Trustees. The Trust does not pay any fees to, or reimburse expenses of, the Interested Trustee.

**Trustees' Ownership of Securities**

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As of the end of the most recently completed calendar year, the Trustees beneficially owned shares of the Funds in the dollar ranges set forth below and also beneficially owned shares of other funds in the Fund Complex in the dollar ranges set forth below. If a Fund is not shown for a Trustee, the Trustee did not beneficially own shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Independent** <br> **Trustee**<br>| **Name of Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Dollar Range** <br> **of Equity Securities**<br> **in the Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate Dollar Range of** <br> **Equity Securities in all** <br> **Registered Investment** <br> **Companies Overseen by** <br> **Trustee in Fund Complex\*,**<br> **Including the Family of**<br> **Funds**<br>|
| Angela Brock-Kyle | Macro Opportunities Fund | $10001-$50000 | Over $100,000 |
| Angela Brock-Kyle | Total Return Bond Fund | $10001-$50000 | Over $100,000 |
| Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. | N/A |  | $10001-$50000 |
| Ronald A. Nyberg | N/A |  | Over $100,000 |
| Sandra G. Sponem | Total Return Bond Fund | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 |
| Ronald E. Toupin, Jr. | Macro Opportunities Fund | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 |
| Ronald E. Toupin, Jr. | Total Return Bond Fund | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 |

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Interested** <br> **Trustee**<br>| **Name of Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Dollar Range of**<br> **Equity Securities in**<br> **the Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate Dollar Range of** <br> **Equity Securities in all** <br> **Registered Investment**<br> **Companies Overseen by**<br> **Trustee in Fund Complex\*,**<br> **Including the Family of**<br> **Funds**<br>|
| Amy J. Lee | Macro Opportunities Fund | $1-10000 | $1-10000 |

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\*

The "Fund Complex" includes all closed- and open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment adviser or servicing agent that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager.

**Principal Holders of Securities**

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As of December 31, 2025, the Funds' officers and Trustees (as a group) beneficially owned less than 1.00% of the total outstanding shares of any class of the Funds.

As of December 31, 2025, the following entities owned, of record or beneficially unless otherwise indicated, 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of any class of a Fund:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| UMB Bank N.A.<sup>2</sup> <br>Security Financial Resources<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 5801 SW 6th Ave.<br> Topeka, KS 66636<br>| Core Bond Fund | A | 59.98% |
| NFS LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 200 Liberty Street<br> New York, NY 10281<br>| Core Bond Fund | A | 5.55% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| Core Bond Fund | A | 5.08% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 21.96% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 12.42% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 11.87% |
| Centennial Bank Trust | &nbsp;&nbsp; P.O. Box 7514<br> Jonesboro, AR 72403<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 9.66% |
| Raymond James | &nbsp;&nbsp; 880 Carillon Parkway<br> St. Petersburg, FL 33716<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 8.18% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 7.86% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 7.07% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 6.08% |
| American Enterprise Investment Services | &nbsp;&nbsp; 707 2nd Avenue South<br> Minneapolis, MN 55402<br>| Core Bond Fund | C | 5.73% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| Core Bond Fund | Inst. | 21.68% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| Core Bond Fund | Inst. | 19.29% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| Core Bond Fund | Inst. | 15.75% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| Core Bond Fund | Inst. | 12.94% |
| American Enterprise Investment Services | &nbsp;&nbsp; 707 2nd Avenue South<br> Minneapolis, MN 55402<br>| Core Bond Fund | Inst. | 10.15% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| Core Bond Fund | Inst. | 7.42% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| Core Bond Fund | Inst. | 6.47% |

---

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> | **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| National Financial Services LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| Core Bond Fund | P | 47.98% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| Core Bond Fund | P | 46.79% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| A | 25.96% |
| UMB Bank N.A.<br> Security Financial Resources<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 5801 SW 6<sup>th</sup> Ave.<br> Topeka, KS 66636<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| A | 21.78% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| A | 9.94% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| A | 9.26% |
| Raymond James<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 880 Carillon Parkway<br> St. Petersburg, FL 33716<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| C | 31.71% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| C | 20.52% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| C | 11.96% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| C | 8.08% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| C | 7.51% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.  | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| C | 7.26% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| Inst. | 23.48% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| Inst. | 16.22% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| Inst. | 13.43% |
| UBS Financial Services Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1000 Harbor Blvd.<br> Weehawken, NJ 07086<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| Inst. | 13.14% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| Inst. | 9.00% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| Inst. | 5.08% |
| National Financial Services LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| P | 60.43% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| P | 34.31% |
| Series F (Floating Rate Strategies Series)<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 227 W. Monroe St., Suite 4900<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| R6 | 78.12% |
| Voya Retirement Insurance & Annuity <br> Company<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; One Orange Way<br> Windsor, CT 06095<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| R6 | 10.20% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Floating Rate <br> Strategies Fund<br>| R6 | 6.75% |
| UMB Bank N.A.<sup>2</sup> <br>Security Financial Resources<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 5801 SW 6th Ave.<br> Topeka, KS 66636<br>| High Yield Fund | A | 45.19% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| High Yield Fund | A | 8.45% |
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 250 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1400<br> Minneapolis, MN 55401<br>| High Yield Fund | A | 5.69% |
| SBL Variable Annuity Account XIV<br> Security Benefit Life Insurance Company<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 5801 SW 6th Ave.<br> Topeka, KS 66636<br>| High Yield Fund | A | 5.32% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| High Yield Fund | C | 36.02% |
| LPL Financial<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| High Yield Fund | C | 28.75% |

---

------

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> | **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| High Yield Fund | C | 15.44% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| High Yield Fund | C | 8.79% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| High Yield Fund | Inst. | 20.05% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| High Yield Fund | Inst. | 18.21% |
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 250 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1400<br> Minneapolis, MN 55401<br>| High Yield Fund | Inst. | 17.43% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| High Yield Fund | Inst. | 14.60% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| High Yield Fund | Inst. | 9.68% |
| UBS Financial Services Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1000 Harbor Blvd.<br> Weehawken, NJ 07086<br>| High Yield Fund | Inst. | 5.72% |
| National Financial Services LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| High Yield Fund | P | 67.69% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| High Yield Fund | P | 21.17% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| High Yield Fund | P | 5.24% |
| DCGT<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 717 17th Street, Suite 1300<br> Denver, CO 80202<br>| High Yield Fund | R6 | 76.70% |
| State Street Bank | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Lincoln Street<br> Boston, MA 02111<br>| High Yield Fund | R6 | 15.40% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| High Yield Fund | R6 | 5.90% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>FEBO Customers<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| A | 25.47% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| A | 20.82% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| A | 11.05% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| A | 8.16% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| A | 6.90% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| A | 5.94% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 27.11% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 15.50% |
| Raymond James | &nbsp;&nbsp; 880 Carillon Parkway<br> St. Petersburg, FL 33716<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 9.47% |
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 250 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1400<br> Minneapolis, MN 55401<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 8.25% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 7.35% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 6.20% |
| Centennial Bank Trust | &nbsp;&nbsp; P.O. Box 7514<br> Jonesboro, AR 72403<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 6.10% |
| American Enterprise Investment Services | &nbsp;&nbsp; 707 2nd Avenue South<br> Minneapolis, MN 55402<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| C | 5.36% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 31.33% |

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> | **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 18.40% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 17.41% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 6.29% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 6.18% |
| National Financial Services LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| P | 51.33% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| P | 41.63% |
| Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 227 W. Monroe St., Suite 4900<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| R6 | 38.56% |
| Guggenheim Total Return Bond Fund<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 227 W. Monroe St., Suite 4900<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| R6 | 37.80% |
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4 Chase Metrotech Center<br> Brooklyn, NY 11245<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| R6 | 8.84% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Limited Duration <br> Fund<br>| R6 | 7.32% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| A | 25.50% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| A | 14.86% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| A | 12.67% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| A | 7.43% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| A | 6.71% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| A | 6.62% |
| Raymond James | &nbsp;&nbsp; 880 Carillon Parkway<br> St. Petersburg, FL 33716<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| A | 5.87% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 28.95% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 19.89% |
| Raymond James | &nbsp;&nbsp; 880 Carillon Parkway<br> St. Petersburg, FL 33716<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 9.37% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 7.52% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 7.28% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 6.16% |

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> | **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 6.10% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| C | 5.28% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 24.46% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 13.81% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 13.77% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 12.09% |
| UBS Financial Services Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1000 Harbor Blvd.<br> Weehawken, NJ 07086<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 9.49% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| Inst. | 5.30% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| P | 58.04% |
| National Financial Services LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| P | 25.68% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| P | 7.14% |
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 4 Chase Metrotech Center<br> Brooklyn, NY 11245<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Macro <br> Opportunities <br> Fund<br>| R6 | 89.44% |
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 250 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1400<br> Minneapolis, MN 55401<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| A | 40.78% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| A | 13.53% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| A | 12.56% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| A | 7.01% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| A | 6.89% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| A | 5.04% |
| Raymond James<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 880 Carillon Parkway<br> St. Petersburg, FL 33716<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| C | 26.60% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| C | 24.09% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| C | 22.56% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| C | 18.57% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| C | 8.18% |
| LPL Financial<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| Inst. | 88.78% |

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------

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> | **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| P | 57.17% |
| National Financial Services LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| P | 30.42% |
| Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 227 W. Monroe St., Suite 4900<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Municipal <br> Income Fund<br>| P | 12.19% |
| UMB Bank N.A.<br> Security Financial Resources<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 5801 SW 6th Ave.<br> Topeka, KS 66636<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| A | 23.48% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| A | 21.66% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| A | 10.38% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| A | 5.65% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| A | 5.26% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| A | 5.01% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| C | 23.42% |
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 2801 Market Street<br> St. Louis, MO 63103<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| C | 18.75% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| C | 12.63% |
| Raymond James | &nbsp;&nbsp; 880 Carillon Parkway<br> St. Petersburg, FL 33716<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| C | 9.18% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| C | 9.04% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| C | 7.55% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| Inst. | 29.49% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| Inst. | 19.50% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| Inst. | 10.35% |
| Pershing LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| Inst. | 8.10% |
| LPL Financial | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4707 Executive Drive<br> San Diego, CA 92121<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| Inst. | 5.56% |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4800 Deer Lake Drive East, 3rd Floor<br> Jacksonville, FL 32246<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| Inst. | 5.53% |
| National Financial Services LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| P | 47.92% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| P | 46.32% |
| Pershing LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Pershing Plaza<br> Jersey City, NJ 07399<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| R6 | 25.72% |
| J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 4 Chase Metrotech Center<br> Brooklyn, NY 11245<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| R6 | 15.59% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| R6 | 15.36% |
| SEI Private Trust Company | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Freedom Valley Drive<br> Oaks, PA 19456<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| R6 | 11.62% |
| DCGT | &nbsp;&nbsp; 711 High Street<br> Des Moines, IA 50392<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Total Return <br> Bond Fund<br>| R6 | 7.30% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| A | 63.23% |

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> | **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| A | 17.81% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| A | 6.05% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 18.15% |
| National Financial Services LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 499 Washington Boulevard<br> Jersey City, NJ 07310<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 15.57% |
| Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp; 227 W. Monroe St., Suite 4900<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 11.90% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 11.27% |
| Guggenheim Limited Duration Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp; 227 W. Monroe St., Suite 4900<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 7.42% |
| Guggenheim Total Return Bond Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp; 227 W. Monroe St., Suite 4900<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 6.80% |
| UBS Financial Services Inc. | &nbsp;&nbsp; 1000 Harbor Blvd.<br> Weehawken, NJ 07086<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 5.93% |
| Rydex NASDAQ-100<sup>®</sup> Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp; 805 King Farm Blvd., Suite 600<br> Rockville, MD 20850<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Ultra Short <br> Duration Fund<br>| Inst. | 5.86% |

---

<sup>1</sup>

The shareholders may be contacted at c/o Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850.

<sup>2</sup>

These shareholders owned beneficially or of record 25% or more of the corresponding Fund's shares as of December 31, 2024. A shareholder who beneficially owns more than 25% of a Fund's shares is presumed to "control" the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and may have a significant impact on matters submitted to a shareholder vote.

**How to Purchase Shares**

------

Investors may purchase shares of the Funds through broker/dealers, banks, and other financial intermediaries that have an agreement with the Distributor or through MUFG (the "Transfer Agent"). The minimum initial investment is $2,500 with respect to Class A and Class C shares. The minimum subsequent investment for Class A and Class C shares is $100 except for subsequent investments made via Automated Clearing House ("ACH"). An application may be obtained from the Transfer Agent.

Each Fund offers Institutional class shares, which are offered primarily for direct investment by institutions such as pension and profit sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations and corporations. Institutional class shares of the Funds may also be offered through certain authorized financial intermediaries that charge their customers transaction or other fees with respect to their customers' investments in the Funds. Institutional class shares of the Funds may also be offered to Trustees and officers of the Funds or any other mutual funds managed by the Investment Manager or one or more of its affiliates, and directors, officers and employees of the Funds' Investment Manager, or Distributor, and their affiliates ("Guggenheim Trustees, Officers and Employees"). The minimum initial investment for Institutional class shares is $2 million. The minimum initial investment amount is waived for Guggenheim Trustees, Officers and Employees, and the Funds at their discretion, may waive the minimum investment amount for other investors.

Class P shares are offered at NAV without a sales charge (i.e., no initial or contingent deferred sales charge). Class P shares of the Funds are offered through broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries with which the Distributor has an agreement for the use of Class P shares of the Funds in investment products, programs or accounts. Class P shares do not have a minimum initial investment amount, subsequent investment amount or a minimum account balance. Class P shares of the Funds are available only to investors purchasing shares through broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries that have specific agreements with the Distributor.

Class R6 shares are offered primarily through qualified retirement and benefit plans. Class R6 shares are also offered through certain other plans and platforms sponsored by financial intermediaries.

------

When purchasing shares through a financial intermediary, you may not benefit from certain policies and procedures of the Funds as your eligibility may be dependent upon the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary, including those regarding reductions of sales charges and other features of the share class. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary of any relationship or other facts that may qualify your investment for sales charge waivers and other features of the class. Financial intermediaries may charge transaction fees or other fees for purchases or redemptions of Fund shares. Please consult your financial intermediary for more information regarding these possible fees.

Orders for the purchase of shares of the Funds will be confirmed at an offering price equal to the NAV per share next determined after receipt and acceptance of the order in proper form by the Transfer Agent or the Distributor, generally as of the close of the NYSE on that day, plus the initial sales charge in the case of Class A shares. Orders received by financial intermediaries prior to the close of the NYSE and received by the Distributor or Transfer Agent prior to the close of that business day will be confirmed at the offering price effective as of the close of the NYSE on that day. Dealers and other financial services firms are obligated to transmit orders promptly. In addition, pursuant to contractual arrangements with the Funds' Distributor or Transfer Agent, orders received by a financial intermediary prior to the close of the NYSE may be sent on the next following business day and receive the previous day's price. Purchase orders by a fund of funds for which the Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment manager will be treated as received by a Fund at the same time that the corresponding purchase orders are received in proper form by the fund of funds and accepted.

The Funds offer you the option to submit purchase orders through your financial intermediary or, for certain share classes, through the Funds' Transfer Agent. Purchase orders may be delivered to the Transfer Agent by mail or phone, and purchase proceeds may be sent by check, wire transfers or ACH. Purchases may also be made online; please visit www.guggenheiminvestments.com for more information. The Funds do not accept cash or cash equivalents (such as traveler's checks, money orders or bearer bonds), starter checks or checks drawn on a line of credit (including credit card convenience checks). The Funds typically do not accept third-party checks. The Funds reserve the right to refuse other payment instruments if, in the sole discretion of Fund management, it is deemed to be in the best interests of the Funds. Retirement contributions will be coded for the year in which they are received unless otherwise instructed in writing at the time of contribution.

In addition to the purchase options described above, each Fund may, in its sole discretion or the sole discretion of its Investment Manager, accept purchase and proceeds orders in the form of other consideration, including shares of stock, bonds or other securities or instruments (a "subscription in kind"). Any securities or other instruments used to purchase Fund shares must be consistent with the Fund's investment objective or strategies and otherwise deemed acceptable by the Fund or its Investment Manager. Any securities or other instruments accepted by the Fund as purchase proceeds will be valued in accordance with the Funds' valuation policy and procedures and Investment Manager's Rule 2a-5 valuation policy and Rule 2a-5 valuation procedures. The securities must also be transferred with good and marketable title, in proper form for transfer to the Fund, with all rights (such as dividends, interest, subscription and other rights), transferred to the Fund and with such information (tax or otherwise) as deemed appropriate by the Investment Manager. Purchase of Fund shares in exchange of securities or other instruments would be a taxable exchange with the same tax consequences as a sale. Accordingly, an investor who submits a subscription in kind and receives Fund shares in exchange may realize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes upon disposition of the securities or other instruments used to purchase Fund shares. The amount of capital gain or loss would depend upon the tax basis of the investors in the securities or other instruments used to purchase the Fund shares, and the capital gain or loss would be long-term or short-term depending on whether the investor's holding period in the securities or other instruments exceeds one year. In the event of a subscription in kind, affected investors should consult their personal tax adviser. You should call the Investment Manager to discuss subscriptions in kind and determine if the securities or other instruments you wish to contribute are acceptable.

The Funds reserve the right to withdraw all or any part of the offering made by the Prospectus and to reject purchase orders at any time and for any reason or without cause.

If you do not specify which fund(s) in the Family of Funds you want to purchase, your investment will be credited to the Rydex U.S. Government Money Market Fund which is offered in a separate prospectus.

As a convenience to investors and to save operating expenses, the Funds do not issue certificates for Fund shares.

**Canceled Purchase Orders—**The Transfer Agent will ordinarily cancel your purchase order under the following circumstances:

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If your bank does not honor your check for any reason;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the Transfer Agent does not receive your wire transfer;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the Transfer Agent does not receive your ACH transfer; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If your bank does not honor your ACH transfer.

If your purchase order is canceled for any of these reasons, you will not be entitled to benefit from any increase in NAV that the Fund(s) may have experienced from the time of your order to the time of its cancellation. In addition, if the Fund(s) NAV decreases in value from the time of your order to the time of its cancellation, the Fund(s) will hold you liable for any losses that it incurs as a result of your canceled order.

A $50 returned check fee may be imposed on purchase checks returned for insufficient funds.

To obtain same day credit (to get that business day's NAV) for your wire purchase order, you should call the Transfer Agent and provide the following information prior to the cutoff time for the fund(s) you are purchasing:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Account number;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fund name;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Amount of wire; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fed wire reference number.

You will receive a confirmation number to verify that your purchase order has been accepted.

If you do not notify the Transfer Agent of the incoming wire, your purchase order may not be processed until the next business day following the receipt of the wire.

**Alternative Purchase Options—**Certain of the Funds offer five classes of shares, as described below:

**Class A Shares.** Class A shares are sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase (except with respect to Class A shares of the Ultra Short Duration Fund, which are not subject to a sales charge). Class A shares are not subject to a sales charge when they are redeemed (except that shares sold in an amount of $1,000,000 or more, or $250,000 or more for Limited Duration Fund, without an initial sales charge will be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% in the event of a redemption within one year of the purchase).

**Class C Shares.** Class C shares are sold without a sales charge at the time of purchase, but are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if they are redeemed within one year of the date of purchase.

**Institutional Class Shares.** Institutional class shares are sold without a sales charge at the time of purchase and are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.

**Class P Shares.** Class P Shares are sold without a sales charge at the time of purchase and are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.

**Class R6 Shares.** Class R6 Shares are sold without a sales charge at the time of purchase and are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.

**Sales Charges, Reductions and Waivers**

------

Class A shares of each Fund other than Limited Duration Fund, Floating Rate Strategies Fund and Ultra Short Duration Fund are offered at NAV plus an initial sales charge as follows:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Amount of Investment** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** |
| **Amount of Investment** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of Net** <br> **Amount Invested**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage** <br> **Reallowable to Dealers**<br>|
| Less than $50,000 | 4.00% | 4.17% | 3.25% |
| $50,000 but less than <br> $100,000<br>| 3.75% | 3.90% | 3.00% |
| $100,000 but less than <br> $250,000<br>| 2.75% | 2.83% | 2.20% |

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------

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Amount of Investment** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** |
| **Amount of Investment** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of Net** <br> **Amount Invested**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage** <br> **Reallowable to Dealers**<br>|
| $250,000 but less than <br> $1,000,000<br>| 1.75% | 1.78% | 1.40% |
| $1,000,000 or greater |  |  | None\* |

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\*

For investments of $1 million or greater, Class A shares are sold at NAV, without any initial sales charge. However, a 1.00% CDSC based on the initial purchase price or current market value, whichever is lower, will normally be applied to shares sold within 12 months of purchase.

Class A shares of Floating Rate Strategies Fund are offered at NAV plus an initial sales charge as follows:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Amount of Investment** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** |
| **Amount of Investment** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of Net** <br> **Amount Invested**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage** <br> **Reallowable to Dealers**<br>|
| Less than $50,000 | 3.00% | 3.09% | 2.50% |
| $50,000 but less than <br> $100,000<br>| 2.75% | 2.83% | 2.25% |
| $100,000 but less than <br> $250,000<br>| 2.25% | 2.30% | 1.75% |
| $250,000 but less than <br> $1,000,000<br>| 1.25% | 1.27% | 1.00% |
| $1,000,000 or greater |  |  | None\* |

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\*

For investments of $1 million or greater, Class A shares are sold at NAV, without any initial sales charge. However, a 1.00% CDSC based on the initial purchase price or current market value, whichever is lower, will normally be applied to shares sold within 12 months of purchase.

Class A shares of Limited Duration Fund are offered at NAV plus an initial sales charge as follows:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Amount of Investment** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** | **Sales Charge** |
| **Amount of Investment** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage of Net** <br> **Amount Invested**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Percentage** <br> **Reallowable to Dealers**<br>|
| Less than $100,000 | 2.25% | 2.30% | 2.00% |
| $100,000 to $249,999 | 1.25% | 1.27% | 1.00% |
| $250,000 or greater |  |  | None\* |

---

\*

For investments of $250,000 or greater, Class A shares are sold at NAV, without any initial sales charge. However, a 1.00% CDSC based on the initial purchase price or current market value, whichever is lower, will normally be applied to shares sold within 12 months of purchase.

Class A shares of Ultra Short Duration Fund are offered at NAV and are not subject to an initial sales charge.

Purchases of Class A shares of a Fund (except for the Ultra Short Duration Fund) in amounts of $1,000,000 or more (or $250,000 or more for Limited Duration Fund) are at NAV (without a sales charge), but are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% in the event of redemption within one year following purchase. Purchases of Class A shares of the Ultra Short Duration Fund are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. For a discussion of the contingent deferred sales charge, see "Calculation and Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges."

**Initial Sales Charges / Dealer Reallowances.** Class A shares of the Funds (except for the Ultra Short Duration Fund) are sold subject to an initial sales charge as described in the Funds' Prospectus offering Class A shares. The sales charge is used to compensate the Distributor and participating financial intermediaries for their expenses incurred in connection with the distribution of the Funds' shares. You may also be charged a transaction or other fee by the financial institution managing your account (if any).

**Reduced Sales Charges.** You may qualify for reduced sales charges on Class A shares or sales charge exceptions on Class A shares. To qualify for these reductions or exceptions, you or your financial intermediary are responsible for providing sufficient information at the time of purchase to verify that your purchase qualifies for such treatment.

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**<u>Rights of Accumulation</u>**

You may qualify for reduced initial sales charges (if any) on Class A shares based upon your existing investment in shares of any series of Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Dynamic Funds or Guggenheim Funds Trust at the time of the proposed purchase. To determine whether or not a reduced initial sales charge applies to a proposed purchase, the Distributor takes into account not only the money which is invested upon such proposed purchase, but also the value of all Class A shares and Class C shares of the Funds or series of Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Dynamic Funds or Guggenheim Funds Trust that you own.

If you qualify for a reduced sales charge, the reduced sales charge applies to the total amount of money being invested, even if only a portion of that amount exceeds the breakpoint for the reduced sales charge. For example, if you already own qualifying Class A shares or Class C shares of any Fund with a value of $80,000 and wish to invest an additional $40,000 in Class A shares of the Core Bond Fund, the reduced initial sales charge of 2.75% will apply to the full $40,000 purchase and not just to the $20,000 in excess of the $100,000 breakpoint.

To qualify for obtaining the discount applicable to a particular purchase, you or your financial intermediary must furnish the Transfer Agent with a list of the account numbers and the names in which your Fund accounts are registered at the time the purchase is made.

**<u>Aggregating Accounts for Rights of Accumulation</u>**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. To receive a reduced sales charge on Class A shares, investments in any Class A shares or Class C shares made by you, your spouse and your children under the age of 21 may be aggregated if made for your/their own account(s) and:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• trust accounts established by the above individuals. However, if the person(s) who established the trust is/are deceased, the trust account may be aggregated with accounts of the person who is the primary beneficiary of the trust;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• solely controlled business accounts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• single participant retirement plans; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• endowments or foundations established and controlled by you or your immediate family.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. Investments made by a trustee or other fiduciary for a single trust estate or fiduciary account and multiple employee benefit plans of a single employer or affiliated employers - provided they are not aggregated with individual accounts - may also be aggregated.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. Similarly, investments made for participant accounts of a 403(b) plan that is treated like an employer-sponsored plan, or multiple 403(b) plans of a single employer or affiliated employers, may be aggregated. In addition, investments made for non-profit, charitable or educational organizations (or any employer-sponsored retirement plan for such an endowment or foundation) or any endowments or foundations established and controlled by the organization may be aggregated. Finally, investments made by a common trust fund or other diversified pooled accounts not specifically formed for the purpose of accumulating Fund shares may be aggregated.

<u>Some accounts cannot be aggregated</u>. At the request of certain financial intermediaries, some accounts are set up as "street name" or "nominee" accounts. This means that the financial intermediary has sole access, and that the Funds have limited access, to the financial intermediary's clients' account information. Because the Transfer Agent has little or no access to certain nominee or street name account information, these accounts generally may not be aggregated for the purpose of receiving reduced sales charges. Check with your financial intermediary to determine if this applies to your account.

**<u>Letters of Intent</u>**

You may also pay reduced initial sales charges (if any) on Class A shares by indicating on the account application that you intend to provide a Letter of Intent ("LOI"), and then fulfilling the conditions of that LOI.

------

The LOI confirms the total investment in shares of the Funds or any series of Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Dynamic Funds, or Guggenheim Funds Trust (which may be offered in a different prospectus from the Funds) that you intend to make within the next 13 months. By marking the LOI section on the account application and by signing the account application, you indicate that you understand and agree to the terms of the LOI and that you are bound by the provisions described below:

***Calculating the Initial Sales Charge:***

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Each purchase of Fund shares normally subject to an initial sales charge made during the 13-month period will be made at the public offering price applicable to a single transaction of the total dollar amount indicated by the LOI (to determine what the applicable public offering price is, look at the sales charge table in the section on "Sales Charges" in the Prospectus).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• It is your responsibility at the time of purchase to specify the account numbers that should be considered in determining the appropriate sales charge.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The offering price may be further reduced as described above under "Rights of Accumulation" if the Transfer Agent is advised of all other accounts at the time of the investment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions will not be applied to the LOI.

***Calculating the Number of Shares to be Purchased***

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Purchases made within 90 days before signing an LOI may be applied toward completion of the LOI. The LOI effective date will be the date of the first purchase within the 90-day period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Purchases made more than 90 days before signing an LOI may be applied toward the completion of the LOI based on the value of the shares purchased that is calculated at the public offering price on the effective date of the LOI.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If you meet the original obligation at any time during the 13-month period, you may revise the intended investment amount upward by submitting a written and signed request. This revision will not change the original expiration date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The Transfer Agent will process necessary adjustments upon the expiration or completion date of the LOI.

***Fulfilling the Intended Investment***

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• By signing an LOI, you are not making a binding commitment to purchase additional shares, but if purchases made within the 13-month period do not total the amount specified, you will have to pay the increased amount of sales charge.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• To assure compliance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the Transfer Agent will escrow in the form of shares an appropriate dollar amount (computed to the nearest full share) out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary). All dividends and any capital gain distributions on the escrowed shares will be credited to you. All shares purchased, including those escrowed, will be registered in your name. If the total investment specified under this LOI is completed within the 13-month period, the escrowed shares will be promptly released.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the intended investment is not completed, you will pay the Transfer Agent the difference between the sales charge on the specified amount and the sales charge on the amount actually purchased. If you do not pay such difference within 20 days of the expiration date, you irrevocably appoint the Transfer Agent as your attorney-in-fact to surrender for redemption any or all shares, to make up such difference within 60 days of the expiration date.

***Canceling the LOI***

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If at any time before completing the terms of the LOI you wish to cancel the agreement, you must give written notice to the Distributor.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If at any time before completion the terms of the LOI you request the Transfer Agent to liquidate or transfer beneficial ownership of your total shares, the LOI will be automatically canceled. If the total amount purchased is less than the amount specified in the LOI, the Transfer Agent will redeem an appropriate number of escrowed shares equal to the difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge that would have been paid if the total purchases had been made at a single time.

------

**Sales Charge Waivers.** The Class A shares' initial sales charges (if any) will be waived for certain types of investors as described in the Funds' Prospectus or Appendix A (Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts) thereto.

**Class A Shares**—As discussed in the Prospectus, the Funds offering Class A shares have adopted a Distribution Plan for their Class A shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Plan authorizes each such Fund to pay as compensation, or as reimbursement for distribution services rendered and/or expenses borne, an annual fee to the Distributor of 0.25% of the average daily NAV of the Class A shares of each such Fund to finance various activities relating to the distribution of such shares to investors and the provision of services to such investors. These expenses include, but are not limited to, the payment of compensation in the form of a service fee as described below (including compensation to securities dealers and other financial institutions and organizations) to obtain various administrative services for each such Fund. These services include, among other things, processing new shareholder account applications and serving as the primary source of information to customers in answering questions concerning each such Fund and their transactions with the Fund.

Amounts paid by a Fund are currently used to pay dealers and other firms that make Class A shares available to their customers a service fee for account maintenance and personal service to shareholders. The service fee is payable quarterly in the amount of 0.25%, on an annual basis, of Aggregate Account Value. "Aggregate Account Value" is the average daily NAV of Class A accounts opened after July 31, 1990 that were sold by such dealers and other firms and remain outstanding on the books of a Fund. The service fee may also be used to pay for sub-administration and/or sub-transfer agency services provided for the benefit of the Fund.

**Class C Shares**—Class C shares are offered at NAV without an initial sales charge. With certain exceptions, the Funds may impose a deferred sales charge on shares redeemed within one year of the date of purchase. No deferred sales charge is imposed on amounts redeemed thereafter. If imposed, the deferred sales charge is deducted from the redemption proceeds otherwise payable to you and is retained by the Distributor.

Each Fund bears some of the costs of selling its Class C shares under a Distribution Plan adopted with respect to its Class C shares ("Class C Distribution Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Class C Distribution Plan provides for payments of compensation to the Distributor at an annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily NAV of Class C shares. Amounts paid by a Fund are used to pay dealers and other firms that make Class C shares available to their customers: (1) a commission at the time of purchase normally equal to 0.75% of the value of each share sold, and for each year thereafter, quarterly, in an amount equal to 0.75% annually of the average daily NAV of Class C shares sold by such dealers and other firms and remaining outstanding on the books of the Fund and (2) a service fee payable for the first year initially, and for each year thereafter, quarterly, in an amount equal to 0.25% annually of the average daily NAV of Class C shares sold by such dealers and other firms and remaining outstanding on the books of the Fund. The service fee may also be used to pay for sub-administration and/or sub-transfer agency services provided for the benefit of the Fund. In the case a Fund or Class C shares are closed to new investors or investments, the Distributor also may use the fees payable under the Class C Distribution Plan to make payments to brokers and other financial intermediaries for past sales and distribution efforts, as well as the provision of ongoing services to shareholders.

Effective March 1, 2021, Class C shares of each Fund will automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund on or about the 10th day of the month following the 8-year anniversary date of the purchase of the Class C shares. This conversion will be executed without any sales charge, fee or other charge. After the conversion is completed, the shares will be subject to all features and expenses of Class A shares. For shareholders invested in Class C shares of a Fund through a financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to maintain records necessary to verify, and ensure that the shareholder is credited with, the proper holding period for Class C shares. Please consult your financial intermediary for more information.

Although the Funds expect that a conversion between share classes of the same Fund should not result in the recognition of a gain or loss for tax purposes, you should consult with your own tax adviser with respect to the tax treatment of your investment in a Fund.

**Institutional Class Shares**—Institutional class shares are sold without a sales charge at the time of purchase and are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Institutional class shares are priced at the NAV next determined after receipt and acceptance of a purchase order by a Fund's transfer agent, Distributor or an authorized financial intermediary. Authorized financial intermediaries of the Funds may also designate further intermediaries to

------

accept purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Funds. A broker/dealer or other financial intermediary may charge fees in connection with an investment in the Funds. The minimum initial investment is $2 million. Fund shares purchased directly from the Funds are not assessed such additional charges.

Specific eligibility requirements that apply to prospective investors of a Fund's Institutional class shares include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Investors who invest a minimum amount of $2,000,000 in Institutional Class shares of the Funds;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Employee benefit plan programs that have at least $25 million in plan assets;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Trustees and officers of the Funds or any other mutual funds managed by the Investment Manager or one or more of its affiliates, and directors, officers and employees, including household members of such persons, of the Funds' Investment Manager or Distributor, and their affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Broker-dealer managed account or wrap programs that charge an asset-based fee and have program assets of at least $50 million;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Registered investment adviser mutual fund wrap programs that charge an asset-based fee and have program assets of at least $50 million;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Section 529 college savings plan accounts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Funds of Funds advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Funds of Funds advised by unaffiliated investment advisers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Institutions that invest the minimum initial investment amount in the Funds.

**The Funds reserve the right to waive the minimum initial investment amount of $2 million or to grant other investors eligibility to invest in the shares of the Funds at their discretion.**

A shareholder currently holding Class A or Class C shares of a Fund in a fee-based advisory program sponsored by Merrill Lynch ("Advisory Program") may convert such shares to Institutional Class shares of the same Fund within the Advisory Program. In addition, if a shareholder currently holds Class A or Class C shares of a Fund in a brokerage account and transfers such shares to an Advisory Program, the shareholder may convert the shares to Institutional Class shares of the same Fund. Such conversions will occur at the net asset value per share, without requiring any investment minimum to be met and without the imposition of any redemption fee or other charge. If a CDSC is applicable to such Class A or Class C shares, then the conversion generally may not occur until after the shareholder has held the shares for a 12 month period, except that a CDSC applicable to Class A and Class C shares converted to Institutional Class shares through an individual retirement account and certain other accounts on the Merrill Lynch platform will be waived. With respect to such waiver, Merrill Lynch will pay a portion of the CDSC to the Distributor. Please ask your financial advisor if you are eligible for converting your Class A and/or Class C shares to Institutional Class shares pursuant to these conversion features. It is anticipated that such conversions generally would be treated as a non-taxable event. Please consult your tax advisor for more information.

**Class P Shares**—Class P shares are offered at NAV without a sales charge (i.e., no initial or contingent deferred sales charge). Class P shares of the Funds are offered through broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries with which the Distributor has an agreement for the use of Class P shares of the Funds in investment products, programs or accounts. Class P shares do not have a minimum initial investment amount, subsequent investment amount or a minimum account balance. The Funds reserve the right to modify the minimum investment amount and account balance requirements at any time, with or without prior notice to you. The minimum investment amount and minimum account balance required by your financial intermediary may be different. Please contact your financial intermediary for details.

**Eligible investors for Class P shares include the following:**

Class P shares of a Fund are available only to investors purchasing shares through broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries that have specific agreements with the Distributor, including:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Authorized no transaction fee platforms;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Authorized fee-based programs of financial intermediaries;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Authorized registered investment advisers and discretionary managed account programs;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Authorized banks, trust company, broker/dealers, or other financial organizations that charge an advisory fee, management fee, consulting fee, fee in lieu of brokerage commissions or other similar fee for their services;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Authorized retirement platforms of financial intermediaries; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Other authorized intermediaries approved by the Distributor.

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Any investor eligibility requirements for Class P shares may be amended from time to time as reflected in each Fund's then-current prospectus and SAI.

Class P shares of a Fund will be held in an account at a financial intermediary. The Transfer Agent will have no information with respect to or control over an account of a shareholder of Class P shares of a Fund. A shareholder may obtain information about an account only through its financial intermediary, which generally will hold the shareholder's Class P shares as the shareholder's agent in nominee or street name.

As discussed in the Prospectus, each Fund offering Class P shares has adopted a Distribution Plan for its Class P shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Plan authorizes each such Fund to pay as compensation, or as reimbursement for distribution services rendered and/or expenses borne, an annual fee to the Distributor of 0.25% of the average daily NAV of the Class P shares of each such Fund to finance various activities relating to the distribution of such shares to investors and the provision of services to such investors. These expenses include, but are not limited to, the payment of compensation in the form of a service fee as described below (including compensation to securities dealers and other financial institutions and organizations) to obtain various administrative services for each such Fund. These services include, among other things, processing new shareholder account applications and serving as the primary source of information to customers in answering questions concerning each such Fund and their transactions with the Fund.

**Class R6 Shares**—Class R6 Shares are sold without a sales charge at the time of purchase and are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Class R6 shares are offered primarily through qualified retirement and benefit plans. Class R6 shares are also offered through certain other plans and platforms sponsored by financial intermediaries.

Eligible investors for Class R6 shares include the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Retirement and Benefit Plans that have plan-level or omnibus accounts held on the books of a Fund and do not collect service or record keeping fees from the Fund, with no minimum initial investment requirement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Plans or platforms sponsored by a financial intermediary whereby shares are held on the books of a Fund through omnibus accounts, either at the plan or platform level or the level of the plan administrator, and where an unaffiliated third party intermediary provides administrative, distribution and/or other support services to the plan or platform and the platform or administrator does not charge the Fund service, record keeping or sub-transfer agent fees, with no minimum initial investment requirement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Institutional investors (including endowments and foundations) and other investors deemed appropriate by Guggenheim Investments that hold shares of a Fund through an account held directly with the Fund and not traded through an intermediary, subject to a minimum initial investment amount of $2,000,000; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Investment companies and other accounts managed by Guggenheim Investments and its affiliates, with no minimum initial investment requirement.

Guggenheim Investments may, in its discretion, waive the minimum initial investment amount applicable to eligible institutional investors (including endowments and foundations) and other appropriate investors that hold shares of a Fund through an account held directly with the Fund and not traded through an intermediary.

The investor eligibility requirements and the minimum initial investment for Class R6 shares may be amended from time to time as reflected in each Fund's then-current prospectus and SAI.

**Minimum Account Balance**—The Institutional class shares have a minimum account balance of $1 million. Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining accounts below the minimum account balance, the Funds reserve the right to redeem shares if an account balance falls below the Institutional class minimum account balance for any reason. Investors will be given 60 days' advance notice to reestablish the minimum account balance. If the account balance is not increased, the account may be closed, and the proceeds sent to the investor. Fund shares will be redeemed at NAV on the day the account is closed.

**Distribution Plans**—Each Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Each of these Funds has enacted a Distribution Plan applicable to its Class A, Class C, and Class P shares.

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Under these Distribution Plans, the Distributor is authorized to pay service fees and commissions to dealers and other firms that sell (or have sold) shares of the applicable class, engage in advertising, prepare and distribute sales literature and engage in other promotional activities on behalf of each Fund. The Distributor is required to report in writing to the Board of Trustees regarding the payments made and services provided under the Distribution Plans, and the Board will review at least quarterly, the amounts and purposes of any payments made under each Distribution Plan. The Distributor is also required to furnish the Board with such other information as may reasonably be requested in order to enable the Board to make an informed determination of whether a Distribution Plan should be continued.

A Distribution Plan will continue from year to year, provided that such continuance is approved at least annually by a vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees cast in accordance with applicable law and regulatory guidance at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. Any agreement relating to the implementation of the Distribution Plan terminates automatically if it is assigned. The Distribution Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount of distribution payments thereunder without approval of the shareholders of the applicable class of the Funds.

Because all amounts paid pursuant to the Distribution Plan are paid to the Distributor, the Investment Manager and its officers, directors and employees all may be deemed to have a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan. None of the Independent Trustees has a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan.

Benefits from the Distribution Plan may accrue to a Fund and its shareholders from the growth in assets due to sales of shares to the public and/or retention of existing Fund assets, which may benefit shareholders by reducing per share expenses, permitting increased investment flexibility and diversification of the Funds' assets, and facilitating economies of scale (e.g., block purchases) in the Funds' securities transactions.

Rules established by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") limit the aggregate amount that a Fund may pay annually in distribution costs for the sale of its shares to 6.25% of gross sales of shares since the inception of the Distribution Plan, plus interest at the prime rate plus 1.00% on such amount (less any contingent deferred sales charges paid by shareholders to the Distributor or distribution fee (other than service fees) paid by the Fund to the Distributor). The Distributor monitors this limit with regard to each of the Fund's share classes. The Distributor intends, but is not obligated, to continue to pay or accrue distribution charges incurred in connection with a Distribution Plan which exceed current annual payments permitted to be received by the Distributor from the Funds. The Distributor intends to seek full payment of such charges from the Fund (together with annual interest thereon at the prime rate plus 1.00%) at such time in the future as, and to the extent that, payment thereof by the Funds would be within permitted limits.

A Distribution Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable class. In the event a Distribution Plan is terminated by the shareholders or the Funds' Board of Trustees, the payments made to the Distributor pursuant to the Distribution Plan up to that time would be retained by the Distributor. Any expenses incurred by the Distributor in excess of those payments would be absorbed by the Distributor. The Funds make no payments in connection with the sales of their shares other than the distribution fee paid to the Distributor.

**Rule 12b-1 Plan Expenses**—For the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the following 12b-1 payments were made for each Fund to the Distributor under the Distribution Plans:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Compensation to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC** | **Compensation to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC** | **Compensation to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC** | **Compensation to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC** |
|  | **Class A** | **Class C** | **Class P** |
| Core Bond Fund | $336489  | $222691  | $56054  |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $330628  | $214290  | $96054  |
| High Yield Fund | $121629  | $70889  | $8483  |
| Limited Duration Fund | $1297825  | $495413  | $72747  |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | $801932  | $1076052  | $58934  |
| Municipal Income Fund | $38203  | $4457  | $235  |
| Total Return Bond Fund | $1194467  | $1347165  | $753600  |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | $184467  | $0 | $0 |

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The Distribution Plans are "compensation plans" which means that all amounts generated under the Distribution Plans are paid to the Distributor irrespective of the actual costs incurred by the Distributor in distributing the Funds. The Distributor is the principal underwriter of the Funds. Because all the 12b-1 payments are made to the Distributor, the Funds that adopted the Distribution Plans pay no fees directly for advertising, printing and mailing of prospectuses to prospective shareholders; compensation to broker/dealers; compensation to sales personnel; or interest, carrying or other financing charges. The Distributor may use part or all of the amounts received (if any) from the Funds to pay for these services and activities.

**Arrangements With Broker/Dealers and Others**—The Investment Manager or Distributor, from time to time, will pay a bonus to certain dealers whose representatives have sold or are expected to sell significant amounts of the Funds and/or certain other funds managed by the Investment Manager. Bonus compensation may include reallowance of the entire sales charge and may also include, with respect to Class A shares, an amount which exceeds the entire sales charge and, with respect to Class C shares, an amount which exceeds the maximum commission. The Distributor, or the Investment Manager, may also provide financial assistance to certain dealers in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for their employees, seminars for the public, advertising, sales campaigns, and/or shareholder services and programs regarding one or more of the funds managed by the Investment Manager. In addition, the Investment Manager or Distributor may sponsor training or education meetings at various locations. In connection with such meetings it is expected that the Investment Manager or Distributor would pay the travel, lodging and other expenses of representatives of the dealers in attendance. The Transfer Agent or Distributor may also pay certain transaction or order processing costs incurred by dealers who sell Fund shares through clearing dealers. Certain of the foregoing arrangements may be financed by payments to the Distributor under a Distribution Plan. These arrangements will not change the price an investor will pay for shares or the amount that the Funds will receive from such sale. No compensation will be offered to the extent it is prohibited by the laws of any state or self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). A dealer to whom substantially the entire sales charge is re-allowed may be deemed to be an "underwriter" under federal securities laws.

The Distributor also may pay banks and other financial services firms that facilitate transactions in shares of the Funds for their clients a transaction fee up to the level of the payments made allowable to dealers for the sale of such shares as described above.

**Other Distribution or Service Arrangements**—The Investment Manager, Distributor or their affiliates, out of their own resources and not out of Fund assets (i.e., without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders), may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to some, but not all, broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries (including payments to affiliates of the Investment Manager or Distributor) who sell shares of the Funds or render investor services to Fund shareholders (directly or indirectly via sales of variable insurance contracts or the provision of services in connection with retirement plans). Such payments and compensation are in addition to any sales charges paid by investors or Rule 12b-1 plan fees, service fees and other fees paid, directly or indirectly, by the Funds to such brokers and other financial intermediaries. These arrangements are sometimes referred to as "revenue sharing" arrangements. Revenue sharing arrangements are not financed by the Funds, and thus, do not result in increased Fund expenses. They are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fees and expenses sections of the Funds' Prospectus, and they do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a Fund's shares or the amount received by a shareholder as proceeds from the redemption of Fund shares. No compensation is paid to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries from Fund assets on sales of Class R6 shares and for related services. Class R6 shares do not carry sales charges or pay Rule 12b-1 fees, or make payments to financial intermediaries to assist in, or in connection with, the sale of Class R6 shares of a Fund.

Such compensation, if any, is paid to intermediaries that provide services to the Funds and/or shareholders in the Funds, including (without limitation) shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. Such compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Funds on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs, or as an expense reimbursement or compensation in cases where the intermediary provides services to Fund shareholders. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Distributor and other parties may pay or allow other incentives and compensation to such financial intermediaries. The Distributor generally periodically assesses the advisability of continuing to make these payments.

These payments may take a variety of forms, including (without limitation) compensation for sales, "trail" fees for shareholder servicing and maintenance of investor accounts, and finder's fees. Revenue sharing payments may be structured: (1) as a percentage of net sales; (2) as a percentage of net assets; and/or (3) as a fixed dollar-amount.

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As of the date of this SAI, the Distributor and/or Investment Manager have revenue sharing arrangements with, and during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year paid compensation on behalf of all series of the Trust in the aggregate amount to, financial intermediaries, as follows:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Financial Intermediary** | **Dollar Amount of Compensation\*** |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney | $3490920  |
| Wells Fargo Advisors | $1436609  |
| UBS Financial Services | $1308993  |
| LPL Financial | $1112519  |
| Raymond James | $1089184  |
| American Enterprise | $752154  |
| PNC Investments | $327032  |
| Merrill Lynch | $222406  |
| Citigroup Global Markets | $78370  |
| Ascensus | $20250  |
| Empower Financial Services | $18300  |
| Charles Schwab | $11467  |
| RBC Capital Markets | $8545  |
| Principal Life | $5000  |
| Fidelity | $(12616)\*\* |

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\*

Amounts include compensation paid on behalf of the Funds and certain other series of the Trust in operation during the prior fiscal year and may include compensation paid on behalf of liquidated/reorganized series.

\*\*

Reflects the reversal of previously accrued expenses attributable to liquidated/reorganized series.

The Distributor may enter into revenue sharing arrangements with other financial intermediaries and may modify existing revenue sharing arrangements.

In addition, while the Distributor typically pays most of the sales charge applicable to the sale of Fund shares to brokers and other financial intermediaries through which purchases are made, the Distributor may, on occasion, pay the entire sales charge.

From time to time, the Distributor and its affiliates may also pay non-cash compensation to brokers and other financial intermediaries in the form of, for example: (1) occasional gifts; (2) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; and/or (3) sponsorship support of regional or national events. For example, representatives of the Distributor visit brokers and other financial intermediaries on a regular basis to educate them about the Funds and to encourage the sale of Fund shares to their clients. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

The compensation or reimbursement received by brokers and other financial intermediaries through sales charges, fees payable from the Funds, and/or revenue sharing arrangements for selling shares of the Funds may be more or less than the overall compensation or reimbursement received by brokers or other financial intermediaries on similar or other products and may influence your broker or other financial intermediary to present and recommend the Funds over other investment options available in the marketplace. In addition, depending on the arrangements in place at any particular time, your broker or other financial intermediary may have a financial incentive for recommending a particular class of Fund shares over other share classes.

Shareholders may obtain more information about these arrangements, including the conflicts of interests that such arrangements may create, from their brokers and other financial intermediaries and should so inquire if they would like additional information. A shareholder may ask his/her broker or financial intermediary how he/she will be compensated for investments made in the Funds.

Although a Fund may use financial firms that sell Fund shares to effect transactions for the Fund's portfolio, the Funds and the Investment Manager will not consider the sale of Fund shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions.

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**Purchases At Net Asset Value**—Class A shares of the Funds may be purchased at NAV under the circumstances described in the Prospectus or Appendix A (Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts) thereto. The availability of Class A sales charge waivers may depend upon the policies, procedures and trading platforms of your financial intermediary.

**Purchases for Retirement Plans**—Prior to February 1, 2012, Class A shares of the Funds then in operation could also be purchased at NAV when the purchase was made by a retirement plan that would (1) buy shares of funds in the Family of Funds worth $500,000 or more; (2) have 100 or more eligible employees at the time of purchase; (3) certify it expected to have annual plan purchases of shares of funds in the Family of Funds of $200,000 or more; (4) be provided administrative services by certain third party administrators that had entered into a special service arrangement with funds in the Family of Funds relating to such plans; or (5) have at the time of purchase, aggregate assets of at least $1,000,000. Any retirement plan that had such an arrangement in place effective as of February 1, 2012 may continue such arrangement for the life of the plan or until the Funds' Board of Trustees elects to terminate such arrangement, whichever is earlier. Purchases made pursuant to this provision may be subject to a deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% in the event of a redemption within one year of the purchase.

**Systematic Withdrawal Plan**

------

A Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be established by shareholders of each class of shares, other than Class P shares, who wish to receive regularly scheduled payments. Please refer to the Systematic Withdrawal Plan Request form for additional payment options. The form can be found within the Customer Service section of the www.guggenheiminvestments.com website. There is no service charge on the Plan.

Sufficient shares will be liquidated at NAV to meet the specified withdrawals. Liquidation of shares may deplete or possibly use up the investment, particularly in the event of a market decline. Payments cannot be considered as actual yield or income since part of such payments is a return of capital and may constitute a taxable event to the shareholder. The maintenance of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan concurrently with purchases of additional shares of the Fund would be disadvantageous because of the sales commission payable in respect to such purchases. During the withdrawal period, no payments will be accepted under an Automatic Investment Plan. Income dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically reinvested at NAV.

The shareholder receives confirmation of each transaction showing the source of the payment and the share balance remaining in the Plan. A Plan may be terminated on written notice by the shareholder or by the Fund, and it will terminate automatically if all shares are liquidated or withdrawn from the account.

**Investment Management**

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GPIM, located at 330 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017, is the investment manager to each of the Funds and the Subsidiary. GPIM managed approximately $247 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025. The Investment Manager is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Guggenheim Capital, LLC, an affiliate of Guggenheim Partners, LLC. Guggenheim Partners, LLC is a global, diversified financial services firm that, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides clients with a broad array of investment management, broker-dealer, investment banking, and other services.

In rendering investment advisory services to the Funds, the Investment Manager will use the resources of Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited ("GPE") to research, select, and effect some investments for the Funds in Europe and other non-U.S. jurisdictions, an affiliate of the Investment Manager based in the United Kingdom that is not registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Under the terms of a participating affiliate arrangement, GPE is considered to be a "Participating Affiliate" of the Investment Manager, as that term is used in relief granted by the staff of the SEC allowing US-registered advisers to use investment advisory and trading resources of unregistered advisory affiliates, subject to the regulatory supervision of the registered adviser.

Prior to November 29, 2024, Security Investors, LLC, an affiliate of GPIM, served as investment manager for Guggenheim Core Bond Fund, Guggenheim High Yield Fund and Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund, and GPIM served as sub-adviser for Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund. In connection with an internal realignment, as of November 29, 2024, GPIM replaced Security Investors, LLC as investment manager for each such Fund. In addition, the sub-advisory agreement pursuant to which GPIM served as sub-adviser for Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund

------

was terminated. As of such date, each such Fund's investment management agreement was amended to reflect the replacement of Security Investors, LLC by GPIM as party to the investment management agreement. The internal realignment and the amendments to Funds' investment management agreements did not result in changes to the management fees paid by the Funds, nor did they have any impact on the investment advisory services rendered on a day-to-day basis to the Funds or the Funds' investment personnel, investment philosophies, strategies or processes.

**Management Agreements**—Pursuant to the Management Agreements, the Investment Manager furnishes investment advisory, statistical and research services to the Funds, supervises and arranges for the purchase and sale of securities on behalf of the Funds, and provides for the compilation and maintenance of records pertaining to the investment advisory functions. The Investment Manager is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator ("CPO") and is a member of the National Futures Association ("NFA") in such capacity; however, with regard to each of the Funds except the Macro Opportunities Fund, the Investment Manager has filed a notice with the NFA under CFTC Rule 4.5 and as such is excluded from the definition of CPO with regard to the operation of those specific funds. The Investment Manager is also registered as a commodity trading advisor ("CTA") and is registered with the NFA in such capacity.

For services provided to the Funds, the Investment Manager is entitled to receive compensation on an annual basis equal to:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Contractual Management Fees** (expressed as a percentage of average daily net assets, calculated daily and <br> paid monthly) | **Contractual Management Fees** (expressed as a percentage of average daily net assets, calculated daily and <br> paid monthly) |
| Core Bond Fund | 0.39% |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund<sup>1</sup> <br>| 0.65% |
| High Yield Fund | 0.60% |
| Limited Duration Fund | 0.39% |
| Macro Opportunities Fund<sup>1</sup> <br>| 0.89% |
| Municipal Income Fund | 0.50% |
| Total Return Bond Fund | 0.39% |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | 0.25% |

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<sup>1</sup>

The Fund's management fee is subject to a 0.05% reduction on assets over $5 billion.

Each Management Agreement (after an initial term of up to two years) is renewable with respect to a Fund annually by the Board or by a vote of a majority of the individual Fund's outstanding securities and, in either event, by a majority of the Board who are not parties to the Management Agreement or interested persons of any such party. The Management Agreements provide that they may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party on 60 days' notice and are automatically terminated in the event of assignment.

The Investment Manager has agreed to reimburse the Funds or waive a portion of its management fee for any amount by which the total annual expenses of the Funds (including management fees, but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses and Class A, Class C, and Class P distribution fees) for any fiscal year exceeds the level of expenses which the Funds are permitted to bear under the most restrictive expense limitation imposed by any state in which shares of the Funds are then qualified for sale. The Investment Manager is not aware of any state that currently imposes limits on the level of mutual fund expenses.

In addition, and as set forth in the applicable Prospectus, the Investment Manager has contractually agreed through February 1, 2027 to reduce its advisory fees and make payments to the extent necessary to limit the ordinary operating expenses (including distribution (12b-1) fees (if any), but not brokerage costs, dividends on securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, litigation, indemnification or extraordinary expenses) of the Fund share classes listed below to the listed percentages of those Funds' average daily net assets.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Class** | **Expense Cap** |
| Core Bond Fund<sup>1</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> C<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 0.75%<br> 1.50%<br> 0.46%<br> 0.75%<br> 0.46%<br>|
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> C<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 0.98%<br> 1.73%<br> 0.74%<br> 0.98%<br> 0.74%<br>|
| High Yield Fund<sup>3</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> C<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 0.90%<br> 1.65%<br> 0.65%<br> 0.90%<br> 0.65%<br>|
| Limited Duration Fund<sup>4</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> C<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 0.71%<br> 1.46%<br> 0.46%<br> 0.71%<br> 0.46%<br>|
| Macro Opportunities Fund<sup>5</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> C<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1.32%<br> 2.07%<br> 0.91%<br> 1.32%<br> 0.91%<br>|
| Municipal Income Fund<sup>6</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> C<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 0.76%<br> 1.51%<br> 0.51%<br> 0.76%<br> 0.51%<br>|
| Total Return Bond Fund<sup>7</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> C<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 0.75%<br> 1.50%<br> 0.46%<br> 0.75%<br> 0.46%<br>|
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp; A<br> Institutional<br> P<br> R6<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 0.58%<br> 0.33%<br> 0.58%<br> 0.33%<br>|

---

<sup>1</sup>

Effective December 15, 2025. Prior to that date, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-0.79%, Class C-1.54%, Institutional Class-0.50%, Class-P 0.79%, Class R6-0.50%.

<sup>2</sup>

Effective December 15, 2025. Prior to that date, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-1.02%, Class C-1.77%, Institutional Class-0.78%, Class-P 1.02%, Class R6-0.78%.

<sup>3</sup>

Effective December 15, 2025. For the period February 21, 2024 to December 15, 2025, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-0.94%, Class C-1.69%, Institutional Class-0.69%, Class-P 0.94%, Class R6-0.69%. Prior to February 21, 2024, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-1.16%, Class C-1.91%, Institutional Class-0.91%, Class-P 1.16%, Class R6-0.91%.

<sup>4</sup>

Effective December 15, 2025. Prior to that date, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-0.75%, Class C-1.50%, Institutional Class-0.50%, Class-P 0.75%, Class R6-0.50%.

<sup>5</sup>

Effective December 15, 2025. Prior to that date, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-1.36%, Class C-2.11%, Institutional Class-0.95%, Class-P 1.36%, Class R6-0.95%.

<sup>6</sup>

Effective December 15, 2025. Prior to that date, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-0.80%, Class C-1.55%, Institutional Class-0.55%, Class-P 0.80%, Class R6-0.55%.

<sup>7</sup>

Effective December 15, 2025. Prior to that date, the expense limitation for each applicable class was as follows: Class A-0.79%, Class C-1.54%, Institutional Class-0.50%, Class-P 0.79%, Class R6-0.50%.

The Investment Manager is entitled to reimbursement by a Fund for certain fees waived or expenses reimbursed during any of the previous 36 months beginning on the date of the expense limitation agreement if on any day or month the estimated annualized operating expenses are less than the indicated percentages.

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The Investment Manager has also contractually agreed through February 1, 2027, to waive the amount of each Fund's management fee to the extent necessary to offset the proportionate share of any management fee paid by each Fund with respect to any Fund investment in an underlying fund for which the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates also serves as investment manager. The Investment Manager is not entitled to reimbursement by the Fund for fees waived under this agreement. This agreement will automatically renew for one-year terms with respect to a Fund, unless the applicable Investment Manager provides written notice to the Fund of the termination of the agreement.

During the prior three fiscal years, the Investment Manager voluntarily waived an amount of the advisory fee paid by the Macro Opportunities Fund equal to the net expenses, excluding extraordinary expenses, of a registered investment company previously advised by the Investment Manager, to the extent the Macro Opportunities Fund invested in such registered investment company.

Each contractual waiver and/or expense reimbursement agreement will terminate when it reaches its expiration (if not renewed), or when the Investment Manager ceases to serve as such and it may be terminated by the Board, with certain waived fees and reimbursed expenses subject to the recoupment rights of the Investment Manager.

As discussed in the "Fund Summaries" section of the Prospectus, the Macro Opportunities Fund may seek to achieve its investment objective by investing up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. GPIM is responsible for the investments of the Subsidiary. In consideration for the services provided to it by GPIM, the Subsidiary will pay GPIM a management fee at the annual rate of 0.89% of its average daily net assets. The Investment Manager has contractually agreed to waive the management fee it receives from the Macro Opportunities Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid to the Investment Manager by the Subsidiary. This undertaking will continue in effect for so long as the Macro Opportunities Fund invests in the Subsidiary, and may be terminated only with the approval of the Board.

Effective December 15, 2025, pursuant to a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement, as may be amended and/or restated, BNY acts as the administrative agent for the Funds and, as such, performs administrative functions and bookkeeping, accounting and pricing functions for the Funds. For these services, BNY receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, based on average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to a minimum fee per year. The Funds also reimburse BNY for certain out-of-pocket expenses. No fees were paid to BNY under such agreement during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.

Prior to December 15, 2025, pursuant to a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement with the Trust, MUFG Investor Services ("MUFG") acted as the administrative agent for the Funds and, as such, performed administrative functions and bookkeeping, accounting and pricing functions for the Funds. For these services, MUFG received a fixed annual fee, apportioned to the series of Guggenheim Funds Trust (except for Guggenheim Ultra-Short Duration Fund) based on average daily net assets, plus a fee, payable monthly in arrears, based on a percentage of the average daily net assets. For its services to Ultra Short Duration Fund, MUFG received, on an annual basis, a fee calculated as a mutually agreed upon percentage of the average daily net asset values of that Fund, paid monthly. MUFG also received from the Funds fees based on the number of Funds or share classes issued by the Funds, as applicable, for certain filing and reporting services MUFG provided to the Funds. The Funds also reimbursed MUFG for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

Effective February 23, 2026, pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement with the Trust, as may be amended and/or restated time to time, the Transfer Agent performs all shareholder servicing functions, including processing purchase and redemption transactions, processing transfers and exchanges, maintenance of shareholder accounts, answering inquiries, supporting the mailing and e-delivery of shareholder communications and acting as the dividend disbursing agent.

Prior to February 23, 2026, pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement with the Trust, MUFG acted as the transfer agent for the Funds. As such, MUFG performed all shareholder servicing functions, including processing purchase and redemption transactions, processing transfers and exchanges, maintenance of shareholder accounts, answering inquiries, and mailing shareholder communications, supporting the mailing and e-delivery of shareholder communications and acting as the dividend disbursing agent.

The Funds have agreed to reimburse the Transfer Agent, Investment Manager, Distributor or their affiliates for expenses they pay to financial intermediaries, such as third-party administrators, broker/dealers, banks, insurance companies or other financial intermediaries, for providing sub-transfer agency and similar services to shareholders,

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including beneficial shareholders of a Fund where such shares are held in omnibus accounts, pursuant to various sub-transfer agency agreements. Payments reimbursed by the Funds pursuant to such agreements are generally based on: (1) the average daily net assets of clients serviced by such financial intermediary; or (2) the number of accounts serviced by such financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements are in addition to, rather than in lieu of, any Rule 12b-1 fees the financial intermediary may also be receiving pursuant to agreements with the Distributor. Because these financial intermediaries may be paid different amounts per class in exchange for the provision of sub-transfer agency services, these payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend one fund class of shares over another. The fees paid for sub-transfer agency and similar subcontracted services vary based on, for example, the nature of the services provided. No sub-transfer agency payments are made with respect to Class R6 shares. For the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the total sub-transfer agency payments of this nature made by the Trust on behalf of its series, including certain series not included in this SAI, were approximately $44,910,236. This amount includes compensation paid on behalf of the Funds and certain other series of the Trust in operation during the prior fiscal year.

Each Fund pays all of its respective expenses not assumed by the Transfer Agent or the Distributor, including organization expenses; Trustees' fees; fees of the Fund's custodian; taxes and governmental fees; interest charges; any membership dues; brokerage commissions; expenses of preparing and distributing reports to shareholders; costs of shareholder and other meetings; Class A, Class C, and Class P distribution fees; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Each Fund also pays for the preparation and distribution of the Prospectus to its shareholders and all expenses in connection with its registration under federal and state securities laws. Each Fund pays nonrecurring expenses that may arise, including litigation expenses affecting the Fund or legal and other professional costs, which may be significant, that may be incurred when enforcing shareholder rights in connection with an investment or in structuring an investment (e.g., negotiation of investment terms and 1940 Act compliance considerations). Notably, private debt and derivatives investments of the Funds often require legal reviews for 1940 Act compliance purposes, and the associated costs are borne by the Funds. In certain cases, these fees can be borne by several Funds and are allocated among respective parties based on methods intended to result in fair and equitable allocations.

