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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 28, 2020

Securities Act File No. 333-173276

Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-22542

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

SSGA Active Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

One Iron Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number: (617) 664-1465

Sean O’Malley, Esq.

Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

c/o SSGA Funds Management, Inc.

One Iron Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

W. John McGuire

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

Prospectus

[October 31, 2020]

SSGA Active Trust    

SPDR^® Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF (SRLN)

SPDR MFS Systematic Core Equity ETF (SYE)

SPDR MFS Systematic Growth Equity ETF (SYG)

SPDR MFS Systematic Value Equity ETF (SYV)

Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of a Fund's annual and semi- annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund (or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank). Instead, the reports will be made available on a Fund's website (https://www.ssga.com/spdrs), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted, and provided with a website link to access the report. If you already elected to receive reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications by contacting your financial intermediary.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Shares in the Funds are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other agency of the U.S. Government, nor are shares deposits or obligations of any bank. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Funds.

Where to Learn More About the Funds

This Prospectus does not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC with respect to Fund Shares. An SAI and the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, each of which has been or will be filed with the SEC, provide more information about the Funds. The Prospectus and SAI may be supplemented from time to time. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund's performance during the Fund's last fiscal year, as applicable.  The SAI is incorporated herein by reference (i.e., it is legally part of this Prospectus). These materials may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing to the Distributor, State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC, One Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, by visiting the Funds' website at https://www.ssga.com/spdrs or by calling the following number:

Investor Information: 1-866-787-2257

The Registration Statement, including this Prospectus, the SAI, and the exhibits as well as any shareholder reports may be reviewed on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also obtain copies of this and other information, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Shareholder inquiries may be directed to the Funds in writing to State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC, One Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, or by calling the Investor Information number listed above.

No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offer of Fund Shares, and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust or the Funds. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale of Fund Shares shall under any circumstance imply that the information contained herein is correct as of any date after the date of this Prospectus.

Dealers effecting transactions in Fund Shares, whether or not participating in this distribution, are generally required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to any obligation of dealers to deliver a Prospectus when acting as underwriters.

ACTSTATPRO

The Trust's Investment Company Act Number is 811-22542.

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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

SSGA ACTIVE TRUST (THE “TRUST”)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dated [October 31, 2020]

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is not a prospectus. With respect to each of the Trust’s series listed below, this SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated [October 31, 2020], as may be revised from time to time (the “Prospectus”).

Principal U.S. Listing Exchange for each ETF: NYSE Arca, Inc. (except EMTL and STOT are listed on Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.)

Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. Copies of the Prospectus and the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2020 may be obtained without charge by writing to State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC, the Trust’s principal underwriter (referred to herein as “Distributor” or “Principal Underwriter”), One Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, by visiting the Trust’s website at http://www.ssga.com/spdrs or by calling 1-866-787-2257. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, financial highlights and financial statements of the Funds included in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

The Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), consisting of multiple investment series, including SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF, SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF, SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF, SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF, SPDR MFS Systematic Core Equity ETF, SPDR MFS Systematic Growth Equity ETF, SPDR MFS Systematic Value Equity ETF, SPDR SSGA Fixed Income Sector Rotation ETF, SPDR SSGA Global Allocation ETF, SPDR SSGA Income Allocation ETF, SPDR SSGA Multi-Asset Real Return ETF, SPDR SSGA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF and SPDR SSGA US Sector Rotation ETF (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”). The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on March 30, 2011. The offering of each Fund’s shares (“Shares”) is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). SSGA Funds Management, Inc. serves as the investment adviser for each Fund (“SSGA FM” or the “Adviser”) and certain Funds are sub-advised by a sub-adviser as further described herein (each, a “Sub-Adviser”). To the extent that a reference in this SAI refers to the “Adviser,” such reference should be read to refer to the applicable Sub-Adviser where the context requires.

Each Fund offers and issues Shares at their net asset value (sometimes referred to herein as “NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). Each Fund generally offers and issues Shares either in exchange for (i) a basket of securities designated by the Fund (“Deposit Securities”) together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (“Cash Component”) or (ii) a cash payment equal in value to the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) together with the Cash Component. The primary consideration accepted by a Fund (i.e., Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash) is set forth under “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units” later in this SAI. The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security and reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash (subject to applicable legal requirements). The Shares have been approved for listing and secondary trading on a national securities exchange (the “Exchange”). The Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices. These prices may differ from the Shares’ net asset values. The Shares are also redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and generally in exchange either for (i) portfolio securities and a specified cash payment or (ii) cash (subject to applicable legal requirements).

Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least equal to a specified percentage of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities as set forth in the Participant Agreement (as defined below). See “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units.” The Trust may impose a transaction fee for each creation or redemption. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. In addition to the fixed creation or redemption transaction fee, an additional transaction fee of up to three times the fixed creation or redemption transaction fee and/or an additional variable charge may apply.

INVESTMENT POLICIES

Each Fund may directly, or indirectly through investment in an exchange traded product (“ETP”), invest in any of the instruments or engage in any of the investment practices described below if such investment or activity is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies.

Each Fund may invest in the following types of investments, consistent with its investment strategies and objective. Please see a Fund’s Prospectus for additional information regarding its principal investment strategies.

DIVERSIFICATION STATUS

Each Fund (except the SPDR SSGA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF) is classified as a “diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified investment company, as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agents or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities would be held by the investment company.

The SPDR SSGA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF are each classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that a Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. This means that a Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a diversified fund. This may have an adverse effect on a Fund’s performance or subject a Fund’s Shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies.

Each Fund intends to maintain a level of diversification and otherwise conduct their operations so as to enable each Fund to qualify for treatment as a “regulated investment company” for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Internal Revenue

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Code”), and to relieve each Fund of any liability for federal income tax to the extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders. Compliance with the diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code may limit the investment flexibility of the Funds and may make it less likely that the Funds will meet their investment objectives.

ASSET-BACKED AND MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

Mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and certain stripped mortgage-backed securities, represent a participation in, or are secured by, mortgage loans. Asset-backed securities are structured like mortgage-backed securities, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include such items as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property and receivables from credit card agreements. The cash flow generated by the underlying assets is applied to make required payments on the securities and to pay related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed or mortgage-backed securities depends on, among other things, the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets. Each Fund may invest in any such instruments or variations as may be developed, to the extent consistent with its investment objective and policies and applicable regulatory requirements. In general, the collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of a shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is likely to experience substantial prepayments.

Mortgage-backed securities have yield and maturity characteristics corresponding to the underlying assets. Unlike traditional debt securities, which may pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity, when the entire principal amount comes due, payments on certain mortgage-backed securities include both interest and a partial repayment of principal. Besides the scheduled repayment of principal, repayments of principal may result from the voluntary prepayment, refinancing or foreclosure of the underlying mortgage loans. If property owners make unscheduled prepayments of their mortgage loans, these prepayments will result in early payment of the applicable mortgage-backed securities. In that event, a Fund may be unable to invest the proceeds from the early payment of the mortgage-backed securities in an investment that provides as high a yield as the mortgage-backed securities. Consequently, early payment associated with mortgage-backed securities may cause these securities to experience significantly greater price and yield volatility than that experienced by traditional fixed-income securities. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by factors including the level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgage and other social and demographic conditions. During periods of falling interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments tends to increase, thereby tending to decrease the life of mortgage-backed securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments usually decreases, thereby tending to increase the life of mortgage-backed securities. If the life of a mortgage-backed security is inaccurately predicted, a Fund may not be able to realize the rate of return it expected.

Adjustable rate mortgage securities (“ARMs”), like traditional mortgage-backed securities, are interests in pools of mortgage loans that provide investors with payments consisting of both principal and interest as mortgage loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. Unlike fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities, ARMs are collateralized by or represent interests in mortgage loans with variable rates of interest. These interest rates are reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to an interest rate index or market interest rate. Although the rate adjustment feature may act as a buffer to reduce sharp changes in the value of adjustable rate securities, these securities are still subject to changes in value based on, among other things, changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the interest rates are reset only periodically, changes in the interest rate on ARMs may lag changes in prevailing market interest rates. Also, some ARMs (or the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors that limit the maximum change in the interest rate during a specified period or over the life of the security. As a result, changes in the interest rate on an ARM may not fully reflect changes in prevailing market interest rates during certain periods.

A Fund may also invest in hybrid ARMs, whose underlying mortgages combine fixed-rate and adjustable rate features.

Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are less effective than other types of securities as a means of locking in attractive long-term interest rates. One reason is the need to reinvest prepayments of principal; another is the possibility of significant unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in interest rates. These prepayments would have to be reinvested at lower rates. The automatic interest rate adjustment feature of mortgages underlying ARMs likewise reduces the ability to lock-in attractive rates. As a result, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayments may also significantly shorten the effective maturities of these securities, especially during periods of declining interest rates. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, a reduction in prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.

At times, some mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities will have higher than market interest rates and therefore will be purchased at a premium above their par value. Prepayments may cause losses on securities purchased at a premium.

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CMOs may be issued by a U.S. government agency or instrumentality or by a private issuer. Although payment of the principal of, and interest on, the underlying collateral securing privately issued CMOs may be guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, these CMOs represent obligations solely of the private issuer and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or any other person or entity.

Prepayments could cause early retirement of CMOs. CMOs are designed to reduce the risk of prepayment for certain investors by issuing multiple classes of securities, each having different maturities, interest rates and payment schedules, and with the principal and interest on the underlying mortgages allocated among the several classes in various ways. Payment of interest or principal on some classes or series of CMOs may be subject to contingencies or some classes or series may bear some or all of the risk of default on the underlying mortgages. CMOs of different classes or series are generally retired in sequence as the underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. If enough mortgages are repaid ahead of schedule, the classes or series of a CMO with the earliest maturities generally will be retired prior to their maturities. Thus, the early retirement of particular classes or series of a CMO would have the same effect as the prepayment of mortgages underlying other mortgage-backed securities. Conversely, slower than anticipated prepayments can extend the effective maturities of CMOs, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing their volatility.

Prepayments could result in losses on stripped mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are usually structured with two classes that receive different portions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage loans. The yield to maturity on an interest only or “IO” class of stripped mortgage-backed securities is extremely sensitive not only to changes in prevailing interest rates but also to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying assets. A rapid rate of principal prepayments may have a measurable adverse effect on the Fund’s yield to maturity to the extent it invests in IOs. If the assets underlying the IO experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities. Principal only or “POs” tend to increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are slower than anticipated. The secondary market for stripped mortgage-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than that for other mortgage-backed securities, potentially limiting the Fund’s ability to buy or sell those securities at any particular time.

Subprime mortgage loans, which typically are made to less creditworthy borrowers, have a higher risk of default than conventional mortgage loans. Therefore, mortgage-backed securities backed by subprime mortgage loans may suffer significantly greater declines in value due to defaults or the increased risk of default.

The risks associated with other asset-backed securities (including in particular the risks of issuer default and of early prepayment) are generally similar to those described above for CMOs. In addition, because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in the underlying assets that is comparable to a mortgage, asset-backed securities present certain additional risks that are not present with mortgage-backed securities. The ability of an issuer of asset-backed securities to enforce its security interest in the underlying assets may be limited. For example, revolving credit receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give debtors the right to set-off certain amounts owed, thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles, rather than by real property.

Asset-backed securities may be collateralized by the fees earned by service providers. The values of asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset and are therefore subject to risks associated with the negligence or malfeasance by their servicers and to the credit risk of their servicers. In certain circumstances, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of the security holders in and to the underlying collateral. The insolvency of entities that generate receivables or that utilize the assets may result in added costs and delays in addition to losses associated with a decline in the value of the underlying assets.

Federal, state and local government officials and representatives as well as certain private parties have proposed actions to assist homeowners who own or occupy property subject to mortgages. Certain of those proposals involve actions that would affect the mortgages that underlie or relate to certain mortgage-related securities, including securities or other instruments which a Fund may hold or in which it may invest. Some of those proposals include, among other things, lowering or forgiving principal balances; forbearing, lowering or eliminating interest payments; or utilizing eminent domain powers to seize mortgages, potentially for below market compensation. The prospective or actual implementation of one or more of these proposals may significantly and adversely affect the value and liquidity of securities held by a Fund and could cause the Fund’s net asset value to decline, potentially significantly. Tremendous uncertainty remains in the market concerning the resolution of these issues; the range of proposals and the potential implications of any implemented solution is impossible to predict.

A Fund may invest in any level of the capital structure of an issuer of mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities, including the equity or “first loss” tranche. See “COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS.”

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Consistent with a Fund’s investment objective and policies, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may also cause a Fund to invest in other types of mortgage- and asset-backed securities offered currently or in the future, including certain yet-to-be-developed types of mortgage- and asset-backed securities which may be created as the market evolves.

BANK LOANS

Bank loans include floating rate loans and institutionally traded floating rate debt obligations issued by asset-backed pools and other issues, and interests therein. Bank loan interests may be acquired from U.S. or foreign commercial banks, insurance companies, finance companies or other financial institutions that have made loans or are members of a lending syndicate or from other holders of loan interests. Bank loans typically pay interest at rates which are re-determined periodically on the basis of a floating base lending rate (such as the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)) plus a premium. Bank loans are typically of below investment grade quality. Bank loans generally (but not always) hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a borrower and are often secured with collateral.

Each Fund may, and the SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF intends to, invest in both secured and unsecured bank loans. Holders’ claims under unsecured loans are subordinated to claims of creditors holding secured indebtedness and possibly other classes of creditors holding unsecured debt. Unsecured loans have a greater risk of default than secured loans, particularly during periods of deteriorating economic conditions. Also, since they do not afford the lender recourse to collateral, unsecured loans are subject to greater risk of nonpayment in the event of default than secured loans. Many such loans are relatively illiquid and may be difficult to value.

Some bank loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate the bank loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of the bank loans, including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such bank loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower. If interest were required to be refunded, it could negatively affect a Fund’s performance.

Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness or pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, a Fund bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.

Investments in bank loans through a direct assignment of the financial institution’s interest with respect to the bank loan may involve additional risks. For example, if a secured bank loan is foreclosed, a Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a Fund could be held liable as a co-lender. When a Fund is a purchaser of an assignment, it succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the assigning lender and becomes a lender under the loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning lender.

Bank loans may be structured to include both term loans, which are generally fully funded at the time of investment, and revolving credit facilities, which would require a Fund to make additional investments in the bank loans as required under the terms of the credit facility at the borrower’s demand.

A financial institution’s employment as agent bank may be terminated in the event that it fails to observe a requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor agent bank would generally be appointed to replace the terminated agent bank, and assets held by the agent bank under the loan agreement would remain available to the holders of such indebtedness. However, if assets held by the agent bank for the benefit of a Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the agent bank’s general creditors, the Fund may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payments on a bank loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.

The SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF each may invest up to 20% of its portfolio in junior bank loans, although the SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Market Fixed Income ETF’s investments in structured securities and junior bank loans in the aggregate may not exceed 20% of its assets. Due to their lower place in the borrower’s capital structure, junior bank loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior bank loans of the same borrower.

BONDS

A bond is an interest-bearing security issued by a company, governmental unit or, in some cases, a non-U.S. entity. The issuer of a bond has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal (the bond’s face value) periodically or on a specified maturity date; provided, however, a zero coupon bond pays no interest to its holder during its life. The value of a zero coupon bond to a fund consists of the difference between such bond’s face value at the time of maturity and the price for which it was acquired, which may be an amount significantly less than its face value (sometimes referred to as a “deep discount” price).

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An issuer may have the right to redeem or “call” a bond before maturity, in which case the investor may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower market rates. Most bonds bear interest income at a “coupon” rate that is fixed for the life of the bond. The value of a fixed rate bond usually rises when market interest rates fall, and falls when market interest rates rise. Accordingly, a fixed rate bond’s yield (income as a percent of the bond’s current value) may differ from its coupon rate as its value rises or falls. Fixed rate bonds generally are also subject to inflation risk, which is the risk that the value of the bond or income from the bond will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. This could mean that, as inflation increases, the “real” value of the assets of a fund holding fixed rate bonds can decline, as can the value of the fund’s distributions. Other types of bonds bear income at an interest rate that is adjusted periodically. Because of their adjustable interest rates, the value of “floating-rate” or “variable-rate” bonds fluctuates much less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of fixed rate bonds. A Fund may treat some of these bonds as having a shorter maturity for purposes of calculating the weighted average maturity of its investment portfolio. Bonds may be senior or subordinated obligations. Senior obligations generally have the first claim on a corporation’s earnings and assets and, in the event of liquidation, are paid before subordinated obligations. Bonds may be unsecured (backed only by the issuer’s general creditworthiness) or secured (also backed by specified collateral).

In addition, each Fund may invest in corporate bonds. The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest on the bond and changes in the market value of the bond. The market value of a corporate bond may be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation’s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the market place. There is a risk that the issuers of the securities may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by such a security.

COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) are a type of asset-backed security and include, among other things, collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. A CBO is a trust which is backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans.

The cash flows from the CDO trust are generally split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. Senior tranches are paid from the cash flows from the underlying assets before the junior tranches and equity or “first loss” tranches. Losses are first borne by the equity tranches, next by the junior tranches, and finally by the senior tranches. Senior tranches pay the lowest interest rates but are generally safer investments than more junior tranches because, should there be any default, senior tranches are typically paid first. The most junior tranches, such as equity tranches, would attract the highest interest rates but suffer the highest risk should the holder of an underlying loan default. If some loans default and the cash collected by the CDO is insufficient to pay all of its investors, those in the lowest, most junior tranches suffer losses first. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CDO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than the underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, more senior CDO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults and aversion to CDO securities as a class.

The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the quality and type of the collateral and the tranche of the CDO in which a Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by a Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market, or other relevant measures of liquidity, may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO potentially to be deemed liquid by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser under liquidity policies approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”). In addition to the risks associated with debt instruments (e.g., interest rate risk and credit risk), CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the possibility that a Fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS (“CLOs”)

Each Fund may invest in CLOs. A CLO is a financing company (generally called a Special Purpose Vehicle or “SPV”), created to reapportion the risk and return characteristics of a pool of assets. While the assets underlying CLOs are typically Senior Loans, the assets may also include (i) unsecured loans, (ii) other debt securities that are rated below investment grade, (iii) debt tranches of other CLOs and (iv) equity securities incidental to investments in Senior Loans. When investing in CLOs, a Fund will not invest in equity tranches, which are the lowest tranche. However, a Fund may invest in lower debt tranches of CLOs, which typically experience a lower recovery, greater risk of loss or deferral or non-payment of interest than more senior debt tranches of the CLO. In addition, a

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Fund intends to invest in CLOs consisting primarily of individual Senior Loans of borrowers and not repackaged CLO obligations from other high risk pools. The underlying Senior Loans purchased by CLOs are generally performing at the time of purchase but may become non-performing, distressed or defaulted. CLOs with underlying assets of non-performing, distressed or defaulted loans are not contemplated to comprise a significant portion of a Fund’s investments in CLOs. The key feature of the CLO structure is the prioritization of the cash flows from a pool of debt securities among the several classes of the CLO. The SPV is a company founded solely for the purpose of securitizing payment claims arising out of this diversified asset pool. On this basis, marketable securities are issued by the SPV which, due to the diversification of the underlying risk, generally represent a lower level of risk than the original assets. The redemption of the securities issued by the SPV typically takes place at maturity out of the cash flow generated by the collected claims.

Holders of CLOs bear risks of the underlying investments, index or reference obligation and are subject to counterparty risk.

A Fund may have the right to receive payments only from the CLOs, and generally does not have direct rights against the issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be securitized. While certain CLOs enable the investor to acquire interests in a pool of securities without the brokerage and other expenses associated with directly holding the same securities, investors in CLOs generally pay their share of the CLO’s administrative and other expenses. Although it is difficult to predict whether the prices of indices and securities underlying a CLO will rise or fall, these prices (and, therefore, the prices of CLOs) will be influenced by the same types of political and economic events that affect issuers of securities and capital markets generally. If the issuer of a CLO uses shorter term financing to purchase longer term securities, the issuer may be forced to sell its securities at below market prices if it experiences difficulty in obtaining short-term financing, which may adversely affect the value of the CLOs owned by a Fund.

Certain CLOs may be thinly traded or have a limited trading market. CLOs are typically privately offered and sold. As a result, investments in CLOs may be characterized by a Fund as illiquid securities. In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities discussed herein, CLOs carry additional risks, including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the possibility that the investments in CLOs are subordinate to other classes or tranches thereof; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (CMOS) AND MULTICLASS PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES

CMOs are debt obligations collateralized by mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. CMOs may be collateralized by Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) certificates, but also may be collateralized by whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities (such collateral is collectively hereinafter referred to as “Mortgage Assets”). Mortgage Assets may be collateralized by commercial or residential uses. Multiclass pass-through securities are equity interests in a trust composed of Mortgage Assets. Payments of principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets, and any reinvestment income thereon, may require a Fund to pay debt service on the CMOs or make scheduled distributions on the multiclass pass-through securities. CMOs may be issued by federal agencies, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The issuer of a series of mortgage pass-through securities may elect to be treated as a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (“REMIC”). REMICs include governmental and/or private entities that issue a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest in real property. REMICs are similar to CMOs in that they issue multiple classes of securities, but unlike CMOs, which are required to be structured as debt securities, REMICs may be structured as indirect ownership interests in the underlying assets of the REMICs themselves. Although CMOs and REMICs differ in certain respects, characteristics of CMOs described below apply in most cases to REMICs, as well.

In a CMO, a series of bonds or certificates is issued in multiple classes. Each class of CMOs, often referred to as a tranche, is issued at a specific fixed or floating coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final distribution dates. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a monthly, quarterly or semiannual basis. Certain CMOs may have variable or floating interest rates and others may be stripped mortgage securities. For more information on stripped mortgage securities, see “STRIPPED MORTGAGE SECURITIES.”

The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several classes of a CMO series in a number of different ways. Generally, the purpose of the allocation of the cash flow of a CMO to the various classes is to obtain a more predictable cash flow to certain of the individual tranches than exists with the underlying collateral of the CMO. As a general rule, the more predictable the cash flow is on a CMO tranche, the lower the anticipated yield will be on that tranche at the time of issuance relative to prevailing market yields on other mortgage-backed securities. As part of the process of creating more predictable cash flows on most of the tranches in a series of CMOs, one or more tranches generally must be created that absorb most of the volatility in the cash flows on the underlying mortgage loans. The yields on these tranches are generally higher than prevailing market yields on

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mortgage-backed securities with similar maturities. As a result of the uncertainty of the cash flows of these tranches, the market prices of and yield on these tranches generally are more volatile. See “COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS” for a discussion on investments in structured products with multiple tranches.

CMO RESIDUALS

CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. The cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of a CMO is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the securities or certificates issued by the CMO and second to pay the related administrative expenses and any management fee of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the pre-payment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to pre-payments on the related underlying mortgage assets. In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances a Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual. CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. In addition, CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not have been registered under the Securities Act. CMO residuals, whether or not registered under the Securities Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, and may be deemed “illiquid.”

COMMERCIAL PAPER

Commercial paper consists of short-term, promissory notes issued by banks, corporations and other entities to finance short-term credit needs. These securities generally are discounted but sometimes may be interest bearing.

COMMON STOCK

Risks inherent in investing in equity securities include the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the stock market may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities and therefore a decrease in the value of its Fund Shares). Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence and perceptions change. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic expansion or contraction; and global or regional political, economic or banking crises.

It also is possible that an issuer of bonds held by a Fund could enter into a bankruptcy or restructuring process whereby such issuer’s bonds are converted to equity securities.

CONCENTRATION

The Funds do not intend to concentrate their investments in any particular industry. The Funds (except the SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF, as well as the SPDR MFS Systematic Core Equity ETF, SPDR MFS Systematic Growth Equity ETF and SPDR MFS Systematic Value Equity ETF (collectively, the “MFS ETFs”)) look to the Global Industry Classification Standard Level 3 (Industries) in making industry determinations. The SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF looks to Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) Industry Classifications in making industry determinations. The MFS ETFs look to Massachusetts Financial Services Company’s (“MFS”) customized set of industry groups for making industry determinations based on classifications developed by third party providers. The Trust’s general policy is to exclude securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities when measuring industry concentration.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this

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higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

The SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF may invest in contingent convertible bonds (“CoCo bonds”), which also are known as enhanced capital notes. CoCo bonds are hybrid debt securities that are intended to either convert into equity at a predetermined share price or have their principal written down or written off upon the occurrence of certain triggering events generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution’s continued viability as a going concern. CoCo Bonds are subject to the risks associated with bonds and equities and to the risks specific to convertible securities in general. In addition, CoCo Bonds are inherently risky because of the difficulty of predicting triggering events that would require the debt to convert to equity. Since CoCo Bonds are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCo Bonds against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCo Bonds will generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. Also, the value of CoCo Bonds will be influenced by many factors, including: the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in the issuer’s capital ratios; the supply and demand for the CoCo Bonds; general market conditions and available liquidity; and economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, the market it operates in or the financial markets in general. CoCo Bonds are a new form of instrument and the market and regulatory environment for these instruments is still evolving. As a result, it is uncertain how the overall market for CoCo Bonds would react to a trigger event or coupon suspension applicable to one issuer.

COVENANT-LITE LOANS

The SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF (“SRLN”) may invest in loans that do not have certain maintenance covenants related to financial ratios, which are often referred to as “covenant-lite” loans. Currently, approximately 80% of outstanding senior secured loans in the market are covenant-lite loans, and therefore such loans are widely held by loan market participants, including the Fund. Other important collateral protections will continue to exist in most loan credit agreements with respect to covenant-lite loans, including (i) limitations on restricted payments, (ii) limitations on investments, (iii) limitations on additional debt and liens, and (iv) limitations on asset sales. While the Sub-Adviser will seek loans that provide attractive credit protection, the Fund is not limited in the amount of loans it may hold that are covenant-lite.

CREDIT-LINKED NOTES

The SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF 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 this 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.

EQUITY SECURITIES

A Fund may invest in equity securities. Equity securities are securities that represent an ownership interest (or the right to acquire such an interest) in a company and include common and preferred stock. Common stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an

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issuer. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has priority over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take priority over holders of preferred stock, whose claims take priority over the claims of those who own common stock.

While offering greater potential for long-term growth, equity securities generally are more volatile and riskier than some other forms of investment, although under certain market conditions various fixed-income investments have comparable or greater price volatility. Therefore, the value of an investment in the Fund may at times decrease instead of increase. The Fund’s investments may include securities traded over-the-counter as well as those traded on a securities exchange. Some securities, particularly over-the-counter securities, may be more difficult to sell under some market conditions.

EXCHANGE-TRADED PRODUCTS

ETPs include exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) registered under the 1940 Act; exchange traded commodity trusts; and exchange traded notes (“ETNs”). The Adviser may receive management or other fees from the ETPs (“Affiliated ETPs”) in which the Funds may invest, as well as a management fee for managing the Funds. It is possible that a conflict of interest among the Funds and Affiliated ETPs could affect how the Adviser fulfills its fiduciary duties to the Funds and the Affiliated ETPs. Because the amount of the investment management fees to be retained by the Adviser may differ depending upon the Affiliated ETPs in which a Fund invests, there is a conflict of interest for the Adviser in selecting the Affiliated ETP. In addition, the Adviser may have an incentive to take into account the effect on an Affiliated ETP in which a Fund may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that Affiliated ETP. Although the Adviser takes steps to address the conflicts of interest, it is possible that the conflicts could impact the Funds.

Each Fund may invest in new ETPs or ETPs that have not yet established a deep trading market at the time of investment. Shares of such ETPs may experience limited trading volume and less liquidity, in which case the “spread” (the difference between bid price and ask price) may be higher.

