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2025-12-31

Registration Nos. 2-98326

811-04323

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

| THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | ☐
| Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ☐
| Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 | ☒

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

| THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | ☐
| Amendment No. 167 | ☒

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

888 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code (617) 449-2139

Susan McWhan Tobin, Esq.

Natixis Distribution, LLC

888 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Michael G. Doherty, Esq.

Jessica Reece, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036-8704

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

☐ |  | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
☒ |  | on May 1, 2026 pursuant to paragraph (b)
☐ |  | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
☐ |  | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
☐ |  | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
☐ |  | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

☐ |  | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Prospectus
May 1, 2026

| Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund | GCPAX | GCPCX | GCPNX | GCPYX
Gateway Fund | GATEX | GTECX | GTENX | GTEYX
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund | ESGMX | ESGCX | ESGNX | ESGYX
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund | VNVAX | VNVCX | VNVNX | VNVYX
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund | NEFJX | NEJCX | VSCNX | NEJYX

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved any Fund’s shares or determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a crime.

Table of Contents

Fund Summary | 1
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund | 1
Gateway Fund | 7
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund | 13
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund | 19
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund | 25
Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks | 31
More About Goals and Strategies | 31
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund | 31
Gateway Fund | 32
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund | 33
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund | 34
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund | 35
All Funds | 35
More About Risks | 37
Management Team | 44
Meet the Funds' Investment Advisers and Subadviser | 44
Meet the Funds' Portfolio Managers | 45
Additional Information | 46
Fund Services | 46
Investing in the Funds | 46
How Sales Charges Are Calculated | 47
Compensation to Securities Dealers | 50
How to Purchase Shares | 50
How to Redeem Shares | 52
Exchanging or Converting Shares | 54
Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares | 55
Self-Servicing Your Account | 56
Restructuring and Liquidations | 57
How Fund Shares are Priced | 57
Dividends and Distributions | 58
Tax Consequences | 59
Additional Investor Services | 61
Financial Performance | 62
Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information | A-1
Appendix B - Financial Intermediary Specific Commissions & Investment Minimum Waivers | B-1
Appendix C - Additional Index Information | C-1

Fund Summary

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks total return with less risk than U.S. equity markets.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 47 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 89 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None1 | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

1 | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.22% | 0.22% | 0.49% | 0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.05% | 1.80% | 1.07% | 0.80%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1,2 | 0.12% | 0.12% | 0.44% | 0.12%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 0.93% | 1.68% | 0.63% | 0.68%

1 | Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC (“Gateway” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 0.93%, 1.68%, 0.63%, and 0.68% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, Class C, Class N, and Class Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

2 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the date noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 664 | $ | 879 | $ | 1,110 | $ | 1,774

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 271 | $ | 555 | $ | 964 | $ | 1,909
Class N | $ | 64 | $ | 297 | $ | 547 | $ | 1,266
Class Y | $ | 69 | $ | 243 | $ | 432 | $ | 979

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 171 | $ | 555 | $ | 964 | $ | 1,909

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Equity securities purchased by the Fund may include the following U.S. exchange-listed securities: common stocks; American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are securities issued by a U.S. bank that represent interests in foreign equity securities; and interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund ordinarily invests in a broadly diversified equity portfolio, while also writing (selling) index call options with an aggregate notional value approximately equal to the market value of the equity portfolio. Writing index call options is intended to reduce the Fund’s volatility and provide steady cash flow. Cash flow from call option writing is intended to be an important source of the Fund’s return, although the Fund’s option writing activity reduces the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of its equity portfolio. The combination of a diversified stock portfolio and the steady cash flow from the sale of index call options is intended to moderate the volatility of returns relative to an all-equity portfolio. The Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund may invest in companies with small, medium or large market capitalizations.
The Fund’s combination of a broadly diversified portfolio of common stocks and written index call options is similar to the components of the Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index (the “BXM SM”). The BXM SM is a passive total return index based on (1) buying an S&P 500® stock index portfolio, and (2) writing (selling) the near-term S&P 500® Index “covered” call option. The Fund’s more flexible, active option management approach creates the potential for it to achieve higher long-term returns than the BXM SM while exhibiting a similar level of volatility, as defined by standard deviation of returns. The similarities between the BXM SM and the Fund’s equity investment strategy are expected to result in the Fund exhibiting a positive correlation to the broad U.S. equity markets similar to that exhibited by the BXM SM.
With its core investment in equities, the Fund is intended to be significantly less vulnerable to fluctuations in value caused by interest rate volatility, a risk factor present in both fixed-income investments and “hybrid investments” (blends of equity and fixed-income securities). Through the use of index options, the Fund intends that its risk management strategy will reduce the volatility inherent in equity investments while also allowing for more participation in equity returns than hybrid investments. Thus, the Fund seeks to provide an efficient trade-off between risk and reward, where risk is characterized by volatility or fluctuations in value over time.
Purchasing Stocks
The Fund invests in a diversified stock portfolio, generally consisting of approximately 200 to 400 stocks (including ADRs and REITs), designed to support the Fund’s index option-based risk management strategy as efficiently as possible while seeking to enhance the Fund’s after-tax total return. The Adviser uses a multifactor quantitative model to construct the stock portfolio. The model evaluates U.S.-exchange-traded equities that meet the criteria and constraints established by the Adviser. Generally, the Adviser tries to minimize the difference between the performance of the Fund’s stock portfolio and the performance of the index or indices underlying the Fund’s option strategies while also considering other factors, such as predicted dividend yield. The Adviser monitors this difference and other factors, and rebalances and adjusts the stock portfolio from time to time, by purchasing and selling stocks. To the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment goal, the Adviser may also sell stocks to realize capital losses in an effort to minimize any required capital gain distributions. The Adviser expects the portfolio to generally represent the broad U.S. equity market.
Writing Index Call Options
The Fund continuously writes index call options, typically on broad-based securities market indices, with an aggregate notional value approximately equal to the market value of its broadly diversified stock portfolio. As the seller of the index call option, the Fund receives cash (the “premium”) from the purchaser. The purchaser of an index call option has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index over a fixed price (the “exercise price”) on a certain date in the future (the “expiration date”). If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the value of the index

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Fund Summary

determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the index call option. The Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In such a case, the difference between the cost of repurchasing the option and the premium received will determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund.
Other Investments
The Fund may invest in foreign securities traded in U.S. markets (through ADRs or stocks traded in U.S. dollars). The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements and/or hold cash and cash equivalents.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Call Options Risk: The value of the Fund’s positions in index options will fluctuate in response to changes in the value of the underlying index. Writing index call options limits the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of stocks in exchange for up-front cash at the time of selling the call option. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular option at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of the Fund’s option-based risk management strategy, and for these and other reasons the Fund’s option strategy may not reduce the Fund’s volatility to the extent desired.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock. Securities of real estate-related companies and REITs in which the Fund may invest may be considered equity securities, thus subjecting the Fund to the risks of investing in equity securities generally. Small- and mid-capitalization and emerging growth companies may be subject to more abrupt price movements, limited markets and less liquidity than larger, more established companies, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s equity portfolio.
Correlation Risk: The Fund’s ability to manage the volatility of its equity portfolio by writing index options depends on the correlation between the returns of the equity portfolio and those of the index on which the Fund’s index options are written. Accordingly, the effectiveness of the Fund’s index option-based risk management strategy may be reduced to the extent the performance of the Fund’s equity portfolio does not correlate to that of the indices underlying its option positions.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk: The Fund will indirectly bear the management, service and other fees of any other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds, in which it invests in addition to its own expenses.
Issuer Exposure Risk: Although the Fund is “diversified” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), increases in value in certain securities held by the Fund could cause the Fund to be significantly exposed to a relatively small number of issuers. Similarly, although the Fund is not an index fund, in order to reduce the Fund’s performance dispersion from its benchmark the Fund may use investments in other investment companies to increase its exposure to certain issuers to a greater extent than might otherwise be permitted under the 1940 Act. This exposure to a relatively small number of issuers could increase the risk and volatility of the Fund.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other

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Fund Summary

tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
REITs Risk: Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2020, 11.74% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -15.92%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 13.20% | 10.61% | 9.14% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 13.03% | 10.41% | 8.90% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 7.92% | 8.40% | 7.44% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 6.42% | 9.04% | 8.22% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 11.09% | 9.52% | 8.22% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 13.27% | 10.66% | - | 9.15%
S&P 500® Index | 17.88% | 14.42% | 14.82% | 14.77%
CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index (BXM SM) | 8.91% | 9.33% | 7.31% | 7.02%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.

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Fund Summary

Management
Investment Adviser
Gateway
Portfolio Managers
Daniel M. Ashcraft, CFA®, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2014.
Michael T. Buckius, CFA®, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2014.
Kenneth H. Toft, CFA®, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2014.
Mitchell J. Trotta, CFA®, Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2021.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

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Fund Summary

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Gateway Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks to capture the majority of the returns associated with equity market investments, while exposing investors to less risk than other equity investments.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 47 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 89 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None1 | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

1 | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.59% | 0.59% | 0.59% | 0.59%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.13% | 0.14% | 0.06% | 0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 0.97% | 1.73% | 0.65% | 0.73%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 0.94% | 1.70% | 0.65% | 0.70%

1 | Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC (“Gateway” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 0.94%, 1.70%, 0.65%, and 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, Class C, Class N, and Class Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the examples for the Class A, Class C and Class Y shares are based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the date noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 665 | $ | 863 | $ | 1,078 | $ | 1,694
Class C | $ | 273 | $ | 542 | $ | 936 | $ | 1,837

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class N | $ | 66 | $ | 208 | $ | 362 | $ | 810
Class Y | $ | 72 | $ | 230 | $ | 403 | $ | 904

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 173 | $ | 542 | $ | 936 | $ | 1,837

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in a broadly diversified portfolio of common stocks, while also selling index call options and purchasing index put options. Writing index call options is intended to reduce the Fund’s volatility, provides steady cash flow and is an important source of the Fund’s return, although it also reduces the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of its equity portfolio. The Fund also buys index put options, which can protect the Fund from a significant market decline that may occur over a short period of time. The value of an index put option generally increases as the prices of the stocks constituting the index decrease, and decreases as those stocks increase in price. From time to time, the Fund may reduce its holdings of put options, resulting in an increased exposure to a market decline. The combination of the diversified stock portfolio, the steady cash flow from the sale of index call options and the downside protection from index put options is intended to provide the Fund with the majority of the returns associated with equity market investments while exposing investors to less risk than other equity investments. The Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund may invest in companies with small, medium or large market capitalizations. Equity securities purchased by the Fund may include U.S. exchange-listed common stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are securities issued by a U.S. bank that represent interests in foreign equity securities, and interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
The Fund strives not only for the majority of the returns associated with equity market investments, but also for returns in excess of those available from other investments comparable in volatility. Because, as described above, the Fund writes index call options and purchases index put options in addition to investing in equity securities, the Fund’s historical volatility has been closer to intermediate- to long-term fixed-income investments (intermediate-term are those with approximately five-year maturities and long-term are those with maturities of ten or more years) and hybrid investments (blends of equity and short-term fixed-income securities) than to equity investments. With its core investment in equities, the Fund is significantly less vulnerable to fluctuations in value caused by interest rate volatility, a risk factor present in both fixed-income investments and “hybrid investments” (blends of equity and short-term fixed-income), although the Fund expects to generally have lower long-term returns than a fund consisting solely of equity securities. Through the use of index options, the Fund intends that its risk management strategy will reduce the volatility inherent in equity investments while also allowing for more participation in equity returns than hybrid investments. Thus, the Fund seeks to provide an efficient trade-off between risk and reward where risk is characterized by volatility or fluctuations in value over time.
Purchasing Stocks
The Fund invests in a diversified stock portfolio, generally consisting of approximately 200 to 400 stocks, designed to support the Fund’s index option based risk management strategy as efficiently as possible while seeking to enhance the Fund’s after tax total return. The Adviser uses a multifactor quantitative model to construct the stock portfolio. The model evaluates U.S.-exchange-traded equities that meet criteria and constraints established by the Adviser. Generally, the Adviser tries to minimize the difference between the performance of the stock portfolio and that of the index or indices underlying the Fund’s option strategies while also considering other factors, such as predicted dividend yield. The Adviser monitors this difference and the other factors, and rebalances and adjusts the stock portfolio from time to time, by purchasing and selling stocks. To the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment goal, the Adviser may also sell stocks to realize capital losses in an effort to minimize any required capital gain distributions. The Adviser expects the portfolio to generally represent the broad U.S. equity market.
Writing Index Call Options
The Fund continuously writes index call options, typically on broad-based securities market indices, on the full value of its broadly diversified stock portfolio. As the seller of the index call option, the Fund receives cash (the “premium”) from the purchaser. The purchaser of an index call option has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index over a fixed price (the “exercise price”) on a certain date in the future (the “expiration date”). If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the value of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the

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Fund Summary

seller of the index call option. The Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In this case, the difference between the cost of repurchasing the option and the premium received will determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund.
Purchasing Index Put Options
The Fund may buy index put options in an attempt to protect the Fund from a significant market decline that may occur over a short period of time. The value of an index put option generally increases as stock prices (and the value of the index) decrease and decreases as those stocks (and the index) increase in price.
Other Investments
The Fund may invest in foreign securities traded in U.S. markets (through ADRs or stocks traded in U.S. dollars). The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements and/or hold cash and cash equivalents.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Options Risk: The value of the Fund’s positions in index options will fluctuate in response to changes in the value of the underlying index. Writing index call options limits the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of stocks in exchange for up-front cash at the time of selling the call option. The Fund also risks losing all or part of the cash paid for purchasing index put options. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular option at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of the Fund’s option strategies, and for these and other reasons the Fund’s option strategies may not reduce the Fund’s volatility to the extent desired.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock. Securities of real estate-related companies and REITs in which the Fund may invest may be considered equity securities, thus subjecting the Fund to the risks of investing in equity securities generally. Small- and mid-capitalization and emerging growth companies may be subject to more abrupt price movements, limited markets and less liquidity than larger, more established companies, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s equity portfolio.
Correlation Risk: The Fund’s ability to manage the volatility of its equity portfolio by writing index options depends on the correlation between the returns of the equity portfolio and those of the index on which the Fund’s index options are written. Accordingly, the effectiveness of the Fund’s index option-based risk management strategy may be reduced to the extent the performance of the Fund’s equity portfolio does not correlate to that of the indices underlying its option positions.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks.The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk: The Fund will indirectly bear the management, service and other fees of any other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds, in which it invests in addition to its own expenses.
Issuer Exposure Risk: Although the Fund is “diversified” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), increases in value in certain securities held by the Fund could cause the Fund to be significantly exposed to a relatively small number of issuers. Similarly, although the Fund is not an index fund, in order to reduce the Fund’s performance dispersion from its benchmark the Fund may use investments in other investment companies to increase its exposure to certain issuers to a greater extent than might otherwise be permitted under the 1940 Act. This exposure to a relatively small number of issuers could increase the risk and volatility of the Fund.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to

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Fund Summary

shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services. The Adviser will attempt to reduce this risk by implementing various volatility management strategies and techniques. However, there is no guarantee that such strategies and techniques will produce the intended result.
REITs Risk: Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of two broad measures of market performance. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2020, 8.36% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -10.01%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 10.84% | 7.59% | 6.67% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 10.70% | 7.40% | 6.37% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 6.51% | 5.94% | 5.29% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 4.22% | 6.07% | 5.79% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 8.72% | 6.51% | 5.77% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 10.89% | 7.64% | - | 6.67%
S&P 500® Index | 17.88% | 14.42% | 14.82% | 14.77%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | 7.30% | -0.36% | 2.01% | 1.84%

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Fund Summary

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Gateway
Portfolio Managers
Daniel M. Ashcraft, CFA®, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2016.
Michael T. Buckius, CFA®, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2008.
Kenneth H. Toft, CFA®, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2013.
Mitchell J. Trotta, CFA®, Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2021.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

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Fund Summary

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”), clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Mirova Global Megatrends Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 47 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 89 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None 1 | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

1 | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.80% | 0.80% | 0.80% | 0.80%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.21% | 0.21% | 0.10% | 0.21%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.26% | 2.01% | 0.90% | 1.01%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1,2 | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.01% | 0.06%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 1.20% | 1.95% | 0.89% | 0.95%