The Funds paid the following investment advisory fees and accounting and administrative service fees to the applicable Service Providers for their services during the Funds' three most recently completed fiscal years:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fiscal** <br> **Year/**<br> **Period**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Advisory** <br> **Fees Paid**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Advisory Fees** <br> **Waived by and**<br> **Reimbursements**<br> **from Investment**<br> **Manager\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Accounting** <br> **and** <br> **Administrative** <br> **Service Fees** <br> **Paid\*\***<br>|
| Core Bond Fund | 2025 | $8684358 | $2563218 | $828416 |
| Core Bond Fund | 2024 | $7370510  | $1104214  | $735084  |
| Core Bond Fund | 2023 | $5175537  | $1339560  | $550331  |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | 2025 | $5452993 | $1057073 | $318479 |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | 2024 | $6571231  | $970372  | $397997  |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | 2023 | $6968297  | $1187745  | $447441  |
| High Yield Fund | 2025 | $1129855 | $486216 | $78939 |
| High Yield Fund | 2024 | $1163127  | $257419  | $83591  |
| High Yield Fund | 2023 | $1106317  | $90843  | $84432  |
| Limited Duration Fund | 2025 | $19283340 | $4038116 | $1834911 |
| Limited Duration Fund | 2024 | $16628051  | $2472272  | $1653572  |
| Limited Duration Fund | 2023 | $16083765  | $3733192  | $1694311  |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | 2025 | $70870634 | $10306607 | $2994088 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | 2024 | $57449778  | $7453388  | $2526543  |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | 2023 | $51846776  | $8288356  | $2396713  |
| Municipal Income Fund | 2025 | $147077 | $243880 | $20459 |
| Municipal Income Fund | 2024 | $135565  | $224224  | $19532  |
| Municipal Income Fund | 2023 | $258691  | $217744  | $30229  |

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fiscal** <br> **Year/**<br> **Period**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Advisory** <br> **Fees Paid**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Advisory Fees** <br> **Waived by and**<br> **Reimbursements**<br> **from Investment**<br> **Manager\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Accounting** <br> **and** <br> **Administrative** <br> **Service Fees** <br> **Paid\*\***<br>|
| Total Return Bond Fund | 2025 | $107402653 | $26693264 | $10202800 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | 2024 | $90987861  | $13865981  | $9004962  |
| Total Return Bond Fund | 2023 | $76742003  | $17077254  | $8036992  |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | 2025 | $1220887 | $349122 | $156070 |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | 2024 | $1263605  | $121808  | $160642  |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | 2023 | $1421922  | $330393  | $180007 |

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\*

Pursuant to expense limitation agreements, the Investment Manager is entitled to recoup any fees the Investment Manager waived and Fund expenses that the Investment Manager reimbursed for a period of 36 months following such fee waivers and expense reimbursements. Please refer to the notes to the financial statements included in each Fund's most recent report on Form N-CSR for more information.

\*\*

Reflects fees paid to MUFG, the Funds' previous administrator.

**Sub-Advisers**

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Security Investors, LLC, in its former capacity as investment adviser to Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund, previously entered into a sub-advisory agreement with its affiliate, GPIM, to provide investment advisory services to the Municipal Income Fund. In connection with the replacement of GPIM as investment adviser to certain of the Funds, including Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund, as discussed above, the sub-advisory agreement between Security Investors and GPIM with respect to Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund was terminated effective November 29, 2024. During the effectiveness of, and pursuant to, the sub-advisory agreement with GPIM, Security Investors paid GPIM an annual fee equal to one-half of the management fee received by Security Investors while it served as investment adviser for certain of the Funds, including Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund, net of any waivers. Security Investors paid GPIM $0 and $20,474 for its services for the Funds' fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

**Code of Ethics**

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The Trust, the Investment Manager and the Distributor have each adopted a written code of ethics (the "Code of Ethics") which governs the personal securities transactions of "access persons" of the Trust. Access persons may invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust, provided that they obtain prior clearance before engaging in securities transactions, subject to certain de minimis exceptions. Access persons include officers and Trustees of the Trust and Investment Manager and employees that participate in, or obtain information regarding, the purchase or sale of securities by the Trust or whose job relates to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales. All access persons must report their personal securities transactions within thirty days of the end of each calendar quarter.

Subject to certain de minimis exceptions for access persons not involved in the fund accounting or asset management activities of the Investment Manager, access persons will not be permitted to effect transactions in a security if it: (1) is being considered for purchase or sale by the Funds; (2) is being purchased or sold by the Trust; or (3) is being offered in an initial public offering. Portfolio managers, research analysts, and traders are also prohibited from purchasing or selling a security within seven calendar days before or after any fund in the Family of Funds or other fund managed by an affiliated investment adviser trades in that security. Any material violation of the Code of Ethics is reported to the Board of the Trust. The Board also reviews the administration of the Code of Ethics on an annual basis and approves any material changes to the Code of Ethics pursuant to the requirements of Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. The Code of Ethics is on public file with the SEC and is available from the Commission.

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**Portfolio Managers**

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**Compensation**—The Investment Manager compensates portfolio managers for their management of a Fund's portfolio. Compensation is evaluated 1) quantitatively based on their contribution to investment performance and portfolio risk control and 2) qualitatively based on factors such as teamwork and client service efforts. The portfolio managers' incentives may include: a competitive base salary, bonus determined by individual and firm wide performance, equity participation, co-investment options, and participation opportunities in various investments, including through deferred compensation programs. To ensure alignment with client interests, a portfolio manager's compensation is not correlated to the size of assets under management in the strategy for which the portfolio manager is responsible. Some portfolio managers may earn compensation that varies based on the performance of certain accounts or investments. All employees of the Investment Manager are also eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan to which a discretionary match may be made after the completion of each plan year. The Investment Manager's deferred compensation programs include equity that vests over a period of years, including equity in the form of shares of certain Fund(s) managed by the particular portfolio manager. The value of the Fund shares under the deferred compensation program is awarded annually and each award vests over a period of years (generally 4 years). As discussed below, a portfolio manager's ownership of shares of a fund, including a Fund, managed by the portfolio manager may create conflicts of interest that incentivize the portfolio manager to favor such fund, or Fund, over other Funds or other accounts.

**Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers**—Each Portfolio Manager may also manage other registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts, and each Portfolio Manager may own shares of the Fund he/she manages. As of the end of the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio Managers are responsible for the management of certain other accounts, as follows:

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled***<br> ***Investment Vehicles*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled***<br> ***Investment Vehicles*** | ***Other Accounts*** | ***Other Accounts*** |
| **Portfolio Manager** | **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>|
| Adam J. Bloch | 19 | $52085  | 10 | $3030 | 49 | $25421 |
| Steven H. Brown | 23 | $53065  | 10 | $3030 | 49 | $25421 |
| Kris L. Dorr | 4 | $848  | 0 | N/A | 0 | N/A |
| Thomas J. Hauser | 5 | $980  | 47 | $10450 | 25 | $9309 |
| Christopher Keywork  | 2 | $766 | 1 | $3 | 0 | N/A |
| Allen Li | 2 | $633 | 0 | N/A | 0 | N/A |
| Evan Serdensky | 19 | $52085  | 3 | $1497 | 39 | $24327 |
| Anne B. Walsh | 23 | $53065  | 11 | $3041 | 70 | $128913 |
| John Walsh  | 2 | $214 | 0 | N/A | 0 | N/A |

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The following table identifies, as of the end of the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the number of, and total assets of, the registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on performance.

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled Investment***<br> ***Vehicles*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled Investment***<br> ***Vehicles*** | ***Other Accounts*** | ***Other Accounts*** |
| **Portfolio Manager** | **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>|
| Adam J. Bloch | 0 | N/A  | 3 | $1691 | 1 | $135 |
| Steven H. Brown | 0 | N/A  | 3 | $1691 | 1 | $135 |
| Kris L. Dorr | 0 | N/A  | 0 | N/A  | 0 | N/A  |
| Thomas J. Hauser | 1 | $173 | 33 | $4008 | 9 | $450 |
| Christopher Keywork  | 0 | N/A | 1 | $3 | 0 | N/A |
| Allen Li | 0 | N/A | 0 | N/A | 0 | N/A |
| Evan Serdensky | 0 | N/A | 1 | $196 | 1 | $135 |

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment*** <br> ***Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment*** <br> ***Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled Investment***<br> ***Vehicles*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled Investment***<br> ***Vehicles*** | ***Other Accounts*** | ***Other Accounts*** |
| **Portfolio Manager** | **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>|
| Anne B. Walsh | 0 | N/A | 3 | $1691 | 1 | $135 |
| John Walsh | 0 | N/A | 0 | N/A | 0 | N/A |

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**Portfolio Manager Ownership of Fund Shares—**The table below sets forth the dollar range of shares of a Fund beneficially owned by each portfolio manager of such Fund as of September 30, 2025. If no holdings are shown for a portfolio manager, the portfolio manager did not beneficially own shares of the Fund as of such date. These amounts may reflect Fund shares awarded to the portfolio manager under the Investment Manager's deferred compensation program described above.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ***Name of Portfolio***<br> ***Manager***<br>| ***Name of Fund*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Dollar Range of Equity Securities*** <br> ***in the Funds***<br>|
| Adam J. Bloch | Core Bond Fund  | $100001-$500000 |
| Adam J. Bloch | Limited Duration Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Adam J. Bloch | Macro Opportunities Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Adam J. Bloch | Total Return Bond Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Steven Brown | Core Bond Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Steven Brown | Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Steven Brown | High Yield Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Steven Brown | Limited Duration Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Steven Brown | Macro Opportunities Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Steven Brown | Total Return Bond Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Thomas Hauser | Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Thomas Hauser | High Yield Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Christopher Keywork | Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $50001-$100000 |
| Allen Li | Municipal Income Fund | $10001-$50000 |
| Evan Serdensky | Core Bond Fund  | $1-$10000 |
| Evan Serdensky | Limited Duration Fund | $1-$10000 |
| Evan Serdensky | Macro Opportunities Fund | $10001-$50000 |
| Evan Serdensky | Total Return Bond Fund | $1-$10000 |
| Anne B. Walsh | Core Bond Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Anne B. Walsh | Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Anne B. Walsh | Limited Duration Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Anne B. Walsh | Macro Opportunities Fund | $100001-$500000 |
| Anne B. Walsh | Total Return Bond Fund | $500001-$1000000 |
| John Walsh | High Yield Fund | $10001-$50000 |

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**Information Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest**

**<u>Potential Conflicts Related to the Sale of Fund Shares.</u>** The Investment Manager, its affiliates and their respective employees may have relationships with distributors, consultants and others who recommend, or engage in transactions with or for, the Funds. The Funds and/or the Investment Manager or its affiliates may compensate such distributors, consultants and other parties in connection with such relationships. As a result of these relationships, distributors, consultants and other parties may have conflicts that create incentives for them to promote the Funds over other funds or financial products.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Investment Manager and its affiliates and the Funds may make payments to authorized dealers and other financial intermediaries and to salespersons to promote the Funds. These payments may be made out of the assets of the Investment Manager or its affiliates or amounts payable to the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These payments may create an incentive for such persons to highlight, feature or recommend the Funds over other funds or financial products.

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**<u>Potential Conflicts Related to Management of the Funds by the Investment Manager.</u>**

The following are descriptions of certain conflicts, financial or otherwise, that the Investment Manager and its employees may have in managing the Funds. The descriptions below are not intended to be a complete enumeration or explanation of all of the conflicts of interests that may arise from the business activities of the Investment Manager, its affiliates, or their respective clients. To address these and other actual or potential conflicts, the Investment Manager and the Funds have established various policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to identify and mitigate such conflicts and to ensure that such conflicts are appropriately resolved taking into consideration the best interest of all clients involved, consistent with the Investment Manager's fiduciary obligations and in accordance with applicable law. However, there can be no guarantee that these policies and procedures will be successful in every instance. In certain cases, transactions involving potential conflicts of interest described below may be elevated for review by a conflicts review committee, the members of which are senior personnel of the Investment Manager's affiliates and are not employees or clients of the Investment Manager.

Additional information about potential conflicts of interest regarding the Investment Manager is set forth in the Investment Manager's Form ADV. A copy of Part 1 and Part 2A of the Investment Manager's Form ADV is available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

**<u>The Investment Manager and Its Affiliates Provide a Broad Array of Services and Have Various Investment</u> <u>Banking, Advisory and Other Relationships.</u>** The Investment Manager is an affiliate of Guggenheim Partners, LLC ("Guggenheim Partners"), which is a global, full service financial services firm. Guggenheim Partners and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager (collectively, "Guggenheim Entities"), provide their clients with a broad array of investment management, insurance, broker-dealer, investment banking and other similar services ("Other Business Activities"). These Other Business Activities create actual and potential conflicts of interest for the Investment Manager in managing the Funds.

For example, the Other Business Activities may create conflicts between the interests of a Fund, on the one hand, and the interests of the Investment Manager, its affiliates and their respective other clients, on the other hand. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may act as advisers to clients in investment banking, loan arranging and structuring, financial advisory, restructuring, liability management, asset management and other capacities related to securities and instruments that may be purchased, sold or held by a Fund, and the Investment Manager or an affiliate may issue, or be engaged as underwriter for the issuer of, securities and instruments that a Fund may (in accordance with applicable rules) purchase, sell or hold. At times, these activities may cause the Investment Manager and its affiliates to give advice to their clients that may cause these clients to take actions in conflict with or that are adverse to the interests of a Fund. In addition, Guggenheim Entities may take action that differs from, potentially conflicts with or is adverse to advice given or action taken for the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds. The Guggenheim Entities and their respective officers, directors, managing directors, partners, employees and consultants may act in a proprietary capacity with long or short positions in securities and instruments of all types, including those that may be purchased, sold or held by a Fund. Such activities can give rise to interests different from or adverse to those of the Fund, and they could affect the prices and availability of the securities and instruments that a Fund holds or that the Investment Manager seeks to buy or sell for a Fund's account, which could adversely impact the financial returns of the Funds.

These Other Business Activities may create other potential conflicts of interests in managing the Funds, may cause the Funds to be subject to additional regulatory limits and, in certain circumstances, may prevent a Fund from participating or limit a Fund's participation in an investment opportunity that the Funds' portfolio managers view to be favorable. As a result, activities and dealings of the Investment Manager and its affiliates may affect the Funds in ways that may disadvantage or restrict the Funds or be deemed to benefit the Investment Manager, its affiliates or other client accounts.

**<u>The Investment Manager and Its Affiliates' Activities on Behalf of Other Clients.</u>** The Investment Manager and its affiliates currently manage and expect to continue to manage a variety of other client accounts, including (without limitation) separately managed accounts (including through the Investment Manager's participation in third-party sponsored separately managed account programs through which the Investment Manager provides discretionary sub-advisory services to individuals and other investors), open-end registered funds, closed-end registered funds, private funds and other collective investment vehicles, and may serve as asset or collateral manager or in other capacities for certain non-registered structured products (collectively, "Other Clients"). Such Other Clients, and investors in Other Clients include insurance companies affiliated with or related to the Investment Manager, as described below. Other Clients invest pursuant to the same or different investment objectives, strategies and

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philosophies as those employed by the Funds and may seek to make or sell investments in the same securities, instruments, sectors or strategies as the Funds. This "side-by-side" management of multiple accounts may create potential conflicts, particularly in circumstances where the availability or liquidity of investment opportunities is limited, or when accounts trade in opposite directions. For example, there is a risk that sales (including short sales) of one client portfolio security adversely affect the market value of securities held in another client portfolio, or trading terms could be adversely affected when opposite trades are executed. There is a risk that the Funds will compete with Other Clients for an investment opportunity in a manner that reduces the availability of such investment opportunity for the Funds. The Investment Manager is also affiliated with other investment advisers, both registered and unregistered, that provide investment advice with respect to the same types of instruments or similar investment strategies as the Investment Manager. There is a risk that the clients of these other advisers will compete with the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds, for limited investment opportunities. This risk is heightened when an investment in such investment opportunity is executed on behalf of a client of such other advisers through a trading desk separate from the one utilized by the Investment Manager. In addition, Other Clients may also be subject to different legal restrictions or regulatory regimes than the Funds. Regardless of the similarity in investment objectives and strategies between the Funds and Other Clients, the Investment Manager may give advice and recommend investments to Other Clients that may differ from advice given to, or investments bought or sold for, the Funds, and the Funds and Other Clients may vote differently on or take or refrain from taking different actions with respect to the same security or instrument. Furthermore, the manner in which the Investment Manager executes a strategy for the Funds may differ from how that same or similar strategy is executed for Other Clients due to, for example, investment restrictions imposed by the Funds or the Other Client. These practices, limitations and conflicts may be disadvantageous to the Funds and adversely affect their performance.

The investment policies, fee arrangements and other characteristics of the Funds may also vary from those of Other Clients. In some cases, the Investment Manager or an affiliate may receive a potentially larger financial benefit from managing one or more such Other Clients as compared to the Funds (for example, some Other Clients are charged performance or incentive fees constituting a percentage of profits or gains), which may provide an incentive to favor such Other Clients over the Funds or to recommend favorable investments to Other Clients who pay higher fees or who have the potential to generate greater fees over the Funds. The Investment Manager on behalf of the Funds or Other Clients may, pursuant to one transaction or in a series of transactions over time, invest in different parts of an issuer's or borrower's capital structure (including but not limited to investments in public versus private securities, investments in debt versus equity, or investments in senior versus subordinated debt or when the same or similar investments have different rights or benefits), depending on the respective client's investment objectives and policies. Relevant issuers or borrowers may also include special purpose issuers or borrowers in structured finance, asset backed, collateralized loan obligation, collateralized debt obligation or similar transactions. As a result of the foregoing, the interests of one group of clients could conflict with those of other clients with respect to the same issuer or borrower. In managing such investments, the Investment Manager will consider the interests of all affected clients in deciding what actions to take with respect to a given issuer or borrower, but at times will pursue or enforce rights on behalf of some clients in a manner that may have an adverse effect on, or result in asymmetrical financial outcomes to, other clients owning a different, including more senior or junior, investment in the same issuer or borrower. In these types of scenarios, the Investment Manager may occasionally engage and appoint an independent party to provide independent analysis or recommendations with respect to consents, proxy voting, or other similar shareholder or debt holder rights decision (or a series of consents, votes or similar decisions) pertaining to the Funds and other clients. These potential conflicts of interests between the Investment Manager's clients may become more pronounced in situations in which an issuer or borrower experiences financial or operational challenges, or as a result of a Fund's use of certain investment strategies, including small capitalization, emerging market, distressed or less liquid strategies.**<u>Investment Manager Activities on Behalf of Affiliated or Related</u> <u>Accounts.</u>** Certain companies hold an economic interest in Guggenheim Capital, LLC ("Guggenheim Capital"), the Investment Manager's ultimate parent company. Where such companies and/or their affiliates are clients of the Investment Manager, conflicts of interest arise because, among other reasons, the Investment Manager has an incentive to favor such clients over others. These incentives are more pronounced where the Investment Manager has multiple clients that are associated with, or that are affiliates of, these companies. For example, Sammons Enterprises, Inc., a diversified company with several insurance company subsidiaries (together with its subsidiaries, "Sammons"), holds an indirect, substantial economic interest in Guggenheim Capital. As a result of its ownership stake in Guggenheim Capital, Sammons is a substantial owner of the Investment Manager. Certain of Sammons' wholly owned insurance company and other subsidiaries are advisory clients of, and pay fees to, the Investment Manager. As a result, Sammons is a significant source of annual advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager. Sammons also has other relationships with the Investment Manager and various Guggenheim Entities. These relationships create conflicts of interest and an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor Sammons's interests.

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Similarly, TWG Global, LLC, a diversified company with several subsidiaries (together with its subsidiaries, "TWG"), holds an indirect, substantial economic interest in Guggenheim Capital, and thus is an indirect substantial owner of the Investment Manager. Further, TWG is controlled by a senior officer of Guggenheim Capital. Certain of TWG's subsidiaries are advisory clients of, and pay fees to, the Investment Manager. As a result, TWG is a significant individual source of annual advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager. TWG also has other relationships with the Investment Manager and various Guggenheim Entities. These relationships create conflicts of interest and an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor TWG's interests. For example, the Investment Manager invests on behalf of its other clients in issuers in which TWG has direct and/or indirect interests, which in certain cases include a controlling or significant beneficial interest. In addition, from time to time, the TWG accounts and other GPIM clients invest in securities at different levels of the capital structure of the same issuer, in some cases at the same time and in other cases at different times. These transactions often benefit TWG and its affiliates.Certain Guggenheim Entities have entered into a services agreement with TWG pursuant to which TWG may provide various services to the Investment Manager and its affiliates, including, among others, technology services, marketing consulting, and introductions to potential sources of originated transactions. TWG may also refer potential investors from time to time. Due to the common ownership of the Investment Manager and TWG, the Investment Manager would have an incentive to direct investments to clients affiliated with TWG. However, pursuant to the services agreement, the Investment Manager will make independent investment decisions. Guggenheim Entities also provide services to TWG including, among others, review, analysis and evaluation of assets, investment operations and technology services. A Guggenheim Entity receives compensation from TWG for the provision of these services. Affiliates of TWG also provide services to certain advisory clients of other Guggenheim Entities for a fee. The Investment Manager has an incentive to recommend such service providers to its clients given TWG's relationship with the Investment Manager.Certain officers and directors of Guggenheim Capital and its subsidiaries (each, a "Guggenheim Related Person") hold direct or indirect economic or voting interests in entities that are clients of GPIM (such individuals or entities, "Guggenheim Related Parties"). Like the Sammons accounts and TWG accounts, these Guggenheim Related Parties pay substantial advisory fees to the Investment Manager. Furthermore, certain Guggenheim Related Parties may provide significant loans and other financing to the Investment Manager and its affiliates, both directly and from or through accounts managed by the Investment Manager or to which the Investment Manager provides certain operations services for a fee. These relationships create conflicts of interest and an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor the interests of these Guggenheim Related Parties. These types of relationships create potential conflicts of interest for the Investment Manager in managing the Funds and could create an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor the interests of Guggenheim Related Parties over the Funds or Other Clients. For example, the Investment Manager may invest on behalf of the Funds and Other Clients in issuers in which a Guggenheim Related Party has direct and/or indirect interests, which in certain cases include a controlling or significant beneficial interest. In addition, a Guggenheim Related Party, the Funds and Other Clients may invest in securities at different levels of the capital structure of the same issuer, in some cases at the same time and in other cases at different times. These transactions often benefit the participating Guggenheim Related Party. The following conflicts may arise in such situations: (i) enforcement of rights or determination not to enforce rights by the Investment Manager on behalf of the Funds and Other Clients may have an adverse effect on the interests of the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds, (ii) the Investment Manager may have an incentive to invest client assets, including Fund assets, in the issuer or borrower to either facilitate or obtain preferable terms for a proposed investment by an affiliate or Guggenheim Related Party in such issuer or borrower, or (iii) the Investment Manager may have an incentive to preserve or protect the value or rights associated with an existing economic interest of an affiliate or Guggenheim Related Party in the issuer or borrower, which may have an adverse effect on the interests of the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds.

Furthermore, Guggenheim Related Persons from time to time enter into transactions, including loans and other financings, with these companies. As a result, such personnel have an incentive to favor the interests of these clients over other clients of the Investment Manager.To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and other laws, the Investment Manager, from time to time, may initiate or recommend transactions in the loans or securities of companies in which the Investment Manager, its related persons, or their respective affiliates have a controlling or other material direct or indirect interest. In addition, some Guggenheim Related Persons also may have economic interests or voting interests in issuers, which may be controlling or otherwise material interests, or may serve as a director on the board of issuers, in which the Investment Manager has invested or will invest on behalf of its clients or to which the Investment Manager has provided or will provide financing on behalf of its clients. In addition, Guggenheim Related Persons have direct or indirect proprietary or personal investments in and/or have financial or other relationships with financial industry participants or other entities that may perform services on behalf of, or in connection with, investments made by the Investment Manager on behalf of its clients.

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In addition, the Investment Manager may be subject to conflicts of interest with respect to financial industry participants or other entities (including trading platforms) because transactions on or through such platforms may result in compensation directly being paid to these entities that indirectly benefit Guggenheim Related Persons.

The Investment Manager identifies and mitigates potential conflicts of interest in the foregoing and similar situations, including through policies and procedures (i) designed to identify and mitigate conflicts of interest on a transaction-by-transaction basis and (ii) that require investment decisions for all client accounts be made independently from those of other client accounts and be made with specific reference to the individual needs and objectives of each client account, without consideration of the Investment Manager's pecuniary or investment interests (or those of their respective employees or affiliates). The Funds and the Investment Manager also maintain procedures to comply with applicable laws, notably relevant provisions of the 1940 Act that prohibit Fund transactions with affiliates (or exemptive rules thereunder).

**<u>Allocation of Investment Opportunities; Co-Investments.</u>** As described above, the Investment Manager and its affiliates currently manage and expect to continue to manage Other Clients that may invest pursuant to the same or different strategies as those employed by the Funds, and such Other Clients could be viewed as being in competition with the Funds for appropriate investment opportunities, particularly where there is limited capacity with respect to such investment opportunities. The investment policies, fee arrangements and other circumstances of the Funds may vary from those of the Other Clients, and the Investment Manager may face potential conflicts of interest because the Investment Manager may have an incentive to favor particular client accounts (such as client accounts that pay performance-based fees) over other client accounts that may be less lucrative in the allocation of investment opportunities.

The Investment Manager's relationships with Other Clients that are Guggenheim Related Parties pose conflicts of interest in transactions that involve the allocation of investment opportunities among Guggenheim Related Parties and other clients, including the Funds, because the Investment Manager has an incentive to favor Guggenheim Related Parties. These incentives are more pronounced where the Investment Manager has multiple relationships with a Guggenheim Related Party, as is in the case of Sammons and TWG. As described below, the Investment Manager has established policies and procedures for addressing actual and potential conflicts of interest.

In addition to conflicts of interest associated with allocations among clients, the Investment Manager faces conflicts of interest in transactions involving the allocation of investment opportunities among clients and third-party co-investors, including third-party co-investors with which the Investment Manager or an affiliate has entered into an agreement that provides the third-party co-investor an opportunity to invest alongside the Investment Manager's clients and for the Investment Manager (or its affiliates) to receive a fee in connection with providing administrative or other non-advisory services in respect of the investment that the third-party co-investor acquires (each, a "Strategic Partner"). For example, the Investment Manager or its affiliates are permitted to receive a fee in connection with providing services to loans or commercial real estate mortgages, military housing transactions and infrastructure transactions that a Strategic Partner acquires. When the Investment Manager offers to allocate portions of certain investments to a Strategic Partner, the acquisition of the allocated portion of an investment by a Strategic Partner is in the sole discretion of the Strategic Partner (or the Strategic Partner's adviser). As a result of the foregoing, in certain circumstances, if an investment opportunity is appropriate for more than one client and/or meets the criteria established with respect to a Strategic Partner, the Investment Manager will face a conflict of interest in determining how to allocate the investment opportunity and, in certain circumstances, the Investment Manager will have an incentive to allocate less of the opportunity to a client, including the Funds, than it might otherwise be the case if the investment was not also appropriate for multiple clients and/or the Strategic Partner. However, such potential conflict of interest is mitigated by the Investment Manager's allocation policies and procedures with respect to the allocation of investment opportunities.

The Investment Manager expects to offer, subject to its allocation policies and procedures, any allocation available to affiliated and unaffiliated strategic co-investors, including Strategic Partners and TWG and its affiliates. The Investment Manager expects conflicts of interest to arise in determining the amount of investment opportunity that should be allocated to the relevant co-investor. The Investment Manager will determine how and when to allocate a co-investment opportunity, including the amounts offered to each such investor, taking into account any factors it deems relevant, which could include, without limitation, the sophistication of the prospective co-investor; the ability of the co-investor to close the transaction quickly; tax, regulatory, securities laws and/or other legal considerations; size of the investment allocation and practicality of dividing it up among multiple co-investors; lender requirements; existence of a formal or informal strategic relationship with the prospective co-investor, including any contractual undertakings; the size and/or timing of a commitment to a co-investor; tenure as an Investment Manager's client

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investor, if applicable; commitment to invest in current or future products of the Investment Manager, strategic expertise and financial resources of the prospective co-investor; or whether the Investment Manager believes that allocating investment opportunities to an investor or person will help establish, recognize, strengthen and/or cultivate relationships that have the potential to provide longer-term benefits to the relevant portfolio company, other portfolio companies, the Investment Manager's clients or the Investment Manager, or any of its affiliates. The Investment Manager reserves the right to grant certain co-investors the opportunity to evaluate specified amounts of prospective co-investments in portfolio companies or otherwise to have priority in co-investment opportunities, subject to the Investment Manager's allocation policies and procedures. A co-investor's pro rata share (relative to capital invested) of transaction fees, portfolio monitoring fees, management fees, and similar payments from portfolio companies, will be retained by the Investment Manager or its affiliates to the extent agreed upon by co-investors. These fees and payments generally will not reduce the compensation, if any, paid to the Investment Manager by the Investment Manager's clients. To facilitate the acquisition of a portfolio investment, in certain cases an Investment Manager's client will make (or commit to make) an investment and with a view to subsequently sell a portion of the investment to co-investors prior to or following the closing of the acquisition. In such event, the relevant Investment Manager client will bear the risk that any or all of the excess portion of such investment is not sold or sold only on unattractive terms, including for example the risk that a portion of the investment will be syndicated at reduced cost, at cost, or at a lower amount at a time when the general partner (believes the value of such investment has appreciated or should be higher than that paid (or willing to be paid) by a co-investor. To the extent such a syndication is made, the Investment Manager's interest in limiting an Investment Manager's client's exposure to a given investment while providing a potential benefit to co-investors investing at such lower values will give rise to a conflict of interest. As a consequence of a failed co-investment syndication process or a co-investment syndication on unattractive terms, the relevant Investment Manager client would be required to (i) bear the entire portion of any break-up, topping or other fees, costs and expenses related to such investment (including the proportionate share of such amounts that were expected to have been borne by co-investors), (ii) hold a larger-than-expected investment in such portfolio company, (iii) receive less-than-fair-market value for the syndicated portion of the investment and/or (iv) be diluted or realize lower than expected returns from such investment. When and to the extent that employees and other affiliates of the Investment Manager make capital investments in or alongside certain Investment Manager clients, the Investment Manager is subject to conflicting interests in connection with these investments.

The Investment Manager has implemented policies and procedures that govern the allocation of investment opportunities among clients in a fair and equitable manner, taking into account the needs and investment objectives of the clients, their specific objectives and constraints for each account, as well as prevailing market conditions. If an investment opportunity would be appropriate for more than one client, the Investment Manager will be required to choose among those clients in allocating the opportunity, or to allocate less of the opportunity to a client than it would ideally allocate if it did not have to allocate to multiple clients. In addition, the Investment Manager may determine that an investment opportunity is appropriate for a particular client account, but not for another.

The Investment Manager allocates transactions on an objective basis and in a manner designed to assure that no participating client is favored over any other participating client. If an investment is suitable and desirable for more than one client account, an initial allocation study will be determined based upon demand ascertained from the portfolio managers. With respect to fixed income and private equity, this initial allocation study is overseen by a central allocation group and generally reflects a pro rata participation in the investment opportunity among the participating client accounts that expressed demand. Final allocation decisions are made or verified independently by the central allocation group. With respect to public equity securities and public equity-related securities, the allocation generally reflects a pro rata participation in the investment opportunity among participating accounts. Allocations may be adjusted under specific circumstances, such as situations of scarcity where pro rata allocations would result in de minimis positions or odd lots.

The application of relevant allocation factors can result in non-pro rata allocations, and particular client accounts (including client that are Guggenheim Related Parties) will receive an allocation when other client accounts do not or receive a greater than pro-rata allocation. There can be no assurance that a particular investment opportunity will be allocated in any particular manner, and circumstances may occur in which an allocation could have adverse effects on a Fund with respect to the price or size of securities positions obtainable or saleable. All of the foregoing procedures could in certain circumstances adversely affect the price paid or received by a Fund or the size of the position purchased or sold by a Fund (including prohibiting a Fund from purchasing a position) or may limit the rights that a Fund may exercise with respect to an investment.At times, in order to minimize execution costs for clients, trades in the same security transacted on behalf of more than one client will generally be aggregated (i.e., blocked or bunched) by the Investment Manager, unless the Investment Manager believes that doing so would conflict or

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otherwise be inconsistent with its duty to seek best execution for the clients and/or the terms of the respective investment advisory contracts and other agreements and understandings relating to the clients for which trades are being aggregated. In particular, the Investment Manager expects that trades will be aggregated between the Investment Manager's clients and the Investment Manager's affiliates' clients, unless they believe that doing so would conflict or otherwise be inconsistent with their duty to seek best execution for the clients and/or the terms of the respective investment advisory contracts and other agreements and understandings relating to the clients for which trades are being aggregated. When the Investment Manager believes that it can effectively obtain best execution for the clients by aggregating trades, it will do so for all clients participating in the trade for which aggregated trades are consistent with the respective investment advisory contracts, investment guidelines, and other agreements and understandings relating to the clients.In the event trades are aggregated on behalf of the Investment Manager's clients, the aggregated transactions will be allocated in a manner consistent with the allocation process described above. Aggregated transactions then are allocated among the participating client accounts after taking into consideration the specific objectives and constraints for each account, which could include, but are not limited to, the following: risk tolerance; rating constraints; maturity constraints; issue size; yield; purchase price; existing exposure of the investment vehicle; minimum trade allocation; minimum position holding size; sector allocation limits; duration; convexity; strategy; lot size; market conditions; investment guideline considerations; and account-specific legal and regulatory constraints. In addition, the Investment Manager will consider the specific investment objective of the account (i.e., whether the account is a multi-strategy or single-strategy account), liquidity requirements, diversification, lender covenants, investment phase of the account (i.e., ramping-up or taking gains/losses for tax purposes), aggregate size of commonly owned accounts, and cash available in each account when making an allocation decision.

**<u>Allocation of Limited Time and Attention.</u>** The portfolio managers for the Funds may devote as much time to the Funds as the Investment Manager deems appropriate to perform its duties in accordance with reasonable commercial standards and the Investment Manager's duties. However, as described above, these portfolio managers are presently committed to and expect to be committed in the future to providing investment advisory and other services for Other Clients and engage in Other Business Activities in which the Funds may have no interest. As a result of these separate business activities, the Investment Manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, services and functions among the Funds and Other Business Activities or Other Clients in that the time and effort of the Funds' portfolio managers would not be devoted exclusively to the business of the Funds.

**<u>Potential Restrictions and Issues Related to Material Non-Public Information.</u>** By reason of Other Business Activities as well as services and advice provided to Other Clients, the Investment Manager and its affiliates may acquire confidential or material non-public information and may be restricted from initiating transactions in certain securities and instruments until they are cleansed of such material non-public information. The Investment Manager will not be free to divulge, or to act upon, any such confidential or material non-public information and, due to these restrictions, the Investment Manager may be unable to initiate a transaction for a Fund's account that it otherwise might have initiated. As a result, a Fund may be frozen in an investment position that it otherwise might have liquidated or closed out or may not be able to acquire a position that it might otherwise have acquired.

**<u>Valuation of the Funds' Investments.</u>** Fund assets are valued in accordance with the Funds' valuation policy and procedures and the Investment Manager's Rule 2a-5 fair valuation policy and Rule 2a-5 fair valuation procedures. The valuation of a security or other asset for the Funds may differ from the value ascribed to the same asset by affiliates of the Investment Manager (particularly difficult-to-value assets) or Other Clients because, among other things, they may have procedures that differ from the Funds' procedures or may have access to different information or pricing vendors or use different models or techniques. The Investment Manager has been designated as the valuation designee to perform fair value determinations for the Funds with respect to all Funds' investments and may face a potential conflict with respect to such valuations.

**<u>Investments in Other Guggenheim Funds.</u>** To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may invest in other funds sponsored, managed, advised or sub-advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. Investments by a Fund in such funds present potential conflicts of interest, including potential incentives to invest in smaller or newer funds to increase asset levels or provide greater viability and to invest in funds managed by the portfolio manager(s) of the Funds. As disclosed in the Prospectus and this SAI, the Investment Manager has agreed to waive certain fees associated with these types of investments, which will reduce, but will not eliminate, these types of conflicts. In other circumstances, the Investment Manager may make investments for clients for various portfolio management purposes in limited partnerships or similar vehicles that are managed or otherwise serviced by affiliates of the Investment Manager that will be compensated for such services.

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**<u>Potential Conflicts Associated with the Investment Manager and Its Affiliates Acting in Multiple Capacities</u> <u>Simultaneously</u>**

**<u>Principal and Cross Transactions.</u>** The Investment Manager may, to the extent permitted under applicable law, effect client cross transactions where the Investment Manager causes a transaction to be effected between a Fund and an Other Client; provided, that conditions set forth in SEC rules under the 1940 Act are followed. Cross transactions present an inherent conflict of interest because the Investment Manager represents the interests of both the selling account and the buying account in the same transaction, and the Investment Manager could seek to treat one party to the cross transaction more favorably than the other party. Furthermore, in some circumstances, the security or other financial instrument being traded is an interest in an investment vehicle managed by the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates or an issuer in which an affiliate or a Guggenheim Related Party has an interest. The Investment Manager has policies and procedures designed to mitigate these conflicts and help ensure that any cross transactions are in the best interests of, and appropriate for, all clients involved and the transactions are consistent with the Investment Manager's fiduciary duties and obligation to seek best execution and applicable rules.

**<u>Investment Manager and Its Affiliates May Act in Multiple Commercial Capacities.</u>** Subject to applicable law, the provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder and the Funds' and Other Clients' investment guidelines, the Investment Manager may cause the Funds to invest in securities, bank loans or other obligations of companies or structured product vehicles that result in commissions, initial or ongoing fees, or other remuneration paid to (and retained by) the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates. Such investments may include (i) investments that the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates originated, arranged or placed, (ii) investments in which the Investment Manager's affiliate provided investment banking, financial advisory or similar services to a party involved in the transaction to which the investment relates (such as acquisition financing in a transaction in which the Investment Manager's affiliate represented the buyer or seller); (iii) investments where the Investment Manager or its affiliates provided other services to a transaction participant or other third party, (iv) investments where the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates acts as the collateral agent, administrator, originator, manager, or other service provider, and (v) investments that are secured or otherwise backed by collateral that could include assets originated, sold or financed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates, investment funds or pools managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates or assets or obligations managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. Commissions, fees, or other remuneration payable to the Investment Manager or its affiliates in these transactions may present a potential conflict in that the Investment Manager may be viewed as having an incentive to purchase such investments to earn, or facilitate its affiliates' ability to earn, such additional fees or compensation.

In some circumstances, and also subject to applicable law, the Investment Manager may cause the Funds to invest in or provide financing to issuers or borrowers, or otherwise participate in transactions, in which the issuer, borrower or another transaction party (such as a placement agent or arranger) is, or is a subsidiary or affiliate of or otherwise related to, (a) an Other Client or (b) a company with which Guggenheim Related Persons, or officers or employees of the Investment Manager, have investment, financial or other interests or relationships (including but not limited to directorships or equivalent roles). The financial interests of the Investment Manager's affiliates or their related persons in issuers or borrowers create potential conflict between the economic interests of these affiliates or related persons and the interests of the Investment Manager's clients. In addition, to the extent that a potential issuer or borrower (or one of its affiliates) is an advisory client of the Investment Manager, or the Investment Manager's advisory client is a lender or financing provider to the Investment Manager or its affiliates (including a parent), a potential conflict may exist as the Investment Manager may have an incentive to favor the interests of those clients relative to those of its other clients.

Because of limitations imposed by applicable law, notably by provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder, the involvement or presence of the Investment Manager's affiliates in the offerings described above or the financial markets more broadly may restrict a Fund's ability to acquire some securities or loans, even if they would otherwise be desirable investments for the Fund, or affect the timing or price of such acquisitions or the sale of an investment, which may adversely affect Fund performance.

Subject to applicable law and regulation, personnel of the Guggenheim Entities may support the overall investment management functions of the Investment Manager but may be subject to potential conflicts of interest with respect to certain investment opportunities and, as such, may have an incentive to identify investment opportunities for, and allocate investment opportunities to, third-parties. Similarly, to the extent that other Guggenheim Entities sponsor and manage funds that compete with the Funds' investment programs, these funds may reduce capacity otherwise available to the Funds.

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To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Investment Manager and its affiliates may create, write, sell, issue, invest in or act as placement agent or distributor of derivative instruments related to the Funds, or with respect to portfolio holdings of the Funds, or which may be otherwise based on or seek to replicate or hedge the performance of the Funds. Such derivative transactions, and any associated hedging activity, may differ from and be adverse to the interests of the Funds.

Some of the Investment Manager's employees (and others acting as consultants or advisors) may serve as directors or otherwise serve a role within a portfolio company in which a Fund invests. These services are separate from the services the Investment Manager renders to the Fund and may thus create conflicts.

Certain professionals, including investment professionals, of the Investment Manager may, from time to time, also serve as investment professionals of affiliates. These arrangements, and the relationship between the Investment Manager and its affiliates, present potential conflicts of interest, including those described herein.

Present and future activities of the Investment Manager and its affiliates (and the role and relationships of the Investment Manager's personnel with other Guggenheim Entities), in addition to those described in this SAI, may give rise to additional or different conflicts of interest.

**<u>Portfolio Manager Compensation.</u>** As discussed above, portfolio managers may own Fund shares and a portion of their compensation may include equity in the form of shares of certain funds (including the Funds) managed by the particular portfolio manager. As a result, a potential conflict of interest may arise to the extent a portfolio manager owns or has an interest in shares of a specific Fund or fund that he or she manages. These personal investments may create an incentive for a portfolio manager to favor such Fund or fund over other advisory clients, including other funds.

**Proxy Voting**

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The Board has delegated to the Investment Manager the final authority and responsibility for voting proxies with respect to each Fund's underlying securities holdings. Certain funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds ("investing fund"), such as a Fund, may invest in other funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds ("underlying fund"), including another Fund, and as a result, an investing fund may be a shareholder of record of, and own shares with voting rights of, an underlying fund. With respect to a proposal that applies on a trust-wide basis (i.e., all series of the underlying fund's trust will vote together on the proposal, e.g., election of trustees), the investing fund's adviser will cause the investing fund to vote its shares in the underlying fund in the same proportion as the vote of all the shareholders of series of the underlying fund's trust that are not funds managed by the advisers to the funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds or their affiliates in the aggregate. The investing fund's adviser may, however, elect to follow the fund or class-specific methodologies described below when deemed appropriate. As a general matter, for proposals that are fund or class-specific (i.e., each fund or class votes separately), an investing fund's adviser will cause the investing fund to vote its shares in the underlying fund in the same proportion as the vote of all the shareholders in that underlying fund that are not funds managed by the advisers to the funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds or their affiliates (also called "mirror" or "echo" voting). With regard to investing funds that hold shares in underlying funds that are offered exclusively to funds managed by the advisers to the funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds or their affiliates and institutional accounts managed by such advisers or their affiliates, an investing fund's adviser will cause the investing fund to: (i) echo vote in proportion to votes of the shareholders of the investing fund in the event that both the investing and underlying funds are voting on substantially identical proposals; or, in all other cases, (ii) seek voting instructions from the independent board members of the investing fund or an independent proxy voting service if deemed appropriate by the independent board members of the investing fund. In addition, a Fund may be required by regulation to vote its shares of another fund registered under the 1940 Act in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of shares of such Fund.

The Investment Manager's Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (in this section, "Procedures") are designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of the applicable Fund. Where the Investment Manager has been delegated the responsibility for voting proxies, it will take reasonable steps under the Procedures to ensure that proxies are received and voted in the best long-term interests of its clients. The Investment Manager will consider all relevant factors and will not give undue weight to the opinions of other individuals or groups who may have an economic interest in the outcome of the proxy vote.

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The financial interest of the Investment Manager's clients is the primary consideration in determining how proxies should be voted. Any material conflicts of interest between the Investment Manager and its clients with respect to proxy voting are resolved in the best interests of the clients. Corporate actions, such as rights offerings, tender offers, and stock splits or actions initiated by holders of a security rather than the issuer (such as reset rights for a CLO) or legal actions, such as bankruptcy proceedings or class action lawsuits are outside the scope of the Procedures.

The Investment Manager has adopted the proxy voting guidelines of an outside proxy voting firm, ISS, as the Investment Manager's proxy voting guidelines (in this section, "Guidelines"). The Investment Manager has also engaged ISS to act as agent for the proxy process, to maintain records on proxy votes for its clients, and to provide independent research on corporate governance, proxy and corporate responsibility issues. At inception, the Investment Manager will assess the Procedures to determine which Guidelines will be followed. The Investment Manager reviews the Guidelines and conducts a due diligence assessment of ISS and the performance of its duties as agent at least annually. The Investment Manager may override the Guidelines recommending a vote on a particular proposal if the Investment Manager determines a different vote to be in the best interest of the client or if required to deviate under applicable law, rule or regulation. If a proposal is voted contrary to the Guidelines, the reasons will be documented in writing by the Investment Manager.

The Investment Manager seeks to vote securities in the best interest of clients, and will apply the Guidelines regardless of whether the issuer, a third party, or both solicit the Investment Manager's vote.

In the absence of contrary instructions received from the Investment Manager, ISS will vote proxies in accordance with the Guidelines, as such Guidelines may be revised from time to time. The Investment Manager will typically vote proxies itself in two scenarios: (1) the Guidelines do not address the proposal; and (2) the Investment Manager has decided to vote some or all of the shares contrary to the Guidelines.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) *Proposals not addressed by Guidelines:* ISS will notify the Investment Manager of all proxy proposals that do not fall within the Guidelines (i.e., proposals which are either not addressed in the Guidelines or proposals for which the Investment Manager has indicated that a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis, such as fixed-income securities). If the investment team(s) responsible, together with the Proxy Voting Advisory Group ("PVAG") (a group comprised of representatives from investment management, compliance, operational due diligence services, operations, and legal that is responsible for overseeing the proxy voting activities and policies and procedures of the Investment Manager and certain affiliated entities), determines that there are no material conflicts of interest, the proposal will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of said team(s) and approval from the PVAG. If there is a material conflict of interest, the Investment Manager will follow the procedures outlined below.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) *Proposal to be voted contrary to Guidelines:* When an investment team decides that a proposal should be voted contrary to the Guidelines, because it believes it is in the best interest of the client to do so, the investment team will consult with the PVAG to determine whether there is a material conflict of interest as to that proposal. If the investment team(s) responsible, together with the PVAG, determines that there is no material conflict of interest, the Investment Manager will override ISS's vote recommendation in accordance with the recommendation of said investment team(s) and with approval from the PVAG. If there is a material conflict of interest, the Investment Manager will follow the procedures outlined below.

The Investment Manager occasionally will be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to relationships it maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of particular votes. Common examples of conflicts in the voting of proxies are: (a) the Investment Manager or an affiliate of the Investment Manager provides or is seeking to provide services to the company on whose behalf proxies are being solicited, (b) an employee of the Investment Manager or its affiliate has a personal relationship with the company's management or another proponent of a proxy issue, and the employee may be in a position to influence the proxy voting decision, or (c) an immediate family member of the employee of the Investment Manager or its affiliates is a director or executive officer of the company, and the employee may be in a position to influence the proxy voting decision. Senior members of the investment team(s) responsible for voting the proxy, in consultation with compliance, will decide whether a material conflict of interest exists. If a material conflict of interest exists, the investment team(s) will consult with the PVAG to determine how to resolve the conflict consistent with the procedures below. In certain cases, the Investment Manager occasionally engages and appoints an independent party to provide independent analysis or recommendations with respect to consents, proxy voting, or other similar shareholder or debt holder rights decision (or a series of consents, votes or similar decisions) pertaining to a Fund.

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If the Guidelines do not address a proposal, or the Investment Manager wishes to vote a proposal contrary to the Guidelines, or ISS does not provide a recommendation on a proposal, and the Investment Manager has a material conflict of interest as to the vote, then the Investment Manager will seek to resolve the conflict in any of the following ways, as recommended by the PVAG:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Refer Proposal to the Client - The Investment Manager may refer the proposal to the client and obtain instructions from the client on how to vote the proxy relating to that proposal.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Obtain Client Ratification - If the Investment Manager is in a position to disclose the conflict to the client (i.e., such information is not confidential), the Investment Manager may determine how it proposes to vote the proposal on which it has a conflict, fully disclose the nature of the conflict to the client, and obtain the client's consent for how the Investment Manager will vote on the proposal (or otherwise obtain instructions from the client on how the proxy on the proposal should be voted).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Abstain from voting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Use another Independent Third Party for All Proposals - Subject to any client-imposed proxy voting policies, the Investment Manager may vote all proposals in a single proxy according to the policies of an independent third party other than ISS (or have the third party vote such proxies).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Use another Independent Third Party to Vote Only the Specific Proposals that Involve a Conflict - Subject to any client-imposed proxy voting policies, the Investment Manager may use an independent third party other than ISS to recommend how the proxy for specific proposals that involve a conflict should be voted (or have the third party vote such proxies).

The method selected by the PVAG to resolve the conflict may vary from one instance to another depending upon the facts and circumstances of the situation, but in each case, consistent with its duty of loyalty and care.

In certain instances, proxy voting involves logistical issues which affect the Investment Manager's ability to vote such proxies, as well as the desirability of voting such proxies. These issues include but are not limited to: (i) securities being subject to lending arrangements; (ii) special issues with voting foreign proxies; (iii) share blocking; and (iv) lack of adequate information, untimely receipt of proxy, or excessive costs.

Clients may obtain information about how the Investment Manager voted proxies on their behalf by contacting the Investment Manager.

The Funds are required to file Form N-PX with the SEC with their complete proxy voting records for the 12 months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. Once filed, Form N-PX will be available without charge: (1) from the Funds, upon request by calling 800.820.0888, and (2) on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Funds also make available their proxy voting record included in their Form N-PX filing at http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com/mutual-funds/literature.

**Distributor**

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Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"), 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the principal underwriter for shares of the Trust pursuant to a Distribution Agreement. The Distributor acts in such capacity on a best-efforts basis and offers shares of the Funds on a continuous basis. The Distributor also acts as principal underwriter for series of the Trust, Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, Guggenheim Variable Funds Trust, Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Dynamic Funds and Rydex Variable Trust.

The Distributor receives a maximum commission on sales of Class A shares of 4.00% and allows a maximum sales charge percentage reallowable to dealers of 3.25% on Fund shares sold. These amounts may vary by Fund. The maximum sales charge percentage reallowable to dealers is the same for all dealers, but the Distributor at its discretion may increase the amount for specific periods.

The Distributor does not receive any compensation from the Funds for the distribution of Class R6 shares and Institutional class shares.

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For the Funds' three most recently completed fiscal years, the Distributor (1) received gross underwriting commissions on Class A and Class P shares, (2) retained net underwriting commissions on Class A and Class P shares, and (3) received contingent deferred sales charges on redemptions of Class A and/or Class C shares in the amounts set forth in the tables below.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Gross Underwriting Commissions** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Gross Underwriting Commissions** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Gross Underwriting Commissions** |
| **Fund** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Core Bond Fund | $38187  | $102606 | $88620 |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $58769  | $149153 | $114154 |
| High Yield Fund | $26302  | $43049 | $23896 |
| Limited Duration Fund | $1932075  | $1894845 | $862944 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | $331810  | $551072 | $116388 |
| Municipal Income Fund | $9633  | $589 | $25790 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | $374723  | $511085 | $677498 |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | $0 | $0 | $0 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Net Underwriting Commissions** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Net Underwriting Commissions** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Net Underwriting Commissions** |
| **Fund** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Core Bond Fund | $30510  | $10375 | $12110 |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $53964  | $3930 | $7606 |
| High Yield Fund | $20943  | $9535 | $4712 |
| Limited Duration Fund | $1922456  | $11551 | $2175 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | $304643  | $49222 | $9689 |
| Municipal Income Fund | $7864  | $183 | $2997 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | $334458  | $56285 | $46439 |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | $0 | $0 | $0 |

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Compensation on Redemptions** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Compensation on Redemptions** | **Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC—Compensation on Redemptions** |
| **Fund** | **2025** | **2024** | **2023** |
| Core Bond Fund | $7676  | $268 | $4 |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | $4805  | $674 | $859 |
| High Yield Fund | $5358  | $0 | $0 |
| Limited Duration Fund | $9620  | $10011 | $2165 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | $27166  | $155 | $0 |
| Municipal Income Fund | $1769  | $0 | $0 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | $40266  | $3381 | $11123 |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | $0 | $0 | $0 |

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The Distributor, on behalf of the Funds, may act as a broker in the purchase and sale of securities not effected on a securities exchange, provided that any such transactions and any commissions shall comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations of the SEC. The Distributor has not acted as a broker and thus received no brokerage commissions.

Each Fund's Distribution Agreement is renewable annually either by the Board or by the vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding securities, and, in either event, by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the agreement or interested persons of any such party. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon 60 days' written notice.

**Portfolio Turnover**

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A Fund's portfolio turnover rate is, in summary, the percentage computed by dividing the lesser of the Fund's purchases or sales of securities (excluding short-term securities) by the average market value of that Fund. Portfolio turnover rates can vary greatly from year to year, as well as within a particular year. The Investment Manager intends to manage each Fund's assets by buying and selling investments to seek to achieve its investment objective. Each of the Funds may dispose of investments regardless of the holding period. Such transactions may result in capital gains or losses and could result in a high portfolio turnover rate during a given period, which may result in increased

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transaction costs or a mark-up or markdown of the transaction price. The portfolio turnover rates of the Funds cannot be accurately predicted. The table below sets forth the Funds' portfolio turnover rates during the Funds' two most recently completed fiscal years.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Funds** | **Portfolio Turnover Rate** | **Portfolio Turnover Rate** |
| **Funds** | **2025** | **2024** |
| Core Bond Fund | 53% | 89% |
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | 44% | 37% |
| High Yield Fund | 49% | 45% |
| Limited Duration Fund | 49% | 42% |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | 35% | 24% |
| Municipal Income Fund | 39% | 59% |
| Total Return Bond Fund | 49% | 70% |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | 54% | 10% |

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The following Funds experienced significant variations in their portfolio turnover rates over the most recent two fiscal years:

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, the portfolio turnover rate for Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund increased to 54% as compared to 10% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. This increase was due principally to increased trading activity related to increased purchase or sales of Fund shares during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.

**Portfolio Brokerage and Investment Allocation**

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Below is a summary of brokerage and allocation policies for the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager is responsible for purchasing and selling securities and other assets for each Fund.

The Investment Manager makes investment decisions for each Fund it advises, selects brokers and dealers to effect transactions and negotiates price, commissions, and markups or markdowns or spreads, if any, with respect to these transactions. The Investment Manager has adopted policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to obtain best execution for portfolio transactions and to allocate investment opportunities among the Funds it advises (or sub-advises, if applicable) and the Investment Manager's other clients fairly, equitably and in a non-preferential manner over time.

The Investment Manager has discretionary trading authority on behalf of the Funds it advises (or sub-advises, if applicable) and its other clients, and has a duty to each of those Funds (and its other clients) to seek the most favorable execution for each portfolio transaction it makes on their behalf. In furtherance of seeking the most favorable execution, the Investment Manager has adopted a Counterparty Approval Policy pursuant to which it maintains an Approved Counterparty List. Transactions may only be executed with counterparties/broker-dealers on the Approved Counterparties List unless an exception is granted by an authorized person under the Counterparty Approval Policy. Initially and on an ongoing basis, the Investment Manager consults a variety of information relating to a counterparty/broker-dealer, including regulatory reports and financial information, in connection with adding and maintaining a counterparty to the Approved Counterparty List. Generally, counterparties on the Approved Counterparty List must, in the Investment Manager's opinion, have financial stability and a positive reputation in the industry. When reviewing brokers, the Investment Manager may consider, including, without limitation, the size and type of transaction, access to liquidity, execution efficiency and capability, and other factors it may deem appropriate. The Investment Manager uses its judgment to select a broker or dealer on the basis of how a transaction can be executed to achieve the most favorable execution for its client under the circumstances. Accordingly, the Investment Manager is not obligated to choose the broker or dealer offering the lowest available commission rate or the lowest possible execution cost on a transaction. The sale of Fund shares by a broker or dealer is not a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions for a Fund. The Investment Manager and its affiliates do not currently participate in soft dollar arrangements.

The Investment Manager may aggregate trade orders for one or more Funds and/or its other clients in a particular security, unless it believes that doing so would conflict or otherwise be inconsistent with its duty to seek best execution for its clients and/or the terms of the respective investment advisory contracts and other agreements and

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understandings relating to the clients for which trades are being aggregated. Aggregation of trade orders may result in an overall benefit to a Fund because it may achieve efficiencies in execution and reduce trading costs. When aggregating trades, the Investment Manager will continue to seek: to achieve best execution; to treat all participating clients fairly; and to ensure participating clients pay the same price, net of transaction costs. The Investment Manager will allocate orders objectively and in a fair and equitable manner in relation to the objectives, investment strategies, account constraints and restrictions, and relative exposure to asset classes of the Funds and other client accounts involved. Generally, the Investment Manager will allocate these orders pro rata among participating clients. In some cases, the Investment Manager may use various other methods of allocation that are considered to be consistent with the Investment Manager's established policies and procedures. Allocations for IPOs are typically handled in the same manner as any other aggregated trade, however, the Investment Manager will attempt to allocate IPOs among appropriate client accounts on a pro rata basis, subject to certain adjustments.

The amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors. The table below sets forth the brokerage fees paid by the Funds during the Funds' three most recently completed fiscal years:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fund Total**<br> **Brokerage**<br> **Commissions**<br> **Paid**<br>|
| Core Bond Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $6964<br> $3349<br> $3404<br>|
| Floating Rate Strategies Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $1146<br> $5098<br> $15776<br>|
| High Yield Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $0<br> $0<br> $1175<br>|
| Limited Duration Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $6666<br> $7875<br> $4189<br>|
| Macro Opportunities Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $29844<br> $83840<br> $138134<br>|
| Municipal Income Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $0<br> $0<br> $4522<br>|
| Total Return Bond Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $91318<br> $43846<br> $38109<br>|
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2025<br> 2024<br> 2023<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $854<br> $0<br> $0<br>|

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During such fiscal years, no Fund paid any brokerage commissions to any broker that is an affiliated person of the Fund or any affiliated person of that person, or an affiliated person of which is an affiliated person of the Fund, its principal underwriter, or the Investment Manager. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, no Fund paid any of its aggregate brokerage commissions to, or transacted any of their transactions through, any such broker. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, no Fund or its Investment Manager, through an agreement or understanding with a broker, or otherwise through an internal allocation procedure, directed the Fund's brokerage transactions to a broker because of research services provided.

The Funds contemplate that, consistent with the policy of obtaining the best execution, brokerage transactions may be conducted through affiliates of the Investment Manager and Distributor. The Board has adopted procedures in conformity with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act to ensure that all brokerage commissions paid to any affiliated broker are reasonable and fair.

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Guggenheim Investments has created a Best Execution Committee (the "Committee") in connection with the broker-dealer selection process and oversight of the best execution policies. The Committee examines the performance of broker-dealers and, for equity trades, makes recommendations regarding the addition of potential broker-dealers. In addition, the Committee works to mitigate potential conflicts of interest that could exist.

**Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers**

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In certain cases, a Fund, as part of its principal investment strategies, or otherwise as a permissible investment, will invest in the securities of the regular broker-dealers that the Investment Manager uses to effect brokerage transactions for the Fund. As of the end of the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the following Funds owned securities of their "regular brokers or dealers" or their parents, as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act, in the aggregate amounts shown below:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Issuer/Regular Broker-Dealer** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate Amount of Securities**<br> **Owned**<br>|
| Core Bond Fund | Barclays plc | $1039917 |
| Core Bond Fund | Bank of America Corp. | $6089381 |
| Core Bond Fund | BNP Paribas Securities Corp. | $2261959 |
| Core Bond Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $8915578 |
| Core Bond Fund | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | $1048716 |
| Core Bond Fund | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $15186064 |
| Core Bond Fund | Morgan Stanley | $4799016 |
| Core Bond Fund | Wells Fargo & Co. | $6401445 |
| High Yield Fund | Bank of America Corp. | $728342 |
| High Yield Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $813638 |
| High Yield Fund | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | $504122 |
| Limited Duration Fund | Barclays plc | $24116493 |
| Limited Duration Fund | Bank of America Corp. | $242695 |
| Limited Duration Fund | BNP Paribas Securities Corp. | $21155066 |
| Limited Duration Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $42809537 |
| Limited Duration Fund | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $30565430 |
| Limited Duration Fund | Mizuho | $13962444 |
| Limited Duration Fund | Morgan Stanley | $357871 |
| Limited Duration Fund | Wells Fargo & Co. | $12624327 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | Bank of America Corp. | $41636608 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $75913689 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | $46596119 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $37008424 |
| Macro Opportunities Fund | Wells Fargo & Co. | $34169771 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | Bank of America Corp. | $100276283 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | Barclays plc | $3205653 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | BNP Paribas Securities Corp. | $16894361 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $176434509 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | $105360805 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $202897508 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | Morgan Stanley | $48860535 |
| Total Return Bond Fund | Wells Fargo & Co. | $86079915 |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | Barclays plc | $2558463 |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $2784569 |
| Ultra Short Duration Fund | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $3279145 |

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**How Net Asset Value Is Determined**

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The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled "Determination of Net Asset Value." Neither the Prospectus nor the following information is intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies a Fund may use to value its investments. The methodologies summarized in the Prospectus and below may not represent the specific means by which a Fund's investments are valued on any particular business day.

The price at which you buy, sell and exchange shares is the net asset value per share (plus any applicable initial sales charge), which also is referred to as NAV. Each Fund calculates its NAV by: (1) taking the current value of its total assets; (2) subtracting any liabilities; and (3) dividing that amount by the total number of shares owned by shareholders.

Each Fund's NAV is reduced each day by the amount of the income dividend declared that day. If selling securities generates net capital gains for a Fund, they will be reflected in the Fund's total assets, and the Fund will typically distribute these gains to shareholders only at the end of the calendar year. The Fund's NAV is not reduced by the amount of any such capital gains distribution until the "ex-date," which is typically the business day after the record date setting the list of shareholders of record entitled to that distribution. The number of shares purchased by a shareholder and the management and other asset-based fees paid by a Fund on an ongoing basis are determined based on the NAV so calculated.

The Board has adopted policies and procedures for the valuation of the Funds' investments (the "Valuation Procedures"). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board designated the Investment Manager as the valuation designee to perform fair valuation determinations for each Fund with respect to all Fund investments and/or other assets. As the Funds' valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Investment Manager has adopted separate procedures ("Valuation Designee Procedures") reasonably designed to prevent violations of the requirements of Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act. The Investment Manager, in its role as valuation designee, utilizes the assistance of a valuation committee, consisting of representatives from Guggenheim's investment management, fund administration, legal and compliance departments (the "Valuation Committee"), in determining fair value of the Funds' securities and/or other assets. The Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures permit the Funds to use a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing the Funds' investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on available market data or other relevant considerations. As a general matter, valuing securities and assets accurately is difficult and can be based on inputs and assumptions, which may not always be accurate.

In general, portfolio securities and assets of a Fund will be valued on the basis of readily available market quotations at their current market value. With respect to portfolio securities and assets of a Fund for which market quotations are not readily available, or deemed unreliable by the Investment Manager, the Fund will fair value those securities and assets in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures. Valuations in accordance with these methods are intended to reflect each security's (or asset's or liability's) "fair value." Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations may be based on limited inputs and involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances, and the exercise of judgment. Each such determination is based on a consideration of all relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to market prices; sale prices; broker quotes; and models which derive prices based on inputs such as prices of securities with comparable maturities and characteristics, or based on inputs such as anticipated cash flows or collateral, spread over U.S. Treasury securities, and other information analysis. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures are designed to value a portfolio security or asset at the price a Fund may reasonably expect to receive upon its sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that a Fund could reasonably expect to receive upon the sale of the portfolio security or asset.

U.S. Government securities are valued by independent third-party pricing services, using the last traded fill price, or at the reported bid price at the close of business on the valuation date.

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Commercial paper and discount notes with a maturity of greater than 60 days at acquisition are valued at prices are obtained from independent third-party pricing services, which may consider the trade activity, treasury spreads, yields or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Commercial paper and discount notes with a maturity of 60 days or less at acquisition are valued at amortized cost, unless the Investment Manager concludes that amortized cost does not represent the fair value of the applicable asset in which case it will be valued using an independent third-party pricing service.

CLOs, CDOs, MBS, ABS, and other structured finance securities are generally valued using an independent third-party pricing service.

Repurchase agreements are generally valued at amortized cost, provided such amounts approximate market value.

Equity securities listed or traded on a recognized U.S. securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market ("NASDAQ") will generally be valued on the basis of the last sale price on the primary U.S. exchange or market on which the security is listed or traded; provided, however, that securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the NASDAQ official closing price, which may not necessarily represent the last sale price.

Open-end investment companies are valued at their NAV as of the close of business, on the valuation date. ETFs and listed closed-end investment companies are generally valued at the last quoted sale price.

Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean of the bid and ask prices on the principal exchange on which they are traded.

Over-the-counter ("OTC") options and options on swaps ("swaptions") are valued using a price provided by a pricing service.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued daily based on the applicable exchange rate of the underlying currency.