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS

Each Fund may invest in other ETFs (including ETFs managed by the Adviser). ETFs may be structured as investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, typically as open-end funds or unit investment trusts. These ETFs are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market securities indices. An “index-based ETF” seeks to provide investment results that match the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio either the contents of the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. An “actively-managed ETF” invests in securities based on an adviser’s investment strategy. An “enhanced ETF” seeks to provide investment results that match a positive or negative multiple of the performance of an underlying index. In seeking to provide such results, an ETF and, in particular, an enhanced ETF, may engage in short sales of securities included in the underlying index and may invest in derivatives instruments, such as equity index swaps, futures contracts, and options on securities, futures contracts, and stock indices. Alternatively, ETFs may be structured as grantor trusts or other forms of pooled investment vehicles that are not registered or regulated under the 1940 Act. These ETFs typically hold commodities, precious metals, currency or other non-securities investments. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their operation, such as advisory and custody fees. When a fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, including the brokerage costs associated with the purchase and sale of shares of the ETF, the fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, it may be more costly to own an ETF than to directly own the securities or other investments held by the ETF because of ETF expenses. The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities or other investments held by the ETF, although lack of liquidity in the market for the shares of an ETF could result in the ETF’s value being more volatile than the underlying securities or other investments.

EXCHANGE-TRADED NOTES

ETNs are debt obligations of investment banks which are traded on exchanges and the returns of which are linked to the performance of market indexes. In addition to trading ETNs on exchanges, investors may redeem ETNs directly with the issuer on a weekly basis, typically in a minimum amount of 50,000 units, or hold the ETNs until maturity. ETNs may be riskier than ordinary debt securities and may have no principal protection. A fund’s investment in an ETN may be influenced by many unpredictable factors, including highly volatile commodities prices, changes in supply and demand relationships, weather, agriculture, trade, changes in interest rates, and monetary and other governmental policies, action and inaction. Investing in ETNs is not equivalent to investing directly in index components or the relevant index itself. Because ETNs are debt securities, they possess credit risk; if the issuer has financial difficulties or goes bankrupt, the investor may not receive the return it was promised.

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FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

Each Fund may conduct foreign currency transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) or forward basis (i.e., by entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies). Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a fee for such conversions, they do realize a profit based on the difference between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the counterparty desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Forward contracts are customized transactions that generally require a specific amount of a currency to be delivered at a specific exchange rate on a specific date or range of dates in the future although a Fund may also enter into non-deliverable currency forward contracts (“NDFs”) that contractually require the netting of the parties’ liabilities. Forwards, including NDFs, can have substantial price volatility. While foreign currency transactions on a spot and forward basis are exempt from the definition of “swap” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), NDFs are not, and, thus, are subject to the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Forward contracts are generally traded in an interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. The parties to a forward contract may agree to offset or terminate the contract before its maturity, or may hold the contract to maturity and complete the contemplated currency exchange. In the event that the parties to a forward contract agree to offset or terminate the contract before its maturity, the contract is no longer exempt from the definition of “swap” under the CEA and shall be treated as a swap. At the discretion of the Adviser, a Fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes to help reduce the risks and volatility caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, or to gain exposure to certain currencies. When used for hedging purposes, they tend to limit any potential gain that may be realized if the value of a Fund’s foreign holdings increases because of currency fluctuations.

FOREIGN SECURITIES

Investments in foreign securities involve special risks and considerations. As foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a domestic company. For example, foreign markets have different clearance and settlement procedures. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when assets of a Fund are uninvested. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause it to miss certain investment opportunities. They may also entail certain other risks, such as the possibility of one or more of the following: imposition of dividend or interest withholding or confiscatory taxes, higher brokerage costs, thinner trading markets, currency blockages or transfer restrictions, expropriation, nationalization, military coups or other adverse political or economic developments; less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies; and the difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. Purchases of foreign securities are usually made in foreign currencies and, as a result, a Fund may incur currency conversion costs and may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar. Further, it may be more difficult for a Fund’s agents to keep currently informed about corporate actions which may affect the prices of portfolio securities. Communications between the United States and foreign countries may be less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Certain markets may require payment for securities before delivery. A Fund’s ability and decisions to purchase and sell portfolio securities may be affected by laws or regulations relating to the convertibility of currencies and repatriation of assets.

A number of current significant political, demographic and economic developments may affect investments in foreign securities and in securities of companies with operations overseas. Such developments include dramatic political changes in government and economic policies in several Eastern European countries and the republics composing the former Soviet Union, as well as the unification of the European Economic Community. The course of any one or more of these events and the effect on trade barriers, competition and markets for consumer goods and services are uncertain. Similar considerations are of concern with respect to developing countries. For example, the possibility of revolution and the dependence on foreign economic assistance may be greater in these countries than in developed countries. Management seeks to mitigate the risks associated with these considerations through diversification and active professional management.

FUTURES CONTRACTS, OPTIONS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS

Each Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in derivatives, including exchange-traded futures on Treasuries or Eurodollars, U.S. exchange-traded or OTC put and call options contracts and exchange-traded or OTC swap transactions (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, excess return swaps, and credit default swaps). A Fund will segregate cash and/or appropriate liquid assets if required to do so by SEC or CFTC regulation or interpretation.

Recent legislation calls for new regulation of the derivatives markets. The extent and impact of the regulation is not yet fully known and may not be for some time. New regulations could adversely affect the value, availability and performance of certain derivative instruments, may make them more costly, and may limit or restrict their use by the Funds.

Futures contracts generally provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified commodity or security at a specified future time and at a specified price. Index futures contracts are settled daily with a payment by one party to the other of a

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cash amount based on the difference between the level of the index specified in the contract from one day to the next. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract originally was written. Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, physical delivery of these securities is not always made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes, as well as financial instruments, including, without limitation: U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; GNMA Certificates; three-month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian Dollar; the Canadian Dollar; the British Pound; the Japanese Yen; the Swiss Franc; the Mexican Peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the Euro. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future. Futures contracts are standardized as to maturity date and underlying instrument and are traded on futures exchanges.

The Funds may purchase and write (sell) call and put options on futures. Options on futures give the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price upon expiration of, or at any time during the period of, the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true.

A fund is required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or U.S. government securities (or other eligible collateral) with a broker or custodian to initiate and maintain open positions in futures contracts. A margin deposit is intended to assure completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying commodity or payment of the cash settlement amount) if it is not terminated prior to the specified delivery date. Brokers may establish deposit requirements which are higher than the exchange minimums. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margin deposits which may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.

After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy price changes, additional payments will be required. Conversely, change in the contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of excess margin to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. In such case, a Fund would expect to earn interest income on its margin deposits. Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying commodity, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (involving the same exchange, underlying security or index and delivery month). If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. The transaction costs also must be included in these calculations.

Regulation Under the Commodity Exchange Act. Each Fund intends to use commodity interests, such as futures, swaps and options on futures in accordance with Rule 4.5 of the CEA. An exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” has been claimed with respect to each series of the Trust in accordance with Rule 4.5 such that registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA is not necessary.

Restrictions on Trading in Commodity Interests. Each Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures, options thereon and swaps to the extent allowed by the CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with a Fund’s policies. Each Fund would take steps to prevent its futures positions from “leveraging” its securities holdings. When it has a long futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position). When it has a short futures position, it will maintain with its custodian bank assets substantially identical to those underlying the contract or cash and equivalents (or a combination of the foregoing) having a value equal to the net obligation of the Fund under the contract (less the value of any margin deposits in connection with the position).

Options. A Fund may purchase and sell put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange and issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options on particular securities may be more volatile than the underlying securities, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying securities themselves.

Short Sales “Against the Box.” A Fund may engage in short sales “against the box.” In a short sale against the box, the Fund agrees to sell at a future date a security that it either contemporaneously owns or has the right to acquire at no extra cost. If the price of the security has declined at the time the Fund is required to deliver the security, the Fund will benefit from the difference in the price. If the price of the security has increased, the Fund will be required to pay the difference.

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Swap Transactions. A Fund may enter into swap transactions, including interest rate, swap, credit default swap, NDF, and total return swap transactions. Swap transactions are contracts between parties in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on the change in market value or level of a specified rate, index or asset. In return, the other party agrees to make payments to the first party based on the return of a different specified rate, index or asset. Swap transactions will usually be done on a net basis, i.e., where the two parties make net payments with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any, of a Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or equivalents having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued excess is maintained by the Fund. Swaps may be used in conjunction with other instruments to offset interest rate, currency or other underlying risks. For example, interest rate swaps may be offset with “caps,” “floors” or “collars”. A “cap” is essentially a call option which places a limit on the amount of floating rate interest that must be paid on a certain principal amount. A “floor” is essentially a put option which places a limit on the minimum amount that would be paid on a certain principal amount. A “collar” is essentially a combination of a long cap and a short floor where the limits are set at different levels.

The use of swap transactions by a Fund entails certain risks, which may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the securities and other investments that are the referenced asset for the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index, but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all the possible market conditions. Because some swap transactions have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) that was signed into law on July 21, 2010 created a new statutory framework that comprehensively regulated the over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives markets for the first time. Key Dodd-Frank Act provisions relating to OTC derivatives require rulemaking by the SEC and the CFTC, not all of which has been proposed or finalized as at the date of this SAI. Prior to the Dodd-Frank Act, the OTC derivatives markets were traditionally traded on a bilateral basis (so-called “bilateral OTC transactions”). Under the Dodd-Frank Act, certain OTC derivatives transactions are now required to be centrally cleared and traded on exchanges or electronic trading platforms called swap execution facilities (“SEFs”).

Bilateral OTC transactions differ from exchange-traded or cleared derivatives transactions in several respects. Bilateral OTC transactions are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation. Without the availability of a clearing corporation, bilateral OTC transaction pricing is normally done by reference to information from market makers and/or available index data, which information is carefully monitored by the Adviser and verified in appropriate cases. As bilateral OTC transactions are entered into directly with a dealer, there is a risk of nonperformance by the dealer as a result of its insolvency or otherwise. Under recently-adopted regulations by the CFTC and federal banking regulators (“Margin Rules”), a Fund is required to post collateral (known as variation margin) to cover the mark-to-market exposure in respect of its uncleared swaps. The Margin Rules also mandate that collateral in the form of initial margin be posted to cover potential future exposure attributable to uncleared swap transactions. In the event a Fund is required to post collateral in the form of initial margin or variation margin in respect of its uncleared swap transactions, all such collateral will be posted with a third party custodian pursuant to a triparty custody agreement between the Fund, its dealer counterparty and an unaffiliated custodian.

The requirement to execute certain OTC derivatives contracts on SEFs may offer certain advantages over traditional bilateral OTC trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. However, SEF trading may make it more difficult and costly for a Fund to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions and may result in additional costs and risks. Market participants such as the Funds that execute derivatives contracts through a SEF, whether directly or through a broker intermediary, are required to submit to the jurisdiction of the SEF and comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations which impose, among other things disclosure and recordkeeping obligations. In addition, a Fund will generally incur SEF or broker intermediary fees when it trades on a SEF. A Fund may also be required to indemnify the SEF or broker intermediary for any losses or costs that may result from the Fund’s transactions on the SEF.

Total Return Swaps. A Fund may enter into total return swap transactions for investment purposes. Total return swaps are transactions in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swaps may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or market, including in cases in which there may be disadvantages associated with direct ownership of a particular security. In a typical total return equity swap, payments made by a Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Total return swaps involve not only the risk associated with the investment in the underlying securities, but also the risk of the counterparty not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.

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Credit Default Swaps. A Fund may enter into credit default swap transactions for investment purposes. A credit default swap transaction may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. A Fund may be either the protection buyer or protection seller in the transaction. Credit default swaps may also be structured based on the debt of a basket of issuers, rather than a single issuer, and may be customized with respect to the default event that triggers purchase or other factors. As a protection seller, a Fund would generally receive an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap, which typically is between six months and three years, provided that there is no credit event. If a credit event occurs, generally the protection seller must pay the protection buyer the full face amount of the reference obligations that may have little or no value. The notional value of the credit default swap will be used to segregate liquid assets for selling protection on credit default swaps. If a Fund were a protection buyer and no credit event occurred during the term of the swap, the Fund would recover nothing if the swap were held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurred, the protection buyer may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of the reference obligation that may have little or no value. Where a Fund is the protection buyer, credit default swaps involve the risk that the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Fund in the event of a default. The purchase of credit default swaps involves costs, which will reduce a Fund’s return. When a Fund buys credit default swaps it will segregate an amount at least equal to the amount of any accrued premium payment obligations including amounts for early terminations.

Currency Swaps. A Fund may enter into currency swap transactions for investment purposes. Currency swaps are similar to interest rate swaps, except that they involve multiple currencies. A Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has exposure to one currency and desires exposure to a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. In addition to paying and receiving amounts at the beginning and end of the transaction, both sides will have to pay in full on a periodic basis based upon the currency they have borrowed. Change in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

Interest Rate Swaps. A Fund may enter into an interest rate swap in an effort to protect against declines in the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. In such an instance, the Fund may agree to pay a fixed rate (multiplied by a notional amount) while a counterparty agrees to pay a floating rate (multiplied by the same notional amount). If interest rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of the Fund’s securities, the Fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value.

Options on Swaps. An option on a swap agreement, or a “swaption,” is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. In return, the purchaser pays a “premium” to the seller of the contract. The seller of the contract receives the premium and bears the risk of unfavorable changes on the underlying swap. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. A Fund may also enter into swaptions on either an asset-based or liability-based basis, depending on whether the Fund is hedging its assets or its liabilities. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. A Fund may enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its holdings, as a duration management technique, to protect against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or for any other purposes, such as for speculation to increase returns. Swaptions are generally subject to the same risks involved in a Fund’s use of options.

Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, a Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When a Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when a Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

Certain additional risk factors related to derivatives are discussed below:

Derivatives Risk. Under recently adopted rules by the CFTC, transactions in some types of interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps on North American and European indices are required to be cleared. In addition, the CFTC may promulgate additional regulations that require clearing of other classes of swaps. In a cleared derivatives transaction (which includes commodities futures and cleared swaps transactions), a Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house (such as CME, ICE Clear Credit or LCH.Clearnet), rather than a bank or broker. Since each Fund is not a member of a clearing house and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, a Fund holds cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members, who are futures commission merchants that are members of the clearing houses and who have the appropriate regulatory approvals to engage in cleared swap transactions. A Fund makes and receives payments owed under cleared derivatives transactions (including margin payments) through its accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house. In

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contrast to bilateral OTC transactions, clearing members generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time and increases in margin above the margin that it required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions and to terminate transactions. Any such increase or termination could interfere with the ability of a Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Also, a Fund is subject to execution risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Advisor expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between a Fund and their clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all transactions submitted for clearing that are within credit limits specified by the clearing members in advance, the Fund could be subject to this execution risk if the Fund submits for clearing transactions that exceed such credit limits, if the clearing house does not accept the transactions for clearing, or if the clearing members do not comply with their agreement to clear such transactions. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the transaction. In addition, new regulations could, among other things, restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund or increasing margin or capital requirements. If a Fund is not able to enter into a particular derivatives transaction, the Fund’s investment performance and risk profile could be adversely affected as a result.

Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk with respect to OTC derivatives may be affected by new regulations promulgated by the CFTC and SEC affecting the derivatives market. As described under “Derivatives Risk” above, some derivatives transactions are required to be cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared derivatives position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivative transaction. Clearing members are required to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member’s proprietary assets. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are generally held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, which may also invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. Also, the clearing member transfers to the clearing house the amount of margin required by the clearing house for cleared derivatives transactions, which amounts are generally held in the relevant omnibus account at the clearing house for all customers of the clearing member.

For commodities futures positions, the clearing house may use all of the collateral held in the clearing member’s omnibus account to meet a loss in that account, without regard to which customer in fact supplied that collateral. Accordingly, in addition to bearing the credit risk of its clearing member, each customer to a futures transaction also bears “fellow customer” risk from other customers of the clearing member. However, with respect to cleared swaps positions, recent regulations promulgated by the CFTC require that the clearing member notify the clearing house of the amount of initial margin provided by the clearing member to the clearing house that is attributable to each customer. Because margin in respect of cleared swaps must be earmarked for specific clearing member customers, the clearing house may not use the collateral of one customer to cover the obligations of another customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, a Fund is subject to the risk that a clearing house will use the Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing house to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing house. In addition, clearing members may generally choose to provide to the clearing house the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount for each customer.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

A Fund may take advantage of opportunities in the area of options and futures contracts, options on futures contracts, warrants, swaps and any other investments which are not presently contemplated for use by the Fund or which are not currently available but which may be developed, to the extent such opportunities are both consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and legally permissible for the Fund. Before entering into such transactions or making any such investment, the Fund will provide appropriate disclosure.

GOVERNMENT MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES

Each Fund may invest in mortgage pass-through securities representing participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans purchased from individual lenders by an agency, instrumentality or sponsored corporation of the United States government (“Federal Agency”) or originated by private lenders and guaranteed, to the extent provided in such securities, by a Federal Agency. Such securities, which are ownership interests in the underlying mortgage loans, differ from conventional debt securities, which provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts (usually semiannually) and principal payments at payments (not necessarily in fixed amounts) that are a pass-through of the monthly interest and principal payments (including any prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the guarantor of such securities and the servicer of the underlying mortgage loans.

The government mortgage pass-through securities in which the Fund may invest include those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae certificates are direct obligations of the U.S. government and, as such, are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Fannie Mae is a federally chartered, privately owned corporation and Freddie Mac is a

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corporate instrumentality of the United States. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States but the issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its obligations, from an existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. The U.S. Treasury has no legal obligation to provide such line of credit and may choose not to do so.

Certificates for these types of mortgage-backed securities evidence an interest in a specific pool of mortgages. These certificates are, in most cases, modified pass-through instruments, wherein the issuing agency guarantees the payment of principal and interest on mortgages underlying the certificates, whether or not such amounts are collected by the issuer on the underlying mortgages.

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (“HERA”) authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to support Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”) (collectively, the “GSEs”) by purchasing obligations and other securities from those government-sponsored enterprises. HERA gave the Secretary of the Treasury broad authority to determine the conditions and amounts of such purchases.

On September 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship. As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and of any stockholder, officer or director of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with respect to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the assets of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the terms of the takeover, 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”), the U.S. Treasury has pledged to provide a limited amount of capital per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. In May 2009, the U.S. Treasury increased its maximum commitment to each instrumentality under the SPAs from $100 billion to $200 billion per instrumentality. 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. Also in December 2009, the U.S. Treasury further amended the SPAs to allow the cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s net worth through the end of 2012. On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the SPAs to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10% dividend annually on all amounts received under the funding commitment. Instead, the companies were required to transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceeded a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced amendments to the SPAs to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced amendments to the SPAs permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

Under the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (the “Reform Act”), which was included as part of Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, FHFA, as conservator or receiver, has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to FHFA’s appointment as conservator or receiver, as applicable, if FHFA determines, in its sole discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly administration of Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac’s affairs. The Reform Act requires FHFA to exercise its right to repudiate any contract within a reasonable period of time after its appointment as conservator or receiver.

FHFA, in its capacity as conservator, has indicated that it has no intention to repudiate the guaranty obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac because FHFA views repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship. However, in the event that FHFA, as conservator or if it is later appointed as receiver for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, were to repudiate any such guaranty obligation, the conservatorship or receivership estate, as applicable, would be liable for actual direct compensatory damages in accordance with the provisions of the Reform Act. Any such liability could be satisfied only to the extent of Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac’s available assets. The future financial performance of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is heavily dependent on the performance of the U.S. housing market.

In the event of repudiation, the payments of interest to holders of Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities would be reduced if payments on the mortgage loans represented in the mortgage loan groups related to such mortgage-backed securities are not made by the borrowers or advanced by the servicer. Any actual direct compensatory damages for repudiating these guaranty obligations may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by such mortgage-backed security holders.

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Further, in its capacity as conservator or receiver, FHFA has the right to transfer or sell any asset or liability of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac without any approval, assignment or consent. Although FHFA has stated that it has no present intention to do so, if FHFA, as conservator or receiver, were to transfer any such guaranty obligation to another party, holders of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guaranty obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that party.

In addition, certain rights provided to holders of mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the operative documents related to such securities may not be enforced against FHFA, or enforcement of such rights may be delayed, during the conservatorship or any future receivership. The operative documents for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities may provide (or with respect to securities issued prior to the date of the appointment of the conservator may have provided) that upon the occurrence of an event of default on the part of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, in its capacity as guarantor, which includes the appointment of a conservator or receiver, holders of such mortgage-backed securities have the right to replace Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac as trustee if the requisite percentage of mortgage-backed security holders consent. The Reform Act prevents mortgage-backed security holders from enforcing such rights if the event of default arises solely because a conservator or receiver has been appointed. The Reform Act also provides that no person may exercise any right or power to terminate, accelerate or declare an event of default under certain contracts to which Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is a party, or obtain possession of or exercise control over any property of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or affect any contractual rights of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, without the approval of FHFA, as conservator or receiver, for a period of 45 or 90 days following the appointment of FHFA as conservator or receiver, respectively.

HIGH YIELD SECURITIES

Investment in high yield securities generally provides greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and credit risk. These high yield securities are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of debt securities that are high yield may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities. In addition, high yield securities are often issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged (indebted) firms, but can also be issued by governments. Such issuers are generally less able than more financially stable issuers to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. The risks posed by securities issued under such circumstances are substantial.

Investing in high yield debt securities involves risks that are greater than the risks of investing in higher quality debt securities. These risks include: (i) changes in credit status, including weaker overall credit conditions of issuers and risks of default; (ii) industry, market and economic risk; and (iii) greater price variability and credit risks of certain high yield securities such as zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities. While these risks provide the opportunity for maximizing return over time, they may result in greater volatility of the value of a Fund than a fund that invests in higher-rated securities.

Furthermore, the value of high yield securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic, company or industry conditions than is the case for higher quality securities. The market values of certain of these lower-rated and unrated debt securities tend to reflect individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher-rated securities which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates, and tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities. Adverse market, credit or economic conditions could make it difficult at certain times to sell certain high yield securities held by a Fund.

The secondary market on which high yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for higher grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which a Fund could sell a high yield security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value per share of a Fund. When secondary markets for high yield securities are less liquid than the market for higher grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because there is less reliable, objective data available.

The use of credit ratings as a principal method of selecting high yield securities can involve certain risks. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of high yield securities. Also, credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings in a timely fashion to reflect events since the security was last rated.

HYBRID SECURITIES

The SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF may acquire hybrid securities. A hybrid security may be created by combining an income-producing debt security (“income producing component”) and the right to receive payment based on the change in the price of an equity security (“equity component”). The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments, which may be represented by derivative instruments. The equity component is achieved by investing in securities or instruments such as cash-settled warrants or

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options to receive a payment based on whether the price of a common stock surpasses a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. A hybrid security comprises two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. Therefore, the market value of a hybrid security is derived from the values of its income-producing component and its equity component. A holder of a hybrid security faces the risk of a decline in the price of the security or the level of the index involved in the equity component, causing a decline in the value of the security or instrument, such as a call option or warrant, purchased to create the hybrid security. The equity component has risks typical to a purchased call option. Should the price of the stock fall below the exercise price and remain there throughout the exercise period, the entire amount paid for the call option or warrant would be lost. Because a hybrid security includes the income-producing component as well, the holder of a hybrid security also faces risks typical to all debt securities.

ILLIQUID SECURITIES

Each Fund may invest in illiquid securities. 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 securities. An illiquid security means any security 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. If illiquid securities exceed 15% of a Fund’s net assets, certain remedial actions will be taken as required by Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act and the Fund’s policies and procedures.

INFLATION-PROTECTED OBLIGATIONS

Each Fund may invest in inflation-protected public obligations, commonly known as “TIPS,” of the U.S. Treasury, as well as TIPS of major governments and emerging market countries, excluding the United States. TIPS are a type of security issued by a government that is designed to provide inflation protection to investors. TIPS are income-generating instruments whose interest and principal payments are adjusted for inflation—a sustained increase in prices that erodes the purchasing power of money. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises or falls, both the principal value and the interest payments will increase or decrease. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of an investment. Because of this inflation adjustment feature, inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than conventional fixed-rate bonds.

INVERSE FLOATERS

An inverse floater is a type of instrument that bears a floating or variable interest rate that moves in the opposite direction to interest rates generally or the interest rate on another security or index. Changes in interest rates generally, or the interest rate of the other security or index, inversely affect the interest rate paid on the inverse floater, with the result that the inverse floater’s price will be considerably more volatile than that of a fixed-rate bond. Brokers typically create inverse floaters by depositing an income-producing instrument, which may be a mortgage-backed security, in a trust. The trust in turn issues a variable rate security and inverse floaters. The returns on the inverse floaters may be leveraged, increasing substantially their volatility and interest rate sensitivity. The rate at which interest is paid by the trust on an inverse floater may vary by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in a reference rate of interest (typically a short term interest rate), and the market prices of inverse floaters may as a result be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and in prepayment rates on the underlying securities, and may decrease significantly when interest rates increase or prepayment rates change. The interest rate for the variable rate security is typically determined by an index or an auction process, while the inverse floater holder receives the balance of the income from the underlying income-producing instrument less an auction fee.

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Each Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including affiliated funds, money market funds and closed-end funds, subject to applicable limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Pursuant to Section 12(d)(1), a fund may invest in the securities of another investment company (the “acquired company”) provided that the fund, immediately after such purchase or acquisition, does not own in the aggregate: (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the acquired company; (ii) securities issued by the acquired company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the fund; (iii) securities issued by the acquired company and all other investment companies (other than Treasury stock of the fund) having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the fund; or (iv) in the case of investment in a closed-end fund, more than 10% of the total outstanding voting stock of the acquired company. A fund may also invest in the securities of other investment companies if such securities are the only investment securities held by the fund, such as through a master-feeder arrangement. To the extent allowed by law, regulation, a Fund’s investment restrictions and the Trust’s exemptive relief, a Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are affiliated funds and/or money market funds in excess of the limits discussed above.

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To the extent a fund invests in and, thus, is a shareholder of, another investment company, the fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the fund’s proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by such other investment company, including advisory fees, in addition to both the management fees payable directly by the fund to the fund’s own investment adviser and the other expenses that the fund bears directly in connection with the fund’s own operations.

LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to certain creditworthy borrowers in U.S. and non-U.S. markets in an amount not to exceed 40% of the value of its net assets. The borrowers provide collateral that is marked to market daily in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned. A Fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the securities loaned. A Fund receives the value of any interest or cash or non-cash distributions paid on the loaned securities. A Fund cannot vote proxies for securities on loan, but may recall loans to vote proxies if a material issue affecting the Fund’s economic interest in the investment is to be voted upon. Efforts to recall such securities promptly may be unsuccessful, especially for foreign securities or thinly traded securities, and may involve expenses to a Fund. Distributions received on loaned securities in lieu of dividend payments (i.e., substitute payments) would not be considered qualified dividend income.

With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the borrower will be entitled to receive a fee based on the amount of cash collateral. A Fund is compensated by the difference between the amount earned on the reinvestment of cash collateral and the fee paid to the borrower. In the case of collateral other than cash, a Fund is compensated by a fee paid by the borrower equal to a percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. Any cash collateral may be reinvested in certain high quality short-term instruments either directly on behalf of the lending Fund or through one or more joint accounts or funds, which may include those managed by the Adviser. A Fund could lose money due to a decline in the value of collateral provided for loaned securities or any investments made with cash collateral. Certain non-cash collateral or investments made with cash collateral may have a greater risk of loss than other non-cash collateral or investments.

A Fund may pay a portion of the interest or fees earned from securities lending to a borrower as described above, and to one or more securities lending agents approved by the Board who administer the lending program for the Funds in accordance with guidelines approved by the Board. In such capacity, the lending agent provides the following services to the Funds in connection with the Funds’ securities lending activities: (i) locating borrowers among an approved list of prospective borrowers; (ii) causing the delivery of loaned securities from a Fund to borrowers; (iii) monitoring the value of loaned securities, the value of collateral received, and other lending parameters; (iv) seeking additional collateral, as necessary, from borrowers; (v) receiving and holding collateral from borrowers, and facilitating the investment and reinvestment of all or substantially all cash collateral in an investment vehicle designated by the Funds; (vi) returning collateral to borrowers; (vii) facilitating substitute dividend, interest, and other distribution payments to the Funds from borrowers; (viii) negotiating the terms of each loan of securities, including but not limited to the amount of any loan premium, and monitoring the terms of securities loan agreements with prospective borrowers for consistency with the requirements of the Funds’ Securities Lending Authorization Agreement; (ix) selecting securities, including amounts (percentages), to be loaned; (x) recordkeeping and accounting servicing; and (xi) arranging for return of loaned securities to the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), an affiliate of the Trust, has been approved by the Board to serve as securities lending agent for a Fund and the Trust has entered into an agreement with State Street for such services. Among other matters, the Trust has agreed to indemnify State Street for certain liabilities. State Street has received an order of exemption from the SEC under Sections 17(a) and 12(d)(1) under the 1940 Act to serve as the lending agent for affiliated investment companies such as the Trust and to invest the cash collateral received from loan transactions to be invested in an affiliated cash collateral fund.