1 | Mirova US LLC (“Mirova US” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 1.20%, 1.95%, 0.90%, and 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N, and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

2 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the date noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 690 | $ | 946 | $ | 1,221 | $ | 2,005
Class C | $ | 298 | $ | 625 | $ | 1,077 | $ | 2,140

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class N | $ | 91 | $ | 286 | $ | 497 | $ | 1,107
Class Y | $ | 97 | $ | 316 | $ | 552 | $ | 1,231

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 198 | $ | 625 | $ | 1,077 | $ | 2,140

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 21% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, depositary receipts and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund invests in securities of companies located in no fewer than three countries, which may include the U.S. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest a percentage of its assets in securities of companies located outside the U.S. equal to at least the lesser of 40% or the percentage of foreign issuers in the Fund’s benchmark, the MSCI World Index, less 5%. The percentage of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities is at least partially based on the composition of the Fund’s benchmark. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to securities of companies located outside the U.S. may fluctuate in connection with variations in the foreign exposure of the Fund’s benchmark. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities of companies located in emerging markets. Emerging markets are economies that the Adviser believes are not generally recognized to be fully developed markets, as measured by gross national income, financial market infrastructure, market capitalization and/or other factors. The Fund may invest in growth and value companies of any size and may also invest in initial public offerings.
The Adviser focuses on megatrends, which are trends that are global and long-term in nature and that will lead to significant transitions in the global economy. The Adviser organizes these global megatrends into four major transitions: (i) demographics; (ii) technology; (iii) environment; and (iv) governance. The Adviser reviews the firm’s convictions around the four major transitions annually. Given the breadth and long-term nature of the transitions, they are unlikely to change. Investable megatrends within the transitions, however, are frequently evaluated.
In making its investment decisions, the Adviser uses a bottom-up approach focused on individual companies, rather than making pre-determined or top-down allocations to specific themes, industries or economic factors. The Adviser may sell a security due to a deterioration in the company’s fundamental quality, a change in megatrend exposure or sustainability opinion, a controversy alert such as one relating to human rights, or if the Adviser believes the security has little potential for price appreciation or there is greater relative value in other securities in the Fund’s investment universe.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Growth stocks are generally more sensitive to market movements than other types of stocks primarily because their stock prices are based heavily on future expectations. If the Adviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s growth is wrong, or if the Adviser’s judgment of how other investors will value the company’s growth is wrong, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. Securities issued in initial public offerings tend to involve greater market risk than other equity securities due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s

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Fund Summary

bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock. Securities of real estate-related companies and REITs in which the Fund may invest may be considered equity securities, thus subjecting the Fund to the risks of investing in equity securities generally.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks.The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk: Compared to large-capitalization companies, small- and mid-capitalization companies are more likely to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Stocks of these companies often trade less frequently and in limited volume and their prices may fluctuate more than stocks of large-capitalization companies. As a result, it may be relatively more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies.
ESG Investing Risk: The Fund’s ESG investment approach could cause the Fund to perform differently compared to funds that do not have such an approach or compared to the market as a whole. The Fund’s application of ESG-related considerations may affect the Fund’s exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, style factors or other characteristics and may impact the relative performance of the Fund—positively or negatively—depending on the relative performance of such investments. Excluding stocks that do not meet the ESG standards (as determined by the Adviser) results in a smaller universe of investments in which the Fund may invest, which may exacerbate this risk. Views on what constitutes “ESG investing,” and therefore what investments are appropriate for a fund that has an ESG investment approach, may differ by fund, adviser and investor. In evaluating an investment, a portfolio manager may be reliant upon information and data that may turn out to be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which may negatively impact the portfolio manager’s assessment of an issuer’s ESG performance or the Fund’s performance generally. There is no guarantee that the Adviser’s efforts to select investments based on ESG practices will be successful.
Currency Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in currency-related instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments denominated in, or that generate income denominated in, foreign currencies. The Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
REITs Risk: Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

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Fund Summary

Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, life-of-fund, and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2020, 22.67% Lowest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2022, -15.11%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Life of Fund (3/31/16) | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 15.32% | 7.24% | 12.07% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 14.06% | 6.04% | 11.20% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 9.86% | 5.49% | 9.86% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 8.40% | 5.72% | 11.11% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 13.17% | 6.17% | 11.10% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 15.38% | 7.30% | - | 12.13%
MSCI World Index (Net) | 21.09% | 12.15% | 12.49% | 12.15%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Mirova US LLC (“Mirova US”)
Portfolio Managers
Jens Peers, CFA®, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2016.
Hua Cheng, CFA®, PhD, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2016.
Soliane Varlet has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2022.
Ms. Varlet is an employee of Mirova, the parent company of Mirova US, and provides portfolio management through a personnel-sharing arrangement between Mirova and Mirova US.

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Fund Summary

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the

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Fund Summary

Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 47 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 89 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None1 | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

1 | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.27% | 0.27% | 0.17% | 0.27%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.27% | 2.02% | 0.92% | 1.02%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1,2 | 0.12% | 0.12% | 0.07% | 0.12%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 1.15% | 1.90% | 0.85% | 0.90%

1 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 1.15%, 1.90%, 0.85%, and 0.90% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, Class C, Class N, and Class Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

2 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the date noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 685 | $ | 943 | $ | 1,221 | $ | 2,011
Class C | $ | 293 | $ | 622 | $ | 1,077 | $ | 2,145

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class N | $ | 87 | $ | 286 | $ | 502 | $ | 1,125
Class Y | $ | 92 | $ | 313 | $ | 552 | $ | 1,237

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 193 | $ | 622 | $ | 1,077 | $ | 2,145

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 163% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, mid-capitalization companies are those that, at the time of purchase, have market capitalizations within the capitalization range of the Russell Midcap® Value Index, an unmanaged index that measures the performance of companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values within the broader Russell Midcap® Index. While the market capitalization range for the Russell Midcap® Value Index fluctuates, at December 31, 2025, it was $1.1 billion to $88.9 billion. However, the Fund may invest in companies with smaller or larger capitalizations. Equity securities may take the form of stock in corporations, limited partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other trusts and similar securities representing direct or indirect ownership interests in business organizations.
Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (“Vaughan Nelson”) invests in medium-capitalization companies with a focus on those companies meeting Vaughan Nelson’s return expectations. Vaughan Nelson uses a bottom-up value oriented investment process in constructing the Fund’s portfolio. Vaughan Nelson seeks companies with the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes:

• | Companies earning a positive return on capital with stable-to-improving returns.

• | Companies valued at a discount to their asset value.

• | Companies with an attractive and sustainable dividend level.

In selecting investments for the Fund, Vaughan Nelson generally employs the following strategies:

• | Vaughan Nelson employs a value-driven investment philosophy that selects stocks selling at a relatively low value based on business fundamentals, economic margin analysis and discounted cash flow models. Vaughan Nelson selects companies that it believes are out of favor or misunderstood.

• | Vaughan Nelson uses fundamental analysis to construct a portfolio that, in the opinion of Vaughan Nelson, is made up of quality companies with the potential to provide significant increases in share price over a three year period.

• | Vaughan Nelson will generally sell a security when it reaches Vaughan Nelson’s price target or when the issuer shows a change in financial condition, competitive pressures, poor management decisions or internal or external forces reducing future expected returns from those expected at the time of investment.

The Fund may also:

• | Invest in foreign securities, including emerging markets securities.

• | Invest in other investment companies, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940.

• | Invest in REITs.

• | Invest in securities offered in initial public offerings (“IPOs”), securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), and other privately placed investments such as private equity investments.

Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.

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Fund Summary

Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. Securities issued in initial public offerings tend to involve greater market risk than other equity securities due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock. Securities of real estate-related companies and REITs in which the Fund may invest may be considered equity securities, thus subjecting the Fund to the risks of investing in equity securities generally.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk: Compared to large-capitalization companies, small- and mid-capitalization companies are more likely to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Stocks of these companies often trade less frequently and in limited volume and their prices may fluctuate more than stocks of large-capitalization companies. As a result, it may be relatively more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies.
Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk: The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to pursue its principal investment strategy. A high rate of portfolio turnover may involve correspondingly greater expenses, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and also may result in short term capital gains or losses to shareholders. Portfolio turnover is subject to fluctuations and is dependent on certain factors including current market conditions, portfolio re-balancing, cash flows, new issuance, and individual portfolio needs.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
REITs Risk: Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks.The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk: The Fund will indirectly bear the management, service and other fees of any other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds, in which it invests in addition to its own expenses.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.

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Fund Summary

Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities, and privately negotiated equity and other investments, are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year and ten-year periods (as applicable) compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Fourth Quarter 2020, 22.51% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -28.21%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 12.39% | 11.08% | 9.47%
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 1.84% | 7.33% | 6.88%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 11.43% | 8.08% | 7.10%
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 5.67% | 9.49% | 8.55%
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 10.59% | 9.98% | 8.53%
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 12.44% | 11.13% | 9.54%
Russell 3000® Index | 17.15% | 13.15% | 14.29%
Russell Midcap® Value Index | 11.05% | 9.83% | 9.78%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.

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Fund Summary

Management
Investment Adviser
Natixis Advisors
Subadviser
Vaughan Nelson
Portfolio Managers
Dennis G. Alff, CFA®, Senior Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, has served as co-manager of the Fund since 2008.
Sundeep Khanna, CFA®, Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, has served as co-manager of the Fund since October 2024.
Chris D. Wallis, CFA®, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, has served as co-manager of the Fund since 2008.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

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Fund Summary

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 47 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 89 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None 1 | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

1 | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85% | 0.85%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.21% | 0.21% | 0.09% | 0.21%
Acquired fund fees and expenses 1 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.32% | 2.07% | 0.95% | 1.07%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 2,3 | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.06%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 1.26% | 2.01% | 0.95% | 1.01%

1 | The expense information shown in the table above differs from the expense information disclosed in the Fund’s financial highlights table because the financial highlights table reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

2 | The Fund’s investment adviser has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 1.25%, 2.00%, 0.95%, and 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, Class C, Class N, and Class Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

3 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the examples for the Class A, Class C and Class Y shares are based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the date noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 696 | $ | 964 | $ | 1,251 | $ | 2,069
Class C | $ | 304 | $ | 643 | $ | 1,108 | $ | 2,203
Class N | $ | 97 | $ | 303 | $ | 525 | $ | 1,166
Class Y | $ | 103 | $ | 334 | $ | 584 | $ | 1,300

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 204 | $ | 643 | $ | 1,108 | $ | 2,203

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 120% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the equity securities, including common stocks and preferred stocks, of “small-capitalization companies.” Equity securities may take the form of stock in corporations, limited partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other trusts and other similar securities representing direct or indirect ownership interests in business organizations. Currently, the Fund defines a small-capitalization company to be one whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, either falls within the capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Value Index or is $3.5 billion or less. While the market capitalization range for the Russell 2000® Value Index fluctuates, at December 31, 2025, it was $5.61 million to $17.0 billion. The Fund may, however, invest in companies with large-capitalizations.
Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (“Vaughan Nelson”) invests in small-capitalization companies with a focus on those companies meeting Vaughan Nelson’s return expectations. Vaughan Nelson uses a bottom-up value oriented investment process in constructing the Fund’s portfolio. Vaughan Nelson seeks companies with the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes:

• | Companies earning a positive return on capital with stable-to-improving returns.

• | Companies valued at a discount to their asset value.

• | Companies with an attractive and sustainable dividend level.

In selecting investments for the Fund, Vaughan Nelson generally employs the following strategies:

• | Value-driven investment philosophy that selects stocks selling at a relatively low value based on discounted cash flow models. Vaughan Nelson selects companies that it believes are out of favor or misunderstood.

• | Vaughan Nelson starts with an investment universe of 5,000 securities. Vaughan Nelson then uses value-driven screens to create a research universe of companies with market capitalizations of at least $100 million.

• | Vaughan Nelson uses fundamental analysis to construct a portfolio of 60 to 80 securities that, in the opinion of Vaughan Nelson, is made up of quality companies with the potential to provide significant increases in share price over a three year period.

• | Vaughan Nelson will generally sell a security when it reaches Vaughan Nelson’s price target or when the issuer shows a change in financial condition, competitive pressures, poor management decisions or internal or external forces reducing future expected returns from those expected at the time of investment.

The Fund may also:

• | Invest in convertible preferred stock and convertible debt securities.

• | Invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities.

• | Invest in REITs.

• | Invest in securities offered in initial public offerings (“IPOs”).

Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.

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Fund Summary

The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. Securities issued in initial public offerings tend to involve greater market risk than other equity securities due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock. Securities of real estate-related companies and REITs in which the Fund may invest may be considered equity securities, thus subjecting the Fund to the risks of investing in equity securities generally.
Small-Capitalization Companies Risk: Small-capitalization companies are more likely than larger companies to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or to depend on a small, inexperienced management group. Stocks of these companies often trade less frequently and in limited volume and their prices may fluctuate more than stocks of larger companies. Stocks of small-capitalization companies may therefore be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.
Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities have investment characteristics of both equity and debt securities. Investments in convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt instruments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to many of the same risks as investing in common stock. The Fund may convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks.The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large

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Fund Summary

redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
REITs Risk: Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of a a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Fourth Quarter 2020, 28.00% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -29.83%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 12.16% | 11.62% | 10.00% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 10.77% | 9.54% | 7.83% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 8.24% | 8.51% | 7.33% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 5.45% | 10.04% | 9.08% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 10.17% | 10.53% | 9.06% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 12.22% | 11.68% | - | 9.39%
Russell 3000® Index | 17.15% | 13.15% | 14.29% | 14.09%
Russell 2000® Value Index | 12.59% | 8.88% | 9.27% | 7.18%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.

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Fund Summary

Management
Investment Adviser
Natixis Advisors
Subadviser
Vaughan Nelson
Portfolio Managers
James Eisenman, CFA®, Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, has served as co-manager of the Fund since 2022.
Chris D. Wallis, CFA®, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, has served as co-manager of the Fund since 2004.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

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Fund Summary

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

More About Goals and Strategies
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks total return with less risk than U.S. equity markets. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Equity securities purchased by the Fund may include the following U.S. exchange-listed securities: common stocks; American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are securities issued by a U.S. bank that represent interests in foreign equity securities; and interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund ordinarily invests in a broadly diversified equity portfolio, while also writing (selling) index call options with an aggregate notional value approximately equal to the market value of the equity portfolio. Writing index call options is intended to reduce the Fund’s volatility and provide steady cash flow. Cash flow from call option writing is intended to be an important source of the Fund’s return, although the Fund’s option writing activity reduces the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of its equity portfolio. The combination of a diversified stock portfolio and the steady cash flow from the sale of index call options is intended to moderate the volatility of returns relative to an all-equity portfolio. The Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund may invest in companies with small, medium or large market capitalizations.
The Fund’s combination of a broadly diversified portfolio of common stocks and written index call options is similar to the components of the Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index (the “BXM SM”). The BXM SM is a passive total return index based on (1) buying an S&P 500® stock index portfolio, and (2) writing (selling) the near-term S&P 500® Index “covered” call option. The Fund’s more flexible, active option management approach creates the potential for it to achieve higher long-term returns than the BXM SM while exhibiting a similar level of volatility, as defined by standard deviation of returns. The similarities between the BXM SM and the Fund’s equity investment strategy are expected to result in the Fund exhibiting a positive correlation to the broad U.S. equity markets similar to that exhibited by the BXM SM.
With its core investment in equities, the Fund is intended to be significantly less vulnerable to fluctuations in value caused by interest rate volatility, a risk factor present in both fixed-income investments and “hybrid investments” (blends of equity and fixed-income securities). Through the use of index options, the Fund intends that its risk management strategy will reduce the volatility inherent in equity investments while also allowing for more participation in equity returns than hybrid investments. Thus, the Fund seeks to provide an efficient trade-off between risk and reward, where risk is characterized by volatility or fluctuations in value over time.
Purchasing Stocks
The Fund invests in a diversified stock portfolio, generally consisting of approximately 200 to 400 stocks (including ADRs and REITs), designed to support the Fund’s index option-based risk management strategy as efficiently as possible while seeking to enhance the Fund’s after-tax total return. The Adviser uses a multifactor quantitative model to construct the stock portfolio. The model evaluates U.S.-exchange-traded equities that meet the criteria and constraints established by the Adviser. Generally, the Adviser tries to minimize the difference between the performance of the Fund’s stock portfolio and the performance of the index or indices underlying the Fund’s option strategies while also considering other factors, such as predicted dividend yield. The Adviser monitors this difference and other factors, and rebalances and adjusts the stock portfolio from time to time, by purchasing and selling stocks. To the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment goal, the Adviser may also sell stocks to realize capital losses in an effort to minimize any required capital gain distributions. The Adviser expects the portfolio to generally represent the broad U.S. equity market.
Writing Index Call Options
The Fund continuously writes index call options, typically on broad-based securities market indices, with an aggregate notional value approximately equal to the market value of its broadly diversified stock portfolio. As the seller of the index call option, the Fund receives cash (the “premium”) from the purchaser. The purchaser of an index call option has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index over a fixed price (the “exercise price”) on a certain date in the future (the “expiration date”). If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the value of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the index call option. The Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In such a case, the difference between the cost of repurchasing the option and the premium received will determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund.
Other Investments
The Fund may invest in foreign securities traded in U.S. markets (through ADRs or stocks traded in U.S. dollars). The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements and/or hold cash and cash equivalents.