Futures contracts are valued at the official settlement price on the primary exchange on which they trade. Futures contracts that trade past 4:00 PM are valued at the trade price as of 4:00 pm, or at the last sale price immediately prior to 4:00 PM ET, if a 4:00 PM sale price is not available.

Interest rate swap agreements entered into by a Fund are valued on the basis of the mid price on the primary exchange on which the swap is traded. Other swap agreements entered into by a Fund are generally valued using an evaluated price provided by an independent third-party pricing service.

Typically, loans are valued using information provided by independent third-party pricing services that uses broker quotes, among other inputs. If the independent third-party pricing service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular loan, or such valuation is deemed unreliable, such investment is valued based on a quote from a broker-dealer or is fair valued by the Investment Manager. Funds that invest in loans or asset-backed securities as part of their investment strategies may have a significant amount of these instruments that are fair valued by the Investment Manager.

Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. The values of foreign securities are determined as of the close of such foreign markets or the close of the NYSE, if earlier. All investments quoted in foreign currencies are valued in U.S. dollars on the basis of the foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at the close of U.S. business at 4:00 p.m. E.T. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments.

A Fund may also fair value securities and assets when a significant event is deemed to have occurred after the time of a market quotation including for securities and assets traded on foreign markets and securities and assets for which market quotations are provided by independent third-party pricing services as of a time that is prior to the time when the Funds determine their NAV. There can be no assurance in each case that significant events will be identified.

Valuations of the Funds' securities and other assets are supplied primarily by independent third-party pricing services appointed pursuant to the processes set forth in the Valuation Designee Procedures. Valuations provided by the independent third-party pricing services are generally based on methods designed to approximate the amount

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that a Fund could reasonably expect to receive upon the sale of the portfolio security or asset. When providing valuations to the Funds, independent third-party pricing services use various inputs, methods, models and assumptions, which may include information provided by broker-dealers and other market makers. Independent third-party pricing services face the same challenges as the Funds in valuing securities and assets and may rely on limited available information. If the independent third-party pricing service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular investment, or such valuation is deemed unreliable, such investment is fair valued by the Investment Manager. Each Fund may also use third-party service providers to model certain securities, using models to determine fair market value. While a Fund's use of fair valuation is intended to result in calculation of NAV that fairly reflects values of the Fund's portfolio securities as of the time of pricing, a Fund cannot guarantee that any fair valuation will, in fact, approximate the amount the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the securities in question.

Quotes from broker-dealers (i.e., prices provided by a broker-dealer or other market participant, which may or may not be committed to trade at that price), adjusted for fluctuations in criteria such as credit spreads and interest rates, may also be used to value a Fund's securities and other assets. Quotes from broker-dealers and vendor prices based on broker quotes can vary in terms of depth (e.g., provided by a single broker-dealer) and frequency (e.g., provided on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, or any other regular or irregular interval). Although quotes from broker-dealers and vendor prices based on broker quotes are typically received from established market participants, a Fund may not have the transparency to view the underlying inputs which support such quotes. Significant changes in a quote from a broker-dealer would generally result in significant changes in the fair value of the security.

The Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund may invest a portion of its total assets in shares of the Subsidiary. Every business day, the Subsidiary will offer to redeem all or a portion of its shares at the current NAV. The value of the Subsidiary's investments will affect the value of the Subsidiary's shares. The Subsidiary prices its investments by the same valuation method described above and as set forth in the Funds' Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures.

Proportions of a Fund's investments that are fair valued vary from time to time and a Fund may fair value a significant amount of its portfolio securities and assets. The Funds' report on Form N-CSR contain more information about the Funds' holdings that are fair valued. Investors should consult the Funds' report on Form N-CSR for additional information. For underlying funds in which the Funds may invest, additional information about the circumstances when those underlying funds may use fair value pricing may be found in each underlying fund's respective prospectus.

**How to Redeem Shares**

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Shareholders may turn in their shares, other than Class P shares, directly to the Transfer Agent for redemption at NAV (which may be more or less than the investor's cost, depending upon the market value of the portfolio securities at the time of redemption). The redemption price in cash will be the NAV next determined after the time when such shares are tendered for redemption less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Orders by a fund of funds for which the Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment manager will be treated as received by a Fund at the same time that the corresponding orders are received in proper form by the fund of funds.

Whether you transmit your redemption order by mail, fax or telephone, you must include the following information in your redemption order:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Your name;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Your shareholder account number;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fund name(s);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Dollar amount or number of shares you would like to sell;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether you want your sale proceeds sent to you by check, wire or ACH (a new alternate payee or new wire instructions may require a Medallion signature guarantee);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Signature of account owner(s) (not required for telephone redemptions); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any share certificates issued for any of the shares to be redeemed (if applicable).

To avoid delay in redemption or transfer, shareholders having questions should contact the Transfer Agent.

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Shareholders of Class P shares may submit redemption orders to the financial intermediary through whom their accounts were opened. Such orders will receive the NAV next calculated after receipt of the orders by the financial intermediary.

In addition to the rights expressly set forth in the Prospectuses and this SAI, the Funds reserve the right to close your account or redeem your shares in other circumstances as may be determined by the Board or by Fund management pursuant to policies adopted by the Board. Neither the Funds, the Investment Manager (or their affiliates), nor the Board will be responsible for any loss in your account or tax liability resulting from such a redemption. The Board may adopt policies from time to time requiring mandatory redemption of shares in certain circumstances, such as when it has determined that a particular shareholder's ownership is not in the best interests of the other shareholders of a Fund or failure to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences to other shareholders. Involuntary redemptions in any case may be in cash or in-kind.

Each Fund redeems its shares continuously and investors may sell their shares back to the Funds on any Business Day. You may redeem all or any portion of your Fund shares at the Funds' next determined NAV calculated after your redemption order is received in good order by your financial intermediary or, for shares of each class other than Class P shares, the Transfer Agent.

Each Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents or proceeds from the sale of portfolio holdings (or a combination of these methods) unless it believes that circumstances warrant otherwise. For example, under stressed market conditions, as well as during emergency or temporary circumstances, each Fund may distribute redemption proceeds in-kind (rather than in cash), access a line of credit, or overdraft facility, or borrow through other sources (e.g., reverse repurchase agreements or engage in certain types of derivatives), to meet redemption requests. Each Fund may also use these redemption methods if the Fund believes, in its discretion, that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its remaining shareholders. Redemptions in-kind involve the payment of some or all of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption amount. If a Fund redeems your shares in kind, you may bear transaction costs and will bear market risks until such time as such securities are converted to cash.

**Receiving Your Redemption Proceeds**—Your redemption proceeds normally will be sent within seven days of the Transfer Agent receiving your request. For redemption orders that settle on federal bank holidays, your redemption proceeds will be sent to you or your financial intermediary, as applicable, on the next Business Day following the holiday. **For investments made by check or ACH (not wire purchases), purchases will be on hold for up to 10 Business Days before a payment of redemption proceeds may be made.**

All redemptions, unless paid in-kind (see below), will be mailed to your address of record, sent electronically via ACH, or wired to your bank account of record. You may request overnight mail service for an additional fee. If redemption proceeds are transmitted by ACH or wire and the payee instructions are not valid, the proceeds may be re-invested into shares of the Rydex U.S. Government Money Market Fund, which are offered in a separate prospectus, as of the date of the redemption.

If you request payment of redemption proceeds to a third party or to a location other than your address of record, alternate address on file, or bank account(s) of record, your redemption request should be **in writing and include a Medallion signature guarantee and may not be faxed.** You may not send redemption proceeds to an address of record that was changed within the last 10 business days unless your request is Medallion signature guaranteed. For certain exceptions (e.g., accounts managed by financial professionals and requests to transfer between accounts), you may not be required to provide a Medallion signature guarantee. Please contact Guggenheim Investments Client Services at 800.820.0888 if you have any questions about your redemption request.

When investing in the Funds, shareholders are required to furnish their tax identification number and to state whether or not they are subject to withholding for prior underreporting, certified under penalties of perjury as prescribed by the Code.

In addition to the foregoing redemption procedure, the Funds repurchased shares from brokers and other financial intermediaries at the price determined as of the close of business on the day such offer is confirmed. The Distributor and Transfer Agent have been authorized, as agents, to make such repurchases for the Funds' account. Dealers may charge a commission or other fee on the repurchase of shares. The repurchase or redemption of shares held in a tax-qualified retirement plan must be effected through the trustee of the plan and may result in adverse tax consequences. (See "Purchases for Retirement Plans").

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**Redemptions In-Kind—**Each Fund reserves the right to use redemptions in-kind at all times, including during stressed conditions or other circumstances. A Fund may satisfy a redemption request by distribution in-kind of securities for a variety of purposes, such as tax management and liquidity risk management, as well as in instances of large redemptions. A Fund may also satisfy redemption requests entirely through redemptions in-kind upon the request of a shareholder. In each case, such redemption in-kind would be effected in accordance with the 1940 Act and rules thereunder.

The Funds have agreed to redeem shares of each Fund solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1.00% of the NAV of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. As described above, the Funds reserve the right, in their discretion, to satisfy other redemptions, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of securities (instead of cash) from the applicable Fund's portfolio ("redemption in-kind"). The securities distributed in such a redemption in-kind distribution would be valued at the same value as that assigned to them in calculating the NAV of the shares being redeemed and generally represent a pro rata portion of Fund portfolio assets subject to certain adjustments (e.g., for non-transferable investments, odd lots or small lots of securities, and derivatives). In the case of a non-pro rata distribution, the distribution would be subject to the Trust's officers and the Trust's Liquidity Risk Management Program Administrator, in consultation with the portfolio managers and other personnel of the Investment Manager, as deemed warranted or appropriate, determining that the distribution is fair and not disadvantageous to the redeeming or remaining shareholders.

In the event a shareholder were to receive a redemption in-kind of portfolio securities of the Funds, it would be the responsibility of the shareholder to dispose of the securities, which may result in capital gains or other tax consequences. The shareholder would bear market risks and thus be at risk that the value of the securities would decline prior to their sale or would be sold at a price that differs from their original value, that it would be difficult to sell the securities, and that brokerage fees and other transaction costs could be incurred.

**Telephone Redemptions**—The proceeds of a telephone redemption will be sent to the shareholder at his or her address as set forth in the application or in a subsequent written authorization with a signature guarantee. Once authorization has been received by the Transfer Agent, a shareholder may redeem shares by calling the Funds at 800.820.0888, on weekdays (except holidays) between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Redemption requests received by telephone after the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will be treated as if received on the next business day. Telephone redemptions are not accepted for retirement accounts. A shareholder who authorizes telephone redemptions authorizes the Transfer Agent to act upon the instructions of any person identifying himself as the owner of the account or the owner's broker. The Transfer Agent has established procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine and will be liable for any losses due to fraudulent or unauthorized instructions if it fails to comply with its procedures. The Transfer Agent's procedures require that any person requesting a redemption by telephone provide the account registration and number, the owner's tax identification number, and the dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed, and such instructions must be received on a recorded line. Neither the Fund, the Transfer Agent, nor the Distributor will be liable for any loss, liability, cost or expense arising out of any redemption request, provided that the Transfer Agent complied with its procedures. Thus, a shareholder who authorizes telephone redemptions may bear the risk of loss from a fraudulent or unauthorized request. The telephone redemption privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time by the Transfer Agent or the Funds.

During periods of severe market or economic conditions, telephone redemptions may be difficult to implement, and shareholders should make redemptions by mail as described under "How to Redeem Shares."

**How to Exchange Shares**

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Shareholders of the Funds may exchange their shares for shares of the same class of shares of another series of the Trust or for shares of certain other mutual funds, including funds in the Family of Funds, or as described below. You may exchange shares for the same class of shares of the series of the Trust, Rydex Series Funds and the Rydex Dynamic Funds (together with the Funds, the "Family of Funds"). Exchanges may be made only in those states where shares of the fund into which an exchange is to be made are available for sale. Such transactions generally have the same tax consequences as ordinary sales and purchases and are not tax-free exchanges.

Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, Class P and Class R6 shares of the Funds may be exchanged for Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, Class P and Class R6 shares, respectively, of another of the available funds. Shareholders of Class A shares may exchange their shares for Institutional Class shares if the shareholders meet

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the minimum initial investment and the specific eligibility requirements. Shareholders of Institutional Class shares may exchange their shares for Class A shares of funds in the Family of Funds. The Class A shares will be subject to all of the Class A share conditions, including any applicable sales charges. No exchanges of Class C shares are allowed with a Fund that does not offer such Class of shares. Any contingent deferred sales charge applicable to exchanged Class A or Class C shares will be calculated from the date of the initial purchase. Such transactions generally have the same tax consequences as ordinary sales and purchases. No service fee is presently imposed on such an exchange. They are not tax-free exchanges. Class A shares of the Ultra Short Duration Fund may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if acquired by exchanging Class A shares of another fund in the Family of Funds that were subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Please refer to the applicable Prospectus for more information.

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. At the discretion of the management of the Funds, upon notice to shareholders, this privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time.

Before exchanging your shares for shares of another mutual fund in the Family of Funds that is distributed by the Distributor and offered through another prospectus, you should request the prospectus of the mutual fund into which you are contemplating exchanging your shares and review it carefully, as the other mutual fund may be subject to fees, charges or expenses that are different from the shares that you are exchanging.

Shareholders of Class P shares may exchange Class P shares by submitting the transaction order through their broker/dealer or other financial intermediary through whom Fund shares were purchased.

**Exchange By Telephone—**A shareholder, of each class of shares, other than Class P shares, may exchange shares by telephone by calling the Funds at 800.820.0888, on weekdays (except holidays) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Exchange requests received after the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will be treated as if received on the next business day. Shares which are held in certificate form may not be exchanged by telephone.

The Transfer Agent has established procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine and may be liable for any losses due to fraudulent or unauthorized instructions if it fails to comply with its procedures. The Transfer Agent's procedures require that any person requesting an exchange by telephone provide the account registration and number, the tax identification number, the dollar amount or number of shares to be exchanged, and the names of the fund(s) in the Family of Funds from which and into which the exchange is to be made, and such instructions must be received on a recorded line. Neither the Funds, the Transfer Agent nor the Distributor will be liable for any loss, liability, cost or expense arising out of any request, including any fraudulent request, provided the Transfer Agent complied with its procedures. Thus, a shareholder who authorizes telephone exchanges may bear the risk of loss from a fraudulent or unauthorized request. This telephone exchange privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time at the discretion of the management of the Funds. In particular, the Funds may set limits on the amount and frequency of such exchanges, in general or as to any individual who abuses such privilege.

**Dividends and Taxes**

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According to each Fund's policy, dividends are paid from net investment income each month for the Funds. If selling securities generates net capital gains for a Fund, the Fund will typically distribute these gains to shareholders at the end of the calendar year. Because Class A shares of the Funds bear most of the costs of distribution of such shares through payment of an initial sales charge and Institutional Class shares of the Funds bear no distribution expenses, while Class C shares of the Funds bear such costs through a higher distribution fee, expenses attributable to Class C shares, generally, will be higher and as a result, income distributions paid by the Funds with respect to Class C shares generally will be lower than those paid with respect to Class A and Institutional Class shares. Because the value of a share is based directly on the amount of the net assets rather than on the principle of supply and demand, any distribution of capital gains or declaration of an income dividend will result in a decrease in the value of a share equal to the amount to be paid. All such dividends and distributions are automatically reinvested on the payable date in shares of the Funds at NAV, unless the Transfer Agent is previously notified in writing by the shareholder that such dividends or distributions are to be received in cash. A shareholder may request that such dividends or distributions be directly deposited to the shareholder's bank account. A shareholder who elected not to reinvest dividends or distributions paid with respect to Class A shares may, at any time within 30 days after the payment date, reinvest the dividend check without imposition of a sales charge.

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The Funds will not pay dividends or distributions of less than $25 in cash but will automatically reinvest them in additional Fund shares. Distributions of net investment income and any short-term capital gains by the Funds are taxable as ordinary income whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares.

**Tax Considerations—**The following summarizes certain federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. The discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers with regard to the federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of Fund shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country, or other taxing jurisdiction. Maximization of tax efficiency for a specific group of investors is not a principal strategy of the Funds.

Each Fund intends to elect or has elected to be treated and intends to qualify annually as a regulated investment company under the Code. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, each Fund must, among other things: (i) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies (the "Qualifying Income Test"); (ii) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year (or within 30 days after such quarter), (a) at least 50% of the market value of its assets is represented by cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of its total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies), of two or more issuers which the Fund controls (as that term is defined in the relevant provisions of the Code) and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (iii) distribute dividends of an amount at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains in excess of any net long-term capital losses), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, plus its net tax-exempt interest each taxable year (the "Annual Minimum Distribution Requirement").

The Treasury Department is authorized to promulgate regulations under which foreign currency gains would constitute qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test only if such gains are directly related to investing in securities (or options and futures with respect to securities). To date, no such regulations have been issued.

Certain requirements relating to the qualification of a Fund as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in certain investment practices, including transactions in futures contracts and other types of derivative securities transactions. In addition, if a Fund were unable to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems relating to foreign investments or due to the holding of illiquid securities, the Fund's ability to qualify as a regulated investment company might be affected.

If a Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, the Fund would be subject to taxation on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gain, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and for treatment as qualified dividend income in the case of individual shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gain, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before re-qualifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

Assuming each Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company, each such Fund generally will not be subject to federal income tax on its investment company taxable income and net capital gains (any net long-term capital gains in excess of the net short-term capital losses), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net capital gains. Investment company taxable income which is retained by a Fund will be subject to tax at

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regular corporate tax rates. A Fund might also retain for investment its net capital gain. If a Fund does retain such net capital gain, such gain will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its shareholders who (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their respective shares of the undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their respective shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of a Fund will be increased by an amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gain included in the shareholder's gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

For federal income tax purposes, a Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any taxable year to offset its own capital gains, if any. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations. Any such loss carryforwards will retain their character as short-term or long-term. In the event that a Fund were to experience an ownership change as defined under the Code, the capital loss carryforwards and other favorable tax attributes of the Fund, if any, may be subject to limitation.

Generally, regulated investment companies, like the Funds, typically must distribute amounts on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement in order to avoid a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. Generally, to avoid this tax, a regulated investment company must distribute in respect of each calendar year dividends of an amount at least equal to the sum of: (i) 98% of its ordinary income (taking into account certain adjustments and deferrals) for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the 12-month period ending on October 31 of the calendar year, and (iii) all ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed or taxed during such years and on which the regulated investment company paid no federal income tax. To avoid application of the excise tax, each Fund intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of a calendar year if it is declared by a Fund in October, November or December of that year to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions are taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.

If a Fund were unable to distribute an amount at least equal to the Annual Minimum Distribution Requirement within applicable time periods, the Fund would not qualify for the favorable federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, or, even if it did so qualify, it might become liable for federal taxes on undistributed investment company taxable income and gains. In addition, the ability of a Fund to obtain timely and accurate information relating to its investments is a significant factor in complying with the requirements applicable to regulated investment companies in making tax-related computations. Thus, if a Fund were unable to obtain accurate information on a timely basis, it might be unable to qualify as a regulated investment company, or its tax computations might be subject to revisions (which could result in the imposition of taxes, interest and penalties).

All dividends from net investment income, together with distributions of any realized net short-term capital gains, whether paid direct to the shareholder or reinvested in shares of the Funds, are generally taxable as ordinary income. The amounts of Fund distributions are driven by federal tax requirements. A Fund's required taxable distributions to shareholders may be significant even if the Fund's overall investment performance for the period is negative.

For federal income tax purposes, dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income may qualify for the corporate stockholder's dividends received deduction to the extent the relevant Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualified dividend. The aggregate amount reported as a qualified dividend by a Fund cannot exceed the aggregate amount of dividends received by such Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. The corporate dividends received deduction will be limited if the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed or are deemed to have been held less than 46 days. In addition, a corporate stockholder must hold Fund shares for at least 46 days as well as satisfy certain other requirements in order to be eligible to claim the dividends received deduction.

The excess of net long-term capital gains over short-term capital losses realized and distributed by the Funds or reinvested in Fund shares will generally be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain. Capital gains from assets held for one year or less will be taxed as ordinary income. Distributions will be subject to these capital gains

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rates regardless of how long a shareholder has held Fund shares. Advice as to the tax status of each year's dividends and distributions will be mailed annually. A purchase of shares before the declaration of a capital gain distribution (typically done in December) may be disadvantageous because the distribution to shareholders has the effect of reducing the NAV of the shares by the amount of the capital gain distribution. If you invest through a taxable account, you could be subject to tax on the amount of the distribution.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a capital gain dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, the Fund generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

The maximum individual rate applicable to "qualified dividend income" and long-term capital gains ranges from 0% to 20%, depending on whether the individual's income exceeds certain threshold amounts. The aggregate amount reported as qualified dividend income by a Fund cannot exceed the aggregate amount of eligible dividends received by such Fund from domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations for the taxable year. Qualified dividend income will be limited if the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are deemed to have been held less than 61 days. The rate reductions do not apply to corporate taxpayers or to foreign shareholders. Each Fund will be able to separately report distributions of any qualifying long-term capital gains or qualifying dividends earned by the Fund that would be eligible for the lower maximum rate. A Fund shareholder would also have to satisfy a more than 60-day holding period as well as certain other requirements with respect to any distributions of qualifying dividends in order to obtain the benefit of the lower rate. Distributions from income derived from interest on bonds and other debt instruments will not generally qualify for the lower rates.

Certain distributions reported by a Fund as Section 163(j) interest dividends may be treated as interest income by shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. Such treatment by the shareholder is generally subject to holding period requirements and other potential limitations, although the holding period requirements are generally not applicable to dividends declared by money market funds and certain other funds that declare dividends daily and pay such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. The amount that a Fund is eligible to report as a Section 163(j) dividend for a tax year is generally limited to the excess of the Fund's business interest income over the sum of the Fund's (i) business interest expense and (ii) other deductions properly allocable to the Fund's business interest income.

If a Fund makes a distribution to its shareholders in excess of its current and accumulated "earnings and profits" in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of each shareholder's basis (for tax purposes) in its shares, and any distribution in excess of basis will be treated as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces the shareholder's basis in its shares, which reduces the loss (or increases the gain) on a subsequent taxable disposition by such shareholder of the shares.

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person's "modified adjusted gross income" (in the case of an individual) or "adjusted gross income" (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

Generally, gain or loss realized upon the sale or redemption of shares (including the exchange of shares for shares of another fund) will be capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets in the shareholder's hands, and will be taxable to shareholders, respectively, as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares had been held for more than one year at the time of sale or redemption. Capital gain or loss on shares held as capital assets for less than one year generally will be taxable to shareholders, respectively, as short-term capital gain or loss. Investors should be aware that any loss realized upon the sale, exchange or redemption of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distribution of long-term capital gain to the shareholder with respect to such shares. Additionally, any loss incurred on the sale or redemption of the Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund's shares held for six months or less may be disallowed to the extent of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to such shares. In addition, any loss realized on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares will

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be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced within a period of 61 days, beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Under certain circumstances, the sales charge incurred in acquiring Class A shares of the Funds may not be taken into account in determining the gain or loss on the disposition of those shares. This rule generally applies in circumstances when shares of the Fund are disposed of within 90 days after the date they were purchased and new shares in a regulated investment company are acquired before January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the original shares were disposed of without a sales charge or at a reduced sales charge. In that case, the gain or loss recognized on the exchange will be determined by excluding from the tax basis of the shares exchanged all or a portion of the sales charge incurred in acquiring those shares. This exclusion applies to the extent that the otherwise applicable sales charge with respect to the newly acquired shares is reduced as a result of having incurred the sales charge initially. Instead, the portion of the sales charge affected by this rule will be treated as an amount paid for the new shares.

Certain of the Funds' investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, including the dividends received deduction, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause a Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test. A Fund may make certain tax elections or borrow money or dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these tax rules and to prevent disqualification of a Fund as a RIC but there can be no assurance that these measures will be successful in this regard.

**Cost Basis Reporting—**Shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012 are generally considered covered shares. The Funds must report cost basis information to you and the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") when covered shares are redeemed. The Funds will use a default average cost method for reporting your cost basis for covered shares, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing, to use another method. If you wish to choose another default cost basis method for your account you may select among: FIFO ("first-in-first-out"), LIFO ("last-in-first-out") and HIFO ("highest-cost-in-first-out"). For redemptions of shares acquired before January 1, 2012 ("non-covered shares"), the Funds are not required to report cost basis information to you or the IRS.

Accounts opened through a financial intermediary may be subject to different cost basis policies. For more information about your financial intermediary's rules and procedures, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the appropriate cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting rules apply to their particular circumstances.

**Back-up Withholding—**Each Fund generally will be required to withhold federal income tax at a rate of 24% ("back-up withholding") from dividends paid (other than exempt-interest dividends), capital gain distributions and redemption proceeds to shareholders if (1) the shareholder fails to furnish the applicable Fund with the shareholder's correct taxpayer identification number or social security number; (2) the IRS notifies the shareholder or the applicable Fund that the shareholder has failed to report properly certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect; or (3) when required to do so, the shareholder fails to certify that he or she is not subject to back-up withholding. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's federal income tax liability.

**Exempt-Interest Dividends**—The Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund intends to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders. In order to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, at least 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets must consist of tax-exempt municipal bonds at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year. An exempt-interest dividend is that part of a dividend that is properly designated as an exempt-interest dividend and that consists of interest received by the Fund on such tax-exempt securities. Shareholders of the Fund would not incur any regular federal income tax on the amount of exempt-interest dividends received by them from the Fund, but an investment in the Fund may result in liability for federal and state alternative minimum taxation and may be subject to state and local taxes.

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Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder, whether a corporation or an individual, to purchase or carry shares of the Fund is not deductible to the extent it relates to exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder from the Fund. Any loss incurred on the sale or redemption of the Fund's shares held for six months or less may be disallowed to the extent of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to such shares.

Interest on certain tax-exempt bonds that are private activity bonds within the meaning of the Code is treated as a tax preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax, and any such interest received by the Fund and distributed to shareholders will be so treated for purposes of any alternative minimum tax liability of shareholders to the extent of the dividend's proportionate share of the Fund's income consisting of such interest.

The exemption from federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends does not necessarily result in exemption for such dividends under the income or other tax laws of any state or local authority. Shareholders that receive social security or railroad retirement benefits should consult their tax advisors to determine what effect, if any, an investment in the Fund may have on the federal taxation of their benefits.

From time to time legislation may be introduced or litigation may arise that would change the tax treatment of exempt-interest dividends. Such legislation or litigation may have the effect of raising the state or other taxes payable by shareholders on such dividends. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors for the current federal, state and local law on exempt-interest dividends.

**Passive Foreign Investment Companies—**Some of the Funds may invest in stocks of foreign companies that are treated under the Code as passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs"). In general, a foreign company is treated as a PFIC if at least one half of its assets constitutes investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. Under the PFIC rules, an "excess distribution" received with respect to PFIC stock is treated as having been realized ratably over a period during which the Fund held the PFIC stock. The Fund itself generally will be subject to tax on the portion, if any, of the excess distribution that is allocated to the Fund's holding period in prior taxable years (an interest factor will be added to the tax, as if the tax had actually been payable in such prior taxable years) even though the Fund distributes the corresponding income to shareholders. Excess distributions include any gain from the sale of PFIC stock as well as certain distributions from a PFIC. All excess distributions are taxable as ordinary income.

A Fund may be able to elect alternative tax treatment with respect to PFIC stock. Under an election that may be available, a Fund generally would be required to include in its gross income its share of the earnings of a PFIC on a current basis, regardless of whether any distributions are received from the PFIC. If this election is made, the special rules, discussed above, relating to the taxation of excess distributions, would not apply. In addition, another election may be available that would involve marking to market a Fund's PFIC stock at the end of each taxable year with the result that unrealized gains are treated as though they were realized (*i.e.*, the "mark-to-market election"). If this election were made, any tax otherwise assessed at the Fund level under the PFIC rules generally would be eliminated, but a Fund could, in limited circumstances, incur nondeductible interest charges. A Fund's intention to be subject to tax annually as a regulated investment company may limit the Fund's elections with respect to PFIC stock.

Although not required to do so, it is likely that the Funds will choose to make the mark-to-market election with respect to PFIC stock acquired and held. If this election is made, the Funds may be required to make ordinary dividend distributions to their shareholders based on the Funds' unrealized gains for which no cash has been generated through disposition or sale of the shares of PFIC stock.

Because the application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition of income with respect to PFIC stock, as well as subject a Fund itself to tax on certain income from PFIC stock, the amount that must be distributed to shareholders and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to a fund that did not invest in PFIC stock.

**Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements—**Certain options, futures contracts, and forward contracts in which a Fund may invest may be "Section 1256 contracts." Gains or losses on Section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses; however, foreign currency gains or losses arising from certain Section 1256 contracts may be treated as ordinary income or loss. Also, Section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of each taxable year (and at certain other times as prescribed pursuant to the Code) are "marked to market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized.

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Generally, the hedging transactions undertaken by a Fund may result in "straddles" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the amount, timing and character of gains (or losses) realized by a Fund. The transactions may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by a Fund which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. In addition, losses realized by a Fund on positions that are part of a straddle may be deferred under the straddle rules, rather than being taken into account in calculating the taxable income for the taxable year in which such losses are realized. Certain carrying charges (including interest expense) associated with positions in a straddle may be required to be capitalized rather than deducted currently. Because only a few regulations implementing the straddle rules have been promulgated, the tax consequences of transactions in options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and other financial contracts to a Fund are not entirely clear.

A Fund may make one or more of the elections available under the Code which are applicable to straddles. If a Fund makes any of the elections, the amount, character and timing of the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions will be determined under rules that vary according to the election(s) made. The rules applicable under certain of the elections may operate to accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions.

Because application of the straddle rules may affect the character of gains or losses, defer losses and/or accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased as compared to a fund that did not engage in such hedging transactions.

Because only a few regulations regarding the treatment of swap agreements and related caps, floors and collars have been implemented, the tax consequences of such transactions are not entirely clear. The Funds intend to account for such transactions in a manner deemed by them to be appropriate, but the IRS might not necessarily accept such treatment. If it did not, the status of a Fund as a regulated investment company might be affected or taxes and interest may be imposed upon the examination and challenged by the IRS.

The requirements applicable to a Fund's qualification as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in transactions in options, futures contracts, forward contracts, swap agreements and other financial contracts.

**Market Discount—**If a Fund acquires a debt security at a price below the lower of the adjusted issue price or the stated redemption price of such debt security, the excess of its stated redemption price at maturity over its acquisition cost constitutes "market discount." If the amount of market discount is more than a de minimis amount, a portion of such market discount must be included as ordinary income (not capital gain) by the Fund in each taxable year in which the Fund owns an interest in such debt security and receives a principal payment on it. In particular, the Fund will be required to allocate that principal payment first to a portion of the market discount on the debt security that has accrued but has not previously been includable in income. In general, the amount of market discount that must be included for each period is equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of market discount accruing during such period (plus any accrued market discount for prior periods not previously taken into account) or (ii) the amount of the principal payment with respect to such period. Generally, market discount accrues on a daily basis for each day the debt security is held by a Fund at a constant rate over the time remaining to the debt security's maturity or, at the election of the Fund, at a constant yield to maturity which takes into account the semi-annual compounding of interest. Gain realized on the disposition of a market discount obligation must be recognized as ordinary interest income (not capital gain) to the extent of the "accrued market discount." A Fund may elect to include market discount in income currently. If this election is made, it will apply to all debt securities that the Fund holds which have market discount.

**Original Issue Discount—**Certain debt securities acquired by the Funds may be treated as debt securities that were originally issued at a discount. Very generally, original issue discount is defined as the difference between the price at which a security was issued and its stated redemption price at maturity. Although no cash income on account of such discount is actually received by a Fund, original issue discount that accrues on a debt security in a given taxable year generally is treated for federal income tax purposes as interest, and, therefore, such income would be subject to the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies.

Some debt securities may be purchased by the Funds at a discount that exceeds the original issue discount on such debt securities, if any. This additional discount represents market discount for federal income tax purposes (see above).

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**Uncertain Tax Treatment**-A Fund may invest a portion of its net assets in below investment grade instruments. Investments in these types of instruments may present special tax issues for a Fund. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Fund to the extent necessary in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income that it does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

**Constructive Sales—**These rules may affect timing and character of gain if a Fund engages in transactions that reduce or eliminate its risk of loss with respect to appreciated financial positions. If the Fund enters into certain transactions in property while holding substantially identical property, the Fund would be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the property and would be taxed on any gain (but not loss) from the constructive sale. The character of gain from a constructive sale would depend upon the Fund's holding period in the property. Loss from a constructive sale would be recognized when the property was subsequently disposed of, and its character would depend on the Fund's holding period and the application of various loss deferral provisions of the Code.

**REITs**—REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs primarily invest directly in real property and derive income from the collection of rents. Equity REITs may also sell properties that have appreciated in value and thereby realize capital gains. Mortgage REITs invest primarily in real estate mortgages and derive income from interest payments. Like regulated investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed as dividends to shareholders if the REITs comply with the Code's requirements.

REITs pay distributions to their shareholders based upon available cash flow from operations. In many cases, because of "non-cash" expenses such as property depreciation, an equity REIT's cash flow will exceed its earnings and profits. Distributions received from a REIT generally do not qualify for the intercorporate dividends received deductions and are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the REIT's earnings and profits. In addition, ordinary income distributions from a REIT generally do not qualify for the lower rate on "qualifying dividends" but do qualify for a 20% deduction available for potential passthrough to the Fund's shareholders. Distributions in excess of a REIT's earnings and profits are reported as return of capital and are generally not taxable to shareholders. However, return of capital distributions reduce tax basis in the REIT shares. Once a shareholder's cost basis is reduced to zero, any return of capital is taxable as a capital gain. The Fund intends to include the gross dividends received from such REITs in its distributions to shareholders, and accordingly, a portion of that Fund's distributions may also be reported as a return of capital.

REITs often do not provide complete tax information until after the calendar year-end. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for the Fund to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV.

**Investment in Taxable Mortgage Pools (Excess Inclusion Income)—**Under a notice issued in 2006 by the IRS (the "Notice"), the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a Fund's income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT's residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit ("REMIC") or equity interests in a "taxable mortgage pool" (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income.

It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a Fund that employs a non-REIT investment strategy.

**Investment in the Subsidiary—**The Macro Opportunities Fund currently invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to commodities markets. In order for the Fund to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from certain qualifying sources of income. The Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) has issued a revenue ruling which holds that income derived from certain commodity-linked derivatives is not qualifying income under Subchapter M of the Code. The Treasury Department has issued regulations that generally would treat the Fund's income inclusion with respect to the Subsidiary as qualifying income if there is a distribution in the same taxable year out of the earnings and profits of the Subsidiary that is attributable to such income inclusion or if the Fund's income inclusion with respect to the Subsidiary is derived in connection with the Fund's business of investing in stocks, securities, or currencies. The tax treatment of the Fund's investments in the Subsidiary may be adversely affected by future legislation, Treasury

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regulations, court decisions and/or guidance issued by the IRS that could affect whether income from such investments is qualifying income under Subchapter M of the Code, or otherwise alter the character, timing and/or amount of the Fund's taxable income or any gains and distributions made by the Fund. The Fund's investment in the Subsidiary involves specific risks.

A foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless it is deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. It is expected that the Subsidiary will conduct its activities in a manner so as to meet the requirements of a safe harbor under section 864(b)(2) of the Code under which the Subsidiary may engage in trading in stocks or securities or certain commodities without being deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. However, if certain of the Subsidiary's activities were determined to be not of the type described in the safe harbor (which is not expected), then the activities of the Subsidiary may constitute a U.S. trade or business or be taxed as such. In general, a foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, that does not conduct a U.S. trade or business is nonetheless subject to tax at a flat rate of 30 percent (or lower tax treaty rate), generally payable through withholding, on the gross amount of certain U.S.-source income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. There is presently no tax treaty in force between the U.S. and the Cayman Islands that would reduce this rate of withholding tax. It is not expected that the Subsidiary will derive income subject to such withholding tax.

The Subsidiary will be treated as a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") and the Fund will be treated as a "U.S. shareholder" of its Subsidiary. As a result, the Fund will be required to include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes all of the Subsidiary's "subpart F income," whether or not such income is distributed by a Subsidiary. It is expected that all of the Subsidiary's income will be "subpart F income." The Fund's recognition of the Subsidiary's subpart F income" will increase the Fund's tax basis in its respective Subsidiary. Distributions by the Subsidiary to the Fund will be tax-free, to the extent of their previously undistributed "subpart F income," and will correspondingly reduce the Fund's tax basis in the Subsidiary. "Subpart F income" is generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of the Subsidiary's underlying income. If a net loss is realized by the Subsidiary, such loss is not generally available to offset the income earned by the Fund, and such loss cannot be carried forward to offset taxable income of the Fund or the Subsidiary in future periods.

**Other Investment Companies**—If a Fund invests in shares of other mutual funds, ETFs or other companies that are taxable as regulated investment companies (collectively, "underlying funds"), its distributable income and gains will normally consist, in part, of distributions from the underlying funds and gains and losses on the disposition of shares of the underlying funds. To the extent that an underlying fund realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, a Fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses (so as to offset distributions of net income or capital gains from other underlying funds) until it disposes of shares of the underlying fund.

Moreover, even when a Fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for federal income tax purposes as a short-term capital loss or an ordinary deduction. In particular, a Fund will not be able to offset any capital losses from its dispositions of underlying fund shares against its ordinary income (including distributions of any net short-term capital gain realized by an underlying fund).

In certain circumstances, the "wash sale" rules under Section 1091 of the Code may apply to a Fund's sales of underlying fund shares that have generated losses. A wash sale occurs if shares of an underlying fund are sold by the Fund at a loss and the Fund acquires substantially identical shares of that same underlying fund 30 days before or after the date of the sale. The wash-sale rules could defer losses in the Fund's hands on sales of underlying fund shares (to the extent such sales are wash sales) for extended (and, in certain cases, potentially indefinite) periods of time.

As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, the amount of net investment income and net capital gain that the Funds will be required to distribute to shareholders may be greater than what such amounts would have been had the Funds directly invested in the securities held by the underlying funds, rather than investing in shares of the underlying funds. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from the Funds (e.g., long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Funds invested directly in the securities held by the underlying funds.

**Foreign Taxation—**Income earned and gain realized by a Fund from sources within a foreign country may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by that country. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

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The imposition of such taxes will reduce the amount of dividends and distributions paid to the Fund's shareholders. If more than 50% of the value of a Fund's total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, that Fund will be eligible and may elect to treat a proportionate amount of certain foreign taxes paid by it as a distribution to each shareholder which would generally require each shareholder to include in gross income from foreign sources its pro rata shares of such taxes and would generally permit each shareholder either (1) to credit this amount (subject to applicable limitations) or (2) to deduct this amount for purposes of computing its U.S. federal income tax liability. A Fund will notify you if it makes this election.

A shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by a Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Furthermore, the amount of the foreign tax credit that is available may be limited to the extent that dividends from a foreign corporation qualify for the lower tax rate on "qualifying dividends."

**Securities Lending—**A Fund's participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to its stockholders. With respect to any security subject to a securities loan, any (i) amounts received by a Fund in place of dividends earned on a security during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund may not give rise to either qualified dividend income or income otherwise eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction; and (ii) withholding taxes accrued on dividends during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund will not qualify as a foreign tax paid by such Fund and, therefore, cannot be passed through to stockholders even if the Fund satisfies the requirements described in "Foreign Taxation," above.

**Foreign Currency Transactions—**Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates, which occur between the time a Fund accrues income or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time that a Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities, generally are treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain futures contracts, forward contracts, options and similar financial instruments, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary gain or loss. These gains or losses, referred to under the Code as "Section 988" gains or losses, may increase or decrease the amount of a Fund's investment company taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.

**Foreign Shareholders—**Taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien individual, foreign trust or estate, or foreign corporation ("foreign shareholder") depends on whether the income from the Fund is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by such shareholder. If the income from the Fund is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, ordinary income dividends (including distributions of any net short-term capital gains) will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) upon the gross amount of the dividend. Note that the preferential rate of tax applicable to certain dividends (discussed above) does not apply to dividends paid to foreign shareholders. Such a foreign shareholder would generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on exempt-interest dividends, gains realized on the sale of Fund shares, and distributions of net long-term capital gains that are reported as capital gain dividends. If the income from the Fund is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and any gains realized upon the sale of Fund shares will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. citizens or domestic corporations. 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 lower treaty rate).

Certain properly reported dividends received by a nonresident alien or foreign entity are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax when they (a) are paid in respect of a Fund's "qualified net interest income" (generally, the Fund's U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which we or the Non-U.S. stockholder are at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income), or (b) are paid in connection with a Fund's "qualified short-term capital gains" (generally, the excess of the Fund's net short-term capital gain over the Fund's long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, no assurance can be given as to whether any of a Fund's distributions will be eligible for this exemption from withholding of U.S. federal income tax or, if eligible, will be reported as such by the Fund. In the case shares of Fund shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold U.S. federal income tax even if a Fund reports the payment as a dividend derived from qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gain. Moreover, depending on the circumstances, a Fund may report all, some or none of the Fund's potentially eligible dividends as derived from qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains, and a portion

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of the Fund's distributions (e.g., interest from non-U.S. sources or any foreign currency gains) would be ineligible for this potential exemption from withholding. Capital gain distributions from the fund's net long-term capital gains are also generally exempt from U.S. withholding tax.

In order to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, the foreign shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-US status (including, in general, furnishing an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substitute form). Foreign investors in a Fund should consult their tax advisers in this regard.

The Funds are required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of dividends to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the Treasury Department of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the Funds to enable the Funds to determine whether withholding is required.

**Other Taxes—**The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to provide an exhaustive presentation of the tax consequences of investing in a Fund. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes, depending on each shareholder's particular situation. Depending upon the nature and extent of a Fund's contacts with a state or local jurisdiction, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such jurisdiction if it is regarded under applicable law as doing business in, or as having income derived from, the jurisdiction. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.

**Organization**

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The Trust's Declaration of Trust provides for the issuance of shares of beneficial interest in one or more classes or series.

The Trust's Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of Trustees and officers of the Trust except with respect to any matter as to which the indemnitee shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which the indemnitee shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified thereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her position. In addition, the Trust's Declaration of Trust provides that, if any shareholder or former shareholder of any series is held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder and not because of the shareholder's acts or omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or the shareholder's heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives or general or corporate successors) shall be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability but only out of the assets held with respect to the particular series of which such person is or was a shareholder and from or in relation to which such liability arose. The Trust, acting on behalf of any affected series, may, at its option, assume the defense of any such claim made against such shareholder.

The Trust's Declaration of Trust sets forth certain requirements, among others, for shareholders to bring a derivative action to enforce the right of the Trust or an affected Series or Class, as applicable. For example, the Declaration of Trust requires that (1) shareholders submit a written demand to the Board of Trustees requesting that they cause the Trust or affected Series or Class, as applicable, to file the action itself, (2) shareholders be joined by at least 10 percent of the shareholders of the Trust or the affected Series or Class, as applicable, and (3) the Board of Trustees be given 60 calendar days to consider the written demand.

The Trust has authorized the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest and currently issues its shares in 10 series. The shares of each series of the Trust represent a pro rata beneficial interest in that series' net assets and in the earnings and profits or losses derived from the investment of such assets.

As of the date of this SAI, the Floating Rate Strategies Fund, High Yield Fund, Limited Duration Fund, Macro Opportunities Fund and Total Return Bond Fund have five classes of shares outstanding, the Ultra Short Duration Fund has two classes of shares outstanding, and each other Fund has four classes of shares outstanding. Each class participates proportionately based on its relative NAVs in dividends and distributions and has equal voting,

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liquidation and other rights except that (1) expenses related to the distribution of each class of shares or other expenses that the Board may designate as class expenses from time to time are borne solely by each class; (2) each class of shares has exclusive voting rights with respect to any Distribution Plan adopted for that class; (3) each class has different exchange privileges; and (4) each class has a different designation. When issued and paid for, the shares of each Fund will be fully paid and non-assessable. Shares may be exchanged as described under "How to Exchange Shares," and certain classes of shares have conversion rights and features as described under "Sales Charges, Reductions and Waivers." In addition, shares have such subscription, preference, conversion, exchange or preemptive rights, as authorized by the Board from time to time and permitted under the Trust's organizational documents and applicable law. All shares are transferable, redeemable and assignable.

On certain matters, such as the election of Trustees, all shares of the series of the Trust vote together. On other matters affecting a particular series or class, such as the investment advisory contract or the fundamental policies, only shares of that series or class are entitled to vote. With respect to all proposals, except a proposal to elect Trustees, a majority vote of the applicable shares at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required for approval of the proposal, except as otherwise required by law. With respect to a proposal to elect Trustees, a plurality vote of the applicable shares at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required for approval of the proposal, except as otherwise required by law.

The Trust does not generally hold annual meetings of shareholders and will do so only when required by law. Shareholders may remove Trustees from office by vote cast at a meeting of shareholders. Each Fund reserves the right to merge or reorganize with another fund or liquidate, in each case subject to applicable approvals by shareholders and the Fund's Board as required by law and the Fund's governing documents. The Trust's Declaration of Trust contains provisions relating to forum selection. The designation of exclusive forum may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit and may limit a shareholder's ability to litigate a claim in a jurisdiction or forum that may be more convenient and that a shareholder believes is favorable to the shareholder for the claim.

**Securities Lending**

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During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds did not engage in any securities lending activities and therefore did not earn any income or incur any expenses related to securities lending.

**Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend-Paying Agent**

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The Bank of New York Mellon, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as custodian for the portfolio securities of the Funds, including those held by foreign banks and foreign securities depositories which qualify as eligible foreign custodians under the rules adopted by the SEC, and acts as the administrative agent of each of the Funds pursuant to a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement with the Trust, as may be amended, and acts as the transfer and dividend-paying agent for each of the Funds pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement with the Trust, as may be amended.

**Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

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The Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, 1775 Tysons Boulevard, Virginia 22102, audits and reports on the Funds' annual financial statements, reviews certain regulatory reports, prepares the Funds' federal income tax returns, and performs other attestation, auditing, tax and advisory services when engaged to do so by the Trust.

**Legal Counsel**

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Dechert LLP, 1900 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

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**Financial Statements**

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The audited financial statements of the Funds for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, including notes thereto and the report of the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm, which are contained in the Funds' report on [Form N-CSR](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/88525/000139834425021766/fp0095396-56_ncsrixbrl.htm) for the most recently completed fiscal year, are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of the Funds' annual and semi-annual reports and other information such as Fund financial statements may be obtained by telephoning the transfer agent at 800.820.0888 or by visiting www.guggenheiminvestments.com.

**Family of Funds**, for disclosure purposes in this Statement of Additional Information, include—series of Guggenheim Funds Trust: Guggenheim Floating Rate Strategies Fund, Guggenheim High Yield Fund, Guggenheim Core Bond Fund, Guggenheim Limited Duration Fund, Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund, Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund, Guggenheim Total Return Bond Fund, and Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund; the Rydex Series Funds; and the Rydex Dynamic Funds.

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**Appendix A: <u>Description of Securities Ratings</u>**

**STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION —**

A brief description of the applicable S&P Global Ratings and its affiliates (together, "S&P") rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows.

**Issue Credit Ratings Definition**

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P's view of the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices.

**Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings\***

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

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**D.** An obligation rated 'D' is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

\*

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

**Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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**SPUR (S&Ps Underlying Rating).** A SPUR is an opinion about the stand-alone capacity of an obligor to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer or obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. S&P maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.

**Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings**

An S&P's U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P'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, S&P's analysis will review the following considerations:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**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.

**D.** 'D' is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

**Dual Ratings**

Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, 'AAA/A-1+' or 'A-1+/A-1'). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').

**Active Qualifiers**

S&P uses the following qualifiers that limit the scope of a rating. The structure of the transaction can require the use of a qualifier such as a 'p' qualifier, which indicates the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. A qualifier appears as a suffix and is part of the rating.

**Federal deposit insurance limit: 'L' qualifier** Ratings qualified with 'L' apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.

**Principal: 'p' qualifier** This suffix 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' suffix indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only and that the interest is not rated.

**Preliminary ratings: 'prelim' qualifier** Preliminary ratings, with the 'prelim' suffix, 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 S&P of appropriate documentation. S&P reserves the right not to issue a final rating. Moreover, if a final rating is issued, it may differ from the preliminary rating.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in S&P's opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligations of these entities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 transformative event not occur, S&P would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.

**Termination structures: 't' qualifier** 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.

**Counterparty instrument rating: 'cir' qualifier** This symbol indicates a counterparty instrument rating (CIR), which is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an issuer in a securitization structure with respect to a specific financial obligation to a counterparty (including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and liquidity facilities). The CIR is determined on an ultimate payment basis; these opinions do not take into account timeliness of payment.

**MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. —**

A brief description of the applicable Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody's) follows.

**Global Rating Scales**

Credit ratings are assigned on Moody's global long-term and short-term rating scales and are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Moody's defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default or impairment. The contractual financial obligations addressed by Moody's ratings are those that call for, without regard to enforceability, the payment of an ascertainable amount, which may vary based upon standard sources of variation (e.g., floating interest rates), by an ascertainable date. Moody's rating addresses the issuer's ability to obtain cash sufficient to service the obligation, and its willingness to pay. Moody's ratings do not address non-standard sources of variation in the amount of the principal obligation (e.g., equity indexed), absent an express statement to the contrary in a press release accompanying an initial rating. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Moody's issues ratings at the issuer level and instrument level on both the long-term scale and the short-term scale. Typically, ratings are made publicly available although private and unpublished ratings may also be assigned.

Moody's differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody's aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.

**Global Long-Term Rating Scale**

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

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

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

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

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**B.** Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

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

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

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

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

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

**Global Short-Term Rating Scale**

**P-1.** Ratings of Prime-1 reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.

**P-2.** Ratings of Prime-2 reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.

**P-3.** Ratings of Prime-3 reflect 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.

**US Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings** 

Moody's uses the global short-term Prime rating scale for commercial paper issued by US municipalities and nonprofits. These commercial paper programs may be backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities, or by an issuer's self-liquidity. For other short-term municipal obligations, Moody's uses one of two other short-term rating scales, the Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scales discussed below.

**MIG Ratings.** Moody's uses the MIG scale for US municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less.

**MIG Scale**

**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.

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

**VMIG Ratings.** For variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), Moody's assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer's ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders ("on demand") and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the VMIG scale. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer's long-term rating drops below investment grade.

For VRDOs, Moody's typically assign a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as "NR."

Industrial development bonds in the US where the obligor is a corporate may carry a VMIG rating that reflects Moody's view of the relative likelihood of default and loss. In these cases, liquidity assessment is based on the liquidity of the corporate obligor.

**VMIG Scale**

**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.

**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.

**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.

**SG**

This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

**Other Rating Symbols**

**Provisional Ratings - (P).** Moody's will often assign a provisional rating to an issuer or an instrument when the change to a definitive rating is subject to the fulfilment of contingencies that could affect the rating. Examples of such contingencies are the finalization of transaction documents/terms where a rating is sensitive to changes at closing. When such contingencies are not present, a definitive rating may be assigned based upon documentation that is not yet in final form. Moody's will also often assign provisional ratings to program ratings, such as shelf registrations and medium term note programs. A provisional rating is denoted by placing a (P) in front of the rating. The (P) notation provides additional information about the rating, but does not indicate a different rating. For example, a provisional rating of (P)Aa1 is the same rating as Aa1.

For provisional ratings assigned to an issuer or instrument, the (P) notation is removed when the applicable contingencies have been fulfilled. A Credit Rating Action to remove the (P) notation indicates that the rating is no longer subject to contingencies, and changes the provisional rating to a definitive rating. Program ratings for shelf registrations and other issuance programs remain provisional, while the subsequent ratings of issuances under these programs are assigned as definitive ratings.

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**Refundeds - #.** Issues that are secured by escrowed funds held in trust, reinvested in direct, non-callable US government obligations or non-callable obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the US Government or Resolution Funding Corporation are identified with a # (hash mark) symbol, e.g., #Aaa.

**Withdrawn - WR**. When Moody's no longer rates an obligation on which it previously maintained a rating, the symbol WR is employed.

**Not Rated - NR.** NR is assigned to an unrated issuer, obligation and/or program.

**Not Available - NAV.** An issue that Moody's has not yet rated is denoted by the NAV symbol.

**Terminated Without Rating - TWR.** The symbol TWR applies primarily to issues that mature or are redeemed without having been rated.

**FITCH RATINGS, INC. —**

A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings, Inc. ("Fitch") ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows.

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

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

**Long-Term Credit Ratings Scales**

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

**AA Very High Credit Quality.** 'AA' ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

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

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

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

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

**CCC Substantial Credit Risk.** Very low margin for safety. Default is a real possibility.

**CC Very High Levels of Credit Risk.** Default of some kind appears probable.

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

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the formal announcement by the issuer or their agent of a distressed debt exchange; and

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

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• an uncured payment default or distressed debt exchange on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

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

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

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

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

**Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers and Obligations** 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as "short term" based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means a timeframe of 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. Typically, applicable to entity ratings only.

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

------

![](g115365guggenheim_logo.jpg)

702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200

<br>Rockville, Maryland 20850 <br>800.820.0888 <br>www.guggenheiminvestments.com

EQFIMF-SAI-0626x0127

------

**Guggenheim Funds Trust**

**Statement of Additional Information**

**January 31, 2026, as supplemented June 5, 2026**

RELATING TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY 31, 2026, AS MAY BE SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME

This Statement of Additional Information provides information relating to the following series of Guggenheim Funds Trust (each, a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds") and the class thereof:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **SMA Class** |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | GUCPX |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | GULDX |

---

This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. This Statement of Additional Information relates to the Funds' prospectus dated January 31, 2026, as may be supplemented from time to time, (the "Prospectus"), and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. The audited financial statements for each Fund's fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, and the related report of Ernst & Young LLP, the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm, contained in the Funds' report on [Form N-CSR](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/88525/000139834425021766/fp0095396-56_ncsrixbrl.htm), are incorporated herein by reference.

The Prospectus (and the Funds' annual and semi-annual reports and other information such as Fund financial statements) may be obtained without charge by writing Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850, by calling (800) 820-0888 or by visiting www.guggenheiminvestments.com/services/prospectuses-and-reports.

As described herein, the investment manager to each Fund is Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, 330 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

------

**Table of Contents**

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| [General Information](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_1) | 1 |
| [Investment Methods and Risk Factors](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_1) | 1 |
| [Investment Restrictions](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_54) | 54 |
| [Fundamental Policies](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_54) | 54 |
| [Operating Policies](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_56) | 56 |
| [Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_56) | 56 |
| [Management of the Funds](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_58) | 58 |
| [Trustees and Officers](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_58) | 58 |
| [Board Leadership Structure](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_65) | 65 |
| [Qualifications and Experience of Trustees](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_66) | 66 |
| [Board's Role in Risk Oversight](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_67) | 67 |
| [Board Committees](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_69) | 69 |
| [Audit Committee](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_69) | 69 |
| [Contracts Review Committee](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_69) | 69 |
| [Executive Committee](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_69) | 69 |
| [Nominating and Governance Committee](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_69) | 69 |
| [Remuneration of Trustees](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_70) | 70 |
| [Trustees' Ownership of Securities](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_70) | 70 |
| [Principal Holders of Securities](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_71) | 71 |
| [How to Purchase Shares](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_72) | 72 |
| [Canceled Purchase Orders](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_72) | 72 |
| [Sales Charges, Reductions and Waivers](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_73) | 73 |
| [Distribution Plans](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_73) | 73 |
| [Other Distribution or Service Arrangements](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_73) | 73 |
| [Investment Management](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_75) | 75 |
| [Code of Ethics](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_77) | 77 |
| [Portfolio Managers](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_77) | 77 |
| [Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_78) | 78 |
| [Information Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_79) | 79 |
| [Proxy Voting](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_87) | 87 |
| [Distributor](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_89) | 89 |
| [Portfolio Turnover](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_89) | 89 |
| [Portfolio Brokerage and Investment Allocation](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_90) | 90 |
| [Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_91) | 91 |
| [How Net Asset Value Is Determined](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_91) | 91 |
| [How to Redeem Shares](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_94) | 94 |
| [Receiving Your Redemption Proceeds](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_95) | 95 |
| [Redemptions In-Kind](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_95) | 95 |
| [Telephone Redemptions](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_95) | 95 |
| [Dividends and Taxes](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_96) | 96 |
| [Tax Considerations](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_96) | 96 |
| [Cost Basis Reporting](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_99) | 99 |
| [Back-up Withholding](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_99) | 99 |
| [Passive Foreign Investment Companies](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_100) | 100 |

---

i

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| [Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_100) | 100 |
| [Market Discount](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_101) | 101 |
| [Original Issue Discount](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_101) | 101 |
| [Constructive Sales](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_101) | 101 |
| [REITs](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_102) | 102 |
| [Investment in Taxable Mortgage Pools (Excess Inclusion Income)](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_102) | 102 |
| [Foreign Taxation](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_103) | 103 |
| [Securities Lending](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_103) | 103 |
| [Foreign Currency Transactions](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_103) | 103 |
| [Foreign Shareholders](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_103) | 103 |
| [Other Taxes](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_104) | 104 |
| [Organization](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_104) | 104 |
| [Securities Lending](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_105) | 105 |
| [Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend-Paying Agent](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_105) | 105 |
| [Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_105) | 105 |
| [Legal Counsel](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_105) | 105 |
| [Financial Statements](#xx_e28717f1-75e0-49d0-8e75-a718e24a4168_106) | 106 |
| [Appendix A – Description of Securities Ratings](#xx_cda9aeb7-f79a-4daa-aca5-98840a9fa179_1) | A-1 |

---

ii

------

**General Information**

------

Guggenheim Funds Trust (the "Trust"), which was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on November 8, 2013, is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as an investment company. The Trust is an open-end management investment company of the series type that, upon the demand of a shareholder, must redeem its shares and pay the shareholder the next calculated net asset value ("NAV") thereof in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (See "How to Redeem Shares"). This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") relates to the series of the Trust set forth on the cover hereto (each, a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds"). The fiscal year end for the Trust (and each Fund) is September 30 of each year.

The assets of each Fund are held separate from the assets of the other Funds.

Each of the Funds has its own investment objective and policies that may differ from those of the other Funds.

Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC ("GPIM") is the investment manager to each Fund. GPIM is also referred to as the "Investment Manager" or "Guggenheim Investments."

Although there is no present intention to do so, the investment objective and policies of each Fund, unless otherwise noted, may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") without the approval of shareholders. Each of the Funds is also required to operate within limitations imposed by its fundamental investment policies, which may not be changed without shareholder approval. These limitations are set forth under "Investment Restrictions." Each Fund is classified as a "diversified company" within the meaning of the 1940 Act. An investment in one of the Funds does not constitute a complete investment program.

As disclosed in the Funds' prospectus, as may be supplemented from time to time ("Prospectus"), investors should note that each Fund reserves the right to discontinue offering shares at any time, to merge or reorganize itself or a class of shares, or to cease operations and liquidate at any time. In the event the Board determines to liquidate a Fund, shareholders may be adversely affected such as being subject to adverse tax consequences. A shareholder would not be entitled to any refund or reimbursement of expenses incurred, directly or indirectly, by the shareholder (such as sales charges, if any, or fees and expenses) as a result of its investment in the Fund. In addition, the shareholder may receive a liquidating amount that is less than the shareholder's original investment.

**Investment Methods and Risk Factors**

------

Each Fund's principal investment strategies and the summaries of risks associated with the same are described in the "Fund Summaries" and "Descriptions of Principal Risks" sections of the Prospectus. The following discussion provides additional information about certain of those principal investment strategies and related risks, as well as information about other investment strategies that a Fund may utilize and related risks that may apply to a Fund, even though they are not considered to be "principal" investment strategies of the Fund. Accordingly, an investment strategy and related risk that is described below, but which is not described in a Fund's Summary Prospectus, should not be considered to be a principal investment strategy or principal risk applicable to that Fund.

Although the Funds may employ the techniques, instruments and methods described below, consistent with its investment objective and policies and any applicable law, a Fund is not required to do so.

Investors should be aware that economies and financial markets have in recent periods experienced increased uncertainty and volatility because of, among other factors, economic developments, geopolitical tensions, labor and public health conditions around the world, inflation, tariffs and changing interest rates. To the extent these or similar conditions continue or occur in the future, the risks below could be heightened significantly compared to normal conditions and therefore a Fund's investments and a shareholder's investment in a Fund may be particularly subject to reduced yield and/or income and to sudden and substantial losses. The fact that a particular risk is not specifically identified as being heightened under current conditions does not mean that the risk is not greater than under normal conditions.

------

Investment objectives and policies of each Fund are described in the Prospectus. Below are additional details about the investment policies of the Funds. There are risks inherent in the ownership of any security, and there can be no assurance that a Fund's investment objective(s) will be achieved. The objective(s) and policies of each Fund, except those enumerated under "Investment Restrictions—Fundamental Policies," may be modified at any time without shareholder approval.

The investment methods and risk factors are presented below in alphabetical order and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.

**General Risk Factors**—The NAV per share of each Fund is expected to fluctuate, reflecting fluctuations in the market value of its portfolio positions. The Funds are subject to the risks associated with financial, economic and other global market developments and disruptions, including those arising out of or relating to, real or perceived changes in prevailing interest rates, changes in inflation rates or expectations about inflation rates, deflation, adverse investor confidence or sentiment, general outlook for corporate earnings, changing economic, political (including geopolitical), social or financial market conditions, bank failures, actual or threatened imposition of tariffs (which may be imposed by U.S. and foreign governments) and trade disruptions, recession, changes in currency and inflation rates, increased instability or general uncertainty, environmental or natural disasters, extreme weather or geological events, governmental actions, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics), debt crises, terrorism, actual or threatened wars or other armed conflicts (such as the conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the risk of expansion or collateral economic and other effects thereof) or ratings downgrades, technological developments (including those related to artificial intelligence) or failures (for example, widespread system outages or disruptions or faulty updates to software applications) and other similar events, each of which may be temporary or last for extended periods. Such events may result in, among other things, travel restrictions, closing of borders, exchange closures, health screenings, healthcare service delays, quarantines, cancellations, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, market volatility and general uncertainty. These events may adversely affect the value of a Fund's investments, which are particularly sensitive to these types of market risks given increased globalization and interconnectedness of markets, and the ability of the Investment Manager to execute investment decisions for a Fund (and thus, liquidity may be affected). Such events could adversely impact issuers, markets and economies over the short- and long-term, including in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. Furthermore, the interconnectedness of certain markets, particularly the markets for novel or emerging products or services, such as artificial intelligence or blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies and digital assets, and the related impacts on economies, markets and issuers as well as systemic risk may not be known until a future time, making the potential impact of adverse events occurring in those markets on a Fund difficult to predict. For example, developments related to artificial intelligence and other technologies, which can occur rapidly and unpredictably, may negatively impact the profitability and growth of companies in which the Fund is invested in ways that are difficult to predict and could adversely impact performance/price, market movements, volatility and liquidity, including securities issued by these companies, and the Fund's performance. In addition, a Fund and its investments may be adversely impacted by volatility and other developments associated with domestic and global economies, market trading activity and investor interest, including those driven by factors unrelated to financial performance or market conditions. The value of investments, particularly short positions or exposures, may fluctuate dramatically in these circumstances. Also, changes in inflation rates may adversely affect market and economic conditions, a Fund's investments and an investment in the Fund. Government efforts to support the economy and financial markets may increase the risk that asset prices have a higher degree of correlation than historically seen across markets and asset classes. In addition, uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. government to increase the statutory debt ceiling, which may occur from time to time, could result in increased volatility in both stock and bond markets and various adverse market and economic developments. It may be difficult for the market to assess the immediate impact of an event on an issuer or security due to uncertainty that may surround such events; the impact of such an event on a security's valuation may be delayed. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.

**American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs")**—A Fund may purchase ADRs. ADRs are dollar-denominated receipts issued generally by U.S. banks and which represent the deposit with the bank of a foreign company's securities. ADRs are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter ("OTC") in the United States. Investors should consider carefully the substantial risks involved in investing in securities issued by companies of foreign nations, which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments. See "Foreign Investment Risks," below. ADRs, European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") and Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") or other securities convertible into securities of issuers based in foreign countries are not necessarily denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. In general, ADRs, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are

------

designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, while EDRs (also referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts ("CDRs")), in bearer form, may be denominated in other currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. GDRs are global receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. For purposes of the Funds' investment policies, ADRs, EDRs and GDRs usually are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent. Thus, an ADR, EDR or GDR representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.