Securities lending involves exposure to certain risks, including operational risk (i.e., the risk of losses resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process especially so in certain international markets such as Taiwan), “gap” risk (i.e., the risk of a mismatch between the return on cash collateral reinvestments and the fees a Fund has agreed to pay a borrower), risk of loss of collateral, credit, legal, counterparty and market risk. If a securities lending counterparty were to default, a Fund would be subject to the risk of a possible delay in receiving collateral or in recovering the loaned securities, or to a possible loss of rights in the collateral. In the event a borrower does not return a Fund’s securities as agreed, the Fund may experience losses if the proceeds received from liquidating the collateral do not at least equal the value of the loaned security at the time the collateral is liquidated, plus the transaction costs incurred in purchasing replacement securities. Although State Street has agreed to provide a Fund with indemnification in the event of a borrower default, a Fund is still exposed to the risk of losses in the event a borrower does not return a Fund’s securities as agreed. For example, delays in recovery of lent securities may cause a Fund to lose the opportunity to sell the securities at a desirable price.

LEVERAGING

While the Funds do not anticipate doing so, each Fund may borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of the value of their respective total assets. However, a Fund may not borrow money from a bank in an amount greater than 33 ¹/₃% of the value of the

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Fund’s total assets. Borrowing for investment purposes is one form of leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases investment opportunity. Because substantially all of each Fund’s assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV of a Fund will increase more when such Fund’s portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Fund’s portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed funds.

MORTGAGE DOLLAR ROLLS

A mortgage dollar roll is a transaction in which a fund sells mortgage-related securities for immediate settlement and simultaneously purchases the same type of securities for forward settlement at a discount. While a fund begins accruing interest on the newly purchased securities from the purchase or trade date, it is able to invest the proceeds from the sale of its previously owned securities, which will be used to pay for the new securities. The use of mortgage dollar rolls is a speculative technique involving leverage, and can have an economic effect similar to borrowing money for investment purposes.

MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES

Each Fund may invest in U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities. The term “U.S. agency mortgage pass-through security” refers to a category of pass-through securities backed by pools of mortgages and issued by one of several U.S. government-sponsored enterprises: the Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. In the basic mortgage pass-through structure, mortgages with similar issuer, term and coupon characteristics are collected and aggregated into a “pool” consisting of multiple mortgage loans. The pool is assigned a CUSIP number and undivided interests in the pool are traded and sold as pass-through securities. The holder of the security is entitled to a pro rata share of principal and interest payments (including unscheduled prepayments) from the pool of mortgage loans.

An investment in a specific pool of pass-through securities requires an analysis of the specific prepayment risk of mortgages within the covered pool (since mortgagors typically have the option to prepay their loans). The level of prepayments on a pool of mortgage securities is difficult to predict and can impact the subsequent cash flows and value of the mortgage pool. In addition, when trading specific mortgage pools, precise execution, delivery and settlement arrangements must be negotiated for each transaction. These factors combine to make trading in mortgage pools somewhat cumbersome.

For the foregoing and other reasons, the Funds seek to obtain exposure to U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities primarily through the use of “to-be-announced” or “TBA transactions.” “TBA” refers to a commonly used mechanism for the forward settlement of U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities, and not to a separate type of mortgage-backed security. Most transactions in mortgage pass-through securities occur through the use of TBA transactions. TBA transactions generally are conducted in accordance with widely-accepted guidelines which establish commonly observed terms and conditions for execution, settlement and delivery. In a TBA transaction, the buyer and seller decide on general trade parameters, such as agency, settlement date, par amount, and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to settlement date. A Fund may use TBA transactions in several ways. For example, a Fund may enter into TBA agreements and “roll over” such agreements prior to the settlement date stipulated in such agreements. This type of TBA transaction is sometimes known as a “TBA roll.” In a TBA roll, a Fund generally will sell the obligation to purchase the pools stipulated in the TBA agreement prior to the stipulated settlement date and will enter into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage pass-through securities. In addition, a Fund may enter into TBA agreements and settle such transactions on the stipulated settlement date by accepting actual receipt or delivery of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities stipulated in the TBA agreement.

Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a TBA transaction would expose a Fund to possible loss because of adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities specified in the TBA transaction. To minimize this risk, a Fund will enter into TBA transactions only with established counterparties (such as major broker-dealers) and the Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of such counterparties. In addition, a Fund may accept assignments of TBA transactions from Authorized Participants (as defined below) from time to time. A Fund’s use of TBA rolls may cause such Fund to experience higher portfolio turnover, higher transaction costs and to pay higher capital gain distributions to shareholders (which may be taxable) than other funds.

The Funds intend to invest cash pending settlement of any TBA transactions in money market instruments, repurchase agreements, commercial paper (including asset-backed commercial paper) or other high-quality, liquid short-term instruments, which may include money market funds affiliated with the Adviser.

MUNICIPAL SECURITIES

General. Municipal securities are securities issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. Shareholders should note that, although interest paid on municipal

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securities is generally exempt from regular federal income tax, a Fund does not anticipate holding municipal securities in sufficient quantities to enable such Fund to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends. As a result, distributions by the Fund to shareholders are expected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as ordinary dividends without regard to the character in the hands of the Fund of any interest that it receives on municipal securities.

Municipal securities share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The municipal securities which a Fund may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor).

Some longer-term municipal securities give the investor the right to “put” or sell the security at par (face value) within a specified number of days following the investor’s request—usually one to seven days. This demand feature enhances a security’s liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables it to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, a Fund would hold the longer-term security, which could experience substantially more volatility.

The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, than non-municipal securities. There may also be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of municipal securities than for public corporations. This means that it may be harder to buy and sell municipal securities, especially on short notice, and municipal securities may be more difficult for a Fund to value accurately than securities of public corporations. If a Fund invests in municipal securities, the Fund’s portfolio may have greater exposure to liquidity risk than a fund that only invests in non-municipal securities. In addition, the municipal securities market is generally characterized as a buy and hold investment strategy. As a result, the accessibility of municipal securities in the market is generally greater closer to the original date of issue of the securities and lessens as the securities move further away from such issuance date.

Municipal securities are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate more with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues.

Prices and yields on municipal securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money-market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal security market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. A number of these factors, including the ratings of particular issues, are subject to change from time to time. Information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal securities may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. As a result, municipal securities may be more difficult to value than securities of public corporations.

Obligations of issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. In addition, municipal securities are subject to the risk that their tax treatment could be changed by Congress or state legislatures, thereby affecting the value of outstanding municipal securities. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their municipal securities may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for municipal securities or certain segments thereof, or of materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of a Fund’s municipal securities in the same manner.

Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. Also included within the general category of municipal securities are municipal leases, certificates of participation in such lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations (hereinafter collectively called “Municipal Lease Obligations”) of municipal authorities or entities. Although a Municipal Lease Obligation does not constitute a general obligation of the municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, a Municipal Lease Obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality’s covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the Municipal Lease Obligation. However, certain Municipal Lease Obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, a Fund’s ability to recover under the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default will be limited solely to the repossession of the leased property, without recourse to the general credit of the lessee, and disposition or releasing of the property might prove difficult.

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Municipal Insurance. A municipal security may be 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 bond is issued (primary market insurance), or (ii) another party after the bond has been issued (secondary market insurance).

Both primary and secondary market insurance guarantee timely and scheduled repayment of all principal and payment of all interest on a municipal security in the event of default by the issuer, and cover a municipal security to its maturity, enhancing its credit quality and value.

Municipal security insurance does not insure against market fluctuations or fluctuations in a Fund’s share price. In addition, a municipal security insurance policy will not cover: (i) repayment of a municipal security 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 security issue whereby part of the municipal security issue may be retired before maturity.

Because a significant portion of the municipal securities issued and outstanding is insured by a small number of insurance companies, 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.

Municipal Market Disruption Risk. The value of municipal securities may be affected by uncertainties in the municipal market related to legislation or litigation involving the taxation of municipal securities or the rights of municipal securities holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal securities are introduced before Congress from time to time. Proposals also may be introduced before state legislatures that would affect the state tax treatment of a municipal fund’s distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of municipal securities and the value of any municipal securities held by a Fund would be affected. Municipal bankruptcies are relatively rare, and certain provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing such bankruptcies are unclear and remain untested. Further, the application of state law to municipal issuers could produce varying results among the states or among municipal securities issuers within a state. These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal securities 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 securities held by a Fund.

OTHER SHORT-TERM INSTRUMENTS

Each Fund may invest in short-term instruments, including money market instruments, (including money market funds advised by the Adviser), cash and cash equivalents, on an ongoing basis to provide liquidity or for other reasons. Money market instruments are generally short-term investments that may include but are not limited to: (i) shares of money market funds (including those advised by the Adviser); (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises); (iii) negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), bankers’ acceptances, fixed time deposits and other obligations of U.S. and foreign banks (including foreign branches) and similar institutions; (iv) commercial paper rated at the date of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or “A-1” by S&P, or if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser; (v) non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of not more than 397 days and that present minimal credit risks; and (vi) short-term U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign banks (including U.S. branches) that, in the opinion of the Adviser, are of comparable quality to obligations of U.S. banks which may be purchased by a Fund. Any of these instruments may be purchased on a current or a forward-settled basis. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in banking institutions for specified periods of time at stated interest rates. Bankers’ acceptances are time drafts drawn on commercial banks by borrowers, usually in connection with international transactions. Money market instruments also include shares of money market funds. The SEC and other government agencies continue to review the regulation of money market funds. The SEC has adopted changes to the rules that govern money market funds, and compliance with many of these amendments was required in October 2016. Legislative developments may also affect money market funds. These changes and developments may affect the investment strategies, performance, yield, operating expenses and continued viability of a money market fund.

PERPETUAL BONDS

Perpetual bonds offer a fixed return with no maturity date. Because they never mature, perpetual bonds can be more volatile than other types of bonds that have a maturity date and may have heightened sensitivity to changes in interest rates. An issuer of perpetual bonds is responsible for coupon payments in perpetuity but does not have to redeem the securities. Perpetual bonds may be callable

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after a set period of time. It is possible that one or more perpetual bonds in which a Fund invests will be characterized as equity rather than debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Where such perpetual bonds are issued by non-U.S. issuers, they may be treated in turn as equity securities of a “passive foreign investment company.”

PREFERRED SECURITIES

Preferred securities pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends to investors, and have “preference” over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company’s assets. This means that a company must pay dividends on preferred stock before paying any dividends on its common stock. In order to be payable, distributions on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Income payments on typical preferred securities currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on the preferred securities in which a Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

The market value of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes impacting companies in the utilities and financial services sectors, which are prominent issuers of preferred securities, and by actual and anticipated changes in tax laws.

Because the claim on an issuer’s earnings represented by preferred securities may become onerous when interest rates fall below the rate payable on such securities, the issuer may redeem the securities. Thus, in declining interest rate environments in particular, a Fund’s holdings of higher rate-paying fixed rate preferred securities may be reduced and a Fund would be unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.

PRIVATE MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES

Private mortgage pass-through securities are structured similarly to the Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage pass-through securities and are issued by United States and foreign private issuers such as originators of and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. These securities usually are backed by a pool of conventional fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage loans. Since private mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit status of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, such securities generally are structured with one or more types of credit enhancement.

Mortgage Assets often consist of a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. There are usually fewer properties in a pool of assets backing commercial mortgage-backed securities than in a pool of assets backing residential mortgage-backed securities hence they may be more sensitive to the performance of fewer Mortgage Assets. To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, those securities may contain elements of credit support, which fall into two categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection against losses resulting from 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 the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion. Protection against losses resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. This protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. The degree of credit support provided for each issue is generally based on historical information respecting the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets. Delinquencies or losses in excess of those anticipated could adversely affect the return on an investment in a security.

PRIVATE PLACEMENTS AND RESTRICTED SECURITIES

Each Fund may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements and, accordingly, are subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. While such private placements may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open market, the securities so purchased are often “restricted securities,” i.e., securities which cannot be sold to the public without registration under the Securities Act or the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A), or which are not readily marketable because they are subject to other legal or contractual delays in or restrictions on resale. Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers, or in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration, or in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act.

Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for such investments, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, a Fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when the Adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. Market quotations for such securities are generally less readily available than for publicly traded securities. The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for such securities for purposes of

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computing a Fund’s net asset value, and the judgment of the Adviser may at times play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of publicly traded securities. Disposing of such securities, which may be illiquid investments, can involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. A Fund may have to bear the extra expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting such registration.

A Fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the Securities Act when selling restricted securities to the public, and in such event the Fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of it, is materially inaccurate or misleading.

QUALIFIED PUBLICLY TRADED PARTNERSHIPS

Regulated investment companies (“RICs”) are subject to favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify as a RIC, each Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from sources generating “qualifying income.” Income derived from direct and certain indirect investments in commodities is not qualifying income. Thus, income from certain commodities-related investments may cause a Fund not to qualify as a RIC. Each Fund may invest up to 25%, except for the SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF, which may invest up to 20%, of its total assets in one or more ETPs that are qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”) and whose principal activities are the buying and selling of commodities or options, futures, or forwards with respect to commodities. Income from QPTPs is generally qualifying income. A QPTP is an entity that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, subject to certain requirements. If such an ETP fails to qualify as a QPTP, the income generated from a Fund’s investment in the ETP may not be qualifying income. A Fund will only invest in such an ETP if it intends to qualify as a QPTP, but there is no guarantee that each such ETP will be successful in qualifying as a QPTP. In addition, there is little regulatory guidance concerning the application of the rules governing qualification as a QPTP, and it is possible that future guidance may adversely affect the qualification of such ETPs as QPTPs. If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC, the Fund itself will be subject to tax, which will reduce returns to the Fund’s shareholders. Such a failure will also alter the treatment of distributions to the Fund’s shareholders.

RATINGS

An investment-grade rating means the security or issuer is rated investment-grade by Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, Inc., Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited, or another credit rating agency designated as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization by the SEC, or is unrated but considered to be of equivalent quality by the Adviser or applicable Sub-Adviser.

Subsequent to purchase by a Fund, a rated security may cease to be rated or its investment grade rating may be reduced below an investment grade rating. Bonds rated lower than Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or Fitch are below investment grade quality and are obligations of issuers that are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Such securities (“lower rated securities”) are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and are subject to a substantial degree of credit risk. Lower rated securities are often issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged (indebted) firms, which are generally less able than more financially stable firms to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. The risks posed by securities issued under such circumstances are substantial. Bonds rated below investment grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality bonds because the market for them is less broad. The market for unrated bonds is even narrower. See “HIGH YIELD SECURITIES” above for more information relating to the risks associated with investing in lower rated securities.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (“REITs”)

REITs pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate loans or interests. A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to shareholders if it complies with several requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets, and income and a requirement that it distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its taxable income (other than net capital gains) for each taxable year. REITs can generally be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs. Equity REITs, which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property, derive their income primarily from rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs, which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages, derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. A Fund will not invest in real estate directly, but only in securities issued by real estate companies. However, a Fund may be subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate (in addition to securities markets risks) to the extent it invests in the securities of companies in the real estate industry. These include declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, dependency on management skill, heavy cash flow dependency, possible lack of availability of mortgage funds, overbuilding, extended vacancies of properties, increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems, liability to third parties for damages resulting from environmental problems, casualty or condemnation losses, limitations on rents, changes in neighborhood values, the appeal of properties to tenants and changes in interest rates. Investments in REITs may subject Fund shareholders to duplicate management and administrative fees.

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In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for the beneficial tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code, or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting investments.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements with commercial banks, brokers or dealers to generate income from its excess cash balances and to invest securities lending cash collateral. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a financial instrument (e.g., a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance or a certificate of deposit) from a seller, subject to resale to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next Business Day – as defined below). A repurchase agreement may be considered a loan collateralized by securities. The resale price reflects an agreed upon interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by a fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument.

In these repurchase agreement transactions, the securities acquired by a fund (including accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the repurchase agreement and are held by the Custodian until repurchased. No more than an aggregate of 15% of a Fund’s net assets will be invested in illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements having maturities longer than seven days and securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, or for which there are no readily available market quotations.

The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the other party to the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, a fund may incur a loss upon disposition of the security. If the other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by a fund not within the control of the fund and, therefore, the fund may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement.

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Each Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. The securities purchased with the funds obtained from the agreement and securities collateralizing the agreement will have maturity dates no later than the repayment date. Generally the effect of such transactions is that a fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while in many cases a fund is able to keep some of the interest income associated with those securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if a fund has an opportunity to earn a greater rate of interest on the cash derived from these transactions than the interest cost of obtaining the same amount of cash. Opportunities to realize earnings from the use of the proceeds equal to or greater than the interest required to be paid may not always be available and a Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when the Adviser believes it will be advantageous to the Fund. The use of reverse repurchase agreements may exaggerate any interim increase or decrease in the value of a Fund’s assets. A Fund’s exposure to reverse repurchase agreements will be covered by securities having a value equal to or greater than such commitments. Under the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings. Although there is no limit on the percentage of fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Funds do not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 33 ^1/₃%, or in the case of the SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF more than 10%, of their respective total assets.

SENIOR LOANS

The SPDR SSGA Fixed Income Sector Rotation ETF and SPDR SSGA Income Allocation ETF, through investments in an underlying exchange-traded product (the “Underlying Fund”) may, and SRLN through direct investments will, receive exposure to first lien senior secured floating rate bank loans (“Senior Loans”). Senior Loans consist generally of obligations of companies and other entities (collectively, “borrowers”) incurred for the purpose of reorganizing the assets and liabilities of a borrower; acquiring another company; taking over control of a company (leveraged buyout); temporary refinancing; or financing internal growth or other general business purposes. Senior Loans are often obligations of borrowers who have incurred a significant percentage of debt compared to their total assets and thus are highly leveraged. The Underlying Fund and SRLN do not treat the banks originating or acting as agents for the lenders, or granting or acting as intermediary in participation interests, in loans held by the Underlying Fund or SRLN as the issuers of such loans.

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Senior Loans may be acquired by direct investment as a lender at the inception of the loan or by assignment of a portion of a loan previously made to a different lender or by purchase of a participation interest. If the Fund makes a direct investment in a Senior Loan as one of the lenders, it generally acquires the loan at or below par. This means the Underlying Fund or SRLN receives a return at or above the full interest rate for the loan. If the Underlying Fund or SRLN acquires its interest in Senior Loans in the secondary market or acquires a participation interest, the loans may be purchased or sold above, at, or below par, which can result in a yield that is below, equal to, or above the stated interest rate of the loan. At times, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may be able to invest in Senior Loans only through assignments or participations.

When the Underlying Fund or SRLN is a purchaser of an assignment, it succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the assigning lender and becomes a lender under the loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning lender. These rights include the ability to vote along with the other lenders on such matters as enforcing the terms of the loan agreement (e.g., declaring defaults, initiating collection actions, etc.). Taking such actions typically requires at least a vote of the lenders holding a majority of the investment in the loan and may require a vote by lenders holding two-thirds or more of the investment in the loan. Because the Underlying Fund or SRLN usually does not hold a majority of the investment in any loan, it will not be able by itself to control decisions that require a vote by the lenders.

The Underlying Fund and SRLN may, but will not typically, invest in Senior Loans through participations. A participation interest represents a fractional interest in a loan held by the lender selling the Underlying Fund or SRLN the participation interest. In the case of participations, the Underlying Fund or SRLN will not have any direct contractual relationship with the borrower, the Underlying Fund’s or SRLN’s rights to consent to modifications of the loan are limited and it is dependent upon the participating lender to enforce the Underlying Fund’s or SRLN’s rights upon a default. The Underlying Fund or SRLN will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest, and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the borrower. The Underlying Fund or SRLN will only purchase participations from lenders with credit ratings of Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or BBB- or higher by S&P or Fitch, or a comparable rating by another nationally recognized rating agency.

The Underlying Fund or SRLN may be affected by the credit of both the agent and the lender from whom the Underlying Fund or SRLN acquires a participation interest. These credit risks may include delay in receiving payments of principal and interest paid by the borrower to the agent or by the agent to the lender or offsets against payments received from the borrower. In the event of the borrower’s bankruptcy, the borrower’s obligation to repay the loan may be subject to defenses that the borrower can assert as a result of improper conduct by the agent.

Historically, the amount of public information available about a specific Senior Loan has been less extensive than if the loan were registered or exchange-traded.

The loans in which the Underlying Fund or SRLN will invest will, in most instances, be Senior Loans, which are secured and senior to other indebtedness of the borrower. Each Senior Loan will generally be secured by collateral such as accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, real estate, intangible assets such as trademarks, copyrights and patents, and securities of subsidiaries or affiliates. The value of the collateral generally will be determined by reference to financial statements of the borrower, by an independent appraisal, by obtaining the market value of such collateral, in the case of cash or securities if readily ascertainable, or by other customary valuation techniques considered appropriate by the Adviser. The value of collateral may decline after the Underlying Fund’s or SRLN’s investment, and collateral may be difficult to sell in the event of default. Consequently, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may not receive all the payments to which it is entitled. By virtue of their senior position and collateral, Senior Loans typically provide lenders with the first right to cash flows or proceeds from the sale of a borrower’s collateral if the borrower becomes insolvent (subject to the limitations of bankruptcy law, which may provide higher priority to certain claims such as employee salaries, employee pensions, and taxes). This means Senior Loans are generally repaid before unsecured bank loans, corporate bonds, subordinated debt, trade creditors, and preferred or common stockholders. To the extent that the Underlying Fund or SRLN invests in unsecured loans, if the borrower defaults on such loan, there is no specific collateral on which the lender can foreclose. If the borrower defaults on a subordinated loan, the collateral may not be sufficient to cover both the senior and subordinated loans.

Senior Loans will usually require, in addition to scheduled payments of interest and principal, the prepayment of the Senior Loan from free cash flow, as further described below. The degree to which borrowers prepay Senior Loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, the financial condition of the borrower and competitive conditions among loan investors, among others. As such, prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Certain market conditions, including those where default rates are falling, among others, may lead to increased prepayment frequency and loan renegotiations. These renegotiations are often on terms more favorable to borrowers. Upon a prepayment, either in part or in full, the actual outstanding debt on which the Underlying Fund or SRLN derives interest income will be reduced. However, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may receive a prepayment penalty fee assessed against the prepaying borrower.

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Senior Loans typically pay interest at least quarterly at rates which equal a fixed percentage spread over a base rate such as the LIBOR. For example, if LIBOR were 0.3% and the borrower was paying a fixed spread of 2.50%, the total interest rate paid by the borrower would be 2.80%. Additionally, many Senior Loans also have a minimum base rate, or floor, which will be used if the actual base rate is below this minimum base rate. This measure is designed to ensure lenders receive a minimum interest rate in periods of low interest rates. By illustration, if LIBOR were 0.3% and the borrower was paying a fixed spread of 2.50%, the total interest rate paid by the borrower would be 2.80%. However, if the same Senior Loan had a LIBOR floor of 1.50%, then 1.50% would be used as the base rate notwithstanding that LIBOR was currently at 0.3%, thereby making the interest rate paid the borrower 4.00% (1.50% LIBOR floor base rate plus 2.50% fixed spread). During periods when LIBOR is greater than the LIBOR floor, the LIBOR floor would have no impact on the interest rate paid by the borrower. Not all Senior Loans have LIBOR floors and this feature may not persist in future issuances of Senior Loans.

Although a base rate such as LIBOR can change every day, loan agreements for Senior Loans typically allow the borrower the ability to choose how often the base rate for its loan will reset. A single loan may have multiple reset periods at the same time, with each reset period applicable to a designated portion of the loan. Such reset periods can range from one day to one year, with most borrowers choosing monthly or quarterly reset periods. During periods of rising interest rates, borrowers will tend to choose longer reset periods, and during periods of declining interest rates, borrowers will tend to choose shorter reset periods.

Senior Loans generally are arranged through private negotiations between a borrower and several financial institutions represented by an agent who is usually one of the originating lenders. In larger transactions, it is common to have several agents; however, generally only one such agent has primary responsibility for ongoing administration of a Senior Loan. Agents are typically paid fees by the borrower for their services.

The administrative agent is primarily responsible for negotiating the loan agreement which establishes the terms and conditions of the Senior Loan and the rights of the borrower and the lenders. The collateral agent is responsible for monitoring collateral and for exercising remedies available to the lenders such as foreclosure upon collateral. Any applicable Sub-Adviser or its affiliates may from time to time borrow from financial institutions that act as agents for loans.

Loan agreements may provide for the termination of the agent’s agency status in the event that it fails to act as required under the relevant loan or collateral agreement, becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) receivership or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy. Should such an agent, lender or assignor with respect to an assignment interpositioned between the Underlying Fund or SRLN and the borrower become insolvent or enter FDIC receivership or bankruptcy, any interest in the Senior Loan of such person and any loan payment held by such person for the benefit of the Underlying Fund or SRLN should not be included in such person’s or entity’s bankruptcy estate. If, however, any such amount were included in such person’s or entity’s bankruptcy estate, the Underlying Fund or SRLN would incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment or could suffer a loss of principal or interest. In this event, SRLN or the Underlying Fund and, therefore, the applicable Fund could experience a decrease in the NAV.

Most borrowers pay their debts from cash flow generated by their businesses. If a borrower’s cash flow is insufficient to pay its debts, it may attempt to restructure its debts rather than sell collateral. Borrowers may try to restructure their debts by filing for protection under the federal bankruptcy laws or negotiating a work-out. If a borrower becomes involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws. Such action by a court could be based, for example, on a “fraudulent conveyance” claim to the effect that the borrower did not receive fair consideration for granting the security interest in the loan collateral to the Underlying Fund or SRLN. If a court decides that access to collateral is limited or void, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may not recover the full amount of principal and interest that is due.

A borrower must comply with certain restrictive covenants contained in the loan agreement. In addition to requiring the scheduled payment of principal and interest, these covenants may include restrictions on the payment of dividends and other distributions to the borrower’s shareholders, provisions requiring compliance with specific financial ratios, and limits on total indebtedness. The agreement may also require the prepayment of the loans from excess cash flow. A breach of a covenant that is not waived by the agent (or lenders directly) is normally an event of default, which provides the agent and lenders the right to call for repayment of the outstanding loan. The typical practice of an agent or a loan investor in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the borrower to monitor the borrower’s compliance with covenants may involve a risk of fraud by the borrower.

In the process of buying, selling and holding Senior Loans, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When the Underlying Fund or SRLN buys or sells a Senior Loan it may pay an assignment fee. On an ongoing basis, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of a

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Senior Loan. In certain circumstances, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon prepayment of a Senior Loan. Other fees received by the Underlying Fund or SRLN may include covenant waiver fees, covenant modification fees or other consent or amendment fees.

Notwithstanding its intention in certain situations to not receive material, non-public information with respect to its management of investments in Senior Loans, the Adviser and/or applicable Sub-Adviser may from time to time come into possession of material, non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held in the Underlying Fund’s or SRLN’s portfolio. Possession of such information may in some instances occur despite the Adviser’s and/or applicable Sub-Adviser’s efforts to avoid such possession, but in other instances the Adviser and/or applicable Sub-Adviser may choose to receive such information (for example, in connection with participation in a creditors’ committee with respect to a financially distressed issuer). The Adviser’s and/or applicable Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade in these Senior Loans for the account of the Underlying Fund or SRLN could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on the Adviser’s and/or applicable Sub-Adviser’s ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the Underlying Fund or SRLN by, for example, preventing the Underlying Fund or SRLN from selling a Senior Loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.