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

Gateway Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks to capture the majority of the returns associated with equity market investments, while exposing investors to less risk than other equity investments. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in a broadly diversified portfolio of common stocks, while also selling index call options and purchasing index put options. Writing index call options is intended to reduce the Fund’s volatility, provides steady cash flow and is an important source of the Fund’s return, although it also reduces the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of its equity portfolio. The Fund also buys index put options, which can protect the Fund from a significant market decline that may occur over a short period of time. The value of an index put option generally increases as the prices of the stocks constituting the index decrease, and decreases as those stocks increase in price. From time to time, the Fund may reduce its holdings of put options, resulting in an increased exposure to a market decline. The combination of the diversified stock portfolio, the steady cash flow from the sale of index call options and the downside protection from index put options is intended to provide the Fund with the majority of the returns associated with equity market investments while exposing investors to less risk than other equity investments. The Fund may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund may invest in companies with small, medium or large market capitalizations. Equity securities purchased by the Fund may include U.S. exchange-listed common stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are securities issued by a U.S. bank that represent interests in foreign equity securities, and interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
The Fund strives not only for the majority of the returns associated with equity market investments, but also for returns in excess of those available from other investments comparable in volatility. Because, as described above, the Fund writes index call options and purchases index put options in addition to investing in equity securities, the Fund’s historical volatility has been closer to intermediate- to long-term fixed-income investments (intermediate-term are those with approximately five-year maturities and long-term are those with maturities of ten or more years) and hybrid investments (blends of equity and short-term fixed-income securities) than to equity investments. With its core investment in equities, the Fund is significantly less vulnerable to fluctuations in value caused by interest rate volatility, a risk factor present in both fixed-income investments and “hybrid investments” (blends of equity and short-term fixed-income), although the Fund expects to generally have lower long-term returns than a fund consisting solely of equity securities. Through the use of index options, the Fund intends that its risk management strategy will reduce the volatility inherent in equity investments while also allowing for more participation in equity returns than hybrid investments. Thus, the Fund seeks to provide an efficient trade-off between risk and reward where risk is characterized by volatility or fluctuations in value over time.
Purchasing Stocks
The Fund invests in a diversified stock portfolio, generally consisting of approximately 200 to 400 stocks, designed to support the Fund’s index option based risk management strategy as efficiently as possible while seeking to enhance the Fund’s after tax total return. The Adviser uses a multifactor quantitative model to construct the stock portfolio. The model evaluates U.S.-exchange-traded equities that meet criteria and constraints established by the Adviser. Generally, the Adviser tries to minimize the difference between the performance of the stock portfolio and that of the index or indices underlying the Fund’s option strategies while also considering other factors, such as predicted dividend yield. The Adviser monitors this difference and the other factors, and rebalances and adjusts the stock portfolio from time to time, by purchasing and selling stocks. To the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment goal, the Adviser may also sell stocks to realize capital losses in an effort to minimize any required capital gain distributions. The Adviser expects the portfolio to generally represent the broad U.S. equity market.
Writing Index Call Options
The Fund continuously writes index call options, typically on broad-based securities market indices, on the full value of its broadly diversified stock portfolio. As the seller of the index call option, the Fund receives cash (the “premium”) from the purchaser. The purchaser of an index call option has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index over a fixed price (the “exercise price”) on a certain date in the future (the “expiration date”). If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the value of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the index call option. The Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In this case, the difference between the cost of repurchasing the option and the premium received will determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund.
Purchasing Index Put Options
The Fund may buy index put options in an attempt to protect the Fund from a significant market decline that may occur over a short period of time. The value of an index put option generally increases as stock prices (and the value of the index) decrease and decreases as those stocks (and the index) increase in price.
Other Investments
The Fund may invest in foreign securities traded in U.S. markets (through ADRs or stocks traded in U.S. dollars). The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements and/or hold cash and cash equivalents.

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

Additional Information Regarding the Gateway Predecessor Fund
The Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Gateway Predecessor Fund in a reorganization (the “Reorganization”) on February 15, 2008 (February 19, 2008 for Class C and Class Y Shares). Shareholders of the Gateway Predecessor Fund received Class A shares of the Fund in the Reorganization. The Fund’s Class A, Class C and Class Y shares were not outstanding prior to the Reorganization. Although the Gateway Predecessor Fund’s shares and the Fund’s Class A, Class C and Class Y shares would have had substantially similar annual returns because the shares would have been invested in the same portfolio of securities, returns for Class A, Class C and Class Y shares would have been different to the extent their respective expenses differ. Performance for periods after the Reorganization reflects actual Class A, Class C and Class Y performance.
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, depositary receipts and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund invests in securities of companies located in no fewer than three countries, which may include the U.S. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest a percentage of its assets in securities of companies located outside the U.S. equal to at least the lesser of 40% or the percentage of foreign issuers in the Fund’s benchmark, the MSCI World Index, less 5%. The percentage of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities is at least partially based on the composition of the Fund’s benchmark. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to securities of companies located outside the U.S. may fluctuate in connection with variations in the foreign exposure of the Fund’s benchmark. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities of companies located in emerging markets. Emerging markets are economies that the Adviser believes are not generally recognized to be fully developed markets, as measured by gross national income, financial market infrastructure, market capitalization and/or other factors. The Fund may invest in growth and value companies of any size and may also invest in initial public offerings.
The Adviser focuses on megatrends, which are trends that are global and long-term in nature and that will lead to significant transitions in the global economy. The Adviser organizes these global megatrends into four major transitions: (i) demographics; (ii) technology; (iii) environment; and (iv) governance. The Adviser reviews the firm’s convictions around the four major transitions annually. Given the breadth and long-term nature of the transitions, they are unlikely to change. Investable megatrends within the transitions, however, are frequently evaluated.
More specifically, the four transitions are categories across which the firm will invest and the megatrends are specific sub-sets within the transition that are invested in. Examples of megatrends within each transition are as follows: (i) demographics (e.g., aging population, urbanization, and growing middle class); (ii) technology (e.g., digitalization, artificial intelligence, and automation); (iii) environment (e.g., climate change and resource constraints); and (iv) governance (e.g., rethinking globalization and shifting power dynamics). In making its investment decisions, the Adviser uses a bottom-up approach focused on individual companies, rather than making pre-determined or top-down allocations to specific themes, industries or economic factors. The Adviser typically selects companies that proactively manage risk and/or whose activities are expected to benefit from one or more megatrends. Megatrends exposure is typically determined by a company’s revenue exposure to areas deemed thematic by the Adviser (e.g., wind clean-energy systems within environmental transition). However, the Adviser may also consider qualitative elements, when applicable, in determining megatrend exposure (e.g., strategic reorientation of a company from a conventional auto manufacturer to an electric vehicle manufacturer).
From this large universe of solution providers, the Adviser applies detailed fundamental research to identify fundamentally and financially sound companies, assessing companies’: i) strategic positioning, seeking companies with barriers to entry and defensibility of business model; ii) financial structure, looking for cash flow generation capability and balance sheet capacity; iii) management quality, searching for management teams who think like owners with leadership and strategic vision; and iv) sustainability integration, seeking companies with good performance on sustainability indicators believed to be material. The Adviser seeks to invest in securities that are trading at significant discounts to what the Adviser believes are their intrinsic values. In determining intrinsic value, the Adviser focuses on longterm modeling, modeling out a range of potential outcomes and typically uses a combination of discounted cash flow models and multiples analysis.
Furthermore, the Adviser typically prioritizes companies that contribute positively to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (the “SDGs”), while generally avoiding companies whose activities and/or practices create a significant risk to achieving the SDGs. The determination of contribution to the SDGs is based on analysis conducted by the Sustainability Research Team, which examines how companies meet the opportunities and manage the risks associated with the SDGs in order to help determine their viability and sustainability. The main outcome of this analysis is a qualitative “sustainability opinion” and an analysis of a company’s main sustainability opportunities and risks. The analysis encompasses the entire life cycle of product development, from raw material extraction to consumer use and disposal, and focuses only on the most pertinent issues to each company. The sustainability opinion is defined in relation to the achievement of the SDGs; this opinion is based on the merits of the individual company in question and is not relative to any peer group or sector. In addition, the Adviser integrates this analysis into its fundamental research and considers all of the 17 SDGs in the analysis where deemed material and relevant. The Adviser believes that this approach will result in a portfolio with a better environmental and social profile and long-term return potential than the broad equities market. While the Adviser does not use exclusions as a central tenet of its sustainability approach, the Adviser

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

applies a Minimum Standards Policy to evaluate the level of involvement of a company in activities that may be detrimental to the achievement of the SDGs. This may result in exclusion of issuers from the investment universe of securities in which the Fund may invest that do not align with the Fund’s investment objectives nor meet its investment criteria. Such excluded issuers may include, but are not limited to, severe violators of human rights and international norms; those involved in fossil fuels value chain, including the extraction, processing/refining, trading of fossil fuels and production of dedicated equipment/services for the fossil fuel sector; electricity production; palm oil production; generation of revenue from certain chemicals, tobacco products, alcohol producers or retailers that fail to meet certain criteria, sugar-sweetened beverages, gambling, certain military equipment and weapons, and adult entertainment; and those issuers registered, incorporated or headquartered in tax havens as defined and maintained by the European Commission.
Additionally, the Adviser uses specialized environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) data and rating providers as primary sources for opinions and engagement recommendations. Such sources may be specialized in specific topics such as carbon data or biodiversity, or providers of broader ESG data (for instance ISS ESG, Bloomberg, etc.). The Adviser also works with specialized consultants around specific topics such as gender equality.
The Adviser builds a relatively concentrated portfolio and the weight that an individual stock receives in the portfolio is generally based on the Adviser’s fundamental opinion, liquidity, impact, and upside potential. The Adviser may sell a security due to a deterioration in the company’s fundamental quality, a change in megatrend exposure or sustainability opinion, a controversy alert such as one relating to human rights, or if the Adviser believes the security has little potential for price appreciation or there is greater relative value in other securities in the Fund’s investment universe. To the extent an issuer’s status changes to meet the qualification for exclusion, the Fund shall take steps to divest its holdings of the issuer within a reasonable period of time. Because the Fund’s divestment of such investments may not be immediate, the Fund could be invested temporarily in investments that do meet the qualification for exclusion. This screening criteria may be updated periodically. The Fund will notify shareholders prior to any change to the 80% policies discussed above taking effect.
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in mid-capitalization companies. For these purposes, mid-capitalization companies are those that, at the time of purchase, have market capitalizations within the capitalization range of the Russell Midcap® Value Index, an unmanaged index that measures the performance of companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values within the broader Russell Midcap® Index. While the market capitalization range for the Russell Midcap® Value Index fluctuates, at December 31, 2025, it was $1.1 billion to $88.9 billion. However, the Fund may invest in companies with smaller or larger capitalizations. Equity securities may take the form of stock in corporations, limited partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other trusts and similar securities representing direct or indirect ownership interests in business organizations.
Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (“Vaughan Nelson”) invests in medium-capitalization companies with a focus on those companies meeting Vaughan Nelson’s return expectations. Vaughan Nelson uses a bottom-up value oriented investment process in constructing the Fund’s portfolio. Vaughan Nelson seeks companies with the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes:

• | Companies earning a positive return on capital with stable-to-improving returns.

• | Companies valued at a discount to their asset value.

• | Companies with an attractive and sustainable dividend level.

In selecting investments for the Fund, Vaughan Nelson generally employs the following strategies:

• | Vaughan Nelson employs a value-driven investment philosophy that selects stocks selling at a relatively low value based on business fundamentals, economic margin analysis and discounted cash flow models. Vaughan Nelson selects companies that it believes are out of favor or misunderstood.

• | Vaughan Nelson uses fundamental analysis to construct a portfolio that, in the opinion of Vaughan Nelson, is made up of quality companies with the potential to provide significant increases in share price over a three year period.

• | Vaughan Nelson will generally sell a security when it reaches Vaughan Nelson’s price target or when the issuer shows a change in financial condition, competitive pressures, poor management decisions or internal or external forces reducing future expected returns from those expected at the time of investment.

The Fund may also:

• | Invest in foreign securities, including emerging markets securities.

• | Invest in other investment companies, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940.

• | Invest in REITs.

• | Invest in securities offered in initial public offerings (“IPOs”), securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), and other privately placed investments such as private equity investments.

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Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in the equity securities, including common stocks and preferred stocks, of “small-capitalization companies.” Equity securities may take the form of stock in corporations, limited partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other trusts and other similar securities representing direct or indirect ownership interests in business organizations. Currently, the Fund defines a small-capitalization company to be one whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, either falls within the capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Value Index or is $3.5 billion or less. While the market capitalization range for the Russell 2000® Value Index fluctuates, at December 31, 2025, it was $5.61 million to $17.0 billion. The Fund may, however, invest in companies with large-capitalizations.
Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (“Vaughan Nelson”) invests in small-capitalization companies with a focus on those companies meeting Vaughan Nelson’s return expectations. Vaughan Nelson uses a bottom-up value oriented investment process in constructing the Fund’s portfolio. Vaughan Nelson seeks companies with the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes:

• | Companies earning a positive return on capital with stable-to-improving returns.

• | Companies valued at a discount to their asset value.

• | Companies with an attractive and sustainable dividend level.

In selecting investments for the Fund, Vaughan Nelson generally employs the following strategies:

• | Value-driven investment philosophy that selects stocks selling at a relatively low value based on discounted cash flow models. Vaughan Nelson selects companies that it believes are out of favor or misunderstood.

• | Vaughan Nelson starts with an investment universe of 5,000 securities. Vaughan Nelson then uses value-driven screens to create a research universe of companies with market capitalizations of at least $100 million.

• | Vaughan Nelson uses fundamental analysis to construct a portfolio of 60 to 80 securities that, in the opinion of Vaughan Nelson, is made up of quality companies with the potential to provide significant increases in share price over a three year period.

• | Vaughan Nelson will generally sell a security when it reaches Vaughan Nelson’s price target or when the issuer shows a change in financial condition, competitive pressures, poor management decisions or internal or external forces reducing future expected returns from those expected at the time of investment.

The Fund may also:

• | Invest in convertible preferred stock and convertible debt securities.

• | Invest in foreign securities, including emerging market securities.

• | Invest in REITs.

• | Invest in securities offered in initial public offerings (“IPOs”).