Depositary receipts are issued through "sponsored" or "unsponsored" facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the cost of such facilities, and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities.

**Asset-Backed Securities**—A Fund may also invest in any level of the capital structure of "asset-backed securities," which are securities that represent an interest in a pool of assets. These include secured debt instruments collateralized by automobile loans, credit card loans, home equity loans, manufactured housing loans, syndicated bank loans, and other types of debt providing the source of both principal and interest. On occasion, the pool of assets may also include a swap obligation, which is used to change the cash flows on the underlying assets. As an example, a swap may be used to allow floating rate assets to back a fixed rate obligation. The credit quality of an asset-backed security depends primarily on the quality of the underlying assets, the level of credit support, if any, provided by the issuer, and the credit quality of the swap counterparty, if any. Asset-backed securities ("ABS") are subject to risks similar to those discussed below with respect to mortgage-backed securities ("MBS"). Some of the loans or other similar debt obligations to which a Fund may obtain exposure through its investments in asset-backed securities or other types of structured products may lack financial maintenance covenants or possess fewer or contingent financial maintenance covenants or other financial protections than certain other types of loans or other similar debt obligations. These investments subject the Funds to the risks of "Covenant-Lite Obligations" discussed below.

**Automobile Receivable Securities.** Asset-backed securities may be backed by receivables from motor vehicle installment sales contracts or installment loans secured by motor vehicles ("Automobile Receivable Securities"). Since installment sales contracts for motor vehicles or installment loans related thereto ("Automobile Contracts") typically have shorter durations and lower incidences of prepayment, Automobile Receivable Securities generally will exhibit a shorter average life and are less susceptible to prepayment risk. Delinquencies and losses on sub-prime and non-prime automobile loans, which are loans originated under weak underwriting standards, including those issued to borrowers with lower credit ratings and/or a shorter credit history, are subject to greater risks of delinquencies and losses. As a result, issuers of ABS backed by such loans may be adversely affected in their ability to continue to make principal and interest payments and the value of such ABS may decline significantly, such as during economic or market downturns.

Most entities that issue Automobile Receivable Securities create an enforceable interest in their respective Automobile Contracts only by filing a financing statement and by having the servicer of the Automobile Contracts, which is usually the originator of the Automobile Contracts, take custody thereof. In such circumstances, if the servicer of the Automobile Contracts were to sell the same Automobile Contracts to another party, in violation of its obligation not to do so, there is a risk that such party could acquire an interest in the Automobile Contracts superior to that of the holders of Automobile Receivable Securities. Although most Automobile Contracts grant a security interest in the motor vehicle being financed, in most states the security interest in a motor vehicle must be noted on the certificate of title to create an enforceable security interest against competing claims of other parties. Due to the large number of vehicles involved, however, the certificate of title to each vehicle financed, pursuant to the Automobile Contracts underlying the Automobile Receivable Security, usually is not amended to reflect the assignment of the seller's security interest for the benefit of the holders of the Automobile Receivable Securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on the securities. In addition, various state and federal securities laws give the motor vehicle owner the right to assert against the holder of the owner's Automobile Contract certain defenses such owner would have against the seller of the motor vehicle. The assertion of such defenses could reduce payments on the Automobile Receivable Securities.

------

**Credit Card Receivable Securities.** Asset-backed securities may be backed by receivables from revolving credit card agreements ("Credit Card Receivable Securities"). Credit balances on revolving credit card agreements ("Accounts") are generally paid down more rapidly than are Automobile Contracts. Most of the Credit Card Receivable Securities issued publicly to date have been pass-through certificates. In order to lengthen the maturity of Credit Card Receivable Securities, most such securities provide for a fixed period during which only interest payments on the underlying Accounts are passed through to the security holder, and principal payments received on such Accounts are used to fund the transfer to the pool of assets supporting the related Credit Card Receivable Securities of additional credit card charges made on an Account. The initial fixed period usually may be shortened upon the occurrence of specified events which signal a potential deterioration in the quality of the assets backing the security, such as the imposition of a cap on interest rates. The ability of the issuer to extend the life of an issue of Credit Card Receivable Securities thus depends upon the continued generation of additional principal amounts in the underlying accounts during the initial period and the non-occurrence of specified events. An acceleration in cardholders' payment rates or any other event that shortens the period during which additional credit card charges on an Account may be transferred to the pool of assets supporting the related Credit Card Receivable Security could shorten the weighted average life and yield of the Credit Card Receivable Security.

Credit cardholders are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such holders the right to set off certain amounts against balances owed on the credit card, thereby reducing amounts paid on Accounts. In addition, unlike most other Asset-backed securities, Accounts are unsecured obligations of the cardholder.

**Methods of Allocating Cash Flows.** While many asset-backed securities are issued with only one class of security, many asset-backed securities are issued in more than one class, each with different payment terms. Multiple class asset-backed securities are issued for two main reasons. First, multiple classes may be used as a method of providing credit support. This is accomplished typically through creation of one or more classes whose right to payments on the asset-backed security is made subordinate to the right to such payments of the remaining class or classes (See "Types of Credit Support"). Second, multiple classes may permit the issuance of securities with payment terms, interest rates or other characteristics differing both from those of each other and from those of the underlying assets. Examples include so-called "strips" (asset-backed securities entitling the holder to disproportionate interests with respect to the allocation of interest and principal of the assets backing the security) and securities with a class or classes having characteristics which mimic the characteristics of non-asset-backed securities, such as floating interest rates (i.e., interest rates which adjust as a specified benchmark changes) or scheduled amortization of principal.

Asset-backed securities in which the payment streams on the underlying assets are allocated in a manner different than those described above may be issued in the future. A Fund may invest in such asset-backed securities if such investment is otherwise consistent with its investment objectives and policies and with the investment restrictions of the Fund.

**Types of Credit Support.** Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. Such securities may contain elements of credit support that are designed to lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments. Such credit support falls into two classes: liquidity protection and protection against ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that scheduled payments on the underlying pool are made in a timely fashion. Protection against ultimate default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. Examples of asset-backed securities with credit support arising out of the structure of the transaction include "senior-subordinated securities" (multiple class asset-backed securities with certain classes subordinate to other classes as to the payment of principal thereon, with the result that defaults on the underlying assets are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class) and asset-backed securities that have "reserve portfolios" (where cash or investments, sometimes funded from a portion of the initial payments on the underlying assets, are held in reserve against future losses) or that have been "over collateralized" (where the scheduled payments on, or the principal amount of, the underlying assets substantially exceeds that required to make payment of the asset-backed securities and pay any servicing or other fees). The degree of credit support provided on each issue is based generally on historical information respecting the level of credit risk associated with such payments.

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Delinquency or loss in excess of that anticipated could adversely affect the return on an investment in an asset-backed security. Additionally, if the letter of credit is exhausted, holders of asset-backed securities may also experience delays in payments or losses if the full amounts due on underlying sales contracts are not realized. There can be no assurance that credit support of any kind will be successful in lessening the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments or be available upon the occurrence of events adversely affecting the obligor's financial condition.

**Availability and Quality of Data—**The Investment Manager faces the general risk regarding the availability and quality of information concerning a particular asset or investment, and employs a variety of policies, practices and methodologies to minimize that risk. This is particularly relevant in fixed income investment strategies. For example, there is less readily available and reliable information about most bank loans than is the case for many other types of instruments, including listed securities. Another example is the consideration of Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG") criteria where the Investment Manager believes it could have a material impact on an investment's return or issuer's financial performance (though, for avoidance of doubt, the Investment Manager does not offer any ESG products). Similar to the Investment Manager's ability to evaluate traditional factors in making investment decisions, the ability for the Investment Manager to identify and evaluate ESG characteristics and risks, or to engage with an issuer, is limited to the availability and quality of information on an asset or issuer. In some cases, the Investment Manager may decline to consider ESG criteria in an investment decision due to the unavailability of information on an issuer, or the quality of that information. In addition, the Investment Manager often uses data and insights from third-party research to provide additional input in the analysis of ESG-related criteria. Third-party information and data will, from time to time, be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable. As a result, there is a risk that the Investment Manager could incorrectly assess the ESG criteria or risks associated with a particular asset or issuer. The Investment Manager expects from time to time to directly engage with certain corporate credit issuers by requesting improved issuer disclosure relating to ESG factors, as well as discussing potential opportunities to improve various ESG metrics and other related topics. Direct engagement will occur with only a minority of portfolio investments and issuers the Investment Manager considers for investment and will depend on a variety of considerations, including the materiality of ESG criteria to the specific issuer or sector and the size of the Investment Manager's clients' investments in the issuer. There can be no assurance that the Investment Manager's engagement efforts will be successful or provide benefit to clients.

The application of ESG criteria and risk factors to portfolio investments (if any) could result in one or more assets or issuers being excluded from a portfolio, which could have an adverse effect on the performance of that portfolio. Additionally, in some circumstances a client mandate or applicable regulations can cause the Investment Manager to restrict specific investments based on particular ESG characteristics. The Investment Manager also reserves the right, in the future, to implement restrictions or prohibitions on investments within certain industries for all or a sub-set of all client accounts which could be based on particular ESG criteria or other relevant factors. As a result of any of the aforementioned circumstances, clients may be limited as to available investments, which could hinder performance when compared to investments with no such restrictions.

**Borrowing**—A Fund may borrow money from banks as a temporary measure for emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption requests, or for other purposes consistent with the Fund's investment objective and program. For example, it may be advantageous for a Fund to borrow money rather than sell existing portfolio positions to meet redemption requests. As recognized by the SEC, a line of credit can enhance a Fund's ability to manage liquidity risk and to meet shareholder redemption requests.

Accordingly, a Fund may borrow from banks and may borrow through reverse repurchase agreements, derivatives, unfunded commitments and "roll" transactions in connection with meeting requests for the redemption of Fund shares. To the extent that a Fund purchases securities while it has outstanding borrowings, it is using leverage, i.e., using borrowed funds for investment. Leveraging will exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of a Fund's portfolio. Money borrowed for leveraging will be subject to interest costs that may or may not be recovered by any interest or appreciation earned on the securities purchased; in certain cases, interest costs may exceed the return received on the securities purchased. When market conditions are deemed appropriate, a Fund may use leveraging as part of its investment strategy to the full extent permitted by its investment policies and restrictions and applicable law. Under the 1940 Act, a Fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage of 300% with respect to borrowing and to sell (within three days) sufficient portfolio holdings or restore such coverage if it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise, even if such liquidations of the Fund's holdings may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint. A Fund also may be required to maintain minimum

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average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. The Funds' policy on borrowing is not intended to limit the ability to pledge assets to secure loans as may be permitted under the Funds' policies.

The Funds have established a line of credit with certain banks from which they may borrow funds for temporary or emergency purposes. The Funds may use lines of credit to meet large or unexpected redemptions that would otherwise force the Funds to liquidate securities under circumstances which are unfavorable to the Funds' remaining shareholders. The Funds may be required to pay fees to the banks to maintain the lines of credit, which increases the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. If a Fund accesses its line of credit, the Fund would bear the cost of the borrowing through interest expenses and other expenses (e.g., commitment fees) that adversely affect the Fund's performance. In some cases, such expenses and the resulting adverse effect on the Fund's performance can be significant. Moreover, if a Fund accesses its line of credit to meet shareholder redemption requests, the Fund's remaining shareholders would bear such costs of borrowing. Borrowing expenses are excluded from any applicable fee waivers or expense limitation agreements.

**Certificates of Deposit and Bankers' Acceptances**—Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers' acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then "accepted" by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

**Collateralized Loan Obligations ("CLOs") and Collateralized Debt Obligations ("CDOs")**—A CDO is a structured finance security whose underlying collateral is typically a portfolio of bonds, bank loans, commercial real estate, other structured finance securities and/or synthetic instruments. Investors in CDOs bear the credit risk of the underlying securities, as well as the risks associated with the collateral (if any) backing such underlying securities. Multiple classes of securities ("tranches") are issued by the CDO, offering investors various maturity and credit risk characteristics. Tranches are categorized as senior, mezzanine, and subordinated/equity, according to their degree of risk. If there are defaults or the CDO's collateral otherwise underperforms, scheduled payments to senior tranches take precedence over those of mezzanine tranches, and scheduled payments to mezzanine tranches take precedence over those to subordinated/equity tranches. CDOs are subject to the same risk of prepayment described with respect to CLOs, certain mortgage-related securities and asset-backed securities. The value of a CDO security may be affected by, among other things, changes in the market's perception of the credit risk associated with the assets held by the related CDO issuer.

The Funds may invest in CLOs, which are another type of asset-backed security. A CLO is a special purpose entity that issues securities collateralized by a pool of primarily commercial loans, including domestic and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The loans generate cash flow that is allocated among one or more tranches that vary in risk and yield. The most senior tranche has the best credit quality and the lowest yield compared to the other tranches. The most subordinated tranche (often referred to as the "equity" of the CLO) has the highest potential yield but also has the greatest risk relative to other tranches, as defaults on the underlying loans are borne by first by the most subordinated tranche, thus providing the more senior tranches a cushion from losses. However, despite the cushion from the equity and other more junior tranches, more senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to defaults or other losses on the assets which exceed those of the more junior tranches. Additionally, the market value of CLO securities can decrease because of, among other things, defaults on the CLO's underlying assets, and market anticipation of defaults or aversion to CLO securities as a class.

Normally, CLOs are privately offered and sold and are not registered under state or federal securities laws. Therefore, investments in CLOs may be classified as illiquid investments; however, an active dealer market may exist for CLOs allowing a CLO to qualify for transactions pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). Additionally, CLOs normally charge management fees and administrative expenses, which are in addition to those of the Funds.

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The riskiness of investing in CLOs depends largely on the quality and type of the collateral loans and the tranche of the CLO in which a Fund invests. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities (such as interest rate risk and credit risk), CLOs carry risks which include, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from the collateral will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the underlying assets may experience defaults; (iii) the value or quality of the underlying assets may decline and the CLO may sell such assets at a loss; (iv) the CLO itself may experience an event of default, which could result in an acceleration of debt and liquidation of its assets at a loss; (v) Funds may invest in CLO tranches that are subordinate to other tranches; and (vi) the complex structure of the CLO may not be fully understood at the time of investment or may result in the quality of the underlying collateral not being fully understood and may produce disputes with the parties involved in the transaction and/or unexpected investment results. In addition, interest on certain tranches of a CLO may be paid in-kind (meaning that unpaid interest is effectively added to principal), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments. Certain CLO securities may benefit from credit enhancement in the form of a senior-subordinate structure or over-collateralization, but such enhancement may not always be present and may fail to protect the Funds against the risk of loss due to defaults on the collateral or other adverse events. Additionally, certain CLOs may not hold loans directly, but rather, use derivatives such as swaps to create "synthetic" exposure to the collateral pool of loans. Such CLOs entail the risks of derivative instruments.

**Commercial Paper**—Each Fund may invest in commercial paper. A Fund may invest in fixed rate or variable rate commercial paper, issued by U.S. or foreign entities. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days), unsecured promissory notes issued by U.S. or foreign corporations in order to finance their current operations. Any commercial paper issued by a foreign entity corporation and purchased by a Fund must be U.S. dollar-denominated and must not be subject to foreign withholding tax at the time of purchase. Investing in foreign commercial paper generally involves risks relating to obligations of foreign banks or foreign branches and subsidiaries of U.S. and foreign banks. A Fund may also invest in commercial paper collateralized by other financial assets, such as asset-backed commercial paper, which is a type of securitized commercial paper that is often used to finance purchases of assets (such as pools of trade receivables, car loans and leases, and credit card receivables) by special purpose vehicles. Asset-backed commercial paper may be rated by one or more credit rating agencies and some asset-backed commercial paper programs are supported by liquidity or similar back-up facilities. Investment in asset-backed commercial paper is subject to the risk that proceeds from the projected cash flows of the underlying assets are insufficient or unavailable to repay the commercial paper timely or at all. Asset-backed commercial paper is also subject to risks associated with the underlying assets and asset-backed securities generally as well as those associated with commercial paper. A Fund may also invest in variable rate master demand notes. A variable rate master demand note (a type of commercial paper) represents a direct borrowing arrangement involving periodically fluctuating rates of interest under a letter agreement between a commercial paper issuer and an institutional lender pursuant to which the lender may determine to invest varying amounts.

**Convertible Securities and Warrants**—A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to non-convertible debt or preferred securities, as applicable. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation's capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation's common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed-income security. Convertible securities are subordinate in rank to any senior debt obligations of the issuer, and, therefore, an issuer's convertible securities entail more risk than its debt obligations. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for capital appreciation. In addition, convertible securities are often lower-rated securities.

Because of the conversion feature, the price of the convertible security will normally fluctuate in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying asset, and as such is subject to risks relating to the activities of the issuer and/or general market and economic conditions. The income component of a convertible security may tend to cushion the security against declines in the price of the underlying asset. However, the income component of convertible securities causes fluctuations based upon changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer.

Warrants are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price any time during the life of the warrants (generally two or more years).

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**Covenant-Lite Obligations**—The Funds invest in or are exposed to loans and other similar debt obligations that are sometimes referred to as "covenant-lite" loans or obligations ("covenant-lite obligations"), which are loans or other similar debt obligations that lack financial maintenance covenants or possess fewer or contingent financial maintenance covenants and other financial protections for lenders and investors. A Fund may also obtain exposure to covenant-lite obligations through investment in securitization vehicles and other structured products. Many new, restructured or reissued loans and similar debt obligations do not feature traditional financial maintenance covenants, which are intended to protect lenders and investors by imposing certain restrictions and other limitations on a borrower's operations or assets and by providing certain information and consent rights to lenders. Covenant-lite obligations allow borrowers to exercise more flexibility with respect to certain activities that may otherwise be limited or prohibited under similar loan obligations that are not covenant-lite. In an investment with a traditional financial maintenance covenant, the borrower is required to meet certain regular, specific financial tests over the term of the investment; in a covenant-lite obligation, the borrower would only be required to satisfy certain financial tests at the time it proposes to take a specific action or engage in a specific transaction (e.g., issuing additional debt, paying a dividend, or making an acquisition) or at a time when another financial criteria has been met (e.g., reduced availability under a revolving credit facility, or asset value falling below a certain percentage of outstanding debt obligations). In addition, in a traditional investment, the borrower is required to provide certain periodic financial reporting that typically includes a detailed calculation of certain financial metrics; in a covenant-lite obligation, certain detailed financial information is only required to be provided when a financial metric is required to be calculated, which may result in more limited access to financial information, difficulty evaluating the borrower's financial performance over time and delays in exercising rights and remedies in the event of a significant financial decline. In addition, in the event of default, covenant-lite obligations may exhibit diminished recovery values as the lender may not have the opportunity to negotiate with the borrower or take other measures intended to mitigate losses prior to default. Accordingly, a Fund may have fewer rights with respect to covenant-lite obligations, including fewer protections against the possibility of default and fewer remedies, and may experience losses or delays in enforcing its rights on covenant-lite obligations. As a result, investments in or exposure to covenant-lite obligations are generally subject to more risk than investments that contain traditional financial maintenance covenants and financial reporting requirements.

**Credit Derivative Transactions**—The Funds may engage in credit derivative transactions. Credit default derivatives are linked to the price of reference securities or loans after a default by the issuer or borrower, respectively. Market spread derivatives are based on the risk that changes in market factors, such as credit spreads, can cause a decline in the value of a security, loan or index. There are three basic transactional forms for credit derivatives: swaps, options and structured instruments. The use of credit derivatives is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions.

A Fund may invest in credit default swap transactions and credit-linked notes (described below) for hedging and investment purposes. The "buyer" in a credit default swap contract is obligated to pay the "seller" a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default on an underlying reference obligation has occurred. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value, or "par value," of the reference obligation. Credit default swap transactions are either "physical delivery" settled or "cash" settled. Physical delivery entails the actual delivery of the reference asset to the seller in exchange for the payment of the full par value of the reference asset. Cash settled entails a net cash payment from the seller to the buyer based on the difference of the par value of the reference asset and the current value of the reference asset that may, after a default, have lost some, most, or all of its value.

A Fund may be either the buyer or seller in a credit default swap transaction and generally will be a buyer in instances in which the Fund actually owns the underlying debt security and seeks to hedge against the risk of default in that debt security. If a Fund is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the Fund will have made a series of periodic payments (in an amount more or less than the value of the cash flows received on the underlying debt security) and recover nothing of monetary value. However, if an event of default occurs, the Fund (if the buyer) will receive the full notional value of the reference obligation either through a cash payment in exchange for such asset or a cash payment in addition to owning the reference asset. A Fund generally will be a seller when it seeks to take the credit risk of a particular debt security and, as a seller, the Fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, which typically is between six months and ten years, provided that there is no event of default. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation through either physical settlement and/or cash settlement. Credit default swap transactions involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly, including counterparty credit risk and leverage risk.

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**Cyber Security, Market Disruptions and Operational Risk**—Like other funds and other parts of the modern economy, the Funds and their service providers, as well as exchanges and market participants through or with which the Funds trade and other infrastructures, services and parties on which the Funds or their service providers rely, are susceptible to ongoing risks related to cyber incidents and the risks associated with financial, economic, public health, labor and other global market developments and disruptions, including those arising out of geopolitical events, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics), natural/environmental disasters (such as earthquakes, wildfires and floods), war, terrorism and governmental or quasi-governmental actions as well as technological developments (including those related to artificial intelligence or blockchain technology) or failures (for example, widespread system outages or disruptions or faulty updates to software applications) and other similar events, each of which may be temporary or last for extended periods. Cyber incidents can result from unintentional events (such as an inadvertent release of confidential information) or deliberate attacks (such as cyber extortion) by insiders or third parties, including cyber criminals, competitors, nation-states and "hacktivists," and can be perpetrated by a variety of complex means, including the use of stolen access credentials, malware or other computer viruses, ransomware, phishing, structured query language injection attacks, and distributed denial of service attacks, among other means. Cyber incidents and market or other disruptions may result in actual or potential adverse consequences for critical information and communications technology, systems and networks that are vital to the operations of the Funds or their service providers, or otherwise impair Fund or service provider operations. For example, a cyber incident may cause operational disruptions and failures impacting information systems or information that a system processes, stores, or transmits, such as by theft, damage or destruction, or corruption or modification of and denial of access to data maintained online or digitally, denial of service on websites rendering the websites unavailable to intended users or not accessible for such users in a timely manner, and the unauthorized release or other exploitation of confidential information. Recent geopolitical tensions may have increased the scale and sophistication of deliberate cyber attacks and other disruptions, particularly from nation-states or entities with nation-state backing.

Geopolitical tensions may, from time to time, increase the scale and sophistication of cyber incidents and other disruptions. A cyber incident or sudden market, operational, technological (including widespread system outages or disruptions or faulty updates to software applications) or other disruption could adversely impact a Fund and its shareholders by, among other things, interfering with the processing of shareholder transactions or other operational functionality of the Fund, its service providers or those of shareholders, impacting a Fund's ability to calculate its NAV or other data, causing the release of private shareholder information (i.e., identity theft or other privacy breaches) or confidential Fund information or otherwise compromising the security and reliability of information, impeding trading, causing reputational damage, and subjecting a Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation or remediation costs, litigation expenses and additional compliance and cyber security risk management costs, which may be substantial. A cyber incident could also adversely affect the ability of a Fund (and the Investment Manager) to invest or manage the Fund's assets.

Cyber incidents and developments and disruptions to financial, economic, public health, labor and other global market conditions can obstruct the regular functioning of business workforces (including requiring employees to work from external locations or from their homes), cause business slowdowns or temporary suspensions of business activities, each of which can negatively impact Fund service providers and Fund operations. Although the Funds and their service providers, as well as exchanges and market participants through or with which the Funds trade and other infrastructures on which the Funds or their service providers rely, may have established business continuity plans and systems reasonably designed to protect from and/or defend against the risks or adverse consequences associated with cyber incidents and operational and market disruptions, there are inherent limitations in these plans and systems, including that certain risks may not yet be identified, in large part because different or unknown threats may emerge in the future and the threats continue to rapidly evolve and increase in sophistication. As a result, it is not possible to anticipate and prevent every cyber incident and possible obstruction to the normal activities of these entities' employees resulting from market disruptions and attempts to mitigate the occurrence or impact of such events may be unsuccessful. For example, public health emergencies and governmental responses to such emergencies, including through quarantine measures and travel restrictions, can create difficulties in carrying out the normal working processes of these entities' employees, disrupt their operations and hamper their capabilities. The nature, extent, and potential magnitude of the adverse consequences of these events cannot be predicted accurately but may result in significant risks, adverse consequences and costs to the Funds and their shareholders.

The issuers of securities in which a Fund invests are also subject to the ongoing risks and threats associated with cyber incidents and operational and market disruptions. These incidents could result in adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund's investment in such securities to lose value. For example, a cyber incident

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involving an issuer may include the theft, destruction or misappropriation of financial assets, intellectual property or other sensitive information belonging to the issuer or their customers (i.e., identity theft or other privacy breaches) and a market disruption involving an issuer may include materially reduced consumer demand and output, disrupted supply chains, market closures, travel restrictions and quarantines. As a result, the issuer may experience the types of adverse consequences summarized above, among others (such as loss of revenue), despite having implemented preventative and other measures reasonably designed to protect from and/or defend against the risks or adverse effects associated with cyber incidents and/or market disruptions.

The Funds and their service providers, as well as exchanges and market participants through or with which the Funds or shareholders trade or invest and other infrastructures on which the Funds or their service providers rely, are also subject to the risks associated with technological and operational disruptions or failures arising from, for example, processing errors and human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, errors in algorithms used with respect to the Funds, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third parties or trading counterparties. In addition, to the extent that the Investment Manager utilizes a sleeve structure and sub-accounts of an individual Fund, the Fund would be more susceptible to operational risks, including (but not limited to) settlement, administrative and accounting errors in monitoring the sub-accounts and processing trades and other transactions within and between sub-accounts. Although the Funds attempt to minimize such failures through controls and oversight, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect a Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence of such failures or other disruptions in service.

Cyber incidents, market disruptions and operational errors or failures or other technological issues may adversely affect a Fund's ability to calculate its NAV correctly, in a timely manner or process trades or Fund or shareholder transactions, including over a potentially extended period. The Funds do not control the cyber security, disaster recovery, or other operational defense plans or systems of its service providers, intermediaries, companies in which it invests or other third parties. The value of an investment in Fund shares may be adversely affected by the occurrence of the cyber incidents, market disruptions and operational errors or failures or technological issues summarized above or other similar events and the Funds and their shareholders may bear costs tied to these risks.

Technological developments such as the use of cloud-based service providers and/or services and the integration of artificial intelligence in systems and operations create new risks that are difficult to assess and anticipate. For example, the Funds' service providers and market participants on which the Funds rely may use artificial intelligence (such as machine learning, generative artificial intelligence or blockchain technology) and similar technologies in the provision of services to the Funds and their operations generally. Such use may subject these service providers and market participants and, in turn, their services and operations to increased risks associated with such technologies, including risk of errors, cybersecurity, data protection and information technology risk, operational risk, and legal, regulatory and compliance risk. In addition, any controls in place designed to mitigate such risks may be ineffective and the use of these technologies may change over time, which may present new risks and vulnerabilities. As a result, a Fund may experience adverse consequences, such as operational errors, from such use of artificial intelligence and similar technologies.

In addition, the use of work-from-home arrangements or the use of contingency plans by the Funds or the Investment Manager (or their service providers) could increase all of the above risks, create additional data and information accessibility concerns, and make the Funds or the Investment Manager (or their service providers) susceptible to operational disruptions, any of which could adversely impact their operations. Furthermore, the Funds may be appealing targets for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware.

**Debt Obligations—**Yields on short, intermediate, and long-term securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money and bond markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. Debt securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields and are generally subject to potentially greater capital appreciation and depreciation than obligations with shorter maturities and lower yields. The market prices of debt securities usually vary, depending upon available yields. An increase in interest rates will generally reduce the value of portfolio investments, and a decline in interest rates will generally increase the value of portfolio investments. The ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objectives is also dependent on the continuing ability of the issuers of the debt securities in which the Fund invests to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal when due. Each Fund may invest in debt obligations with different priority of payment, such as senior (or preferred) and subordinated debt obligations, consistent with the Fund's investment objectives. Despite the protection from subordinated debt obligations, senior debt obligations can experience losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance

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of more subordinate debt obligations, and market anticipation of defaults. Additionally, senior debt obligations are also subject to the risk that a court could subordinate a senior debt obligation or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior debt obligations.

For example, corporate bonds are debt obligations issued by corporations and other business entities. Corporate bonds may be either secured or unsecured. Corporate bonds contain elements of both interest rate risk and credit risk and are subject to other risks associated with debt instruments, among other risks. The market value of a corporate bond generally is expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates and be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation's performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. Depending on the nature of the seniority provisions, a senior corporate bond may be junior to other credit securities of the issuer. In addition, the market value of (and income generated by) a corporate bond may be affected by factors directly related to the issuer, such as investors' perceptions of the creditworthiness of the issuer, the issuer's financial performance, perceptions of the issuer in the marketplace, performance of management of the issuer, the issuer's capital structure and use of financial leverage and demand for the issuer's goods and services. There is a risk that the issuers of corporate bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument or at all. Corporate bonds of below investment grade quality are often high risk and have speculative characteristics and may be particularly susceptible to adverse issuer-specific and other developments.

**Equity Securities—**Equity securities, such as common stock, represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer and may be obtained through, among other things, an initial public offering ("IPO"). Common stock generally takes the form of shares in a corporation. The value of a company's stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company's products or services. A stock's value also may fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of a company's stock also may be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company's stock generally pays dividends only after the company invests in its own business and makes required payments to holders of its bonds, other debt and preferred stock. For this reason, the value of a company's stock will usually react more strongly than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock to actual or perceived changes in the company's financial condition or prospects. Stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies. Stocks of companies that the portfolio managers believe are fast-growing may trade at a higher multiple of current earnings than other stocks. The value of such stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks.

An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public, typically to raise additional capital. A Fund's investment in securities offered through IPOs may have a magnified performance impact, either positive or negative, on the Fund, particularly if the Fund has a small asset base. IPO securities are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. A Fund's investments in IPOs may make it subject to more erratic price movements, greater risk of loss, lack of information about the issuer, limited operating and little public or no trading history, and higher transaction costs. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, a Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of a Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to a Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs, which decrease the value of investments and may result in additional taxable gains for a Fund and adversely affect a Fund's performance. A Fund may not be able to invest in securities issued in IPOs, or invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO may be made available to the Fund.

A Fund may also invest in warrants and rights with respect to equity securities. Warrants entitle the holder to buy equity securities (notably, common stock) from the issuer of the warrant at a specific price for a specific period of time. Rights are similar to warrants but normally have a shorter duration and are typically distributed directly by the issuers to existing shareholders, while warrants are typically attached to new debt or preferred stock issuances. Warrants may be significantly less valuable or worthless on their expiration date and may also be postponed or terminated early, resulting in a partial or total loss. Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer. Warrants and rights are highly volatile and, therefore, potentially more susceptible to sharp declines in value than the underlying security. The market for rights or warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price and rights and warrants will expire if not exercised on or prior to the expiration date.

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**Equity-Linked Securities—**The Funds may invest in equity-linked securities which are primarily used as an alternative means to access the securities markets of emerging market countries more efficiently and effectively. Equity-linked securities may also be known as participation notes, equity swaps, and zero strike calls and warrants. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or "basket" of stocks, or sometimes a single stock. A Fund deposits an amount of cash with its custodian (or broker, if legally permitted) in an amount near or equal to the selling price of the underlying security in exchange for an equity-linked security. Upon sale, the Fund receives cash from the broker or custodian equal to the current value of the underlying security. Aside from market risk of the underlying security, there is the risk that the issuer of an equity-linked security may default on its obligation under the security. In addition, while the Fund will seek to enter into such transactions only with parties that are capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out such a transaction with the other party or obtain an offsetting position with any other party, at any time prior to the end of the term of the underlying agreement. This may impair a Fund's ability to enter into other transactions at a time when doing so might be advantageous.

**Foreign Investment Risks—**Investment in foreign securities involves risks and considerations in addition to the risks inherent in domestic investments. Foreign companies generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The securities of non-U.S. issuers generally are not registered with the SEC, nor are these issuers usually subject to the SEC's reporting requirements. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information about foreign securities and issuers than is available with respect to U.S. securities and issuers. Foreign securities markets typically have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets, and securities of foreign companies are generally less liquid and at times their prices may be more volatile than prices of comparable U.S. companies. Various trading risks are greater for foreign securities because foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies generally are subject to less government supervision and regulation than in the United States. The customary settlement time for foreign securities may be longer than the customary settlement time for U.S. securities. A Fund's income and gains from foreign investments may be subject to non-U.S. withholding or other taxes, thereby reducing the Fund's income and gains on such investments. In addition, with respect to some foreign countries, there is the increased possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation or other adverse governmental action, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets of the Fund, political or social instability, diplomatic and other developments that could affect the investments of the Fund in those countries, including the imposition of economic sanctions. Moreover, individual foreign economies differ from the U.S. economy in such respects, among others, as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, rate of savings and capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments positions.

Below is a more detailed summary of certain key risks associated with foreign investments and investments in certain foreign countries. Although a specific country or region may not be discussed below, a Fund may invest in or otherwise have exposure to such country or companies organized or operating in such country.

**Adverse Market Characteristics.** Securities of many foreign issuers may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. In addition, foreign securities exchanges and brokers generally are subject to less governmental supervision and regulation than in the U.S., and foreign securities exchange transactions usually are subject to commissions or other fees that generally are higher than negotiated commissions or other fees on U.S. transactions. In addition, foreign securities exchange transactions may be subject to difficulties associated with the settlement of such transactions, such as delays in settlement that could result in temporary periods when assets of a Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon, or cause other portfolio management or trading challenges. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause it to miss attractive opportunities. Inability to dispose of a portfolio security due to settlement problems either could result in losses to a Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio security or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. In addition, foreign securities may be subject to certain trading blockages that may prevent a Fund from trading in a foreign issuer's securities a period of time.

**Australia.** Australia's agriculture and mining sectors account for a significant portion of its economy, making its economy-and in turn, a Fund's investments in Australian issuers-particularly susceptible to adverse changes in these sectors. In addition, Australia's economy is heavily dependent on international trade, meaning the economic conditions of trading partners such as the United States, Asian nations and other regions or specific

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countries may affect the value of a Fund's investments in Australian issuers. Australia is also prone to natural disasters such as floods, droughts and fires, and a Fund's investments in Australia may be more likely to be affected by such events than its investments in other geographic regions.

**Brady Bonds.** The Funds may invest in "Brady Bonds," which are debt restructurings that provide for the exchange of cash and loans for newly issued bonds. Brady Bonds are securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to public and private entities in certain emerging markets for new bonds in connection with debt restructuring under a debt restructuring plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady. Brady Bonds may be collateralized or uncollateralized, are issued in various currencies (primarily the U.S. dollar) and are actively traded in the secondary market for Latin American debt.

U.S. dollar-denominated, collateralized Brady Bonds, which may be fixed rate par bonds or floating rate discount bonds, are collateralized in full as to principal by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds having the same maturity as the bonds. Interest payments on such bonds generally are collateralized by cash or securities in an amount that, in the case of fixed rate bonds, is equal to at least one year of rolling interest payments or, in the case of floating rate bonds, initially is equal to at least one year's rolling interest payments based on the applicable interest rate at the time and is adjusted at regular intervals thereafter.

**Brexit**—The United Kingdom ceased to be a member of the EU on January 31, 2020 (such departure from the EU, "Brexit"). A trade agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom (the "TCA") took effect on May 1, 2021, and now governs the relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom. Although the TCA covers many issues, such as economic partnership, free trade, law enforcement and judicial co-operation and governance, it is silent on items such as financial services equivalence. As such, there remains uncertainty as to the scope, nature and terms of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU and the effect and implications of the TCA. Brexit may have a negative impact on the economy and currency of the United Kingdom and EU as a result of anticipated, perceived or actual changes to the United Kingdom's economic and political relations with the EU. Brexit may also have a destabilizing impact on the EU to the extent other member states similarly seek to withdraw from the union. Any further exits from member states of the EU, or the possibility of such exits, would likely cause additional market disruption globally and introduce new legal and regulatory uncertainties. Any or all of these challenges may affect the value of the Funds' investments that are economically tied to the United Kingdom or the EU, and could have an adverse impact on the Funds' performance.

**Canada.** Investments in Canadian companies, or companies with significant operations in Canada, are subject to the risks associated with the Canadian economy and financial markets, in particular, adverse developments in international trade agreements and fluctuations in prices of certain commodities. The economic and financial integration of the United States, Canada, and Mexico through trade agreements has made, and will likely continue to make, the Canadian economy and financial market more sensitive to North American trade patterns and economic developments. As a result, the Canadian economy and financial markets are significantly impacted by economic, financial and other developments affecting the United States, which is Canada's largest trading partner and foreign investor, and the Canadian economy is heavily dependent on relationships with certain key trading partners, including the United States and Mexico and, for certain trade agreements, European Union countries and China. Further, a reduction in spending on Canadian products and services or the withdrawal from, or renegotiation of, key trade agreements would likely adversely impact the Canadian economy or investments in Canadian companies. In addition, the Canadian market is relatively concentrated in issuers involved in the production and distribution of natural resources and, as a result, the Canadian economy and financial markets are particularly susceptible to fluctuations in certain commodity markets, such as natural resources (e.g., forest products), both domestically and internationally.

**China.** To the extent a Fund invests in Chinese securities, its investments may be impacted by the economic, political, diplomatic, and social conditions within China. Moreover, investments may be impacted by geopolitical developments such as China's posture regarding Hong Kong and Taiwan, international scrutiny of China's human rights record to include China's treatment of some of its minorities, competition between the United States and China and the resulting increased tariffs and restrictions on trade between the two countries, and any of China's military or diplomatic moves or other regional developments. These domestic and external conditions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the institution of tariffs, sanctions by governmental entities or other trade barriers, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China's export industry. In particular, trade tensions could escalate between the United States and China, resulting in further tariffs and other measures against China that might adversely affect investments in China. China's actual or threatened

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responses to such measures may also further impact Chinese economy and Chinese issuers. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and could have a negative impact on a Fund's performance, including the loss incurred from a forced sale when trade barriers or other investment restrictions cause a security to become restricted. Also, China generally has less established legal, accounting and financial reporting systems than those in more developed markets, which may reduce the scope or quality of financial information relating to Chinese issuers and limited rights and remedies of investors as a matter of law. An economic downturn in China or geopolitical tensions involving China could adversely impact investments in Chinese or Chinese-related issuers. In addition, certain securities of such issuers are, or may in the future become restricted, and/or sanctioned by the U.S. government or other governments and a Fund may be forced to sell such restricted securities and incur a loss as a result. These and other developments, including government actions, may result in significant illiquidity risk or forced disposition for investments in securities of Chinese or Chinese-related issuers.

Chinese operating companies sometimes rely on variable interest entity ("VIE") structures to raise capital from non-Chinese investors. In a VIE structure, a China-based operating company establishes an entity (typically offshore) that enters into contracts with the Chinese operating company designed to provide economic exposure to the Chinese operating company. The offshore entity then issues exchange-traded shares (such as on the NYSE) that are sold to the public, including non-Chinese investors (such as the Funds). Shares of the offshore entity are not equity ownership interests in the Chinese operating company. The ability of the offshore entity to control the activities at the Chinese operating company are limited and the Chinese operating company may engage in activities that negatively impact investment value. Investments through these structures are subject to risks in addition to those generally associated with investments in China, such as breaches of the contractual arrangements, changes in Chinese law or regulation with respect to enforceability or permissibility of these arrangements or failure of these contracts to function as intended. In addition, these investments are also subject to the risk of inconsistent and unpredictable application of Chinese law, loss of control over the Chinese operating company and that the equity owners of the Chinese operating company may have interests conflicting with those of the non-Chinese investors. There is also uncertainty related to the Chinese taxation of VIEs and the Chinese tax authorities may take positions that result in increased tax liabilities. Thus, there are risks and uncertainty about future actions or intervention by the government of China at any time and without notice that could suddenly and significantly affect these structures. If any of the foregoing (or similar) risks materialize, the value and liquidity of these investments could be significantly adversely affected and cause significant losses with no recourse available.

**Costs.** Certain expenses of a Fund's investments in foreign securities are typically greater than those of funds investing in solely domestic securities because, among other things, the Funds may pay a higher overall cost to maintain the custody of foreign securities.

**Currency Fluctuations.** Each Fund may invest a portion of its total assets in the securities of foreign issuers that are denominated (or pay dividends) in foreign currencies. To the extent a Fund makes such investments, the strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar against such foreign currencies will account for part of the Fund's investment performance. A decline in the value of any particular currency against the U.S. dollar will cause a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's holdings of securities denominated in such currency and, therefore, will cause an overall decline in the Fund's NAV and any net investment income and capital gains to be distributed in U.S. dollars to shareholders of the Fund. In addition, derivative instruments that provide exposure to foreign currencies may also be adversely affected in these circumstances.

The rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is determined by several factors, including the supply and demand for particular currencies, central bank efforts to support particular currencies, the movement of interest rates, the pace of business activity in certain other countries and the United States, and other economic and financial conditions affecting the global economy. In addition, currency rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including: changes in interest rates, sovereign debt levels and trade deficits; domestic and foreign inflation and interest rates and investors' expectations concerning those rates; currency exchange rates; investment and trading activities of other funds, including hedge funds and currency funds; global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations; and the imposition of currency controls or tax developments in the United States or abroad. Foreign governments may from time to time take actions with respect to their currencies that could significantly affect the value of a Fund's investments denominated in such currencies or the liquidity of such investments.

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Although the Funds value their assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, the Funds do not intend to convert holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. A Fund will do so from time to time, and will bear the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference ("spread") between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to sell that currency to the dealer.

**Eastern Europe.** Social, political (including geopolitical), economic and other developments in Eastern Europe and Russia could have long-term potential consequences for investments in this region. Because of the global sanctions on Russia due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, investments in Russia are prohibited or extremely restricted. Investment in the countries of Eastern Europe is highly speculative. Political and economic reforms have not yet established a definite trend away from centrally-planned economies and state-owned industries. In many of the countries of Eastern Europe, there is no stock exchange or formal market for securities. Such countries may also have government exchange controls, currencies with no recognizable market value relative to the established currencies of western market economies, little or no experience trading securities, no financial reporting standards, a lack of a banking and securities infrastructure to handle such trading, and a legal tradition that does not recognize private property rights. In addition, these countries may have national policies that restrict investments in companies deemed sensitive to the country's national interest. Further, the governments in such countries may require governmental or quasi-governmental authorities to act as custodian of a Fund's assets invested in such countries, and these authorities may not qualify as a foreign custodian under the 1940 Act, and exemptive relief from the 1940 Act may be required. In February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The extent and duration of this military action, and resulting market and economic disruption and uncertainty, is difficult to accurately predict. The United States and other countries have imposed significant sanctions against Russia and could impose additional sanctions or other measures. As a result, there are significant risks and uncertainties to investment in Eastern Europe and Russia.

**Emerging Markets.** The Funds may invest in debt and equity securities in emerging markets. Investing in securities in emerging countries generally entails greater risks of loss or inability to achieve the Fund's investment objective than investing in securities in developed countries. Securities issued by governments or issuers in emerging market countries are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities. These risks are elevated from time to time based on geopolitical conditions and include: (1) less social, political and economic stability; (2) the small size of the markets for such securities, limited access to investments in the event of market closures (including due to local holidays) and the low or nonexistent volume of trading, which result in a lack of liquidity, greater price volatility, and higher risk of failed trades or other trading issues; (3) certain national policies that may restrict a Fund's investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (4) foreign taxation; (5) inflation and rapid fluctuations in interest rates; (6) currency devaluations; (7) dependence on a few key trading partners; and (8) the absence of developed structures governing private or foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress for investment losses or injury to private property, which may limit legal rights and remedies available to a Fund and the ability of U.S. authorities (e.g., the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice) to bring actions against bad actors may be limited. Sovereign debt of emerging countries may be in default or present a greater risk of default. In addition, emerging markets generally involve risks associated with greater market volatility, less reliable financial and other information, less stringent investor protections and disclosure standards, higher transaction and custody costs and risks, decreased market liquidity and less government and exchange regulation. For example, certain emerging market countries may be subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record keeping and therefore, material information related to an investment may be unavailable or unreliable. These risks are heightened for investments in frontier markets.

The Investment Manager has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as "emerging markets." In determining whether a country is an emerging market, each Fund's Investment Manager may take into account specific or general factors that the Investment Manager deems to be relevant, including interest rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies, trade and current account balances and/or legal, social and political developments, as well as whether the country is considered to be emerging or developing by supranational organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, or other similar entities. Emerging market countries generally will include countries with low gross national product per capita and the potential for rapid economic growth and are likely to be located in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Central Europe and Central and South America.

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**Europe.** The European Union ("EU") is an intergovernmental and supranational organization comprised of most Western European countries and an increasing number of Eastern European countries (each such country, a "Member State"). The EU aims to establish and administer a single market among Member States-consisting of a common trade policy and a single currency-and Member States established the European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU") in pursuit of this goal. The EMU sets forth certain policies intended to increase economic coordination and monetary cooperation. Many Member States have adopted the EMU's euro as their currency and other Member States are generally expected to adopt the euro in the future. When a Member State adopts the euro as its currency, the Member State cedes its authority to control monetary policy to the European Central Bank.

Member States face a number of challenges, including, but not limited to: tight fiscal and monetary controls, complications that result from adjustment to a new currency; the absence of exchange rate flexibility; and the loss of economic sovereignty. Unemployment in some European countries has been historically higher than in the United States, potentially exposing investors to political risk. These types of challenges may affect the value of a Fund's investments.

In addition, changes to the value of the euro against the U.S. dollar could also affect the value of a Fund's investments. Investing in euro-denominated securities or securities denominated in other European currencies entails risk of exposure to a currency that may not fully reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the disparate European economies. It is possible that the euro could be abandoned in the future by those countries that have adopted it and the effects of such abandonment on individual countries and the EMU as a whole are uncertain, but could be negative. Any change in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar can have a positive or negative effect upon valuation, and thus upon profits.

A Fund's Europe-linked investments are subject to considerable uncertainty and risk. In recent years, many European countries and banking and financial sectors have experienced significant financial and economic challenges. In addition, some European countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, in which a Fund may invest, may be dependent on assistance from other governments or international organizations. Such assistance may be subject to a country's successful implementation of certain reforms. An insufficient level of assistance (whether triggered by a failure to implement reforms or by any other factor) could cause an economic downturn and affect the value of a Fund's investments.

Certain European countries have experienced significant governmental debt levels and, for some countries, the ability to repay their debt may be in question, and the possibility of default may be heightened, any of which could affect their ability to borrow in the future. A default or debt restructuring of any European country would adversely impact holders of that country's debt and sellers of credit default swaps linked to that country's creditworthiness, which may be located outside the country defaulting or restructuring. Furthermore, there is the risk of contagion that could occur if one country defaults on its debt, and that a default in one country could trigger declines and cause other countries in the region to default as well.

Significant risks, such as high official debts and deficits, aging populations, over-regulation of non-financial businesses, and doubts about the sustainability of the EMU continue to present economic and financial challenges in Europe. These countries will likely need to make further economic and political decisions in order to restore sustainable economic growth and fiscal policy. While many initiatives intended to strengthen regulation and supervision of financial markets in the EU have been instituted, greater regulation may occur.

The EU currently faces major issues involving its membership, structure, procedures, and policies, including: the adoption, abandonment, or adjustment of the constitutional treaty; the EU's expansion to the south and east; and resolution of the EU's fiscal and democratic accountability problems. As Member States unify their economic and monetary policies, movements in European markets will lose the benefit of diversification within the region. One or more Member States might exit the EU, placing its currency and banking system in jeopardy. The national policies of European countries can be unpredictable and subject to influence by disruptive political groups or ideologies. The occurrence of conflicts, war or terrorist activities in Europe could have an adverse impact on financial markets. An increasingly assertive Russia poses its own set of risks for the EU, as evidenced by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Opposition to EU expansion to members of the former Soviet bloc may prompt more intervention by Russia, which may carry various negative consequences, including direct effects, such as export restrictions, Russian support for separatist groups located within EU countries, interference by Russia in

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internal affairs of EU countries, and externalities of ongoing conflict, such as an influx of refugees, all of which could impact EU economic activity. In connection with these uncertainties, currencies have become more volatile, subjecting a Fund's investments to additional risks.

A Fund may also invest in Eurodollar bonds and obligations, which are securities that pay interest and principal in Eurodollars (U.S. dollars held in banks outside the U.S., typically Europe) and are often issued by foreign branches of U.S. banks and by foreign banks. These securities are not registered with the SEC. Eurodollar bonds and obligations are subject to the same types of risks that pertain to domestic issuers, such as income risk, credit risk, market risk, and liquidity risk, as well as risks relating to such non-U.S. country, including the risks associated with foreign investments.

**Foreign Investment Restrictions.** Certain countries prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets, particularly their equity markets, by foreign entities such as the Funds. As illustrations, certain countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular company, or limit the investments by foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of a company that may have less advantageous terms than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. Moreover, the national policies of certain countries may restrict investment opportunities in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests. In addition, some countries require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales by foreign investors. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation, as well as by the application to it of other restrictions on investments. These restrictions may, at times, limit or preclude investment in certain countries and may increase the costs and expenses of a Fund.

**Information and Supervision.** There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies comparable to reports and ratings that are published about companies in the United States. Foreign companies are also generally subject to less stringent and uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements than those applicable to U.S. companies. Therefore, financial information and related audits can be unreliable and not subject to verification. Also, auditing firms in some foreign countries are not subject to independent inspection or oversight of audit quality. In addition, foreign investments are subject to various operational and settlement risks, including failures or defects of the settlement system, improper recordkeeping, and other issues that may adversely affect a Fund's investments. Foreign companies and financial markets may also be subject to government involvement and control, which may adversely affect a Fund's investments.

**Investment and Repatriation Restrictions.** Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain foreign countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may at times limit or preclude investment in certain countries and may increase the costs and expenses of a Fund. Investments by foreign investors are subject to a variety of restrictions in many developing countries, such as requirements for prior governmental approval, limits on the amount or type of securities held by foreigners, and limits on the types of companies in which foreigners may invest. Additional or different restrictions may be imposed at any time by these or other countries in which a Fund invests. In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and capital from several foreign countries is restricted and controlled under certain regulations, including in some cases the need for certain government consents. These restrictions may make investing in these countries less desirable or undesirable.

**Japan.** Though Japan is one of the world's largest economic powers, a Fund's investments in Japan are subject to special risks. Japan's population is aging and shrinking, increasing the cost of Japan's pension and public welfare system, lowering domestic demand, and making the country more dependent on exports to sustain its economy. The economic conditions of Japan's trading partners may therefore affect the value of a Fund's Japan-linked investments. Currency fluctuations may also significantly affect Japan's economy. Japan is also prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and a Fund's investments in Japan may be more likely to be affected by such events than its investments in other geographic regions. In addition, in recent years, a territorial dispute between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands has heightened, which may result in discord between the two countries that, in turn, may negatively impact a Fund's investments.

**Market Characteristics.** Foreign securities may be purchased in OTC markets or on stock exchanges located in the countries in which the respective principal offices of the issuers of the various securities are located. Foreign stock markets are generally not as developed or efficient as, and may be more volatile than, those in the United

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States, and foreign stock markets usually have substantially less volume than U.S. markets. As a result, a Fund's portfolio securities may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. Equity securities may trade at price/earnings multiples higher than comparable domestic securities, and such levels may not be sustainable. Commissions on foreign stock exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign stock exchanges, brokers and listed companies than in the United States. As a result, foreign securities markets may be more susceptible to market manipulation. Moreover, securities trading practices in foreign countries may offer fewer protections for investors such as the Funds and the settlement practices for transactions in foreign markets may differ from those in U.S. markets and may include delays beyond periods customary in the United States or less frequent settlement than in the United States. In addition, it is generally more difficult to obtain and enforce legal judgments against foreign issuers than against domestic issuers.

**Natural Disasters.** Natural disasters, public health emergencies (including pandemics and epidemics) and other global events of force majeure can negatively affect the Funds' investments. Such events can cause unemployment and economic downturns within an industry or a geographic region in which a Fund invests. They can also directly disrupt the operations, cash flows and overall financial condition of a company in which a Fund invests.

**Non-Uniform Corporate Disclosure Standards and Governmental Regulation.** Non-U.S. companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements that differ, in some cases significantly, from those applicable to U.S. companies. In particular, the assets, liabilities and profits appearing on the financial statements of such a company may not reflect its financial position or results of operations in the way they would be reflected had such financial statements been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Foreign securities held by the Funds in many cases will not be registered with the SEC or regulators of any foreign country, nor will the issuers thereof be subject to the SEC's reporting requirements. Thus, there will be less available information concerning foreign issuers of securities held by the Funds than is available concerning U.S. issuers. In instances where the financial statements of an issuer are not deemed to accurately reflect the financial situation of the issuer, the Investment Manager will take steps it deems appropriate to evaluate the proposed investment, which may include on-site inspection of the issuer, interviews with its management, and consultations with accountants, bankers and other specialists. There is substantially less publicly available information about foreign companies than there are reports and ratings published about U.S. companies and the U.S. government. In addition, where public information is available, it may be less reliable than such information regarding U.S. issuers.

**Non-U.S. Withholding Taxes.** A Fund's investment income and gains from foreign issuers may be subject to non-U.S. withholding and other taxes, thereby reducing the Fund's investment income and gains on such investments.

**Other.** With respect to certain foreign countries, especially developing and emerging ones, there is the possibility of adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, international trade patterns, imposition or modification of foreign currency or foreign investment controls, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets of a Fund, political or social instability, or diplomatic or other developments, conditions or events (such as civil unrest, hostile relations, military conflicts, war and terrorism) that could affect investments in those countries.

**Political, Economic and Other Risks.** Investing in securities of non-U.S. companies may entail additional risks due to the potential political, geopolitical and economic instability of certain countries and the risks of military and other conflicts, expropriation, nationalization, seizure, confiscation of companies or assets, or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investment and on repatriation of capital invested. In the event of such expropriation, seizure, nationalization or other confiscation by any country, a Fund could lose its entire investment in the country.

Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital, making these markets more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against particular countries or industries, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures.

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As a result of any investments in non-U.S. companies, a Fund would be subject to the political and economic risks associated with investments in emerging markets. Changes in the leadership or policies of the governments of emerging market countries or in the leadership or policies of any other government that exercises a significant influence over those countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and thereby eliminate any investment opportunities that may currently exist.

Upon the accession to power of authoritarian regimes, the governments of a number of emerging market countries previously expropriated large quantities of real and personal property similar to the property represented by the securities purchased by a Fund. The claims of property owners against those governments were never settled. There can be no assurance that any property represented by securities purchased by a Fund will not also be expropriated, nationalized, seized or otherwise confiscated. If such confiscation were to occur, a Fund could lose a substantial portion or all of its investments in such countries. A Fund's investments would similarly be adversely affected by exchange control regulation in any of those countries.

Certain countries in which a Fund may invest may have vocal factions that advocate radical or revolutionary philosophies or support independence. Any disturbance on the part of such individuals could carry the potential for widespread destruction or confiscation of property owned by individuals and entities foreign to such country and could cause the loss of a Fund's investment in those countries.

Political and economic developments, or adverse investor perceptions of such developments, may affect a Fund's foreign holdings or exposures and may cause the Fund's investments to become less liquid.

The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments (such as is currently the case against Russia), or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is difficult to accurately predict. These types of measures may include, but are not limited to, banning a sanctioned country from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, restricting the settlement of securities transactions by certain investors, and freezing the assets of particular countries, entities, or persons. The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures likely would, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, downgrades in the credit ratings of the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, devaluation of the sanctioned country's currency, and increased market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent a Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact a Fund's liquidity, valuation and performance.

**Singapore and Hong Kong.** Although the economies of Singapore and Hong Kong have experienced growth and development, they were in the past, and may in the future be, subject to over-extension of credit, currency devaluations and restrictions, high unemployment, high inflation, reliance on exports and economic cycles. These factors may affect the value of a Fund's investments. In addition, these economies are heavily dependent on international trade, meaning the economic conditions of trading partners such as the United States, Japan, China, and certain European countries may also affect the value of a Fund's investments. During recent periods, the region's exports and foreign investments experienced significant difficulties. Moreover, as demonstrated by recent protests in Hong Kong over political, economic, and legal freedoms, and the Chinese government's response to them, political uncertainty exists within Hong Kong and there is no guarantee that additional protests will not arise in the future. Hostilities between China and Hong Kong may present a risk to a Fund's investment in Hong Kong.

**Sovereign and Supranational Obligations.** The Funds may invest in sovereign debt securities, which are debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governmental entities, such as foreign government debt or foreign treasury bills. Investments in sovereign debt securities involve special risks in addition to those risks usually associated with investments in debt securities, including risks associated with economic or political uncertainty and the risk that the governmental authority that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may be unwilling or unable to repay the principal and/or interest when due. The Funds may also invest in securities or other obligations issued or backed by supranational organizations, which are international organizations that are designated or supported by government entities or banking institutions typically to promote economic

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reconstruction or development. These obligations are subject to the risk that the government(s) on whose support the organization depends may be unable or unwilling to provide the necessary support. With respect to both sovereign and supranational obligations, a Fund may have little recourse against the foreign government or supranational organization that issues or backs the obligation in the event of default. These obligations may be denominated in foreign currencies and the prices of these obligations may be more volatile than corporate debt obligations.

Sovereign debt instruments in which the Funds invest may involve great risk and may be deemed to be the equivalent in terms of credit quality to securities rated below investment grade by Moody's and S&P. Some governmental entities depend on disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies, and international organizations to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt obligations. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies, and others to make such disbursements are often conditioned on a governmental entity's implementation of economic or other reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of the governmental entity's obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance, or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of the commitments to lend funds or other aid to the governmental entity, which may further impair the governmental entity's ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Some of the countries in which a Fund may invest have encountered difficulties in servicing their sovereign debt obligations and have withheld payments of interest and/or principal of sovereign debt. These difficulties have also led to agreements to restructure external debt obligations, which may result in costs to the holders of the sovereign debt. Consequently, a government obligor may default on its obligations and/or the values of its obligations may decline significantly, which would adversely affect a Fund's investments.

**Futures, Options and Other Derivative Transactions—**

**Futures and Options on Futures.** A Fund may invest in futures and options on futures contracts (i) to attempt to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; (ii) to attempt to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; (iii) to attempt to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies; (iv) for hedging purposes; or (v) for other risk management purposes. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price.

An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. Futures contracts are traded on futures exchanges known as designated contract markets that are regulated by the CFTC, which reduces the risk that a Fund will be unable to close out a futures contract or option on a futures contract. To the extent a Fund uses futures and/or options on futures, it would do so in accordance with Rule 4.5 under the CEA, unless otherwise disclosed.

Each Fund may buy and sell index futures contracts with respect to any index traded on a recognized exchange or board of trade. An index futures contract is an agreement pursuant to which the Fund may agree to take or make a cash payment on an index value. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made. Instead, settlement in cash generally must occur daily and upon the termination of the contract. Generally, index futures contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") futures contracts are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts that are based on SOFR. These contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A Fund may use SOFR futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in SOFR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked, or for other purposes.

There are significant risks associated with the Funds' use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on the ability of the Investment Manager to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by a Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid

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secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures. In addition, some strategies reduce a Fund's exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

**Options.** Each Fund may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on securities, stock indices and currencies listed on national securities exchanges or traded in the OTC market for the purpose of pursuing each Fund's investment objective and except as restricted by a Fund's investment restrictions. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period or on expiration, depending on the terms. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period or on expiration, depending on the terms. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or OTC markets) to manage its exposure to exchange rates.

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an "opening transaction." In order to close out an option position prior to expiration, a Fund may enter into a "closing transaction," which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

Each Fund may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that a Fund may seek to purchase in the future. A Fund purchasing put and call options pays a premium; therefore, if price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for a Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Funds' securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

A Fund may write call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in the securities' market value. When a Fund writes such an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option. When a call option of which a Fund is the writer is exercised and requires physical delivery, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option of which a Fund is the writer is exercised and requires physical delivery, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.

Each Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or OTC. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker.

The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security. Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date. The market value of an option also may be adversely affected if

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the market for the option is reduced or becomes less liquid. Additionally, the market for an option may be impacted by the availability of additional expiry cycles, which may lead trading volume into contracts closer to expiration, including zero days to expiration contracts ("0DTE" contracts). 0DTE contracts may involve substantially greater volatility than other options contracts.

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for all options and, in particular, for OTC options; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; (5) counterparty risk; and (6) while a Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.

**Forwards.** A Fund may engage in forward contracts, including non-deliverable forwards. Non-deliverable forwards are forward contracts on foreign currencies that are cash settled and that do not involve delivery of the currency specified in the contract. A Fund typically will use non-deliverable forwards for hedging purposes, but may also use such instruments to increase income or investment gains. The use of forwards for hedging or to increase income or investment gains may not be successful, resulting in losses to the Fund, and the cost of such strategies may reduce the Fund's returns. Forwards are subject to the risks associated with derivatives.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in the transactions discussed above. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" below.

**Guaranteed Investment Contracts ("GICs")—**The Funds may invest in GICs. When investing in GICs, a Fund makes cash contributions to a deposit fund of an insurance company's general account. The insurance company then credits guaranteed interest to the deposit fund on a monthly basis. The GICs provide that this guaranteed interest will not be less than a certain minimum rate. The insurance company may assess periodic charges against a GIC for expenses and service costs allocable to it, and the charges will be deducted from the value of the deposit fund. Because a Fund may not receive the principal amount of a GIC from the insurance company on 7 days' notice or less, the GIC is considered an illiquid investment. In determining average portfolio maturity, GICs generally will be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period of time remaining until the next readjustment of the guaranteed interest rate.

**Hybrid Instruments—**The Funds may invest in hybrid instruments. A hybrid instrument is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid instrument is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor ("underlying benchmark"). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed-income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid instrument may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the underlying benchmark. An example of a hybrid instrument could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.

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

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Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative securities with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options, or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or debt securities, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable.

Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Funds' investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and other restrictions contained in the 1940 Act.

**Credit-Linked Notes.** Each Fund may invest in credit-linked notes, which is a type of structured note. The difference between a credit default swap and a credit-linked note is that the seller of a credit-linked note receives the principal payment from the buyer at the time the contract is originated. Through the purchase of a credit-linked note, the buyer assumes the risk of the reference asset and funds its exposure through the purchase of the note. The buyer takes on the exposure to the seller to the full amount of the funding it has provided. The seller has hedged its risk on the reference asset without acquiring any additional credit exposure. The Fund has the right to receive periodic interest payments from the issuer of the credit-linked note at an agreed-upon interest rate and a return of principal at the maturity date.

Credit-linked notes are subject to the credit risk of the corporate credits referenced by the note. If one of the underlying corporate credits defaults, the Fund may receive the security that has defaulted, and the Fund's principal investment would be reduced by the difference between the original face value of the reference security and the current value of the defaulted security. Credit-linked notes are typically privately negotiated transactions between two or more parties. The Fund bears the risk that the issuer of the credit-linked note will default or become bankrupt. The Fund bears the risk of loss of its principal investment, and the periodic interest payments expected to be received for the duration of its investment in the credit-linked note.

Each Fund may also invest in credit-linked notes and credit risk transfer securities (which may be referred to as structured agency credit risk debt instruments) issued by government sponsored enterprises or related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or a special purpose vehicle sponsored by these enterprises or organizations. Investments in these instruments are subject to the types of risks associated with mortgage and other asset-backed securities, and may be particularly sensitive to these risks as a result of the tranche of notes in which a Fund invests. In addition, these investments are unsecured and non-guaranteed notes whose principal payments are determined by the delinquency and principal payment performance of a reference pool, typically consisting of recently acquired single-family mortgages from a specified period, and are not backstopped by the federal government or obligations of the government sponsored enterprise. Where a special purpose vehicle issues the credit-linked note, it may enter into a credit default swap or similar instrument with the related government sponsored enterprise. Such a swap is subject to additional risks. See "Swap Agreements" for a description of additional risks associated with credit default swaps.

**Structured Notes.** The Funds are permitted to invest in structured notes, which are debt obligations that also contain an embedded derivative component with characteristics that adjust the obligation's risk/return profile. Generally, the performance of a structured note will track that of the underlying debt obligation and the derivative embedded within it. A Fund has the right to receive periodic interest payments from the issuer of the structured notes at an agreed-upon interest rate and a return of the principal at the maturity date.