The loan market, as represented by the S&P/LSTA (Loan Syndications and Trading Association) Leveraged Loan Index, experienced significant growth in terms of number and aggregate volume of loans outstanding since the inception of the index in 1997. In 1997, the total amount of loans in the market aggregated less than $10 billion. By April of 2000, it had grown to over $100 billion, and by July of 2007 the market had grown to over $500 billion, expanding further to a pre-crisis peak of $594 billion in November 2008. Throughout this period, the demand for loans and the number of investors participating in the loan market also increased significantly.

From November 2008 to July 2010 the aggregate size of the loan market contracted approximately 15%, but has since continued to grow to $[            billion] in size as of September 2020. The number of market participants has also increased to above pre-crisis levels. There can be no assurance that the size of the loan market, and the number of participants, will sustain such levels.

An increase in demand for Senior Loans may benefit the Underlying Fund or SRLN by providing increased liquidity for such loans and higher sales prices, but it may also adversely affect the rate of interest payable on such loans acquired by the Underlying Fund or SRLN and the rights provided to the Underlying Fund or SRLN under the terms of the applicable loan agreement, and may increase the price of loans that the Underlying Fund or SRLN wishes to purchase in the secondary market. A decrease in the demand for Senior Loans may adversely affect the price of loans in the Underlying Fund’s or SRLN’s portfolio, which could cause SRLN’s or the Underlying Fund’s and, therefore, the applicable Fund’s net asset value to decline.

The Underlying Fund or SRLN may acquire interests in Senior Loans which are designed to provide temporary or “bridge” financing to a borrower pending the sale of identified assets or the arrangement of longer-term loans or the issuance and sale of debt obligations. The Underlying Fund or SRLN may also invest in Senior Loans of borrowers that have obtained bridge loans from other parties. A borrower’s use of bridge loans involves a risk that the borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the borrower’s perceived creditworthiness. Bridge loans may have less liquidity than other Senior Loans that were issued to fund corporate purposes on a longer term basis.

Although not anticipated in the normal course, the Underlying Fund or SRLN may occasionally acquire warrants and other equity securities as part of a unit combining a Senior Loan and equity securities of a borrower or its affiliates. The acquisition of such equity securities will only be incidental to the Underlying Fund’s or SRLN’s purchase of a Senior Loan. The Underlying Fund or SRLN may also acquire equity securities or credit securities (including non-dollar denominated equity or credit securities) issued in exchange for a Senior Loan or issued in connection with the debt restructuring or reorganization of a Borrower, or if such acquisition, in the judgment of the Adviser may enhance the value of a Senior Loan or would otherwise be consistent with the Underlying Fund’s or SRLN’s investment policies. Such warrants and equity securities will typically have limited value and there is no assurance that such securities will ever obtain value.

Other loans. The Underlying Fund or SRLN may invest in secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured. These loans have the same characteristics as Senior Loans except that such loans are not first in priority of repayment and/or are not secured by collateral. Accordingly, the risks associated with these loans are higher than the risks for loans with first priority over the collateral. Because these loans are lower in priority and/or unsecured, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the secured obligations of the borrower. In the event of default on such a loan, the first priority lien holder has first claim to the underlying collateral of the loan. It is possible that no value would remain for the holders of secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured and therefore result in a loss of investment to the Underlying Fund or SRLN.

Secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured generally have greater price volatility than Senior Loans and may be less liquid. There is also a possibility that originators will not be able to sell participations in these loans, which would create greater credit risk exposure for the holders of such loans. Secured loans that are not first lien and loans that are unsecured share the same risks as other below investment grade instruments.

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SOVEREIGN DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. government.

STRIPPED MORTGAGE SECURITIES

Stripped mortgage securities may be issued by Federal Agencies, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. Stripped mortgage securities not issued by Federal Agencies will be treated by a Fund as illiquid securities so long as the staff of the SEC maintains its position that such securities are illiquid. Stripped mortgage securities issued by Federal Agencies generally will be treated by a Fund as liquid securities under procedures adopted by the Fund and approved by the Fund’s Board.

Stripped mortgage securities usually are structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution of a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of stripped mortgage security will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). PO classes generate income through the accretion of the deep discount at which such securities are purchased, and, while PO classes do not receive periodic payments of interest, they receive monthly payments associated with scheduled amortization and principal prepayment from the mortgage assets underlying the PO class. The yield to maturity on a PO or an IO class security is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets. A slower than expected rate of principal payments may have an adverse effect on a PO class security’s yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience slower than anticipated principal repayment, a Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on an IO class security’s yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments or principal, a Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities.

A Fund may purchase stripped mortgage securities for income, or for hedging purposes to protect the Fund against interest rate fluctuations. For example, since an IO class will tend to increase in value as interest rates rise, it may be utilized to hedge against a decrease in value of other fixed-income securities in a rising interest rate environment.

STRUCTURED INVESTMENTS

The SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF may invest in structured investments. A structured investment is a security having a return tied to an underlying index or other security or asset class. Structured investments generally are individually negotiated agreements and may be traded over-the-counter. Structured investments are organized and operated to restructure the investment characteristics of the underlying security. This restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, on specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans) and the issuance by that entity or one or more classes of securities (“structured securities”) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments. Because structured securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured securities are generally of a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Investments in government and government-related and restructured debt instruments are subject to special risks, including the inability or unwillingness to repay principal and interest, requests to reschedule or restructure outstanding debt and requests to extend additional loan amounts. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in structured securities; although the Fund’s investments in structured securities and junior bank loans in the aggregate may not exceed 20% of its assets.

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U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS

U.S. government obligations are a type of bond. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

One type of U.S. government obligation, U.S. Treasury obligations, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years.

Other U.S. government obligations are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLB”), Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac). Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law.

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the terms of the takeover, 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”), the U.S. Treasury has pledged to provide a limited amount of capital per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. In May 2009, the U.S. Treasury increased its maximum commitment to each instrumentality under the SPAs from $100 billion to $200 billion per instrumentality. 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. Also in December 2009, the U.S. Treasury further amended the SPAs to allow the cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s net worth through the end of 2012. On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the SPAs to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10% dividend annually on all amounts received under the funding commitment. Instead, they were required to transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceeded a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced amendments to the SPAs permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively. It is believed that the amendment puts Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because the companies no longer have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

U.S. REGISTERED SECURITIES OF FOREIGN ISSUERS

Each Fund may purchase exchange-traded common stocks and exchange-traded preferred securities of foreign corporations, as well as U.S. registered, dollar-denominated bonds of foreign corporations, governments, agencies and supra-national entities. Investing in U.S. registered, dollar-denominated, securities issued by non-U.S. issuers involves some risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These include differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, political instability which could affect U.S. investments in foreign countries, and potential restrictions of the flow of international capital. Foreign companies may be subject to less governmental regulation than U.S. issuers. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions.

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A Fund’s investments in common stock of foreign corporations may also be in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts are receipts, typically issued by a bank or trust company, which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other Depositary Receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary Receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designated for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. The SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF, SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF each may invest in sponsored or unsponsored ADRs; however, not more than 10% of the net assets of each of the SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF, SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF will be invested in unsponsored ADRs. The issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the ADRs.

VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES

Variable rate securities are instruments issued or guaranteed by entities such as (1) US government, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, (2) states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-states agencies or authorities, (3) corporations, (4) financial institutions, (5) insurance companies or (6) trusts that have a rate of interest subject to adjustment at regular intervals but less frequently than annually. A variable rate security provides for the automatic establishment of a new interest rate on set dates. Variable rate obligations whose interest is readjusted no less frequently than annually will be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment of the interest rate. Each Fund may also purchase floating rate securities. A floating rate security provides for the automatic adjustment of its interest rate whenever a specified interest rate changes. Interest rates on these securities are ordinarily tied to, and are a percentage of, a widely recognized interest rate, such as the yield on 90-day US Treasury bills or the prime rate of a specified bank. These rates may change as often as twice daily. Generally, changes in interest rates will have a smaller effect on the market value of variable and fixed rate floating rate securities than on the market value of comparable fixed rate fixed income obligations. Thus, investing in variable and fixed rate floating rate securities generally allows less opportunity for capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in comparable fixed rate fixed income securities.

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND OBLIGATIONS

Variable Rate Demand Obligations (“VRDOs”) are short-term tax exempt fixed income instruments whose yield is reset on a periodic basis. VRDO securities tend to be issued with long maturities of up to 30 or 40 years; however, they are considered short-term instruments because they include a put feature which coincides with the periodic yield reset. For example, a VRDO whose yield resets weekly will have a put feature that is exercisable upon seven days’ notice. VRDOs are put back to a bank or other entity that serves as a liquidity provider, who then tries to resell the VRDOs or, if unable to resell, holds them in its own inventory. VRDOs are generally supported by either a Letter of Credit or a Stand-by Bond Purchase Agreement to provide credit enhancement.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND RISKS

A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in each Fund is contained in the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

GENERAL

Investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of securities generally and other factors.

A Fund’s investments in common stock of foreign corporations may also be in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts are receipts, typically issued by a bank or trust company, which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other Depositary Receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary Receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and EDRs, in bearer form, are designated for use in European securities markets. GDRs are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. [The SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF may invest in sponsored or unsponsored ADRs; however, not more than 10% of the net assets of the SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF will be invested in unsponsored ADRs.] The issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the ADRs.

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exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and instruments that reference the securities, such as participatory notes (or “P-notes”) or other derivative instruments, may be halted.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the issuer, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Further, unlike debt securities which typically have a stated principal amount payable at maturity (whose value, however, will be subject to market fluctuations prior thereto), or preferred stocks which typically have a liquidation preference and which may have stated optional or mandatory redemption provisions, common stocks have neither a fixed principal amount nor a maturity. Common stock values are subject to market fluctuations as long as the common stock remains outstanding.

The principal trading market for some securities may be in the over-the-counter market. The existence of a liquid trading market for certain securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in such securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made or maintained or that any such market will be or remain liquid. The price at which securities may be sold and the value of a Fund’s Shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities are limited or absent or if bid/ask spreads are wide.

BREXIT RISK

In June 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the EU (known as “Brexit”), creating economic and political uncertainty in its wake. In March 2017, the United Kingdom formally notified the European Council of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This formal notification began a two-year period of negotiations regarding the terms of the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, which formally concluded on January 31, 2020. A transition period will take place following the United Kingdom’s exit where the United Kingdom will remain subject to EU rules but will have no role in the EU law-making process. During this transition period, United Kingdom and EU representatives will be negotiating the precise terms of their future relationship. The full scope and nature of the consequences of the exit are not at this time known and are unlikely to be known for a significant period of time. It is also unknown whether the United Kingdom’s exit will increase the likelihood of other countries also departing the EU. Any exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on the United Kingdom, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth for such economies that could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of a Fund’s investments.

CHINA A SHARE RISK

Certain Funds may be subject to risks associated with investments in A Shares of Chinese issuers (“China A Shares” or “A Shares”). The Funds may invest in A Shares through the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect or Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (the “Stock Connect program”).

Investing through the Stock Connect Program

A Fund may invest in eligible securities listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (“SSE”) or Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“SZSE”) through the Stock Connect program, a securities trading and clearing program developed by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“SEHK”), SSE and SZSE, Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (“HKSCC”) and China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (“ChinaClear”) for the establishment of mutual market access between SEHK and the SSE and SZSE. Among other restrictions, investors in securities obtained via the Stock Connect program are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and SSE or SZSE rules. Securities obtained via the Stock Connect program generally may only be sold, purchased or otherwise transferred through the Stock Connect program in accordance with applicable rules. The Stock Connect program is recently-established and further developments are likely. There can be no assurance as to whether or how such developments may restrict or affect a Fund’s investments or returns. In addition, the application and interpretation of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by relevant regulators and exchanges in respect of the Stock Connect program, are uncertain, and they may have a detrimental effect on a Fund’s investments and returns. The securities eligible to be traded by a Fund through the Stock Connect program are subject to change.

Ownership of A Shares Risk. A Shares acquired by Hong Kong and foreign investors, including each Fund, through the Stock Connect program are held by HKSCC as the “nominee holder” of such A Shares. A nominee holder is the person who holds securities on behalf of an underlying investor, or “beneficial owner,” who is entitled to the rights and benefits of the SSE or SZSE securities acquired through the Stock Connect program. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) Stock Connect rules expressly provide that investors enjoy the rights and benefits of A-Shares listed on the SSE or SZSE (together, the “Mainland Securities”)

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acquired through Stock Connect in accordance with applicable laws. The CSRC has clarified that (i) the concept of nominee shareholding is recognized in China, (ii) overseas investors shall hold Mainland Securities through HKSCC and are entitled to proprietary interests in such securities as shareholders, (iii) China law does not expressly provide for a beneficial owner under the nominee holding structure to bring legal proceedings, nor does it prohibit a beneficial owner from doing so, (iv) as long as certification issued by HKSCC is treated as lawful proof of a beneficial owner’s holding of Mainland Securities under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region law, it would be fully respected by CSRC, and (v) as long as an overseas investor can provide evidential proof of direct interest as a beneficial owner, the investor may take legal actions in its own name in PRC courts.

Under the rules of the Central Clearing and Settlement System operated by HKSCC for the clearing of securities listed or traded on SEHK, HKSCC as nominee holder shall have no obligation to take any legal action or court proceeding to enforce any rights on behalf of the investors in respect of the Mainland Securities in the PRC or elsewhere. Therefore, although a Fund’s ownership may be ultimately recognized and the HKSCC confirmed that it is prepared to provide assistance to the beneficial owners of Mainland Securities where necessary, a Fund may suffer difficulties or delays in enforcing their rights in China A-Shares. Moreover, whether PRC courts will accept the legal action independently initiated by the overseas investor with the certification of holding Mainland Securities issued by HKSCC has yet to be tested.

Quota Limitations Risk. Although a Fund’s investments through the Stock Connect program, if any, are not subject to individual investment quotas, daily investment quotas apply to all participants in the Stock Connect program. Trading through the Stock Connect program is subject to daily quotas (“Daily Quotas”). The Daily Quotas differ for Hong Kong and foreign investors (including the Funds) trading into Mainland China (“Northbound Trading”) and PRC investors trading into Hong Kong (“Southbound Trading”). The Daily Quotas are applicable to trading activity transacted through the Stock Connect program and are monitored by the SEHK. The Daily Quota limits the maximum net buy value of cross-border trades via Northbound Trading through the Stock Connect program each day. The Daily Quotas may affect a Fund’s ability to trade through the Stock Connect program at any given time during a trading day. In particular, once the remaining balance of the Daily Quota applicable to Northbound Trading drops to zero or such Daily Quota is exceeded, new buy orders will be rejected (though investors will be allowed to sell their A Shares regardless of the quota balance). Therefore, quota limitations may restrict or limit a Fund’s ability to invest in A Shares through the Stock Connect program on a timely basis or at all on any given day.

Restriction on Day Trading Risk. Day (turnaround) trading is not permitted through the Stock Connect program. Investors buying A Shares on day T can only sell the shares on and after day T+1 subject to any Stock Connect program rules.

A Share Market Suspension Risk. A Shares may only be purchased from, or sold to, a Fund from time to time where the relevant A Shares may be sold or purchased on the SSE or the SZSE, as appropriate. Securities exchanges in the PRC typically have the right to suspend or limit trading in any security traded on the relevant exchange, which could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to access the PRC market.

Restrictions on selling imposed by front-end monitoring. PRC regulations require that before an investor sells any share, there should be sufficient shares in the account; otherwise SSE or SZSE will reject the sell order concerned. SEHK will carry out pre-trade checking on China A-Shares sell orders of its participants (i.e., the stock brokers) to ensure there is no over-selling.

Additional Clearing, Settlement and Custody Risk. HKSCC and ChinaClear establish the clearing links and each is a participant of each other to facilitate clearing and settlement of cross-boundary trades. As the national central counterparty of the PRC’s securities market, ChinaClear operates a comprehensive network of clearing, settlement and stock holding infrastructure. ChinaClear has established a risk management framework and measures that are approved and supervised by the CSRC. The chances of a ChinaClear default are considered to be remote.

Should the remote event of a ChinaClear default occur and ChinaClear be declared as a defaulter, HKSCC will, in good faith, seek recovery of the outstanding stocks and monies from ChinaClear through available legal channels or through ChinaClear’s liquidation. In that event, the Fund may suffer a delay in the recovery process or may not be able to fully recover its losses from ChinaClear.

The China A-Shares traded through Stock Connect are issued in scriptless form, so investors, such as the Funds, will not hold any physical China A-Shares. Hong Kong and overseas investors, such as the Funds, who have acquired Mainland Securities through Northbound trading should maintain the Mainland Securities with their brokers’ or custodians’ stock accounts with the Central Clearing and Settlement System operated by HKSCC for the clearing securities listed or traded on SEHK.

Investment compensation. A Fund’s investments through Northbound Trading are currently not covered by the Hong Kong Investor Compensation Fund. Further, since a Fund is carrying out Northbound trading through securities brokers in Hong Kong but not PRC brokers, it is also not protected by the China Securities Investor Protection Fund in the PRC.

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Trading costs. In addition to paying trading fees and stamp duties in connection with China A-Share trading, a Fund may be subject to new portfolio fees, dividend tax and tax concerned with income arising from stock transfers which are yet to be determined by the relevant authorities.

Additional Operational Risk. The Stock Connect program is premised on the functioning of the operational systems of the relevant market participants. Market participants are able to participate in the Stock Connect program subject to meeting certain information technology capability, risk management and other requirements as may be specified by the relevant exchange and/or clearing house. Further, the “connectivity” in the Stock Connect program requires routing of orders across the border of Hong Kong and the PRC. This requires the development of new information technology systems on the part of the SEHK and Exchange Participants (i.e., China Stock Connect System). There is no assurance that the systems of the SEHK and market participants will function properly or will continue to be adapted to changes and developments in both markets. In the event that the relevant systems fail to function properly, trading in A Shares through the Stock Connect program could be disrupted. A Fund’s ability to access the A Share market through the Stock Connect program may be adversely affected.

Differences in Trading Day Risk. The Stock Connect program will only operate on days when both the PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. So it is possible that there are occasions when it is a normal trading day for the PRC market but investors, including the Funds, cannot carry out any A Shares trading. A Fund may be subject to a risk of price fluctuations in A Shares during the time when the Stock Connect program is not trading as a result.

A Share Tax Risk.

Uncertainties in PRC tax rules governing taxation of income and gains from investments in A-Shares could result in unexpected tax liabilities for a Fund. A Fund’s investments in securities, including A-Shares, issued by PRC companies may cause the Fund to become subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by the PRC. If the Fund were considered to be a tax resident of the PRC, it would be subject to PRC corporate income tax at the rate of 25% on its worldwide taxable income. If the Fund were considered to be a non-resident enterprise with a “permanent establishment” in the PRC, it would be subject to PRC corporate income tax of 25% on the profits attributable to the permanent establishment. The Adviser intends to operate such Fund in a manner that will prevent it from being treated as a tax resident of the PRC and from having a permanent establishment in the PRC. It is possible, however, that the PRC could disagree with that conclusion or that changes in PRC tax law could affect the PRC corporate income tax status of the Fund.

The PRC generally imposes withholding income tax at a rate of 10% on dividends, premiums, interest and capital gains originating in the PRC and paid to a company that is not a resident of the PRC for tax purposes and that has no permanent establishment in China. The withholding is in general made by the relevant PRC tax resident company making such payments. In the event the relevant PRC tax resident company fails to withhold the relevant PRC withholding income tax or otherwise fails to pay the relevant withholding income tax to the PRC tax authorities, the competent PRC tax authorities may, at their sole discretion, impose tax obligations on a Fund.

The Ministry of Finance of the PRC, the State Administration of Taxation of the PRC and the CSRC (collectively, the “PRC Tax Authorities”) issued the “Notice on the Pilot Program of Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect” Caishui [2014] No.81 (Notice 81), on October 31, 2014, which states that the capital gain from disposal of A-Shares by foreign investor enterprises via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program will be temporarily exempt from withholding income tax. Notice 81 also states that the dividends derived from A-Shares by foreign investor enterprises are subject to 10% withholding income tax.

The PRC Tax Authorities issued the “Notice on the Pilot Program of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect” Caishui [2016] No.127 (Notice 127)” on November 5, 2016, which states that the capital gain from disposal of A-Shares by foreign investor enterprises via the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program will be temporarily exempt from withholding income tax. Notice 127 also states that the dividends derived from A-Shares by foreign investor enterprises is subject to 10% withholding income tax.

There is no indication of how long the temporary exemption will remain in effect and a Fund may be subject to such withholding income tax in the future. If, in the future, China begins applying tax rules regarding the taxation of income from investments through Stock Connect and/or begins collecting capital gains taxes on such investments, a Fund could be subject to withholding income tax liability if the Fund determines that such liability cannot be reduced or eliminated by applicable tax treaties. The PRC Tax Authorities may, in the future, issue further guidance in this regard and with potential retrospective effect. The negative impact of any such tax liability on the Fund’s return could be substantial.

In light of the uncertainty as to how gains or income that may be derived from a Fund’s investments in the PRC will be taxed, the Fund reserves the right to provide for withholding tax on such gains or income and withhold tax for the account of the Fund. Withholding tax may already be withheld at a broker/custodian level. If the Fund expects such withholding tax on trading in A-Shares to be imposed, it reserves the right to establish a reserve for such tax. If the Fund establishes such a reserve but is not ultimately subject to the tax, shareholders who redeemed or sold their shares while the reserve was in place will effectively bear the tax and may

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not benefit from the later release, if any, of the reserve. Conversely, if the Fund does not establish such a reserve but ultimately is subject to the tax, shareholders who redeemed or sold their shares prior to the tax being withheld, reserved or paid will have effectively avoided the tax, even if they benefited from the trading that precipitated the Fund’s payment of it. Investors should note that such provision may be excessive or inadequate to meet actual withholding tax liabilities (which could include interest and penalties) on the Fund’s investments. As a result, investors may be advantaged or disadvantaged depending on the final rules of the relevant PRC tax authorities.

Any tax provision, if made, will be reflected in the NAV per share of such Fund at the time of debit or release of such provision and thus will impact shares which remain in the Fund at the time of debit or release of such provision. If the actual applicable tax levied by PRC tax authorities is greater than that provided for by a Fund so that there is a shortfall in the tax provision amount, investors should note that the NAV of the Fund may suffer more than the tax provision amount as the Fund will ultimately have to bear the additional tax liabilities. In this case, the then-existing and subsequent investors will be disadvantaged. On the other hand, if the actual applicable tax levied by PRC tax authorities is less than that provided for by the Fund so that there is an excess in the tax provision amount, investors who have redeemed Fund shares before the PRC tax authorities’ ruling, decision or guidance in this respect will be disadvantaged as they would have borne the loss from the Fund’s overprovision. In this case, the then-existing and subsequent investors may benefit if the difference between the tax provision and the actual taxation liability can be returned to the account of the Fund as assets thereof. In case of having excess in the tax provision amount (for example, the actual applicable tax levied by PRC tax authorities is less than the tax provision amount or due to a change in provisioning by the Fund), such excess shall be treated as property of the Fund and investors who have already transferred or redeemed their shares in the Fund will not be entitled or have any right to claim any part of the amount representing the excess.

Stamp duty under the PRC laws generally applies to the execution and receipt of taxable documents, which include contracts for the sale of A-Shares traded on PRC stock exchanges. In the case of such contracts, the stamp duty is currently imposed on the seller but not on the purchaser, at the rate of 0.1%. While overseas investors currently are exempt from value added taxes (currently at the rate of 6%) on capital gains derived from trading of A-Shares through Stock Connect, the PRC tax rules could be changed which could result in unexpected tax liabilities for a Fund. In addition, urban maintenance and construction tax (currently at rates ranging from 1% to 7%), educational surcharge (currently at the rate of 3%) and local educational surcharge (currently at the rate of 2%) (collectively, the “surtaxes”) are imposed based on value added tax liabilities, so if a Fund were liable for value added tax it would also be required to pay the applicable surtaxes. The PRC rules for taxation of Stock Connect are evolving and certain of the tax regulations to be issued by the PRC State Administration of Taxation and/or PRC SAFE to clarify the subject matter may apply retrospectively, even if such rules are adverse to a Fund and its investors. The imposition of such taxes, particularly on a retrospective basis, could have a material adverse effect on a Fund’s returns. Before further guidance is issued and is well established in the administrative practice of the PRC tax authorities, the practices of the PRC tax authorities that collect PRC taxes relevant to a Fund may differ from, or be applied in a manner inconsistent with, the practices with respect to the analogous investments described herein or any further guidance that may be issued. The value of a Fund’s investment in the PRC and the amount of its income and gains could be adversely affected by an increase in tax rates or change in the taxation basis.

The above information is only a general summary of the potential PRC tax consequences that may be imposed on a Fund and its investors either directly or indirectly and should not be taken as a definitive, authoritative or comprehensive statement of the relevant matter. Investors should seek their own tax advice on their tax position with regard to their investment in a Fund.

The PRC government has implemented a number of tax reform policies in recent years. The current tax laws and regulations may be revised or amended in the future. Any revision or amendment in tax laws and regulations may affect the after-taxation profit of PRC companies and foreign investors in such companies, such as the Funds.

General PRC-Related Risks

Economic, Political and Social Risks of the PRC. The economy of China, which has been in a state of transition from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy, differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, its state of development, its growth rate, control of foreign exchange, protection of intellectual property rights and allocation of resources.

Although the majority of productive assets in China are still owned by the PRC government at various levels, in recent years, the PRC government has implemented economic reform measures emphasizing utilization of market forces in the development of the economy of China and a high level of management autonomy. The economy of China has experienced significant growth in the past several decades, but growth has been uneven both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and no assurance can be given that such growth will continue. Economic growth has also been accompanied by periods of high inflation. The PRC government has implemented various measures from time to time to control inflation and restrain the rate of economic growth.

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There can, however, be no assurance that the PRC government will continue to pursue such economic policies or, if it does, that those policies will continue to be successful. Any such adjustment and modification of those economic policies may have an adverse impact on the securities markets in the PRC as well as the portfolio securities of a Fund. Further, the PRC government may from time to time adopt corrective measures to control the growth of the PRC economy, which may also have an adverse impact on the capital growth and performance of a Fund. Political changes, social instability and adverse diplomatic developments in the PRC could result in the imposition of additional government restrictions, including expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxes, limits on repatriation, or nationalization of some or all of the property held by the underlying issuers of a Fund’s portfolio securities.

PRC Laws and Regulations Risk. The regulatory and legal framework for capital markets and joint stock companies in the PRC may not be as well developed as those of developed countries. PRC laws and regulations affecting securities markets are relatively new and evolving, and because of the limited volume of published cases and judicial interpretation and their non-binding nature, interpretation and enforcement of these regulations involve significant uncertainties. In addition, as the PRC legal system develops, no assurance can be given that changes in such laws and regulations or new laws, regulations or practices relating to transactions in Chinese securities will be promulgated, or that their interpretation or enforcement will not have a material adverse effect on a Fund’s portfolio securities.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RISK

An investment in a Fund may be subject to a number of actual or potential conflicts of interest. For example, the Adviser or its affiliates may provide services to a Fund, such as securities lending agency services, custodial, administrative, bookkeeping, and accounting services, transfer agency and shareholder servicing, securities brokerage services, and other services for which the Fund would compensate the Adviser and/or such affiliates. A Fund may invest in other pooled investment vehicles sponsored, managed, or otherwise affiliated with the Adviser. There is no assurance that the rates at which a Fund pays fees or expenses to the Adviser or its affiliates, or the terms on which it enters into transactions with the Adviser or its affiliates, will be the most favorable available in the market generally or as favorable as the rates the Adviser makes available to other clients. Because of its financial interest, the Adviser may have an incentive to enter into transactions or arrangements on behalf of a Fund with itself or its affiliates in circumstances where it might not have done so in the absence of that interest.

CONTINUOUS OFFERING

The method by which Creation Units of Shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units of Shares are issued and sold by the Trust on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares, and sells such Shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for Shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus-delivery obligation with respect to Shares of a Fund are reminded that under Securities Act Rule 153, a prospectus-delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Exchange is satisfied by the fact that a Fund’s Prospectus is available at the Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.