All Funds
Temporary Defensive Measures
Temporary defensive measures may be used by a Fund during adverse economic, market, political or other conditions. In this event, a Fund may hold any portion of its assets in cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and/or invest in cash equivalents such as money market instruments or high-quality debt securities as it deems appropriate. A Fund may miss certain investment opportunities if it uses defensive strategies and thus may not achieve its investment goal.
Securities Lending
Each Fund may lend a portion of its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. Please see “Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for details. If a Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and the Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. These fees or interest are income to each Fund, although a Fund often must share the income with the securities lending agent and/or the borrower. Securities lending involves, among other risks, the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent. A Fund may pay lending fees to the party arranging the loan.
In addition, any investment of cash is generally at the sole risk of a Fund. Any income or gains and losses from investing and reinvesting any cash collateral delivered by a borrower pursuant to a loan are generally at a Fund’s risk, and to the extent any such losses reduce the amount of cash below the amount required to be returned to the borrower upon the termination of any loan, the Fund may be required by the securities lending agent to pay or cause to be paid

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

to such borrower an amount equal to such shortfall in cash, possibly requiring it to liquidate other portfolio securities to satisfy its obligations. Each Fund’s securities lending activities are implemented pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees and are subject to Board oversight.
Percentage Investment Limitations
Except as set forth in the Funds’ SAI, the percentage limitations set forth in this Prospectus and the SAI apply at the time an investment is made and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment.
Portfolio Holdings
A description of each Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the section “Portfolio Holdings Information” in the SAI.
A “snapshot” of each Fund’s investments may be found in its filing on Form N-CSR. In addition, a list of each Fund’s full portfolio holdings, which is updated monthly after an aging period of at least 30 calendar days (10 business days for Mirova Global Megatrends Fund, 15 calendar days for Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund) is available on the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com/us/fund-documents (in the “Holdings” column select “Full portfolio holdings” for the relevant Fund). These holdings will remain accessible on the website at least until each Fund files its respective Form N-CSR or Form N-PORT with the SEC for the period that includes the date of the information. In addition, a list of each Fund’s top 10 holdings as of month-end is generally available within 7 business days after month-end (30 days after month-end for Gateway Fund and Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund) on the Funds’ website at https://www.im.natixis.com/us/fund-documents (click Fund name and navigate to “Top Ten Holdings” section on the web page).

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More About Risks

More About Risks
This section provides more information on certain principal risks that may affect a Fund’s portfolio, as well as information on additional risks a Fund may be subject to because of its investments or practices. In seeking to achieve its investment goals, a Fund may also invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment practices which are not a principal focus of a Fund and therefore are not described in this Prospectus. These securities and investment practices and their associated risks are discussed in the Funds’ SAI, which is available without charge upon request (see back cover). The significance of any specific risk to an investment in a Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to a Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
Recent Market Events Risk
The Funds are subject to the risk that geopolitical and other events (e.g., wars, pandemics, terrorism, trade disputes, and rapid technological developments or widespread adoption of new technologies) will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect particular economies and markets as well as global economies and markets, thereby potentially decreasing the value of a Fund’s investments. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in, among other things, significant market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and economic downturns and recessions, and may continue to have similar effects in the future. Such factors, and the effects of other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics, may have a significant adverse effect on a Fund’s performance, exacerbate other risks that apply to a Fund, exacerbate existing economic, political, or social tensions, have the potential to impair the ability of a Fund’s investment adviser, Subadviser, or other service providers to serve the Fund, and lead to disruptions that negatively impact a Fund.
In addition, Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the resulting responses by the United States and other countries, and the potential for wider conflict could increase volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets and adversely affect regional and global economies. These and any related events could significantly impact a Fund’s performance and the value of an investment in the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to Russian issuers or issuers in other countries affected by the invasion.
In addition, U.S. trade policy has changed rapidly in the past, and may do so in the future, and it may be an ongoing source of instability, potentially resulting in significant currency fluctuations and/or having other adverse effects on international markets, international trade agreements, and/or other existing cross-border cooperation arrangements (whether economic, tax, fiscal, legal, regulatory, or otherwise). To the extent trade disputes escalate globally, there could be additional significant impacts on the sectors or industries in which a Fund invests and financial markets generally, as well as other adverse impacts on the Fund’s overall performance. Events such as these and their impact on the Funds are impossible to predict. Other issuers or markets could be similarly affected by past or future geopolitical or other events or conditions.
Below Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities Risk
Below investment grade fixed-income securities, also known as “junk bonds,” are rated below investment grade quality and may be considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. To be considered rated below investment grade quality, a security must not have been rated by any of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Ratings, Inc. or S&P Global Ratings) in one of their respective top four rating categories at the time a Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, the portfolio managers have determined it to be of comparable quality. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of below investment grade fixed-income securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher-quality debt securities, and a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives may, to the extent the Fund invests in below investment grade fixed-income securities, be more dependent upon the portfolio managers’ credit analysis than would be the case if the Fund were investing in higher-quality securities. The issuers of these securities may be in default or have a currently identifiable vulnerability to default on their payments of principal and interest, or may otherwise present elements of danger with respect to payments of principal or interest. Below investment grade fixed-income securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher-grade securities. Yields on below investment grade fixed-income securities will fluctuate. When a Fund makes an investment, the Fund may incur costs, such as transactional or legal expenses, associated with the investment. With respect to investments in distressed instruments, including some below investment grade fixed-income securities, a Fund may be more likely to incur additional expenses. For example, if the issuer of below investment grade fixed-income securities defaults, a Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.
The secondary markets in which below investment-grade securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for higher-grade securities. A lack of liquidity in the secondary trading markets could adversely affect the price at which a Fund could sell a particular below investment-grade security when necessary to meet liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer, and could adversely affect and cause large fluctuations in the net asset value (“NAV”) of a Fund’s shares. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities generally. It is reasonable to expect that any adverse economic conditions could disrupt the market for below investment-grade securities, have an adverse impact on the value of such securities and adversely affect the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon. New laws and proposed new laws may adversely impact the market for below investment-grade fixed-income securities.

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Call Options Risk
The value of Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund’s positions in index options may fluctuate in response to changes in the value of the underlying index. Writing index call options limits the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of stocks in exchange for up-front cash at the time of selling the call option. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular option at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of the Fund’s option strategies, and for these and other reasons the Fund’s option strategies may not reduce the Fund’s volatility to the extent desired.
Convertible Securities Risk
Convertible securities have investment characteristics of both equity and debt securities. Investments in convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt instruments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to many of the same risks as investing in common stock. A Fund may convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Correlation Risk
A Fund’s ability to manage the volatility of its equity portfolio by writing index options depends on the correlation between the returns of the equity portfolio and those of the index on which the Fund’s index options are written. Accordingly, the effectiveness of the Fund’s index option-based risk management strategy may be reduced to the extent the performance of the Fund’s equity portfolio does not correlate to that of the index underlying its option positions.
Credit/Counterparty Risk
Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, a Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. A Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of a Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself. Regulatory requirements may also limit the ability of a Fund to protect its interests in the event of an insolvency of a derivatives counterparty. In the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, a Fund’s ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization on collateral, could be stayed or eliminated under special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty. In particular, with respect to counterparties who are subject to such proceedings in the European Union and the United Kingdom, the liabilities of such counterparties to a Fund could be reduced, eliminated, or converted to equity in such counterparties (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”).
Currency Risk
Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. A Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in currency-related instruments and/or securities or other instruments denominated in, or that generate income denominated in, foreign currencies. The market for some or all currencies may from time to time have low trading volume and become illiquid, which may prevent a Fund from effecting a position or from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions in such markets, thus subjecting the Fund to substantial losses. A Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk
The Funds, their service providers and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Funds and their shareholders. These risks include, among others, theft, misuse, and improper release of confidential or highly sensitive information relating to the Funds and their shareholders, as well as compromises or failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the operations of the Funds and their service providers, including those relating to the performance and effectiveness of security procedures used by a Fund or its service providers to protect a Fund’s assets. Power outages, natural disasters, equipment malfunctions and processing errors that threaten these systems, as well as market events that occur at a pace that overloads these systems, may also disrupt business operations or impact critical data. Cybersecurity incidents and cyber-attacks have been occurring globally at a more frequent and severe level and will likely continue to increase in frequency in the future. There may be an increased risk of cyber-attacks during periods of geopolitical or military conflict, and geopolitical tensions may increase the scale and sophistication of deliberate cybersecurity attacks, particularly those from nation-states or from entities with nation-state backing. Any problems relating to the performance and effectiveness of security procedures used by a Fund or its service providers to protect a Fund’s assets, such as algorithms, codes, passwords, multiple signature systems, encryption and telephone call-backs, may have an adverse impact on an investment in a Fund. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Funds and their shareholders, impede business transactions, violate privacy and other laws, subject the Funds to certain regulatory penalties and reputational damage, and increase compliance costs and expenses. Furthermore, as a Fund’s assets grow, it may become a more appealing target for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware. Although the Funds have developed processes, risk management systems and business continuity plans designed to reduce these risks, the Funds do not directly control the cybersecurity defenses, operational and technology plans and systems of their service providers, financial intermediaries and companies in which they invest or with which they do business. The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. Similar types of

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cybersecurity risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Funds’ investment in such securities to lose value.
The Adviser, the Funds and the issuers in which they invest, service providers, and other market participants may utilize artificial intelligence technologies in business operations. It is possible that the information provided through use of artificial intelligence could be insufficient, incomplete, inaccurate or biased leading to adverse effects for a Fund, including, potentially, operational errors and investment losses. Moreover, recent technological developments in, and the increasingly widespread use of, artificial intelligence technologies may pose risks to the Adviser and the Funds. For instance, the economy may be significantly impacted by the advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence technologies. As artificial intelligence technologies are used more widely, the profitability and growth of a Fund’s holdings may be impacted, which could significantly impact the overall performance of the Fund. The legal and regulatory frameworks within which artificial intelligence technologies operate continue to rapidly evolve, and it is not possible to predict the full extent of current or future risks related thereto.
Derivatives Risk
As described herein and in the SAI, the use of derivatives involves special risks. Derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon or is derived from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. There is no guarantee that a Fund’s use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on a Fund’s exposure to securities market values, interest rates, currency exchange rates or other markets. It is possible that a Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. A Fund’s use of derivatives, such as futures, forwards and foreign currency transactions, involves other risks, such as the credit/counterparty risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is generally greater for OTC derivatives than for centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk and the risk of losing more than any amounts paid or margin transferred to initiate derivatives positions. The Fund may be required to sell other securities at inopportune times to meet collateral requirements on its derivatives transactions. There is also the risk that a Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. The use of derivatives may cause a Fund to incur losses greater than those which would have occurred had derivatives not been used. Losses resulting from the use of derivatives will reduce a Fund’s NAV, and possibly income. To the extent that a Fund uses a derivative for purposes other than as a hedge, or if a Fund hedges imperfectly, the Fund is directly exposed to the risks of that derivative and any loss generated by the derivative will not be offset by a gain. When used, derivatives may affect the timing, amount, or character of distributions payable to, and thus taxes payable by, shareholders. Similarly, for accounting and performance reporting purposes, income and gain characteristics may be different than if the Fund held the underlying securities or other assets directly.
Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), governs the use of derivative investments and certain financing transactions by registered investment companies. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 requires funds that invest in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk based limit to their use of derivative instruments and financing transactions and to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program. A Fund that uses derivative instruments in a limited amount is not subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. Compliance with the rule by the Funds could, among other things, make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility, or otherwise adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Emerging Markets Risk
In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on new issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets. In addition, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases may exacerbate pre-existing problems in emerging market countries with less established health care systems.
Economic and Political Risks. Emerging market countries often experience instability in their political and economic structures and have less market depth, infrastructure, capitalization and regulatory oversight than more developed markets. Government actions could have a significant impact on the economic conditions in such countries, which in turn would affect the value and liquidity of the assets of a Fund invested in emerging market securities. Specific risks that could decrease a Fund’s return include seizure of a company’s assets, restrictions imposed on payments as a result of blockages on foreign currency exchanges or sanctions and unanticipated social or political occurrences.
The ability of the government of an emerging market country to make timely payments on its debt obligations will depend on many factors, including the extent of its reserves, fluctuations in interest rates and access to international credit and investments. A country that has non-diversified exports or relies on certain key imports will be subject to greater fluctuations in the pricing of those commodities. Failure to generate sufficient earnings from foreign trade will make it difficult for an emerging market country to service its foreign debt.
Companies trading in developing securities markets are generally smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies trading in developed markets. Foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales. Settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets may be subject to risk of loss and may be delayed more often than transactions settled in the United States, in part because a Fund will need to use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable compared to more developed countries. Disruptions resulting

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from social and political factors may cause the securities markets to close. If extended closings were to occur, the liquidity and value of a Fund’s assets invested in corporate debt obligations of emerging market companies would decline.
Investment Controls; Repatriation. Foreign investment in emerging market country debt securities is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain emerging market country debt securities. Certain emerging market countries require government approval of investments by foreign persons, limit the amount of investments by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit investments by foreign persons only to a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by domiciliaries of the countries and/or impose additional taxes or controls on foreign investors or currency transactions. Certain emerging market countries may also restrict investment opportunities in issuers in industries deemed important to national interests.
Emerging market countries may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or proceeds of sale of securities by foreign investors. In addition, if a deterioration occurs in an emerging market country’s balance of payments, the country could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to a Fund of any restrictions on investments. Investing in local markets in emerging market countries may require a Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local governmental approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs to a Fund.
Equity Securities Risk
The value of your investment in a Fund is based on the market value (or price) of the securities the Fund holds. You may lose money on your investment due to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and/or periods of below-average performance in individual securities, industries or in the equity market as a whole. This may impact a Fund’s performance and may result in higher portfolio turnover, which may increase the tax liability to taxable shareholders and the expenses incurred by the Fund. The market value of a security can change daily due to political, economic and other events that affect the securities markets generally, as well as those that affect particular companies or governments. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, will vary depending on the types of securities a Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of a Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response to such trends and developments. Securities issued in initial public offerings tend to involve greater market risk than other equity securities due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. Rule 144A securities may be less liquid than other equity securities. Small-capitalization and emerging growth companies may be subject to more abrupt price movements, limited markets and less liquidity than larger, more established companies, which could adversely affect the value of a Fund’s portfolio. Growth stocks are generally more sensitive to market movements than other types of stocks primarily because their stock prices are based heavily on future expectations. If the Adviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s growth is wrong, or if the Adviser’s judgment of how other investors will value the company’s growth is wrong, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. Common stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.
ESG Investing Risk
A Fund’s ESG investment approach could cause a Fund to perform differently, including underperforming, compared to funds that do not have such an approach or compared to the market as a whole. A Fund’s application of ESG-related considerations may affect the Fund’s exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, style factors or other characteristics and may impact the relative performance of a Fund—positively or negatively—depending on the relative performance of such investments. Excluding stocks that do not meet the ESG standards (as determined by the Adviser) results in a smaller universe of investments in which the Fund may invest, which may exacerbate this risk. Views on what constitutes “ESG investing,” and therefore what investments are appropriate for a fund that has an ESG investment approach, may differ by fund, adviser and investor. In evaluating an investment, a portfolio manager may be reliant upon information and data that may turn out to be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which may negatively impact the portfolio manager’s assessment of an issuer’s ESG performance or a Fund’s performance generally. There is no guarantee that the Adviser’s efforts to select investments based on ESG practices will be successful or that any judgment exercised by the Adviser will improve the financial performance of the Fund or reflect the beliefs or values of any particular investor.
Foreign Securities Risk
Foreign securities risk is the risk associated with investments in issuers located in foreign countries. A Fund’s investments in foreign securities may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than investments in securities of U.S. issuers. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of issuers and a small number of securities. In addition, foreign companies often are not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. companies. Reporting, accounting, disclosure, custody and auditing standards and practices of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards and practices, and are often not as rigorous. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. Many countries, including developed nations and emerging markets, are faced with concerns about high government debt levels, credit rating downgrades, the future of the euro as a common currency, possible government debt restructuring and related issues, all of which may cause the value of a Fund’s non-U.S. investments to decline. Nationalization, expropriation