Structured notes are typically privately negotiated transactions between two or more parties. A Fund bears the risk that the issuer of the structured note would default or become bankrupt which may result in the loss of principal investment and periodic interest payments expected to be received for the duration of its investment in the structured notes.

In the case of structured notes on credit default swaps, a Fund would be subject to the credit risk of the corporate credit instruments underlying the credit default swaps. If one of the underlying corporate credit instruments defaults, the Fund may receive the security or credit instrument that has defaulted, or alternatively a cash settlement may occur wherein the Fund's principal investment in the structured note would be reduced by the corresponding face value of the defaulted security.

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The market for structured notes may be, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Other parties to the transaction may be the only investors with sufficient understanding of the derivative to be interested in bidding for it. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid, and unpredictable changes in the prices for structured notes. In certain cases, a market price for a credit-linked security may not be available. The collateral for a structured note may be one or more credit default swaps, which are subject to additional risks. See "Swap Agreements" for a description of additional risks associated with credit default swaps.

**Inflation-Protected Securities—**The Funds may invest in inflation-protected securities (also called "inflation-indexed" or "inflation-linked" securities). Inflation protected securities are income-generating instruments intended to provide protection against inflation (*i.e*., an increase in the price of goods and services and, in effect, a reduction in the value of money) by, for example, paying an interest rate applied to inflation-adjusted principal. The interest and principal payments for these instruments are periodically adjusted for inflation (*i.e*., with inflation, the principal increases, and with deflation, it decreases). Inflation-linked securities are issued by governments, including foreign governments, their agencies or instrumentalities and corporations. For example, TIPS, or Treasury inflation-protected securities, are inflation-linked securities issued by the U.S. government. The principal of a TIPS increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), and the interest rate is applied to such principal. Thus, the interest stream on a TIPS should rise as long as inflation continues to rise. When a TIPS matures, the investor is paid the adjusted principal or original principal, whichever is greater. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of your investment. Because of this inflation-adjustment feature, inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than conventional fixed-rate bonds. Municipal inflation bonds generally have a fixed principal amount, and the inflation component is reflected in the nominal coupon. There can be no assurance that the CPI or any non-U.S. inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-protected bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. TIPS, even during a period of deflation. However, because the principal amount of U.S. TIPS would be adjusted downward during a period of deflation, the Funds will be subject to deflation risk with respect to its investments in these securities. Additionally, the current market value of the securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. A Fund also may invest in other inflation related securities which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

Inflation-protected bonds normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise. A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate. For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and rate of inflation is 2%, the real interest rate is 3%. If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected bond will decline and could result in losses. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the security's inflation measure.

**Investments by Investing Funds and Other Large Shareholders—**To the extent shares of a Fund are offered to certain other investment companies and other investors capable of purchasing a large percentage of Fund shares, the Fund may experience adverse effects when these large shareholders purchase or redeem a large percentage of Fund shares.

A Fund is subject to the risk that large share purchases may adversely affect the Fund's liquidity levels and performance to the extent that the Fund is forced to hold a large uninvested cash position or more liquid securities and is delayed in investing new cash. A Fund's performance may also be adversely affected by large redemptions of Fund shares to the extent the Fund is forced to sell portfolio securities at a disadvantageous price or time to meet the large redemption request. Additionally, because Fund costs and expenses are shared by remaining Fund investors, large redemptions relative to the size of a Fund will result in decreased economies of scale and increased costs and expenses for the Fund.

Large redemptions that necessitate the sale of portfolio securities will accelerate the realization of taxable capital gains or losses. Furthermore, purchases or redemptions of a large number of Fund shares relative to the size of a Fund will have adverse tax consequences limiting the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset any future realized capital gains.

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**Investments in Guggenheim Short-Term Funds.** Upon entering into certain derivatives contracts, such as futures contracts, and to maintain open positions in certain derivatives contracts, a Fund may be required to post collateral for the contract, the amount of which may vary. As such, or for other portfolio management purposes, a Fund may maintain significant cash balances (including foreign currency balances). A Fund may also have cash balances for other reasons, including cash proceeds from the Fund's short sales.

Each Fund may invest a substantial portion of its respective assets in certain Guggenheim short-term funds advised by GPIM, or an affiliate of GPIM, that invest in short-term fixed-income or floating rate securities. These funds are designed primarily to provide an alternative to investing directly and separately in various short-term fixed-income or floating rate securities. These Guggenheim short-term funds invest in: (i) a broad range of high yield, high risk debt securities rated below the top four long-term rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (also known as "junk bonds") or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Manager, to be of comparable quality; (ii) CLOs, other asset-backed securities and similarly structured debt investments; and (iii) other short-term fixed or floating rate debt securities. Accordingly, to the extent a Fund invests in such Guggenheim funds, the Fund would be subject to the risks tied to all of those investments and investment returns will vary based on the performance of those asset classes.

These investment companies are registered open-end investment companies primarily available only to other investment companies and separately managed accounts managed by the Investment Manager and its affiliates. The subscription and redemption activities of these large investors can have a significant adverse effect on these investment companies and thus the Funds. For example, the liquidity of the investment companies can be limited as a result of large redemptions.

**Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments—**The laws and regulations that apply to derivatives (e.g., swaps, futures, etc.) and persons who use them (including a Fund, the Investment Manager and others) are continuously changing in the U.S. and abroad. As a result, restrictions and additional regulations may be imposed on these parties, trading restrictions may be adopted and additional trading costs are possible. The impact of these changes on the Funds, their investment strategies and performance is difficult to predict.

The CFTC and various exchanges have rules limiting the maximum net long or short positions which any person or group may own, hold or control in any given futures contract or option on such futures contract. The Investment Manager must consider the effect of these limits in managing the Funds. In addition, the CFTC has position limits rules that establish certain limits for specified physical commodity futures and related options contracts traded on exchanges, other futures contracts and related options directly or indirectly linked to such contracts, and any OTC transactions that are economically equivalent. These position limits may adversely affect market liquidity of the futures, options and economically equivalent derivatives in which a Fund may enter. It is possible that positions held by a Fund may have to be liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits. These limitations may adversely affect the operations and performance of a Fund.

The SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions by registered investment companies requires the Funds to trade derivatives and other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations (except reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions) subject to value-at-risk ("VaR") leverage limits and derivatives risk management program and reporting requirements. Generally, these requirements apply unless a Fund satisfies a "limited derivatives users" exception. When a Fund trades reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, including certain tender option bonds, it needs to aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the Funds' asset coverage ratio or treat all such transactions as derivatives transactions. Reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions aggregated with other indebtedness do not need to be included in the calculation of whether a Fund satisfies the limited derivatives users exception, but for Funds subject to the VaR testing requirement, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions must be included for purposes of such testing whether treated as derivatives transactions or not. The SEC also provided guidance in connection with the rule regarding the use of securities lending collateral that may limit the Funds' potential securities lending activities. In addition, a Fund is permitted to invest in a security on a when-issued or forward-settling basis, or with a non-standard settlement cycle, and the transaction will be deemed not to involve a senior security, provided that (i) the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and (ii) the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date (the "Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision"). A Fund may otherwise engage in such transactions that do not meet the conditions of the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision so long as the Fund treats any such

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transaction as a "derivatives transaction" for purposes of compliance with the rule. Furthermore, under the rule, a Fund is permitted to enter into an unfunded commitment agreement, and such unfunded commitment agreement will not be subject to the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act, if the Fund reasonably believes, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all such agreements as they come due. These requirements limit the ability of a Fund to use derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, and the other relevant categories of transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may increase the cost of a Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the performance of the Fund.

These and other regulatory changes may negatively impact a Fund's ability to meet its investment objective either through limits or requirements imposed on it or upon its counterparties. New requirements, even if not directly applicable to the Funds, including capital requirements, changes to the CFTC speculative position limits regime and mandatory clearing, exchange trading and margin requirements may increase the cost of a Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which would adversely affect the performance of the Fund.

The Investment Manager, on behalf of each Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association a notice of eligibility claiming an exclusion from the definition of "commodity pool operator" ("CPO") under CFTC Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the "CEA"), with respect to each Fund's operation. Accordingly, the Investment Manager, with respect to each Fund for which a notice has been filed, is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO. Changes to a Fund's investment strategies or investments may cause the Fund to lose the benefits of the Investment Manager's exclusion under CFTC Rule 4.5 under the CEA and may trigger additional CFTC regulation. If the Investment Manager becomes subject to CFTC regulation, the Fund or the Investment Manager may incur additional expenses.

In December 2023, the SEC adopted rule amendments providing that any covered clearing agency ("CCA") for U.S. Treasury securities require that every direct participant of the CCA (which generally would be a bank or broker-dealer) submit for clearance and settlement all eligible secondary market transactions in U.S. Treasury securities to which it is a counterparty. The clearing mandate includes in its scope all repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements of such direct participants collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities (collectively, "Treasury repo transactions") of a type accepted for clearing by a registered CCA, including both bilateral Treasury repo transactions and triparty Treasury repo transactions where a bank agent provides custody, collateral management and settlement services.

The Treasury repo transactions of registered funds with any direct participants of a CCA for U.S. Treasury securities will be subject to the mandatory clearing requirement. The Fixed Income Clearing Corporation ("FICC") is one such CCA. FICC currently operates a "Sponsored Program" for clearing of Treasury repo transactions pursuant to which a registered fund may enter into a clearing arrangement with a "sponsoring member" bank or broker-dealer that is a direct participant of FICC as a "sponsored member" of FICC.

Market participants, absent an exemption, will be required to clear Treasury repo transactions under the rule as of June 30, 2027. The clearing mandate is expected to result in each Fund being required to clear all or substantially all of its Treasury repo transactions as of the compliance date. There are currently substantial regulatory and operational uncertainties associated with the implementation which may affect the cost, terms and/or availability of cleared repo transactions.

Pursuant to regulatory changes effective May 28, 2024, many U.S. securities transitioned to a "T+1" (trade date plus one day) settlement cycle. Securities trading in many non-U.S. markets (among other securities) are not impacted by these regulatory changes and typically have longer settlement cycles. As a result, there can be potential operational, settlement and other risks for a Fund with a significant portion of its assets invested in securities not subject to T+1 settlement. These risks include, but are not limited to, the need to maintain more cash and liquid securities (thereby creating cash drag on the Fund's portfolio) and a potential increase in custodial overdraft charges, in each case to facilitate settlement of Fund share redemptions on a T+1 basis.

**Lending of Portfolio Securities—**For the purpose of realizing additional income, a Fund may make secured loans of Fund securities. Securities loans are made to broker/dealers, institutional investors, or other persons pursuant to agreements requiring that the loans be continuously secured by collateral at least equal at all times to the value of the securities loaned, marked to market on a daily basis. The collateral received will consist of cash, U.S. government securities, letters of credit or such other collateral (or combination thereof) as may be permitted under its investment program. While the securities are being loaned, a Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or

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dividends paid by the issuer on the securities, as well as interest on the investment of the collateral or a fee from the borrower, although a portion can be payable to a collateral agent for certain services. When a Fund invests collateral, the Fund will bear the risk of loss, which depends on the nature and type of investment made with the collateral. Costs of underlying securities lending activities are not typically reflected in a Fund's fee and expense ratios.

The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of secured credit, consist of possible delay in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. Voting rights may pass with the lending of securities, and a Fund may be obligated to call back loans of securities to vote proxies if a material event affecting the investment is to occur. The lending of portfolio securities may adversely affect pass through tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies by Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.

**Leverage—**The Funds may use leverage. Leveraging a Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income but, at the same time, creates special risk considerations. For example, leveraging may exaggerate changes in the NAV of a Fund's shares and in the yield on a Fund's portfolio. Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, a Fund's assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. Since any decline in value of a Fund's investments will be borne entirely by the Fund's shareholders (and not by those persons providing the leverage to the Fund), the effect of leverage in a declining market would be a greater decrease in NAV than if the Fund were not so leveraged. Leveraging will create interest and other expenses for a Fund, which can exceed the investment return from the borrowed funds. To the extent the investment return derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest a Fund will have to pay, the Fund's investment return will be greater than if leveraging were not used. Conversely, if the investment return from the assets retained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the investment return of the Fund will be less than if leveraging were not used.

Under the 1940 Act, a Fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage of 300% with respect to borrowings and to sell (within three days) sufficient portfolio holdings to restore such coverage if it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise, even if such liquidations of the Fund's holdings may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint. The Funds' policy on borrowing is not intended to limit the ability to pledge assets to secure loans permitted under the Funds' policies. A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in certain transactions that create leverage. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Liquidity and Valuation—**Many factors may influence the price at which a Fund could sell an investment at a given time. Investments are subject to liquidity risk when they are difficult to purchase or sell under favorable conditions. Investments in certain securities or other assets, such as high-yield bonds, loans or those traded in OTC markets, may be particularly subject to liquidity risk. A Fund's ability to sell an instrument may be negatively impacted as a result of various market events or circumstances, legal or regulatory changes or other governmental policies, or characteristics of the particular instrument. In addition, market participants attempting to sell the same or similar instruments at the same time as a Fund may increase the Fund's exposure to liquidity risk. Investments in less liquid or illiquid investments may reduce the returns of a Fund because it may be unable to sell such investments at an advantageous time or price. Thus, a Fund may be forced to accept a lower sale price for the investments, sell other investments or forgo another more attractive investment opportunity. Subject to its investment strategies, a significant portion of a Fund's investments can be difficult to value and potentially less liquid and thus particularly prone to the foregoing risks. However, liquid investments purchased by a Fund may subsequently become less liquid or illiquid, and harder to value.

Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 ("Liquidity Rule") under the 1940 Act, a Fund may not acquire any "illiquid investment" if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. An "illiquid investment" is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects it cannot sell or dispose of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Under Rule 22e-4, investments that a Fund reasonably expects can be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment are not considered "illiquid" investments for purposes of this limitation on illiquid investments, even if the sale or disposition is reasonably expected to settle in more than seven calendar days. As required by the Liquidity Rule, the Trust has implemented a written liquidity risk management program and related procedures ("Liquidity Program") that are reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund's "liquidity risk" (defined in the Liquidity Rule as the risk that a Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Funds without significant dilution of remaining investors' interests in the Funds).

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Consistent with the Liquidity Rule, among other things, the Liquidity Program provides for classification of each portfolio investment of a Fund into one of four liquidity categories (including "illiquid investments," discussed above). These liquidity classifications are made after reasonable inquiry and taking into account, among other things, market, trading and investment-specific considerations deemed to be relevant to the liquidity classification of the Funds' investments in accordance with the Liquidity Program. Liquidity classifications under the Liquidity Program also reflect consideration of whether trading varying portions of a position, in sizes that the Fund would reasonably anticipate trading, is reasonably expected to significantly affect the position's liquidity, and if so, whether that fact is taken into account when classifying the investment's liquidity.

In addition, applicable regulatory guidance and interpretations provide examples of factors that may be taken into account in determining a particular instrument's classification as illiquid or as one of the other liquidity categories defined under the Liquidity Rule. For example, certain loans may not be readily marketable and/or may be subject to restrictions on resale or assignments. Consequently, the Funds may determine that it is reasonable to expect that such a loan cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. To the extent that the Funds invest in such loans, they may be subject to increased liquidity and valuation risks. As the market develops, the liquidity of these instruments could improve. Accordingly, loans for which there is no readily available market may be classified as illiquid investments but, at the same time, other loans may be classified as other than illiquid investments under the Liquidity Program based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations (such as trading in the loans among specialized financial institutions). In addition, certain CLOs/CDOs (as described above) may be classified as illiquid investments, depending upon the assessment of relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations under the Liquidity Program. However, an active dealer market or other relevant measure of liquidity may exist for certain CLOs/CDOs, which may result in such instruments being classified as other than illiquid investments under the Liquidity Program based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations.

At times, market quotations may not be readily available and the Funds may be unable to obtain prices or other reliable information from third-parties to support valuation. In these circumstances, it may be difficult for a Fund to accurately value certain investments and the Fund may need to value investments using fair value methodologies. There are multiple methods to establish fair value and different methods or other factors may lead to different fair values. As a result, the price a Fund could receive for a security may differ from the Fund's valuation of the security, particularly during periods of market turmoil or volatility or for securities that are thinly traded, including under current conditions, or valued using a fair value methodology or information provided by third-party pricing services. Thus, a Fund may realize a loss or gain that is greater than expected upon the sale of the security. Fair valued securities may be subject to greater fluctuations than securities valued based on readily available market quotations. Some securities, while not technically fair valued, may nevertheless be difficult to value and rely on limited and difficult to assess inputs and market data.

The SEC has proposed amendments to its rule regarding investments in illiquid investments by registered investment companies such as a Fund. If the proposed amendments are adopted, the Fund's operations and investment strategies may be adversely impacted.

**Loans—**A Fund may invest in loans directly or through participations or assignments. A Fund may acquire a loan interest directly by acting as a member of the original lending syndicate or direct lender in other direct lending opportunities. A Fund may also acquire some or all of the interest in a loan originated by a bank or other financial institution through an assignment or a participation in the loan. Loans may include syndicated bank loans, senior floating rate loans ("senior loans"), secured and unsecured loans, second lien, subordinated or more junior loans ("junior loans"), bridge loans and unfunded commitments. Loans are typically arranged through private negotiations between borrowers in the U.S. or in foreign or emerging markets which may be corporate issuers or issuers of sovereign debt obligations ("borrowers") and one or more financial institutions and other lenders ("lenders"). Investments in, or exposure to, loans that lack financial maintenance covenants or possess fewer or contingent financial maintenance covenants or other financial protections than certain other types of loans or other similar debt obligations subject a Fund to the risks of "Covenant-Lite Obligations" discussed above.

Typically, loans are made by a syndicate of commercial and investment banks and other financial institutions that are represented by an agent bank or similar party. The agent bank is responsible for acting on behalf of the group of lenders and structuring the loan, administering the loan, negotiating on behalf of the syndicate, and collecting and disbursing payments on the loan. The agent also is responsible for monitoring collateral, distributing required reporting, and for exercising remedies available to the lenders such as foreclosure upon collateral. In a syndicated loan, each of the lending institutions, which may include the agent, lends to the borrower a portion of the total

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amount of the loan, and retains the corresponding interest in the loan. Unless, under the terms of the loan, a Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, a Fund may have to rely on the agent or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. Because the agent is acting on behalf of multiple lenders in the syndicate, a Fund's interest in a loan may be subject to changes in terms or additional risks resulting from actions taken or not taken by the agent following an instruction from other creditors holding interests in the same loan.

Participation interests are interests issued by a lender, which represent a fractional interest in a loan that continues to be directly owned by the issuing lender. A Fund may acquire participation interests from a lender or other holders of participation interests. An assignment represents a portion of a loan previously owned by a different lender. Unlike a participation interest, a Fund will generally become a lender for the purposes of the relevant loan agreement by purchasing an assignment. If a Fund purchases an assignment from a lender, the Fund will generally have direct contractual rights against the borrower in favor of the lenders as if it was a direct lender. If a Fund purchases a participation interest either from a lender or a participant, the Fund typically will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller or issuer of the participation interest, but not with the borrower. Consequently, a Fund can be subject to the credit risk of the lender or participant who sold the participation interest to the Fund, in addition to the usual credit risk of the borrower. Therefore, when a Fund invests in syndicated bank loans through the purchase of participation interests, the Investment Manager must consider the creditworthiness of the agent and any lenders and participants interposed between the Fund and a borrower.

Purchases of loans in the primary or secondary markets may take place at, above, or below the par value of the loans. Purchases above par will effectively reduce the amount of interest being received by a Fund through the amortization of the purchase price premium, whereas purchases below par will effectively increase the amount of interest being received by the Fund through the amortization of the purchase price discount.

Secondary trades of senior loans may have extended settlement periods. Any settlement of a secondary market purchase of senior loans in the ordinary course, on a settlement date beyond the period expected by loan market participants (i.e., T+7 for par/near par loans and T+20 for distressed loans, in other words more than seven or twenty business days beyond the trade date, respectively) is subject to the "delayed compensation" rules prescribed by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association ("LSTA") and addressed in the LSTA's standard loan documentation for par/near par trades and for distressed trades. "Delayed compensation" is a pricing adjustment comprised of certain interest and fees, which is payable between the parties to a secondary loan trade. The LSTA introduced a requirements-based rules program in order to incentivize shorter settlement times for secondary transactions and discourage certain delay tactics that create friction in the loan syndications market by, among other things, mandating that the buyer of a senior loan satisfy certain "basic requirements" as prescribed by the LSTA no later than T+5 in order for the buyer to receive the benefit of interest and other fees accruing on the purchased loan from and after T+7 for par/near par loans (for distressed trades, T+20) until the settlement date, subject to certain specific exceptions. These "basic requirements" generally require a buyer to execute the required trade documentation and to be, and remain, financially able to settle the trade no later than T+7 for par/near par loans (and T+20 for distressed trades). In addition, buyers are required to fund the purchase price for a secondary trade upon receiving notice from the agent of the effectiveness of the trade in the agent's loan register. A Fund, as a buyer of a senior loan in the secondary market, would need to meet these "basic requirements" or risk forfeiting all or some portion of the interest and other fees accruing on the loan from and after T+7 for par/near par loans (for distressed trades, T+20) until the settlement date. The "delayed compensation" mechanism does not mitigate the other risks of delayed settlement or other risks associated with investments in senior loans.

In addition, the resale, or secondary, market for loans is limited and it may become more limited or more difficult to access and such changes may be sudden or unpredictable. For example, there is no organized exchange or board of trade on which loans are traded, and loans often trade in large denominations (typically $1 million and higher) and trades can be infrequent. As a result, a Fund may seek to dispose of loans in certain cases, to the extent possible, through selling participations in the loan, usually until the loan is assigned ("elevated") to the buyer. In that case, the Fund would remain subject to certain obligations, which may result in expenses for the Fund and certain additional risks. A Fund may also seek to dispose of loans by engaging in transactions in alternative trading venues (such as dark pools) or accessing other available channels. There is no guarantee that such alternatives will be available at any time for a particular loan investment. Accordingly, some of the loans in which a Fund may invest will be relatively illiquid and a Fund may have difficulty in disposing of loans in a favorable or timely fashion, which could result in losses to the Fund.

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A loan may be secured by collateral that, at the time of origination, has a fair market value equivalent to the amount of the loan. The Investment Manager generally will determine the value of the collateral by customary valuation techniques that it considers appropriate. However, the value of the collateral may decline following a Fund's investment. Also, collateral may be difficult to hold and sell, and there are other risks which may cause the collateral to be insufficient in the event of a default. Consequently, a Fund might not receive payments to which it is entitled. The collateral may consist of various types of assets or interests including working capital assets or intangible assets. The borrower's owners may provide additional collateral, typically by pledging their ownership interest in the borrower as collateral for the loan.

In the process of buying, selling and holding loans, a Fund may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to the interest payments received and may include facility, closing or upfront fees, commitment fees and commissions. A Fund may receive or pay a facility, closing or upfront fee when it buys or sells a loan. A Fund may receive a commitment fee throughout the life of the loan or as long as the Fund remains invested in the loan (in addition to interest payments) for any unused portion of a committed line of credit. Other fees received by the Fund may include prepayment fees, covenant waiver fees, ticking fees and/or modification fees. Related legal fees may also be borne by the Fund (including legal fees to assess conformity of a loan investment with 1940 Act provisions).

Should a loan in which a Fund is invested be foreclosed on, the Fund may become owner of the collateral and will be responsible for any costs and liabilities associated with owning the collateral. If the collateral includes a pledge of equity interests in the borrower by its owners, the Fund may become the owner of equity in the borrower and may be responsible for the borrower's business operations and/or assets. The applicability of the securities laws is subject to court interpretation of the nature of the loan and its characterization as a security. Accordingly, a Fund cannot be certain of any protections it may be afforded under the securities or other laws against fraud or misrepresentation by the borrower, assignor or seller of participations.

Loans are subject to the risks associated with other debt obligations, including: interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and risks associated with high yield securities. Many loans in which a Fund may invest may not be rated by a rating agency, will not be registered with the SEC or any state securities commission, and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The amount of public information with respect to loans will generally be less extensive than that available for registered or exchange-listed securities. A Fund will make an investment in a loan only after the Investment Manager determines that the investment is suitable for the Fund. Generally, this means that the Investment Manager has determined that the likelihood that the borrower will meet its obligations is acceptable.

A Fund may be unable to enforce its rights (or certain other provisions of loan agreements or other documents) relating to a loan under applicable state law, judicial decisions or for other reasons. For example, uncertainty exists with respect to a Fund's ability to enforce the terms of certain bank-originated loans that the Fund may purchase. Based on concepts of federal preemption, bank loans generally are subject to the usury laws applicable in the state where the lending bank is located rather than the state where the borrower is located. Recent court decisions have called into question whether the benefits of federal preemption will be available to non-bank purchasers of loans originated by banks. If federal preemption is not available to loans acquired by the Fund from banks, the loans may be subject to more restrictive limits on interest rates or rendered unenforceable by the Fund. To the extent a Fund is unable to enforce its rights with respect to a loan, the Fund may be adversely affected. A Fund may also gain exposure to loans through investment in structured finance vehicles, which could face similar challenges in enforcing the terms of loans and any such challenges could adversely affect the Fund.

In addition, the Funds may have arrangements with loan, administrative and similar agents under which they provide recordkeeping or other services (such as interest payment services) with respect to loan positions and loan documentation. These services may be subject to risks of, among other things, fraud, computational errors, cyber-attacks, delays, or if these agents become subject to a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. The Funds are also subject to the risk of loss caused by inadequate procedures and controls, human error and system failures by these agents. All these risks may affect the Funds, the Funds' investments and the Funds' investment performance.

**Additional Information Concerning Bridge Loans.** Bridge loans are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., maturities that are generally less than one year) typically made by a borrower following the failure of the borrower to secure other intermediate-term or long-term permanent financing. A bridge loan remains outstanding until more permanent financing, often in the form of high yield notes, can be obtained. Most bridge loans have a step-up provision under which the interest rate increases incrementally the longer the loan remains outstanding so as to incentivize the borrower to refinance as quickly as possible. In exchange for entering into a bridge loan, a

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Fund typically will receive a commitment fee and interest payable under the bridge loan and may also have other expenses reimbursed by the borrower. Bridge loans may be subordinate to other debt and generally are unsecured. They also often are illiquid and difficult to value.

**Additional Information Concerning Junior Loans.** Junior loans include secured and unsecured loans, such as subordinated loans, second lien and more junior loans, and bridge loans. Second lien and more junior loans are generally second or further in line in terms of repayment priority and priority with respect to an exercise of remedies. In addition, junior loans may have a claim on the same collateral pool as the first lien or other more senior liens, or may be secured by a separate set of assets. Junior secured loans generally give investors priority over general unsecured creditors and stockholders in the event of an asset sale.

**Additional Information Concerning Revolving Credit Facilities.** Revolving credit facilities ("revolvers") are borrowing arrangements in which the lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. As the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be borrowed again during the term of the revolver. Revolvers usually provide for floating or variable rates of interest.

Revolvers may expose a lender to credit and liquidity risk. Revolvers have the effect of requiring a lender to increase its investment in a company at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when the company's financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). Revolvers may be subject to restrictions on transfer, including restrictions that are more burdensome than transfer restrictions that apply to non-revolving loans, and only limited opportunities may exist to resell such instruments. As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell such investments at an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value.

**Additional Information Concerning Syndicated Bank Loans and Other Senior Loans.** Syndicated bank loans and other senior loans are usually secured by liens on the assets of the borrower. Their seniority can vary.

**Additional Information Concerning Unfunded Commitments.** Unfunded commitments are contractual obligations pursuant to which a Fund agrees in writing to make one or more loans up to a specified amount at one or more future dates. The underlying loan documentation sets out the terms and conditions of the lender's obligation to make the loans as well as the economic terms of such loans. Loan commitments are made pursuant to a term loan, a revolving credit line or a combination thereof. A term loan is generally a loan in a fixed amount that borrowers repay in a scheduled series of repayments or a lump-sum payment at maturity and may not be reborrowed. A revolving credit line permits borrowers to draw down, repay, and reborrow specified amounts on demand. The portion of the amount committed by a lender that the borrower has not drawn down is referred to as "unfunded." Loan commitments may be traded in the secondary market through dealer desks at large commercial and investment banks although these markets are generally not considered liquid. They also are difficult to value. Borrowers pay various fees in connection with loans and related commitments and typically a Fund receives a commitment fee for amounts that remain unfunded under its commitment. Unfunded commitments may subject the Fund to risks that are similar to the risks described under "When-Issued and Forward Commitment Securities" and "TBA Purchase Commitments" discussed below.

Unfunded loan commitments expose lenders to credit risk. A lender typically is obligated to advance the unfunded amount of a loan commitment at the borrower's request, subject to satisfaction of certain contractual conditions, such as the absence of a material adverse change. Borrowers with deteriorating creditworthiness may continue to satisfy their contractual conditions and therefore be eligible to borrow at times when the lender might prefer not to lend. In addition, a lender may have assumptions as to when a borrower may draw on an unfunded loan commitment when the lender enters into the commitment. If the borrower does not draw as expected, the commitment may not prove as attractive an investment as originally anticipated.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Management—**The Funds are subject to management risk because they are actively managed investment portfolios. The Investment Manager and each individual portfolio manager will apply investment techniques and risk analysis in making decisions for a Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results. Furthermore, active and frequent trading will increase the costs the Fund incurs because of higher brokerage charges or mark-up charges and tax costs, which are passed on to shareholders of the Fund and as a result, may

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lower the Fund's performance and have a negative tax impact. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to the Investment Manager and each individual portfolio manager in connection with managing a Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objectives.

Income from a Fund's portfolio may decline when the Fund invests the proceeds from investment income, sales of investments or matured, traded or called debt securities. For example, during periods of declining interest rates, an issuer of debt securities held by a Fund may exercise an option to redeem securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to reinvest the proceeds in lower-yielding securities. A decline in income received by a Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on the yield and total return of the Fund's shares.

**Mezzanine Securities.** A Fund may invest in mezzanine securities, which generally are rated below investment grade (or unrated) and are subject to similar risks as high yield securities and loans (as described above). Mezzanine securities are typically subject to additional risks because they often are the most subordinated debt obligation in an issuer's capital structure and are often unsecured. As a result, these investments are particularly prone to risks such as the cash flow of the borrower and/or any assets securing the loan being insufficient to repay the scheduled payments after giving effect to any senior obligations of the borrower. If the borrower is unable to meet its obligations, the Fund's investment in the securities would likely be adversely affected. In addition, these investments are commonly classified as illiquid investments and may rely more heavily on the Investment Manager's analysis of credit and other risks than certain other types of debt investments.

**Mortgage-Backed Securities and Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—**The Funds may invest in any level of the capital structure of MBS, which are securities that represent an interest in a pool of underlying mortgage loans. MBS, including mortgage pass-through securities and CMOs, include certain securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA" or "Ginnie Mae"), the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA" or "Fannie Mae"), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC" or "Freddie Mac"); securities issued by private issuers that represent an interest in or are collateralized by mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities; securities issued by private issuers that represent an interest in or are collateralized by mortgage loans; and reperforming/non-performing loans, reperforming/non-performing loan securitizations, and resecuritizations of existing MBS and/or asset-backed securities ("Re-REMICS").

Mortgage-backed securities are subject to scheduled and unscheduled principal payments as homeowners pay down or prepay their mortgages. As these payments are received, they must be reinvested when interest rates may be higher or lower than on the original mortgage security. Therefore, these securities are not an effective means of locking in long-term interest rates. In addition, when interest rates fall, the pace of mortgage prepayments picks up. These refinanced mortgages are paid off at face value (par), causing a loss for any investor who may have purchased the security at a price above par. In such an environment, this risk limits the potential price appreciation of these securities and can negatively affect a Fund's NAV. When rates rise, the prices of mortgage-backed securities can be expected to decline, although historically these securities have experienced smaller price declines than comparable quality bonds. In addition, when rates rise and prepayments slow, the effective duration of mortgage-backed securities extends, resulting in increased volatility. A decline of housing values may cause delinquencies in the mortgages (especially sub-prime or non-prime mortgages) underlying MBS and thereby adversely affect the ability of the MBS issuer to make principal and interest payments to MBS holders.

MBS include commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") and residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"). Many of the risks of investing in MBS reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage. The value of both CMBS and RMBS, like all MBS, depends on national, state and local conditions. RMBS are subject to credit risks arising from delinquencies and defaults on underlying mortgage loans by borrowers and breaches of underlying loan documentation by loan originators and servicers. CMBS are subject to credit risks because they tend to involve relatively large underlying mortgage loans and the repayment of commercial mortgages depends on the successful operation of, and cash flows from, mortgaged properties. The risks associated with CMBS include the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, government mandated closures of retail spaces (such as the closures during the recent public health situation), increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses, changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. CMBS depend on cash flows generated by underlying commercial real estate loans, receivables, and other assets, and can be significantly affected by changes in market and economic conditions, the availability of information regarding the underlying assets and their structures, and the creditworthiness of the borrowers or tenants. CMBS may be less

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liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities. CMBS issued by private issuers may offer higher yields than CMBS issued by government issuers, but also may be subject to greater volatility than CMBS issued by government issuers. In addition, the CMBS market has in the past experienced, and, may in the future experience, substantially lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. CMBS held by the Fund may be subordinated to one or more other classes of securities of the same series for purposes of, among other things, establishing payment priorities and offsetting losses and other shortfalls with respect to the related underlying mortgage loans. There can be no assurance that the subordination will be sufficient on any date to offset all losses or expenses incurred by the underlying trust.

A mortgage pass-through security is a pro rata interest in a pool of mortgages where the cash flow generated from the mortgage collateral is passed through to the security holder.

CMOs may be issued in a variety of classes, and the Funds may invest in several CMO classes, including, but not limited to Floaters, Planned Amortization Classes ("PACs"), Scheduled Classes ("SCHs"), Sequential Pay Classes ("SEQs"), Support Classes ("SUPs"), Target Amortization Classes ("TACs") and Accrual Classes ("Z Classes"). CMO classes vary in the rate and time at which they receive principal and interest payments. SEQs, also called plain vanilla, clean pay, or current pay classes, sequentially receive principal payments from underlying mortgage securities when the principal on a previous class has been completely paid off. During the months prior to their receipt of principal payments, SEQs receive interest payments at the coupon rate on their principal. PACs are designed to produce a stable cash flow of principal payments over a predetermined period of time. PACs guard against a certain level of prepayment risk by distributing prepayments to SUPs, also called companion classes. TACs pay a targeted principal payment schedule, as long as prepayments are not made at a rate slower than an expected constant prepayment speed. If prepayments increase, the excess over the target is paid to SUPs. SEQs may have a

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less stable cash flow than PACs and TACs and, consequently, have a greater potential yield. PACs generally pay a lower yield than TACs because of PACs' lower risk. Because SUPs are directly affected by the rate of prepayment of underlying mortgages, SUPs may experience volatile cash flow behavior. When prepayment speeds fluctuate, the average life of a SUP will vary. SUPs, therefore, are priced at a higher yield than less volatile classes of CMOs. Z Classes do not receive payments, including interest payments, until certain other classes are paid off. At that time, the Z Class begins to receive the accumulated interest and principal payments. A Floater has a coupon rate that adjusts periodically (usually monthly) by adding a spread to a benchmark index subject to a lifetime maximum cap. The yield of a Floater is sensitive to prepayment rates and the level of the benchmark index.

Investment in MBS poses several risks, including prepayment, market and credit risks. Prepayment risk reflects the chance that borrowers may prepay their mortgages faster than expected, thereby affecting the investment's average life and perhaps its yield. Borrowers are most likely to exercise their prepayment options at a time when it is least advantageous to investors, generally prepaying mortgages as interest rates fall and slowing payments as interest rates rise. Certain classes of CMOs may have priority over others with respect to the receipt of prepayments on the mortgages, and a Fund may invest in CMOs which are subject to greater risk of prepayment, as discussed above. Market risk reflects the chance that the price of the security may fluctuate over time. The price of MBS may be particularly sensitive to prevailing interest rates, the length of time the security is expected to be outstanding and the liquidity of the issue. In a period of unstable interest rates, there may be decreased demand for certain types of MBS, and if a Fund is invested in such securities and wishes to sell them, it may find it difficult to find a buyer, which may in turn decrease the price at which they may be sold. IOs and POs are acutely sensitive to interest rate changes and to the rate of principal prepayments. They are very volatile in price and may have lower liquidity than most mortgage-backed securities. Certain CMOs may also exhibit these qualities, especially those which pay variable rates of interest which adjust inversely with and more rapidly than short-term interest rates. Credit risk reflects the chance that the Fund may not receive all or part of its principal because the issuer or credit enhancer has defaulted on its obligations. Obligations issued by U.S. government-related entities are guaranteed by the agency or instrumentality, and some, such as GNMA certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency's obligations; still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. Although securities issued by U.S. government-related agencies are guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, shares of the Funds are not so guaranteed in any way.

Mortgage-related securities that are backed by pools of subprime mortgages are generally subject to a greater level of non-payment risk than mortgage-related securities that are not backed by pools of subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages are loans originated under weak underwriting standards, including those made to borrowers with lower credit ratings and/or a shorter credit history, and such borrowers are more likely to default on their obligations under the loan than more creditworthy borrowers. As a result, subprime mortgages underlying a mortgage-related security can experience a significant rate of non-payment. To the extent a Fund invests in mortgage-related securities backed by subprime mortgages, the Fund's investment will be particularly susceptible to non-payment risk and the risks generally associated with investments in mortgage-related securities. Thus, the value of the Fund's investment may be adversely affected by borrower non-payments, changes in interest rates, developments in the real estate market and other market and economic developments. The value of MBS backed by subprime loans have in the past declined, and may in the future decline, significantly during market downturns.

Historically, FHLMC and FNMA were agencies sponsored by the U.S. government that were supported only by the credit of the issuing agencies and not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. In 2008, however, due to the declining value of FHLMC and FNMA securities and concerns that the firms did not have sufficient capital to offset losses resulting from the mortgage crisis, FHLMC and FNMA were placed into conservatorship by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The effect that this conservatorship will have on FHLMC and FNMA and their guarantees remains uncertain. Although the U.S. government or its agencies provided financial support to FHLMC and FNMA, no assurance can be given that they will always provide support. Congress continues to evaluate proposals to reduce the role of the U.S. government in the mortgage market, including whether FHLMC and FNMA should be nationalized, privatized, restructured or eliminated. If any such proposal is adopted, the value of a Fund's investments in securities issued by FHLMC and FNMA would be impacted. The U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities; consequently, the value of such securities will fluctuate.

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The performance of private label MBS, issued by private institutions, is based on the financial health of those institutions. There is no guarantee that a Fund's investment in MBS will be successful, and the Fund's total return could be adversely affected as a result.

**Municipal Bond Insurance—**A Fund may purchase a Municipal Bond (as defined below) that is covered by insurance that guarantees the bond's scheduled payment of interest and repayment of principal. This type of insurance may be obtained by either: (i) the issuer at the time the Municipal Bond is issued (primary market insurance); or (ii) another party after the bond has been issued (secondary market insurance). Both of these types of insurance seek to guarantee the timely and scheduled repayment of all principal and payment of all interest on a Municipal Bond in the event of default by the issuer, and cover a Municipal Bond to its maturity, typically enhancing its credit quality and value.

Even if a Municipal Bond is insured, it is still subject to market fluctuations, which can result in fluctuations in a Fund's share price. In addition, a Municipal Bond insurance policy will not cover: (i) repayment of a Municipal Bond before maturity (redemption); (ii) prepayment or payment of an acceleration premium (except for a mandatory sinking fund redemption) or any other provision of a bond indenture that advances the maturity of the bond; or (iii) nonpayment of principal or interest caused by negligence or bankruptcy of the paying agent. A mandatory sinking fund redemption may be a provision of a Municipal Bond issue whereby part of the Municipal Bond issue may be retired before maturity.

Some of the Municipal Bonds outstanding are insured by a small number of insurance companies, not all of which have the highest credit rating. As a result, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the securities insured by that insurance company and on the municipal markets as a whole. If the Municipal Bond is not otherwise rated, the ratings of insured bonds reflect the credit rating of the insurer, based on the rating agency's assessment of the creditworthiness of the insurer and its ability to pay claims on its insurance policies at the time of the assessment. While the obligation of a Municipal Bond insurance company to pay a claim extends over the life of an insured bond, there is no assurance that Municipal Bond insurers will meet their claims. A higher-than-anticipated default rate on Municipal Bonds (or other insurance the insurer provides) could strain the insurer's loss reserves and adversely affect its ability to pay claims to bondholders.

A Fund's Investment Manager may decide to retain an insured Municipal Bond that is in default, or, in the view of the Investment Manager, in significant risk of default. While a Fund holds a defaulted, insured Municipal Bond, the Fund collects interest payments from the insurer and retains the right to collect principal from the insurer when the Municipal Bond matures, or in connection with a mandatory sinking fund redemption.

**Municipal Securities—**

**General Risks.** A Fund may invest in municipal securities issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, the payments from which, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, are excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes ("Municipal Bonds"). Municipal Bonds in which a Fund invests may include those backed by state taxes and essential service revenues as well as health care and higher education issuers, among others, or be supported by dedicated revenue streams and/or statutory liens.

A Fund may also invest in Municipal Bonds that pay interest excludable from gross income for purposes of state and local income taxes of the designated state and/or allow the value of the Fund's shares to be exempt from state and local taxes of the designated state. A Fund may also invest in securities not issued by or on behalf of a state or territory or by an agency or instrumentality thereof, if the Investment Manager believes such securities to pay interest excludable from gross income for purposes of Federal income tax and state and local income taxes of the designated state and/or state and local personal property taxes of the designated state ("Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities"). Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities could include trust certificates or other instruments evidencing interest in one or more long term municipal securities. Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities also may include securities issued by other investment companies that invest in Municipal Bonds, to the extent such investments are permitted by applicable law. Non-Municipal Tax-Exempt Securities that pay interest excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes will be considered "Municipal Bonds" for purposes of a Fund's investment objective and policies.

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The value of Municipal Bonds may also be affected by uncertainties with respect to the taxation of Municipal Bonds as a result of legislative or other changes. Neither a Fund nor the Investment Manager can guarantee the accuracy of any opinion issued by bond counsel regarding the tax-exempt status of a Municipal Bond or the issuer's compliance with terms of the offering or representations in such opinion. Furthermore, there can be no guarantee that the IRS will agree with such counsel's opinion. The value of Municipal Bonds may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of Municipal Bonds or the rights of Municipal Bond holders in the event of a bankruptcy. From time to time, Congress has introduced proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on Municipal Bonds. State legislatures may also introduce proposals that would affect the state tax treatment of a Fund's distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of Municipal Bonds and the value of a Fund's holdings would be affected, and the investment objectives and policies of a Fund would likely be re-evaluated.

Investments in Municipal Bonds present certain risks, including credit, interest rate, liquidity, and prepayment risks. Municipal Bonds may also be affected by local, state, and regional factors, including erosion of the tax base and changes in the economic climate. In addition, municipalities and municipal projects that rely directly or indirectly on federal funding mechanisms may be negatively affected by actions of the federal government including reductions in federal spending, increases in federal tax rates, or changes in fiscal policy.

The marketability, valuation or liquidity of Municipal Bonds may be negatively affected in the event that states, localities or their authorities default on their debt obligations or other market events arise, which in turn may negatively affect a Fund's performance, sometimes substantially. A credit rating downgrade relating to, default by, or insolvency or bankruptcy of, one or several municipal issuers in a particular state, territory, or possession could affect the market value or marketability of Municipal Bonds from any one or all such states, territories, or possessions.

Issuers of Municipal Bonds have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, significant financial difficulties for various reasons, including as the result of events that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled such as economic downturns or similar periods of economic stress, social conflict or unrest, labor disruption, extreme weather conditions, natural or man-made disasters, or public health conditions. Such financial difficulties may lead to credit rating downgrades or defaults of such issuers which, in turn, could affect the market values and marketability of many or all Municipal Bonds of such issuers. For example, the recent economic and public health situation significantly stressed the financial resources of many municipal issuers, which at times impaired their ability to meet their financial obligations when due and adversely impacted the value of their Municipal Bonds. In addition, preventative or protective actions that governments took in response to these types of conditions have in the past, and may in the future, result in periods of business disruption and reduced or disrupted operations, which could have long-term negative economic effects on state and local economies and budgets as well as various municipal or similar projects and could affect the value of Municipal Bonds held by a Fund.

Accordingly, the ability of an issuer of Municipal Bonds to make payments or repay interest (and a Fund's investments in such issuer's securities) may be affected by litigation or bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, a Fund investing in the issuer's securities could experience delays in collecting principal and interest, and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, a Fund may, in some instances, take possession of, and manage, the assets securing the issuer's obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund's operating expenses. Any income derived from the Fund's ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt.

The value of Municipal Bonds may also be affected by uncertainties with respect to the rights of holders of Municipal Bonds in the event that an insolvent municipality takes steps to reorganize its debt, which might include engaging in into municipal bankruptcy proceedings, extending debt maturities, reducing the amount of principal or interest, refinancing the debt or taking other similar measures. Under bankruptcy law, certain municipalities that meet specific conditions may be provided protection from creditors while they develop and negotiate plans for reorganizing their debts.

Municipal bankruptcies have in the past been relatively rare, and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcies are unclear and remain untested. Legislative developments may result in changes to the laws relating to municipal bankruptcies, which may adversely affect a Fund's investments in Municipal Bonds. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states

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or among Municipal Bond issuers within a state. These legal uncertainties could affect the Municipal Bond market generally, certain specific segments of the market, or the relative credit quality of particular securities. Any of these effects could have a significant impact on the prices of some or all of the Municipal Bonds held by a Fund.

Below are some of the additional risks of investments in particular segments of the Municipal Bonds market.

**Electric Utilities.** The electric utilities industry has been experiencing, and will likely continue to experience, increased competitive pressures. Federal legislation is expected to open transmission access to any electricity supplier, although it is not presently known to what extent competition will evolve. Other risks include: (i) the availability and cost of fuel, (ii) the availability and cost of capital, (iii) the effects of conservation on energy demand, (iv) the effects of rapidly changing environmental, safety, and licensing requirements, and other federal, state, and local regulations, (v) timely and sufficient rate increases, and (vi) opposition to nuclear power.

**Health Care.** The health care industry is subject to regulatory action by a number of private and governmental agencies, including federal, state, and local governmental agencies. A major source of revenues for the health care industry is payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As a result, the industry is sensitive to legislative changes and reductions in governmental spending for such programs. General and local economic conditions, demand for services, expenses (including malpractice insurance premiums) and competition among health care providers may also affect the industry. In the future, the following elements may adversely affect health care facility operations: (i) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and any other federal legislation relating to health care reform; (ii) any state or local health care reform measures; (iii) medical and technological advances which dramatically alter the need for health services or the way in which such services are delivered; (iv) changes in medical coverage which alter the traditional fee-for-service revenue stream; and (v) efforts by employers, insurers, and governmental agencies to reduce the costs of health insurance and health care services.

**Higher Education.** In general, there are two types of education-related bonds: (i) those relating to projects for public and private colleges and universities; and (ii) those representing pooled interests in student loans. Bonds issued to supply educational institutions with funds are subject to the risk of unanticipated revenue decline resulting primarily from a decrease in student enrollment or reductions in state and federal funding. Restrictions on students' ability to pay tuition, a reduction of the availability of state and federal funding, and declining general economic conditions are factors that may lead to declining or insufficient revenues. Student loan revenue bonds are generally offered by state authorities or commissions and are backed by pools of student loans. Underlying student loans may be guaranteed by state guarantee agencies and may be subject to reimbursement by the United States Department of Education through its guaranteed student loan program. Others student loans may be private, uninsured loans made to parents or students that are supported by reserves or other forms of credit enhancement. Recoveries of principal due to loan defaults may be applied to redemption of bonds or may be used to re-lend, depending on program latitude and demand for loans. Cash flows supporting student loan revenue bonds are impacted by numerous factors, including: (i) the rate of student loan defaults; (ii) seasoning of the loan portfolio; and (iii) student repayment deferral periods of forbearance. Other risks associated with student loan revenue bonds include: (i) potential changes in federal legislation regarding student loan revenue bonds; (ii) state guarantee agency reimbursement; and (iii) continued federal interest and other program subsidies currently in effect.

**Housing.** Housing revenue bonds are generally issued by a state, county, city, local housing authority, or other public agencies. Such bonds generally are secured by the revenues derived from mortgages purchased with the proceeds of the bond issue. Because it is extremely difficult to predict the supply of available mortgages to be purchased with the proceeds of an issue or the future cash flow from the underlying mortgages, there are risks that proceeds will exceed supply, resulting in early retirement of bonds, or that homeowner repayments will create an irregular cash flow. Many factors may affect the financing of multi-family housing projects, including: (i) acceptable completion of construction; (ii) proper management, occupancy and rent levels; (iii) economic conditions; and (iv) changes to current laws and regulations.

**Similar Projects Risk.** To the extent that a Fund invests its assets in Municipal Bonds that finance similar projects, such as those relating to education, healthcare, housing, utilities, or water and sewers, the Fund will be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political or other developments affecting such projects.

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**Transportation.** Bonds may be issued to finance the construction of airports, toll roads, highways or other transit facilities. Airport bonds are dependent on the specific carriers who use the particular airport as well as by the general stability of the airline industry, which can be affected by broader economic trends and events and the price and availability of fuel. Bonds issued to construct toll roads are affected by the cost and availability of fuel as well as toll levels, the presence of competing roads and the general economic health of an area. Other transportation-related securities are also affected by fuel costs and availability of other forms of transportation, such as public transportation.

**Water and Sewer.** Water and sewer revenue bonds are often considered to have relatively secure credit as a result of their issuer's importance, monopoly status, and generally unimpeded ability to raise rates. Despite this, lack of water supply due to insufficient rain, run-off, or snow pack is a concern that has led to past defaults. Further, public resistance to rate increases, costly environmental litigation, and Federal environmental mandates may impact issuers of water and sewer bonds.

**Political Uncertainty Risk—**Markets in which a Fund is invested or is exposed to may experience political uncertainty that subjects the Fund's investments to heightened risks, even when made in established markets. These risks include: greater fluctuations in currency exchange rates; increased risk of default (by both government and private issuers); greater social, economic, and political instability (including the risk of war or natural disaster); increased risk of nationalization, greater governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment, capital controls and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on a clients' ability to exchange currencies; inability to purchase and sell investments or otherwise settle security or derivative transactions (i.e., a market freeze); unavailability of currency hedging techniques; slower clearance; and difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments.

During times of political uncertainty, the securities, derivatives and currency markets may become volatile. There also may be a lower level of monitoring and regulation of markets while a country is experiencing political uncertainty, and the activities of investors in such markets and enforcement of existing regulations may be extremely limited. Markets experiencing political uncertainty may have substantial rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates may have negative effects on such countries' economies and securities markets. In certain countries, inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. The disruption to, or adverse impact on, markets and economies caused by political uncertainty may adversely affect a Fund.

**Preferred Securities—**The Funds may purchase preferred securities, which represent an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company, to the extent such proceeds are available after paying any more senior creditors. Some preferred stocks also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of a company's common stock, and thus also represent an ownership interest in that company.

Preferred stocks may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred stock is subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company's preferred stock generally pays dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of the preferred stock will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company's financial condition or prospects. Preferred stock of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

**Private Securities Risk—**Each Fund may invest directly or indirectly in privately issued securities of both public and private companies. Private securities have additional risk considerations relative to investments in comparable public investments and are subject to a greater degree of investment risk. Whenever a Fund invests in companies that do not publicly report financial and other material information, it assumes a greater degree of investment risk and reliance upon the Investment Manager's ability to obtain and evaluate applicable information concerning such companies' creditworthiness and other investment considerations, which information cannot be independently verified. The Funds also depends on the expertise, skill and network of business contacts of the Investment Manager to evaluate, negotiate, structure, execute and monitor the private securities. Private securities are often subject to strict restrictions on resale, and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities and such securities are often illiquid. Because there is often no readily available trading market for private securities, a Fund will not be able to readily dispose of such investments at prices that approximate those at which a Fund could

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sell them if they were more widely traded and may be subject to higher transaction costs. Subscriptions to purchase private securities are typically subject to restrictions or delays. Private securities are also more difficult to value. Valuation will require more research, and elements of judgment will play a greater role in the valuation of private securities as compared to public securities because there is less reliable objective data available.

In addition to the risks discussed above, investments in private companies are also subject to risks associated with limited operating histories, concentration and non-diversification of businesses, and increased liquidity and valuation risks, among other risks.

Private securities that are debt instruments generally are of below-investment grade quality, frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks as investing in high yield securities. Investing in private debt instruments is a highly specialized investment practice that depends more heavily on independent credit analysis than investments in other types of obligations.

In selecting put bonds, the Investment Manager takes into consideration the creditworthiness of the issuers of the underlying bonds and the creditworthiness of the providers of the tender option features. A sponsor may withdraw the tender option feature if the issuer of the underlying bond defaults on interest or principal payments or the bond's rating is downgraded. Put bonds often pay a variable or floating rate of interest and therefore are subject to many of the same risks associated with investing in floating rate instruments, as described below under "Variable and Floating Rate Instruments."

**Qualified Financial Contracts**—Qualified financial contracts include agreements relating to swaps, currency forwards and other derivatives as well as repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements. Regulations adopted by prudential regulators require that certain qualified financial contracts entered into with certain counterparties that are part of a U.S. or foreign banking organization designated as a global-systemically important banking organization include contractual provisions that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Funds, to exercise certain close-out, cross-default and similar rights under certain conditions. Qualified financial contracts are subject to a stay for a specified time period during which counterparties, such as the Funds, will be prevented from closing out a qualified financial contract if the counterparty is subject to resolution proceedings and prohibit the Funds from exercising default rights due to a receivership or similar proceeding of an affiliate of the counterparty. Implementation of these requirements may increase credit and other risks to the Funds. Similar requirements may apply under the special resolution regime applicable to certain counterparties organized in other financial markets.

**Quantitative Investing Risk—**The Investment Manager may use quantitative models, algorithms, methods or other similar techniques or analytical tools ("quantitative tools") in managing the Funds, including to generate investment ideas, identify investment opportunities or as a component of its overall portfolio construction processes and investment selection or screening criteria. Quantitative tools may also be used in connection with risk management and hedging processes. The value of securities selected using quantitative tools can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole or securities selected using only fundamental or other similar means of analysis. The factors used in quantitative tools and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security's value or a successful weighting. In addition, factors that affect a security's value can change over time and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative tools. Thus, a Fund is subject to the risk that any quantitative tools used by the Investment Manager will not be successful in, among other things, forecasting movements in industries, sectors or companies and/or in determining the size, direction, and/or weighting of investment positions.

There is no guarantee that quantitative tools, and the investments selected based on such tools, will produce the desired results or enable a Fund to achieve its investment objective. A Fund may be adversely affected by imperfections, errors or limitations in construction and implementation (for example, limitations in a model, proprietary or third-party data imprecision or unavailability, software or other technology malfunctions, or

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programming inaccuracies) and the Investment Manager's ability to monitor and timely adjust the metrics or update the data or features underlying the quantitative tools, including accounting for changes in the overall market environment, and identify and address omissions of relevant data or assumptions.

A quantitative tool may not perform as expected and a quantitative tool that has been formulated on the basis of past market data or trends may not be predictive of future price movements. A Fund may also be adversely affected by the Investment Manager's ability to make accurate qualitative judgments regarding a quantitative tool's output or operational complications relating to a quantitative tool.

**Real Estate Securities—**The Funds may invest in equity securities of real estate companies and companies related to the real estate industry, including real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and companies with substantial real estate investments, and therefore, the Funds may be subject to certain risks associated with direct ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general. The risks associated with direct ownership of real estate and the real estate industry include, among others: possible declines in the value of real estate; declines in rental income; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds; extended vacancies of properties; risks related to national, state and local economic conditions (such as the turmoil experienced during 2007 through 2009 in the residential and commercial real estate market); overbuilding; increases in competition, property taxes and operating expenses; changes in building, environmental, zoning and other laws; costs resulting from the clean-up of, and liability to third parties for damages resulting from, environmental problems; casualty or condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods, earthquakes, wildfires, terrorist acts or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents; changes in interest rates; reduced demand for commercial and office space as well as increased maintenance or tenant improvement costs or costs to convert properties for other uses; default risk and credit quality of tenants and borrowers; the financial condition of tenants, buyers and sellers; and the inability to re-lease space on attractive terms or to obtain mortgage financing on a timely basis or at all. The value of real estate securities are also subject to the management skill, insurance coverage and creditworthiness of their issuer. Because many real estate projects are dependent upon financing, rising interest rates, which increase the costs of obtaining financing, may cause the value of real estate securities to decline. Real estate income and values may be greatly affected by demographic trends, such as population shirts or changing tastes and values.

The prices of real estate company securities may drop because of the failure of borrowers to repay their loans, poor management, and the inability to obtain financing either on favorable terms or at all. If the properties do not generate sufficient income to meet operating expenses, including, where applicable, debt service, ground lease payments, tenant improvements, third-party leasing commissions and other capital expenditures, the income and ability of the real estate company to make payments of interest and principal on their loans will be adversely affected. Many real estate companies utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and could adversely affect a company's operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates.

Real estate-related investments that are concentrated in one geographic area, one property type or one particular industry are particularly subject to the risks affecting such areas, property types or industries.

**REITs—**REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. A hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs, generally by holding both direct ownership interests and mortgage interests in real estate.

In addition to the risks affecting real estate securities generally, REITs are also subject to additional risks. REITs may invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area or a single type of property, which may increase the risk that the Fund could be adversely affected by the poor performance of a single investment or type of investment. REITs are also susceptible to the risks associated with the types of real estate securities they own and adverse economic or market events with respect to these securities and property types (e.g., apartment properties, retail shopping centers, office and industrial properties, hotels, health-care facilities, manufactured housing and mixed-property types). REITs have their own expenses, and as a result, the Fund and its shareholders will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses paid by each REIT in which it invests. Finally, certain REITs may be self-liquidating in that a specific term of existence is provided for in the trust document. Such trusts run the risk of liquidating at an economically inopportune time.

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The value of REITs may be affected by the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer, changes in interest rates and development or occupancy rates of the underlying properties. REITs may be more volatile and/or more illiquid than other types of securities.

REITs are also subject to unique federal tax requirements. A REIT that fails to comply with federal tax requirements affecting REITs may be subject to federal income taxation, which may affect the value of the REIT and the characterization of the REIT's distributions, and a REIT that fails to comply with the federal tax requirement that a REIT distribute substantially all of its net income to its shareholders may result in the REIT having insufficient capital for future expenditures. The failure of a company to qualify as a REIT could have adverse consequences for a Fund, including significantly reducing return to the Fund on its investment in such company. In the event of a default of an underlying borrower or lessee, a REIT could experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. Investments in REIT equity securities may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund's investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund's receipt of cash in excess of the REIT's earnings; if the Fund distributes such amounts, such distribution could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income but do qualify for a 20% deduction available for potential passthrough to Fund shareholders. REITs often do not provide complete tax information to the Fund until after the calendar yearend. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for the Fund to request permission from the IRS to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV.

**Repurchase Agreements, Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Dollar Roll Transactions—**Each of the Funds may enter into bi-lateral and tri-party repurchase agreements. In a typical Fund repurchase agreement, a Fund enters into a contract with a broker, dealer, or bank (the "counterparty" to the transaction) for the purchase of securities or other assets. The counterparty agrees to repurchase the securities or other assets at a specified future date, or on demand, for a price that is sufficient to return to the Fund its original purchase price, plus an additional amount representing the return on the Funds' investment. Such repurchase agreements economically function as a secured loan from the Fund to a counterparty. If the counterparty defaults on the repurchase agreement, a Fund will retain possession of the underlying securities or other assets. If bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller, realization on the collateral by a Fund may be delayed or limited and the Fund may incur additional costs. In such case, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with changes in market value of the collateral securities or other assets. A Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with brokers, dealers, or banks or other permitted counterparties after the Investment Manager evaluates the creditworthiness of the counterparty. The Funds will not enter into repurchase agreements with the Investment Manager or their affiliates. Except as described elsewhere in this SAI and as provided under applicable law, a Fund may enter into repurchase agreements without limitation.

Repurchase agreements, the underlying collateral of which consists entirely of cash items, U.S. government securities or by securities issued by an issuer that the Funds' Board of Trustees, or its delegate, has determined at the time the repurchase agreement is entered into has an exceptionally strong capacity to meet its financial obligations ("Qualifying Collateral") and meeting certain liquidity and other standards generally may be deemed to be "collateralized fully" and may be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities for certain purposes. A Fund may accept collateral other than Qualifying Collateral determined by the Investment Manager to be in the best interests of the Fund to accept as collateral for such repurchase agreement (which may include high yield debt instruments that are rated below investment grade) ("Alternative Collateral"). Repurchase agreements that are secured by Alternative Collateral are not deemed to be "collateralized fully" under applicable regulations and the repurchase agreement is therefore considered a separate security issued by the counterparty to the Fund. Accordingly, a Fund must include repurchase agreements that are not "collateralized fully" in its calculations of securities issued by the selling institution held by the Fund for purposes of various portfolio diversification and concentration requirements applicable to the Fund. In addition, Alternative Collateral may not qualify as permitted or appropriate investments for a Fund under the Fund's investment strategies and limitations. Accordingly, if a counterparty to a repurchase agreement defaults and a Fund takes possession of Alternative Collateral, the Fund may need to promptly dispose of the Alternative Collateral (or other securities held by the Fund, if the Fund exceeds a limitation on a permitted investment by virtue of taking possession of the Alternative Collateral). The Alternative Collateral may be particularly illiquid, especially in times of market volatility or in the case of a counterparty insolvency or bankruptcy, which may restrict a Fund's ability to dispose of Alternative Collateral received from the

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counterparty. Depending on the terms of the repurchase agreement, a Fund may determine to sell the collateral during the term of the repurchase agreement and then purchase the same collateral at the market price at the time of the resale. (See "Short Sales"). In tri-party repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for a Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. Securities subject to repurchase agreements (other than tri-party repurchase agreements) and purchase and sale contracts will be held by the Fund's custodian (or sub-custodian) in the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-entry system or by another authorized securities depository.

Each of the Funds may also enter into reverse repurchase agreements with the same parties with whom they may enter into repurchase agreements. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund would sell securities or other assets and agree to repurchase them at a particular price at a future date. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities or other assets retained in lieu of sale by a Fund may decline below the price of the securities or other assets the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase. In the event the buyer of securities or other assets under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to repurchase the securities or other assets, and the Fund's use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision.

Each of the Funds may also enter into "dollar rolls," in which a Fund sells MBS or other fixed-income securities for delivery and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities or other assets on a specified future date. A Fund may also enter into "TBA rolls," in which the Fund agrees to sell a TBA, itself a forward transaction, and to buy forward a subsequent TBA. During the roll period, the Fund would forego principal and interest paid on such securities or other assets sold; however, the Fund would be permitted to invest the sale proceeds during the period. The Fund would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the sale proceeds of the initial sale, minus the principal and interest paid on the securities or other assets during the period. When the Fund enters into a dollar roll, it becomes subject to the risk that any fluctuation in the market value of the security or other asset transferred or the securities or other assets in which the sales proceeds are invested can affect the market value of the Fund's assets, and therefore, of the Fund's NAV. Dollar rolls also subject the Fund to the risk that the market value of the securities or other assets the Fund is required to deliver may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities or other assets. In addition, in the event that the Fund's counterparty becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of the proceeds may become restricted pending a determination as to whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to purchase the substantially similar securities or other assets.

A Fund must comply with the SEC Rule 18f-4 when engaging in reverse repurchase agreements or dollar roll transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Restricted Securities—**A Fund may invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities cannot be sold to the public without registration under the 1933 Act. Unless registered for sale, restricted securities can be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Restricted securities may be classified as illiquid investments.

Restricted securities may involve a high degree of business and financial risk which may result in substantial losses. The securities may be less liquid than publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid for by a Fund. A Fund may invest in restricted securities, including securities initially offered and sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act ("Rule 144A Securities") and securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers initially offered and sold outside the United States without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S under the 1933 Act ("Regulation S Securities"). Rule 144A Securities and Regulation S Securities generally may be traded freely among certain qualified institutional investors, such as a Fund, and non-U.S. persons, but resale to a broader based of investors in the United States may be permitted only in significantly more limited circumstances. A qualified institutional investor is defined by Rule 144A under the 1933 Act generally as an institution, acting for its own account or for the accounts of other qualified institutional investors, that in the aggregate owns and invests on a discretionary basis at least $100 million in securities of issuers not affiliated with the institution. A dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934 Act"), acting for its own account or the accounts of other qualified institutional investors, that in the aggregate owns and invests on a discretionary basis at least $10 million in securities of issuers not affiliated with the dealer may also qualify as a qualified institutional investor, as well as a 1934 Act registered dealer acting in a riskless principal transaction on behalf of a qualified institutional investor.