SSGA or its affiliates (the “Selling Shareholder”) may purchase Creation Units through a broker-dealer to “seed” (in whole or in part) Funds as they are launched, or may purchase shares from broker-dealers or other investors that have previously provided “seed” for Funds when they were launched or otherwise in secondary market transactions, and because the Selling Shareholder may be deemed an affiliate of such Funds, the Fund Shares are being registered to permit the resale of these shares from time to time after purchase. The Funds will not receive any of the proceeds from the resale by the Selling Shareholders of these Fund Shares.

The Selling Shareholder intends to sell all or a portion of the Fund Shares owned by it and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more broker-dealers, and may also hedge such positions. The Fund Shares may be sold on any national securities exchange on which the Fund Shares may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions other than on these exchanges or systems at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve cross or block transactions.

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The Selling Shareholder may also loan or pledge Fund Shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such Fund Shares, to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Selling Shareholder may also enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of Fund Shares, which Fund Shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell.

The Selling Shareholder and any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of Fund Shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions paid to any such broker-dealer or agent and any profit on the resale of the Fund Shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The Selling Shareholder who may be deemed an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

COUNTERPARTY RISK

Counterparty risk with respect to derivatives has been and may continue to be affected by new rules and regulations affecting the derivatives market. Some derivatives transactions are required to be centrally cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivatives transaction. Credit risk of market participants with respect to derivatives that are centrally cleared is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and it is not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted, what effect the insolvency proceeding would have on any recovery by a Fund, and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system more generally.

FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS

There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract or option at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position. In the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying futures contracts it has sold.

A Fund will minimize the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures or options contract by only entering into futures and options for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market.

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or uncovered call options in some strategies (e.g., selling uncovered index futures contracts) is potentially unlimited. The risk of a futures position may still be large as traditionally measured due to the low margin deposits required. In many cases, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor relative to the size of a required margin deposit. A Fund, however, may utilize futures and options contracts in a manner designed to limit its risk exposure to that which is comparable to what it would have incurred through direct investment in securities.

Utilization of futures transactions by a Fund involves the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Fund has an open position in the futures contract or option.

Certain financial futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.

RISKS OF SWAP AGREEMENTS

Swap agreements are subject to the risk that the swap counterparty will default on its obligations. If such a default occurs, a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, but such remedies may be subject to bankruptcy and insolvency laws which could affect the Fund’s rights as a creditor.

The use of interest-rate and index swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal.

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The absence of a regulated execution facility or contract market and lack of liquidity for swap transactions has led, in some instances, to difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. Under recently adopted rules and regulations, transactions in some types of swaps are required to be centrally cleared. In a cleared derivatives transaction, a Fund’s counterparty to the transaction is a central derivatives clearing organization, or clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Because each Fund is not a member of a clearing house, and only members of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund holds cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, a Fund will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through its accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house. Centrally cleared derivative arrangements may be less favorable to a Fund than bilateral (non-cleared) arrangements. For example, a Fund may be required to provide greater amounts of margin for cleared derivatives transactions than for bilateral derivatives transactions. Also, in contrast to bilateral derivatives transactions, in some cases following a period of notice to a Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time or an increase in margin requirements above the margin that the clearing member required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions or to terminate transactions at any time. A Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or which SSGA FM or a Sub-Adviser expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the transaction, including loss of an increase in the value of the transaction and loss of hedging protection. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between a Fund and clearing members is drafted by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Fund than typical bilateral derivatives documentation.

These clearing rules and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund, increasing margin or capital requirements, or otherwise limiting liquidity or increasing transaction costs. These regulations are new and evolving, so their potential impact on a Fund and the financial system are not yet known.

Because they are two party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid and subject to a Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. To the extent that a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to a Fund’s interest.

If a Fund uses a swap as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the swap will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the Fund. While hedging strategies involving swap instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other portfolio investments. Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively.

LIBOR RISK

On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. The replacement or abandonment of, or modification to, LIBOR could have adverse impacts on newly issued financial instruments and existing financial instruments which reference LIBOR. While some instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate setting methodology, not all instruments may have such provisions and there are significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could lead to significant short-term and long-term uncertainty and market instability. Instruments in which the Fund invests may pay interest at floating or adjusting rates based on LIBOR or may be subject to interest caps or floors. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain Fund investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any pricing adjustments to a Fund’s investments resulting from a substitute reference rate may also adversely affect the Fund’s performance and/or NAV. Such successor or substitute reference rate and any adjustments selected may negatively impact a Fund’s investments, performance or financial condition, and may expose the Fund to additional tax, accounting and regulatory risks, Additionally, if LIBOR ceases to exist, a Fund may need to renegotiate the credit agreements extending beyond 2021 with the Fund’s obligors that utilize LIBOR as a factor in determining the interest rate and certain of the Fund’s existing credit facilities to replace LIBOR with the new standard that is established. Any pricing adjustments to a Fund’s investments resulting from a substitute reference rate may also adversely affect the Fund’s performance and/or NAV. Such successor or substitute reference rate and any adjustments selected may negatively impact a Fund’s investments, performance or financial condition, and may expose the Fund to additional tax, accounting and regulatory risks.

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The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, intends to replace the U.S. dollar LIBOR with the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could have adverse impacts on newly issued financial instruments and existing financial instruments which reference LIBOR. While some instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate setting methodology, not all instruments may have such provisions and there are significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies.

In 2012, regulators in the United States and the United Kingdom alleged that some of the member banks surveyed by the British Bankers Association engaged in manipulative acts in connection with the calculation of LIBOR. Several financial institutions have reached settlements with the CFTC, the U.S. Department of Justice Fraud Section and the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority in connection with investigations by such authorities into submissions made by such financial institutions to the bodies that set LIBOR and other interbank offered rates. Additional investigations remain ongoing with respect to other major banks. Despite increased regulation and other corrective actions since that time, concerns have arisen regarding LIBOR’s viability as a benchmark, due to decreased confidence of the market in LIBOR and lead market participants looking for alternative, non-LIBOR based types of financing, such as fixed rate loans or bonds or floating rate loans based on non-LIBOR indices.

MARKET TURBULENCE RESULTING FROM COVID-19

An outbreak of a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus first detected in China in December 2019 has spread globally in a short period of time. In an organized attempt to contain and mitigate the effects of the spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19, governments and businesses world-wide have taken aggressive measures, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations. COVID-19 has resulted in the disruption of and delays in the delivery of healthcare services and processes, the cancellation of organized events and educational institutions, the disruption of production and supply chains, a decline in consumer demand for certain goods and services, and general concern and uncertainty, all of which have contributed to increased volatility in global markets. The effects of COVID-19 will likely affect certain sectors and industries more dramatically than others, which may adversely affect the value of a Fund’s investments in those sectors or industries. COVID-19, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations, the global economy, individual companies and capital markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the impact of infectious diseases in developing or emerging market countries may be greater due to limited health care resources. Political, economic and social stresses caused by COVID-19 also may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries. The duration of COVID-19 and its effects cannot be determined at this time, but the effects could be present for an extended period of time.

TAX RISKS

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in Shares of a Fund will be taxed. The tax information in the Prospectus and this SAI is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in Shares of a Fund.

Unless your investment in Shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-advantaged retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when a Fund makes distributions or you sell Shares.

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Trust has adopted the following investment restrictions as fundamental policies with respect to each Fund. These restrictions cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. For purposes of the 1940 Act, a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund means the vote, at an annual or a special meeting of the security holders of the Trust, of the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities of the Fund present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Except with the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, a Fund may not:

1. (Except SPDR SSGA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF and SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF) Purchase securities of an issuer that would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time;

2. Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the Rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time;¹

3. Make loans to another person except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Funds;

4. Issue senior securities or borrow money except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Funds;

5. Invest directly in real estate unless the real estate is acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments. This restriction shall not preclude a Fund from investing in companies that deal in real estate or in instruments that are backed or secured by real estate;

6. Act as an underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities; or

7. Invest in commodities except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Funds.

In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, each Fund observes the following restrictions, which may be changed by the Board without a shareholder vote. A Fund will not:

1. Invest in the securities of a company for the purpose of exercising management or control, provided that the Trust may vote the investment securities owned by the Fund in accordance with its views;

2. With respect to the SPDR SSGA Fixed Income Sector Rotation ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) directly, or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, in fixed income securities. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice;

3. With respect to the SPDR SSGA US Sector Rotation ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) directly, or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, in securities of U.S. companies. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice;

4. With respect to the SPDR SSGA Ultra Short Term Bond ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice;

5. With respect to the MFS ETFs, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of a Fund’s net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, a Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice;

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6. With respect to the SPDR Blackstone / GSO Senior Loan ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in senior loans. For purposes of this 80% test, “senior loans” are first lien senior secured floating rate bank loans. Prior to any change this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice;

7. With respect to the SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in emerging market fixed income instruments or in derivatives or other instruments that provide investment exposure to emerging market fixed income instruments. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice; or

8. With respect to the SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF, under normal circumstances, invest less than 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed-income securities. Prior to any change in this 80% investment policy, the Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ written notice.

If a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or total or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction, except that the percentage limitations with respect to the borrowing of money will be observed continuously. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

The 1940 Act currently permits each Fund to loan up to 33 1/3% of its total assets. With respect to borrowing, the 1940 Act presently allows each Fund to: (1) borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets, (2) borrow money for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of each Fund’s total assets at the time of the loan, and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements. However, under normal circumstances any borrowings by a Fund will not exceed 10% of a Fund’s total assets. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation. With respect to investments in commodities, the 1940 Act presently permits each Fund to invest in commodities in accordance with investment policies contained in its prospectus and SAI. Any such investment shall also comply with the CEA and the rules and regulations thereunder. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every investment company have the fundamental investment policy governing such investments. A Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may invest in companies that deal in real estate (including REITs) or in instruments that are backed or secured by real estate.

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in a Fund is contained in the Prospectus under “PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION” and “ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND SALE INFORMATION.” The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, such sections of the Prospectus.

The Shares of each Fund are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. The Shares trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from their net asset value. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of Shares of a Fund will continue to be met.

The Exchange may consider the suspension of trading in, and may initiate delisting proceedings of, the Shares of a Fund under any of the following circumstances: (i) if the Exchange becomes aware that the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act; (ii) if the Fund no longer complies with the applicable listing requirements set forth in the Exchange’s rules; (iii) if, following the initial twelve-month period after commencement of trading on the Exchange of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Fund; or (iv) if such other event shall occur or condition exists which, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of a Fund.

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the Share price of each Fund in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of a Fund or an investor’s equity interest in a Fund.

As in the case of other publicly traded securities, brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

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The base and trading currencies of the Funds is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which a Fund’s net asset value per Share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which Shares of a Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange.

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “MANAGEMENT.”

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described in this SAI, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, Sub-Advisers, Distributor, Administrator and Sub-Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Funds. The Funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence 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 Trust’s business (e.g., a Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of a Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a Fund, at which time the Fund’s Adviser and, if applicable, Sub-Adviser present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the Fund, as well as proposed investment limitations for the Fund. Additionally, the Fund’s Adviser and Sub-Adviser provide the Board with an overview of, among other things, their investment philosophies, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructures. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the Adviser and other service providers, such as the Fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which a Fund may be exposed.

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Investment Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, respectively, the Board meets with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about each Fund’s investments.

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the Adviser and any Sub-Adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

The Board receives reports from the Funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. Regular reports are made to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of each Fund’s financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Fund’s internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees Fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

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From their review of these reports and discussions with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the Funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect a Fund can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve a Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the Funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Fund’s Adviser, Sub-Adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

Trustees and Officers. There are seven members of the Board of Trustees, six of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”). Frank Nesvet, an Independent Trustee, serves as Chairman of the Board. The Board has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Board made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the Independent Trustees constitute a super-majority (greater than 75%) of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an Independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from fund management.

The Board of Trustees has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and Trustee Committee. The Audit Committee and Trustee Committee are each chaired by an Independent Trustee and composed of all of the Independent Trustees.

Set forth below are the names, year of birth, position with the Trust, length of term of office, and the principal occupations during the last five years and other directorships held of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee or Officer of the Trust.

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TRUSTEES

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OFFICERS

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Individual Trustee Qualifications

The Board has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of his or her ability to review and understand information about the Funds provided to him or her by management, to identify and request other information he or she may deem relevant to the performance of his or her duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Funds, and to exercise his or her business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of each Fund’s shareholders. The Board has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on his or her own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Nesvet should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a financial services consulting company, serving on the boards of other investment companies, and serving as chief financial officer of a major financial services company; his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since 2000.

The Board has concluded that Ms. Boatman should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as Managing Director of the primary investment division of one of the nation’s leading financial institutions, her knowledge of the financial services industry and the experience she has gained serving as Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since April 2010.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Churchill should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as Head of the Fixed Income Division of one of the nation’s leading mutual fund companies and provider of financial services, his knowledge of the financial services industry and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since April 2010.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Verboncoeur should serve as Trustee because of the experience he gained serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a large financial services and investment management company, his knowledge of the financial services industry and his experience serving on the boards of other investment companies, including SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since April 2010.

The Board has concluded that Ms. Richer should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as the Chief Financial Officer of a large financial services and investment management company, her knowledge of the financial services industry and her experience serving on the board of a major educational institution. Ms. Richer was appointed to serve as Trustee of the Trust in July 2018.

The Board has concluded that Ms. Sponem should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as the Chief Financial Officer of a large financial services company, her knowledge of the financial services industry and her experience serving on the board of another investment company. Ms. Sponem was appointed to serve as Trustee of the Trust in July 2018.

The Board has concluded that Mr. Ross should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with the Adviser, his knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds and SPDR Series Trust since 2005 (Mr. Ross did not serve as Trustee of SPDR Index Shares Funds or SPDR Series Trust from December 2009 until April 2010).

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Funds.

REMUNERATION OF THE TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

No officer, director or employee of the Adviser, its parent or subsidiaries receives any compensation from the Trust for serving as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. The Trust, SPDR Series Trust and SPDR Index Shares Funds (together with the Trust, the “Trusts”) pay, in the aggregate, each Trustee an annual fee of $245,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. Effective January 1, 2021, each Trustee will receive an annual fee of $270,000 plus $10,000 per in-person meeting attended and $1,250 for each telephonic or video conference meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $75,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $30,000. Prior to July 1, 2020, the Chairman of the Board received an additional annual fee of $60,000. The Trusts also reimburse each Trustee for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him/her in connection with attending such meetings and in connection with attending industry seminars and meetings. Trustee fees are allocated between the Trusts and each of their respective series in such a manner as deemed equitable, taking into consideration the relative net assets of the series.

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The table below shows the compensation that the Trustees received during the Trust’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Verboncoeur serves as Chair. The Audit Committee meets with the Trust’s independent auditors to review and approve the scope and results of their professional services; to review the procedures for evaluating the adequacy of the Trust’s accounting controls; to consider the range of audit fees; and to make recommendations to the Board regarding the engagement of the Trust’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee met five (5) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

Trustee Committee. The Board has established a Trustee Committee consisting of all Independent Trustees. Mr. Nesvet serves as Chair. The responsibilities of the Trustee Committee are to: 1) nominate Independent Trustees; 2) review on a periodic basis the governance structures and procedures of the Funds; 3) review proposed resolutions and conflicts of interest that may arise in the business of the Funds and may have an impact on the investors of the Funds; 4) select any independent counsel of the independent trustees as well as make determinations as to that counsel’s independence; 5) review matters that are referred to the Committee by the Chief Legal Officer or other counsel to the Trust; and 6) provide general oversight of the Funds on behalf of the investors of the Funds. The Trustee Committee does not have specific procedures in place with respect to the consideration of nominees recommended by security holders, but may consider such nominees in the event that one is recommended. The Trustee Committee met four (4) times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.

OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

As of December 31, 2019, neither the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities in the Adviser, Sub-Advisers, Principal Underwriter or any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or Principal Underwriter.

The following table shows, as of December 31, 2019, the amount of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Funds and the Trust.

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CODES OF ETHICS

The Trust, Adviser (which includes applicable reporting personnel of the Distributor) and Sub-Advisers each have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Adviser, Sub-Advisers and Distributor from engaging in deceptive, manipulative or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Funds (which may also be held by persons subject to the codes of ethics). Each Code of Ethics permits personnel, subject to that Code of Ethics, to invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, subject to certain limitations, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds.

There can be no assurance that the codes of ethics will be effective in preventing such activities. Each code of ethics, filed as exhibits to this registration statement, may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C. or on the Internet at the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by each Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Board has delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to the Adviser for each Fund, other than SRLN, which is sub-advised by GSO / Blackstone Debt Funds Management LLC (“GSO / Blackstone”), the SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF (“EMTL”), SPDR DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF (“STOT”) and SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (“TOTL” and, together with EMTL and STOT, the “DoubleLine ETFs”), which are sub-advised by DoubleLine Capital LP (“DoubleLine”), and the MFS ETFs, which are sub-advised by MFS. The Board has delegated the responsibility to vote proxies of SRLN, the DoubleLine ETFs and the MFS ETFs to GSO / Blackstone, DoubleLine and MFS, respectively. The Trust’s, Adviser’s and Sub-Advisers’ proxy voting policies are attached at the end of this SAI. Information regarding how a Fund voted proxies relating to its portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available: (1) without charge by calling 1-866-787-2257; (2) on the Funds’ website at https://www.ssga.com/spdrs and (3) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS POLICY

The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Trust’s portfolio holdings. The Board must approve all material amendments to this policy. The Funds’ portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day a Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services including publicly accessible Internet web sites. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for Shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). The basket represents one Creation Unit of a Fund. Neither the Trust nor the Adviser, the Sub-Advisers or State Street will disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust, except information may be made available prior to its public availability: (i) to a party for a legitimate business purpose related to the day-to-day operations of the Funds, including (a) a service provider, (b) the stock exchanges upon which the ETF is listed, (c) the NSCC, (d) the Depository Trust Company, and (e) financial data/research companies such as Morningstar, Bloomberg L.P., and Reuters, or (ii) to any other party for a legitimate business or regulatory purpose, upon waiver or exception, with the consent of an applicable Trust officer.

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INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

SSGA FM acts as investment adviser to the Trust and, subject to the oversight of the Board, is responsible for the investment management of each Fund. As of June 30, 2020, the Adviser managed approximately $612.89 billion in assets. The Adviser’s principal address is One Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. The Adviser, a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Global Advisors, Inc., which is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held financial holding company. State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”), consisting of the Adviser and other investment advisory affiliates of State Street Corporation, is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.

The Adviser serves as investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (“Investment Advisory Agreement”) between the Trust and the Adviser. The Investment Advisory Agreement, with respect to each Fund, continues in effect for two years from its effective date, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by (1) the Board or (2) vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, provided that in either event such continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund is terminable without penalty, on 60 days’ notice, by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities. The Investment Advisory Agreement is also terminable upon 90 days’ notice by the Adviser and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, subject to the oversight of the Board and in conformity with the stated investment policies of each Fund, manages the investment of each Fund’s assets. The Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and providing continuous supervision of the investment portfolio of each Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is not liable for certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws, unless such loss or liability results from (a) willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties; (b) the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties; or (c) a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services.

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser performs certain oversight and supervisory functions with respect to GSO / Blackstone as sub-adviser to SRLN, DoubleLine as sub-adviser to the DoubleLine ETFs and MFS as sub-adviser to the MFS ETFs, including: (i) conduct periodic analysis and review of the performance by GSO / Blackstone, MFS and DoubleLine of their obligations to their respective Funds and provide periodic reports to the Board regarding such performance; (ii) review any changes to GSO / Blackstone, DoubleLine and MFS ownership, management, or personnel responsible for performing their obligations to their respective Funds and make appropriate reports to the Board; (iii) perform periodic due diligence meetings with representatives of GSO / Blackstone, DoubleLine and MFS; and (iv) assist the Board and management of the Trust, as applicable, concerning the initial approval, continued retention or replacement of GSO / Blackstone, DoubleLine and MFS as sub-advisers to their respective Funds.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement regarding each Fund is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2020.

For the services provided to the Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays the Adviser monthly fees based on a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets as set forth in each Fund’s Prospectus. [With respect to each Fund, the management fee is reduced by any acquired fund fees and expenses attributable to the Funds’ investments in other investment companies.] The Adviser pays all expenses of each Fund other than the management fee, brokerage, taxes, interest, fees and expenses of the Independent Trustees (including any Trustee’s counsel fees), litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses. [The Adviser may, from time to time, waive all or a portion of its fee. The Adviser has agreed to pay all costs associated with the organization of the Trust and each Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse expenses in an amount equal to any acquired fund fees and expenses (excluding holdings in acquired funds for cash management purposes, if any) for each Fund until October 31, 2021. Additionally, with respect to EMTL, STOT and TOTL, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses, until October 31, 2021, so that the net annual fund operating expenses, before application of any fees and expenses not paid by the Adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, if any, are limited to 0.65%, 0.45% and 0.55%, respectively, of each Fund’s average daily net assets. Each contractual fee waiver and/or reimbursement does not provide for the recoupment by the Adviser of any fees the Adviser previously waived. The Adviser may continue each waiver and/or reimbursement from year to year, but there is no guarantee that the Adviser will do so and after October 31, 2021, the waiver and/or reimbursement may be cancelled or modified at any time. Each waiver and/or reimbursement may not be terminated during the relevant period except with the approval of the Board of Trustees.] For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Funds paid the following amounts to the Adviser:

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INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER – SRLN

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, the Adviser is authorized to engage one or more sub-advisers for the performance of any of the services contemplated to be rendered by the Adviser. The Adviser has retained GSO / Blackstone to be responsible for the day to day management of the Fund’s investments, subject to supervision of the Adviser and oversight by the Board while the Adviser will provide administrative, compliance and general management services to the Fund. GSO / Blackstone is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSO Capital Partners LP (collectively with its affiliates, “GSO”). GSO is part of the credit-focused platform of The Blackstone Group Inc. (collectively with its affiliates, “Blackstone”). Blackstone is a leading global manager of private capital and provider of financial advisory services. It is one of the largest independent managers of private capital in the world, with assets under management of over $[    billion] as of June 2020. As of June 30, 2020, GSO’s asset management operations had aggregate assets under management of approximately $[    billion] across multiple strategies within the leveraged finance marketplace, including Senior Loans, high yield bonds, investment grade corporate credit, distressed and mezzanine debt. GSO / Blackstone’s principal business address is [345 Park Avenue, 31^st Floor, New York, New York 10154].

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2020.

In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and GSO / Blackstone, the Adviser will pay GSO / Blackstone an annual investment sub-advisory fee equal to a portion of average daily net assets of the Fund. For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Adviser paid the following amounts to the GSO / Blackstone for its services:

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INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER – DoubleLine ETFs

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Funds and the Adviser, the Adviser is authorized to engage one or more sub-advisers for the performance of any of the services contemplated to be rendered by the Adviser. The Adviser has retained DoubleLine as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day to day management of the DoubleLine ETFs’ investments, subject to oversight of the Adviser and the Board while the Adviser provides administrative, compliance and general management services to the Funds. DoubleLine is located at [333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90071]. As of June 30, 2020, DoubleLine had approximately $[    billion] in assets under management.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2020.

In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and DoubleLine, the Adviser will pay DoubleLine an annual investment sub-advisory fee equal to a portion of average daily net assets of the SPDR DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF. For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Adviser paid the following amounts to DoubleLine Capital LP for its services:

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER – MFS ETFs

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Funds and the Adviser, the Adviser is authorized to engage one or more sub-advisers for the performance of any of the services contemplated to be rendered by the Adviser. The Adviser has retained MFS as sub-adviser, to be responsible for the day to day management of each of the MFS ETF’s investments, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board while the Adviser will provide administrative, compliance and general management services to the Fund. MFS is located at [111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199]. MFS is a subsidiary of Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Financial Services Holdings, Inc., which in turn is an indirect majority owned subsidiary of Sun Life Financial Inc. (a diversified financial services organization). Net assets under the management of the MFS organization were approximately $[    billion] as of June 30, 2020.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated June 30, 2020.

In accordance with the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and MFS, the Adviser will pay MFS an annual investment sub-advisory fee equal to a portion of average daily net assets of each Fund. For the past three fiscal years ended June 30, the Adviser paid the following amounts to Massachusetts Financial Services Company for its services:

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PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The Adviser manages the Funds, GSO / Blackstone manages SRLN, DoubleLine manages the DoubleLine ETFs and MFS manages the MFS ETFs, using a team of investment professionals. The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of each Fund are:

All ETFs (except SRLN, the DoubleLine ETFs and the MFS ETFs). The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by each of the key professionals involved in the day-to-day portfolio management for each Fund and assets under management in those accounts. The portfolio managers, who are also members of the Funds’ Investment Committee, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Funds. The other members of the Funds’ Investment Committee have oversight responsibilities for the investments made by the Funds.

Other Accounts Managed as of June 30, 2020

[None of the portfolio managers listed above beneficially owned Shares as of June 30, 2020, except as noted in the table below:]

A portfolio manager that has responsibility for managing more than one account may be subject to potential conflicts of interest because he or she is responsible for other accounts in addition to the Funds. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of: (a) the portfolio manager’s execution of different investment strategies for various accounts; or (b) the allocation of resources or of investment opportunities.

Portfolio managers may manage numerous accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include registered investment companies, other types of pooled accounts (e.g., collective investment funds), and separate accounts (i.e., accounts managed on behalf of individuals or public or private institutions). Portfolio managers make investment decisions for each account based on the

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investment objectives and policies and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that portfolio. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio managers’ responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers’ accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote to the opportunity. Similar conflicts may arise when multiple accounts seek to dispose of the same investment. The portfolio managers may also manage accounts whose objectives and policies differ from that of the Funds. These differences may be such that under certain circumstances, trading activity appropriate for one account managed by the portfolio manager may have adverse consequences for another account managed by the portfolio manager. For example, an account may sell a significant position in a security, which could cause the market price of that security to decrease, while a Fund maintained its position in that security.

A potential conflict may arise when the portfolio managers are responsible for accounts that have different advisory fees—the difference in fees could create an incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another, for example, in terms of access to investment opportunities. This conflict may be heightened if an account is subject to a performance-based fee. Another potential conflict may arise when the portfolio manager has an investment in one or more accounts that participate in transactions with other accounts. His or her investment(s) may create an incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to address these potential material conflicts. For instance, portfolio managers are normally responsible for all accounts within a certain investment discipline, and do not, absent special circumstances, differentiate among the various accounts when allocating resources. Additionally, the Adviser and its advisory affiliates have processes and procedures for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that are designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.

SSGA’s culture is complemented and reinforced by a total rewards strategy that is based on a pay for performance philosophy which seeks to offer a competitive pay mix of base salary, benefits, cash incentives and deferred compensation.

Salary is based on a number of factors, including external benchmarking data and market trends, State Street performance, SSGA performance, and individual overall performance. SSGA’s Global Human Resources department regularly participates in compensation surveys in order to provide SSGA with market-based compensation information that helps support individual pay decisions.

Additionally, subject to State Street and SSGA business results, State Street allocates an incentive pool to SSGA to reward its employees. The size of the incentive pool for most business units is based on the firm’s overall profitability and other factors, including performance against risk-related goals. For most SSGA investment teams, SSGA recognizes and rewards performance by linking annual incentive decisions for investment teams to the firm’s or business unit’s profitability and business unit investment performance over a multi-year period.

Incentive pool funding for most active investment teams is driven in part by the post-tax investment performance of fund(s) managed by the team versus the return levels of the benchmark index(es) of the fund(s) on a one-, three- and, in some cases, five-year basis. For most active investment teams, a material portion of incentive compensation for senior staff is deferred over a four-year period into the SSGA Long-Term Incentive (“SSGA LTI”) program. For these teams, The SSGA LTI program indexes the performance of these deferred awards against the post-tax investment performance of fund(s) managed by the team. This is intended to align our investment team’s compensation with client interests, both through annual incentive compensation awards and through the long-term value of deferred awards in the SSGA LTI program.