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or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, the imposition of sanctions or threat thereof by other countries (such as the United States), political changes or diplomatic developments, as well as civil unrest, geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, wars and acts of terrorism, may impair a Fund’s ability to buy, sell, hold, receive, deliver, or otherwise transact in certain securities and may also cause the value of a Fund’s non-U.S. investments to decline. When imposed, foreign withholding or other taxes reduce a Fund’s return on foreign securities. In the event of nationalization, expropriation, confiscation, or other government action, intervention, or restriction, a Fund could lose its entire investment in a particular foreign issuer or country. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to these risks to a greater extent than those in more developed markets and securities of developed market companies that conduct substantial business in emerging markets may also be subject to greater risk. These risks also apply to securities of foreign issuers traded in the United States or through depositary receipt programs such as American Depositary Receipts. To the extent a Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a specific geographic region, the Fund may have more exposure to regional political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. In addition, foreign securities may be subject to increased credit/counterparty risk because of the potential difficulties of requiring foreign entities to honor their contractual commitments. Finally, the threat of or actual imposition of tariffs may adversely impact the price of non-U.S. securities.
Inflation/Deflation Risk
Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the present value of future payments. As inflation increases, the real value of a Fund’s portfolio could decline. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy (or expectations that such policies will change), and a Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to the Fund’s investors. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time (the opposite of inflation). Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of a Fund’s portfolio.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the value of a Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities, such as bonds, notes, asset-backed securities and other income-producing securities and derivatives. Fixed-income securities are obligations of the issuer to make payments of principal and/or interest on future dates. Increases in interest rates may cause the value of a Fund’s investments to decline. In addition, the value of certain derivatives (such as interest rate futures) is related to changes in interest rates and their value may suffer significant decline as a result of interest rate changes. A prolonged period of low interest rates may cause a Fund to have a low or negative yield, potentially reducing the value of your investment. Generally, the value of fixed-income securities, including short-term fixed-income securities, rises when prevailing interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Interest rate risk generally is greater for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with relatively longer durations than for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with shorter durations. A significant change in interest rates could cause a Fund’s share price (and the value of your investment) to change. Interest rates can also change in response to the supply and demand for credit, inflation rates, and other factors. Fiscal, economic, monetary or other governmental or central bank policies, actions or measures have in the past, and may in the future, cause or exacerbate risks associated with interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates.
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk
A Fund will indirectly bear the management, service and other fees of any other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), in which it invests in addition to its own expenses. A Fund is also indirectly exposed to the same risks as the underlying funds in proportion to the allocation of the Fund’s assets among the underlying funds. In addition, investments in ETFs have unique characteristics, including, but not limited to, the expense structure and additional expenses associated with investing in ETFs. Investments in other investment companies could allow a Fund to obtain investment exposure to certain securities or issuers to a greater extent than might otherwise be permitted under the 1940 Act. Any investment in another investment company will be consistent with a Fund’s investment objective(s) and applicable regulatory limitations.
Issuer Exposure Risk
Although a Fund is “diversified” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), increases in value in certain securities held by the Fund could cause the Fund to be significantly exposed to a relatively small number of issuers. Similarly, although a Fund is not an index fund, in order to reduce the Fund’s performance dispersion from its benchmark the Fund may use investments in other investment companies to increase its exposure to certain issuers to a greater extent than might otherwise be permitted under the 1940 Act. This exposure to a relatively small number of issuers could increase the risk and volatility of the Fund.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk
Ownership of shares of a Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors, which may include, among others, institutional investors, financial intermediaries, or Funds over which the Adviser has investment discretion. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be forced to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, and may increase transaction costs. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, the Fund also may be required to sell its more liquid investments to meet a large redemption, in which case the Fund’s remaining assets may be less liquid, more volatile, and more difficult to price. These transactions potentially limit the

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use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase a Fund’s expenses or could result in a Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratios. Any of these potential effects may also negatively impact Fund performance. In addition, large purchases of Fund shares may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would, diluting its investment returns. A number of circumstances may cause a Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for a Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Leverage Risk
Leverage is the risk associated with securities or investment practices (e.g., borrowing and the use of certain derivatives) that multiply small index, market or asset-price movements into larger changes in value. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss. As a result, a relatively small decline in the value of the underlying investments could result in a relatively large loss. The use of leverage will increase the impact of gains and losses on the Fund’s returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in a Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of a Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If a Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated credit, equity and other investments, as applicable, are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. Derivatives, and particularly OTC derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value a Fund’s investments. A Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars. In some cases, especially during periods of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes, dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities, and a redemption may dilute the interest of the remaining shareholders.
Management Risk
Management risk is the risk that the portfolio managers’ investment techniques could fail to achieve a Fund’s objective and could cause your investment in a Fund to lose value. Each Fund is subject to management risk because each Fund is actively managed. The portfolio managers will apply their investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Funds, but there can be no guarantee that such decisions will produce the desired results. For example, securities that the portfolio managers expect to appreciate in value may, in fact, decline. Similarly, in some cases, derivative and other investment techniques may be unavailable or the portfolio managers may determine not to use them, even under market conditions where their use could have benefited the Funds.
Market/Issuer Risk
The market value of a Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon political, regulatory, market, economic, and social conditions, as well as developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries, or segments of the market, including conditions that directly relate to the issuers of a Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition, and demand for the issuers’ goods and services. A Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will adversely affect global economies and markets. War, terrorism, and related geopolitical events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on global economies and markets or on specific sectors, industries and countries. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters and epidemics or pandemics may be highly disruptive to economies and markets or on specific sectors, industries and countries. Due to the interconnectedness of economies and financial markets throughout the world, if a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic and financial difficulties, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected. Events such as these and their impact on the Funds may be difficult or impossible to predict.
Models and Data Risk
An Adviser utilizes various proprietary quantitative models (including models that may utilize forms of artificial intelligence, such as machine learning) to identify investment opportunities. There is a possibility that one or all of the quantitative models may fail to identify profitable opportunities at any time. Furthermore, the models may incorrectly identify opportunities and these misidentified opportunities may lead to substantial loss. Models may be predictive in nature and such models may result in an incorrect assessment of future events. Data used in the construction of models may prove to be inaccurate or stale, which may result in losses for a Fund. Investments selected using the models may perform differently than expected as a result of the market factors used in creating models, the weight given to each such market factor, changes from the market factors’ historical trends, human error and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models (e.g., data problems, and/or software issues). Models may cause a Fund’s portfolio to underperform other investment strategies and may not perform as intended in volatile markets. The Adviser’s judgments about the weightings among various models and strategies may be incorrect, adversely affecting performance.

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Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities Risk
In addition to the risks associated with investments in fixed-income securities generally (for example, credit, liquidity, inflation and valuation risk), mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are subject to the risks of the mortgages and assets underlying the securities as well as prepayment risk, the risk that the securities may be prepaid and result in the reinvestment of the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Conversely, there is a risk that a rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage-related or asset-backed security beyond the expected prepayment time, typically reducing the security’s value, which is called extension risk. A Fund also may incur a loss when there is a prepayment of securities that were purchased at a premium. The value of some mortgage-related securities and other asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans, or which may be negatively impacted by economic and market conditions, but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic downturn or recession, high unemployment, a general slowdown in the real estate market, a drop in the market prices of real estate, or an increase in interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments by holders of adjustable rate mortgages. During periods of difficult economic conditions, delinquencies and losses on commercial mortgage-backed investments in particular generally increase, including as a result of the effects of those conditions on commercial real estate markets, the ability of commercial tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain commercial tenants. A Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with the servicing of those assets. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. A dollar roll involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. A Fund may be required to purchase securities at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since the counterparty in the transaction is required to deliver a similar, but not identical, security to the Fund, the security that the Fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. There is no assurance that a Fund’s use of cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
Options Risk
The value of Gateway Fund’s positions in index options may fluctuate in response to changes in the value of the underlying index. Writing index call options limits the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of stocks in exchange for up-front cash at the time of selling the call option. Gateway Fund also risks losing all or part of the cash paid for purchasing index put options. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular option at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of Gateway Fund’s option strategies, and for these and other reasons the Fund’s option strategies may not reduce the Fund’s volatility to the extent desired. From time to time, Gateway Fund may reduce its holdings of put options, resulting in an increased exposure to a market decline.
Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk
A Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to pursue its principal investment strategy. A high rate of portfolio turnover may involve correspondingly greater expenses, which must be borne by a Fund and its shareholders, and also may result in short term capital gains or losses to shareholders. Portfolio turnover is subject to fluctuations and is dependent on certain factors including current market conditions, portfolio re-balancing, cash flows, new issuance, and individual portfolio needs.
REITs Risk
The performance of a Fund that invests in REITs may be dependent in part on the performance of the real estate market and the real estate industry in general. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns. Securities of companies in the real estate industry, including REITs, are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. The U.S. residential and commercial real estate markets may, in the future, experience and have, in the past, experienced a decline in value, with certain regions experiencing significant losses in property values. When growth is slowing, demand for property decreases and prices may decline, which could impact the value of real estate investments as well as mortgage-backed securities that may be held by a Fund. Although interest rates have significantly increased in recent years, the prices of real estate-related assets generally have not decreased as much as may be expected based on historical correlations between interest rates and prices of real estate-related assets. This presents an increased risk of a correction or severe downturn in real estate-related asset prices, which could adversely impact the value of other investments as well (such as loans, securitized debt and other fixed income securities). This risk is particularly present with respect to commercial real estate-related asset prices, and the value of other investments with a connection to the commercial real estate sector. Exposure to such real estate may adversely affect a REIT’s performance, and therefore a Fund’s performance. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or the mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs also are subject to default and prepayment risk. REITs are dependent upon cash flow from their investments to repay financing costs and also on the ability of the REITs’ managers. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk
Compared to companies with large market capitalization, small- and mid-capitalization companies are more likely to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or to depend on a small, inexperienced management group. Securities of these companies often trade less frequently and in limited

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Management Team

volume and their prices may fluctuate more than stocks of large-capitalization companies. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies may therefore be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large-capitalization companies. As a result, it may be relatively more difficult for a Fund to buy and sell securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies.
Management Team
Meet the Funds’ Investment Advisers and Subadviser
The Natixis Funds family currently includes 22 mutual funds (the “Natixis Funds”). The Natixis Funds family had combined assets of $64.4 billion as of December 31, 2025. Natixis Funds are distributed through Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”).
Advisers
Gateway, located at 312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, serves as the adviser to the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund and the Gateway Fund. Gateway is a registered investment adviser that specializes in the management of index option-based strategies for high net worth individuals, investment companies, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. Gateway and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services since 1977. Gateway had approximately $11.54 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Gateway makes investment decisions for the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund and the Gateway Fund.
The aggregate advisory fees paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets, were 0.46% for the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund (after waiver) and 0.56% for the Gateway Fund (after waiver).
Mirova US, located at 888 Boylston Street, Suite 500, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197, serves as the adviser to the Mirova Global Megatrends Fund. Mirova US was formed in 2018 and began operations on March 29, 2019 and specializes in globally diversified portfolio management. Mirova US had $13.6 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Mirova US has entered into a personnel-sharing arrangement with its Paris-based affiliate, Mirova, which is part of Natixis Investment Managers, LLC (“Natixis Investment Managers”). Pursuant to this arrangement, certain employees of Mirova, as a “participating affiliate,” serve as “associated persons” of Mirova US and, in this capacity, are subject to the oversight of Mirova US and its Chief Compliance Officer. These associated persons will, on behalf of Mirova US, provide discretionary investment management services (including acting as portfolio managers), research and related services to the Funds in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Prospectus and SAI. Unlike Mirova US, Mirova is not registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. The personnel-sharing arrangement is based on no-action letters of the staff of the SEC that permit SEC-registered investment advisers to rely on and use the resources of advisory affiliates, subject to certain conditions.
The aggregate advisory fees paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 as a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets were 0.80% for the Mirova Global Megatrends Fund.
Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”), located at 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197, serves as the adviser to the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund. As of December 31, 2025, Natixis Advisors had approximately $108.7 billion in assets under management. Natixis Advisors oversees, evaluates, and monitors the subadvisory services provided to the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund. It also provides general business management and administration to the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund. Natixis Advisors does not determine what investments will be purchased or sold by the Funds. The subadviser listed below makes the investment decisions for the Fund.
The aggregate advisory and subadvisory fees paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 as a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets were 0.64% for the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund (after waiver) and 0.85% for the Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund.
Subadviser
Vaughan Nelson, located at 600 Travis Street, Suite 3800, Houston, Texas 77002, serves as subadviser to the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund. Vaughan Nelson is a subsidiary of Natixis Investment Managers. Originally founded in 1970, Vaughan Nelson focuses primarily on managing equity and fixed-income funds for clients who consist of foundations, university endowments, corporate retirement plans and family/individual funds. As of December 31, 2025, Vaughan Nelson had $15.2 billion in assets under management.
The aggregate advisory and subadvisory fees paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 as a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets were 0.64% for the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund (after waiver) and 0.85% for the Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund.
Subadvisory Agreements
Natixis Advisors and the Natixis Funds have received an exemptive order from the SEC (the “Order”), which permits Natixis Advisors, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees but without shareholder approval, to hire or terminate, and to modify any existing or future subadvisory agreement with, subadvisers that are not affiliated with Natixis Advisors as well as subadvisers that are indirect or direct wholly-owned subsidiaries of Natixis Advisors or of another company that, indirectly or directly, wholly owns Natixis Advisors. Before any Natixis Fund can begin to rely on the exemptions described above, a majority of the shareholders of the Fund must approve the Fund’s ability to rely on the Order. Shareholders of certain Natixis Funds have already approved the Fund’s

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operation under the manager-of-managers structure contemplated by the Order. If a new subadviser is hired for a Fund, shareholders will receive information about the new subadviser within 90 days of the change.
A discussion of the factors considered by the Funds’ Board of Trustees in approving the Funds’ investment advisory and subadvisory contracts is available in each Fund’s filing on Form N-CSR for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2025.
The Funds consider the series of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Natixis ETF Trust and Natixis ETF Trust II, all of which are advised or subadvised by Natixis Advisors, Loomis Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”), AEW Capital Management, L.P., Gateway, Mirova US, Harris Associates L.P. or Vaughan Nelson (collectively, the “Affiliated Investment Managers”), to be part of the “same group of investment companies” under Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) for the purchase of other investment companies. The Affiliated Investment Managers are all under common control.
Portfolio Trades
In placing portfolio trades, a Fund’s adviser or subadviser may use brokerage firms that market the Funds’ shares or are affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Advisors or any adviser or subadviser. In placing trades, any adviser or subadviser will seek to obtain the best combination of price and execution, which involves a number of subjective factors. Such portfolio trades are subject to applicable regulatory restrictions and related procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Meet the Funds’ Portfolio Managers
The following persons have had primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the indicated Fund’s portfolio since the dates stated below.
Gateway
Daniel M. Ashcraft, CFA®- Daniel M. Ashcraft joined Gateway in 2009 and holds the positions of Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager. He has been Co-Portfolio Manager of the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund since 2014 and the Gateway Fund since 2016. Mr. Ashcraft received a B.A. from Miami University of Ohio. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst®.
Michael T. Buckius, CFA®- Mr. Buckius joined Gateway L.P. in 1999 and holds the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at Gateway. He has been a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund since 2014 and the Gateway Fund since 2008 and serves as Co-Portfolio Manager of several funds sub-advised by Gateway. Mr. Buckius holds a B.A. and M.B.A. in Finance from Loyola College in Baltimore. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst®.
Kenneth H. Toft, CFA® - Mr. Toft joined Gateway L.P. in 1992 and holds the positions of Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Gateway. He has been Co-Portfolio Manager of the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund since 2014 and the Gateway Fund since 2013. Mr. Toft holds a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst®.
Mitchell J. Trotta, CFA® - Mr. Trotta joined Gateway L.P. in 2016 and holds the position of Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Gateway. He has been Co-Portfolio Manager of the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund and the Gateway Fund since 2021. Mr. Trotta received a BBA from the University of Cincinnati. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst®.
Mirova US
Hua Cheng, CFA®, PhD - Hua Cheng has served as Co-Portfolio Manager of the Mirova Global Megatrends Fund since its inception in 2016. Dr. Cheng is a Portfolio Manager with Mirova US, which he joined in 2018. Prior to joining Mirova US, he was a Portfolio Manager with Mirova, which he joined in 2014. Prior to joining Mirova, Dr. Cheng was portfolio manager at Vega Investment Managers from 2007 to 2014. Dr. Cheng holds a Ph.D. in Financial Economics from the University Paris Dauphine (France). He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 19 years of investment experience.
Jens Peers, CFA®- Jens Peers has served as Co-Portfolio Manager of the Mirova Global Megatrends Fund since its inception in 2016. Mr. Peers is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Mirova US and Global Chief Investment Officer with Mirova, which he joined in 2013. Prior to joining Mirova, he was Head of Portfolio Management – Environmental Strategies for Kleinwort Benson Investors in Dublin, Ireland from 2003 to 2013. Mr. Peers holds a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst®, is a CEFA (Certified European Financial Analyst of the BVFA-ABAF - Belgian Association of Financial Analysts) and has over 26 years of investment experience.
Soliane Varlet - Soliane Varlet has served as a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Mirova Global Megatrends Fund since 2022. Ms. Varlet is a Portfolio Manager at Mirova, which she joined in 2008. Prior to joining Mirova, she served as a Buy-Side Equity Analyst at its predecessor firm, Ostrum Asset Management from 2005 to 2008. Ms. Varlet graduated from ESC Reims CESEM (now Neoma Business School) and holds a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance (DESS Banque-Finance) from Lyon 2. She holds the SFAF diploma (French Society for Financial Analysts).
Mr. Briand, Mr. Portier, Mr. Rocher and Ms. Varlet are employees of Mirova, the parent company of Mirova US, and provide portfolio management through a personnel-sharing arrangement between Mirova and Mirova US.
Vaughan Nelson
Dennis G. Alff, CFA® - Dennis G. Alff has co-managed the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund since 2008. Mr. Alff, a Senior Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, joined the firm in 2006. Mr. Alff received a B.S. from the United States Military Academy and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Alff holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 28 years of investment management and research experience.