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A Fund also may purchase restricted securities that are not eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation S under the 1933 Act. The Funds may acquire such securities through private placement transactions, directly from the issuer or from security holders, generally at higher yields or on terms more favorable to investors than comparable publicly traded securities. However, the restrictions on resale of such securities may make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of such securities at the time considered most advantageous and/or may involve expenses that would not be incurred in the sale of securities that were freely marketable. Risks associated with restricted securities include the potential obligation to pay all or part of the registration expenses in order to sell certain restricted securities. A considerable period of time may elapse between the time of the decision to sell a security and the time a Fund may be permitted to sell it under an effective registration statement. If, during a period, adverse conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailing when it decided to sell.

**Risk-Linked Securities ("RLS")—**Risk-linked securities ("RLS") are a form of derivative issued by insurance companies and insurance-related special purpose vehicles that apply securitization techniques to catastrophic property and casualty damages. RLS are typically debt obligations for which the return of principal and the payment of interest are contingent on the non-occurrence of a pre-defined "trigger event." Investments in RLS may be linked to a broad range of insurance risks, which can be broken down into three major categories: natural risks (such as hurricanes and earthquakes), weather risks (such as insurance based on a regional average temperature and non-natural events (such as aerospace and shipping catastrophes). Accordingly, depending on the specific terms and structure of the RLS, this trigger could be the result of a hurricane, earthquake or some other catastrophic event. Insurance companies securitize this risk to transfer to the capital markets the truly catastrophic part of the risk exposure. A typical RLS provides for income and return of capital similar to other fixed-income investments, but would involve full or partial default if losses resulting from a certain catastrophe exceeded a predetermined amount. RLS typically have relatively high yields compared with similarly rated fixed-income securities, and also have low correlation with the returns of traditional securities. Investments in RLS may be linked to a broad range of insurance risks, which can be broken down into three major categories: natural risks (such as hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes), weather risks (such as insurance based on a regional average temperature) and non-natural events (such as aerospace and shipping catastrophes). Although property-casualty RLS have been in existence for over a decade, significant developments have started to occur in securitizations done by life insurance companies. In general, life insurance industry securitizations could fall into a number of categories. Some are driven primarily by the desire to transfer risk to the capital markets, such as the transfer of extreme mortality risk (mortality bonds). Others, while also including the element of risk transfer, are driven by other considerations. For example, a securitization could be undertaken to relieve the capital strain on life insurance companies caused by the regulatory requirements of establishing very conservative reserves for some types of products. Another example is the securitization of the stream of future cash flows from a particular block of business, including the securitization of embedded values of life insurance business or securitization for the purpose of funding acquisition costs.

**Risks Associated with Low-Rated and Comparable Unrated Securities (Junk Bonds)—**Low-rated and comparable unrated securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment-grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks than higher quality debt instruments, particularly the possibility of default or bankruptcy. Low-rated and comparable unrated securities are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Accordingly, the performance of a Fund and a shareholder's investment in the Fund may be adversely affected if an issuer is unable to pay interest and repay principal, either on time or at all. Subject to its investment strategies, a significant portion of a Fund's investments can be comprised of low-rated and comparable unrated securities and thus particularly prone to the foregoing risks, which may result in substantial losses to the Fund. A Fund may also purchase low-rated and comparable unrated securities which are in default when purchased. The special risk considerations in connection with such investments are discussed below. See the Appendix of this SAI for a discussion of securities ratings.

The low-rated and comparable unrated securities market is still relatively new, and its growth paralleled a long economic expansion. As a result, it is not clear how this market may withstand a prolonged recession or economic downturn. Such a prolonged economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for and adversely affect the value of such securities.

Fixed rate securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. The market values of low-rated and comparable unrated securities tend to reflect individual corporate, consumer, and commercial developments to a greater extent than do higher-rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Low-rated and comparable unrated securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risks

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than securities in the higher-rated categories. During an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of low-rated and comparable unrated securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their payment obligations. The issuer's ability to service its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, the issuer's inability to meet specific projected business forecasts, or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of low-rated and comparable unrated securities is significantly greater than issuers of higher-rated securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors. Further, if the issuer of a low-rated and comparable unrated security defaulted, a Fund might incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of low-rated and comparable unrated securities, including possibly greater volatility than is experienced by other types of securities, and thus a Fund's performance and a shareholder's investment in the Fund may be adversely affected.

As previously stated, the value of such a fixed rate security will decrease in a rising interest rate market and accordingly, so will a Fund's NAV. If a Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions, particularly in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits. Due to the volatility of high-yield securities (discussed below) a Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a substantial discount. Any such liquidation would reduce the Fund's asset base over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of return for the Fund.

Low-rated and comparable unrated securities typically contain redemption, call, or prepayment provisions which permit the issuer of such securities containing such provisions to, at their discretion, redeem the securities. During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of high-yield securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them with debt securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities or otherwise redeem them, a Fund may have to replace the securities with a lower-yielding security, which would result in a lower return for the Fund and reduce the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund.

Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of low-rated and comparable unrated securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit-rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality. Investments in low-rated and comparable unrated securities will be more dependent on the credit analysis of the Investment Manager than would be the case with investments in investment-grade debt securities. The Investment Manager employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, the issuer's sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history, and the current trend of earnings. The Investment Manager continually monitors the investments in the Fund's portfolio and carefully evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain low-rated and comparable unrated securities whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.

A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain low-rated and comparable unrated securities because there may be a thin trading market for such securities. Because not all dealers maintain markets in all low-rated and comparable unrated securities, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these securities. The Funds anticipate that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher-rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security. As a result, the Fund's asset value and the Fund's ability to dispose of particular securities, when necessary to meet the Fund's liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, may be impacted. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund. Market quotations are generally available on many low-rated and comparable unrated issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. During periods of thin trading, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of low-rated and comparable unrated securities, especially in a thinly-traded market.

Legislation has been adopted, and from time to time, proposals have been discussed regarding new legislation designed to limit the use of certain low-rated and comparable unrated securities by certain issuers. An example of such legislation is a law which requires federally insured savings and loan associations to divest their investment in these securities over time. New legislation could further reduce the market because such legislation, generally, could negatively affect the financial condition of the issuers of unrated securities and could adversely affect the market in

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general. It is difficult to determine the impact of legislative changes on this market. However, it is anticipated that if additional legislation is enacted or proposed, it could have a material effect on the value of low-rated and comparable unrated securities and the existence of a secondary trading market for the securities.

**Risks of Private Investments in Private Companies—**Private companies are generally not subject to SEC reporting requirements, are not required to maintain their accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and are not required to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting. As a result, the Investment Manager may not have timely or accurate information about the business, financial condition and results of operations of the private companies in which a Fund invests.

There is risk that a Fund will invest on the basis of incomplete or inaccurate information, which will adversely affect the Fund's investment performance. Some private companies in which a Fund may invest may have limited financial resources, shorter operating histories, more asset concentration risk, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render such private companies more vulnerable to competitors' actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns. In addition, the management of private companies may depend on one or two key individuals, and the loss of the services of any such individual may adversely affect the performance of the private company.

Private companies generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position. These companies may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity. In addition, a Fund's investment also may be structured as pay-in-kind securities with minimal or no cash interest or dividends until the company meets certain growth and liquidity objectives.

Typically, investments in private companies are in restricted securities that are not traded in public markets and subject to substantial holding periods, so that a Fund may not be able to resell some of its holdings for extended periods, which may be several years. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to realize the value of private company investments in a timely manner, and these investments are subject to heightened valuation risks.

**Risks of Private Investments in Public Companies—**The Funds may also make private investments in public companies whose stocks are quoted on stock exchanges or which trade in the OTC securities market, a type of investment commonly referred to as a "PIPE" transaction. PIPE transactions may be entered into with smaller capitalization public companies, which will entail business and financial risks comparable to those of investments in the publicly-issued securities of smaller capitalization companies, which may be less likely to be able to weather business or cyclical downturns than larger companies and are more likely to be substantially hurt by the loss of a few key personnel. In addition, PIPE transactions will generally result in a Fund acquiring either restricted stock or an instrument convertible into restricted stock. As with investments in other types of restricted securities, such an investment may be illiquid. A Fund's ability to dispose of securities acquired in PIPE transactions may depend on the registration of such securities for resale. Any number of factors may prevent or delay a proposed registration. Alternatively, it may be possible for securities acquired in a PIPE transaction to be resold in transactions exempt from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as amended, or otherwise under the federal securities laws. There can be no guarantee that there will be an active or liquid market for the stock of any small capitalization company due to the possible small number of stockholders. As a result, even if a Fund is able to have securities acquired in a PIPE transaction registered or sell such securities through an exempt transaction, the Fund may not be able to sell all the securities on short notice, and the sale of the securities could lower the market price of the securities. There is no guarantee that an active trading market for the securities will exist at the time of disposition of the securities, and the lack of such a market could hurt the market value of the Fund's investments. For more detail, please refer to the "Restricted Securities" section of this SAI's discussion of investment methods and risk factors.

**Shares of Other Investment Vehicles—**Each of the Funds may invest in shares of other investment companies or other investment vehicles, which may include, among others, mutual funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), such as actively-managed or index-based investments, and private or foreign investment funds. The Funds may also invest in investment vehicles that are not subject to regulation as registered investment companies, which may be classified as illiquid investments.

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The investment companies in which the Fund invests may have adopted certain investment restrictions that are different than the Fund's investment restrictions. For example, to the extent the Fund invests in underlying investment companies that concentrate their investments in an industry, a corresponding portion of the Fund's assets may be indirectly exposed to that particular industry.

A Fund may purchase securities of other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief. It is the Funds' policy that if shares of a Fund are purchased by another fund (including any other registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust advised by Guggenheim Investments or its affiliates) in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act, for so long as shares of the Fund are held by such other fund, the Fund will not purchase securities of a registered open-end investment company or registered unit investment trust in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

A Fund may invest in other registered investment companies, such as mutual funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds, and in business development companies (an underlying fund) in excess of statutory limits imposed by the 1940 Act in reliance on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. These investments would be subject to the applicable conditions of Rule 12d1-4, which in part would affect or otherwise impose certain limits on the investments and operations of the underlying fund (notably such fund's ability to invest in other investment companies and private funds, which include certain structured finance vehicles).

The main risk of investing in index-based investment companies is the same as investing in a portfolio of securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specified index because of, among other things, transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.

To the extent a Fund invests in other investment companies, or other investment vehicles, it will incur its pro rata share of the underlying investment companies' expenses (including, for example, investment advisory and other management fees and expenses). In addition, a Fund will be subject to the effects of business and regulatory developments that affect an underlying investment company or the investment company industry generally.

A Fund may invest in other funds in the same "group of investment companies" as permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Funds in the same "group of investment companies" as the Funds are other Guggenheim open-end funds, Guggenheim closed-end funds and Rydex funds, each of which is advised by Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC or GPIM, which are under common control.

**Short Sales—**The Funds may make short sales "against the box," in which the Fund enters into a short sale of a security it owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost. A Fund may also make short sales of securities the Fund does not own. If a Fund makes a short sale, the Fund does not immediately deliver from its own account the securities sold and does not receive the proceeds from the sale. To complete the sale, the Fund must borrow the security (generally from the broker through which the short sale is made, and potentially via repurchase agreement) in order to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund must replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement or delivering the security from its own portfolio. The Fund is said to have a "short position" in securities sold until it delivers them to the broker at which time it receives the proceeds of the sale.

A Fund may make short sales that are not "against the box." Short sales by a Fund that are not made "against the box" create opportunities to increase the Fund's return but, at the same time, involve specific risk considerations and may be considered a speculative technique. Since the Fund in effect profits from a decline in the price of the securities sold short without the need to invest the full purchase price of the securities on the date of the short sale, the Fund's NAV per share tends to increase more when the securities it has sold short decrease in value, and to decrease more when the securities it has sold short increase in value, than would otherwise be the case if it had not engaged in such short sales. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale. Short sales theoretically involve unlimited loss potential, as the market price of securities sold short may continually increase, although a Fund may mitigate such losses by replacing the securities sold short before the market price has increased significantly. Under adverse market conditions the Fund might have difficulty purchasing securities to meet its short sale delivery obligations and might have to sell portfolio securities to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

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A Fund's decision to make a short sale "against the box" may be a technique to hedge against market risks when the Investment Manager believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund or a security convertible into or exchangeable for such security. In such case, any future losses in the Fund's long position would be reduced by a gain in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses in the long position are reduced will depend upon the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount of the securities the Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where the Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the investment values or conversion premiums of such securities. The Fund can close out its short position by purchasing and delivering an equal amount of the securities sold short, rather than by delivering securities already held by the Fund, because the Fund might want to continue to receive interest and dividend payments on securities in its portfolio that are convertible into the securities sold short.

While the short sale is outstanding, a Fund will be required to pledge a portion of its assets to the broker as collateral for the obligation to deliver the security to the broker at the close of the transaction. The broker will also hold the proceeds of the short sale until the close of the transaction. A Fund is often obligated to pay over interest and dividends on the borrowed security to the broker.

A Fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expense, in connection with opening, maintaining and closing short sales.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**Short-Term Instruments—**When the Funds experience large cash inflows through the sale of securities and desirable equity securities that are consistent with the Funds' investment objectives are unavailable in sufficient quantities or at attractive prices, the Funds may hold short-term investments for a limited time at the discretion of the Investment Manager. Short-term instruments consist of: (1) short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or by any of the states; (2) other short-term debt securities; (3) commercial paper; (4) bank obligations, including negotiable certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances; (5) repurchase agreements; (6) shares of money market funds; and (7) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities as of the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that are rated in the top-two short-term categories by two Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organizations ("NRSROs"), or if unrated, deemed to be of equal quality by the Investment Manager.

**Special Purpose Acquisition Companies—**A Fund may invest in stock, warrants, rights and other securities of special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs") or similar special purpose entities in a private placement transaction or as part of a public offering. A SPAC, sometimes referred to as "blank check company," is a private or publicly traded company that raises investment capital for the purpose of acquiring or merging with an existing company. The shares of a SPAC are typically issued in "units" that include one share of common stock and one right or warrant (or partial right or warrant) conveying the right to purchase additional shares of common stock. At a specified time, the rights and warrants may be separated from the common stock at the election of the holder, after which time each security typically is freely tradeable. Private companies can combine with a SPAC to go public by taking the SPAC's place on an exchange as an alternative to making an initial public offering.

As an alternative to obtaining a public listing through a traditional IPO, SPAC investments carry many of the same risks as investments in IPO securities. These may include, but are not limited to, erratic price movements, greater risk of loss, lack of information about the issuer, limited operating and little public or no trading history, and higher transaction costs. Please refer to the discussions of risks related to investments in "Equity Securities" for additional information concerning risks associated with IPOs.

Investments in SPACs also have risks peculiar to the SPAC structure and investment process. Until an acquisition or merger is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets, less a portion retained to cover expenses, in U.S. government securities, money market securities and cash and does not typically pay dividends in respect of its common stock. To the extent a SPAC is invested in cash or similar securities, this may impact a Fund's ability to meet its investment objective. SPAC shareholders may not approve any proposed acquisition or merger, or an acquisition or merger, once effected, may prove unsuccessful. If an acquisition or merger is not completed within a pre-established period (typically, two years), the remainder of the funds invested in the SPAC are returned to its shareholders unless shareholders approve alternative options. While a SPAC investor may receive both stock in the SPAC, as well as warrants or other rights at no marginal cost, those warrants or other rights may expire worthless or

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may be repurchased or retired by the SPAC at an unfavorable price. A Fund may also be delayed in receiving any redemption or liquidation proceeds from a SPAC to which it is entitled. An investment in a SPAC is typically subject to a higher risk of dilution by additional later offerings of interests in the SPAC or by other investors exercising existing rights to purchase shares of the SPAC.

SPAC investments are also subject to the risk that a significant portion of the funds raised by the SPAC may be expended during the search for a target acquisition or merger. Because SPACs only business is to seek acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the SPAC's management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition or merger target. Among other conflicts of interest, the economic interests of the management, directors, officers and related parties of a SPAC can differ from the economic interests of public shareholders, which may lead to conflicts as they evaluate, negotiate and recommend business combination transactions to shareholders. For example, since the sponsor, directors and officers of a SPAC may directly or indirectly own interests in a SPAC, the sponsor, directors and officers may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate a business combination. This risk may become more acute as the deadline for the completion of a business combination nears. In addition, the requirement that a SPAC complete a business combination within a prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over the SPAC in negotiating a business combination, and may limit the time the SPAC has in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, which could undermine the SPAC's ability to complete a business combination on terms that would produce value for its shareholders. Some SPACs pursue acquisitions and mergers only within certain market sectors or regions, which can increase the volatility of their prices. Conversely, other SPACs may invest without such limitations, in which case management may have limited experience or knowledge of the market sector or region in which the transaction is contemplated. Moreover, interests in SPACs may be illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale, which may remain for an extended time, and may only be traded in the over-the-counter market. If there is no market for some interests in a SPAC, or only a thinly traded market, a Fund may not be able to sell its interest, or may be able to sell its interest only at a price below what the Fund believes is the SPAC interest's value.

**Spread Transactions—**A Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. Such covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives a Fund the right to put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to a Fund in purchasing covered spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the spread option and any transaction costs. In addition, there is no assurance that closing transactions will be available. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. Such protection is only provided during the life of the spread option.

**Swap Agreements—**Each Fund may enter into swap agreements, including, but not limited to, total return swaps, index swaps, interest rate swaps, municipal market data rate locks and credit default swaps. Swaps are particularly subject to counterparty credit, correlation (imperfect correlations with underlying investments or a Fund's other portfolio holdings), valuation, liquidity and leveraging risks and could result in substantial losses to a Fund and a shareholder's investment in a Fund. A Fund may utilize swap agreements in an attempt to gain exposure to the securities or other assets in a market without actually purchasing those securities or other assets, or to hedge a position or to generate income. Swap agreements are contracts for periods ranging from a day to more than one-year and may be negotiated bilaterally and traded OTC between two parties or, in some instances, must be transacted through a futures commission merchant and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or "swapped" between the parties are calculated with respect to a "notional amount," i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in an issuer, a "basket" of securities or other assets or ETFs. Forms of swap agreements may include (i) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or "cap;" (ii) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or "floor;" and (iii) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. Certain interest rate swaps and forwards are subject to mandatory central clearing and execution on swap execution facilities, as noted further herein.

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Another form of swap agreement is a credit default swap. A credit default swap enables a Fund to buy or sell protection against a defined credit event of an issuer or a basket of securities or other assets or ETFs. Generally, the seller of credit protection against an issuer or basket of securities or other assets receives a periodic payment to compensate against potential default events. If a default event occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation, or a cash-settlement payment. Any such physical or cash settlement may be effected through an auction settlement process, if agreed to by the parties when they enter the transaction. If no default occurs, the counterparty will pay the stream of payments and have no further obligations to the Fund selling the credit protection.

In contrast, the buyer of a credit default swap would have the right to deliver a referenced debt obligation and receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of such debt obligation from the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event (such as a credit downgrade) by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporation, with respect to its debt obligations, or a cash-settlement payment. In return, the buyer of the credit protection would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the counterparty would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligations to the Fund purchasing the credit protection. Certain credit default swap products are subject to mandatory central clearing and execution on swap execution facilities, as noted further herein.

Each Fund also may enhance income by selling credit protection or attempt to mitigate credit risk by buying protection. Credit default swaps could result in losses if the creditworthiness of an issuer or a basket of securities or other assets is not accurately evaluated.

Most swap agreements (but generally not credit default swaps) that a Fund might enter into require the parties to calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a "net basis." Swap agreements may not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Consequently, a Fund's obligations (or rights) and risk of loss under such a swap agreement would generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the "net amount"). Other swap agreements, such as credit default swaps, may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation.

Because they may be two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be classified as illiquid investments. A Fund would not enter into any swap agreement unless the Investment Manager believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy. A Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty, or in the case of a credit default swap in which a Fund is selling credit protection, the default of a third party issuer.

Each Fund may enter into swap agreements, for example, to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of the underlying securities or other assets in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. The counterparty to any swap agreement would typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker-dealer or, in the case of a cleared swap, the clearinghouse. The counterparty would generally agree to pay a Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. The Fund would agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to a Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.

A Fund may also enter into swaps on an index, including credit default index swaps ("CDX"), which are swaps on an index of credit default swaps. For example, a commercial mortgage-backed index ("CMBX") is a type of CDX made up of tranches of commercial mortgage-backed securities rather than CDS. Unlike other CDX contracts where credit events are intended to capture an event of default, CMBX involves a pay-as-you-go settlement process designed to capture non-default events that affect the cash flow of the reference obligation. Pay-as-you-go settlement involves ongoing, two-way payments over the life of a contract between the buyer and the seller of protection and is designed to closely mirror the cash flow of a portfolio of cash commercial mortgage-backed securities. Certain CDX are subject to mandatory central clearing and exchange trading, which may reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity compared to other credit default swap or CDS index transactions. Investments in CMBX are also subject to the risks associated with MBS, which are described above, as well as the risks associated with the types of

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properties tied to the underlying mortgages (e.g., apartment properties, retail shopping centers, office and industrial properties, hotels, health-care facilities, manufactured housing and mixed-property types) and adverse economic or market events with respect to these property types.

The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments that are traded in the OTC market but remains subject to significant risks. The Investment Manager is primarily responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions.

As noted above, certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory exchange-trading and/or central clearing. While exchange-trading and central clearing are intended to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity, they do not make swap transactions risk-free. The Dodd-Frank Act and related regulatory developments require the clearing and exchange-trading of certain OTC derivative instruments that the CFTC and SEC have defined as "swaps" (such as certain interest rate swaps and forwards and certain index credit default swaps). Depending on a Fund's size and other factors, the margin required under the rules of the clearinghouse and by the clearing member may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by a Fund to support its obligations under a similar bilateral swap. Moving trading to an exchange-type system may increase market transparency and liquidity but may require a Fund to incur increased expenses to access the same types of cleared and uncleared swaps. In addition, the CFTC, SEC and the prudential regulators have adopted rules imposing certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps which may result in a Fund and its counterparties posting higher margin amounts for uncleared swaps. Rules also require centralized reporting of detailed information about many types of cleared and uncleared swaps. Reporting of swap data may result in greater market transparency, but may subject a Fund to additional administrative burdens and the safeguards established to protect trader anonymity may not function as expected. The Investment Manager will continue to monitor developments in this area, particularly to the extent regulatory changes affect the ability of the Funds to enter into swap agreements. Regulatory changes and additional requirements may increase costs associated with derivatives transactions and may subject a Fund to additional administrative burdens, which may adversely affect Fund performance.

The use of swap agreements, including credit default swaps, is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a counterparty's creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap would likely decline. Moreover, there is no guarantee that a Fund could eliminate its exposure under an outstanding swap agreement by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same or another party.

A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**TBA Purchase Commitments.** A Fund may enter into "To Be Announced" ("TBA") purchase commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date, typically not exceeding 75-90 days. TBA purchase commitments may be considered securities in themselves and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of a Fund's other assets. Unsettled TBA purchase commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities. A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above. If a Fund chooses to dispose of the TBA security prior to its settlement, it could, as with the disposition of any other portfolio obligation, incur a gain or loss due to market fluctuation. In addition, FINRA rules include mandatory margin requirements that require the Funds to post collateral in connection with their TBA transactions. There is no similar requirement applicable to the Funds' TBA counterparties. The required collateralization of TBA trades could increase the cost of TBA transactions to the Funds and impose added operational complexity.

**Temporary Investments—**Each Fund may, from time to time and in the discretion of the Investment Manager, take temporary positions that are inconsistent with the Fund's principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse or unstable market, economic, political or other conditions or abnormal circumstances, such as large cash inflows or anticipated large redemptions. For example, the Fund may invest some or all of its assets in cash, derivatives, fixed-income instruments, government bonds, money market instruments, repurchase agreements or

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securities of other investment companies, including money market funds. Each Fund may be unable to pursue or achieve its investment objective during that time and temporary investments could reduce the benefit to the Fund from any upswing in the market.

A Fund holding the second class of interests may be required to comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above.

**U.S. Government Securities—**Consistent with its investment objective and strategies, a Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, including: (1) direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury and (2) obligations issued by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. Included among direct obligations of the U.S. are Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds, which differ in terms of their interest rates, maturities, and dates of issuance. Treasury Bills have maturities of less than one year, Treasury Notes have maturities of one to 10 years and Treasury Bonds generally have maturities of greater than 10 years from the date of issuance. Included among the obligations issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. are: instruments that are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S., such as certificates issued by Ginnie Mae; instruments that are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such as securities of Federal Home Loan Banks); and instruments that are supported solely by the credit of the instrumentality, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In September 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA") placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in conservatorship. At the same time, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality. Under these Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements ("SPAs"), as amended, the U.S. Treasury has pledged to provide financial support to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in any quarter which the respective entity has a net worth deficit as defined in the respective SPA, as amended.

Also in December 2009, the U.S. Treasury amended the SPAs to provide Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with some additional flexibility to meet the requirement to reduce their mortgage portfolios. The actions of the U.S. Treasury are intended to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury initiatives will be successful. Other U.S. government securities a Fund may invest in include (but are not limited to) securities issued or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Loan Administration, Export-Import Bank of the U.S., Small Business Administration, General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Maritime Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, District of Columbia Armory Board and Student Loan Marketing Association. Because the U.S. government is not obligated by law to provide support to an instrumentality it sponsors, a Fund will invest in obligations issued by such an instrumentality only if the Investment Manager determines that the credit risk with respect to the instrumentality does not make its securities unsuitable for investment by the Fund.

No assurance can be given as to whether the U.S. government will continue to support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, the future for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remains uncertain. Congress has considered proposals to reduce the U.S. government's role in the mortgage market of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including proposals as to whether Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be nationalized, privatized, restructured or eliminated altogether. Should the federal government adopt any such proposal, the value of a Fund's investments in securities issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac would be impacted. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are also the subject of continuing legal

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actions and investigations which may have an adverse effect on these entities. In the event that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are taken out of conservatorship, it is unclear whether Treasury would continue to enforce its rights or perform its obligations under the SPAs. It is also unclear how the capital structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be constructed post-conservatorship, and what effects, if any, the privatization of the enterprises will have on their creditworthiness and guarantees of certain MBS. Accordingly, should the FHFA take the enterprises out of conservatorship, there could be an adverse impact on the value of their securities, which could cause a Fund to lose value.

Under a letter agreement entered into in January 2021, each enterprise is permitted to retain earnings and raise private capital to enable them to meet the minimum capital requirements under the FHFA's Enterprise Regulatory Capital Framework. The letter agreement also permits each enterprise to develop a plan to exit conservatorship, but may not do so until all litigation involving the conservatorships is resolved and each enterprise has the minimum capital required by FHFA's rules.

Any controversy or ongoing uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. Congress to increase the statutory debt ceiling may impact the creditworthiness of the U.S. Government and the liquidity and/or market value of U.S. government debt securities held by a Fund. If the U.S. Congress is unable to negotiate an adjustment to the statutory debt ceiling, there is also the risk that the U.S. government may default on payments on certain U.S. government securities (including U.S. Treasury securities), including those held by a Fund, which could have a material negative impact on the Fund. These types of situations could result in higher interest rates, lower prices of U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government securities and could adversely affect a Fund's investments, including in other types of debt instruments.

A Fund may invest in securities issued by government agencies and sold through an auction process, which may be subject to certain risks associated with the auction process. A Fund may also invest in separately traded principal and interest components of securities guaranteed or issued by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if such components trade independently under the Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities program ("STRIPS") or any similar program sponsored by the U.S. government. STRIPS may be sold as zero coupon securities.

**Variable and Floating Rate Instruments—**The Funds may invest in variable or floating rate instruments and variable rate demand instruments, including variable amount master demand notes. These instruments will normally involve industrial development or revenue bonds that provide that the rate of interest is set as a specific percentage of a designated base rate (such as the prime rate, SOFR or another rate based on SOFR) at a major commercial bank. In addition, the interest rates on these securities may be reset daily, weekly or on some other reset period and may have a floor or ceiling on interest rate changes. Such Funds can demand payment of the obligation at all times or at stipulated dates on short notice (not to exceed 30 days) at par plus accrued interest. Because of the interest rate adjustment feature, floating rate and variable securities provide a Fund with a certain degree of protection against interest rate increases, although floating rate and variable securities are subject to any declines in interest rates as well. Generally, changes in interest rates will have a smaller effect on the market value of floating rate and variable securities than on the market value of comparable fixed-income obligations. Thus, investing in floating rate and variable securities generally allows less opportunity for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in comparable fixed-income securities.

Debt instruments purchased by a Fund may be structured to have variable or floating interest rates. These instruments may include variable amount master demand notes that permit the indebtedness to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rates.

Other variable and floating rate instruments include but are not limited to certain corporate debt securities, asset-backed securities, MBS, CMBS, collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), government and agency securities. The Investment Manager will consider the earning power, cash flows and other liquidity ratios of the issuers and guarantors of such instruments and, if the instrument is subject to a demand feature, will continuously monitor their financial ability to meet payment on demand. Where necessary to ensure that a variable or floating rate instrument is equivalent to the quality standards applicable to a Fund's fixed-income investments, the issuer's obligation to pay the principal of the instrument will be backed by an unconditional bank letter or line of credit, guarantee or commitment to lend. Any bank providing such a bank letter, line of credit, guarantee or loan commitment will meet a Fund's investment quality standards relating to investments in bank obligations. The Investment Manager will also continuously monitor the creditworthiness of issuers of such instruments to determine whether the Funds should continue to hold the investments.

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The absence of an active secondary market for certain variable and floating rate notes could make it difficult to dispose of the instruments, and a Fund could suffer a loss if the issuer defaults or during periods in which the Fund is not entitled to exercise its demand rights.

Variable and floating rate instruments may be classified as illiquid investments (e.g., when a reliable trading market for the instruments does not exist and the Fund may not demand payment of the principal amount of such instruments within seven days).

**When-Issued and Forward Commitment Securities—**The purchase of securities on a "when-issued" basis and the purchase or sale of securities on a "forward commitment" basis may be used to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and prices. The price, which is generally expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date. When-issued securities and forward commitments may be sold prior to the settlement date, but the Funds will enter into when-issued and forward commitments only with the intention of actually receiving or delivering the securities, as the case may be; however, a Fund may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement if the Investment Manager deems it appropriate to do so. No income accrues on securities which have been purchased pursuant to a forward commitment or on a when-issued basis prior to delivery of the securities. If a Fund disposes of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or disposes of its right to deliver or receive against a forward commitment, it may incur a gain or loss. A Fund must comply with the SEC rule related to the use of derivatives, reverse repurchase agreements and certain other transactions when engaging in such transactions. See "Legislation and Regulation Risk Related to Derivatives and Certain Other Instruments" above. There is a risk that the securities may not be delivered and that the Fund may incur a loss. Forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of decline in value of the Fund's other assets. In addition, FINRA rules include mandatory margin requirements that will require the Funds to post collateral in connection with certain of these transactions. There is no similar requirement applicable to the Funds' counterparties. The required collateralization of these transactions could increase the cost of such transactions to the Funds and impose added operational complexity.

**Zero Coupon and Payment-In-Kind Securities—**Zero coupon securities pay no interest to holders prior to maturity, and payment-in-kind securities pay interest in the form of additional securities. The market value of a zero-coupon or payment-in-kind security, which usually trades at a deep discount from its face or par value, is generally more volatile than the market value of, and is more sensitive to changes in interest rates and credit quality than, other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality that pay interest in cash periodically. Zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities also may be less liquid than other fixed-income securities with similar maturities and credit quality that pay interest in cash periodically. In addition, zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities may be more difficult to value than other fixed income securities with similar maturities and credit quality that pay interest in cash periodically.

When held to maturity, the entire income from zero coupon securities, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. Zero coupon securities, which are convertible into common stock, offer the opportunity for capital appreciation as increases (or decreases) in market value of such securities closely follows the movements in the market value of the underlying common stock. Zero coupon convertible securities generally are expected to be less volatile than the underlying common stocks, as they usually are issued with maturities of 15 years or less and are issued with options and/or redemption features exercisable by the holder of the obligation entitling the holder to redeem the obligation and receive a defined cash payment.

Zero coupon securities include securities issued directly by the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Treasury bonds or notes and their unaccrued interest coupons and receipts for their underlying principal ("coupons") which have been separated by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. A holder will separate the interest coupons from the underlying principal (the "corpus") of the U.S. Treasury security. A number of securities firms and banks have stripped the interest coupons and receipts and then resold them in custodial receipt programs with a number of different names, including "Treasury Income Growth Receipts" (TIGRSTM) and Certificate of Accrual on Treasuries (CATSTM). The underlying U.S. Treasury bonds and notes themselves are held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Counsel to the underwriters of these certificates or other evidences of ownership of the U.S. Treasury securities have stated that, for federal tax and securities purposes, in their opinion purchasers of such certificates, such as a Fund, most likely will be deemed the beneficial holder of the underlying U.S. government securities.

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The U.S. Treasury has facilitated transfers of ownership of zero coupon securities by accounting separately for the beneficial ownership of particular interest coupon and corpus payments on Treasury securities through the Federal Reserve book-entry recordkeeping system. The Federal Reserve program as established by the Treasury Department is known as "STRIPS" or "Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities." Under the STRIPS program, a Fund will be able to have its beneficial ownership of zero coupon securities recorded directly in the book-entry recordkeeping system in lieu of having to hold certificates or other evidences of ownership of the underlying U.S. Treasury securities.

When U.S. Treasury obligations have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons by the holder, the principal or corpus is sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment in the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Once stripped or separated, the corpus and coupons may be sold separately. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the Treasury sells itself.

A portion of the original issue discount on zero coupon securities and the "interest" on payment-in-kind securities will be included in a Fund's taxable income. Accordingly, for the Fund to qualify for tax treatment as a regulated investment company and to avoid certain taxes, the Fund will generally be required to distribute to its shareholders an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash it actually receives with respect to these securities. These distributions must be made from the Fund's cash assets or, if necessary, from the proceeds of sales of portfolio securities. The Fund will not be able to purchase additional income-producing securities with cash used to make any such distributions, and its current income ultimately may be reduced as a result.

**Investment Restrictions**

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Each of the Funds operates within certain fundamental policies. These fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of the lesser of (1) 67% or more of a Fund's shares present at a meeting of shareholders if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy or (2) more than 50% of a Fund's outstanding shares. Other restrictions in the form of operating policies are subject to change by a Fund's Board of Trustees without shareholder approval; however, should any Fund with a name subject to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, change its policy of investing in at least 80% of its assets (net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in the type of investment suggested by that Fund's name, the Fund will provide shareholders at least 60 days' notice prior to making the change, or such other period as is required by applicable law, as interpreted or modified by a regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time. If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment or transaction, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changing values of portfolio securities or amount of total assets will not be considered a violation of any of the following limitations, except with respect to the borrowing limitation. With regard to the borrowing limitation, each Fund will comply with the applicable restrictions of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Any investment restrictions that involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition of securities or assets of a Fund. Calculation of a Fund's total assets for compliance with any of the following fundamental or operating policies or any other investment restrictions set forth in the Fund's Prospectus or SAI will not include cash collateral held in connection with the Fund's securities lending activities.

**Fundamental Policies**—The fundamental policies of each Fund are:

1. Each Fund shall be a "diversified company", as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

2. Each Fund may not act as an underwriter of securities issued by others, except to the extent it could be considered an underwriter in the acquisition and disposition of restricted securities.

3. Each Fund may not "concentrate" its investments in a particular industry, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

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4. Each Fund may purchase real estate or any interest therein (such as securities or instruments backed by or related to real estate) to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

5. Each Fund may purchase or sell commodities, including physical commodities, or contracts, instruments and interests relating to commodities to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

6. Each Fund may make loans to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

7. Each Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

8. Each Fund may issue senior securities to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as interpreted, modified, or applied by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.

For purposes of Fundamental Policy One, a "diversified company" is currently defined under the 1940 Act as a company which meets the following requirements: at least 75 percent of the value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), Government securities, securities of other investment companies, and other securities for the purposes of this calculation limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5 percent of the value of the total assets of such company and to not more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. For the purposes of this Fundamental Policy, each governmental subdivision, i.e., state, territory, possession of the United States or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, including agencies, authorities, instrumentalities, or similar entities, or of the District of Columbia shall be considered a separate issuer if its assets and revenues are separate from those of the governmental body creating it and the security is backed only by its own assets and revenues. For the purposes of this Fundamental Policy, a Fund generally will consider the borrower of a syndicated bank loan to be the issuer of the syndicated bank loan, but may under unusual circumstances also consider the lender or person inter-positioned between the lender and the Fund to be the issuer of a syndicated bank loan. In making such a determination, the Fund will consider all relevant factors, including the following: the terms of the Loan Agreement and other relevant agreements (including inter-creditor agreements and any agreements between such person and the Fund's custodian); the credit quality of such lender or inter-positioned person; general economic conditions applicable to such lender or inter-positioned person; and other factors relating to the degree of credit risk, if any, of such lender or inter-positioned person incurred by the Fund.

For purposes of Fundamental Policy Three, a Fund may not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry. Industries are determined by reference to the classifications of industries set forth in a Fund's report on Form N-CSR. For the purposes of this Fundamental Policy, the limitation will not apply to a Fund's investments in: (i) securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities; (ii) municipal securities; (iii) repurchase agreements collateralized by the instruments described in (i); and (iv) other investment companies.

For purposes of Fundamental Policy Five, investors should note that as of the date of the Funds' SAI, the 1940 Act permits investments in commodities and commodity interests.

For purposes of Fundamental Policy Seven, if at any time the amount of total Fund assets less all liabilities and indebtedness (but not including the Fund's borrowings) ("asset coverage") is less than an amount equal to 300% of any such borrowings, the Fund will reduce its borrowings within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations so that such asset coverage is again equal to 300% or more.

For purposes of Fundamental Policies Seven and Eight, the term "as permitted under the 1940 Act" indicates that, unless otherwise limited by non-fundamental investment policies, a Fund can borrow and issue senior securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and interpretations thereof, and that no further action generally would be

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needed to conform the Fund's Fundamental Policies relating to borrowing and senior securities to future change in the 1940 Act and interpretations thereof. Pursuant to the provisions of the 1940 Act and interpretations thereof, a Fund is permitted to borrow from banks and may also enter into certain transactions that are economically equivalent to borrowing (e.g., reverse repurchase agreements).

Under current law as interpreted by the SEC and its staff, a Fund may borrow from: (a) a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund's total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude a Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund, in accordance with Rule 18f-4, aggregates the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness when calculating the Fund's asset coverage ratio or treats all such transactions as derivatives transactions. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by an investment company evidencing indebtedness. A Fund's limitation with respect to issuing senior securities is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund's engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. SEC Rule 18f-4 governs the use of derivatives and other similar transactions by an investment company. Under Rule 18f-4, a Fund's trading of derivatives and other similar transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations is generally subject to value-at-risk leverage limits, derivatives risk management program and reporting requirements, unless the Fund satisfies a "limited derivatives users" exception that is included in the rule.

**Operating Policies**—The operating policy (i.e., that which is non-fundamental) of the Funds is:

**Liquidity** The Funds may invest up to 15% of their net assets in illiquid investments that are assets, which are investments that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.

For purposes of the Operating Policy directly above, under normal circumstances, a Fund will not hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets; however, if investments that were liquid at the time of purchase subsequently become illiquid and result in the Fund holding illiquid investments in excess of 15% of its net assets, the Fund will no longer purchase additional illiquid investments and may reduce its holdings of illiquid investments in an orderly manner, but it is not required to dispose of illiquid holdings immediately if it is not in the interest of the Fund. This test does not require that the disposition of holdings "settle" within seven days, which means that the Fund could meet the liquidity test but be unable to obtain proceeds to pay redemption requests within seven days. In addition, in the event an instrument classified as illiquid that has no value under the Funds' valuation policy and procedures, and the Investment Manager's Rule 2a-5 fair valuation policy and Rule 2a-5 fair valuation procedures, is given a value under such procedures and, as a result, the Fund holds illiquid investments in excess of 15% of its net assets, the Fund will no longer purchase additional illiquid investments. In such case, the Fund may reduce its holdings of illiquid investments in an orderly manner, but it is not required to dispose of illiquid holdings immediately if it is not in the interest of the Fund. Funds with investments subject to liquidity risks tend to hold higher positions of uninvested cash or borrow to meet redemption requests, which hurts Fund performance.

**Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings**

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It is the policy of the Funds to protect the confidentiality of their portfolio holdings and information derived from the portfolio holdings and prevent the selective disclosure of such non-public information. Accordingly, the Board has adopted formal procedures governing compliance with this policy, which are subject to periodic evaluation and review. Any violations of this policy are reported to the Board on a quarterly basis.

Non-public portfolio holdings information may not be disclosed to any unaffiliated third party, except when the Funds have a legitimate business purpose for doing so. Specifically, non-public portfolio holdings information may only be made available to third parties if: (i) such availability is disclosed in the Funds' registration statement, as required by applicable law, as well as on the Funds' website, if applicable; (ii) the Funds' officers determine such disclosure is in the best interests of Fund shareholders; (iii) such information is made available, on an equal basis, to anyone requesting it; and (iv) the Investment Manager determines that the disclosure does not present the risk of such information being used to trade against the Funds to their detriment. In addition, prior to authorizing the disclosure of a Fund's non-public portfolio holdings, the Fund's President and/or the Chief Compliance Officer must determine

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that: (i) such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose and is in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders; and (ii) no conflict exists between the interests of the Fund's shareholders and those of (1) the Investment Manager, (2) the Distributor, or (3) any affiliated person of the Fund, the affiliated person's investment adviser, or the affiliated person's principal underwriter. Each Fund or its duly authorized service providers may publicly disclose holdings of the Fund in accordance with regulatory requirements, such as periodic portfolio disclosure in filings with the SEC.

Recipients of non-public portfolio holdings information, such as mutual fund evaluation services and due diligence departments of broker-dealers and wirehouses, will be subject to a duty of confidentiality, and a duty to not trade based on the non-public information and/or other restrictions on the use and dissemination of the information.

Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to certain service providers and no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals. The policy does not require a delay between the date of the portfolio holding information and the date on which the information is disclosed.

The Funds also may disclose portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis to certain service providers of the Funds and others, who either by agreement or because of their respective duties to the Funds are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed. The Funds' service providers and others who generally are provided such information in the performance of their contractual duties and responsibilities may include The Bank of New York Mellon ("BNY") (the Funds' custodian and administrator), the Investment Manager, Ernst & Young LLP (the Funds' independent registered public accountant), Dechert LLP (legal counsel to the Funds), Vedder Price P.C. (legal counsel to the Funds' Independent Trustees, as defined below), investment management trade associations (e.g., Investment Company Institute), officers and directors, and each of their respective affiliates. In addition, at this time, portfolio holdings information is shared as follows:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Individual/Entity** | **Frequency** | **Time Lag** |
| Bloomberg | Quarterly | 60 calendar days |
| FactSet | Monthly | 30 calendar days |
| Lipper | Monthly | 30 calendar days |
| Morningstar | Monthly | 30 calendar days |
| State Street | Monthly | 60 calendar days |
| Thompson Financial | Quarterly | 30 calendar days |
| Vickers Stock Research | Monthly | 30 calendar days |

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In addition, the following entities receive this information on a daily basis: FactSet (an analytical system used for portfolio attribution and performance); The Bank of New York Mellon (the Funds' custodian bank); Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) (the Funds' pricing services); Institutional Shareholder Services (proxy voting services); and NEXEN (Eagle) (the Funds' accounting system).

Neither the Funds, their service providers, nor the Investment Manager may receive compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of information about portfolio securities.

Each Fund will publish a complete list of its quarter-end portfolio holdings on its website at www.guggenheiminvestments.com within 60 days of the quarter-end. Such information will remain available, free of charge, on the website for 12 months, or as otherwise required by law. Also, the Funds may disclose top 10 holdings on a quarterly or other periodic basis through publicly available marketing materials.

The Investment Manager seeks to limit the selective disclosure of portfolio holdings information and such selective disclosure is monitored under the Funds' compliance program for conformity with the policies and procedures. However, there can be no assurance that these policies will protect the Funds from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.

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**Management of the Funds**

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**<u>Trustees and Officers</u>**

Oversight of the management and affairs of the Trust and the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Investment Manager for the Funds under the Investment Management Agreement ("Management Agreement") is the responsibility of the Board. Among other things, the Board considers the approval of contracts, described herein, under which certain companies provide essential management and administrative services to the Trust. Once the contracts are approved, the Board monitors the level and quality of services. Annually, the Board evaluates the services received under the contracts by receiving reports covering, among other things, investment performance, administrative services, competitiveness of fees and the Investment Manager's profitability.

The Board currently has 6 Trustees, 5 of whom are not "interested persons" (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Trust (each, an "Independent Trustee" and collectively, the "Independent Trustees"). Each Independent Trustee does not own, nor do any of his or her immediate family members own, any stock or other securities issued by the Investment Manager or the Distributor or a person (other than a registered investment company, if applicable) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager or the Distributor as of December 31, 2025. Ms. Amy J. Lee is an "interested person" (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Trust (an "Interested Trustee") because of her position with the Investment Manager and/or the parent of the Investment Manager.

The Trustees, their term of office and length of time served, their principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Guggenheim Funds Group fund complex ("Fund Complex") overseen by each Trustee, and other directorships, if any, held by the Trustee are shown below. The Fund Complex includes all closed- and open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment adviser or servicing agent that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund Complex is comprised of 4 closed-end funds and 123 open-end funds advised or serviced by the Investment Manager or its affiliates.

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** | **Independent Trustees** |
| Angela Brock-Kyle <br> (1959)<br>| Trustee | Since 2019 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Retired.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Founder and Chief <br> Executive Officer, <br> B.O.A.R.D.S. (consulting <br> firm) (2013-2023); Senior <br> Leader, TIAA (financial <br> services firm) (1987-2012).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Kelly Services, <br> Inc. (2026-present); <br> Global X Venture Fund <br> (2025-present); Hunt <br> Companies, Inc. (2019-<br> present); Mutual Fund <br> Directors Forum (2022-<br> present); Bowhead <br> Specialty Holdings Inc. <br> (2024-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2019-2025); Bowhead <br> Insurance GP, LLC <br> (2020-2024); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2019-2023); Fiduciary/<br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2019-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2019-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2019-2021); Infinity <br> Property & Casualty <br> Corp. (2014-2018).<br>|
| Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. <br> (1960)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee and <br> Chair of the <br> Contracts <br> Review <br> Committee<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Since 2019<br> (Trustee)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2020<br> (Chair of the<br> Contracts Review<br> Committee)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: President, Global <br> Trends Investments <br> (registered investment <br> adviser) (1996-present); <br> CEO, Lydon Media (2016- <br> present). <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Vice Chairman, <br> VettaFi, a wholly owned <br> subsidiary of The TMX <br> Group (financial advisor <br> content, research, index <br> and digital distribution <br> provider) (2022-2024); <br> CEO, ETF Flows, LLC <br> (financial advisor education <br> and research provider) <br> (2019-2023); Director, GDX <br> Index Partners, LLC (index <br> provider) (2021-2023).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: 2023 ETF <br> Series Trust (12) (2023-<br> present); US Global <br> Investors, Inc. (GROW) <br> (1995-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: 2023 ETF <br> Series Trust II (6) <br> (2023-2025); <br> Transparent Value Trust <br> (4) (2019-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2019-2023); Fiduciary/<br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2019-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2019-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2019-2021).<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| Ronald A. Nyberg<br> (1953)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee and <br> Chair of the <br> Nominating <br> and <br> Governance <br> Committee<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Of Counsel <br> (formerly Partner), Momkus <br> LLP (law firm) (2016-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Partner, Nyberg & <br> Cassioppi, LLC (law firm) <br> (2000-2016); Executive <br> Vice President, General <br> Counsel, and Corporate <br> Secretary, Van Kampen <br> Investments (1982-1999).<br>| 127 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Advent <br> Convertible and Income <br> Fund (2003-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2015-2025); PPM <br> Funds (2) (2018-2024); <br> Endeavor Health <br> (2012-2024); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2015-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2004-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2005-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2013-2021).<br>|
| Sandra G. Sponem <br> (1958)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee and <br> Chair of the <br> Audit <br> Committee<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Since 2019<br> (Trustee)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2020<br> (Chair of the<br> Audit Committee)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Retired.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Senior Vice <br> President and Chief <br> Financial Officer, M.A. <br> Mortenson Companies, Inc. <br> (construction and real <br> estate development <br> company) (2007-2017).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: SPDR Series <br> Trust (86) (2018- <br> present); SPDR Index <br> Shares Funds (25) <br> (2018-present); SSGA <br> Active Trust (35) (2018- <br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2019-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2019-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2019-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2019-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2019-2021).<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.<br> (1958)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee,<br> Chair of the <br> Board and <br> Chair of the<br> Executive <br> Committee<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Portfolio <br> Consultant (2010-present); <br> Member, Governing <br> Council, Independent <br> Directors Council (2013-<br> present); Governor, Board <br> of Governors, Investment <br> Company Institute (2018-<br> present); Member, Board of <br> Governors Investment <br> Committee, Investment <br> Company Institute (2026-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Member, Executive <br> Committee, Independent <br> Directors Council <br> (2016-2018); Vice <br> President, Manager and <br> Portfolio Manager, Nuveen <br> Asset Management <br> (1998-1999); Vice <br> President, Nuveen <br> Investment Advisory Corp. <br> (1992-1999); Vice <br> President and Manager, <br> Nuveen Unit Investment <br> Trusts (1991-1999); and <br> Assistant Vice President <br> and Portfolio Manager, <br> Nuveen Unit Investment <br> Trusts (1988-1999), each of <br> John Nuveen & Co., Inc. <br> (registered broker-dealer) <br> (1982-1999).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2015-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2015-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2004-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2005-2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2013-2021).<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address\* and** <br> **Year of Birth** <br> **of Trustees**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s)** <br> **Held with** <br> **Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of** <br> **Office and** <br> **Length of** <br> **Time** <br> **Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s)** <br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Number of** <br> **Portfolios** <br> **in Fund** <br> **Complex** <br> **Overseen** <br> **by Trustee**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Other Directorships** <br> **Held by Trustees** <br> **During Past** <br> **5 Years\*\*\***<br>|
| **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** | **Interested Trustee** |
| Amy J. Lee\*\*\*\* <br> (1961)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee, <br> Vice <br> President <br> and <br> Chief Legal <br> Officer<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Since 2018<br> (Trustee)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2014<br> (Chief Legal <br> Officer)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Since 2007<br> (Vice <br> President)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Interested Trustee, <br> certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2018-<br> present); Chief Legal <br> Officer, certain other funds <br> in the Fund Complex (2014-<br> present); Vice President, <br> certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2007-<br> present); Senior Managing <br> Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2012-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: President and/or <br> Chief Executive Officer, <br> certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2017- <br> 2019); Vice President, <br> Associate General Counsel <br> and Assistant Secretary, <br> Security Benefit Life <br> Insurance Company and <br> Security Benefit <br> Corporation (2004-2012).<br>| 126 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Former: Transparent <br> Value Trust (4) <br> (2018-2025); <br> Guggenheim Energy & <br> Income Fund <br> (2018-2023); Fiduciary/ <br> Claymore Energy <br> Infrastructure Fund <br> (2018-2022); <br> Guggenheim Enhanced <br> Equity Income Fund <br> (2018- 2021); <br> Guggenheim Credit <br> Allocation Fund <br> (2018-2021).<br>|

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The business address of each Trustee is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

\*\*

Each Trustee serves during the lifetime of the Trust or until he or she dies, resigns, has reached the mandatory retirement age, is declared incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, is removed or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to the Trust's Independent Trustees Retirement Policy and the Trust's organizational documents. Time served may include time served in the respective position for certain predecessor entities of the Trust.

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Each Trustee also serves on the boards of trustees of Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, Guggenheim Variable Funds Trust, Rydex Dynamic Funds, Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Variable Trust, Guggenheim Active Allocation Fund, Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund, and Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust. Mr. Nyberg also serves on the board of trustees of Advent Convertible and Income Fund. Together with the Trust, these funds are referred to as the "Fund Complex." Figures provided in parentheses after the name of a fund complex indicate the number of funds overseen in that complex.

\*\*\*\*

This Trustee is deemed to be an "interested person" of the Trust under the 1940 Act by reason of her position with the Funds' Investment Manager and/or the parent of the Investment Manager.

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The executive officers of the Trust (other than Ms. Lee), length of time served, and principal business occupations during the past five years are shown below.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Address\*** <br> **and Year of** <br> **Birth of the** <br> **Officers**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s) Held** <br> **with the Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of Office** <br> **and Length of** <br> **Time Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s) During** <br> **the Past 5 Years**<br>|
| Brian E. Binder<br> (1972)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; President and <br> Chief Executive <br> Officer<br>| Since 2018 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Board Member and Chief <br> Executive Officer, Guggenheim <br> Investments Private Credit Fund <br> (2026-present); President, Mutual <br> Funds Boards, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2022-present); <br> President and Chief Executive <br> Officer, certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2018-present); <br> President, Mutual Funds Board <br> and Senior Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Funds Investment <br> Advisors, LLC and Security <br> Investors, LLC (2018-present); <br> Board Member, Guggenheim <br> Partners Investment Funds plc <br> (2022-present); Board Member, <br> Guggenheim Global Investments <br> plc (2022-present). <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Board Member and <br> Chairman, Guggenheim Credit <br> Income Fund (2024-2025); Board <br> Member, Guggenheim Partners <br> Fund Management (Europe) <br> Limited (2018-2024); Senior <br> Managing Director and Chief <br> Administrative Officer, <br> Guggenheim Investments <br> (2018-2022); Managing Director <br> and President, Deutsche Funds, <br> and Head of US Product, Trading <br> and Fund Administration, <br> Deutsche Asset Management <br> (2013-2018); Managing Director, <br> Chairman of North American <br> Executive Committee and Head of <br> Business Management and <br> Consulting, Invesco Ltd. <br> (2010-2012).<br>|
| James Howley<br> (1972)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer, <br> Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, and <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2022 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2004-<br> present); Chief Financial Officer, <br> Chief Accounting Officer, and <br> Treasurer, certain other funds in <br> the Fund Complex (2022-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Assistant Treasurer, <br> certain other funds in the Fund <br> Complex (2006-2022); Manager, <br> Mutual Fund Administration of <br> Van Kampen Investments, Inc. <br> (1996-2004).<br>|

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Address\*** <br> **and Year of** <br> **Birth of the** <br> **Officers**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s) Held** <br> **with the Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of Office** <br> **and Length of** <br> **Time Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s) During** <br> **the Past 5 Years**<br>|
| Mark E. Mathiasen<br> (1978)<br>| Secretary | Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Secretary, certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2007-<br> present); Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2007-<br> present).<br>|
| Glenn McWhinnie<br> (1969)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2016 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Vice President, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2009-<br> present); Assistant Treasurer, <br> certain other funds in the Fund <br> Complex (2016-present).<br>|
| Michael Megaris<br> (1984)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Secretary<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Assistant Secretary, <br> certain other funds in the Fund <br> Complex (2014-present); <br> Managing Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2012-present).<br>|
| Elisabeth Miller<br> (1968)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Chief<br> Compliance<br> Officer<br>| Since 2012 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Chief Compliance <br> Officer, certain other funds in the <br> Fund Complex (2012-present); <br> Senior Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2012-<br> present); Senior Managing <br> Director, Guggenheim Funds <br> Distributors, LLC (2014-present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Chief Compliance Officer, <br> Security Investors, LLC and <br> Guggenheim Funds Investment <br> Advisors, LLC (2012-2018); Chief <br> Compliance Officer, Guggenheim <br> Distributors, LLC (2009-2014); <br> Senior Manager, Security <br> Investors, LLC (2004-2014); <br> Senior Manager, Guggenheim <br> Distributors, LLC (2004-2014).<br>|
| Margaux Misantone<br> (1978)<br>| AML Officer | Since 2017 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Chief Compliance <br> Officer, Security Investors, LLC <br> and Guggenheim Funds <br> Investment Advisors, LLC (2018-<br> present); AML Officer, Security <br> Investors, LLC and certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2017-<br> present); Managing Director, <br> Guggenheim Investments (2015-<br> present).<br>|

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Address\*** <br> **and Year of** <br> **Birth of the** <br> **Officers**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Position(s) Held** <br> **with the Trust**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Term of Office** <br> **and Length of** <br> **Time Served\*\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Principal Occupation(s) During** <br> **the Past 5 Years**<br>|
| Kimberly J. Scott <br> (1974)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2014 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2012-present); <br> Assistant Treasurer, certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2012-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Financial Reporting <br> Manager, Invesco, Ltd. <br> (2010-2011); Vice President/<br> Assistant Treasurer, Mutual Fund <br> Administration for Van Kampen <br> Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley <br> Investment Management <br> (2009-2010); Manager of Mutual <br> Fund Administration, Van Kampen <br> Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley <br> Investment Management <br> (2005-2009).<br>|
| Jon Szafran<br> (1989)<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2017 | &nbsp;&nbsp; Current: Director, Guggenheim <br> Investments (2017-present); <br> Assistant Treasurer, certain other <br> funds in the Fund Complex (2017-<br> present).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Former: Assistant Treasurer of <br> Henderson Global Funds and <br> Manager of US Fund <br> Administration, Henderson Global <br> Investors (North America) Inc. <br> ("HGINA") (2017); Senior Analyst <br> of US Fund Administration, <br> HGINA (2014-2017); Senior <br> Associate of Fund Administration, <br> Cortland Capital Market Services, <br> LLC (2013-2014); Experienced <br> Associate, <br> PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP <br> (2012-2013).<br>|

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\*

The business address of each officer is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

\*\*

Each officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, inability to serve, resignation or removal. Time served may include time served in the respective position for certain predecessor entities of the Trust.

**Board Leadership Structure**

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The primary responsibility of the Board is to represent the interest of the Funds and to provide oversight of the management of the Funds. The Funds' day-to-day operations are managed by the Investment Manager and other service providers who have been approved by the Board. The Board is currently comprised of six Trustees, five of whom (including the chairperson) are Independent Trustees. The Board generally acts by majority vote of all the Trustees and, if required by applicable laws, also by a majority vote of the Independent Trustees.

The Board has appointed an Independent Chair, Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., who presides at Board meetings and who is responsible for, among other things, participating in the planning of Board meetings, setting the tone of Board meetings and seeking to encourage open dialogue and independent inquiry among the Trustees and management. In addition, the Independent Chair acts as a liaison with officers, counsel and other Trustees between meetings of the Board. The Independent Chair may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from

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time to time. The Board has established four standing committees (as described below) and has delegated certain responsibilities to those committees, each of which is comprised solely of Independent Trustees. The Board and its committees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds' activities, including through the review of the Trust's: contractual arrangements with service providers; the Funds' financial statements; compliance with regulatory requirements; and performance. The Board may also establish informal working groups from time to time to review and address the policies and practices of the Trust or the Board with respect to certain specified matters. The Independent Trustees are advised by independent legal counsel experienced in 1940 Act matters and are represented by such independent legal counsel at Board and committee meetings. The Board has determined that this leadership structure, including an Independent Chair, a supermajority of Independent Trustees and committee membership limited to Independent Trustees, is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust because it allocates responsibilities among the Committees and the Board in a manner that further enhances effective oversight. The Board considered, among other things: the number of portfolios that comprise the Trust and other trusts in the Guggenheim Family of Funds overseen by members of the Board; the variety of asset classes those portfolios include; the net assets of each Fund, the Trust and the Guggenheim Family of Funds; and the management, distribution and other service arrangements of each Fund, the Trust and the Guggenheim Family of Funds. The Board may at any time and in its discretion change this leadership structure.

**Qualifications and Experience of Trustees**

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The Trustees considered the educational, business and professional experience of each Board member and the service by each Trustee as a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex. The Trustees were selected to serve on the Board based upon their skills, experience, judgment, analytical ability, diligence, ability to work effectively with other Trustees, availability and commitment to attend meetings and perform the responsibilities of a Trustee and, for the Independent Trustees, a demonstrated willingness to take an independent and questioning view of management. The Trustees also considered, among other factors, the particular attributes described below with respect to the individual Board members. References to the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") requirements, do not constitute holding out of the Board or any Trustee as having special expertise and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

**Angela Brock-Kyle—**Ms. Brock-Kyle has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2019 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2016. Through her service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, her service on another registered investment company board, prior employment experience, including at TIAA where she spent 25 years in leadership roles, her professional training in law and business and her experience serving on the boards of public, private and non-profit organizations, including service as audit committee chair and as a member of governance and nominating committees, Ms. Brock-Kyle is experienced in financial, accounting, regulatory, governance and investment matters.

**Thomas F. Lydon, Jr.—**Mr. Lydon has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2019 and as a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex since 2005. Through his service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as Chair of the Contracts Review Committee, his service on other registered investment company boards, his experience as President of Global Trends Investments, a registered investment adviser, his service on the board of U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW), an investment adviser and transfer agent, and his authorship and editorial experience regarding exchange-traded funds, Mr. Lydon is experienced in financial, investment and governance matters.

**Ronald A. Nyberg—**Mr. Nyberg has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2014 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2003. Through his service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, his service on other registered investment company boards, his professional training and experience as an attorney and his former experience as a partner of the law firm, Momkus LLP, and Nyberg & Cassioppi, LLC, and Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Van Kampen Investments, an asset management firm, Mr. Nyberg is experienced in financial, regulatory and governance matters.

**Sandra G. Sponem—**Ms. Sponem has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2019 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2016. Through her service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as Chair of the Audit Committee, her service on other registered investment company boards, her

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prior employment experience, including as Chief Financial Officer of Piper Jaffray Companies, Inc. (now Piper Sandler Companies) and its predecessor, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Inc., and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of M.A. Mortenson Companies, Inc., a construction and real estate development company, her Certified Public Accountant (inactive) designation and previously held securities licenses and extensive knowledge of accounting and finance and the financial services industry, Ms. Sponem is experienced in accounting, financial, governance and investment matters. The Board has determined that Ms. Sponem is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC.

**Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.—**Mr. Toupin has served as a Trustee of the Trust since 2014 and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2003. Mr. Toupin currently serves on the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council ("IDC") of the Investment Company Institute ("ICI") and on the Board of Governors of the ICI. Through his service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, as well as the Independent Chair of the Board, his prior service on other registered investment company boards, and his professional training and prior employment experience, including as Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Nuveen Asset Management, an asset management firm, Mr. Toupin is experienced in financial, regulatory, governance and investment matters.

**Amy J. Lee—**Ms. Lee has served as a Trustee of the Trust and as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2018. Through her service as a Trustee and a trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex, her service as Chief Legal Officer of the Trust and certain other funds in the Fund Complex, her service as Senior Managing Director of Guggenheim Investments, as well as her prior experience as Associate General Counsel, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Security Benefit Life Insurance Company and Security Benefit Corporation, Ms. Lee is experienced in financial, legal, regulatory and governance matters.

Each Trustee also has considerable familiarity with the Trust, the Funds, the Investment Manager and other service providers, and their operations, as well as the special regulatory requirements governing registered investment companies and the special responsibilities of investment company trustees as a result of his/her substantial prior service as a Trustee of the funds in the Fund Complex, or with respect to Ms. Lee, her extensive experience in the financial industry, including her experience with the parent of the investment advisers of the funds of the Fund Complex.

**Board's Role in Risk Oversight**

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The day-to-day business of the Funds, including the day-to-day management and administration of the Funds and of the risks that arise from the Funds' investments and operations, is performed by third-party service providers, primarily the Investment Manager and the Distributor. Consistent with its responsibility for oversight of the Trust, the Board is responsible for overseeing the service providers and thus, has oversight responsibility with respect to the risk management functions performed by those service providers. Risks to the Funds and the Trust include, among others, investment risk, credit risk, derivatives risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, compliance risk and operational risk, as well as the overall business risk relating to the Funds. The risk management function seeks to identify and mitigate the potential effects of risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, investment performance or reputation of the Funds. Under the oversight of the Board, the service providers to the Funds employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to seek to identify risks relevant to the operations of the Funds and to lessen the probability of the occurrence of such risks and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Funds' business and consequently, for managing risks associated with that activity. Each of the Investment Manager, the Distributor and other service providers has its own independent interest in risk management, and its policies and methods of carrying out risk management functions will depend, in part, on its analysis of the risks, functions and business models. Accordingly, Board oversight of different types of risks may be handled in different ways. As part of the Board's periodic review of the Funds' advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of the service providers' operations and the functions for which they are responsible.