For the passive equity investment team, incentive pool funding is driven in part by the post-tax 1 and 3-year tracking error of the funds managed by the team against the benchmark indexes of the funds.

The discretionary allocation of the incentive pool to the business units within SSGA is influenced by market-based compensation data, as well as the overall performance of each business unit. Individual compensation decisions are made by the employee’s manager, in conjunction with the senior management of the employee’s business unit. These decisions are based on the overall performance of the employee and, as mentioned above, on the performance of the firm and business unit. Depending on the job level, a portion of the annual incentive may be awarded in deferred compensation, which may include cash and/or Deferred Stock Awards (State Street stock), which typically vest over a four-year period. This helps to retain staff and further aligns SSGA employees’ interests with SSGA clients’ and shareholders’ long-term interests.

SSGA recognizes and rewards outstanding performance by:

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SRLN. The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by each of the key professionals involved in the day-to-day portfolio management for the Fund and assets under management in those accounts as of June 30, 2020. The Portfolio Managers, who are also members of the Sub-Adviser’s Investment Committee, are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The other members of the Sub-Adviser’s Investment Committee have oversight responsibilities for the investments made by the Fund.

Other Accounts Managed as of June 30, 2020

[The following table lists the dollar range of Shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers listed above as of June 30, 2020:]

[Compensation. The Sub-Adviser’s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary and a discretionary bonus.

Base Compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation and employee benefits based on their individual seniority and/or their position with the firm.

Discretionary Compensation. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary compensation. Discretionary compensation is based on individual seniority, contributions to the Sub-Adviser and performance of the client assets that the portfolio manager has primary responsibility for. These compensation guidelines are structured to closely align the interests of employees with those of the Sub-Adviser and its clients.

GSO Potential Conflicts of Interest.

The purchase of Shares in the Fund involves a number of significant risks that should be considered before making any investment. The Fund and shareholders will be subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest involving Blackstone and GSO (together, the “Firm”). In addition, as a consequence of Blackstone holding a controlling interest in GSO and Blackstone’s status as a public company, the officers, directors, members, managers and employees of GSO will take into account certain additional considerations and other factors in connection with the management of the business and affairs of the Fund that would not necessarily be taken into account if Blackstone were not a public company. The following discussion enumerates certain, but not all, potential conflicts of interest that should be carefully evaluated before making an investment in the Fund, but is not intended to be an exclusive list of all such conflicts. The Firm and its personnel may in the future engage in further activities that may result in additional conflicts of interest not addressed below. Any references to the Firm, GSO, Blackstone or GSO / Blackstone in this section will be deemed to include their respective affiliates, partners, members, shareholders, officers, directors and employees, except that portfolio companies of managed clients shall only be included to the extent the context shall require and references to GSO affiliates shall only be to affiliates operating as a part of Blackstone’s credit focused business group.

Broad and Wide-Ranging Activities. The Firm engages in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of its business activities, the Firm will engage in activities where the interests of certain divisions of the Firm or the interests of its clients will conflict with the interests of the shareholders in the Fund. Other present and future activities of the Firm will give rise to additional conflicts of interest. In the event that a conflict of interest arises, GSO / Blackstone will attempt to resolve such conflict in a fair and equitable manner, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. Shareholders should be aware that conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Fund’s interests.

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The Firm’s Policies and Procedures. Certain policies and procedures implemented by the Firm to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and address certain regulatory requirements and contractual restrictions will from time to time reduce the synergies across the Firm’s various businesses that the Fund expects to draw on for purposes of pursuing attractive investment opportunities. Because the Firm has many different asset management and advisory businesses, which GSO investment teams and portfolio companies may engage to advise on and to execute debt and equity financings, it is subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, greater regulatory oversight and more legal and contractual restrictions than that to which it would otherwise be subject if it had just one line of business. In addressing these conflicts and regulatory, legal and contractual requirements across its various businesses, the Firm has implemented certain policies and procedures (e.g., information walls) that reduce the positive synergies that GSO may utilize for purposes of managing the Fund. For example, the Firm will from time to time come into possession of material non-public information with respect to companies, including portfolio companies, in which the Fund may be considering making an investment or companies that are the Firm’s advisory clients. The information, which could be of benefit to the Fund, is likely to be restricted to those other businesses of the Firm and otherwise be unavailable to the Fund, and will also restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities. Additionally, the operations of the Firm’s policies may restrict or otherwise limit the Fund from entering into agreements with, or related to, companies that either are advisory clients of the Firm or in which any other registered investment companies, investment funds, client accounts or proprietary accounts that GSO or Blackstone may establish and that are advisory clients of GSO or Blackstone (collectively, the “Other Clients”) have invested or have considered making an investment. Furthermore, there will be circumstances in which affiliates of the Firm (including Other Clients) may refrain from taking certain confidential information in order to avoid trading restrictions. Finally, the Firm has and will enter into one or more strategic relationships in certain regions or with respect to certain types of investments that, although possibly intended to provide greater opportunities for the Fund, may require the Fund to share such opportunities or otherwise limit the amount of an opportunity the Fund can otherwise take.

Other Firm Businesses, Activities and Relationships. As part of its regular business, Blackstone provides a broad range of investment banking, advisory and other services. In addition, Blackstone and its affiliates may provide services in the future beyond those currently provided. Shareholders will not receive any benefit from any fees received by Blackstone. In the regular course of its capital markets, investment banking, real estate, advisory and other businesses, Blackstone represents potential purchasers, sellers and other involved parties, including corporations, financial buyers, management, shareholders and institutions, with respect to transactions that could give rise to investments that are suitable for the Fund. In such a case, a Blackstone advisory client would typically require Blackstone to act exclusively on its behalf. Such advisory client requests may preclude all Blackstone-affiliated clients, including the Fund, from participating in related transactions that would otherwise be suitable. Blackstone will be under no obligation to decline any such engagements in order to make an investment opportunity available to the Fund. In connection with its capital markets, investment banking, real estate, advisory and other businesses, Blackstone will from time to time determine that there are conflicts of interest or come into possession of information that limit its ability to engage in potential transactions. The Fund’s activities are expected to be constrained as a result of such conflicts of interest and the inability of Blackstone personnel to use such information. For example, employees of Blackstone from time to time are prohibited by law or contract from sharing information with members of the Fund’s investment team. Additionally, there are expected to be circumstances in which one or more of certain individuals associated with Blackstone affiliates (including clients) will be precluded from providing services related to the Fund’s activities because of certain confidential information available to those individuals or to other parts of Blackstone (e.g., trading may be restricted). Where Blackstone affiliates are engaged to find buyers or financing sources for potential sellers of assets, the seller may permit the Fund to act as a participant in such transactions (as a buyer or financing partner), which would raise certain conflicts of interest inherent in such a situation (including as to the negotiation of the purchase price). The Firm has long-term relationships with a significant number of corporations and their senior management. In determining whether to invest in a particular transaction on behalf of the Fund, GSO / Blackstone will consider those relationships and may decline to participate in a transaction as a result of one or more of such relationships. The Firm is under no obligation to decline any engagements or investments in order to make an investment opportunity available to the Fund. The Fund may be forced to sell or hold existing investments as a result of investment banking relationships or other relationships that the Firm may have or transactions or investments the Firm may make or have made. Subject to the 1940 Act, the Fund may also co-invest with clients of the Firm in particular investment opportunities, and the relationship with such clients could influence the decisions made by GSO / Blackstone with respect to such investments. There can be no assurance that all potentially suitable investment opportunities that come to the attention of the Firm will be made available to the Fund.

The Fund may invest in securities of the same issuers as Other Clients or other investment vehicles, accounts and clients of the Firm and GSO / Blackstone. To the extent that the Fund holds interests that are different (or more senior or junior) than those held by such Other Clients, GSO may be presented with decisions involving circumstances where the interests of such Other Clients are in conflict with those of the Fund. Furthermore, it is possible the Fund’s interest may be subordinated or otherwise adversely affected by virtue of such Other Clients’ involvement and actions relating to its investment.

Blackstone, its affiliates and their related parties and personnel will from time to time participate in underwriting or lending syndicates with respect to current or potential portfolio companies, or may otherwise be involved in and/or act as arrangers of financing, including with respect to the public offering and/or private placement of debt or equity securities issued by, or loan proceeds borrowed by, such portfolio companies, or otherwise in arranging financing (including loans) for such portfolio companies or advise on such transactions. Such underwritings or engagements may be on a firm commitment basis or may be on an uncommitted, or “best efforts”, basis, and the underwriting or financing parties are under no duty to provide any commitment unless specifically set forth in the

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relevant contract. Blackstone may also provide placement or other similar services to purchasers or sellers of securities, including loans or instruments issued by portfolio companies. There may also be circumstances in which the Fund commits to purchase any portion of such issuance from its portfolio company, some or all of which portion a Blackstone broker-dealer intends to syndicate to third parties and, in connection therewith and as a result thereof, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, Blackstone may receive commissions or other compensation, thereby creating a potential conflict of interest. This could include, by way of example, fees and/or commissions for equity syndications to co-investment vehicles. In certain cases, a Blackstone broker-dealer will from time to time act as the managing underwriter or a member of the underwriting syndicate or broker for the Fund or portfolio companies, or as dealer, broker or advisor to a counterparty to the Fund or a portfolio company and purchase securities from or sell securities to the Fund, Other Clients or portfolio companies or Other Clients or advise on such transactions.

Blackstone will also from time to time, on behalf of the Fund or other parties to a transaction involving the Fund, effect transactions, including transactions in the secondary markets, where it will nonetheless have a potential conflict of interest regarding the Fund and the other parties to those transactions to the extent it receives commissions or other compensation from the Fund and/or such other parties. Subject to applicable law, Blackstone will from time to time receive underwriting fees, discounts, placement commissions, lending arrangement and syndication fees (or, in each case, rebates of any such fees, whether in the form of purchase price discounts or otherwise, even in cases where Blackstone or an Other Client or account is purchasing debt) or other compensation with respect to the foregoing activities, none of which are required to be shared with the Fund or its shareholders. In addition, the advisory fee generally will not be reduced by such amounts. Therefore, Blackstone will have a potential conflict of interest regarding the Fund and the other parties to those transactions to the extent it receives commissions, discounts or such other compensation from such other parties. Subject to applicable law, the Fund may approve any transactions in which a Blackstone broker-dealer acts as an underwriter, as broker for the Fund, or as dealer, broker or advisor, on the other side of a transaction with the Fund.

Firm employees, including employees of GSO, are generally permitted to invest in alternative investment funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge funds or other investment vehicles, including potential competitors of the Fund. Shareholders will not receive any benefit from any such investments. Additionally, it can be expected that GSO and/or Blackstone will, from time to time, enter into arrangements or strategic relationships with third parties, including other asset managers, financial firms or other businesses or companies, which, among other things, provide for referral, sourcing or sharing of investment opportunities. Blackstone or GSO may pay management fees and performance-based compensation in connection with such arrangements. Blackstone or GSO may also provide for or receive reimbursement of certain expenses incurred or received in connection with these arrangements, including diligence expenses and general overhead, administrative, deal sourcing and related corporate expenses. The amount of these rebates may relate to allocations of co-investment opportunities and increase if certain co-investment allocations are not made. While it is possible that the Fund will, along with GSO and/or Blackstone itself, benefit from the existence of those arrangements and/or relationships, it is also possible that investment opportunities that would otherwise would be presented to or made by the Fund would instead be referred (in whole or in part) to such third party, or, as indicated above, to other third parties. For example, a firm with which GSO and/or Blackstone has entered into a strategic relationship may be afforded with “first-call” rights on a particular category of investment opportunities, although there is not expected to be substantial overlap in the investment strategies and/or objectives between the Fund and any such firm.

On October 1, 2015, Blackstone spun-off its financial and strategic advisory services, restructuring and reorganization advisory services, and its Park Hill fund placement businesses and combined these businesses with PJT Partners (“PJT”), an independent financial advisory firm founded by Paul J. Taubman. While the new combined business operates independently from Blackstone and is not an affiliate thereof, nevertheless conflicts may arise in connection with transactions between or involving the Fund and the entities in which it invests on the one hand and PJT on the other. Specifically, given that PJT is not an affiliate of Blackstone, there may be fewer or no restrictions or limitations placed on transactions or relationships engaged in by PJT’s new advisory business as compared to the limitations or restrictions that might apply to transactions engaged in by an affiliate of Blackstone. It is expected that there will be substantial overlapping ownership between Blackstone and PJT for a considerable period of time going forward. Therefore, conflicts of interest in doing transactions involving PJT will still arise. The pre-existing relationship between Blackstone and its former personnel involved in such financial and strategic advisory services, the overlapping ownership, co-investment and other continuing arrangements, may influence GSO in deciding to select or recommend PJT to perform such services for the Fund (the cost of which will generally be borne directly or indirectly by the Fund). Nonetheless, GSO / Blackstone and GSO will be free to cause the Fund to transact with PJT Partners generally without restriction under the applicable governing documents notwithstanding such overlapping interests in, and relationships with, PJT Partners. (See also “Service Providers and Counterparties” below.)

In addition, other present and future activities of the Firm and its affiliates (including GSO and GSO / Blackstone) will from time to time give rise to additional conflicts of interest relating to the Firm and its investment activities. In the event that any such conflict of interest arises, GSO / Blackstone will attempt to resolve such conflict in a fair and equitable manner. Shareholders should be aware that, subject to applicable law, conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Fund’s interests.

Other Affiliate Transactions and Investments in Different Levels of Capital Structure. From time to time, the Fund and the Other Clients may make investments at different levels of an issuer’s capital structure or otherwise in different classes of an issuer’s securities, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities of the same issues as Other Clients.

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Such investments may inherently give rise to conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest between or among the various classes of securities that may be held by such entities. To the extent the Fund holds securities that are different (including with respect to their relative seniority) from those held by an Other Client, GSO / Blackstone and its affiliates may be presented with decisions when the interests of the Fund and Other Clients are in conflict. For example, conflicts could arise where the Fund lends funds to a portfolio company while an Other Client invests in equity securities of such portfolio company. In this circumstance, for example, if such portfolio company goes into bankruptcy, becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to meet its payment obligations or comply with its debt covenants, conflicts of interest could arise between the holders of different types of securities as to what actions the portfolio company should take. In addition, purchases or sales of securities for the account of the Fund (particularly marketable securities) will be bunched or aggregated with orders for Other Clients, including other funds. It is frequently not possible to receive the same price or execution on the entire volume of securities sold, and the various prices may be averaged, which may be disadvantageous to the Fund.

In addition, the 1940 Act may limit the Fund’s ability to undertake certain transactions with its affiliates that are registered under the 1940 Act or regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act. As a result of these restrictions, the Fund may be prohibited from executing “joint” transactions with such affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times). These limitations may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Fund.

Further conflicts could arise after the Fund and other affiliates have made their respective initial investments. For example, if additional financing is necessary as a result of financial or other difficulties, it may not be in the best interests of the Fund to provide such additional financing. If the other affiliates were to lose their respective investments as a result of such difficulties, the ability of GSO / Blackstone to recommend actions in the best interests of the Fund might be impaired. GSO may in its discretion take steps to reduce the potential for adversity between the Fund and the Other Clients, including causing the Fund and/or such Other Clients to take certain actions that, in the absence of such conflict, it would not take, including selling Fund assets (possibly at disadvantageous times or disadvantageous conditions) or taking other actions in order to comply with the 1940 Act. In addition, there may be circumstances where GSO agrees to implement certain procedures to ameliorate conflicts of interest that may involve a forbearance of rights relating to the Fund or Other Clients, such as where GSO may cause Other Clients to decline to exercise certain control- and/or foreclosure-related rights with respect to a portfolio company. In addition, conflicts may arise in determining the amount of an investment, if any, to be allocated among potential investors and the respective terms thereof. There can be no assurance that any conflict will be resolved in favor of the Fund and a decision by GSO to take any particular action could have the effect of benefiting an Other Client (and, incidentally, may also have the effect of benefiting GSO) and therefore may not have been in the best interests of, and may be adverse to, the Fund. There can be no assurance that the return on the Fund’s investment will be equivalent to or better than the returns obtained by the Other Clients participating in the transaction. The Shareholders will not receive any benefit from fees paid to any affiliate of GSO / Blackstone from a portfolio company in which an Other Client also has an interest, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

Other Blackstone and GSO Clients; Allocation of Investment Opportunities. Certain inherent conflicts of interest arise from the fact that GSO and Blackstone provide investment management and sub-advisory services to the Fund and Other Clients.

The respective investment programs of the Fund and the Other Clients may or may not be substantially similar. GSO and/or Blackstone may give advice to, and recommend securities for, Other Clients that may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought for, the Fund, even though their investment objectives may be the same as or similar to those of the Fund. While GSO will seek to manage potential conflicts of interest in a fair and equitable manner, the portfolio strategies employed by GSO and Blackstone in managing their respective Other Clients could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by GSO in managing the Fund and may affect the prices and availability of the securities and instruments in which the Fund invests. Conversely, participation in specific investment opportunities may be appropriate, at times, for both the Fund and Other Clients. In addition, certain exceptions exist that allow specified types of investment opportunities that fall within the Fund’s investment objectives or strategy to be allocated in whole or in part to Blackstone or GSO itself or Other Clients, such as strategic investments made by Blackstone or GSO itself (whether in financial institutions or otherwise) and the exception for Other Clients that have investment objectives or guidelines similar to or overlapping with those of the Fund. In any event, it is the policy of GSO to allocate investment opportunities and sale opportunities on a basis deemed by GSO, in its sole discretion, to be fair and equitable over time.

Allocation Methodology Considerations. GSO will share appropriate investment opportunities (and sale opportunities) with Other Clients and the Fund in accordance with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) and Firm-wide allocation policies, which generally provide for sharing pro rata based on targeted acquisition size (generally based on available capacity) or targeted sale size (or, in some sales cases, the aggregate positions), taking into account capital commitments, available cash and the relative capital of the respective funds and accounts and such other factors as GSO / Blackstone determines in good faith to be appropriate.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, GSO may also consider the following factors in making any allocation determinations (which determinations shall be on a basis that GSO believes in good faith to be fair and reasonable), and such factors may result in a different allocation of investment and/or sale opportunities:

(a) the risk-return and target return profile of the proposed investment relative to the Fund’s and the Other Clients’ current risk profiles;

(b) the Fund’s and/or the Other Clients’ investment objectives, policies, guidelines, restrictions and terms, including whether such objectives are considered solely in light of the specific investment under consideration or in the context of the respective portfolios’ overall holdings;

(c) the need to re-size risk in the Fund’s or the Other Clients’ portfolios (including the potential for the proposed investment to create an industry, sector or issuer imbalance in the Fund’s and Other Clients’ portfolios, as applicable) and taking into account any existing non-pro rata investment positions in the portfolio of the Fund and Other Clients;

(d) liquidity considerations of the Fund and the Other Clients, including during a ramp-up of the Fund or such Other Clients or wind-down of Other Clients, proximity to the end of the Other Clients’ specified term or investment period, any redemption/withdrawal/repurchase requests, anticipated future contributions and available cash;

(e) legal, tax, accounting and other consequences;

(f) regulatory or contractual restrictions or consequences;

(g) avoiding a de minimis or odd lot allocation;

(h) availability and degree of leverage and any requirements or other terms of any existing leverage facilities;

(i) the Fund’s or Other Clients’ investment focus on a classification attributable to an investment or issuer of an investment, including, without limitation, investment strategy, geography, industry or business sector;

(j) the nature and extent of involvement in the transaction on the part of the respective teams of investment professionals dedicated to the Fund or such Other Clients;

(k) the management of any actual or potential conflict of interest;

(l) with respect to investments that are made available to GSO by counterparties pursuant to negotiated trading platforms (e.g., ISDA contracts), the absence of such relationships that may not be available for the Fund and all Other Clients; and

(m) any other considerations deemed relevant by GSO in good faith.

GSO shall not have any obligation to present any investment opportunity to the Fund if GSO determines in good faith that such opportunity should not be presented to the Fund for any one or a combination of the reasons specified above, or if GSO is otherwise restricted from presenting such investment opportunity to the Fund. Subject to the Advisers Act and as further set forth in this SAI, certain Other Clients may receive certain priority or other allocation rights with respect to certain investments, subject to various conditions set forth in such Other Clients’ respective governing agreements, provided, however, GSO does not anticipate that such priority or other allocation rights will impact the investments available to the Fund in the ordinary course. It should be noted that investment opportunities originated by business units of the Firm other than GSO will be allocated in accordance with such business units’ allocation policies, which will result in such investment opportunities being allocated, in whole or in part, away from GSO. Additionally, investment opportunities originated by GSO will be allocated in accordance with GSO’s allocation policy, which may provide that investment opportunities will be allocated in part to other business units of the Firm on a basis that GSO believes in good faith to be fair and reasonable, based on various factors, including the involvement of the respective teams from GSO and such other units. Furthermore, for the avoidance of doubt, any investment opportunity that is allocated to the Fund may be allocated to co-investors in GSO’s discretion to the extent that an amount of such investment opportunity remains after the Fund has received its target allocation in respect of such investment opportunity. Moreover, with respect to GSO’s ability to allocate investment opportunities, including where such opportunities are within the common objectives and guidelines of the Fund and an Other Client (which allocations are to be made on a basis that GSO believes in good faith to be fair and reasonable), GSO and Blackstone have established general guidelines and policies, which it may update from time to time, for determining how such allocations are to be made, which, among other things, set forth priorities and presumptions regarding what constitutes “debt” investments, ranges of rates of returns for defining “core” investments, presumptions regarding allocation for certain types of investments (e.g., distressed investments) and other matters. The application of those guidelines may result in the Fund not participating (and/or not participating to the same extent) in certain investment opportunities in which it would have otherwise participated had the related allocations been determined without regard to such guidelines and/or based only on the circumstances of those particular investments.

When GSO determines not to pursue some or all of an investment opportunity for the Fund that would otherwise be within the Fund’s objectives and strategies, and Blackstone or GSO provides the opportunity or offers the opportunity to Other Clients, Blackstone or GSO, including their personnel (including real estate personnel), may receive compensation from the Other Clients, whether or not in respect of a particular investment, including an allocation of referral fees, and any such compensation could be greater than amounts

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paid by the Fund to GSO. As a result, GSO (including real estate personnel who receive such compensation) could be incentivized to allocate investment opportunities away from the Fund to or source investment opportunities for Other Clients. In addition, in some cases Blackstone or GSO may earn greater fees when Other Clients participate alongside or instead of the Fund in an Investment.

GSO makes good faith determinations for allocation decisions based on expectations that may prove inaccurate. Information unavailable to GSO, or circumstances not foreseen by GSO at the time of allocation, may cause an investment opportunity to yield a different return than expected. Conversely, an investment that GSO expects to be consistent with the Fund’s return objectives may fail to achieve them.

Orders may be combined for the Fund and all other participating Other Clients, and if any order is not filled at the same price, they may be allocated on an average price basis. Similarly, if an order on behalf of more than one account cannot be fully executed under prevailing market conditions, securities may be allocated among the different accounts on a basis that GSO or its affiliates consider equitable.

Co-Investment Opportunities. As a registered investment company under the 1940 Act, the Fund is subject to certain limitations relating to co-investments and joint transactions with affiliates, which likely will in certain circumstances limit the Fund’s ability to make investments or enter into other transactions alongside the Other Clients. There can be no assurance that such regulatory restrictions will not adversely affect the Fund’s ability to capitalize on attractive investment opportunities. However, subject to the 1940 Act, the Fund may co-invest with Other Clients (including co-investment or other vehicles in which the Firm or its personnel invest and that co-invest with such Other Clients) in investments that are suitable for the Fund and one or more of such Other Clients. Even if the Fund and any such Other Clients and/or co-investment or other vehicles invest in the same securities, conflicts of interest may still arise.

Debt Financings in connection with Acquisitions and Dispositions. To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the Fund may from time to time provide financing (i) as part of a third party purchaser’s bid for, or acquisition of, a portfolio entity or the underlying assets thereof owned by one or more Other Clients and/or (ii) in connection with a proposed acquisition or investment by one or more Other Clients or affiliates of a portfolio company and/or its underlying assets. This generally would include the circumstance where the Fund is making commitments to provide financing at or prior to the time such third-party purchaser commits to purchase such investments or assets from one or more Other Clients. While the terms and conditions of any such arrangements will generally be at arms’ length terms negotiated on a case by case basis, the involvement of the Fund and/or such Other Clients or affiliates may affect the terms of such transactions or arrangements and/or may otherwise influence GSO / Blackstone’s decisions with respect to the management of the Fund and/or such Other Clients or the relevant portfolio company, which may give rise to potential or actual conflicts of interest and which could adversely impact the Fund.

The Fund may from time to time dispose of all or a portion of an investment where the Firm or one or more Other Clients is providing financing to repay debt issued to the Fund. Such involvement may give rise to potential or actual conflicts of interest.

Activities of Principals and Employees. Certain of the principals and employees of GSO / Blackstone may be subject to a variety of conflicts of interest relating to their responsibilities to the Fund and the management of the Fund’s investment portfolio. Such individuals may serve in an advisory capacity to other managed accounts or investment vehicles. Such positions may create a conflict between the services and advice provided to such entities and the responsibilities owed to the Fund. The other managed accounts and/or investment funds in which such individuals may become involved may have investment objectives that overlap with the Fund. Furthermore, certain principals and employees of GSO / Blackstone may have a greater financial interest in the performance of such other funds or accounts than the performance of the Fund. Such involvement may create conflicts of interest in making investments on behalf of the Fund and such other funds and accounts. Such principals and employees will seek to limit any such conflicts in a manner that is in accordance with their fiduciary duties to the Fund.

Multiple Firm Business Lines. The Firm has multiple business lines which Blackstone, GSO, the Fund, Other Clients and third parties may engage for debt and equity financings and to provide other investment banking, brokerage, investment advisory or other services. As a result of these activities, the Firm is subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, greater regulatory oversight and more legal and contractual restrictions than if it had one line of business. For example, the Firm may come into possession of information that limits the Fund’s ability to engage in potential transactions. Similarly, other Firm businesses and their personnel may be prohibited by law or contract from sharing information with GSO that would be relevant to monitoring the Fund’s Investments and other activities. Additionally, Blackstone, GSO or Other Clients can be expected to enter into covenants that restrict or otherwise limit the ability of the Fund or its portfolio entities and their affiliates to make investments in, or otherwise engage in, certain businesses or activities. For example, Other Clients could have granted exclusivity to a joint venture partner that limits the Fund and Other Clients from owning assets within a certain distance of any of the joint venture’s assets, or Blackstone, GSO or an Other Client could have entered into a non-compete in connection with a sale or other transaction. These types of restrictions may negatively impact the ability of the Fund to implement its investment program. (See also “Other Blackstone and GSO Clients; Allocation of Investment Opportunities”).

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Finally, Blackstone and GSO personnel who are members of the investment team or investment committee may be excluded from participating in certain investment decisions due to conflicts involving other Firm businesses or for other reasons, in which case the Fund will not benefit from their experience. The limited partners will not receive a benefit from any fees earned by the Firm or their personnel from these other businesses.

Service Providers and Counterparties. Certain of the Fund’s, the Firm’s and/or portfolio companies’ advisors and other service providers or their affiliates (including accountants, administrators, lenders, bankers, brokers, attorneys, consultants, and investment or commercial banking firms) also provide goods or services to, or have business, personal, financial or other relationships with, the Firm, its affiliates and portfolio companies. Such advisors and service providers (or their affiliates) may be investors in the Fund, sources of investment opportunities, co-investors, commercial counterparties and/or portfolio companies in which the Firm and/or the Fund has an investment. Accordingly, payments by the Fund and/or such entities may indirectly benefit the Fund and/or its affiliates. In addition, the retention of such entities as advisors or service providers may give rise to actual or potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, certain employees and other professionals of the Firm may have family members or relatives employed by such advisors and service providers (or their affiliates) or otherwise actively involved in (or have business, financial or other relationships with) relevant industries. For example, such family members or relatives might be employees, officers, directors or owners of companies or assets that are actual or potential investments of the Fund or other counterparties of the Fund and its portfolio companies and/or assets. Moreover, in certain instances, the Fund or its portfolio companies may issue loans to or acquire securities from, or otherwise transact with, companies that are owned by such family members or relatives or in respect of which such family members or relatives have other involvement. These relationships may influence GSO and/or GSO / Blackstone in deciding whether to select or recommend such advisors or service providers to perform services for the Fund or portfolio companies (the cost of which will generally be borne directly or indirectly by the Fund or such portfolio companies, as applicable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, investment transactions relating to the Fund that require the use of a service provider will generally be allocated to service providers on the basis of best execution, the evaluation of which includes, among other considerations, such service provider’s provision of certain investment-related services and research that GSO / Blackstone believes to be of benefit to the Fund.