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Fund Services

James Eisenman, CFA® - James Eisenman has co-managed the Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund since 2022. Mr. Eisenman, a Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, joined the firm in 2005. Mr. Eisenman received a B.B.A. and M.B.A. in Accounting from Ohio State University. Mr. Eisenman holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas with over 19 years of investment management and research experience.
Sundeep Khanna, CFA® – Sundeep Khanna has co-managed the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund since 2024. Mr. Khanna, a Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, joined the firm in 2020. Mr. Khanna received a B.S. from The University of Texas. Mr. Khanna holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 20 years of investment management and research experience.
Chris D. Wallis, CFA® - Chris D. Wallis has co-managed Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund and Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund since 2004 and 2008, respectively. Mr. Wallis, Chief Executive Officer and a Senior Portfolio Manager of Vaughan Nelson, joined the firm in 1999. Mr. Wallis received a B.B.A. from Baylor University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Wallis holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 33 years of investment/financial analysis and accounting experience.
Please see the SAI for information on portfolio manager compensation, other accounts under management by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Funds.
Additional Information
The Funds enter into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Advisers, Subadviser the Distributor and the Funds’ custodian and transfer agent, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce such arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy thereunder against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Funds.
This Prospectus provides information concerning the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Funds. None of this Prospectus, the SAI or any contract that is an exhibit to the Funds’ registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Funds and any investor, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by applicable federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
Fund Services
Investing in the Funds
Choosing a Share Class
Each class has different costs associated with buying, selling and holding Fund shares, which allows you to choose the class that best meets your needs. Which class is best for you depends upon a number of factors, including the size of your investment and how long you intend to hold your shares. Certain share classes and certain shareholder features may not be available to you if you hold your shares through a financial intermediary. Your financial representative can help you decide which class of shares is most appropriate for you. The Funds may engage financial intermediaries to receive purchase, exchange and sell orders on their behalf. Accounts established directly with the Funds will be serviced by the Funds’ transfer agent. The Funds, the Funds’ transfer agent and the Distributor do not provide investment advice.
Pursuant to expense offset arrangements, credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances may be used to reduct a Fund’s transfer agent expenses. For information about a Fund’s expenses, including the impact of any such arrangement on a Fund’s total annual operating expenses, see the section “Fund Fees & Expenses” in each Fund Summary.
Class A Shares

• | You pay a sales charge when you buy Class A shares. There are several ways to reduce this charge. See the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated.”

• | You pay lower annual expenses than Class C shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share. However, where front-end sales charges are applicable, returns are earned on a smaller amount of your investment.

• | You pay higher expenses than Class N and Class Y shares.

• | You do not pay a sales charge if your total investment reaches $1 million or more, but you may pay a charge on redemptions if you redeem these shares within 18 months of purchase.

• | The Gateway Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Gateway Predecessor Fund in a Reorganization on February 15, 2008. If you held shares of the Gateway Predecessor Fund in your existing account as of the date of the Reorganization, you are eligible to purchase additional Class A shares without a sales charge or a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) through your existing account, provided you have held fund shares in your existing account since that date. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a sales charge or CDSC may be assessed unless you inform the financial intermediary at the time you make any additional purchase that you were a shareholder of the Gateway Predecessor Fund and are eligible to purchase Class A shares

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Fund Services

| without a sales charge or CDSC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, former shareholders of the Gateway Predecessor Fund may not be eligible to purchase shares at NAV through a financial intermediary if the nature of your relationship with, and/or the services you receive from, the financial intermediary changes. Please consult your financial representative for further details.

Class C Shares

• | You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class C shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

• | You pay higher annual expenses than Class A, Class N and Class Y shares.

• | You may pay a sales charge on redemptions if you sell your Class C shares within one year of purchase.

• | Investors will not be permitted to purchase $1 million or more of Class C shares as a single investment per account. There may be certain exceptions to this restriction for omnibus and other nominee accounts. Investors may want to consider the lower operating expense of Class A shares in such instances. You may pay a charge on redemptions if you redeem Class A shares within 18 months of purchase.

• | Except as noted below, Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years. Please see the section “Exchanging or Converting Shares” for details regarding a conversion of shares. Generally, to be eligible to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares, the Fund or the financial intermediary through which you purchased your shares will need to have records verifying that your Class C shares have been held for eight years. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares may be limited. Group retirement plans of certain financial intermediaries who hold Class C shares with a Fund in an omnibus account do not track participant level aging of shares and therefore these shares will not be eligible for an automatic conversion. Certain intermediaries may convert your Class C shares to Class A shares in accordance with a conversion schedule that may differ from the one described above. Please consult your financial representative for more information.

Class N Shares

• | You have a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000. There are several ways to waive this minimum. See the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.”

• | You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class N shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

• | You do not pay a sales charge on redemptions.

• | You may pay lower annual expenses than Class A, Class C and Class Y shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share.

Class Y Shares

• | You have a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There are several ways to waive this minimum. See the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.”

• | You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class Y shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

• | You do not pay a sales charge on redemptions.

• | You pay lower annual expenses than Class A and Class C shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share.

• | You may pay higher annual expenses than Class N shares.

Information about purchasing shares of the Funds is available on the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
How Sales Charges Are Calculated
Class A Shares
The price that you pay when you buy Class A shares (the “offering price”) is their NAV plus a sales charge (sometimes called a “front-end sales charge”), which varies depending upon the size of your purchase:

Class A Sales Charges* |
| All Funds
Your Investment | As a % of offering price | As a % of your investment
Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.10%
$50,000 – $99,999 | 4.50% | 4.71%
$100,000 – $249,999 | 3.50% | 3.63%
$250,000 – $499,999 | 2.50% | 2.56%
$500,000 – $999,999 | 2.00% | 2.04%
$1,000,000 or more** | 0.00% | 0.00%

Due to rounding, the actual sales charge for a particular transaction may be higher or lower than the rates listed above.
*Not imposed on shares that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions.
** For purchases of Class A shares of a Fund of $1 million or more, there is no front-end sales charge, but a CDSC of 1.00% may apply to redemptions of your shares within 18 months of the date of purchase. See the section “How the CDSC is Applied to Your Shares.”

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Investors who were Gateway Predecessor Fund shareholders as of the date of the Reorganization may purchase additional Class A shares for their accounts existing as of the date of the Reorganization without the imposition of an initial sales charge or a CDSC.
If you invest in Class A shares through a financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure that you obtain the proper “breakpoint” discount. At the time of purchase you must inform the Distributor and the financial intermediary of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated to meet sales load breakpoints of the Funds. You may be required to provide certain records and information, such as account statements, with respect to all of your accounts that hold shares, including accounts with other financial intermediaries and your family members’ and other related party accounts, in order to verify your eligibility for a reduced sales charge. If the Distributor is not notified that you are eligible for a reduced sales charge, the Distributor will be unable to ensure that the reduction is applied to your account. Additional information concerning sales load breakpoints is available from your financial intermediary, by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com (click on “Sales Charges” at the bottom of the home page) or in the SAI.
Reducing Front-End Sales Charges
There are several ways you can lower your sales charge for Class A shares, including:

• | Letter of Intent — By signing a Letter of Intent, you may purchase Class A shares of any Natixis Fund over a 13-month period but pay sales charges as if you had purchased all shares at once. This program can save you money if you plan to invest $50,000 or more within 13 months.

• | Cumulative Purchase Discount — You may be entitled to a reduced sales charge if your “total investment” reaches a breakpoint for a reduced sales charge. The total investment is determined by adding the amount of your current purchase in a Fund, including the applicable sales charge, to the current public offering price of all series and classes of shares of the Natixis Funds held by you in one or more accounts. If your total investment exceeds a sales charge breakpoint in the table above, the lower sales charge applies to the entire amount of your current purchase in a Fund.

• | Combining Accounts — This allows you to combine shares of multiple Natixis Funds and classes for purposes of calculating your sales charge

| Individual Accounts: You may elect to combine your purchase(s) and your total investment, as defined above, with the purchases and total investment of your spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws (of those previously mentioned), individual retirement accounts, sole proprietorships, single trust estates and any other individuals acceptable to the Distributor.

| Certain Retirement Plan Accounts: The Distributor may, at its discretion, combine the purchase(s) and total investment of all qualified participants in the same retirement plan for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge. In most instances, individual accounts may not be linked with certain retirement plan accounts for the purposes of calculating sales charges. In most instances, individual accounts may not be linked with certain retirement plan accounts for the purposes of calculating sales charges. Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE IRA”) contributions will automatically be linked with those of other participants in the same SIMPLE IRA Plan (Class A shares only) using the Natixis Funds prototype document. Effective May 8, 2026, all share classes will be linked for the purpose of calculating sales charges. SIMPLE IRA accounts may not be linked with any other Natixis Fund account for rights of accumulation. Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information on combining accounts.

Eliminating Front-End Sales Charges and CDSCs
Class A shares may be offered without front-end sales charges or a CDSC to the following individuals and institutions:

• | Clients of a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and has been approved by the Distributor to offer Fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee;

• | Any government entity that is prohibited from paying a sales charge or commission to purchase mutual fund shares;

• | All employees of financial intermediaries under arrangements with the Distributor (this also applies to spouses and children under the age of 21 of those mentioned);

• | Fund trustees, former trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned);

• | Certain Retirement Plans. The availability of this pricing may depend upon the policies and procedures of your specific financial intermediary; consult your financial adviser;

• | Non-discretionary and non-retirement accounts of bank trust departments or trust companies, but only if they principally engage in banking or trust activities;

• | Investors who were Gateway Predecessor Fund shareholders as of the date of the Reorganization (see the section “Choosing a Share Class”);

• | Fee Based Programs of certain broker-dealers, the Advisers or the Distributor. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees; and

• | Registered Investment Advisers investing on behalf of clients in exchange for an advisory, management or consulting fee.

In order to receive Class A shares without a front-end sales charge or a CDSC, you must notify the appropriate Fund of your eligibility at the time of purchase. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a sales charge or a CDSC may be assessed; please consult your financial representative.
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from a Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or CDSC waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify a Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular

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intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see Appendix A to this Prospectus for information regarding eligibility for load waivers and discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or in the SAI.
Repurchasing Fund Shares
You may apply proceeds from redeeming Class A shares of a Fund to repurchase Class A shares of any Natixis Fund without paying a front-end sales charge. To qualify, you must reinvest some or all of the proceeds within 120 days after your redemption and notify Natixis Funds in writing (directly or through your financial representative) at the time of reinvestment that you are taking advantage of this privilege. You may reinvest your proceeds by returning your original redemption check or sending a new check for some or all of the redemption amount. Please note: for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a redemption generally is treated as a sale that involves tax consequences, even if the proceeds are later reinvested. Please consult your tax adviser to discuss how a redemption would affect you.
Eliminating the CDSC
As long as the Distributor is notified at the time you sell, the CDSC for Class A shares will generally be eliminated in the following cases: (1) to make distributions from Certain Retirement Plans (as defined below) to pay plan participants or beneficiaries due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement, loans from the plan, hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, or required minimum distributions (an individual participant’s voluntary distribution or a total plan termination or total plan redemption may incur a CDSC); (2) to make payments through a systematic withdrawal plan; (3) due to shareholder death or disability; (4) to return excess IRA contributions; or (5) to make required minimum distributions (applies only to the amount necessary to meet the required minimum distributions).
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a CDSC may be assessed, notwithstanding the exemptions above; please consult your financial representative. Please see the SAI for more information on eliminating or reducing front-end sales charges and the CDSC.
Class C Shares
The offering price of Class C shares is their NAV without a front-end sales charge. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% on redemptions made within one year of the date of their acquisition. The holding period for determining the CDSC will continue to run after an exchange to Class C shares of another Natixis Fund.
Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charges

Year Since Purchase | CDSC on Shares Being Sold
1st | 1.00%
Thereafter | 0.00%

Eliminating the CDSC
The availability of certain CDSC waivers will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of CDSC waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see Appendix A to this Prospectus for information regarding eligibility for CDSC discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or in the SAI.
As long as the Distributor is notified at the time you sell, the CDSC for Class C shares will generally be eliminated in the following cases: (1) to make distributions from Certain Retirement Plans (as defined below) to pay plan participants or beneficiaries due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement, loans from the plan, hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, or required minimum distributions (an individual participant’s voluntary distribution or a total plan termination or total plan redemption may incur a CDSC); (2) to make payments through a systematic withdrawal plan; (3) due to shareholder death or disability; (4) to return excess IRA contributions; or (5) to make required minimum distributions (applies only to the amount necessary to meet the required minimum distributions).
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a CDSC may be assessed, notwithstanding the exemptions above; please consult your financial representative. Please see the SAI for more information on eliminating or reducing front-end sales charges and the CDSC.
How the CDSC is Applied to Your Shares
The CDSC is a sales charge you pay when you redeem certain Fund shares. The CDSC:

• | Is calculated based on the number of shares you are selling;

• | Calculation is based on either your original purchase price or the current NAV of the shares being sold, whichever is lower in order to minimize your CDSC;

• | Is deducted from the proceeds of the redemption unless you request, at the time of the redemption, that it be deducted from the amount remaining in your account; and

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• | Applies to redemptions made within the time frame shown above for each class.

A CDSC will not be charged on:

• | Increases in NAV above the purchase price;

• | Shares you acquired by reinvesting your dividends or capital gains distributions; or

• | Exchanges. However, the original purchase date of the shares from which the exchange is made determines if the newly acquired shares are subject to the CDSC when they are sold.