The Board oversees risk management for the Funds directly and through the committee structure it has established. The Board has established the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Contracts Review Committee to assist in its oversight functions, including its oversight of the risks each Fund faces. For instance, the Audit Committee receives reports from the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm on internal control and financial reporting matters. In addition, the Board has established an Executive Committee to act

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on the Board's behalf, to the extent permitted and as necessary, in between meetings of the Board. Each committee reports its activities to the Board on a regular basis, as applicable. The Board also oversees the risk management of the Funds' operations by requesting periodic reports from and otherwise communicating with various personnel of the Trust and its service providers, including, in particular, the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, its independent registered public accounting firm and Guggenheim Investments' risk management personnel and internal auditors for the Investment Manager or its affiliates, as applicable. In this connection, the Board requires officers of the Trust to report a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board and its committees, as applicable, including matters relating to risk management. On at least a quarterly basis, the Board meets with the Trust's Chief Compliance Officer, including separate meetings with the Independent Trustees in executive session, to discuss compliance matters and, on at least an annual basis, receives a report from the Chief Compliance Officer regarding the adequacy of the policies and procedures of the Trust and certain service providers and the effectiveness of their implementation. The Board, with the assistance of Trust management, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of the Funds' performance. In addition, the Board receives reports from the Investment Manager on the investments and securities trading of the Funds. With respect to valuation, the Board oversees the Investment Manager as valuation designee in the performance of fair value determinations of the Funds' securities and/or other assets in accordance with Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. The Board has approved the Funds' valuation policy and procedures and the Investment Manager's Rule 2a-5 fair valuation policy and procedures applicable to valuing the Funds' securities and other assets, which the Board and the Audit Committee periodically review. The Board reviews, at least annually, a written report from the valuation designee that assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the valuation designee's fair value process and also receives periodic and prompt reporting on fair value matters from the valuation designee, in accordance with the Trust's valuation policy and procedures. The Board also requires the Investment Manager to report to the Board on other matters relating to risk management on a regular and as-needed basis.

The Board oversees the Funds' liquidity risk through, among other things, receiving periodic reporting and presentations by investment and other personnel of the Investment Manager. Additionally, as required by Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, the Trust implemented the Liquidity Program, which is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Funds' liquidity risk. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the designation of a liquidity risk management program administrator (the "Liquidity Program Administrator") which is responsible for administering the Liquidity Program. The Board reviews, no less frequently than annually, a written report prepared by the Liquidity Program Administrator that addresses the operation of the Liquidity Program and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation.

The Board oversees the Funds' use of derivatives in accordance with Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. As required by Rule 18f-4, with respect to each of the Funds that is not classified as a "limited derivatives user fund" (as defined in Rule 18f-4) (each a "Full Compliance Fund"), the Trust has implemented a Derivatives Risk Management Program, which is reasonably designed to manage the Full Compliance Funds' derivatives risks and to reasonably segregate the functions associated with the Program from the portfolio management of such Funds. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the designation of a Derivatives Risk Manager (the "DRM"), which is responsible for administering the Derivatives Risk Management Program for the Full Compliance Funds. To facilitate the Board's oversight, the Board reviews, no less frequently than annually, a written report on the effectiveness of the Derivatives Risk Management Program and also more frequent reports regarding certain derivatives risk matters. With respect to each Fund that is classified as a limited derivatives user fund (each an "LDU Fund"), the Board oversees the Fund's derivatives risks through, among other things, receiving written reports by the Investment Manager regarding any LDU Fund's exceedance of the derivatives exposure threshold set forth in Rule 18f-4. Additionally, as required by Rule 18f-4, the Trust has implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage the LDU Funds' derivatives risks.

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds 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 seek to achieve the Funds' investment objectives, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and assessments and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel. Moreover, despite the periodic reports the Board receives, it may not be made aware of all of the relevant information of a particular risk. Most of the Funds' investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Investment Manager, Distributor and other service providers, most of whom employ professional personnel who have risk management responsibilities and each of whom has an independent interest in risk management, which interest could differ from or conflict with that of the other funds that

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are advised by the Investment Manager. The role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust's investments, operations or activities. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board's risk management oversight is subject to limitations. The Board may at any time and in its discretion change how it administers its risk oversight function.

**Board Committees**

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**Audit Committee—**The Board has an Audit Committee, which is composed of Angela Brock-Kyle, Thomas F. Lydon, Jr., Ronald A. Nyberg, Sandra G. Sponem, and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Ms. Sponem serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is generally responsible for certain oversight matters, such as reviewing the Funds' systems for accounting, financial reporting and internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers, overseeing the integrity of the Funds' financial statements (and the audit thereof), reviewing reports from the Investment Manager on portfolio securities pricing errors and errors in the calculation of the net asset value of a Fund, as well as overseeing the qualifications, independence and performance of the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for recommending to the Board the appointment, retention and termination of the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm and acting as a liaison between the Board and the Trust's independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Contracts Review Committee—**The Board has a Contracts Review Committee, which is composed of Angela Brock-Kyle, Thomas F. Lydon, Jr., Ronald A. Nyberg, Sandra G. Sponem, and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Lydon serves as Chair of the Contracts Review Committee. The purpose of the Contracts Review Committee is to assist the Board in overseeing the evaluation of certain contracts to which the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, is or is proposed to be a party to ensure that the interests of the Fund and its shareholders are served by the terms of these contracts. The Contracts Review Committee's primary function is to oversee the process of evaluating existing investment advisory and subadvisory agreements, distribution agreements, distribution and/or shareholder services plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and certain other agreements and plans. In addition, at its discretion or at the request of the Board, the Contracts Review Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to any contract to which the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, is or is proposed to be a party. The Contracts Review Committee held two meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Executive Committee—**The Board has an Executive Committee, which is composed of Sandra G. Sponem and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. In between meetings of the full Board, the Executive Committee generally may exercise all the powers of the full Board in the management of the business of the Funds. Mr. Toupin serves as Chair of the Executive Committee. However, the Executive Committee cannot, among other things, authorize dividends or distributions on shares, amend the bylaws or recommend to the shareholders any action which requires shareholder approval. The Executive Committee held no meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Nominating and Governance Committee—**The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee, which is composed of Angela Brock-Kyle, Thomas F. Lydon, Jr., Ronald A. Nyberg, Sandra G. Sponem, and Ronald E. Toupin, Jr., each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Nyberg serves as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

The purpose of the Nominating and Governance Committee is to review matters pertaining to the composition, committees, and operations of the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for recommending qualified candidates to the Board in the event that a position is vacated or created. The Nominating and Governance Committee would consider recommendations by shareholders if a vacancy were to exist and shall assess shareholder recommendations in the same manner as it reviews its own candidates. To have a candidate considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee, a shareholder should submit the recommendation in writing, delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Trust at 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850 to the attention of the Nominating and Governance Committee, care of the Secretary of the Trust. Additional requirements and procedures relating to shareholder submissions may be communicated to the shareholder in response to the submission. The Nominating and Governance Committee

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periodically reviews other governance and policy matters affecting the operation of the Board and Board committees, including the Independent Trustee compensation structure. The Nominating and Governance Committee held three meetings during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year.

**Remuneration of Trustees**

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The Independent Trustees of the Trust receive from the Fund Complex a general annual retainer for service on covered boards. Additional annual retainer fees are paid to: the Independent Chair of the Board; and the Chair (and Vice Chair, if any) of each of the Audit Committee, the Contracts Review Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. In addition, fees are paid for special Board or Committee meetings, whether telephonic or in-person. The Trust also reimburses each Independent Trustee for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending in-person meetings, which are not included in the compensation amounts shown below. Each Fund pays proportionately its respective share of Independent Trustees' fees and expenses based in part on a per capita allocation and in part based on relative net assets.

The Trustees did not accrue any pension or retirement benefits as part of Trust expenses, nor will they receive any annual benefits upon retirement. The Trustees also did not accrue any deferred compensation nor is any amount of deferred compensation payable by the Trust. The aggregate compensation paid by the Trust, and the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund Complex, including the Guggenheim Family of Funds, to each of the Independent Trustees during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 are set forth below.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Independent Trustees** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate** <br> **Compensation** <br> **from the Trust\***<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate Compensation** <br> **from the Fund Complex\*\*,**<br> **including the Family of**<br> **Funds**<br>|
| Angela Brock-Kyle | $138693 | $377500 |
| Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. | $149559 | $406250 |
| Ronald A. Nyberg | $149559 | $504750 |
| Sandra G. Sponem | $155642 | $422500 |
| Ronald E. Toupin, Jr. | $185775 | $502500 |

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\*

In accordance with the Trust's Independent Trustee Retirement Policy, Mr. Randall C. Barnes resigned from the Board effective on April 2, 2026. For the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, Mr. Barnes received $149,559 in aggregate compensation from the Trust and $506,750 in total compensation from the Fund Complex.

\*\*

The "Fund Complex" includes all closed- and open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment adviser or servicing agent that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager.

The Investment Manager compensates its officers and directors who may also serve as officers or Trustees. The Trust does not pay any fees to, or reimburse expenses of, the Interested Trustee.

**Trustees' Ownership of Securities**

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As of the end of the most recently completed calendar year, the Trustees beneficially owned shares of the Funds in the dollar ranges set forth below and also beneficially owned shares of other funds in the Fund Complex in the dollar ranges set forth below. If a Fund is not shown for a Trustee, the Trustee did not beneficially own shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Independent** <br> **Trustee**<br>| **Name of Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Dollar Range** <br> **of Equity Securities**<br> **in the Funds**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate Dollar Range of** <br> **Equity Securities in all** <br> **Registered Investment** <br> **Companies Overseen by** <br> **Trustee in Fund Complex\*,**<br> **Including the Family of**<br> **Funds**<br>|
| Angela Brock-Kyle | N/A |  | Over $100,000 |
| Thomas F. Lydon, Jr. | N/A |  | $10001-$50000 |
| Ronald A. Nyberg | N/A |  | Over $100,000 |
| Sandra G. Sponem | N/A |  | Over $100,000 |
| Ronald E. Toupin, Jr. | N/A |  | Over $100,000 |

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\*

The "Fund Complex" includes all closed- and open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment adviser or servicing agent that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Interested** <br> **Trustee**<br>| **Name of Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Dollar Range of**<br> **Equity Securities in**<br> **the Funds**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Aggregate Dollar Range of** <br> **Equity Securities in all** <br> **Registered Investment**<br> **Companies Overseen by**<br> **Trustee in Fund Complex\*,**<br> **Including the Family of**<br> **Funds**<br>|
| Amy J. Lee | N/A |  | $1-10000 |

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\*

The "Fund Complex" includes all closed- and open-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment adviser or servicing agent that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager.

**Principal Holders of Securities**

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As of December 31, 2025, the Funds' officers and Trustees (as a group) beneficially owned less than 1.00% of the total outstanding shares of the Funds.

As of December 31, 2025, the following entities owned, of record or beneficially unless otherwise indicated, 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of any class of a Fund:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Shareholder**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Address of Shareholder** | **Fund** | **Class**  | **Percent** |
| Morgan Stanley Smith <br> Barney LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th <br> Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – <br> Core Plus Fund<br>| SMA | 87.25% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. <br> Inc.<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – <br> Core Plus Fund<br>| SMA | 8.38% |
| Charles Schwab & Co. <br> Inc.<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 211 Main Street<br> San Francisco, CA 94105<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – <br> Limited Duration Fund<br>| SMA | 69.85% |
| Morgan Stanley Smith <br> Barney LLC<sup>2</sup> <br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; 1 New York Plaza, 12th <br> Floor<br> New York, NY 10004<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – <br> Core Plus Fund<br>| SMA | 30.15% |

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<sup>1</sup>

The shareholders may be contacted at c/o Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850.

<sup>2</sup>

These shareholders owned beneficially or of record 25% or more of the corresponding Fund's shares as of December 31, 2025. A shareholder who beneficially owns more than 25% of a Fund's shares is presumed to "control" the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and may have a significant impact on matters submitted to a shareholder vote.

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**How to Purchase Shares**

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Shares of the Funds may be purchased only by or on behalf of "wrap fee" program, separately managed account program or other similar program clients where the Investment Manager or an affiliate thereof has an agreement to serve as investment adviser or sub-adviser to an account with the program sponsor (typically a registered investment adviser, bank or broker-dealer) or directly with the client. A client agreement to open an account typically may be obtained by contacting the "wrap fee", separately managed account or other similar program sponsor or a financial adviser.

Shares of the Funds are also offered to other funds in the Guggenheim Family of Funds, as defined in the Funds' Prospectus.

In most cases, purchase orders are made based on instructions from Guggenheim Investments or an affiliate thereof (in its capacity as investment adviser or sub-adviser to the "wrap fee", separately managed or other similar account) to the broker dealer who executes trades for the account. Purchase orders may also be made by "wrap fee", separately managed account or other similar program sponsors or their affiliates from time to time.

Orders for the purchase of shares of the Funds will be confirmed at an offering price equal to the NAV per share next determined after receipt and acceptance of the order in proper form by the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or the broker-dealer who executes trades for the separately managed account, generally as of the close of the NYSE on that day.

Purchase orders by a fund of funds for which the Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment manager will be treated as received by a Fund at the same time that the corresponding purchase orders are received in proper form by the fund of funds and accepted.

Purchase orders may be delivered to the Transfer Agent by mail or phone, and purchase proceeds may be sent by check, wire transfers or ACH. The Funds do not accept cash or cash equivalents (such as traveler's checks, money orders or bearer bonds), starter checks or checks drawn on a line of credit (including credit card convenience checks). The Funds typically do not accept third-party checks. The Funds reserve the right to refuse other payment instruments if, in the sole discretion of Fund management, it is deemed to be in the best interests of the Funds.

In addition to the purchase options described above, each Fund may, in its sole discretion or the sole discretion of its Investment Manager, accept purchase orders in the form of other consideration, including shares of stock, bonds or other securities or instruments (a "subscription in kind"). Any securities or other instruments used to purchase Fund shares must be consistent with the Fund's investment objective or strategies and otherwise deemed acceptable by the Fund or its Investment Manager. Any securities or other instruments accepted by the Fund as purchase proceeds will be valued in accordance with the Funds' valuation policy and procedures and Investment Managers' Rule 2a-5 valuation policy and Rule 2a-5 valuation procedures. The securities must also be transferred with good and marketable title, in proper form for transfer to the Fund, with all rights (such as dividends, interest, subscription and other rights), transferred to the Fund and with such information (tax or otherwise) as deemed appropriate by the Investment Manager. Purchase of Fund shares in exchange of securities or other instruments would be a taxable exchange with the same tax consequences as a sale. Accordingly, an investor who submits a subscription in kind and receives Fund shares in exchange may realize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes upon disposition of the securities or other instruments used to purchase Fund shares. The amount of capital gain or loss would depend upon the tax basis of the investors in the securities or other instruments used to purchase the Fund shares, and the capital gain or loss would be long-term or short-term depending on whether the investor's holding period in the securities or other instruments exceeds one year. In the event of a subscription in kind, affected investors should consult their personal tax adviser. You should call the Investment Manager to discuss subscriptions in kind and determine if the securities or other instruments you wish to contribute are acceptable.

The Funds reserve the right to withdraw all or any part of the offering made by the Prospectus and to reject purchase orders at any time and for any reason or without cause.

As a convenience to investors and to save operating expenses, the Funds do not issue certificates for Fund shares.

**Canceled Purchase Orders—**Purchase orders will ordinarily be canceled under the following circumstances:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If your bank does not honor your check for any reason;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the Transfer Agent does not receive your wire transfer;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the Transfer Agent does not receive your ACH transfer; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If your bank does not honor your ACH transfer.

If a purchase order is canceled for any of these reasons, you will not be entitled to benefit from any increase in NAV that the Fund(s) may have experienced from the time of your order to the time of its cancellation. In addition, if the Fund(s) NAV decreases in value from the time of the order to the time of its cancellation, the Fund(s) will hold you liable for any losses that it incurs as a result of the canceled order.

A $50 returned check fee may be imposed on purchase checks returned for insufficient funds.

To obtain same day credit (to get that business day's NAV) for a wire purchase order, you should call the Transfer Agent and provide the following information prior to the cutoff time for the fund(s) you are purchasing:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Account number;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fund name;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Amount of wire; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fed wire reference number.

You will receive a confirmation number to verify that your purchase order has been accepted.

If you do not notify the Transfer Agent of the incoming wire, the purchase order may not be processed until the next business day following the receipt of the wire.

For more information about purchasing Fund shares, please contact your "wrap fee", separately managed account or other similar program sponsor.

**Sales Charges, Reductions and Waivers**

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SMA Class shares of the Funds do not carry sales charges.

**Distribution Plans**—Each Fund has not adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for SMA Class shares.

**Other Distribution or Service Arrangements**—The Investment Manager, Distributor or their affiliates, out of their own resources and not out of Fund assets (i.e., without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders), may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to some, but not all, broker/dealers and other financial intermediaries (including payments to affiliates of the Investment Manager or Distributor) who sell shares of the Funds or render investor services to Fund shareholders. These arrangements are sometimes referred to as "revenue sharing" arrangements. Revenue sharing arrangements are not financed by the Funds, and thus, do not result in increased Fund expenses. They are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fees and expenses sections of the Funds' Prospectus, and they do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a Fund's shares or the amount received by a shareholder as proceeds from the redemption of Fund shares. No compensation is paid to broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries from Fund assets on sales of SMA Class shares and for related services. SMA Class shares do not carry sales charges or pay Rule 12b-1 fees, or make payments to financial intermediaries to assist in, or in connection with, the sale of SMA Class shares of a Fund.

Such compensation, if any, is paid to intermediaries that provide services to the Funds and/or shareholders in the Funds, including (without limitation) shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. Such compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Funds on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs, or as an expense reimbursement or compensation in cases where the intermediary provides services to Fund shareholders. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Distributor and other parties may pay or allow other incentives and compensation to such financial intermediaries. The Distributor generally periodically assesses the advisability of continuing to make these payments.

These payments may take a variety of forms, including (without limitation) compensation for sales, "trail" fees for shareholder servicing and maintenance of investor accounts, and finder's fees. Revenue sharing payments may be structured: (1) as a percentage of net sales; (2) as a percentage of net assets; and/or (3) as a fixed dollar-amount.

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As of the date of this SAI, the Distributor and/or Investment Manager have revenue sharing arrangements with, and during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year paid compensation on behalf of all series of the Trust (excluding the Funds) in the aggregate amount to, financial intermediaries, as follows:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Financial Intermediary** | **Dollar Amount of Compensation\*** |
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney | $3490920  |
| Wells Fargo Advisors | $1436609  |
| UBS Financial Services | $1308993  |
| LPL Financial | $1112519  |
| Raymond James | $1089184  |
| American Enterprise | $752154  |
| PNC Investments | $327032  |
| Merrill Lynch | $222406  |
| Citigroup Global Markets | $78370  |
| Ascensus | $20250  |
| Empower Financial Services | $18300  |
| Charles Schwab | $11467  |
| RBC Capital Markets | $8545  |
| Principal Life | $5000  |
| Fidelity | $(12616)\*\* |

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\*

Amounts include compensation paid on behalf of the Funds and certain other series of the Trust in operation during the prior fiscal year and may include compensation paid on behalf of liquidated/reorganized series.

\*\*

Reflects the reversal of previously accrued expenses attributable to liquidated/reorganized series.

The Distributor may enter into revenue sharing arrangements with other financial intermediaries and may modify existing revenue sharing arrangements.

From time to time, the Distributor and its affiliates may also pay non-cash compensation to brokers and other financial intermediaries in the form of, for example: (1) occasional gifts; (2) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; and/or (3) sponsorship support of regional or national events. For example, representatives of the Distributor visit brokers and other financial intermediaries on a regular basis to educate them about the Funds and to encourage the sale of Fund shares to their clients. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

The compensation or reimbursement received by brokers and other financial intermediaries through sales charges, fees payable from the Funds, and/or revenue sharing arrangements for selling shares of the Funds may be more or less than the overall compensation or reimbursement received by brokers or other financial intermediaries on similar or other products and may influence your broker or other financial intermediary to present and recommend the Funds over other investment options available in the marketplace.

Shareholders may obtain more information about these arrangements, including the conflicts of interests that such arrangements may create, from their brokers and other financial intermediaries and should so inquire if they would like additional information. A shareholder may ask his/her broker or "wrap fee", separately managed account or other similar program sponsor how he/she will be compensated for investments made in the Funds.

Although a Fund may use financial firms that sell Fund shares to effect transactions for the Fund's portfolio, the Funds and the Investment Manager will not consider the sale of Fund shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions.

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**Investment Management**

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GPIM, located at 330 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017, is the investment manager to each of the Funds. GPIM managed approximately $247 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025. GPIM is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Guggenheim Capital, LLC, an affiliate of Guggenheim Partners, LLC. Guggenheim Partners, LLC is a global, diversified financial services firm that, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides clients with a broad array of investment management, broker-dealer, investment banking, and other services.

In rendering investment advisory services to the Funds, the Investment Manager will use the resources of Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited ("GPE") to research, select, and effect some investments for the Funds in Europe and other non-U.S. jurisdictions, an affiliate of the Investment Manager based in the United Kingdom that is not registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Under the terms of a participating affiliate arrangement, GPE is considered to be a "Participating Affiliate" of the Investment Manager, as that term is used in relief granted by the staff of the SEC allowing US-registered advisers to use investment advisory and trading resources of unregistered advisory affiliates, subject to the regulatory supervision of the registered adviser.

**Management Agreement**—Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Investment Manager furnishes investment advisory, statistical and research services to the Funds, supervises and arranges for the purchase and sale of securities on behalf of the Funds, and provides for the compilation and maintenance of records pertaining to the investment advisory functions. The Investment Manager is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator ("CPO") and is a member of the National Futures Association ("NFA") in such capacity. GPIM is also registered as a commodity trading advisor ("CTA") and is registered with the NFA in such capacity.

For services provided to the Funds, the Investment Manager is entitled to receive compensation on an annual basis equal to:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Contractual Management Fees** (expressed as a percentage of average daily net assets, calculated daily and <br> paid monthly) | **Contractual Management Fees** (expressed as a percentage of average daily net assets, calculated daily and <br> paid monthly) |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | 0.00% |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | 0.00% |

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The Management Agreement (after an initial term of up to two years) is renewable with respect to a Fund annually by the Board or by a vote of a majority of the individual Fund's outstanding securities and, in either event, by a majority of the Board who are not parties to the Management Agreement or interested persons of any such party. The Management Agreement provides that it may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party on 60 days' notice and is automatically terminated in the event of assignment.

The Investment Manager has agreed to reimburse the Funds or waive a portion of its management fee for any amount by which the total annual expenses of the Funds (including management fees, but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses and any distributions fees) for any fiscal year exceeds the level of expenses which the Funds are permitted to bear under the most restrictive expense limitation imposed by any state in which shares of the Funds are then qualified for sale. The Investment Manager is not aware of any state that currently imposes limits on the level of mutual fund expenses.

In addition, and as set forth in the Prospectus, the Investment Manager has contractually agreed through February 1, 2027 to make payments to the extent necessary to limit the ordinary operating expenses (including distribution (12b-1) fees (if any), but not brokerage costs, dividends on securities sold short, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, litigation, indemnification or extraordinary expenses) of the Fund share class listed below to the listed percentages of such Fund's average daily net assets.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Class** | **Expense Cap** |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | SMA | 0.00% |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | SMA | 0.00% |

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The Investment Manager is not entitled to reimbursement by a Fund for expenses reimbursed under the expense limitation agreement.

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The Investment Manager has also contractually agreed through February 1, 2027, to reimburse each Fund the amount to the extent necessary to offset the proportionate share of any management fee paid by each Fund with respect to any Fund investment in an underlying fund for which the Investment Manager or any of its affiliates also serves as investment manager. The Investment Manager is not entitled to reimbursement by the Fund for expenses reimbursed under this agreement. This agreement will automatically renew for one-year terms with respect to a Fund, unless the Investment Manager provides written notice to the Fund of the termination of the agreement.

Each contractual expense reimbursement agreement will terminate when it reaches its expiration (if not renewed), or when the Investment Manager ceases to serve as such and it may be terminated by the Board.

Effective December 15, 2025, pursuant to a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement, as may be amended and/or restated, BNY acts as the administrative agent for the Funds and, as such, performs administrative functions and bookkeeping, accounting and pricing functions for the Funds. For these services, BNY receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, based on average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to a minimum fee per year. The Funds also reimburse BNY for certain out-of-pocket expenses. No fees were paid to BNY under such agreement during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.

Prior to December 15, 2025, pursuant to a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement with the Trust, MUFG Investor Services ("MUFG") acted as the administrative agent for the Funds and, as such, performed administrative functions and bookkeeping, accounting and pricing functions for the Funds. For these services, MUFG received a fixed annual fee, apportioned to the series of Guggenheim Funds Trust based on average daily net assets, plus a fee, payable monthly in arrears, based on a percentage of the average daily net assets. MUFG also received from the Funds fees based on the number of Funds or share classes issued by the Funds, as applicable, for certain filing and reporting services MUFG provided to the Funds. The Funds also reimbursed MUFG for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

Effective February 23, 2026, pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement with the Trust, as may be amended and/or restated time to time, the Transfer Agent performs all shareholder servicing functions, including processing purchase and redemption transactions, processing transfers and exchanges, maintenance of shareholder accounts, answering inquiries, supporting the mailing and e-delivery of shareholder communications and acting as the dividend disbursing agent.

Prior to February 23, 2026, pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement with the Trust, MUFG acted as the transfer agent for the Funds. As such, MUFG performed all shareholder servicing functions, including processing purchase and redemption transactions, processing transfers and exchanges, maintenance of shareholder accounts, answering inquiries, and mailing shareholder communications, supporting the mailing and e-delivery of shareholder communications and acting as the dividend disbursing agent.

The Funds have agreed to reimburse the Transfer Agent, Investment Manager, Distributor or their affiliates for expenses they pay to financial intermediaries, such as third-party administrators, broker/dealers, banks, insurance companies or other financial intermediaries, for providing sub-transfer agency and similar services to shareholders, including beneficial shareholders of a Fund where such shares are held in omnibus accounts, pursuant to various sub-transfer agency agreements. Payments reimbursed by the Funds pursuant to such agreements are generally based on: (1) the average daily net assets of clients serviced by such financial intermediary; or (2) the number of accounts serviced by such financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements are in addition to, rather than in lieu of, any Rule 12b-1 fees the financial intermediary may also be receiving pursuant to agreements with the Distributor. Because these financial intermediaries may be paid different amounts per class in exchange for the provision of sub-transfer agency services, these payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend one fund class of shares over another. The fees paid for sub-transfer agency and similar subcontracted services vary based on, for example, the nature of the services provided. For the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the total sub-transfer agency payments of this nature made by the Trust on behalf of its series, including certain series not included in this SAI, were approximately $44,910,236.

Each Fund pays all of its respective expenses not assumed by the Transfer Agent or the Distributor, including organization expenses; Trustees' fees; fees of the Fund's custodian; taxes and governmental fees; interest charges; any membership dues; brokerage commissions; expenses of preparing and distributing reports to shareholders; costs of shareholder and other meetings; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Each Fund also pays for the preparation and distribution of the Prospectus to its shareholders and all expenses in connection with its registration under federal and state securities laws. Each Fund pays nonrecurring

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expenses that may arise, including litigation expenses affecting the Fund or legal and other professional costs, which may be significant, that may be incurred when enforcing shareholder rights in connection with an investment or in structuring an investment (e.g., negotiation of investment terms and 1940 Act compliance considerations). Notably, private debt and derivatives investments of the Funds often require legal reviews for 1940 Act compliance purposes, and the associated costs are borne by the Funds. In certain cases, these fees can be borne by the Funds and other funds advised by the Investment Manager and its affiliates and are allocated among respective parties based on methods intended to result in fair and equitable allocations.

The Funds paid the following investment advisory fees and accounting and administrative service fees to the applicable Service Providers for their services during the Funds' first completed fiscal year:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fiscal** <br> **Year/**<br> **Period**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Advisory** <br> **Fees Paid**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Advisory Fees** <br> **Waived by and**<br> **Reimbursements**<br> **from Investment**<br> **Manager**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Accounting** <br> **and** <br> **Administrative** <br> **Service Fees** <br> **Paid\***<br>|
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series <br> (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | 2025 | $0 | $233352 | $62871 |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series <br> (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | 2024 | $0 | $0 | $3219 |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series <br> (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | 2025 | $0 | $223099 | $60136 |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series <br> (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | 2024 | $0 | $0 | $3219 |

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\*

Reflects fees paid to MUFG, the Funds' previous administrator.

**Code of Ethics**

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The Trust, the Investment Manager and the Distributor have each adopted a written code of ethics (the "Code of Ethics") which governs the personal securities transactions of "access persons" of the Trust. Access persons may invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust, provided that they obtain prior clearance before engaging in securities transactions, subject to certain de minimis exceptions. Access persons include officers and Trustees of the Trust and Investment Manager and employees that participate in, or obtain information regarding, the purchase or sale of securities by the Trust or whose job relates to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales. All access persons must report their personal securities transactions within thirty days of the end of each calendar quarter.

Subject to certain de minimis exceptions for access persons not involved in the fund accounting or asset management activities of the Investment Manager, access persons will not be permitted to effect transactions in a security if it: (1) is being considered for purchase or sale by the Funds; (2) is being purchased or sold by the Trust; or (3) is being offered in an initial public offering. Portfolio managers, research analysts, and traders are also prohibited from purchasing or selling a security within seven calendar days before or after any fund in the Family of Funds or other fund managed by an affiliated investment adviser trades in that security. Any material violation of the Code of Ethics is reported to the Board of the Trust. The Board also reviews the administration of the Code of Ethics on an annual basis and approves any material changes to the Code of Ethics pursuant to the requirements of Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. The Code of Ethics is on public file with the SEC and is available from the Commission.

**Portfolio Managers**

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**Compensation**—The Investment Manager compensates portfolio managers for their management of a Fund's portfolio. Compensation is evaluated 1) quantitatively based on their contribution to investment performance and portfolio risk control and 2) qualitatively based on factors such as teamwork and client service efforts. The portfolio managers' incentives may include: a competitive base salary, bonus determined by individual and firm wide performance, equity participation, co-investment options, and participation opportunities in various investments, including through deferred compensation programs. To ensure alignment with client interests, a portfolio manager's compensation is not correlated to the size of assets under management in the strategy for which the portfolio manager is responsible. Some portfolio managers may earn compensation that varies based on the performance of certain accounts or investments. All employees of the Investment Manager are also eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan to which a discretionary match may be made after the completion of each plan year. The Investment Manager's

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deferred compensation programs include equity that vests over a period of years, including equity in the form of shares of fund(s) managed by the particular portfolio manager. The value of the fund shares under the deferred compensation program is awarded annually and each award vests over a period of years (generally 4 years). As discussed below, a portfolio manager's ownership of shares of a fund, including a Fund, managed by the portfolio manager may create conflicts of interest that incentivize the portfolio manager to favor such fund, or Fund, over other Funds or other accounts.

**Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers**—Each Portfolio Manager may also manage other registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts, and each Portfolio Manager may own shares of the Fund he/she manages. As of the end of the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the Portfolio Managers are responsible for the management of certain other accounts, as follows:

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled***<br> ***Investment Vehicles*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled***<br> ***Investment Vehicles*** | ***Other Accounts*** | ***Other Accounts*** |
| **Portfolio Manager** | **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>|
| Adam J. Bloch | 19 | $52085  | 10 | $3030 | 49 | $25421 |
| Steven H. Brown | 23 | $53065  | 10 | $3030 | 49 | $25421 |
| Evan Serdensky | 19 | $52085  | 3 | $1497 | 39 | $24327 |
| Anne B. Walsh | 23 | $53065  | 11 | $3041 | 70 | $128913 |

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The following table identifies, as of the end of the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the number of, and total assets of, the registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on performance.

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Registered***<br> ***Investment Companies*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled Investment***<br> ***Vehicles*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Other Pooled Investment***<br> ***Vehicles*** | ***Other Accounts*** | ***Other Accounts*** |
| **Portfolio Manager** | **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>| **Number** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Total Assets**<br> **(in millions)**<br>|
| Adam J. Bloch | 0 | N/A  | 3 | $1691 | 1 | $135 |
| Steven H. Brown | 0 | N/A  | 3 | $1691 | 1 | $135 |
| Evan Serdensky | 0 | N/A | 1 | $196 | 1 | $135 |
| Anne B. Walsh | 0 | N/A | 3 | $1691 | 1 | $135 |

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**Portfolio Manager Ownership of Fund Shares—**The table below sets forth the dollar range of shares of a Fund beneficially owned by each portfolio manager of such Fund as of September 30, 2025. If no holdings are shown for a portfolio manager, the portfolio manager did not beneficially own shares of the Fund as of such date. These amounts may reflect Fund shares awarded to the portfolio manager under the Investment Manager's deferred compensation program described above.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ***Name of Portfolio***<br> ***Manager***<br>| ***Name of Fund*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Dollar Range of Equity Securities*** <br> ***in the Funds***<br>|
| Adam J. Bloch | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Core Plus Fund<br>| None |
| Adam J. Bloch | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Limited Duration Fund<br>| None |
| Steven H. Brown | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Core Plus Fund<br>| None |
| Steven H. Brown | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Limited Duration Fund<br>| None |
| Evan Serdensky | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Core Plus Fund<br>| None |
| Evan Serdensky | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Limited Duration Fund<br>| None |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ***Name of Portfolio***<br> ***Manager***<br>| ***Name of Fund*** | &nbsp;&nbsp; ***Dollar Range of Equity Securities*** <br> ***in the Funds***<br>|
| Anne B. Walsh | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Core Plus Fund<br>| None |
| Anne B. Walsh | &nbsp;&nbsp; Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS)<br> – Limited Duration Fund<br>| None |

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**Information Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest**—

**<u>Potential Conflicts Related to the Sale of Fund Shares</u>**. The Investment Manager, its affiliates and their respective employees may have relationships with distributors, consultants and others who recommend, or engage in transactions with or for, the Funds. The Funds and/or the Investment Manager or its affiliates may compensate such distributors, consultants and other parties in connection with such relationships. As a result of these relationships, distributors, consultants and other parties may have conflicts that create incentives for them to promote the Funds over other funds or financial products.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Investment Manager and its affiliates and the Funds may make payments to authorized dealers and other financial intermediaries and to salespersons to promote the Funds. These payments may be made out of the assets of the Investment Manager or its affiliates or amounts payable to the Investment Manager or its affiliates. These payments may create an incentive for such persons to highlight, feature or recommend the Funds over other funds or financial products.

**<u>Potential Conflicts Related to Management of the Funds by the Investment Manager.</u>**

The following are descriptions of certain conflicts, financial or otherwise, that the Investment Manager and its employees may have in managing the Funds. The descriptions below are not intended to be a complete enumeration or explanation of all of the conflicts of interests that may arise from the business activities of the Investment Manager, its affiliates, or their respective clients. To address these and other actual or potential conflicts, the Investment Manager and the Funds have established various policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to identify and mitigate such conflicts and to ensure that such conflicts are appropriately resolved taking into consideration the best interest of all clients involved, consistent with the Investment Manager's fiduciary obligations and in accordance with applicable law. However, there can be no guarantee that these policies and procedures will be successful in every instance. In certain cases, transactions involving potential conflicts of interest described below may be elevated for review by a conflicts review committee, the members of which are senior personnel of the Investment Manager's affiliates and are not employees or clients of the Investment Manager. Additional information about potential conflicts of interest regarding the Investment Manager is set forth in the Investment Manager's Form ADV. A copy of Part 1 and Part 2A of the Investment Manager's Form ADV is available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

**<u>The Investment Manager and Its Affiliates Provide a Broad Array of Services and Have Various</u> <u>Investment Banking, Advisory and Other Relationships.</u>** The Investment Manager is an affiliate of Guggenheim Partners, LLC ("Guggenheim Partners"), which is a global, full service financial services firm. Guggenheim Partners and its affiliates, including the Investment Manager (collectively, "Guggenheim Entities"), provide their clients with a broad array of investment management, insurance, broker-dealer, investment banking and other similar services ("Other Business Activities"). These Other Business Activities create actual and potential conflicts of interest for the Investment Manager in managing the Funds.

For example, the Other Business Activities may create conflicts between the interests of a Fund, on the one hand, and the interests of the Investment Manager, its affiliates and their respective other clients, on the other hand. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may act as advisers to clients in investment banking, loan arranging and structuring, financial advisory, restructuring, liability management, asset management and other capacities related to securities and instruments that may be purchased, sold or held by a Fund, and the Investment Manager or an affiliate may issue, or be engaged as underwriter for the issuer of, securities and instruments that a Fund may (in accordance with applicable rules) purchase, sell or hold. At times, these activities may cause the Investment Manager and its affiliates to give advice to their clients that may cause these clients to take actions in conflict with or that are adverse to the interests of a Fund. In addition, Guggenheim Entities may take action that differs from, potentially conflicts with or is adverse to advice given or action taken for the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds. The Guggenheim Entities and their respective officers, directors, managing directors, partners, employees and

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consultants may act in a proprietary capacity with long or short positions in securities and instruments of all types, including those that may be purchased, sold or held by a Fund. Such activities can give rise to interests different from or adverse to those of a Fund, and they could affect the prices and availability of the securities and instruments that a Fund holds or that the Investment Manager seeks to buy or sell for a Fund's account, which could adversely impact the financial returns of the Funds.

These Other Business Activities may create other potential conflicts of interests in managing the Funds, may cause the Funds to be subject to additional regulatory limits and, in certain circumstances, may prevent a Fund from participating or limit a Fund's participation in an investment opportunity that the Funds' portfolio managers view to be favorable. As a result, activities and dealings of the Investment Manager and its affiliates may affect the Funds in ways that may disadvantage or restrict the Funds or be deemed to benefit the Investment Manager, its affiliates or other client accounts.

**<u>The Investment Manager and Its Affiliates' Activities on Behalf of Other Clients</u>**. The Investment Manager and its affiliates currently manage and expect to continue to manage a variety of other client accounts, including (without limitation) separately managed accounts (including through the Investment Manager's participation in third-party sponsored separately managed account programs through which the Investment Manager provides discretionary sub-advisory services to individuals and other investors), open-end registered funds, closed-end registered funds, private funds and other collective investment vehicles, and may serve as asset or collateral manager or in other capacities for certain non-registered structured products (collectively, "Other Clients"). Such Other Clients, and investors in Other Clients include insurance companies affiliated with or related to the Investment Manager, as described below. Other Clients invest pursuant to the same or different investment objectives, strategies and philosophies as those employed by the Funds and may seek to make or sell investments in the same securities, instruments, sectors or strategies as the Funds. This "side-by-side" management of multiple accounts may create potential conflicts, particularly in circumstances where the availability or liquidity of investment opportunities is limited, or when accounts trade in opposite directions. For example, there is a risk that sales (including short sales) of one client portfolio security adversely affect the market value of securities held in another client portfolio, or trading terms could be adversely affected when opposite trades are executed. There is a risk that the Funds will compete with Other Clients for an investment opportunity in a manner that reduces the availability of such investment opportunity for the Funds. The Investment Manager is also affiliated with other investment advisers, both registered and unregistered, that provide investment advice with respect to the same types of instruments or similar investment strategies as the Investment Manager. There is a risk that the clients of these other advisers will compete with the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds, for limited investment opportunities. This risk is heightened when an investment in such investment opportunity is executed on behalf of a client of such other advisers through a trading desk separate from the one utilized by the Investment Manager. In addition, Other Clients may also be subject to different legal restrictions or regulatory regimes than the Funds. Regardless of the similarity in investment objectives and strategies between the Funds and Other Clients, the Investment Manager may give advice and recommend investments to Other Clients that may differ from advice given to, or investments bought or sold for, the Funds, and the Funds and Other Clients may vote differently on or take or refrain from taking different actions with respect to the same security or instrument. Furthermore, the manner in which the Investment Manager executes a strategy for the Funds may differ from how that same or similar strategy is executed for Other Clients due to, for example, investment restrictions imposed by the Funds or the Other Client. These practices, limitations and conflicts may be disadvantageous to the Funds and adversely affect their performance.

The investment policies, fee arrangements and other characteristics of the Funds may also vary from those of Other Clients. In some cases, the Investment Manager or an affiliate may receive a potentially larger financial benefit from managing one or more such Other Clients as compared to the Funds (for example, some Other Clients are charged performance or incentive fees constituting a percentage of profits or gains), which may provide an incentive to favor such Other Clients over the Funds or to recommend favorable investments to Other Clients who pay higher fees or who have the potential to generate greater fees over the Funds. The Investment Manager on behalf of the Funds or Other Clients may, pursuant to one transaction or in a series of transactions over time, invest in different parts of an issuer's or borrower's capital structure (including but not limited to investments in public versus private securities, investments in debt versus equity, or investments in senior versus subordinated debt or when the same or similar investments have different rights or benefits), depending on the respective client's investment objectives and policies. Relevant issuers or borrowers may also include special purpose issuers or borrowers in structured finance, asset backed, collateralized loan obligation, collateralized debt obligation or similar transactions. As a result of the foregoing, the interests of one group of clients could conflict with those of other clients with respect to the same issuer or borrower. In managing such investments, the Investment Manager will consider the interests of all affected

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clients in deciding what actions to take with respect to a given issuer or borrower, but at times will pursue or enforce rights on behalf of some clients in a manner that may have an adverse effect on, or result in asymmetrical financial outcomes to, other clients owning a different, including more senior or junior, investment in the same issuer or borrower. In these types of scenarios, the Investment Manager may occasionally engage and appoint an independent party to provide independent analysis or recommendations with respect to consents, proxy voting, or other similar shareholder or debt holder rights decision (or a series of consents, votes or similar decisions) pertaining to the Funds and other clients. These potential conflicts of interests between the Investment Manager's clients may become more pronounced in situations in which an issuer or borrower experiences financial or operational challenges, or as a result of a Fund's use of certain investment strategies, including small capitalization, emerging market, distressed or less liquid strategies.

**<u>Investment Manager Activities on Behalf of Affiliated or Related Accounts</u>**. Certain companies hold an economic interest in Guggenheim Capital, LLC ("Guggenheim Capital"), the Investment Manager's ultimate parent company. Where such companies and/or their affiliates are clients of the Investment Manager, conflicts of interest arise because, among other reasons, the Investment Manager has an incentive to favor such clients over others. These incentives are more pronounced where the Investment Manager has multiple clients that are associated with, or that are affiliates of, these companies.

For example, Sammons Enterprises, Inc., a diversified company with several insurance company subsidiaries (together with its subsidiaries, "Sammons"), holds an indirect, substantial economic interest in Guggenheim Capital. As a result of its ownership stake in Guggenheim Capital, Sammons is a substantial owner of the Investment Manager. Certain of Sammons' wholly owned insurance company and other subsidiaries are advisory clients of, and pay fees to, the Investment Manager. As a result, Sammons is a significant source of annual advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager. Sammons also has other relationships with the Investment Manager and various Guggenheim Entities. These relationships create conflicts of interest and an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor Sammons's interests.

Similarly, TWG Global, LLC, a diversified company with several subsidiaries (together with its subsidiaries, "TWG"), holds an indirect, substantial economic interest in Guggenheim Capital, and thus is an indirect substantial owner of the Investment Manager. Further, TWG is controlled by a senior officer of Guggenheim Capital. Certain of TWG's subsidiaries are advisory clients of, and pay fees to, the Investment Manager. As a result, TWG is a significant individual source of annual advisory fees paid to the Investment Manager. TWG also has other relationships with the Investment Manager and various Guggenheim Entities. These relationships create conflicts of interest and an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor TWG's interests. For example, the Investment Manager invests on behalf of its other clients in issuers in which TWG has direct and/or indirect interests, which in certain cases include a controlling or significant beneficial interest. In addition, from time to time, the TWG accounts and other GPIM clients invest in securities at different levels of the capital structure of the same issuer, in some cases at the same time and in other cases at different times. These transactions often benefit TWG and its affiliates.

Certain Guggenheim Entities have entered into a services agreement with TWG pursuant to which TWG may provide various services to the Investment Manager and its affiliates, including, among others, technology services, marketing consulting, and introductions to potential sources of originated transactions. TWG may also refer potential investors from time to time. Due to the common ownership of the Investment Manager and TWG, the Investment Manager would have an incentive to direct investments to clients affiliated with TWG. However, pursuant to the services agreement, the Investment Manager will make independent investment decisions. Guggenheim Entities also provide services to TWG including, among others, review, analysis and evaluation of assets, investment operations and technology services. A Guggenheim Entity receives compensation from TWG for the provision of these services. Affiliates of TWG also provide services to certain advisory clients of other Guggenheim Entities for a fee. The Investment Manager has an incentive to recommend such service providers to its clients given TWG's relationship with the Investment Manager.

Certain officers and directors of Guggenheim Capital and its subsidiaries (each, a "Guggenheim Related Person") hold direct or indirect economic or voting interests in entities that are clients of GPIM (such individuals or entities, "Guggenheim Related Parties"). Like the Sammons accounts and TWG accounts, these Guggenheim Related Parties pay substantial advisory fees to the Investment Manager. Furthermore, certain Guggenheim Related Parties may provide significant loans and other financing to the Investment Manager and its affiliates, both directly and from or through accounts managed by the Investment Manager or to which the Investment Manager provides certain operations services for a fee. These relationships create conflicts of interest and an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor the interests of these Guggenheim Related Parties.

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These types of relationships create potential conflicts of interest for the Investment Manager in managing the Trust and could create an incentive for the Investment Manager to favor the interests of Guggenheim Related Parties over the Trust or Other Clients. For example, the Investment Manager may invest on behalf of the Funds and Other Clients in issuers in which a Guggenheim Related Party has direct and/or indirect interests, which in certain cases include a controlling or significant beneficial interest. In addition, a Guggenheim Related Party, the Funds and Other Clients may invest in securities at different levels of the capital structure of the same issuer, in some cases at the same time and in other cases at different times. These transactions often benefit the participating Guggenheim Related Party. The following conflicts may arise in such situations: (i) enforcement of rights or determination not to enforce rights by the Investment Manager on behalf of the Funds and Other Clients may have an adverse effect on the interests of the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds, (ii) the Investment Manager may have an incentive to invest client assets, including Fund assets, in the issuer or borrower to either facilitate or obtain preferable terms for a proposed investment by an affiliate or Guggenheim Related Party in such issuer or borrower, or (iii) the Investment Manager may have an incentive to preserve or protect the value or rights associated with an existing economic interest of an affiliate or Guggenheim Related Party in the issuer or borrower, which may have an adverse effect on the interests of the Investment Manager's clients, including the Funds.

Furthermore, Guggenheim Related Persons from time to time enter into transactions, including loans and other financings, with these companies. As a result, such personnel have an incentive to favor the interests of these clients over other clients of the Investment Manager.

To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and other laws, the Investment Manager, from time to time, may initiate or recommend transactions in the loans or securities of companies in which the Investment Manager, its related persons, or their respective affiliates have a controlling or other material direct or indirect interest. In addition, some Guggenheim Related Persons also may have economic interests or voting interests in issuers, which may be controlling or otherwise material interests, or may serve as a director on the board of issuers, in which the Investment Manager has invested or will invest on behalf of its clients or to which the Investment Manager has provided or will provide financing on behalf of its clients.

In addition, Guggenheim Related Persons have direct or indirect proprietary or personal investments in and/or have financial or other relationships with financial industry participants or other entities that may perform services on behalf of, or in connection with, investments made by the Investment Manager on behalf of its clients.

In addition, the Investment Manager may be subject to conflicts of interest with respect to financial industry participants or other entities (including trading platforms) because transactions on or through such platforms may result in compensation directly being paid to these entities that indirectly benefit Guggenheim Related Persons.

The Investment Manager identifies and mitigates potential conflicts of interest in the foregoing and similar situations, including through policies and procedures (i) designed to identify and mitigate conflicts of interest on a transaction-by-transaction basis and (ii) that require investment decisions for all client accounts be made independently from those of other client accounts and be made with specific reference to the individual needs and objectives of each client account, without consideration of the Investment Manager's pecuniary or investment interests (or those of their respective employees or affiliates). The Funds and the Investment Manager also maintain procedures to comply with applicable laws, notably relevant provisions of the 1940 Act that prohibit Fund transactions with affiliates (or exemptive rules thereunder).

**<u>Allocation of Investment Opportunities; Co-Investments</u>**. As described above, the Investment Manager and its affiliates currently manage and expect to continue to manage Other Clients that may invest pursuant to the same or different strategies as those employed by the Funds, and such Other Clients could be viewed as being in competition with the Funds for appropriate investment opportunities, particularly where there is limited capacity with respect to such investment opportunities. The investment policies, fee arrangements and other circumstances of the Funds may vary from those of the Other Clients, and the Investment Manager may face potential conflicts of interest because the Investment Manager may have an incentive to favor particular client accounts (such as client accounts that pay performance-based fees) over other client accounts that may be less lucrative in the allocation of investment opportunities.

The Investment Manager's relationships with Other Clients that are Guggenheim Related Parties pose conflicts of interest in transactions that involve the allocation of investment opportunities among Guggenheim Related Parties and other clients, including the Funds, because the Investment Manager has an incentive to favor Guggenheim

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Related Parties. These incentives are more pronounced where the Investment Manager has multiple relationships with a Guggenheim Related Party, as is in the case of Sammons and TWG. As described below, the Investment Manager has established policies and procedures for addressing actual and potential conflicts of interest.

In addition to conflicts of interest associated with allocations among clients, the Investment Manager faces conflicts of interest in transactions involving the allocation of investment opportunities among clients and third-party co-investors, including third-party co-investors with which the Investment Manager or an affiliate has entered into an agreement that provides the third-party co-investor an opportunity to invest alongside the Investment Manager's clients and for the Investment Manager (or its affiliates) to receive a fee in connection with providing administrative or other non-advisory services in respect of the investment that the third-party co-investor acquires (each, a "Strategic Partner"). For example, the Investment Manager or its affiliates are permitted to receive a fee in connection with providing services to loans or commercial real estate mortgages, military housing transactions and infrastructure transactions that a Strategic Partner acquires. When the Investment Manager offers to allocate portions of certain investments to a Strategic Partner, the acquisition of the allocated portion of an investment by a Strategic Partner is in the sole discretion of the Strategic Partner (or the Strategic Partner's adviser). As a result of the foregoing, in certain circumstances, if an investment opportunity is appropriate for more than one client and/or meets the criteria established with respect to a Strategic Partner, the Investment Manager will face a conflict of interest in determining how to allocate the investment opportunity and, in certain circumstances, the Investment Manager will have an incentive to allocate less of the opportunity to a client, including the Funds, than it might otherwise be the case if the investment was not also appropriate for multiple clients and/or the Strategic Partner. However, such potential conflict of interest is mitigated by the Investment Manager's allocation policies and procedures with respect to the allocation of investment opportunities.

The Investment Manager expects to offer, subject to its allocation policies and procedures, any allocation available to affiliated and unaffiliated strategic co-investors, including Strategic Partners and TWG and its affiliates. The Investment Manager expects conflicts of interest to arise in determining the amount of investment opportunity that should be allocated to the relevant co-investor. The Investment Manager will determine how and when to allocate a co-investment opportunity, including the amounts offered to each such investor, taking into account any factors it deems relevant, which could include, without limitation, the sophistication of the prospective co-investor; the ability of the co-investor to close the transaction quickly; tax, regulatory, securities laws and/or other legal considerations; size of the investment allocation and practicality of dividing it up among multiple co-investors; lender requirements; existence of a formal or informal strategic relationship with the prospective co-investor, including any contractual undertakings; the size and/or timing of a commitment to a co-investor; tenure as an Investment Manager's client investor, if applicable; commitment to invest in current or future products of the Investment Manager, strategic expertise and financial resources of the prospective co-investor; or whether the Investment Manager believes that allocating investment opportunities to an investor or person will help establish, recognize, strengthen and/or cultivate relationships that have the potential to provide longer-term benefits to the relevant portfolio company, other portfolio companies, the Investment Manager's clients or the Investment Manager, or any of its affiliates. The Investment Manager reserves the right to grant certain co-investors the opportunity to evaluate specified amounts of prospective co-investments in portfolio companies or otherwise to have priority in co-investment opportunities, subject to the Investment Manager's allocation policies and procedures. A co-investor's pro rata share (relative to capital invested) of transaction fees, portfolio monitoring fees, management fees, and similar payments from portfolio companies, will be retained by the Investment Manager or its affiliates to the extent agreed upon by co-investors. These fees and payments generally will not reduce the compensation, if any, paid to the Investment Manager by the Investment Manager's clients. To facilitate the acquisition of a portfolio investment, in certain cases an Investment Manager's client will make (or commit to make) an investment and with a view to subsequently sell a portion of the investment to co-investors prior to or following the closing of the acquisition. In such event, the relevant Investment Manager client will bear the risk that any or all of the excess portion of such investment is not sold or sold only on unattractive terms, including for example the risk that a portion of the investment will be syndicated at reduced cost, at cost, or at a lower amount at a time when the general partner (believes the value of such investment has appreciated or should be higher than that paid (or willing to be paid) by a co-investor. To the extent such a syndication is made, the Investment Manager's interest in limiting an Investment Manager's client's exposure to a given investment while providing a potential benefit to co-investors investing at such lower values will give rise to a conflict of interest. As a consequence of a failed co-investment syndication process or a co-investment syndication on unattractive terms, the relevant Investment Manager client would be required to (i) bear the entire portion of any break-up, topping or other fees, costs and expenses related to such investment (including the proportionate share of such amounts that were expected to have been borne by co-investors), (ii) hold a larger-than-expected investment in such portfolio company, (iii) receive less-than-fair-market value for the syndicated portion of the investment and/or (iv) be diluted or realize

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lower than expected returns from such investment. When and to the extent that employees and other affiliates of the Investment Manager make capital investments in or alongside certain Investment Manager clients, the Investment Manager is subject to conflicting interests in connection with these investments.

The Investment Manager has implemented policies and procedures that govern the allocation of investment opportunities among clients in a fair and equitable manner, taking into account the needs and investment objectives of the clients, their specific objectives and constraints for each account, as well as prevailing market conditions. If an investment opportunity would be appropriate for more than one client, the Investment Manager will be required to choose among those clients in allocating the opportunity, or to allocate less of the opportunity to a client than it would ideally allocate if it did not have to allocate to multiple clients. In addition, the Investment Manager may determine that an investment opportunity is appropriate for a particular client account, but not for another.

The Investment Manager allocates transactions on an objective basis and in a manner designed to assure that no participating client is favored over any other participating client. If an investment is suitable and desirable for more than one client account, an initial allocation study will be determined based upon demand ascertained from the portfolio managers. With respect to fixed income and private equity, this initial allocation study is overseen by a central allocation group and generally reflects a pro rata participation in the investment opportunity among the participating client accounts that expressed demand. Final allocation decisions are made or verified independently by the central allocation group. With respect to public equity securities and public equity-related securities, the allocation generally reflects a pro rata participation in the investment opportunity among participating accounts. Allocations may be adjusted under specific circumstances, such as situations of scarcity where pro rata allocations would result in de minimis positions or odd lots.

The application of relevant allocation factors can result in non-pro rata allocations, and particular client accounts (including client that are Guggenheim Related Parties) will receive an allocation when other client accounts do not or receive a greater than pro-rata allocation. There can be no assurance that a particular investment opportunity will be allocated in any particular manner, and circumstances may occur in which an allocation could have adverse effects on a Fund with respect to the price or size of securities positions obtainable or saleable. All of the foregoing procedures could in certain circumstances adversely affect the price paid or received by a Fund or the size of the position purchased or sold by a Fund (including prohibiting a Fund from purchasing a position) or may limit the rights that a Fund may exercise with respect to an investment.

At times, in order to minimize execution costs for clients, trades in the same security transacted on behalf of more than one client will generally be aggregated (i.e., blocked or bunched) by the Investment Manager, unless the Investment Manager believes that doing so would conflict or otherwise be inconsistent with its duty to seek best execution for the clients and/or the terms of the respective investment advisory contracts and other agreements and understandings relating to the clients for which trades are being aggregated. In particular, the Investment Manager expects that trades will be aggregated between the Investment Manager's clients and the Investment Manager's affiliates' clients, unless they believe that doing so would conflict or otherwise be inconsistent with their duty to seek best execution for the clients and/or the terms of the respective investment advisory contracts and other agreements and understandings relating to the clients for which trades are being aggregated. When the Investment Manager believes that it can effectively obtain best execution for the clients by aggregating trades, it will do so for all clients participating in the trade for which aggregated trades are consistent with the respective investment advisory contracts, investment guidelines, and other agreements and understandings relating to the clients.

In the event trades are aggregated on behalf of the Investment Manager's clients, the aggregated transactions will be allocated in a manner consistent with the allocation process described above. Aggregated transactions then are allocated among the participating client accounts after taking into consideration the specific objectives and constraints for each account, which could include, but are not limited to, the following: risk tolerance; rating constraints; maturity constraints; issue size; yield; purchase price; existing exposure of the investment vehicle; minimum trade allocation; minimum position holding size; sector allocation limits; duration; convexity; strategy; lot size; market conditions; investment guideline considerations; and account-specific legal and regulatory constraints. In addition, the Investment Manager will consider the specific investment objective of the account (i.e., whether the account is a multi-strategy or single-strategy account), liquidity requirements, diversification, lender covenants, investment phase of the account (i.e., ramping-up or taking gains/losses for tax purposes), aggregate size of commonly owned accounts, and cash available in each account when making an allocation decision.

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**<u>Allocation of Limited Time and Attention</u>**. The portfolio managers for the Funds may devote as much time to the Funds as the Investment Manager deems appropriate to perform its duties in accordance with reasonable commercial standards and the Investment Manager's duties. However, as described above, these portfolio managers are presently committed to and expect to be committed in the future to providing investment advisory and other services for Other Clients and engage in Other Business Activities in which the Funds may have no interest. As a result of these separate business activities, the Investment Manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, services and functions among the Funds and Other Business Activities or Other Clients in that the time and effort of the Funds' portfolio managers would not be devoted exclusively to the business of the Funds.

**<u>Potential Restrictions and Issues Related to Material Non-Public Information</u>**. By reason of Other Business Activities as well as services and advice provided to Other Clients, the Investment Manager and its affiliates may acquire confidential or material non-public information and may be restricted from initiating transactions in certain securities and instruments until they are cleansed of such material non-public information. The Investment Manager will not be free to divulge, or to act upon, any such confidential or material non-public information and, due to these restrictions, the Investment Manager may be unable to initiate a transaction for a Fund's account that it otherwise might have initiated. As a result, a Fund may be frozen in an investment position that it otherwise might have liquidated or closed out or may not be able to acquire a position that it might otherwise have acquired.

**<u>Valuation of the Funds' Investments</u>**. Fund assets are valued in accordance with the Funds' valuation policy and procedures and the Investment Manager's Rule 2a-5 fair valuation policy and Rule 2a-5 fair valuation procedures. The valuation of a security or other asset for the Funds may differ from the value ascribed to the same asset by affiliates of the Investment Manager (particularly difficult-to-value assets) or Other Clients because, among other things, they may have procedures that differ from the Funds' procedures or may have access to different information or pricing vendors or use different models or techniques. The Investment Manager has been designated as the valuation designee to perform fair value determinations for the Funds with respect to all Funds' investments and may face a potential conflict with respect to such valuations.

**<u>Investments in Other Guggenheim Funds</u>**. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may invest in other funds sponsored, managed, advised or sub-advised by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. Investments by a Fund in such funds present potential conflicts of interest, including potential incentives to invest in smaller or newer funds to increase asset levels or provide greater viability and to invest in funds managed by the portfolio manager(s) of the Fund. As disclosed in the Prospectus and this SAI, the Investment Manager has agreed to waive certain fees associated with these types of investments, which will reduce, but will not eliminate, these types of conflicts. In other circumstances, the Investment Manager may make investments for clients for various portfolio management purposes in limited partnerships or similar vehicles that are managed or otherwise serviced by affiliates of the Investment Manager that will be compensated for such services.

**<u>Potential Conflicts Associated with the Investment Manager and Its Affiliates Acting in Multiple</u> <u>Capacities Simultaneously.</u>**

**<u>Principal and Cross Transactions</u>**. The Investment Manager may, to the extent permitted under applicable law, effect client cross transactions where the Investment Manager causes a transaction to be effected between a Fund and an Other Client; provided, that conditions set forth in SEC rules under the 1940 Act are followed. Cross transactions present an inherent conflict of interest because the Investment Manager represents the interests of both the selling account and the buying account in the same transaction, and the Investment Manager could seek to treat one party to the cross transaction more favorably than the other party. Furthermore, in some circumstances, the security or other financial instrument being traded is an interest in an investment vehicle managed by the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates or an issuer in which an affiliate or a Guggenheim Related Party has an interest. The Investment Manager has policies and procedures designed to mitigate these conflicts and help ensure that any cross transactions are in the best interests of, and appropriate for, all clients involved and the transactions are consistent with the Investment Manager's fiduciary duties and obligation to seek best execution and applicable rules.

**<u>Investment Manager and Its Affiliates May Act in Multiple Commercial Capacities</u>**. Subject to applicable law, the provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder and the Funds' and Other Clients' investment guidelines, the Investment Manager may cause the Funds to invest in securities, bank loans or other obligations of companies or structured product vehicles that result in commissions, initial or ongoing fees, or other remuneration paid to (and retained by) the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates. Such investments may include (i) investments that the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates originated, arranged or placed, (ii) investments in which the Investment Manager's affiliate provided investment banking, financial advisory or similar services to a party involved in the

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transaction to which the investment relates (such as acquisition financing in a transaction in which the Investment Manager's affiliate represented the buyer or seller); (iii) investments where the Investment Manager or its affiliates provided other services to a transaction participant or other third party, (iv) investments where the Investment Manager or one of its affiliates acts as the collateral agent, administrator, originator, manager, or other service provider, and (v) investments that are secured or otherwise backed by collateral that could include assets originated, sold or financed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates, investment funds or pools managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates or assets or obligations managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates. Commissions, fees, or other remuneration payable to the Investment Manager or its affiliates in these transactions may present a potential conflict in that the Investment Manager may be viewed as having an incentive to purchase such investments to earn, or facilitate its affiliates' ability to earn, such additional fees or compensation.

In some circumstances, and also subject to applicable law, the Investment Manager may cause the Funds to invest in or provide financing to issuers or borrowers, or otherwise participate in transactions, in which the issuer, borrower or another transaction party (such as a placement agent or arranger) is, or is a subsidiary or affiliate of or otherwise related to, (a) an Other Client or (b) a company with which Guggenheim Related Persons, or officers or employees of the Investment Manager, have investment, financial or other interests or relationships (including but not limited to directorships or equivalent roles). The financial interests of the Investment Manager's affiliates or their related persons in issuers or borrowers create potential conflict between the economic interests of these affiliates or related persons and the interests of the Investment Manager's clients. In addition, to the extent that a potential issuer or borrower (or one of its affiliates) is an advisory client of the Investment Manager, or the Investment Manager's advisory client is a lender or financing provider to the Investment Manager or its affiliates (including a parent), a potential conflict may exist as the Investment Manager may have an incentive to favor the interests of those clients relative to those of its other clients.

Because of limitations imposed by applicable law, notably by provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder, the involvement or presence of the Investment Manager's affiliates in the offerings described above or the financial markets more broadly may restrict a Fund's ability to acquire some securities or loans, even if they would otherwise be desirable investments for the Fund, or affect the timing or price of such acquisitions or the sale of an investment, which may adversely affect Fund performance.

Subject to applicable law and regulation, personnel of the Guggenheim Entities may support the overall investment management functions of the Investment Manager but may be subject to potential conflicts of interest with respect to certain investment opportunities and, as such, may have an incentive to identify investment opportunities for, and allocate investment opportunities to, third-parties. Similarly, to the extent that other Guggenheim Entities sponsor and manage funds that compete with the Funds' investment programs, these funds may reduce capacity otherwise available to the Funds.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Investment Manager and its affiliates may create, write, sell, issue, invest in or act as placement agent or distributor of derivative instruments related to the Funds, or with respect to portfolio holdings of the Funds, or which may be otherwise based on or seek to replicate or hedge the performance of the Funds. Such derivative transactions, and any associated hedging activity, may differ from and be adverse to the interests of the Funds.