Certain Blackstone-affiliated service providers and their respective personnel will receive a management fee, an incentive fee and other performance-based compensation in respect of investments. Furthermore, Blackstone-affiliated service providers may charge costs and expenses based on allocable overhead associated with personnel working on relevant matters (including salaries, benefits and other similar expenses), provided that these amounts will not exceed market rates as determined by Blackstone or GSO to be appropriate under the circumstances.

Portfolio company service providers described in this section are generally owned by an Other Client. In certain instances a similar company could be owned by Blackstone directly. Blackstone could cause a transfer of ownership of one of these service providers from an Other Client to a Fund. The transfer of a portfolio company service provider between a Fund and an Other Client will generally be consummated for minimal or no consideration, and without obtaining any consent from a limited partner advisory committee. In such instances, GSO may, but is not required to, obtain a third party valuation confirming the same, and if it does, GSO may rely on such valuation.

Advisers and service providers, or their affiliates, often charge different rates (including below-market or no fee) or have different arrangements for different types of services. With respect to service providers, for example, the fee for a given type of work may vary depending on the complexity of the matter as well as the expertise required and demands placed on the service provider. Therefore, to the extent the types of services used by the Fund and/or portfolio companies are different from those used by the Firm and its affiliates (including personnel), GSO or its affiliates (including personnel) may pay different amounts or rates than those paid by the Fund and/or portfolio companies. However, GSO and its affiliates have a longstanding practice of not entering into any arrangements with advisors or service providers that could provide for lower rates or discounts than those available to the Fund, Other Clients and/or portfolio companies for the same services. In addition, the Firm and its affiliates, including without limitation, the Fund, the Other Clients and/or their portfolio companies, may enter into agreements or other arrangements with vendors and other similar counterparties (whether such counterparties are affiliated or unaffiliated with the Firm) from time to time whereby such counterparty may charge lower rates (or no fee) and/or provide discounts or rebates for such counterparty’s products and/or services depending on certain factors, including without limitation, volume of transactions entered into with such counterparty by the Firm, its affiliates, the Fund, the Other Clients and their portfolio companies in the aggregate. Furthermore, advisors and service providers may provide services exclusively to GSO and/or Blackstone, including Other Clients and their portfolio companies, although such advisors and service providers will not be considered employees of Blackstone or GSO.

In addition, certain advisors and service providers (including law firms) may temporarily provide their personnel to GSO and/or Blackstone pursuant to various arrangements including at cost or at no cost. While the Fund is often the beneficiary of these types of arrangements, GSO and/or Blackstone are from time to time the beneficiaries of these arrangements as well, including in circumstances where the advisor or service provider also provides services to the Fund in the ordinary course. Such personnel may provide services in respect of multiple matters, including in respect of matters related to GSO and/or Blackstone, their affiliates and/or portfolio companies and any costs of such personnel may be allocated accordingly.

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In addition, investment banks or other financial institutions, as well as Blackstone employees, may also be Fund investors. These institutions and employees are a potential source of information and ideas that could benefit the Fund. Blackstone has procedures in place reasonably designed to prevent the inappropriate use of such information by the Fund.

Blackstone-affiliated service providers are generally expected to receive competitive market rate fees (as determined by GSO / Blackstone or its affiliates) with respect to certain investments, include:

Allocation of Personnel. GSO / Blackstone and their respective members, partners, officers and employees will devote as much of their time to the activities of the Fund as they deem necessary to conduct its business affairs in an appropriate manner. By the terms of the investment sub-advisory agreement, GSO / Blackstone is not restricted from forming additional investment funds, from entering into other investment advisory relationships or from engaging in other business activities, even though such activities may be in competition with the Fund and/or may involve substantial time and resources of GSO / Blackstone. These activities could be viewed as creating a conflict of interest in that the time and effort of the members of GSO / Blackstone and GSO, and their officers and employees will not be devoted exclusively to the business of the Fund, but will be allocated between the business of the Fund and the

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management of the monies of such other advisees of GSO / Blackstone and GSO. Time spent on these other initiatives diverts attention from the activities of the Fund, which could negatively impact the Fund and shareholders. Furthermore, GSO and GSO personnel derive financial benefit from these other activities, including fees and performance-based compensation. Firm personnel outside of GSO may share in the fees and performance-based compensation from the Fund; similarly, GSO personnel may share in the fees and performance-based compensation generated by Other Clients. These and other factors create conflicts of interest in the allocation of time by Firm personnel. GSO’s determination of the amount of time necessary to conduct the Fund’s activities will be conclusive, and shareholders rely on GSO’s judgment in this regard.

Portfolio Company Data. The Firm receives or obtains various kinds of portfolio company/entity data and information (including from portfolio companies and/or entities of the Fund), including data and information relating to business operations, trends, budgets, customers and other metrics (this includes data that is sometimes referred to as “big data”). As a result, the Firm may be better able to anticipate macroeconomic and other trends, and otherwise develop investment themes, as a result of information learned from a portfolio company and/or entity. The Firm has entered and may further enter into information sharing and user arrangements with portfolio companies and/or entities that may give the Firm access to data that it would not otherwise obtain in the ordinary course. The Firm may further engage in information sharing of such data with the Fund, Other Clients, and their portfolio companies, related parties and service providers. Although the Firm believes that these activities improve the Firm’s investment management activities on behalf of the Fund and Other Clients, information obtained from the Fund and portfolio companies also provides material benefits to Blackstone, GSO or Other Clients without compensation or other benefit accruing to the Fund or shareholders. For example, information from a portfolio company owned by the Fund may enable the Firm to better understand a particular industry and execute trading and investment strategies in reliance on that understanding for Blackstone, GSO and Other Clients that do not own an interest in the portfolio company, without compensation or benefit to the Fund or portfolio companies.

Furthermore, except for contractual obligations to third parties to maintain confidentiality of certain information, and regulatory limitations on the use of material nonpublic information, the Firm is generally free to use data and information from the Fund’s activities to assist in the pursuit of the Firm’s various other activities, including to trade for the benefit of the Firm and/or an Other Client in the securities of unaffiliated issuers while using or otherwise being in possession of such information. Any confidentiality obligations in the investment sub-advisory agreement do not limit the Firm’s ability to do so. For example, the Firm’s ability to trade in securities of an issuer relating to a specific industry may, subject to applicable law, be enhanced by information of a portfolio company and/or entity in the same or related industry. Such trading may provide a material benefit to the Firm without compensation or other benefit to the Fund or shareholders.

The Firm believes that access to this information furthers the interests of the Shareholders by providing opportunities for operational improvements across portfolio companies and/or entities and in connection with the Fund’s investment management activities. Subject to appropriate contractual arrangements, the Firm may also utilize such information outside of the Fund’s activities in a manner that provides a material benefit to the Firm and/or its affiliates, but not the Fund. The sharing and use of “big data” and other information presents potential conflicts of interest and investors acknowledge and agree that any corresponding/resulting benefits received by the Firm will not be subject to management fee offset provisions or otherwise shared with shareholders. As a result, GSO / Blackstone may have an incentive to pursue investments in companies and/or entities based on their data and information and/or to utilize such information in a manner that benefits the Firm.

Material, Non-Public Information. GSO may come into possession of material non-public information with respect to an issuer. Should this occur, GSO would be restricted from buying, originating or selling securities, loans of, or derivatives with respect to, the issuer on behalf of the Fund until such time as the information becomes public or is no longer deemed material such that it would preclude the Fund from participating in an investment. Disclosure of such information to GSO / Blackstone’s personnel responsible for the affairs of the Fund will be on a need-to-know basis only, and the Fund may not be free to act for the Fund upon any such information. Therefore, the Fund may not have access to material non-public information in the possession of GSO that might be relevant to an investment decision to be made for the Fund. In addition, GSO, in an effort to avoid buying or selling restrictions on behalf of the Fund or Other Clients, may choose to forgo an opportunity to receive (or elect not to receive) information that other market participants or counterparties, including those with the same positions in the issuer as the Fund, are eligible to receive or have received, even if possession of such information would otherwise be advantageous to the Fund.

In addition, affiliates of GSO within Blackstone may come into possession of material non-public information with respect to an issuer. Should this occur, GSO may be restricted from buying, originating or selling securities, loans of, or derivatives with respect to, the issuer on behalf of the Fund if the Firm deemed such restriction appropriate. Disclosure of such information to GSO / Blackstone’s personnel responsible for the affairs of the Fund will be on a need-to-know basis only, and the Fund may not be free to act upon any such information. Therefore, the Fund may not have access to material non-public information in the possession of the Firm that might be relevant to an investment decision to be made by the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to initiate a transaction that it otherwise might have initiated and may not be able to sell an investment that it otherwise might have sold.

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Other Trading and Investing Activities. Certain Other Clients may invest in securities of publicly traded companies that are actual or potential issuers of the Fund. The trading activities of those vehicles may differ from or be inconsistent with activities that are undertaken for the account of the Fund in such securities or related securities. In addition, the Fund might not pursue an investment in an issuer as a result of such trading activities by Other Clients.

Possible Future Activities. The Firm and its affiliates may expand the range of services that it provides over time. Except as provided herein, the Firm and its affiliates will not be restricted in the scope of its business or in the performance of any such services (whether now offered or undertaken in the future) even if such activities could give rise to conflicts of interest, and whether or not such conflicts are described herein. The Firm and its affiliates have, and will continue to develop, relationships with a significant number of companies, financial sponsors and their senior managers, including relationships with clients who may hold or may have held investments similar to those intended to be made by the Fund. These clients may themselves represent appropriate investment opportunities for the Fund or may compete with the Fund for investment opportunities.

Regulatory Inquiries. Blackstone is subject to extensive regulation, including periodic examinations, by governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations in the jurisdictions in which it operates around the world. These authorities have regulatory powers dealing with many aspects of financial services, including the authority to grant, and in specific circumstances to cancel, permissions to carry on particular activities. Many of these regulators, including U.S. and foreign government agencies and self-regulatory organizations, as well as state securities commissions in the United States, are also empowered to conduct investigations and administrative proceedings that can result in fines, suspensions of personnel, changes in policies, procedures or disclosure or other sanctions, including censure, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, the suspension or expulsion of a broker-dealer or investment adviser from registration or memberships or the commencement of a civil or criminal lawsuit against Blackstone or its personnel. Blackstone is regularly subject to requests for information and informal or formal investigations by the SEC and other regulatory authorities, with which Blackstone routinely cooperates and even historical practices that have been previously examined are being revisited. Even if an investigation or proceeding did not result in a sanction or the sanction imposed against Blackstone or its personnel by a regulator were small in monetary amount, the adverse publicity relating to the investigation, proceeding or imposition of these sanctions could harm Blackstone, GSO, GSO / Blackstone and the Fund. While it is difficult to predict what impact, if any, the foregoing may have, there can be no assurance that any of the foregoing, whether applicable to Blackstone or GSO specifically or the underlying funds in which Blackstone or GSO invests generally, would not have a material adverse effect on the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective. As a result, there can be no assurance that any of the foregoing will not have an adverse impact on Blackstone, GSO or GSO / Blackstone or otherwise impede the Fund’s ability to effectively achieve its investment objective.

Restrictions Arising under the Securities Laws. The Firm’s activities and the activities of Other Clients (including, without limitation, the holding of securities positions or having one of its employees on the board of directors of a portfolio company) could result in securities law restrictions (including under the 1940 Act) on transactions in securities held by the Fund, affect the prices of such securities or the ability of such entities to purchase, retain or dispose of such investments, or otherwise create conflicts of interest, any of which could have an adverse impact on the performance of the Fund and thus the return to the shareholders.

In addition, the 1940 Act limits the Fund’s ability to enter into certain transactions with certain of the Fund’s affiliates. As a result of these restrictions, the Fund may be prohibited from buying or selling any security directly from or to any portfolio company of a fund or account managed by the Firm. However, the Fund may under certain circumstances purchase any such portfolio company’s securities in the secondary market, which could create a conflict for GSO / Blackstone between its interests in the Fund and the portfolio company, in that the ability of GSO / Blackstone to act in the Fund’s best interest might be restricted by applicable law. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of the Fund’s affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times) or buying investments from, or selling them to, Other Clients. These limitations may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Fund.

Additional Potential Conflicts. The officers, directors, members, managers, and employees of GSO / Blackstone and GSO may trade in securities for their own accounts, subject to restrictions and reporting requirements as may be required by law or the Firm’s policies, or otherwise determined from time to time by GSO / Blackstone or GSO, as applicable. In addition, certain Other Clients may be subject to the 1940 Act or other regulations that, due to the role of the Firm, could restrict the ability of the Fund to buy investments from, to sell investments to or to invest in the same securities as, such Other Clients. Such regulations may have the effect of limiting the investment opportunities available to the Fund.

Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk. GSO / Blackstone will be subject to certain conflicts of interest in its management of the Fund. These conflicts will arise primarily from the involvement of Blackstone in other activities that may conflict with those of the Fund. Blackstone engages in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of its business activities, Blackstone may engage in activities where the interests of certain divisions of Blackstone or the interests of their clients may conflict with the interests of shareholders. Other present and future activities of Blackstone may give rise to additional conflicts of interest. In the event that a conflict of interest arises, GSO / Blackstone will attempt to resolve such conflicts in a fair and equitable manner.

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In addressing these conflicts and regulatory, legal and contractual requirements across its various businesses, Blackstone has implemented certain policies and procedures (e.g., information walls) that may reduce the positive firm-wide synergies that GSO / Blackstone may have potentially utilized for purposes of finding attractive investments. Additionally, Blackstone may limit a client and/or its portfolio companies from engaging in agreements with or related to companies in which any fund of Blackstone has or has considered making an investment or which is otherwise an advisory client of Blackstone and/or from time to time restrict or otherwise limit the ability of the Fund to make investments in or otherwise engage in businesses or activities competitive with companies or other clients of Blackstone, either as result of contractual restrictions or otherwise. Finally, Blackstone has in the past entered, and is likely in the future to enter, into one or more strategic relationships in certain regions or with respect to certain types of investments that, although possibly intended to provide greater opportunities for the Fund, may require the Fund to share such opportunities or otherwise limit the amount of an opportunity the Fund can otherwise take.

As part of its regular business, Blackstone provides a broad range of services other than those provided by GSO / Blackstone , including investment banking, underwriting, capital markets syndication and advisory (including underwriting), placement, financial advisory, restructuring and advisory, consulting, asset/property management, mortgage servicing, insurance (including title insurance), monitoring, commitment, syndication, origination, servicing, management consulting and other similar operational and finance matters, healthcare consulting/brokerage, group purchasing, organizational, operational, loan servicing, financing, divestment and other services. In addition, Blackstone may provide services in the future beyond those currently provided. The Fund will not receive a benefit from the fees or profits derived from such services. In such a case, a client of Blackstone would typically require Blackstone to act exclusively on its behalf. This request may preclude all of Blackstone clients (including the Fund) from participating in related transactions that would otherwise be suitable. Blackstone will be under no obligation to decline any such engagements in order to make an investment opportunity available to the Fund. In connection with its other businesses, Blackstone will likely come into possession of information that limits its ability to engage in potential transactions. The Fund’s activities are expected to be constrained as a result of the inability of the personnel of Blackstone to use such information. For example, employees of Blackstone from time to time are prohibited by law or contract from sharing information with members of GSO / Blackstone’s investment team that would be relevant to monitoring the Fund’s portfolio and other investment decisions. Additionally, there are expected to be circumstances in which one or more of certain individuals associated with Blackstone will be precluded from providing services related to the Fund’s activities because of certain confidential information available to those individuals or to other parts of Blackstone (e.g., trading may be restricted). Blackstone has long term relationships with a significant number of corporations and their senior management. In determining whether to invest in a particular transaction on behalf of the Fund, GSO / Blackstone will consider those relationships, and may decline to participate in a transaction as a result of such relationships. To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the Fund may also co-invest with clients of Blackstone in particular investment opportunities, and the relationship with such clients could influence the decisions made by GSO / Blackstone with respect to such investments. The Fund may be forced to sell or hold existing investments (possibly at disadvantageous times or under disadvantageous conditions) as a result of various relationships that Blackstone may have or transactions or investments Blackstone and its affiliates may make or have made. The inability to transact in any security, derivative or loan held by the Fund could result in significant losses or lost opportunity costs to the Fund.]

DoubleLine ETFs. The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by each of the key professionals involved in the day-to-day portfolio management for each Fund and assets under management in those accounts. The total number of accounts and assets have been allocated to each respective manager. Therefore, some accounts and assets have been counted twice.

Other Accounts Managed as of June 30, 2020

[The portfolio managers listed above did not beneficially own any interests of any Fund as of June 30, 2020.]

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[Portfolio Manager Compensation – DoubleLine

The overall objective of the compensation program for the portfolio managers employed by the Sub-Adviser is for the Sub-Adviser to attract competent and expert investment professionals and to retain them over the long-term. Compensation is comprised of several components which, in the aggregate, are designed to achieve these objectives and to reward the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio managers for their contribution to the success of the clients and the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser Portfolio managers are compensated through a combination of base salary, discretionary bonus and, in some cases, equity participation in the Sub-Adviser.

Salary. Salary is agreed to with managers at time of employment and is reviewed from time to time. It does not change significantly and often does not constitute a significant part of portfolio managers’ compensation.

Discretionary Bonus/Guaranteed Minimums. Portfolio managers receive discretionary bonuses. However, in some cases, pursuant to contractual arrangements, some portfolio managers may be entitled to a mandatory minimum bonus if the sum of their salary and profit sharing does not reach certain levels.

Equity Incentives. Some portfolio managers participate in equity incentives based on overall firm performance of the Sub-Adviser, through direct ownership interests in the Sub-Adviser. These ownership interests or participation interests provide eligible portfolio managers the opportunity to participate in the financial performance of the Sub-Adviser. Participation is generally determined in the discretion of the Sub-Adviser, taking into account factors relevant to the portfolio manager’s contribution to the success of the Sub-Adviser.

Other Plans and Compensation Vehicles. Portfolio managers may elect to participate in the Sub-Adviser’s 401(k) plan, to which they may contribute a portion of their pre- and post-tax compensation to the plan for investment on a tax-deferred basis. The Sub-Adviser may also choose, from time to time, to offer certain other compensation plans and vehicles, such as a deferred compensation plan, to portfolio managers.

Summary. As described above, an investment professional’s total compensation is determined through a subjective process that evaluates numerous quantitative and qualitative factors, including the contribution made to the overall investment process. Not all factors apply to each employee and there is no particular weighting or formula for considering certain factors. Among the factors considered are: relative investment performance of portfolios (although there are no specific benchmarks or periods of time used in measuring performance); complexity of investment strategies; participation in the investment team’s dialogue; contribution to business results and overall business strategy; success of marketing/business development efforts and client servicing; seniority/length of service with the firm; management and supervisory responsibilities; and fulfillment of the Sub-Adviser’s leadership criteria.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

The Sub-Adviser seeks to identify potential conflicts of interest resulting from a portfolio manager’s management of both the Funds and other accounts, and has adopted policies and procedures designed to address such potential conflicts.

From time to time, potential and actual conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of a Fund, on the one hand, and the management of other accounts, on the other. Potential and actual conflicts of interest also may result because of the Sub-Adviser’s other business activities. Other accounts managed by a portfolio manager might have similar investment objectives or strategies as a Fund or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by a Fund. The other accounts might also have different investment objectives or strategies than a Fund.

Knowledge and Timing of Fund Trades. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s management of the Funds. Because of their positions with the Funds, the portfolio managers know the size, timing and possible market impact of each Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts under management, and also theoretically possible that actions could be taken (or not taken) to the detriment of a Fund.

Investment Opportunities. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s management of a number of accounts with varying investment guidelines. Often, an investment opportunity may be suitable for both the Funds and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, but securities may not be available in sufficient quantities for both a Fund and the other accounts to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by a Fund and another account. The Sub-Adviser has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Under the Sub-Adviser’s allocation procedures, investment opportunities are allocated among various investment strategies based on individual account investment guidelines, the Sub-Adviser’s investment outlook, cash availability and a series of other factors. The Sub-Adviser has also adopted additional internal practices to complement the general trade allocation policy that are designed to address potential conflicts of interest due to the side-by-side management of the Funds and certain pooled investment vehicles, including investment opportunity allocation issues.

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Conflicts potentially limiting a Fund’s investment opportunities may also arise when a Fund and other clients of the Sub-Adviser invest in, or even conduct research relating to, different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when a Fund owns senior debt obligations of an issuer and other clients own junior tranches of the same issuer. In such circumstances, decisions over whether to trigger an event of default, over the terms of any workout, or how to exit an investment may result in conflicts of interest. In order to minimize such conflicts, a portfolio manager may avoid certain investment opportunities that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other clients of the Sub-Adviser or result in the Sub-Adviser receiving material, non-public information, or the Sub-Adviser may enact internal procedures designed to minimize such conflicts, which could have the effect of limiting a Fund’s investment opportunities. Additionally, if the Sub-Adviser acquires material non-public confidential information in connection with its business activities for other clients, a portfolio manager or other investment personnel may be restricted from purchasing securities or selling certain securities for a Fund or other clients. When making investment decisions where a conflict of interest may arise, the Sub-Adviser will endeavor to act in a fair and equitable manner between a Fund and other clients; however, in certain instances the resolution of the conflict may result in the Sub-Adviser acting on behalf of another client in a manner that may not be in the best interest, or may be opposed to the best interest, of a Fund.

Investors in a Fund may also be advisory clients of the Sub-Adviser or a Fund may invest in a product managed or sponsored or otherwise affiliated with the Sub-Adviser. Accordingly, the Sub-Adviser may in the course of its business provide advice to advisory clients whose interests may conflict with those of a Fund, may render advice to a Fund that provides a direct or indirect benefit to the Sub-Adviser or an affiliate of the Sub-Adviser or may manage or advise a product in which a Fund is invested in such a way that would not be beneficial to a Fund. The Sub-Adviser could also, for example, make decisions with respect to a structured product

managed or sponsored by the Sub-Adviser in a manner that could have adverse effects on investors in the product, including, potentially, a Fund.

Broad and Wide-Ranging Activities. The portfolio managers, the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of their business activities, the portfolio managers, the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates may engage in activities where the interests of certain divisions of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates or the interests of their clients may conflict with the interests of the shareholders of a Fund.

Possible Future Activities. The Sub-Adviser and its affiliates may expand the range of services that it provides over time. Except as provided herein, the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates will not be restricted in the scope of its business or in the performance of any such services (whether now offered or undertaken in the future) even if such activities could give rise to conflicts of interest, and whether or not such conflicts are described herein. The Sub-Adviser and its affiliates have, and will continue to develop, relationships with a significant number of companies, financial sponsors and their senior managers, including relationships with clients who may hold or may have held investments similar to those intended to be made by a Fund. These clients may themselves represent appropriate investment opportunities for a Fund or may compete with a Fund for investment opportunities.

Performance Fees and Personal Investments. A portfolio manager may advise certain accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based entirely or partially on performance or in respect of which the portfolio manager may have made a significant personal investment. Such circumstances may create a conflict of interest for the portfolio manager in that the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate the investment opportunities that he or she believes might be the most profitable to such other accounts instead of allocating them to a Fund. The Sub-Adviser has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities between a Fund and performance fee based accounts on a fair and equitable basis over time.]

MFS ETFs. The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by each of the key professionals involved in the day-to-day portfolio management for the MFS ETFs and assets under management in those accounts as of June 30, 2020. The portfolio managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund.

[The portfolio managers listed above do not beneficially own any interests of any Fund as of June 30, 2020.]

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[Compensation

MFS’ philosophy is to align portfolio manager compensation with the goal to provide shareholders with long-term value through a collaborative investment process. Therefore, MFS uses long-term investment performance as well as contribution to the overall investment process and collaborative culture as key factors in determining portfolio manager compensation. In addition, MFS seeks to maintain total compensation programs that are competitive in the asset management industry in each geographic market where it has employees. MFS uses competitive compensation data to ensure that compensation practices are aligned with its goals of attracting, retaining, and motivating the highest-quality professionals.

MFS reviews portfolio manager compensation annually. In determining portfolio manager compensation, MFS uses quantitative means and qualitative means to help ensure a sustainable investment process. As of December 31, 2019, portfolio manager total cash compensation is a combination of base salary and performance bonus:

Base Salary – Base salary generally represents a smaller percentage of portfolio manager total cash compensation than performance bonus.

Performance Bonus – Generally, the performance bonus represents more than a majority of portfolio manager total cash compensation.

The performance bonus is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, generally with more weight given to the former and less weight given to the latter.

The quantitative portion is primarily based on the pre-tax performance of accounts managed by the portfolio manager over a range of fixed-length time periods, intended to provide the ability to assess performance over time periods consistent with a full market cycle and a strategy’s investment horizon. The fixed-length time periods include the portfolio manager’s full tenure on each fund and, when available, ten-, five-, and three-year periods. For portfolio managers who have served for less than three years, shorter-term periods, including the one-year period, will also be considered, as will performance in previous roles, if any, held at the firm. Emphasis is generally placed on longer performance periods when multiple performance periods are available. Performance is evaluated across the full set of strategies and portfolios managed by a given portfolio manager, relative to appropriate peer group universes and/or representative indices (“benchmarks”).

As of December 31, 2019, the following benchmarks were used to measure the portfolio managers’ performance for the following Funds:

Benchmarks may include versions and components of indices, custom indices, and linked indices that combine performance of different indices for different portions of the time period, where appropriate.

The qualitative portion is based on the results of an annual internal peer review process (where portfolio managers are evaluated by other portfolio managers, analysts, and traders) and management’s assessment of overall portfolio manager contribution to the MFS investment process and the client experience (distinct from fund and other account performance).

The performance bonus is generally a combination of cash and a deferred cash award. A deferred cash award is issued for a cash value and becomes payable over a three-year vesting period if the portfolio manager remains in the continuous employ of MFS or its affiliates. During the vesting period, the value of the unfunded deferred cash award will fluctuate as though the portfolio manager had invested the cash value of the award in an MFS Fund(s) selected by the portfolio manager.

MFS Equity Plan – Portfolio managers also typically benefit from the opportunity to participate in the MFS Equity Plan. Equity interests are awarded by management, on a discretionary basis, taking into account tenure at MFS, contribution to the investment process, and other factors.

Finally, portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans (including a defined contribution plan and health and other insurance plans) and programs available generally to other employees of MFS. The percentage such benefits represent of any portfolio manager’s compensation depends upon the length of the individual’s tenure at MFS and salary level, as well as other factors.

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MFS Potential Conflicts of Interest

The Sub-Adviser seeks to identify potential conflicts of interest resulting from a portfolio manager’s management of both the Funds and other accounts, and has adopted policies and procedures designed to address such potential conflicts.

The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) gives rise to conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different objectives and strategies, benchmarks, time horizons and fees as a portfolio manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. In certain instances, there are securities which are suitable for a Fund’s portfolio as well as for accounts of the Sub-Adviser or its subsidiaries with similar investment objectives. The Sub-Adviser’s trade allocation policies may give rise to conflicts of interest if the Fund’s orders do not get fully executed or are delayed in getting executed due to being aggregated with those of other accounts of the Sub-Adviser or its subsidiaries. A portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely affect the value of a Fund’s investments. Investments selected for funds or accounts other than the Funds may outperform investments selected for the Funds.

When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the securities are allocated among clients in a manner believed by the Sub-Adviser to be fair and equitable to each. Allocations may be based on many factors and may not always be pro rata based on assets managed. The allocation methodology could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as a Fund is concerned.