To minimize the amount of the CDSC you may pay when you redeem shares, the relevant Fund will first redeem shares acquired through reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Shares will be sold in the order in which they were purchased (earliest to latest).
Class N and Class Y Shares
The offering price of Class N and Class Y shares is their NAV without a front-end load sales charge. No CDSC applies when you redeem your shares. You must meet eligibility criteria in order to invest in Class N or Class Y shares.
Information about purchasing shares of the Funds and sales loads is available on the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
Compensation to Securities Dealers
As part of its business strategies, each Fund pays securities dealers and other financial institutions (collectively, “dealers”) that sell its shares. This compensation originates from two sources: sales charges (front-end or deferred) and 12b-1 fees (comprising the annual service and/or distribution fees paid under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act). The sales charges, some or all of which may be paid to dealers, are discussed in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” and dealer commissions are disclosed in the SAI. Class A and Class C shares pay an annual service fee each of 0.25% of their respective average daily net assets. Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution fee of 0.75% of their average daily net assets. Generally, the 12b-1 fees are paid to securities dealers on a quarterly basis, but may be paid on other schedules. The SAI includes additional information about the payment of some or all of such fees to dealers. Because these distribution fees and service (12b-1) fees are paid out of each Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees for Class C shares will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying the front-end sales charge and service fees on Class A shares. Similarly, over time the fees for Class A and Class C shares will increase the cost of your investment and will cost you more than an investment in Class N or Class Y shares.
In addition, each Fund may make payments to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder services to shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus accounts, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents to compensate those intermediaries for services they provide to such shareholders, including, but not limited to, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, similar shareholder or participant recordkeeping, shareholder or participant reporting, or shareholder or participant transaction processing (“recordkeeping and processing-related services”). The actual payments, and the services provided, vary from firm to firm. These fees are paid by each Fund (with the exception of Class N shares, which do not bear such expenses) in light of the fact that other costs may be avoided by each Fund where the intermediary, not each Fund’s service provider, provides services to Fund shareholders.
The Distributor, a Fund’s Adviser and each of their respective affiliates may, out of their own resources, which generally come directly or indirectly from fees paid by the Funds, make payments to certain dealers and other financial intermediaries that satisfy certain criteria established from time to time by the Distributor. Payments may vary based on sales, the amount of assets a dealer’s or intermediary’s clients have invested in the Funds, and other factors. These payments may also take the form of sponsorship of seminars or informational meetings or payments for attendance by persons associated with a dealer or intermediary at informational meetings. The Distributor and its affiliates may also make payments for recordkeeping and processing-related services to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares; such payments will not be made with respect to Class N shares. These payments may be in addition to payments made by each Fund for similar services.
The payments described in this section, which may be significant to the dealers and the financial intermediaries, may create an incentive for a dealer or financial intermediary or their representatives to recommend or sell shares of a particular Fund or share class over other mutual funds or share classes. Additionally, these payments may result in the Funds receiving certain marketing or servicing advantages that are not generally available to mutual funds that do not make such payments, including placement on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs. These payments, which are in addition to any amounts you may pay your dealer or other financial intermediary, may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and a dealer or other financial intermediary who is recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds. Before investing, you should consult with your financial representative and review carefully any disclosure by the dealer or other financial intermediary as to the services it provides, what monies it receives from mutual funds and their advisers and distributors, as well as how your financial representative is compensated. Please see the SAI for additional information about payments made by the Distributor and its affiliates to dealers and intermediaries.
How to Purchase Shares
Each Fund is generally available for purchase in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Funds will only accept investments from U.S. citizens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) or resident aliens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) and a U.S.

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taxpayer identification number. U.S. citizens living abroad are not allowed to purchase shares in the Funds. Class N shares are not eligible to be exchanged or purchased through the website or through the Natixis Funds Automated Voice Response System.
Each Fund sells its shares at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives a properly completed investment order. The Fund generally must receive your properly completed order before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) for your shares to be bought or sold at the Fund’s NAV on that day.
All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to Natixis Funds. Third party checks, travelers checks, starter checks and credit card convenience checks will not be accepted, except that third party checks under $10,000 may be accepted. You may return an uncashed redemption check from your account to be repurchased back into your account. Upon redemption of an investment by check or by periodic account investment, redemption proceeds may be withheld until the check has cleared or the shares have been in your account for 10 days.
A Fund may periodically close to new purchases of shares or refuse any order to buy shares if the Fund determines that doing so would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. See the section “Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares.”
The Funds are not available to new SIMPLE IRA plans using the Natixis Funds’ Prototype document.
You can buy shares of each Fund in several ways:
The Funds may engage financial intermediaries to receive purchase, exchange and sell orders on their behalf. Accounts established directly with the Funds will be serviced by the Funds’ transfer agent. The Funds, the Funds’ transfer agent and the Distributor do not provide investment advice.
Through a financial adviser (certain restrictions may apply). Your financial adviser will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documents to Natixis Funds. Your financial adviser may charge you for these services. Your financial adviser must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV.
Through a broker-dealer (certain restrictions may apply). You may purchase shares of the Funds through a broker-dealer that has been approved by the Distributor. Your broker-dealer may charge you a fee for effecting such transactions. Your broker-dealer must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV.
Directly from the Fund. Natixis Funds’ transfer agent must receive your purchase request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE in order for you to receive that day’s NAV.
You can purchase shares directly from each Fund in several ways:
By mail. You can buy shares of each Fund by submitting a completed application form, which is available online at www.im.natixis.com or by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478, along with a check payable to Natixis Funds for the amount of your purchase to:
Regular Mail
Natixis Funds
P.O. Box 219579
Kansas City, MO 64121-9579
Overnight Mail
Natixis Funds
801 Pennsylvania Ave
Suite 219579
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
After your account has been established, you may send subsequent investments directly to Natixis Funds at the above addresses. Please include either the investment slip from your account statement or a letter specifying the Fund name, your account number and your name, address and telephone number.
By wire. You also may wire subsequent investments. Call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 to obtain wire transfer instructions. At the time of the wire transfer, you will need to include the Fund name, your class of shares, your account number and the registered account owner name(s). Your bank may charge you for such a transfer.
By telephone. You can make subsequent investments by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 if you have already established electronic transfer privileges.
By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Fund by exchange of shares of the same class of another fund by sending a signed letter of instruction to Natixis Funds, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by accessing your account online at www.im.natixis.com.
Through Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). Before you can purchase shares of Natixis Funds through ACH, you must provide specific instructions to Natixis Funds in writing (see STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee below). You may purchase shares of a Fund through ACH by either calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by accessing your account online at www.im.natixis.com.
By internet. If you have established a user name and password and you have established the electronic transfer privilege, you can make subsequent investments through your online account at www.im.natixis.com. If you have not established a user name and password, but you have established the electronic transfer privilege, go to www.im.natixis.com, click on “Account Access,” and follow the instructions.

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Through systematic investing. You can make regular investments through automatic deductions from your bank checking or savings account. If you did not establish the electronic transfer privilege on your application, you may add the privilege by obtaining a Service Options Form through your financial adviser, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by visiting www.im.natixis.com. A medallion signature guarantee may be required to add this option.
Minimum Investment Requirements for each Fund and each share class are described in the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.”
Minimum Balance Policy
In order to address the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller fund positions, on an annual basis each Fund may close an account and send the account holder the proceeds if the account falls below $500. The valuation of account balances for this purpose and liquidation itself generally occur during October of each calendar year, although they may occur at another date in the year.
Certain accounts, such as accounts using the Natixis Funds’ prototype document (including IRAs, Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts), accounts associated with fee-based programs (such as wrap programs), trust networked accounts, accounts initially funded within six months of the liquidation date, certain retirement accounts, or accounts that fall below the minimum as a result of an automatic conversion of Class C to Class A shares, are excluded from the liquidation.
Due to operational limitations, the Funds’ ability to apply the Minimum Balance Policy to shareholder accounts held through an intermediary in an omnibus fashion may be limited. The Funds may work with these intermediaries to enforce the Minimum Balance Policy on these accounts as can best be applied per the timing and constraints of the intermediaries’ account recordkeeping systems. For information about the policy for Class N shares, see the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares” in each Fund summary.
Accounts held through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor may be subject to a different minimum balance policy than the one described above. Please see Appendix A to the Prospectus for more information regarding the minimum balance policies of specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Prospectus or in the SAI. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum balance policy applicable to your investment.
Certain Retirement Plans
Natixis Funds defines “Certain Retirement Plans” as it relates to load waivers, share class eligibility, and account minimums as follows:
Certain Retirement Plans include 401(k), 457, 401(a), (including profit-sharing, money purchase pension plans), 403(b), 403(b)(7), defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Taft-Hartley multi-employer plans, and retiree health benefit plans. Accounts must be plan-level omnibus accounts to qualify.
Certain Retirement Plans do not include individual retirement accounts such as an IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, SARSEP IRA, and Roth IRA. Any account registered in the name of a participant does not qualify.
Intermediary Omnibus Account
Natixis Funds defines an “Intermediary Omnibus Account” as a single account in the Fund held in the name of an intermediary that contains the aggregated assets for all of the intermediary’s investments in the fund. Consult your financial advisor or intermediary if you are unsure how your intermediary assets are held.
How to Redeem Shares
You can redeem shares of each Fund directly from the Fund on any day on which the NYSE is open for business. The information below details the various ways you can redeem shares of a Fund. Except as noted below and in the “Selling Restrictions” section of this Prospectus, each Fund typically expects to pay out redemption proceeds on the next business day after a redemption request is received in good order. The information below also notes certain fees that may be charged by a Fund, its agents, your bank or your financial representative in connection to your redemption request. The Funds do not currently impose any redemption charge other than the CDSC imposed by the Funds’ distributor, as described in the “How Sales Charges are Calculated” section of this Prospectus. The Funds’ Board of Trustees reserves the right to impose additional charges at any time.
Each Fund may fund a redemption request from various sources, including sales of portfolio securities, holdings of cash or cash equivalents, and borrowings from banks (including overdrafts from the Fund’s custodian bank and/or under the Fund’s line of credit, which is shared across certain other Natixis Funds and Loomis Sayles Funds). Each Fund typically will redeem shares for cash; however, as described in more detail below, each Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in-kind (i.e., in portfolio securities rather than cash), if the Fund’s Adviser determines it to be advisable and in the best interest of shareholders. If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk associated with the distributed securities and would incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.
Because large redemptions are likely to require liquidation by a Fund of portfolio holdings, payment for large redemptions may be delayed for up to seven days to provide for orderly liquidation of such holdings. Under unusual circumstances, the Funds may suspend redemptions or postpone payment for more than seven days as permitted by the SEC.
Redemptions totaling more than $100,000 from a single fund/account cannot be processed on the same day unless the proceeds of the redemption are sent via pre-established banking information on the account. Please see the section “STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee” for details.

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Generally, for expedited payment of redemption proceeds, a transaction fee of $5.50 for wire transfers, $50 for international wire transfers or $36.00 for overnight delivery will be charged. These fees are subject to change.
Redemptions through your financial adviser. Your financial adviser must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV. Your financial adviser will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documents to Natixis Funds on a timely basis and may charge you for his or her services.
Redemptions through your broker-dealer. You may redeem shares of the Funds through a broker-dealer that has been approved by the Distributor, which can be contacted at 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197. Your broker-dealer may charge you a fee for effecting such transaction. Your broker-dealer must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV. Your redemptions generally will be wired to your broker-dealer on the first business day after your request is received in good order.
Redemptions directly to the Funds. Natixis Funds’ transfer agent must receive your redemption request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE in order for you to receive that day’s NAV. Your redemptions generally will be sent to you on the first business day after your request is received in good order, although it may take longer.
You may make redemptions directly from each Fund in several ways:
By mail. Send a signed letter of instruction that includes the name of the Fund, the exact name(s) in which the shares are registered, your address, telephone number, account number and the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed to the following address:
Regular Mail
Natixis Funds
P.O. Box 219579
Kansas City, MO 64121-9579
Overnight Mail
Natixis Funds
801 Pennsylvania Ave
Suite 219579
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
All owners of shares must sign the written request in the exact names in which the shares are registered. The owners should indicate any special capacity in which they are signing (such as trustee or custodian or on behalf of a partnership, corporation or other entity).
By exchange. You may sell some or all of your shares of a Fund and use the proceeds to buy shares of the same class of another fund by sending a signed letter of instruction to Natixis Funds, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by accessing your account online at www.im.natixis.com.
By internet. If you have established a user name and password and you have established the electronic transfer privilege, you can redeem shares through your online account at www.im.natixis.com. If you have not established a user name and password but you have established the electronic transfer privilege, go to www.im.natixis.com, click on “Account Access,” and follow the instructions.
By telephone. You may redeem shares by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478. Proceeds from telephone redemption requests (less any applicable fees) can be wired to your bank account, sent electronically by ACH to your bank account or sent by check in the name of the registered owner(s) to the address of record. A wire fee will be deducted from your proceeds. Your bank may charge you a fee to receive the wire.
The telephone redemption privilege may be modified or terminated by the Funds without notice.
You may redeem by telephone to have a check sent to the address of record for the maximum amount of $100,000 per day from a single fund/account. For your protection, telephone or internet redemption requests will not be permitted if Natixis Funds has been notified of an address change or bank account information change for your account within the preceding 30 days. If you prefer, you can decline telephone redemption and transfer privileges by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If the value of your account is $10,000 or more, you can have periodic redemptions automatically paid to you or to someone you designate. Please call 800-225-5478 for more information or to set up a systematic withdrawal plan or visit www.im.natixis.com to obtain a Service Options Form.
In-Kind. Shares normally will be redeemed for cash upon receipt of a redemption request in good order, although each Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in-kind if the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser determines it to be advisable and in the best interest of shareholders. For example, a Fund may pay a redemption in-kind under stressed market conditions or if the redemption amount is large.
You may also request an in-kind redemption of your shares by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478. In-kind redemptions typically take several weeks to effectuate following a redemption request given the operational steps necessary to coordinate with the redeeming shareholder’s custodian. Typically, the redemption date is mutually-agreed upon by the Fund and the redeeming shareholder. A Fund is not required to pay a redemption in-kind even if requested and may in its discretion pay the redemption proceeds in cash.

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Redemptions in-kind will generally, but not necessarily, result in a pro rata distribution of each security held in a Fund’s portfolio. If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk associated with the distributed securities and would incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.
By wire. Before Natixis Funds can wire redemption proceeds (less any applicable fees) to your bank account, you must provide specific wire instructions to Natixis Funds in writing (see “STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee” below). A wire fee will be deducted from the proceeds of each wire. Your bank may charge you a fee to receive the wire.
By ACH. Before Natixis Funds can send redemptions through ACH, you must provide specific wiring instructions to Natixis Funds in writing (see “STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee” below). For ACH redemptions, proceeds will generally arrive at your bank within three business days.
STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee. You must have your signature guaranteed by a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution that can issue a STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee for the following types of redemptions:

• | If you are selling more than $100,000 per day from a single fund/account and you are requesting the proceeds by check (this does not apply to IRA transfer of assets to new custodian).

• | If you are requesting that the proceeds check (of any amount) be made out to someone other than the registered owner(s) or sent to an address other than the address of record.

• | If the account registration or bank account information has changed within the past 30 days.

• | If you are instructing us to send the proceeds by check, wire or ACH to a bank not already active on the fund account.