Some of the Investment Manager's employees (and others acting as consultants or advisors) may serve as directors or otherwise serve a role within a portfolio company in which a Fund invests. These services are separate from the services the Investment Manager renders to the Fund and may thus create conflicts.

Certain professionals, including investment professionals, of the Investment Manager may, from time to time, also serve as investment professionals of affiliates. These arrangements, and the relationship between the Investment Manager and its affiliates, present potential conflicts of interest, including those described herein.

Present and future activities of the Investment Manager and its affiliates (and the role and relationships of the Investment Manager's personnel with other Guggenheim Entities), in addition to those described in this SAI, may give rise to additional or different conflicts of interest.

**<u>Portfolio Manager Compensation</u>**. As discussed above, portfolio managers may own Fund shares and a portion of their compensation may include equity in the form of shares of certain funds (other than the Funds) managed by the particular portfolio manager. As a result, a potential conflict of interest may arise to the extent a

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portfolio manager owns or has an interest in shares of a specific Fund or fund that he or she manages. These personal investments may create an incentive for a portfolio manager to favor such Fund or fund over other advisory clients, including other funds.

**Proxy Voting**

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The Board has delegated to the Investment Manager the final authority and responsibility for voting proxies with respect to each Fund's underlying securities holdings. Certain funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds ("investing fund"), such as a Fund, may invest in other funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds ("underlying fund"), including another Fund, and as a result, an investing fund may be a shareholder of record of, and own shares with voting rights of, an underlying fund. With respect to a proposal that applies on a trust-wide basis (i.e., all series of the underlying fund's trust will vote together on the proposal, e.g., election of trustees), the investing fund's adviser will cause the investing fund to vote its shares in the underlying fund in the same proportion as the vote of all the shareholders of series of the underlying fund's trust that are not funds managed by the advisers to the funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds or their affiliates in the aggregate. The investing fund's adviser may, however, elect to follow the fund or class-specific methodologies described below when deemed appropriate. As a general matter, for proposals that are fund or class-specific (i.e., each fund or class votes separately), an investing fund's adviser will cause the investing fund to vote its shares in the underlying fund in the same proportion as the vote of all the shareholders in that underlying fund that are not funds managed by the advisers to the funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds or their affiliates (also called "mirror" or "echo" voting). With regard to investing funds that hold shares in underlying funds that are offered exclusively to funds managed by the advisers to the funds of the Guggenheim Family of Funds or their affiliates and institutional accounts managed by such advisers or their affiliates, an investing fund's adviser will cause the investing fund to: (i) echo vote in proportion to votes of the shareholders of the investing fund in the event that both the investing and underlying funds are voting on substantially identical proposals; or, in all other cases, (ii) seek voting instructions from the independent board members of the investing fund or an independent proxy voting service if deemed appropriate by the independent board members of the investing fund. In addition, a Fund may be required by regulation to vote its shares of another fund registered under the 1940 Act in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of shares of such Fund.

The Investment Manager's Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (in this section, "Procedures") are designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of the applicable Fund. Where the Investment Manager has been delegated the responsibility for voting proxies, it will take reasonable steps under the Procedures to ensure that proxies are received and voted in the best long-term interests of its clients. The Investment Manager will consider all relevant factors and will not give undue weight to the opinions of other individuals or groups who may have an economic interest in the outcome of the proxy vote.

The financial interest of the Investment Manager's clients is the primary consideration in determining how proxies should be voted. Any material conflicts of interest between the Investment Manager and its clients with respect to proxy voting are resolved in the best interests of the clients. Corporate actions, such as rights offerings, tender offers, and stock splits or actions initiated by holders of a security rather than the issuer (such as reset rights for a CLO) or legal actions, such as bankruptcy proceedings or class action lawsuits are outside the scope of the Procedures.

The Investment Manager has adopted the proxy voting guidelines of an outside proxy voting firm, ISS, as the Investment Manager's proxy voting guidelines (in this section, "Guidelines"). The Investment Manager has also engaged ISS to act as agent for the proxy process, to maintain records on proxy votes for its clients, and to provide independent research on corporate governance, proxy and corporate responsibility issues. At inception, the Investment Manager will assess the Procedures to determine which Guidelines will be followed. The Investment Manager reviews the Guidelines and conducts a due diligence assessment of ISS and the performance of its duties as agent at least annually. The Investment Manager may override the Guidelines recommending a vote on a particular proposal if the Investment Manager determines a different vote to be in the best interest of the client or if required to deviate under applicable law, rule or regulation. If a proposal is voted contrary to the Guidelines, the reasons will be documented in writing by the Investment Manager.

The Investment Manager seeks to vote securities in the best interest of clients, and will apply the Guidelines regardless of whether the issuer, a third party, or both solicit the Investment Manager's vote.

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In the absence of contrary instructions received from the Investment Manager, ISS will vote proxies in accordance with the Guidelines, as such Guidelines may be revised from time to time. The Investment Manager will typically vote proxies itself in two scenarios: (1) the Guidelines do not address the proposal; and (2) the Investment Manager has decided to vote some or all of the shares contrary to the Guidelines.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) *Proposals not addressed by Guidelines:* ISS will notify the Investment Manager of all proxy proposals that do not fall within the Guidelines (i.e., proposals which are either not addressed in the Guidelines or proposals for which the Investment Manager has indicated that a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis, such as fixed-income securities). If the investment team(s) responsible, together with the Proxy Voting Advisory Group ("PVAG") (a group comprised of representatives from investment management, compliance, operational due diligence services, operations, and legal that is responsible for overseeing the proxy voting activities and policies and procedures of the Investment Manager and certain affiliated entities), determines that there are no material conflicts of interest, the proposal will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of said team(s) and approval from the PVAG. If there is a material conflict of interest, the Investment Manager will follow the procedures outlined below.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) *Proposal to be voted contrary to Guidelines:* When an investment team decides that a proposal should be voted contrary to the Guidelines, because it believes it is in the best interest of the client to do so, the investment team will consult with the PVAG to determine whether there is a material conflict of interest as to that proposal. If the investment team(s) responsible, together with the PVAG, determines that there is no material conflict of interest, the Investment Manager will override ISS's vote recommendation in accordance with the recommendation of said investment team(s) and with approval from the PVAG. If there is a material conflict of interest, the Investment Manager will follow the procedures outlined below.

The Investment Manager occasionally will be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to relationships it maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of particular votes. Common examples of conflicts in the voting of proxies are: (a) the Investment Manager or an affiliate of the Investment Manager provides or is seeking to provide services to the company on whose behalf proxies are being solicited, (b) an employee of the Investment Manager or its affiliate has a personal relationship with the company's management or another proponent of a proxy issue, and the employee may be in a position to influence the proxy voting decision, or (c) an immediate family member of the employee of the Investment Manager or its affiliates is a director or executive officer of the company, and the employee may be in a position to influence the proxy voting decision. Senior members of the investment team(s) responsible for voting the proxy, in consultation with compliance, will decide whether a material conflict of interest exists. If a material conflict of interest exists, the investment team(s) will consult with the PVAG to determine how to resolve the conflict consistent with the procedures below. In certain cases, the Investment Manager occasionally engages and appoints an independent party to provide independent analysis or recommendations with respect to consents, proxy voting, or other similar shareholder or debt holder rights decision (or a series of consents, votes or similar decisions) pertaining to a Fund.

If the Guidelines do not address a proposal, or the Investment Manager wishes to vote a proposal contrary to the Guidelines, or ISS does not provide a recommendation on a proposal, and the Investment Manager has a material conflict of interest as to the vote, then the Investment Manager will seek to resolve the conflict in any of the following ways, as recommended by the PVAG:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Refer Proposal to the Client - The Investment Manager may refer the proposal to the client and obtain instructions from the client on how to vote the proxy relating to that proposal.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Obtain Client Ratification - If the Investment Manager is in a position to disclose the conflict to the client (i.e., such information is not confidential), the Investment Manager may determine how it proposes to vote the proposal on which it has a conflict, fully disclose the nature of the conflict to the client, and obtain the client's consent for how the Investment Manager will vote on the proposal (or otherwise obtain instructions from the client on how the proxy on the proposal should be voted).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Abstain from voting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Use another Independent Third Party for All Proposals - Subject to any client-imposed proxy voting policies, the Investment Manager may vote all proposals in a single proxy according to the policies of an independent third party other than ISS (or have the third party vote such proxies).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Use another Independent Third Party to Vote Only the Specific Proposals that Involve a Conflict - Subject to any client-imposed proxy voting policies, the Investment Manager may use an independent third party other than ISS to recommend how the proxy for specific proposals that involve a conflict should be voted (or have the third party vote such proxies).

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The method selected by the PVAG to resolve the conflict may vary from one instance to another depending upon the facts and circumstances of the situation, but in each case, consistent with its duty of loyalty and care.

In certain instances, proxy voting involves logistical issues which affect the Investment Manager's ability to vote such proxies, as well as the desirability of voting such proxies. These issues include but are not limited to: (i) securities being subject to lending arrangements; (ii) special issues with voting foreign proxies; (iii) share blocking; and (iv) lack of adequate information, untimely receipt of proxy, or excessive costs.

Clients may obtain information about how the Investment Manager voted proxies on their behalf by contacting the Investment Manager.

The Funds are required to file Form N-PX with the SEC with their complete proxy voting records for the 12 months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. Once filed, Form N-PX will be available without charge: (1) from the Funds, upon request by calling 800.820.0888, and (2) on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Funds also make available their proxy voting record included in their Form N-PX filing at http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com/mutual-funds/literature.

**Distributor**

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Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"), 702 King Farm Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the principal underwriter for shares of the Trust pursuant to a Distribution Agreement. The Distributor acts in such capacity on a best-efforts basis and offers shares of the Funds on a continuous basis. The Distributor also acts as principal underwriter for other series of the Trust, Guggenheim Strategy Funds Trust, Guggenheim Variable Funds Trust, Rydex Series Funds, Rydex Dynamic Funds and Rydex Variable Trust.

The Distributor does not receive any compensation from the Funds for the distribution of SMA Class shares.

The Distributor, on behalf of the Funds, may act as a broker in the purchase and sale of securities not effected on a securities exchange, provided that any such transactions and any commissions shall comply with requirements of the 1940 Act and all rules and regulations of the SEC. The Distributor has not acted as a broker and thus received no brokerage commissions.

Each Fund's Distribution Agreement is renewable annually either by the Board or by the vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding securities, and, in either event, by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the agreement or interested persons of any such party. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon 60 days' written notice.

**Portfolio Turnover**

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A Fund's portfolio turnover rate is, in summary, the percentage computed by dividing the lesser of the Fund's purchases or sales of securities (excluding short-term securities) by the average market value of that Fund. Portfolio turnover rates can vary greatly from year to year, as well as within a particular year. The Investment Manager intends to manage each Fund's assets by buying and selling investments to seek to achieve its investment objective. Each of the Funds may dispose of investments regardless of the holding period. Such transactions may result in capital gains or losses and could result in a high portfolio turnover rate during a given period, which may result in increased transaction costs or a mark-up or markdown of the transaction price. The portfolio turnover rates of the Funds cannot be accurately predicted.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Funds** | **Portfolio Turnover Rate** | **Portfolio Turnover Rate** |
| **Funds** | **2025** | **2024** |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | 28% | —%<sup>1</sup> <br>|
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | 25% | —%<sup>1</sup> <br>|

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<sup>1</sup> Less than 1%.

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**Portfolio Brokerage and Investment Allocation**

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Below is a summary of brokerage and allocation policies for the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager is responsible for purchasing and selling securities and other assets for each Fund.

The Investment Manager makes investment decisions for each Fund it advises, selects brokers and dealers to effect transactions and negotiates price, commissions, and markups or markdowns or spreads, if any, with respect to these transactions. The Investment Manager has adopted policies and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to obtain best execution for portfolio transactions and to allocate investment opportunities among the Funds it advises and the Investment Manager's other clients fairly, equitably and in a non-preferential manner over time.

The Investment Manager has discretionary trading authority on behalf of the Funds and it's other clients, and has a duty to each of those Funds (and its other clients) to seek the most favorable execution for each portfolio transaction it makes on their behalf. In furtherance of seeking the most favorable execution, the Investment Manager has adopted a Counterparty Approval Policy pursuant to which it maintains an Approved Counterparty List. Transactions may only be executed with counterparties/broker-dealers on the Approved Counterparties List unless an exception is granted by an authorized person under the Counterparty Approval Policy. Initially and on an ongoing basis, the Investment Manager consults a variety of information relating to a counterparty/broker-dealer, including regulatory reports and financial information, in connection with adding and maintaining a counterparty to the Approved Counterparty List. Generally, counterparties on the Approved Counterparty List must, in the Investment Manager's opinion, have financial stability and a positive reputation in the industry. When reviewing brokers, the Investment Manager may consider, including, without limitation, the size and type of transaction, access to liquidity, execution efficiency and capability, and other factors it may deem appropriate. The Investment Manager uses its judgment to select a broker or dealer on the basis of how a transaction can be executed to achieve the most favorable execution for its client under the circumstances. Accordingly, the Investment Manager is not obligated to choose the broker or dealer offering the lowest available commission rate or the lowest possible execution cost on a transaction. The sale of Fund shares by a broker or dealer is not a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions for a Fund. The Investment Manager and its affiliates do not currently participate in soft dollar arrangements.

The Investment Manager may aggregate trade orders for one or more Funds and/or its other clients in a particular security, unless it believes that doing so would conflict or otherwise be inconsistent with its duty to seek best execution for its clients and/or the terms of the respective investment advisory contracts and other agreements and understandings relating to the clients for which trades are being aggregated. Aggregation of trade orders may result in an overall benefit to a Fund because it may achieve efficiencies in execution and reduce trading costs. When aggregating trades, the Investment Manager will continue to seek: to achieve best execution; to treat all participating clients fairly; and to ensure participating clients pay the same price, net of transaction costs. The Investment Manager will allocate orders objectively and in a fair and equitable manner in relation to the objectives, investment strategies, account constraints and restrictions, and relative exposure to asset classes of the Funds and other client accounts involved. Generally, the Investment Manager will allocate these orders pro rata among participating clients. In some cases, the Investment Manager may use various other methods of allocation that are considered to be consistent with the Investment Manager's established policies and procedures. Allocations for IPOs are typically handled in the same manner as any other aggregated trade, however, the Investment Manager will attempt to allocate IPOs among appropriate client accounts on a pro rata basis, subject to certain adjustments.

The amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors. The table below sets forth the brokerage fees paid by the Funds during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year. No brokerage fees were paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 because the Funds had not yet commenced operations.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fund Total**<br> **Brokerage**<br> **Commissions**<br> **Paid**<br>|
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | 2025 | $189 |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Core Plus Fund | 2024 | $0 |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Fund Total**<br> **Brokerage**<br> **Commissions**<br> **Paid**<br>|
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | 2025 | $28 |
| Guggenheim Active INvestment Series (GAINS) – Limited Duration Fund | 2024 | $0 |

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During such fiscal years, no Fund paid any brokerage commissions to any broker that is an affiliated person of the Fund or any affiliated person of that person, or an affiliated person of which is an affiliated person of the Fund, its principal underwriter, or the Investment Manager. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, no Fund paid any of its aggregate brokerage commissions to, or transacted any of their transactions through, any such broker. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, no Fund or its Investment Manager, through an agreement or understanding with a broker, or otherwise through an internal allocation procedure, directed the Fund's brokerage transactions to a broker because of research services provided.

The Funds contemplate that, consistent with the policy of obtaining the best execution, brokerage transactions may be conducted through affiliates of the Investment Manager and Distributor. The Board has adopted procedures in conformity with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act to ensure that all brokerage commissions paid to any affiliated broker are reasonable and fair.

Guggenheim Investments has created a Best Execution Committee (the "Committee") in connection with the broker-dealer selection process and oversight of the best execution policies. The Committee examines the performance of broker-dealers and, for equity trades, makes recommendations regarding the addition of potential broker-dealers. In addition, the Committee works to mitigate potential conflicts of interest that could exist.

**Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers**

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In certain cases, a Fund, as part of its principal investment strategies, or otherwise as a permissible investment, will invest in the securities of the regular broker-dealers that its Investment Manager uses to effect brokerage transactions for the Fund. As of the end of the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year, the following Funds owned securities of their "regular brokers or dealers" or their parents, as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act, in the aggregate amounts shown below.

**How Net Asset Value Is Determined**

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The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled "Determination of Net Asset Value." Neither the Prospectus nor the following information is intended to reflect an exhaustive list of the methodologies a Fund may use to value its investments. The methodologies summarized in the Prospectus and below may not represent the specific means by which a Fund's investments are valued on any particular business day.

The price at which you buy, sell and exchange shares is the net asset value per share (plus any applicable initial sales charge), which also is referred to as NAV. Each Fund calculates its NAV by: (1) taking the current value of its total assets; (2) subtracting any liabilities; and (3) dividing that amount by the total number of shares owned by shareholders.

Each Fund's NAV is reduced each day by the amount of the income dividend declared that day. If selling securities generates net capital gains for a Fund, they will be reflected in the Fund's total assets, and the Fund will typically distribute these gains to shareholders only at the end of the calendar year. The Fund's NAV is not reduced by the amount of any such capital gains distribution until the "ex-date," which is typically the business day after the record date setting the list of shareholders of record entitled to that distribution. The number of shares purchased by a shareholder and the management and other asset-based fees paid by a Fund on an ongoing basis are determined based on the NAV so calculated.

The Board has adopted policies and procedures for the valuation of the Funds' investments (the "Valuation Procedures"). Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board designated the Investment Manager as the valuation designee to perform fair valuation determinations for each Fund with respect to all Fund investments and/or

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other assets. As the Funds' valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Investment Manager has adopted separate procedures ("Valuation Designee Procedures") reasonably designed to prevent violations of the requirements of Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act. The Investment Manager, in its role as valuation designee, utilizes the assistance of a valuation committee, consisting of representatives from Guggenheim's investment management, fund administration, legal and compliance departments (the "Valuation Committee"), in determining fair value of the Funds' securities and/or other assets. The Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures permit the Funds to use a variety of valuation methodologies in connection with valuing the Funds' investments. The methodology used for a specific type of investment may vary based on available market data or other relevant considerations. As a general matter, valuing securities and assets accurately is difficult and can be based on inputs and assumptions, which may not always be accurate.

In general, portfolio securities and assets of a Fund will be valued on the basis of readily available market quotations at their current market value. With respect to portfolio securities and assets of a Fund for which market quotations are not readily available, or deemed unreliable by the Investment Manager, the Fund will fair value those securities and assets in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures. Valuations in accordance with these methods are intended to reflect each security's (or asset's or liability's) "fair value." Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of a security. Fair value determinations may be based on limited inputs and involve the consideration of a number of subjective factors, an analysis of applicable facts and circumstances, and the exercise of judgment. Each such determination is based on a consideration of all relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to market prices; sale prices; broker quotes; and models which derive prices based on inputs such as prices of securities with comparable maturities and characteristics, or based on inputs such as anticipated cash flows or collateral, spread over U.S. Treasury securities, and other information analysis. As a result, it is possible that the fair value for a security determined in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures may differ from valuations for the same security determined by other funds using their own valuation procedures. Although the Valuation Procedures and Valuation Designee Procedures are designed to value a portfolio security or asset at the price a Fund may reasonably expect to receive upon its sale in an orderly transaction, there can be no assurance that any fair value determination thereunder would, in fact, approximate the amount that a Fund could reasonably expect to receive upon the sale of the portfolio security or asset.

U.S. Government securities are valued by independent third-party pricing services, using the last traded fill price, or at the reported bid price at the close of business on the valuation date.

Commercial paper and discount notes with a maturity of greater than 60 days at acquisition are valued at prices are obtained from independent third-party pricing services, which may consider the trade activity, treasury spreads, yields or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Commercial paper and discount notes with a maturity of 60 days or less at acquisition are valued at amortized cost, unless the Investment Manager concludes that amortized cost does not represent the fair value of the applicable asset in which case it will be valued using an independent third-party pricing service.

CLOs, CDOs, MBS, ABS, and other structured finance securities are generally valued using an independent third-party pricing service.

Repurchase agreements are generally valued at amortized cost, provided such amounts approximate market value.

Equity securities listed or traded on a recognized U.S. securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market ("NASDAQ") will generally be valued on the basis of the last sale price on the primary U.S. exchange or market on which the security is listed or traded; provided, however, that securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued at the NASDAQ official closing price, which may not necessarily represent the last sale price.

Open-end investment companies are valued at their NAV as of the close of business, on the valuation date. ETFs and listed closed-end investment companies are generally valued at the last quoted sale price.

Exchange-traded options are valued at the mean of the bid and ask prices on the principal exchange on which they are traded.

Over-the-counter ("OTC") options and options on swaps ("swaptions") are valued using a price provided by a pricing service.

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Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued daily based on the applicable exchange rate of the underlying currency.

Futures contracts are valued at the official settlement price on the primary exchange on which they trade. Futures contracts that trade past 4:00 PM are valued at the trade price as of 4:00 pm, or at the last sale price immediately prior to 4:00 PM ET, if a 4:00 PM sale price is not available.

Interest rate swap agreements entered into by a Fund are valued on the basis of the mid price on the primary exchange on which the swap is traded. Other swap agreements entered into by a Fund are generally valued using an evaluated price provided by an independent third-party pricing service.

Typically, loans are valued using information provided by independent third-party pricing services that uses broker quotes, among other inputs. If the independent third-party pricing service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular loan, or such valuation is deemed unreliable, such investment is valued based on a quote from a broker-dealer or is fair valued by the Investment Manager. Funds that invest in loans or asset-backed securities as part of their investment strategies may have a significant amount of these instruments that are fair valued by the Investment Manager.

Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. The values of foreign securities are determined as of the close of such foreign markets or the close of the NYSE, if earlier. All investments quoted in foreign currencies are valued in U.S. dollars on the basis of the foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at the close of U.S. business at 4:00 p.m. E.T. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments.

A Fund may also fair value securities and assets when a significant event is deemed to have occurred after the time of a market quotation including for securities and assets traded on foreign markets and securities and assets for which market quotations are provided by independent third-party pricing services as of a time that is prior to the time when the Funds determine their NAV. There can be no assurance in each case that significant events will be identified.

Valuations of the Funds' securities and other assets are supplied primarily by independent third-party pricing services appointed pursuant to the processes set forth in the Valuation Designee Procedures. Valuations provided by the independent third-party pricing services are generally based on methods designed to approximate the amount that a Fund could reasonably expect to receive upon the sale of the portfolio security or asset. When providing valuations to the Funds, independent third-party pricing services use various inputs, methods, models and assumptions, which may include information provided by broker-dealers and other market makers. Independent third-party pricing services face the same challenges as the Funds in valuing securities and assets and may rely on limited available information. If the independent third-party pricing service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular investment, or such valuation is deemed unreliable, such investment is fair valued by the Investment Manager. Each Fund may also use third-party service providers to model certain securities, using models to determine fair market value. While a Fund's use of fair valuation is intended to result in calculation of NAV that fairly reflects values of the Fund's portfolio securities as of the time of pricing, a Fund cannot guarantee that any fair valuation will, in fact, approximate the amount the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the securities in question.

Quotes from broker-dealers (i.e., prices provided by a broker-dealer or other market participant, which may or may not be committed to trade at that price), adjusted for fluctuations in criteria such as credit spreads and interest rates, may also be used to value a Fund's securities and other assets. Quotes from broker-dealers and vendor prices based on broker quotes can vary in terms of depth (e.g., provided by a single broker-dealer) and frequency (e.g., provided on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, or any other regular or irregular interval). Although quotes from broker-dealers and vendor prices based on broker quotes are typically received from established market participants, a Fund may not have the transparency to view the underlying inputs which support such quotes. Significant changes in a quote from a broker-dealer would generally result in significant changes in the fair value of the security.

Proportions of a Fund's investments that are fair valued vary from time to time and a Fund may fair value a significant amount of its portfolio securities and assets. The Funds' report on Form N-CSR contain more information about the Funds' holdings that are fair valued. Investors should consult the Funds' report on Form N-CSR for

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additional information. For underlying funds in which the Funds may invest, additional information about the circumstances when those underlying funds may use fair value pricing may be found in each underlying fund's respective prospectus.

**How to Redeem Shares**

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Each Fund redeems its shares continuously and a "wrap fee", separately managed account or other similar program sponsor, on behalf of its clients, or Guggenheim Investments or an affiliate thereof, on behalf of clients, may sell the shares back to the Funds on any business day. Fund shares may be redeemed at the Funds' next determined NAV calculated after your redemption order is received in good order.

Shares may be turned in to the Transfer Agent for redemption at NAV (which may be more or less than the investor's cost, depending upon the market value of the portfolio securities at the time of redemption). The redemption price in cash will be the next determined NAV calculated after the redemption order is received in good order by the Transfer Agent or the broker-dealer who executes trades for the account. Orders by a fund of funds for which the Investment Manager or an affiliate serves as investment manager will be treated as received by a Fund at the same time that the corresponding orders are received in proper form by the fund of funds.

The following information must be included in a redemption order:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Your name;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Your shareholder account number;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fund name(s);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Dollar amount or number of shares you would like to sell;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether you want your sale proceeds sent to you by check, wire or ACH (a new alternate payee or new wire instructions may require a Medallion signature guarantee);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Signature of account owner(s) (not required for telephone redemptions); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any share certificates issued for any of the shares to be redeemed (if applicable).

To avoid delay in redemption or transfer, shareholders having questions should contact the Transfer Agent.

A shareholder who ceases to be an eligible investor as described above (e.g., if the "wrap fee" or separately managed account has been closed or if the client ceases to be a participant in an eligible "wrap fee" or separately managed account program) may have their shares redeemed, and each shareholder, by purchasing shares, agrees to any such redemption. The liquidation of Fund shares will have tax consequences for the investor. Investors should carefully consider the potential impact of such liquidations and restrictions before selecting a "wrap fee", separately managed or other similar account strategy that contemplates investment in a Fund or otherwise investing in a Fund. Please contact your "wrap fee", separately managed account or other similar program sponsor or financial adviser for more information.

In addition to the rights expressly set forth in the Prospectus and this SAI, the Funds reserve the right to close your account or redeem your shares in other circumstances as may be determined by the Board or by Fund management pursuant to policies adopted by the Board. Neither the Funds, the Investment Manager (or its affiliates), nor the Board will be responsible for any loss in your account or tax liability resulting from such a redemption. The Board may adopt policies from time to time requiring mandatory redemption of shares in certain circumstances, such as when it has determined that a particular shareholder's ownership is not in the best interests of the other shareholders of a Fund or failure to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences to other shareholders. Involuntary redemptions in any case may be in cash or in-kind.

Each Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents or proceeds from the sale of portfolio holdings (or a combination of these methods) unless it believes that circumstances warrant otherwise. For example, under stressed market conditions, as well as during emergency or temporary circumstances, each Fund may distribute redemption proceeds in-kind (rather than in cash), access a line of credit (if available), or overdraft facility, or borrow through other sources (e.g., reverse repurchase agreements or engage in certain types of derivatives), to meet redemption requests. Each Fund may also use these redemption methods if the Fund believes, in its discretion, that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its remaining shareholders. Redemptions in-kind

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involve the payment of some or all of the redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption amount. If a Fund redeems shares in kind, the recipient may bear transaction costs and will bear market risks until such time as such securities are converted to cash.

**Receiving Your Redemption Proceeds**—Each Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds within two business days following receipt of the redemption request. For redemption proceeds that are paid directly to separately managed accounts, the Fund generally expects to pay redemption proceeds by check, ACH or wire within one business day, following receipt of the redemption request in good order. However, the length of time that each Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds depends on the agreement between (i) the separately managed account program sponsor and/or the broker-dealer who executes trades for the account and (ii) the Fund. In all cases, however, it may take each Fund up to seven calendar days to pay redemption proceeds. Each Fund also has the right to suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payments, as described in the Prospectus. For redemption orders that settle on federal bank holidays, redemption proceeds will be sent on the next Business Day following the holiday. **For investments made by check or ACH (not wire purchases), purchases will be on hold for up to 10 Business Days before a payment of redemption proceeds may be made.**

All redemptions, unless paid in-kind (see below), will be mailed to your address of record, sent electronically via ACH, or wired to your bank account of record. You may request overnight mail service for an additional fee.

If you request payment of redemption proceeds to a third party or to a location other than your address of record, alternate address on file, or bank account(s) of record, your redemption request should be **in writing and include a Medallion signature guarantee and may not be faxed.** You may not send redemption proceeds to an address of record that was changed within the last 10 business days unless your request is Medallion signature guaranteed. For certain exceptions (e.g., accounts managed by financial professionals and requests to transfer between accounts), you may not be required to provide a Medallion signature guarantee. Please contact Guggenheim Investments Client Services at 800.820.0888 if you have any questions about your redemption request.

When investing in the Funds, shareholders are required to furnish their tax identification number and to state whether or not they are subject to withholding for prior underreporting, certified under penalties of perjury as prescribed by the Code.

**Redemptions In-Kind—**Each Fund reserves the right to use redemptions in-kind at all times, including during stressed conditions or other circumstances. A Fund may satisfy a redemption request by distribution in-kind of securities for a variety of purposes, such as tax management and liquidity risk management, as well as in instances of large redemptions. A Fund may also satisfy redemption requests entirely through redemptions in-kind upon the request of a shareholder. In each case, such redemption in-kind would be effected in accordance with the 1940 Act and rules thereunder.

The Funds have agreed to redeem shares of each Fund solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1.00% of the NAV of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. As described above, the Funds reserve the right, in their discretion, to satisfy other redemptions, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of securities (instead of cash) from the applicable Fund's portfolio ("redemption in-kind"). The securities distributed in such a redemption in-kind distribution would be valued at the same value as that assigned to them in calculating the NAV of the shares being redeemed and generally represent a pro rata portion of Fund portfolio assets subject to certain adjustments (e.g., for non-transferable investments, odd lots or small lots of securities, and derivatives). In the case of a non-pro rata distribution, the distribution would be subject to the Trust's officers and the Trust's Liquidity Risk Management Program Administrator, in consultation with the portfolio managers and other personnel of the Investment Manager, as deemed warranted or appropriate, determining that the distribution is fair and not disadvantageous to the redeeming or remaining shareholders.

In the event a shareholder were to receive a redemption in-kind of portfolio securities of the Funds, it would be the responsibility of the shareholder to dispose of the securities, which may result in capital gains or other tax consequences. The shareholder would bear market risks and thus be at risk that the value of the securities would decline prior to their sale or would be sold at a price that differs from their original value, that it would be difficult to sell the securities, and that brokerage fees and other transaction costs could be incurred.

**Telephone Redemptions**—The proceeds of a telephone redemption will be sent to the shareholder at his or her address as set forth in the application or in a subsequent written authorization with a signature guarantee. Once authorization has been received by the Transfer Agent, a shareholder may redeem shares by calling the Funds at

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800.820.0888, on weekdays (except holidays) between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Redemption requests received by telephone after the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) will be treated as if received on the next business day. Telephone redemptions are not accepted for retirement accounts. A shareholder who authorizes telephone redemptions authorizes the Transfer Agent to act upon the instructions of any person identifying himself as the owner of the account or the owner's broker. The Transfer Agent has established procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine and will be liable for any losses due to fraudulent or unauthorized instructions if it fails to comply with its procedures. The Transfer Agent's procedures require that any person requesting a redemption by telephone provide the account registration and number, the owner's tax identification number, and the dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed, and such instructions must be received on a recorded line. Neither the Fund, the Transfer Agent, nor the Distributor will be liable for any loss, liability, cost or expense arising out of any redemption request, provided that the Transfer Agent complied with its procedures. Thus, a shareholder who authorizes telephone redemptions may bear the risk of loss from a fraudulent or unauthorized request. The telephone redemption privilege may be changed or discontinued at any time by the Transfer Agent or the Funds.

During periods of severe market or economic conditions, telephone redemptions may be difficult to implement, and shareholders should make redemptions by mail as described under "How to Redeem Shares."

For more information about redeeming Fund shares, please contact your "wrap fee", separately managed account or other similar program sponsor.

**Dividends and Taxes**

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Each Fund pays its shareholders dividends from its net investment income . If selling securities generates net capital gains for a Fund, the Fund will typically distribute these gains to shareholders at the end of the calendar year. Because the value of a share is based directly on the amount of the net assets rather than on the principle of supply and demand, any distribution of capital gains or declaration of an income dividend will result in a decrease in the value of a share equal to the amount to be paid. All such dividends and distributions are automatically reinvested on the payable date in shares of the Funds at NAV, unless the Transfer Agent is previously notified in writing by the shareholder that such dividends or distributions are to be received in cash. A shareholder may request that such dividends or distributions be directly deposited to the shareholder's bank account.

The Funds will not pay dividends or distributions of less than $25 in cash but will automatically reinvest them in additional Fund shares. Distributions of net investment income and any short-term capital gains by the Funds are taxable as ordinary income whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares.

**Tax Considerations—**The following summarizes certain federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. The discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers with regard to the federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of Fund shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country, or other taxing jurisdiction. Maximization of tax efficiency for a specific group of investors is not a principal strategy of the Funds.

Each Fund intends to elect or has elected to be treated and intends to qualify annually as a regulated investment company under the Code. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, each Fund must, among other things: (i) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies (the "Qualifying Income Test"); (ii) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year (or within 30 days after such quarter), (a) at least 50% of the market value of its assets is represented by cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of its total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment

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companies), of two or more issuers which the Fund controls (as that term is defined in the relevant provisions of the Code) and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (iii) distribute dividends of an amount at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains in excess of any net long-term capital losses), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, plus its net tax-exempt interest each taxable year (the "Annual Minimum Distribution Requirement").

The Treasury Department is authorized to promulgate regulations under which foreign currency gains would constitute qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test only if such gains are directly related to investing in securities (or options and futures with respect to securities). To date, no such regulations have been issued.

Certain requirements relating to the qualification of a Fund as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in certain investment practices, including transactions in futures contracts and other types of derivative securities transactions. In addition, if a Fund were unable to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems relating to foreign investments or due to the holding of illiquid securities, the Fund's ability to qualify as a regulated investment company might be affected.

If a Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, the Fund would be subject to taxation on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gain, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and for treatment as qualified dividend income in the case of individual shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gain, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before re-qualifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

Assuming each Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company, each such Fund generally will not be subject to federal income tax on its investment company taxable income and net capital gains (any net long-term capital gains in excess of the net short-term capital losses), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net capital gains. Investment company taxable income which is retained by a Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate tax rates. A Fund might also retain for investment its net capital gain. If a Fund does retain such net capital gain, such gain will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its shareholders who (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their respective shares of the undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their respective shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of a Fund will be increased by an amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gain included in the shareholder's gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

Generally, regulated investment companies, like the Funds, typically must distribute amounts on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement in order to avoid a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. Generally, to avoid this tax, a regulated investment company must distribute in respect of each calendar year dividends of an amount at least equal to the sum of: (i) 98% of its ordinary income (taking into account certain adjustments and deferrals) for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the 12-month period ending on October 31 of the calendar year, and (iii) all ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed or taxed during such years and on which the regulated investment company paid no federal income tax. To avoid application of the excise tax, each Fund intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of a calendar year if it is declared by a Fund in October, November or December of that year to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions are taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.

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If a Fund were unable to distribute an amount at least equal to the Annual Minimum Distribution Requirement within applicable time periods, the Fund would not qualify for the favorable federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, or, even if it did so qualify, it might become liable for federal taxes on undistributed investment company taxable income and gains. In addition, the ability of a Fund to obtain timely and accurate information relating to its investments is a significant factor in complying with the requirements applicable to regulated investment companies in making tax-related computations. Thus, if a Fund were unable to obtain accurate information on a timely basis, it might be unable to qualify as a regulated investment company, or its tax computations might be subject to revisions (which could result in the imposition of taxes, interest and penalties).

All dividends from net investment income, together with distributions of any realized net short-term capital gains, whether paid direct to the shareholder or reinvested in shares of the Funds, are generally taxable as ordinary income. The amounts of Fund distributions are driven by federal tax requirements. A Fund's required taxable distributions to shareholders may be significant even if the Fund's overall investment performance for the period is negative.

For federal income tax purposes, dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income may qualify for the corporate stockholder's dividends received deduction to the extent the relevant Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualified dividend. The aggregate amount reported as a qualified dividend by a Fund cannot exceed the aggregate amount of dividends received by such Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. The corporate dividends received deduction will be limited if the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed or are deemed to have been held less than 46 days. In addition, a corporate stockholder must hold Fund shares for at least 46 days as well as satisfy certain other requirements in order to be eligible to claim the dividends received deduction.

The excess of net long-term capital gains over short-term capital losses realized and distributed by the Funds or reinvested in Fund shares will generally be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain. Capital gains from assets held for one year or less will be taxed as ordinary income. Distributions will be subject to these capital gains rates regardless of how long a shareholder has held Fund shares. Advice as to the tax status of each year's dividends and distributions will be mailed annually. A purchase of shares before the declaration of a capital gain distribution (typically done in December) may be disadvantageous because the distribution to shareholders has the effect of reducing the NAV of the shares by the amount of the capital gain distribution. If you invest through a taxable account, you could be subject to tax on the amount of the distribution.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a capital gain dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, the Fund generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

The maximum individual rate applicable to "qualified dividend income" and long-term capital gains ranges from 0% to 20%, depending on whether the individual's income exceeds certain threshold amounts. The aggregate amount reported as qualified dividend income by a Fund cannot exceed the aggregate amount of eligible dividends received by such Fund from domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations for the taxable year. Qualified dividend income will be limited if the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are deemed to have been held less than 61 days. The rate reductions do not apply to corporate taxpayers or to foreign shareholders. Each Fund will be able to separately report distributions of any qualifying long-term capital gains or qualifying dividends earned by the Fund that would be eligible for the lower maximum rate. A Fund shareholder would also have to satisfy a more than 60-day holding period as well as certain other requirements with respect to any distributions of qualifying dividends in order to obtain the benefit of the lower rate. Distributions from income derived from interest on bonds and other debt instruments will not generally qualify for the lower rates.

Certain distributions reported by a Fund as Section 163(j) interest dividends may be treated as interest income by shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. Such treatment by the shareholder is generally subject to holding period requirements and other potential limitations, although the holding period requirements are generally not applicable to dividends declared by money market funds and certain other funds that declare dividends daily and pay such dividends on a monthly or more

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frequent basis. The amount that a Fund is eligible to report as a Section 163(j) dividend for a tax year is generally limited to the excess of the Fund's business interest income over the sum of the Fund's (i) business interest expense and (ii) other deductions properly allocable to the Fund's business interest income.

If a Fund makes a distribution to its shareholders in excess of its current and accumulated "earnings and profits" in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of each shareholder's basis (for tax purposes) in its shares, and any distribution in excess of basis will be treated as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces the shareholder's basis in its shares, which reduces the loss (or increases the gain) on a subsequent taxable disposition by such shareholder of the shares.

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person's "modified adjusted gross income" (in the case of an individual) or "adjusted gross income" (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

Generally, gain or loss realized upon the sale or redemption of shares (including the exchange of shares for shares of another fund) will be capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets in the shareholder's hands, and will be taxable to shareholders, respectively, as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares had been held for more than one year at the time of sale or redemption. Capital gain or loss on shares held as capital assets for less than one year generally will be taxable to shareholders, respectively, as short-term capital gain or loss. Investors should be aware that any loss realized upon the sale, exchange or redemption of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distribution of long-term capital gain to the shareholder with respect to such shares. In addition, any loss realized on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares will be disallowed to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced within a period of 61 days, beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Certain of the Funds' investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, including the dividends received deduction, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause a Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test. A Fund may make certain tax elections or borrow money or dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these tax rules and to prevent disqualification of a Fund as a RIC but there can be no assurance that these measures will be successful in this regard.

**Cost Basis Reporting—**Shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012 are generally considered covered shares. The Funds must report cost basis information to you and the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") when covered shares are redeemed. The Funds will use a default average cost method for reporting your cost basis for covered shares, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing, to use another method. If you wish to choose another default cost basis method for your account you may select among: FIFO ("first-in-first-out"), LIFO ("last-in-first-out") and HIFO ("highest-cost-in-first-out"). For redemptions of shares acquired before January 1, 2012 ("non-covered shares"), the Funds are not required to report cost basis information to you or the IRS.

Accounts opened through a financial intermediary may be subject to different cost basis policies. For more information about your financial intermediary's rules and procedures, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the appropriate cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting rules apply to their particular circumstances.

**Back-up Withholding—**Each Fund generally will be required to withhold federal income tax at a rate of 24% ("back-up withholding") from dividends paid, capital gain distributions and redemption proceeds to shareholders if (1) the shareholder fails to furnish the applicable Fund with the shareholder's correct taxpayer identification number or social security number; (2) the IRS notifies the shareholder or the applicable Fund that the shareholder has failed

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to report properly certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect; or (3) when required to do so, the shareholder fails to certify that he or she is not subject to back-up withholding. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's federal income tax liability.

**Passive Foreign Investment Companies—**Some of the Funds may invest in stocks of foreign companies that are treated under the Code as passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs"). In general, a foreign company is treated as a PFIC if at least one half of its assets constitutes investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. Under the PFIC rules, an "excess distribution" received with respect to PFIC stock is treated as having been realized ratably over a period during which the Fund held the PFIC stock. The Fund itself generally will be subject to tax on the portion, if any, of the excess distribution that is allocated to the Fund's holding period in prior taxable years (an interest factor will be added to the tax, as if the tax had actually been payable in such prior taxable years) even though the Fund distributes the corresponding income to shareholders. Excess distributions include any gain from the sale of PFIC stock as well as certain distributions from a PFIC. All excess distributions are taxable as ordinary income.

A Fund may be able to elect alternative tax treatment with respect to PFIC stock. Under an election that may be available, a Fund generally would be required to include in its gross income its share of the earnings of a PFIC on a current basis, regardless of whether any distributions are received from the PFIC. If this election is made, the special rules, discussed above, relating to the taxation of excess distributions, would not apply. In addition, another election may be available that would involve marking to market a Fund's PFIC stock at the end of each taxable year with the result that unrealized gains are treated as though they were realized (*i.e.*, the "mark-to-market election"). If this election were made, any tax otherwise assessed at the Fund level under the PFIC rules generally would be eliminated, but a Fund could, in limited circumstances, incur nondeductible interest charges. A Fund's intention to be subject to tax annually as a regulated investment company may limit the Fund's elections with respect to PFIC stock.

Although not required to do so, it is likely that the Funds will choose to make the mark-to-market election with respect to PFIC stock acquired and held. If this election is made, the Funds may be required to make ordinary dividend distributions to their shareholders based on the Funds' unrealized gains for which no cash has been generated through disposition or sale of the shares of PFIC stock.

Because the application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition of income with respect to PFIC stock, as well as subject a Fund itself to tax on certain income from PFIC stock, the amount that must be distributed to shareholders and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to a fund that did not invest in PFIC stock.

**Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements—**Certain options, futures contracts, and forward contracts in which a Fund may invest may be "Section 1256 contracts." Gains or losses on Section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses; however, foreign currency gains or losses arising from certain Section 1256 contracts may be treated as ordinary income or loss. Also, Section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of each taxable year (and at certain other times as prescribed pursuant to the Code) are "marked to market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized.

Generally, the hedging transactions undertaken by a Fund may result in "straddles" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the amount, timing and character of gains (or losses) realized by a Fund. The transactions may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by a Fund which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. In addition, losses realized by a Fund on positions that are part of a straddle may be deferred under the straddle rules, rather than being taken into account in calculating the taxable income for the taxable year in which such losses are realized. Certain carrying charges (including interest expense) associated with positions in a straddle may be required to be capitalized rather than deducted currently. Because only a few regulations implementing the straddle rules have been promulgated, the tax consequences of transactions in options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and other financial contracts to a Fund are not entirely clear.

A Fund may make one or more of the elections available under the Code which are applicable to straddles. If a Fund makes any of the elections, the amount, character and timing of the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions will be determined under rules that vary according to the election(s) made. The rules applicable under certain of the elections may operate to accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions.

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Because application of the straddle rules may affect the character of gains or losses, defer losses and/or accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased as compared to a fund that did not engage in such hedging transactions.

Because only a few regulations regarding the treatment of swap agreements and related caps, floors and collars have been implemented, the tax consequences of such transactions are not entirely clear. The Funds intend to account for such transactions in a manner deemed by them to be appropriate, but the IRS might not necessarily accept such treatment. If it did not, the status of a Fund as a regulated investment company might be affected or taxes and interest may be imposed upon the examination and challenged by the IRS.

The requirements applicable to a Fund's qualification as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in transactions in options, futures contracts, forward contracts, swap agreements and other financial contracts.

**Market Discount—**If a Fund acquires a debt security at a price below the lower of the adjusted issue price or the stated redemption price of such debt security, the excess of its stated redemption price at maturity over its acquisition cost constitutes "market discount." If the amount of market discount is more than a de minimis amount, a portion of such market discount must be included as ordinary income (not capital gain) by the Fund in each taxable year in which the Fund owns an interest in such debt security and receives a principal payment on it. In particular, the Fund will be required to allocate that principal payment first to a portion of the market discount on the debt security that has accrued but has not previously been includable in income. In general, the amount of market discount that must be included for each period is equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of market discount accruing during such period (plus any accrued market discount for prior periods not previously taken into account) or (ii) the amount of the principal payment with respect to such period. Generally, market discount accrues on a daily basis for each day the debt security is held by a Fund at a constant rate over the time remaining to the debt security's maturity or, at the election of the Fund, at a constant yield to maturity which takes into account the semi-annual compounding of interest. Gain realized on the disposition of a market discount obligation must be recognized as ordinary interest income (not capital gain) to the extent of the "accrued market discount." A Fund may elect to include market discount in income currently. If this election is made, it will apply to all debt securities that the Fund holds which have market discount.

**Original Issue Discount—**Certain debt securities acquired by the Funds may be treated as debt securities that were originally issued at a discount. Very generally, original issue discount is defined as the difference between the price at which a security was issued and its stated redemption price at maturity. Although no cash income on account of such discount is actually received by a Fund, original issue discount that accrues on a debt security in a given taxable year generally is treated for federal income tax purposes as interest, and, therefore, such income would be subject to the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies.

Some debt securities may be purchased by the Funds at a discount that exceeds the original issue discount on such debt securities, if any. This additional discount represents market discount for federal income tax purposes (see above).

**Uncertain Tax Treatment**-A Fund may invest a portion of its net assets in below investment grade instruments. Investments in these types of instruments may present special tax issues for a Fund. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Fund to the extent necessary in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income that it does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

**Constructive Sales—**These rules may affect timing and character of gain if a Fund engages in transactions that reduce or eliminate its risk of loss with respect to appreciated financial positions. If the Fund enters into certain transactions in property while holding substantially identical property, the Fund would be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the property and would be taxed on any gain (but not loss) from the constructive sale. The character of gain from a constructive sale would depend upon the Fund's holding period in the property. Loss from a constructive sale would be recognized when the property was subsequently disposed of, and its character would depend on the Fund's holding period and the application of various loss deferral provisions of the Code.

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**REITs**—REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs primarily invest directly in real property and derive income from the collection of rents. Equity REITs may also sell properties that have appreciated in value and thereby realize capital gains. Mortgage REITs invest primarily in real estate mortgages and derive income from interest payments. Like regulated investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed as dividends to shareholders if the REITs comply with the Code's requirements.

REITs pay distributions to their shareholders based upon available cash flow from operations. In many cases, because of "non-cash" expenses such as property depreciation, an equity REIT's cash flow will exceed its earnings and profits. Distributions received from a REIT generally do not qualify for the intercorporate dividends received deductions and are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the REIT's earnings and profits. In addition, ordinary income distributions from a REIT generally do not qualify for the lower rate on "qualifying dividends" but do qualify for a 20% deduction available for potential passthrough to the Fund's shareholders. Distributions in excess of a REIT's earnings and profits are reported as return of capital and are generally not taxable to shareholders. However, return of capital distributions reduce tax basis in the REIT shares. Once a shareholder's cost basis is reduced to zero, any return of capital is taxable as a capital gain. The Fund intends to include the gross dividends received from such REITs in its distributions to shareholders, and accordingly, a portion of that Fund's distributions may also be reported as a return of capital.

REITs often do not provide complete tax information until after the calendar year-end. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for the Fund to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV.

**Investment in Taxable Mortgage Pools (Excess Inclusion Income)—**Under a notice issued in 2006 by the IRS (the "Notice"), the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a Fund's income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT's residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit ("REMIC") or equity interests in a "taxable mortgage pool" (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income.

It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a Fund that employs a non-REIT investment strategy.

**Other Investment Companies**—If a Fund invests in shares of other mutual funds, ETFs or other companies that are taxable as regulated investment companies (collectively, "underlying funds"), its distributable income and gains will normally consist, in part, of distributions from the underlying funds and gains and losses on the disposition of shares of the underlying funds. To the extent that an underlying fund realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, a Fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses (so as to offset distributions of net income or capital gains from other underlying funds) until it disposes of shares of the underlying fund.

Moreover, even when a Fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for federal income tax purposes as a short-term capital loss or an ordinary deduction. In particular, a Fund will not be able to offset any capital losses from its dispositions of underlying fund shares against its ordinary income (including distributions of any net short-term capital gain realized by an underlying fund).

In certain circumstances, the "wash sale" rules under Section 1091 of the Code may apply to a Fund's sales of underlying fund shares that have generated losses. A wash sale occurs if shares of an underlying fund are sold by the Fund at a loss and the Fund acquires substantially identical shares of that same underlying fund 30 days before or after the date of the sale. The wash-sale rules could defer losses in the Fund's hands on sales of underlying fund shares (to the extent such sales are wash sales) for extended (and, in certain cases, potentially indefinite) periods of time.

As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, the amount of net investment income and net capital gain that the Funds will be required to distribute to shareholders may be greater than what such amounts would have been had the Funds directly invested in the securities held by the underlying funds, rather than investing in shares of the underlying funds. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from the Funds (e.g., long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Funds invested directly in the securities held by the underlying funds.

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**Foreign Taxation—**Income earned and gain realized by a Fund from sources within a foreign country may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by that country. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes.

The imposition of such taxes will reduce the amount of dividends and distributions paid to the Fund's shareholders. If more than 50% of the value of a Fund's total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, that Fund will be eligible and may elect to treat a proportionate amount of certain foreign taxes paid by it as a distribution to each shareholder which would generally require each shareholder to include in gross income from foreign sources its pro rata shares of such taxes and would generally permit each shareholder either (1) to credit this amount (subject to applicable limitations) or (2) to deduct this amount for purposes of computing its U.S. federal income tax liability. A Fund will notify you if it makes this election.

A shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by a Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Furthermore, the amount of the foreign tax credit that is available may be limited to the extent that dividends from a foreign corporation qualify for the lower tax rate on "qualifying dividends."

**Securities Lending—**A Fund's participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to its stockholders. With respect to any security subject to a securities loan, any (i) amounts received by a Fund in place of dividends earned on a security during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund may not give rise to either qualified dividend income or income otherwise eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction; and (ii) withholding taxes accrued on dividends during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund will not qualify as a foreign tax paid by such Fund and, therefore, cannot be passed through to stockholders even if the Fund satisfies the requirements described in "Foreign Taxation," above.

**Foreign Currency Transactions—**Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates, which occur between the time a Fund accrues income or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time that a Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities, generally are treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain futures contracts, forward contracts, options and similar financial instruments, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary gain or loss. These gains or losses, referred to under the Code as "Section 988" gains or losses, may increase or decrease the amount of a Fund's investment company taxable income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.

**Foreign Shareholders—**Taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien individual, foreign trust or estate, or foreign corporation ("foreign shareholder") depends on whether the income from the Fund is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by such shareholder. If the income from the Fund is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, ordinary income dividends (including distributions of any net short-term capital gains) will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) upon the gross amount of the dividend. Note that the preferential rate of tax applicable to certain dividends (discussed above) does not apply to dividends paid to foreign shareholders. Such a foreign shareholder would generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on gains realized on the sale of Fund shares, and distributions of net long-term capital gains that are reported as capital gain dividends. If the income from the Fund is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and any gains realized upon the sale of Fund shares will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. citizens or domestic corporations. 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 lower treaty rate).

Certain properly reported dividends received by a nonresident alien or foreign entity are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax when they (a) are paid in respect of a Fund's "qualified net interest income" (generally, the Fund's U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which we or the Non-U.S. stockholder are at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income), or (b) are paid in connection with a Fund's "qualified short-term capital gains" (generally, the excess of the Fund's net short-term capital gain over the Fund's long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, no assurance can be given as to whether any of a Fund's distributions will be eligible for this exemption from withholding of U.S. federal income tax or, if eligible, will be reported as such by the Fund. In the case

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shares of Fund shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold U.S. federal income tax even if a Fund reports the payment as a dividend derived from qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gain. Moreover, depending on the circumstances, a Fund may report all, some or none of the Fund's potentially eligible dividends as derived from qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains, and a portion of the Fund's distributions (e.g., interest from non-U.S. sources or any foreign currency gains) would be ineligible for this potential exemption from withholding. Capital gain distributions from the fund's net long-term capital gains are also generally exempt from U.S. withholding tax.

In order to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, the foreign shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-US status (including, in general, furnishing an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substitute form). Foreign investors in a Fund should consult their tax advisers in this regard.

The Funds are required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of dividends to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the Treasury Department of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the Funds to enable the Funds to determine whether withholding is required.

**Other Taxes—**The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to provide an exhaustive presentation of the tax consequences of investing in a Fund. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes, depending on each shareholder's particular situation. Depending upon the nature and extent of a Fund's contacts with a state or local jurisdiction, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such jurisdiction if it is regarded under applicable law as doing business in, or as having income derived from, the jurisdiction. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.

**Organization**

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The Trust's Declaration of Trust provides for the issuance of shares of beneficial interest in one or more classes or series.

The Trust's Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of Trustees and officers of the Trust except with respect to any matter as to which the indemnitee shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which the indemnitee shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified thereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her position. In addition, the Trust's Declaration of Trust provides that, if any shareholder or former shareholder of any series is held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder and not because of the shareholder's acts or omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or the shareholder's heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives or general or corporate successors) shall be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability but only out of the assets held with respect to the particular series of which such person is or was a shareholder and from or in relation to which such liability arose. The Trust, acting on behalf of any affected series, may, at its option, assume the defense of any such claim made against such shareholder.

The Trust's Declaration of Trust sets forth certain requirements, among others, for shareholders to bring a derivative action to enforce the right of the Trust or an affected Series or Class, as applicable. For example, the Declaration of Trust requires that (1) shareholders submit a written demand to the Board of Trustees requesting that they cause the Trust or affected Series or Class, as applicable, to file the action itself, (2) shareholders be joined by at least 10 percent of the shareholders of the Trust or the affected Series or Class, as applicable, and (3) the Board of Trustees be given 60 calendar days to consider the written demand.

The Trust has authorized the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest and currently issues its shares in 10 series. The shares of each series of the Trust represent a pro rata beneficial interest in that series' net assets and in the earnings and profits or losses derived from the investment of such assets.

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As of the date of this SAI, the Funds have a single class of shares outstanding (SMA Class shares). When issued and paid for, the shares of each Fund will be fully paid and non-assessable. Shares have such subscription, preference, conversion, exchange or preemptive rights, as authorized by the Board from time to time and permitted under the Trust's organizational documents and applicable law. All shares are transferable, redeemable and assignable.

On certain matters, such as the election of Trustees, all shares of the series of the Trust vote together. On other matters affecting a particular series or class, such as the investment advisory contract or the fundamental policies, only shares of that series or class are entitled to vote. With respect to all proposals, except a proposal to elect Trustees, a majority vote of the applicable shares at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required for approval of the proposal, except as otherwise required by law. With respect to a proposal to elect Trustees, a plurality vote of the applicable shares at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required for approval of the proposal, except as otherwise required by law.

The Trust does not generally hold annual meetings of shareholders and will do so only when required by law. Shareholders may remove Trustees from office by vote cast at a meeting of shareholders. Each Fund reserves the right to merge or reorganize with another fund or liquidate, in each case subject to applicable approvals by shareholders and the Fund's Board as required by law and the Fund's governing documents. The Trust's Declaration of Trust contains provisions relating to forum selection. The designation of exclusive forum may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit and may limit a shareholder's ability to litigate a claim in a jurisdiction or forum that may be more convenient and that a shareholder believes is favorable to the shareholder for the claim.

**Securities Lending**

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The Funds did not engage in any securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and therefore did not earn any income or incur any expenses related to securities lending.

**Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend-Paying Agent**

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The Bank of New York Mellon, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as custodian for the portfolio securities of the Funds, including those held by foreign banks and foreign securities depositories which qualify as eligible foreign custodians under the rules adopted by the SEC, and acts as the administrative agent of each of the Funds pursuant to a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement with the Trust, as may be amended, and acts as the transfer and dividend-paying agent for each of the Funds pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement with the Trust, as may be amended.

**Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

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The Trust's independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, 1775 Tysons Boulevard, Virginia 22102, audits and reports on the Funds' annual financial statements, reviews certain regulatory reports, prepares the Funds' federal income tax returns, and performs other attestation, auditing, tax and advisory services when engaged to do so by the Trust.

**Legal Counsel**

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Dechert LLP, 1900 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

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**Financial Statements**

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The audited financial statements of the Funds for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, including notes thereto and the report of the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm, which are contained in the Funds' report on [Form N-CSR](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/88525/000139834425021766/fp0095396-56_ncsrixbrl.htm) for the most recently completed fiscal year, are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of the Funds' annual and semi-annual reports and other information such as Fund financial statements may be obtained by telephoning the transfer agent at 800.820.0888 or by visiting www.guggenheiminvestments.com.

**Family of Funds**, for disclosure purposes in this Statement of Additional Information, include—series of Guggenheim Funds Trust: Guggenheim Floating Rate Strategies Fund, Guggenheim High Yield Fund, Guggenheim Core Bond Fund, Guggenheim Limited Duration Fund, Guggenheim Macro Opportunities Fund, Guggenheim Municipal Income Fund, Guggenheim Total Return Bond Fund, and Guggenheim Ultra Short Duration Fund; the Rydex Series Funds; and the Rydex Dynamic Funds.

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**Appendix A: <u>Description of Securities Ratings</u>**

**STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION —**

A brief description of the applicable S&P Global Ratings and its affiliates (together, "S&P") rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows.

**Issue Credit Ratings Definition**

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P's view of the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices.

**Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings\***

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

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**D.** An obligation rated 'D' is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

\*

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

**Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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**SPUR (S&Ps Underlying Rating).** A SPUR is an opinion about the stand-alone capacity of an obligor to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer or obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. S&P maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.

**Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings**

An S&P's U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P'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, S&P's analysis will review the following considerations:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**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.

**D.** 'D' is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

**Dual Ratings**

Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, 'AAA/A-1+' or 'A-1+/A-1'). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').

**Active Qualifiers**

S&P uses the following qualifiers that limit the scope of a rating. The structure of the transaction can require the use of a qualifier such as a 'p' qualifier, which indicates the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. A qualifier appears as a suffix and is part of the rating.

**Federal deposit insurance limit: 'L' qualifier** Ratings qualified with 'L' apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.

**Principal: 'p' qualifier** This suffix 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' suffix indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only and that the interest is not rated.

**Preliminary ratings: 'prelim' qualifier** Preliminary ratings, with the 'prelim' suffix, 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 S&P of appropriate documentation. S&P reserves the right not to issue a final rating. Moreover, if a final rating is issued, it may differ from the preliminary rating.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in S&P's opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligations of these entities.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 transformative event not occur, S&P would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.

**Termination structures: 't' qualifier** 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.

**Counterparty instrument rating: 'cir' qualifier** This symbol indicates a counterparty instrument rating (CIR), which is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an issuer in a securitization structure with respect to a specific financial obligation to a counterparty (including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and liquidity facilities). The CIR is determined on an ultimate payment basis; these opinions do not take into account timeliness of payment.

**MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. —**

A brief description of the applicable Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody's) follows.

**Global Rating Scales**

Credit ratings are assigned on Moody's global long-term and short-term rating scales and are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Moody's defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default or impairment. The contractual financial obligations addressed by Moody's ratings are those that call for, without regard to enforceability, the payment of an ascertainable amount, which may vary based upon standard sources of variation (e.g., floating interest rates), by an ascertainable date. Moody's rating addresses the issuer's ability to obtain cash sufficient to service the obligation, and its willingness to pay. Moody's ratings do not address non-standard sources of variation in the amount of the principal obligation (e.g., equity indexed), absent an express statement to the contrary in a press release accompanying an initial rating. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Moody's issues ratings at the issuer level and instrument level on both the long-term scale and the short-term scale. Typically, ratings are made publicly available although private and unpublished ratings may also be assigned.

Moody's differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody's aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.

**Global Long-Term Rating Scale**

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

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

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

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

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**B.** Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

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

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

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

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

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

**Global Short-Term Rating Scale**

**P-1.** Ratings of Prime-1 reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.

**P-2.** Ratings of Prime-2 reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.

**P-3.** Ratings of Prime-3 reflect 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.

**US Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings** 

Moody's uses the global short-term Prime rating scale for commercial paper issued by US municipalities and nonprofits. These commercial paper programs may be backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities, or by an issuer's self-liquidity. For other short-term municipal obligations, Moody's uses one of two other short-term rating scales, the Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scales discussed below.

**MIG Ratings.** Moody's uses the MIG scale for US municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less.

**MIG Scale**

**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.

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

**VMIG Ratings.** For variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), Moody's assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer's ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders ("on demand") and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the VMIG scale. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer's long-term rating drops below investment grade.

For VRDOs, Moody's typically assign a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as "NR."

Industrial development bonds in the US where the obligor is a corporate may carry a VMIG rating that reflects Moody's view of the relative likelihood of default and loss. In these cases, liquidity assessment is based on the liquidity of the corporate obligor.

**VMIG Scale**

**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.

**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.

**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.

**SG**

This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

**Other Rating Symbols**

**Provisional Ratings - (P).** Moody's will often assign a provisional rating to an issuer or an instrument when the change to a definitive rating is subject to the fulfilment of contingencies that could affect the rating. Examples of such contingencies are the finalization of transaction documents/terms where a rating is sensitive to changes at closing. When such contingencies are not present, a definitive rating may be assigned based upon documentation that is not yet in final form. Moody's will also often assign provisional ratings to program ratings, such as shelf registrations and medium term note programs. A provisional rating is denoted by placing a (P) in front of the rating. The (P) notation provides additional information about the rating, but does not indicate a different rating. For example, a provisional rating of (P)Aa1 is the same rating as Aa1.

For provisional ratings assigned to an issuer or instrument, the (P) notation is removed when the applicable contingencies have been fulfilled. A Credit Rating Action to remove the (P) notation indicates that the rating is no longer subject to contingencies, and changes the provisional rating to a definitive rating. Program ratings for shelf registrations and other issuance programs remain provisional, while the subsequent ratings of issuances under these programs are assigned as definitive ratings.

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**Refundeds - #.** Issues that are secured by escrowed funds held in trust, reinvested in direct, non-callable US government obligations or non-callable obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the US Government or Resolution Funding Corporation are identified with a # (hash mark) symbol, e.g., #Aaa.

**Withdrawn - WR**. When Moody's no longer rates an obligation on which it previously maintained a rating, the symbol WR is employed.

**Not Rated - NR.** NR is assigned to an unrated issuer, obligation and/or program.

**Not Available - NAV.** An issue that Moody's has not yet rated is denoted by the NAV symbol.

**Terminated Without Rating - TWR.** The symbol TWR applies primarily to issues that mature or are redeemed without having been rated.

**FITCH RATINGS, INC. —**

A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings, Inc. ("Fitch") ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows.

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

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

**Long-Term Credit Ratings Scales**

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

**AA Very High Credit Quality.** 'AA' ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

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

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

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

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

**CCC Substantial Credit Risk.** Very low margin for safety. Default is a real possibility.

**CC Very High Levels of Credit Risk.** Default of some kind appears probable.

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

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the formal announcement by the issuer or their agent of a distressed debt exchange; and

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

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• an uncured payment default or distressed debt exchange on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

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

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

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

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

**Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers and Obligations** 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as "short term" based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means a timeframe of 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. Typically, applicable to entity ratings only.

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

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