The Sub-Adviser and/or a portfolio manager may have a financial incentive to allocate favorable or limited opportunity investments or structure the timing of investments to favor accounts other than a Fund, for instance, those that pay a higher advisory fee and/or have a performance adjustment and/or include an investment by the portfolio manager.]

THE ADMINISTRATOR, SUB-ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

Administrator. SSGA FM serves as the administrator to each series of the Trust, pursuant to an Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 (the “SSGA Administration Agreement”). Pursuant to the SSGA Administration Agreement, SSGA FM is obligated to continuously provide business management services to the Trust and its series and will generally, subject to the general oversight of the Trustees and except as otherwise provided in the SSGA Administration Agreement, manage all of the business and affairs of the Trust.

Sub-Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. State Street serves as the sub-administrator to each series of the Trust, pursuant to a Sub-Administration Agreement dated June 1, 2015 (the “Sub-Administration Agreement”). Under the Sub-Administration Agreement, State Street is obligated to provide certain administrative services to the Trust and its series. State Street is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held financial holding company, and is affiliated with the Adviser. State Street’s mailing address is State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

State Street also serves as Custodian for the Trust’s series pursuant to a custodian agreement (“Custodian Agreement”). As Custodian, State Street holds Fund assets, calculates the net asset value of the Shares and calculates net income and realized capital gains or losses. State Street and the Trust will comply with the self-custodian provisions of Rule 17f-2 under the 1940 Act.

State Street also serves as Transfer Agent for each series of the Trust pursuant to a transfer agency agreement (“Transfer Agency Agreement”).

Compensation. As compensation for its services provided under the SSGA Administration Agreement, SSGA FM shall receive fees for the services, calculated based on the average aggregate net assets of the Trust which are accrued daily and paid monthly out of its management fee.

As compensation for its services under the Sub-Administration Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, and the Transfer Agency Agreement, State Street shall receive an annual fixed fee per Fund. In addition, State Street shall receive global safekeeping and transaction fees, which are calculated on a per-country basis, in-kind creation (purchase) and redemption transaction fees (as described below) and revenue on certain cash balances. State Street may be reimbursed by the series of the Trust for its out-of-pocket expenses. The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser will pay certain operating expenses of the Trust, including the fees due to State Street under the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement.

SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES

The Trust’s Board has approved each Fund’s participation in a securities lending program. Under the securities lending program, each Fund has retained State Street to serve as the securities lending agent. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, the income earned by each Fund as well as the fees and/or compensation paid by each Fund (in dollars) pursuant to the Master Amended and Restated

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Securities Lending Authorization Agreement among SPDR Series Trust, SPDR Index Shares Funds and the Trust, each on behalf of its respective series, and State Street (the “Securities Lending Authorization Agreement”) were as follows:

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, State Street, acting as agent of the Funds, provided the following services to the Funds in connection with the Funds’ securities lending activities: (i) locating borrowers among an approved list of prospective borrowers; (ii) causing the delivery of loaned securities from a Fund to borrowers; (iii) monitoring the value of loaned securities, the value of collateral received, and other lending parameters; (iv) seeking additional collateral, as necessary, from borrowers; (v) receiving and holding collateral from borrowers, and facilitating the investment and reinvestment of all or substantially all cash collateral in an investment vehicle designated by the Funds; (vi) returning collateral to borrowers; (vii) facilitating substitute dividend, interest, and other distribution payments to the Funds from borrowers; (viii) negotiating the terms of each loan of securities, including but not limited to the amount of any loan premium, and monitoring the terms of securities loan agreements with prospective borrowers for consistency with the requirements of the Funds’ Securities Lending Authorization Agreement; (ix) selecting securities, including amounts (percentages), to be loaned; (x) recordkeeping and accounting services; and (xi) arranging for return of loaned securities to the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement.

THE DISTRIBUTOR

State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC is the principal underwriter and Distributor of Shares. Its principal address is One Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. Investor information can be obtained by calling 1-866-787-2257. The Distributor has entered into a distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes Shares of each Fund. The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its effective date and is renewable annually thereafter. Shares will be continuously offered for sale by the Trust through the Distributor only in Creation Units, as described in the Prospectus and below under “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units.” Shares in less than Creation Units are not distributed by the Distributor. The

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Distributor will deliver the Prospectus to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The Distributor has no role in determining the investment policies of the Trust or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust. An affiliate of the Distributor may assist Authorized Participants (as defined below) in assembling shares to purchase Creation Units or upon redemption, for which it may receive commissions or other fees from such Authorized Participants. An affiliate of the Distributor also receives compensation from State Street for providing on-line creation and redemption functionality to Authorized Participants through its Fund Connect application.

The Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, may directly or indirectly make cash payments to certain broker-dealers for participating in activities that are designed to make registered representatives and other professionals more knowledgeable about exchange traded products, including the SPDR funds, or for other activities, such as participation in marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, the development of technology platforms and reporting systems.

In addition, as of the date of this SAI, the Adviser and/or Distributor had arrangements whereby they may make payments, other than for the educational programs and marketing activities described above, to Pershing LLC (“Pershing”), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBC”), LPL Financial, LLC (“LPL”), and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, LLC. These amounts, which may be significant, are paid by the Adviser and/or Distributor from their own resources and not from Fund assets. Pursuant to these arrangements, Pershing, RBC and LPL have agreed to offer certain SPDR funds to their customers and not to charge certain of their customers any commissions when those customers purchase or sell shares of certain SPDR funds. Payments to a broker-dealer or intermediary may create potential conflicts of interest between the broker dealer or intermediary and its clients.

In addition, the Adviser or Distributor, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor, as well as an index provider that is not affiliated with the Adviser or Distributor, may also reimburse expenses or make payments from their own assets to other persons in consideration of services or other activities that they believe may benefit the SPDR business or facilitate investment in SPDR funds.

The Distribution Agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, as to a Fund: (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on at least 60 days’ written notice to the Distributor. The Distribution Agreement is also terminable upon 60 days’ notice by the Distributor and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The continuation of the Distribution Agreement and any other related agreements is subject to annual approval of the Board, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, as described above.

The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit aggregations of Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in the “Book Entry Only System” section below) and/or DTC Participants (as defined below).

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Trust has agreed to indemnify the Distributor, and may indemnify Soliciting Dealers and Authorized Participants (as described below) entering into agreements with the Distributor, for certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws, unless such loss or liability results from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Distribution Agreement or other agreement, as applicable.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

All portfolio transactions are placed on behalf of each Fund by the Adviser. Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are affected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. Ordinarily commissions are not charged on over the counter orders (e.g., fixed income securities) because each Fund pays a spread which is included in the cost of the security and represents the difference between the dealer’s quoted price at which it is willing to sell the security and the dealer’s quoted price at which it is willing to buy the security. When a Fund executes an over the counter order with an electronic communications network or an alternative trading system, a commission is charged because electronic communications networks and alternative trading systems execute such orders on an agency basis. Securities may be purchased from underwriters at prices that include underwriting fees.

In placing a portfolio transaction, the Adviser seeks to achieve best execution. The Adviser’s duty to seek best execution requires the Adviser to take reasonable steps to obtain for the client as favorable an overall result as possible for Fund portfolio transactions under the circumstances, taking into account various factors that are relevant to the particular transaction.

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The Adviser refers to and selects from the list of approved trading counterparties maintained by the Adviser’s Credit Risk Management team. In selecting a trading counterparty for a particular trade, the Adviser seeks to weigh relevant factors including, but not limited to the following:

In selecting a trading counterparty, the price of the transaction and costs related to the execution of the transaction typically merit a high relative importance, depending on the circumstances. The Adviser does not necessarily select a trading counterparty based upon price and costs but may take other relevant factors into account if it believes that these are important in taking reasonable steps to obtain the best possible result for a Fund under the circumstances. Consequently, the Adviser may cause a client to pay a trading counterparty more than another trading counterparty might have charged for the same transaction in recognition of the value and quality of the brokerage services provided. The following matters may influence the relative importance that the Adviser places upon the relevant factors:

(i) The nature and characteristics of the order or transaction. For example, size of order, market impact of order, limits, or other instructions relating to the order;

(ii) The characteristics of the financial instrument(s) or other assets which are the subject of that order. For example, whether the order pertains to an equity, fixed income, derivative or convertible instrument;

(iii) The characteristics of the execution venues to which that order can be directed, if relevant. For example, availability and capabilities of electronic trading systems;

(iv) Whether the transaction is a ‘delivery versus payment’ or ‘over the counter’ transaction. The creditworthiness of the trading counterparty, the amount of existing exposure to a trading counterparty and trading counterparty settlement capabilities may be given a higher relative importance in the case of ‘over the counter’ transactions; and

(v) Any other circumstances relevant the Adviser believes is relevant at the time.

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The process by which trading counterparties are selected to effect transactions is designed to exclude consideration of the sales efforts conducted by broker-dealers in relation to each Fund.

The Adviser does not currently use the Funds’ assets in connection with third party soft dollar arrangements. While the Adviser does not currently use “soft” or commission dollars paid by the Funds for the purchase of third party research, the Adviser reserves the right to do so in the future.

GSO. GSO is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions and the negotiation of prices and any brokerage commissions. With respect to fixed income instruments and other types of securities, the Fund may (i) purchase securities in the over-the-counter market from an underwriter or dealer serving as market maker for the securities, in which case the price includes a fixed amount of compensation to the underwriter or dealer, and (ii) purchase and sell listed securities on an exchange, which are effected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. Affiliates of GSO may participate in the primary and secondary market for fixed income instruments. Because of certain limitations imposed by the 1940 Act, this may restrict the Fund’s ability to acquire some fixed income instruments. GSO does not believe that this will have a material effect on the Fund’s ability to acquire fixed income instruments consistent with its investment policies. Sales to dealers are effected at bid prices.

Payments of commissions to brokers who are affiliated persons of the Fund (or affiliated persons of such persons) will be made in accordance with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act.

Commissions paid on such transactions would be commensurate with the rate of commissions paid on similar transactions to brokers that are not so affiliated.

GSO is responsible for placing portfolio transactions and will do so in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to the Fund and not according to any formula. The primary consideration in all portfolio transactions is prompt execution of orders in an effective manner at the most favorable price. In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating prices and any brokerage commissions on such transactions, GSO considers the firm’s reliability, integrity and financial condition and the firm’s execution capability, the size and breadth of the market for the security, the size of and difficulty in executing the order, and the best net price. There may be instances when, in the judgment of GSO, more than one firm can offer comparable execution services.

A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that GSO determine in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of GSO to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the long-term. The advisory fees that the Fund pays to GSO will not be reduced as a consequence of GSO’s receipt of brokerage and research services. To the extent that portfolio transactions are used to obtain such services, the brokerage commissions paid by the Fund will exceed those that might otherwise be paid by an amount that cannot be presently determined. Such services generally would be useful and of value to GSO in serving one or more of its other clients and, conversely, such services obtained by the placement of brokerage business of other clients generally would be useful to GSO in carrying out its obligations to the Fund. While such services are not expected to reduce the expenses of GSO, GSO would, through use of the services, avoid the additional expenses that would be incurred if it should attempt to develop comparable information through its own staff. Commission rates for brokerage transactions on foreign stock exchanges are generally fixed.

One or more of the other accounts that GSO manages may own from time to time some of the same investments as the Fund. Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of such other investment companies or accounts; however, from time to time, the same investment decision may be made for more than one company or account. When two or more companies or accounts seek to purchase or sell the same securities, the securities actually purchased or sold will be allocated among the companies and accounts on a good faith equitable basis, usually on a pro rata basis, by GSO in its discretion in accordance with the accounts’ various investment objectives. Such allocations are based upon the written procedures of GSO. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the price or size of the position obtainable for the Fund. In other cases, however, the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions may produce better execution for the Fund. It is the opinion of GSO that this advantage, when combined with the other benefits available due to GSO’s organization, outweighs any disadvantages that may exist from exposure to simultaneous transactions.

Portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for the Fund. Because it is difficult to predict accurately portfolio turnover rates, actual turnover may be higher or lower than expected. Higher portfolio turnover results in increased Fund costs, including brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and on the reinvestment in other securities.

DoubleLine. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for the placement of each Fund’s portfolio transactions and, with respect thereto, the negotiation of prices, brokerage commissions, if any, and mark-ups and mark-downs or spreads on principal transactions. The Sub-Adviser may also purchase securities on behalf of a Fund in underwritten offerings at fixed prices that include discounts to underwriters and/or concessions to dealers.

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In placing a portfolio transaction, the Sub-Adviser seeks to achieve best execution. This means that, in selecting broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Funds, the Sub-Adviser seeks to select broker-dealers that will execute securities transactions in a manner such that the total cost or proceeds of each transaction is the most favorable under the circumstances. This does not mean, however, that portfolio transactions are always executed at the lowest available commission or spread, and the Sub-Adviser may effect transactions that cause a Fund to pay a commission or spread in excess of a commission or spread that another broker-dealer would have charged if the Sub-Adviser determines that, notwithstanding such commission or spread, such transaction is in such Fund’s best interest. In making this determination, the Sub-Adviser may take a variety of factors into consideration, including, without limitation, (i) execution quality in light of order size, difficulty of execution and other relevant factors; (ii) associated expenses and costs; (iii) the quality, reliability, responsiveness and value of the provided services, (iv) the operational compatibility between the broker-dealer and the Sub-Adviser; (v) the broker-dealer’s safety and soundness; and (vi) the provision of research and brokerage products and services. The provision of research and brokerage products and services is not typically considered in respect of transactions by a Fund when trading fixed income securities.

From time to time, the Sub-Adviser receives unsolicited research from various brokers, which may or may not be counterparties to trades placed on behalf of clients. While the Sub-Adviser may review and consider certain of the research received, the provision of unsolicited research does not factor into the Sub-Adviser’s broker selection process with respect to trading fixed-income securities. Research services include items such as reports on industries and companies, economic analyses, review of business conditions and portfolio strategy and various trading and quotation services. Such services also include advice from broker-dealers as to the value of securities, availability of securities, availability of buyers, and availability of sellers. These services also include recommendations as to purchase and sale of individual securities and timing of transactions.

Investment decisions for each Fund and for the other investment advisory clients of the Sub-Adviser are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved (including the Funds). Some securities considered for investment by a Fund also may be appropriate for other clients served by the Sub-Adviser. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time, including accounts in which the Sub-Adviser, its officers or employees may have a financial interest. If a purchase or sale of securities consistent with the investment policies of a Fund and one or more of these clients served by the Sub-Adviser is considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities will be allocated among such Fund and other clients pursuant to the Sub-Adviser’s trade allocation policy that is designed to ensure that all accounts, including the Fund, are treated fairly and equitably over time.

As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act , the Sub-Adviser may, on behalf of a client, pay a broker or dealer that provides “brokerage and research services” (as defined in the Exchange Act) to the Sub-Adviser an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission that another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Sub-Adviser’s overall responsibilities to the client and to other client accounts over which the Sub-Adviser exercises investment discretion. Such research services include proprietary research created internally by a broker or by a third-party provider (and made available to the Sub-Adviser by a broker) such as, for example, individual stock information and research, industry and sector analysis, trend analysis and forecasting, discussions with individual stock analysts, and meetings arranged with various sources of information regarding particular issuers, industries, governmental policies, specific information about local markets and applicable regulations, economic trends, and other matters. In addition, a broker may accumulate credits for the Sub-Adviser’s account and use them to purchase brokerage and research services at the Sub-Adviser’s discretion and based on the Sub-Adviser’s determination of the relative benefits of the various services available for purchase. These arrangements are commonly known as “commission sharing arrangements.” Accordingly, the Sub-Adviser’s clients may be deemed to be paying for research and these other services with “soft” or commission dollars. Research furnished by brokers or dealers or pursuant to credits accumulated at brokers or dealers through commission sharing arrangements may be used in servicing any or all of the Sub-Adviser’s clients and may be used for client accounts other than those that pay commissions to the broker or dealer providing the research. The Sub-Adviser also may receive soft dollar credits based on certain “riskless” principal securities transactions with brokerage firms. With respect to certain products and services used for both research/brokerage and non-research/brokerage purposes, the Sub-Adviser generally allocates the costs of such products and services between their research/brokerage and non-research/brokerage uses, and generally uses soft dollars to pay only for the portion allocated to research/brokerage uses. Examples of products and services used for non-research/brokerage purposes (and not paid for with soft dollars) include equipment and exchange data (e.g., quotes, volume). Some of these services may be of value to the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates in advising various of their clients (including the Funds), although not all of these services are necessarily useful and of value in managing the Funds. The sub-advisory fee paid by each Fund is not reduced because the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates receive these services even though the Sub-Adviser might otherwise be required to purchase some of these services for cash. The Sub-Adviser’s authority to cause a Fund to pay any such greater commissions is also subject to such policies as the Trustees may adopt from time to time.

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The Sub-Adviser’s relationships with brokerage firms that provide soft dollar services to the Sub-Adviser (including brokerage firms that participate in commission sharing arrangements) may influence the Sub-Adviser’s judgment and create conflicts of interest, both in allocating brokerage business between firms that provide soft dollar services and firms that do not, and in allocating the costs of mixed-use products between their research and non-research uses. When the Sub-Adviser uses client brokerage commissions to obtain research or other products or services, the Sub-Adviser receives a benefit because it does not have to produce or pay for such research, products, or services. As such, the Sub-Adviser has an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on the Sub-Adviser’s interest in receiving the research or other products or services, rather than on the Sub-Adviser’s clients’ interest in receiving most favorable execution. Client trades executed through these brokers or any other brokerage firm may not be at the lowest price otherwise available. The Sub-Adviser maintains policies and procedures designed to address such conflicts of interest.

In an effort to achieve efficiencies in execution and reduce trading costs, the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates may, but will not necessarily, aggregate securities transactions on behalf of a number of accounts, including accounts of the Funds, at the same time. In addition, the Sub-Adviser may execute securities transactions alongside or interspersed between aggregated orders when the Sub-Adviser believes that such execution will not interfere with its ability to execute in a manner believed to be most favorable to its clients as a whole. The Sub-Adviser may exclude trades for accounts that direct brokerage or that are managed in part for tax considerations from aggregate orders.

When executing aggregate orders, trades will be allocated among accounts using procedures that the Sub-Adviser considers to be reasonably designed to be non-preferential and fair and equitable over time. This may include making the allocation on a random or pro rata basis or based on such considerations as diversification requirements, duration, investment objectives, client contractual or regulatory investment guidelines and restrictions, existing or targeted account weightings in particular securities or sectors, lot size, account size, cash availability, amount of existing holdings (or substitutes) of the security in the accounts, investment time horizons and directed brokerage instructions, if applicable.

The Sub-Adviser shares allocations of public offerings and other desirable but limited opportunities to buy or sell securities in a manner that the Sub-Adviser considers reasonably designed to be non-preferential and fair and equitable over time, such that no account or group of accounts receives consistently favorable or unfavorable treatment. Generally, such allocations will be made after taking into account cash availability and need, suitability, investment objectives and guidelines and other factors deemed appropriate in making investment allocation decisions for each client. Shares obtained in initial public offerings will be allocated using these criteria unless the number of shares made available to the Adviser is de minimis, in which case the shares will be allocated among the eligible accounts based on the Sub-Adviser’s assessment of the circumstances.

In addition, and particularly with respect to fixed-income securities, if a small amount of an investment is allocated to the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may allocate it disproportionately, taking into consideration lot size, existing or targeted account weightings in particular securities and/or sectors, account size, diversification requirements and investment objectives/restrictions.

MFS. Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities and other instruments for the Funds are made by persons affiliated with MFS. Any such person may serve other clients of MFS or any subsidiary of MFS in a similar capacity.

MFS places all Fund orders for the purchase or sale of securities and other instruments with the primary objective of seeking to obtain the best execution from responsible executing broker/dealers at competitive rates. MFS seeks to deal with broker/dealers that can provide high quality execution services. The specific criteria used in selecting a broker/dealer will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select among multiple broker/dealers. MFS defines best execution as a process that seeks to execute portfolio transactions that MFS believes will provide the most favorable qualitative execution, including execution price and commission, spread, or other transaction costs, reasonably available under the circumstances. This process involves the evaluation of the trading process and execution results over extended periods. In seeking best execution, MFS takes into account several factors that it considers to be relevant, which include without limitation and in no particular order, the following: price; the size of the transaction; the nature of the market or the security; the amount of the commission or “spread”; the timing and impact of the transaction, considering market prices and trends; the reputation, experience, and stability of the broker/dealer involved; the willingness of the broker/dealer to commit capital; the need for anonymity in the market; and the quality of services rendered by the broker/dealer in other transactions, which (except for those accounts managed, in whole or in part, in the European Union or the United Kingdom) may include the quality of the research and brokerage services provided by the broker/dealer.

MFS places trades in various manners including through different broker/dealers, agency brokers, principal market-making dealers, smaller brokers and dealers, which may specialize in particular regions or asset classes, futures commission merchants, and OTC derivatives dealers (each, a “broker/dealer” for purposes of the discussion in this section). MFS also utilizes electronic trading methods, including electronic communications networks (“ECNs”) (including, without limitation, multilateral trading facilities (“MTFs”) and alternative trading systems (“ATSs”)). These trading platforms often, in the case of equity transactions, execute transactions at a commission rate lower than that charged by a full-service broker/dealer. MFS may place Fund orders with Luminex

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Trading & Analytics LLC (“Luminex”), an alternative trading system in which MFS owns approximately 4.9%. While there may be an economic incentive for MFS to route orders to Luminex to enhance its profitability, Luminex’s objective is to run as close to break-even as possible while remaining financially sound and self-sustaining. Since Luminex does not currently seek to earn a profit on transactions, MFS should not increase Luminex’s profitability by routing more trades to it.

In certain circumstances, such as a “buy-in” for failure to deliver, MFS is not able to select the broker/dealer who will transact to cover the failure. For example, if the Fund sells a security short and is unable to deliver the securities sold short, the broker/dealer through whom the Fund sold short must deliver securities purchased for cash, (i.e., effect a buy-in, unless it knows that the Fund either is in the process of forwarding the securities to the broker/dealer or will do so as soon as possible without undue inconvenience or expense). Similarly, there can also be a failure to deliver in a long transaction and a resulting “buy-in” by the broker/dealer through whom the securities were sold. If the broker/dealer effects a buy-in, MFS will be unable to control the trading techniques, methods, venues, or any other aspect of the trade used by the broker/dealer.

Brokers/dealers generally will either receive (i) a commission, which is generally negotiable and can vary depending on the type of broker/dealer and market, or (ii) for trades executed on a “net” basis in lieu of a commission, a “spread” representing the difference (or a portion of the difference) between the buying price and the selling price. Most domestic transactions in equity securities are executed on listed markets (e.g., the New York Stock Exchange) on a commission or commission equivalent basis. Transactions in foreign equity securities are normally executed on foreign exchanges. Foreign equity securities are typically subject to a fixed commission rate which is negotiated on a country-by-country basis. Fixed income transactions are generally traded in the over the counter market and do not include a stated commission. As described above, the broker/dealer in a fixed income transaction typically retains the spread or a portion of the spread. In the case of securities purchased from underwriters, the cost of such securities generally includes a fixed underwriting commission or concession. Transaction costs related to trading may include market impact costs and opportunity costs in addition to dealer spreads and commission costs.

Commission rates for equity securities and some derivatives will vary depending upon the trading methods, venues, and broker/dealers selected, as well as the market(s) in which the securities are traded and their relative liquidity. As noted above, MFS can utilize a variety of broker/dealers and trading venues and strategies in order to seek the best execution for client transactions. MFS periodically and systematically reviews the performance of the broker/dealers that execute Fund transactions, including the commission rates paid to broker/dealers. The quality of a broker/dealer’s services is measured by analyzing various factors that could affect the execution of trades. These factors include the ability to execute trades with a minimum of market impact, the speed and efficiency of executions, electronic trading capabilities, adequacy of capital, commitment of capital when necessary or desirable, market color provided to MFS, and accommodation of MFS’ special needs. MFS may employ outside vendors to provide reports on the quality of broker/dealer executions. With respect to transactions in derivatives, MFS trades only with broker/dealers with whom it has legally-required or client-requested documentation in place.

For accounts managed in whole or in part in the European Union or the United Kingdom, MFS will pay for external equity and fixed income research out of its own resources. In allocating brokerage for accounts not managed in whole or in part in the European Union or the United Kingdom, MFS can take into consideration the receipt of brokerage and research services, consistent with its obligation to seek best execution for Fund transactions, in determining how and with which broker/dealer to trade. As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act (“Section 28(e)”), MFS may cause the Fund to pay a broker/dealer that provides “Brokerage and Research Services” (as defined by Section 28(e)) to MFS an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount other broker/dealers would have charged for the transaction if MFS determines in good faith that the greater commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the Brokerage and Research Services provided by the executing broker/dealer viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or MFS’ overall responsibilities to the Fund and its other clients. MFS has voluntarily undertaken to reimburse clients from its own resources for Research Commissions, as defined below. “Commissions,” as currently interpreted by the SEC, include fees paid to broker/dealers for trades conducted on an agency basis, and certain mark-ups, markdowns, commission equivalents, and other fees received by broker/dealers in riskless principal transactions, as well as any separately identifiable charge for Brokerage and Research Services collected together with the transaction charge for execution in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. “Research Commissions” represent the portion of Commissions that is paid on client transactions in excess of the portion that compensates the broker/dealer for executing, clearing, and/or settling the transaction.

Commissions do not include mark-ups, mark-downs, commission equivalents, and other fees received by dealers in principal transactions. MFS often receives research services from executing dealers in fixed income transactions. However, MFS believes that executing dealers in fixed income transactions do not charge lower mark-ups, mark-downs, commission equivalents, or other fees if clients forego research services. Consequently, MFS does not believe it pays a higher mark-up, mark-down, commission equivalent, or other fees to dealers on fixed income transactions than it would if it did not receive any research services from dealers. However, except to the extent that research received on fixed income transactions for accounts managed in the European Union or the United Kingdom is offered generally either to any investment firm, is made public or otherwise is believed by MFS not to constitute an illegal “inducement” under European Union law, MFS will pay for such research out of its own resources.

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Brokerage and Research Services includes advice as to the value of securities; the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities; the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of portfolios; and effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement) or required in connection therewith by applicable rules. Such services can include access to corporate management; industry conferences; research field trips to visit corporate management and/or to tour manufacturing, production, or distribution facilities; statistical, research, and other factual information or services such as: investment research reports; access to analysts; execution systems and trading analytics; reports or databases containing corporate, fundamental, and technical analyses; portfolio modeling strategies; and economic research services, such as publications, chart services, and advice from economists concerning macroeconomics information, and analytical investment information about particular corporations (collectively, “Research”).

The MFS global investment platform is built on the principle of close collaboration among members of its investment team, where research and investment ideas are shared. MFS investment professionals utilize Research to help develop their own investment ideas as well as to help understand market consensus, sentiment, or perception, and identify relative inefficiencies more quickly and effectively. Research is one of many tools MFS uses to either corroborate or challenge investment professionals’ individual investment theses in clients’ portfolios. Specifically, Research can be useful in helping investment professionals understand current market consensus and sentiment.

Through the use of Research acquired with Research Commissions, MFS initially avoids the additional expenses that it would incur if it developed comparable information through its own staff or if it purchased such Research with its own resources. As a result, the Fund pays more for its portfolio transactions in the first instance than if MFS caused the Fund to pay execution only rates; however, because MFS has voluntarily undertaken to reimburse clients from its own resources for Research Commissions, MFS ultimately assumes the additional expenses that it would incur if it purchased such Research with its own resources. To the extent that MFS were to determine to discontinue its voluntary undertaking, it may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker/dealer based on its interest in receiving Research rather than the Fund’s interest in receiving lower commission rates. The Research received may be useful and of value to MFS or its affiliates in serving both the Fund and other clients of MFS or its affiliates. Accordingly, not all of the Research provided by broker/dealers through which the Fund effects securities transactions may be used by MFS in connection with the Fund.

The table below shows the aggregate dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds for the past three fiscal years ended June 30. Brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may be substantially different from year to year for multiple reasons, including market volatility, the demand for a particular Fund, or increases or decreases in trading volume.