The Funds will only accept STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantees bearing the STAMP2000 Medallion imprint. The surety amount of the STAMP2000 medallion imprint must meet or exceed the amount on the request. Please note that a notary public cannot provide a STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee. This signature guarantee requirement may be waived by Natixis Funds in certain cases.
Exchanging or Converting Shares
In general, you may exchange shares of each Fund for shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund that offers such class of shares (see the sections “How to Purchase Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares”) without paying a sales charge or a CDSC, if applicable, subject to restrictions noted below. The exchange must be for at least the minimum to open an account (or the total NAV of your account, whichever is less), or, once the fund minimum is met (see the section “Additional Investor Services”). All exchanges are subject to the eligibility requirements of the fund into which you are exchanging and any other limits on sales of or exchanges into that fund. The exchange privilege may be exercised only in those states where shares of such funds may be legally sold. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares for shares of another fund is generally treated as a sale on which gain or loss may be recognized. Subject to the applicable rules of the SEC, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify the exchange privilege at any time. Before requesting an exchange into any other fund, please read its prospectus carefully. You may be unable to hold your shares through the same financial intermediary if you engage in certain share exchanges. You should contact your financial intermediary for further details. Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information on exchanging Fund shares. Class N shares are not eligible to be exchanged through the website or through the Natixis Funds Automated Voice Response System.
In certain circumstances, you may convert shares of your Fund from your current share class into another share class in the same Fund. A conversion is subject to the eligibility requirements of the share class of your Fund that you are converting into including investment minimum requirements. The conversion from one class of shares to another will be based on the respective NAVs of the separate share classes on the trade date for the conversion. Except as noted below, Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years. Generally, to be eligible to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares, the Fund or the financial intermediary through which you purchased your shares will need to have records verifying that your Class C shares have been held for eight years. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares may be limited. Group retirement plans of certain financial intermediaries who hold Class C shares with the Fund in an omnibus account do not track participant level aging of shares and therefore these shares will not be eligible for an automatic conversion. Certain intermediaries may convert your Class C shares to Class A shares in accordance with a conversion schedule that may differ from the one described above. Please consult your financial representative for more information.
Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be assessed the CDSC before converting to the new share class. Any conversions into a class of shares with a front end sales charge will not be subject to an initial sales charge; however, future purchases may be subject to a sales charge, if applicable.
Generally, a conversion between share classes of the same fund is a nontaxable event to the shareholder. All requests for conversions must follow the procedures set forth by the Distributor. Each Fund reserves the right to refuse any conversion request. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to convert share classes of the same fund or have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares may be limited. Please consult your financial representative for more information.
In general, you may sell Class Y shares of any Natixis Fund and use the proceeds to purchase Class I shares in any Loomis Sayles Fund, subject to the eligibility requirements, including fund minimums, of the fund you are purchasing into.
Cost Basis Reporting. Upon the redemption or exchange of your shares in a Fund, the Fund, or, if you purchased your shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, your financial intermediary will be required to provide you and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the Fund shares you redeemed or exchanged. The cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased,

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including through dividend reinvestment, on or after January 1, 2012. Please contact the Fund at 800-225-5478, visit im.natixis.com or consult your financial intermediary, as appropriate, for more information regarding available methods for cost basis reporting and how to select a particular method. Please also consult your tax adviser to determine which available cost basis method is best for you.
Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
The Funds discourage excessive short-term trading that may be detrimental to the Funds and their shareholders. Frequent abusive purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by shareholders may present certain risks for other shareholders in a Fund. This includes the risk of diluting the value of Fund shares held by long term shareholders, interfering with the efficient management of each Fund’s portfolio and increasing brokerage and administrative costs. Funds investing in securities that require special valuation processes (such as foreign securities, below investment grade securities or small-capitalization securities), also may have increased exposure to these risks. The Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies to address and discourage such trading.
Each Fund reserves the right to suspend or change the terms of purchasing or exchanging shares. Each Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason, including if the transaction is deemed not to be in the best interests of the Fund’s other shareholders or possibly disruptive to the management of the Fund. A shareholder whose exchange order has been rejected may still redeem its shares by submitting a redemption request as described under “How to Redeem Shares.”
Limits on Frequent Trading. Excessive trading activity in a Fund is measured by the number of round-trip transactions in a shareholder’s account. A round trip is defined as (1) a purchase (including a purchase by exchange) into a Fund followed by a redemption (including a redemption by exchange) out of the same Fund; or (2) a redemption (including a redemption by exchange) out of a Fund followed by a purchase (including a purchase by exchange) into the same Fund. A round trip transaction is defined as occurring in a single Fund within a 30-day period. Two round trips in a 90-day period will constitute a violation of the Fund’s trading limitations. After the detection of a first violation, the Fund or the Distributor will issue the shareholder and/or their financial intermediary a written warning. The written warning will expire one year from the date the warning is issued, if no further violations occur during the period. After the detection of a second violation (i.e., two more round trip transactions in the Fund within a 90-day period), the Fund or the Distributor will restrict the shareholder from making subsequent purchases (including purchases by exchange) in that Fund for 90 days. After the detection of a third violation within 12 months of the second violation, the Fund or the Distributor will restrict the shareholder and/or their financial intermediary from making purchases (including purchases by exchange) into any of the shareholder’s accounts in the violated Fund for one year from the date the third violation is issued. The above limits are applicable whether a shareholder holds shares directly with a Fund or indirectly through a financial intermediary, such as a broker, bank, investment adviser, record keeper for retirement plan participants, or other third party. The preceding is not an exclusive description of activities that a Fund and the Distributor may consider to be excessive, and, at its discretion, a Fund and the Distributor may restrict or prohibit transactions by such identified shareholders or intermediaries including a period of restriction with no end date.
Notwithstanding the above, certain financial intermediaries, such as retirement plan administrators, may monitor and restrict the frequency of purchase and redemption transactions in a manner different from that described above. The policies of these intermediaries may be more or less restrictive than the generally applicable policies described above. Each Fund may choose to rely on a financial intermediary’s restrictions on frequent trading in place of the Fund’s own restrictions if the Fund determines, at its discretion, that the financial intermediary’s restrictions provide reasonable protection for the Fund from excessive short-term trading activity. Please contact your financial representative for additional information regarding their policies for limiting the frequent trading of Fund shares.
This policy also does not apply with respect to shares purchased by certain funds-of-funds or similar asset allocation programs that rebalance their investments only infrequently. To be eligible for this exemption, the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program must identify itself to and receive prior written approval from a Fund or the Distributor. A Fund and the Distributor may request additional information to enable them to determine that the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program is not designed to and/or is not serving as a vehicle for disruptive short-term trading, which may include requests for (i) written assurances from the sponsor or investment manager of the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program that it enforces the Fund’s frequent trading policy on investors or another policy reasonably designed to deter disruptive short-term trading in Fund shares, and/or (ii) data regarding transactions by investors in the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program, for periods and on a frequency determined by the Fund and the Distributor, so that the Funds can monitor compliance by such investors with the trading limitations of the Funds or of the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program. Under certain circumstances, waivers to these conditions (including waivers to permit more frequent rebalancing) may be approved for programs that in the Fund’s opinion are not vehicles for excessive trading and are not likely to engage in abusive trading.
The Fund and the Distributor may deem shares acquired, redeemed, or exchanged through a firm discretionary program where purchases and redemptions are made at a home office or firm level on behalf of a client not deemed to be intended to engage in market timing. In addition to the circumstances previously noted, the Funds reserve the right to waive any purchase and exchange restrictions at each Fund’s sole discretion where it believes such action is in the Fund’s best interests. The exception would require additional review as noted above for asset allocation programs.
Trade Activity Monitoring. Trading activity is monitored selectively on a daily basis in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities. If a Fund or the Distributor believes that a shareholder or financial intermediary has engaged in excessive, short-term trading activity, it may, at its discretion, request that the shareholder or financial intermediary stop such activities or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the accounts. At its discretion, a Fund and the Distributor, as well as an adviser to a Fund may ban trading in an account if, in their judgment, a shareholder or financial intermediary has engaged in short-term transactions that, while not necessarily in violation of the Fund’s stated policies on frequent trading, are harmful to a Fund or its shareholders. A Fund and the Distributor also reserve the right to notify financial intermediaries of the shareholder’s trading activity.

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Accounts Held by Financial Intermediaries. The ability of a Fund and the Distributor to monitor trades that are placed by omnibus or other nominee accounts may be severely limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary maintains the record of a Fund’s underlying beneficial owners. In general, each Fund and the Distributor will review trading activity at the omnibus account level. If a Fund and the Distributor detect suspicious activity, they may request and receive personal identifying information and transaction histories for some or all underlying shareholders (including plan participants) to determine whether such shareholders have engaged in excessive short-term trading activity. If a Fund believes that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading activity in violation of the Fund’s policies through an omnibus account, the Fund will attempt to limit transactions by the underlying shareholder that engaged in such trading, although it may be unable to do so. A Fund may also limit or prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by an intermediary. Investors should not assume a Fund will be able to detect or prevent all trading practices that may disadvantage a Fund.
Purchase Restrictions
Each Fund is required by federal regulations to obtain certain personal information from you and to use that information to verify your identity. The Funds may not be able to open your account if the requested information is not provided. Each Fund reserves the right to refuse to open an account, close an account and redeem your shares at the then-current price or take other such steps that the Fund deems necessary to comply with federal regulations if your identity cannot be verified.
Selling Restrictions
The table below describes restrictions placed on selling shares of a Fund. Please see the SAI for additional information regarding redemption payment policies.

Restriction | Situation
Each Fund may suspend the right of redemption: | When the NYSE is closed (other than a weekend/holiday) as permitted by the SEC. During an emergency as permitted by the SEC. During any other period permitted by the SEC.
Each Fund reserves the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests: | With a notice of a dispute between registered owners or death of a registered owner. With suspicion/evidence of a fraudulent act.
Each Fund may pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of readily marketable securities in lieu of cash or may take up to 7 days to pay a redemption request in order to raise capital: | When or if it is advisable for the Fund to redeem in-kind, as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser or Subadviser, or if requested by the redeeming shareholder and agreed to by the Fund.
Each Fund may withhold redemption proceeds for 10 days from the purchase date: | When redemptions are made within 10 calendar days of purchase by check or ACH to allow the check or ACH transaction to clear.

The Funds reserve the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests if a Fund receives notice of a dispute between registered owners or of the death of a registered owner or a Fund suspects a fraudulent act. If a Fund refuses a transaction request because it receives notice of a dispute, the transaction will be processed at the NAV next determined after the Fund receives notice that the dispute has been settled or a court order has been entered adjudicating the dispute. If a Fund determines that its suspicion of fraud or belief that a dispute existed was mistaken, the transaction will be processed as of the NAV next determined after the transaction request was first received in good order.
Certificates. Certificates will not be issued or honored for any class of shares.
Unclaimed Property Laws. Many states have unclaimed property laws and regulations that provide for transfer to the state (also known as “escheatment”) of unclaimed or abandoned property under various circumstances. The particular circumstances may include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. If your account is deemed unclaimed or abandoned under applicable state property laws or regulations, the Funds may be required to “escheat” or transfer the assets in your account to the applicable state’s unclaimed property administration. The state may sell escheated shares and, if you subsequently seek to reclaim your proceeds of liquidation from the state, you may only be able to recover the amount received when the shares were sold (and not the amount those shares are worth currently).
It is your responsibility to maintain a correct address for your account, to keep your account active by contacting the Transfer Agent by mail or telephone or accessing your account through the Funds’ website, and to promptly cash all checks for dividends, capital gains and redemptions. Each state’s requirements to keep an account active can vary and are subject to change. If you invest in a Fund through a financial intermediary, you are encouraged to contact the financial intermediary regarding applicable state unclaimed property laws. The Funds, the Transfer Agent and the Distributor will not be liable to shareholders or their representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed property laws.
Self-Servicing Your Account
Shareholders that hold their accounts directly with the Funds may use the following self-service options. Shareholders that hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary should consult their financial intermediary regarding any self-service options that they may offer.

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Natixis Funds Website.
You can access our website at www.im.natixis.com to perform transactions (purchases, redemptions or exchanges), review your account information and Fund NAVs, change your address, order duplicate statements or tax forms or obtain a prospectus, an SAI, an application or periodic reports (certain restrictions may apply).
Natixis Funds Automated Voice Response System.
(Excludes Class N shares) You have access to your account 24 hours a day by calling Natixis Funds’ Automated Voice Response System at 800-225-5478. You may review your account balance and Fund NAVs, order duplicate statements, order duplicate tax forms, obtain distribution and performance information.
Restructuring and Liquidations
Investors should note that each Fund reserves the right to merge or reorganize at any time, or to cease operations or liquidate itself. At any time prior to the liquidation of a Fund, shareholders may redeem their shares of the Fund pursuant to the procedures set forth under “How to Redeem Shares.” The proceeds from any such redemption will be the NAV of the Fund’s shares less any applicable sales charges, redemption fees or other charges. Shareholders may also exchange their shares, subject to investment minimums and other restrictions on exchanges as described under “Exchanging or Converting Shares.” For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of a Fund’s shares for shares of another Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund is generally treated as a sale on which a gain or loss may be recognized.
Retirement Accounts. Absent an instruction to the contrary prior to the liquidation date of the Fund, for shares of the Fund held using a Natixis Funds’ prototype document, in individual retirement accounts, in custodial accounts under a SEP, SIMPLE, SARSEP or 403(b) plan, or in certain other retirement accounts, the Distributor may exchange any shares remaining in the Fund on the liquidation date for shares of Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund (or, if that fund is no longer in existence, then in shares of another comparable Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund) at NAV. Please refer to your plan documents or contact your plan administrator or plan sponsor to determine whether the preceding sentence applies to you.
How Fund Shares Are Priced
NAV is the price of one share of a Fund without a sales charge, and is calculated each business day using this formula:
The policies and procedures used to determine the NAV of Fund shares are summarized below:

• | A share’s NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the days the NYSE is open for trading. This is normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. A Fund’s shares will not be priced on the days on which the NYSE is closed for trading. In addition, a Fund’s shares will not be priced on the holidays listed in the SAI. See the section “Net Asset Value” in the SAI for more details.

• | The price you pay for purchasing, redeeming or exchanging a share will be based upon the NAV next calculated (plus or minus applicable sales charges as described earlier in the Fund Summary) after your order is received by the transfer agent, SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., (rather than when the order arrives at the P.O. box) “in good order” (meaning that the order is complete and contains all necessary information).1

• | Requests received by the Funds after the NYSE closes will be processed based upon the NAV determined at the close of regular trading on the next day that the NYSE is open. If the transfer agent receives the order in good order prior to the NYSE market close (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), the shareholder will receive that day’s NAV. Under limited circumstances, the Distributor may enter into contractual agreements pursuant to which orders received by your investment dealer before a Fund determines its NAV and transmitted to the transfer agent prior to market open on the next business day are processed at the NAV determined on the day the order was received by your investment dealer. Please contact your investment dealer to determine whether it has entered into such a contractual agreement. If your investment dealer has not entered into such a contractual agreement, your order will be processed at the NAV next determined after your investment dealer submits the order to a Fund.

• | If a Fund invests in foreign securities, it may have NAV changes on days when you cannot buy or sell its shares.

1 | Please see the section “How to Purchase Shares,” which provides additional information regarding who can receive a purchase order.

Generally, during times of substantial economic or market change, it may be difficult to place your order by phone. During these times, you may send your order by mail as described in the sections “How to Purchase Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares.”
Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are readily available, as outlined in the Funds’ policies and procedures, are valued at market value. The Funds may use third-party pricing services to obtain market quotations and other valuation information, such as evaluated bids.
Generally, Fund securities and other investments are valued as follows:

• | Equity securities (including shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs), exchange traded notes, rights, and warrants — listed equity securities are valued at the last sale price quoted on the exchange where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market and NASDAQ Capital Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), or if lacking an NOCP, at the most recent bid quotations on the

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| applicable NASDAQ Market. Unlisted equity securities (except unlisted preferred equity securities discussed below) are valued at the last sale price quoted in the market where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. If there is no sale price or closing bid quotation available, unlisted equity securities will be valued using evaluated bids furnished by a third-party pricing service, if available. In some foreign markets, an official close price and a last sale price may be available from the foreign exchange or market. In those cases, the official close price is used. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies described below. If a right is not traded on any exchange, its value is based on the market value of the underlying security, less the cost to subscribe to the underlying security (e.g., to exercise the right), adjusted for the subscription ratio. If a warrant is not traded on any exchange, a price is obtained from a broker-dealer.

• | Debt securities and unlisted preferred equity securities — evaluated bids furnished to a Fund by a third-party pricing service using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

• | Senior Loans — bid prices supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

• | Bilateral Swaps — bilateral credit default swaps are valued based on mid prices (between the bid price and the ask price) supplied by a third-party pricing service. Bilateral interest rate swaps and bilateral standardized commodity and equity index total return swaps are valued based on prices supplied by a third-party pricing service. If prices from a third-party pricing service are not available, prices from a broker-dealer may be used.

• | Centrally Cleared Swaps — settlement prices of the clearing house on which the contracts were traded or prices obtained from broker-dealers.

• | Options — domestic exchange-traded index and single name equity options contracts (including options on ETFs) are valued at the mean of the National Best Bid and Offer quotations as determined by the Options Price Reporting Authority. Foreign exchange-traded single name equity options contracts are valued at the most recent settlement price. Options contracts on foreign indices are priced at the most recent settlement price. Options on futures contracts are valued using the current settlement price on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Other exchange-traded options are valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. OTC currency options and swaptions are valued at mid prices (between the bid price and the ask price) supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available. Other OTC options contracts (including currency options and swaptions not priced through a third-party pricing service) are valued based on prices obtained from broker-dealers. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies as described below.

• | Futures —most recent settlement price on the exchange on which the valuation designee believes that, over time, they are traded most extensively. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies as described below.

• | Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — interpolated rates determined based on information provided by a third-party pricing service.

• | Mutual Funds - net asset value.

Foreign denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates supplied by a third-party pricing service. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser in its capacity as “valuation designee.” A Fund may also value securities and other investments at fair value in other circumstances such as when extraordinary events occur after the close of a foreign market but prior to the close of the NYSE. This may include situations relating to a single issuer (such as a declaration of bankruptcy or a delisting of the issuer’s security from the primary market on which it has traded) as well as events affecting the securities markets in general (such as market disruptions or closings and significant fluctuations in U.S. and/or foreign markets). When fair valuing its securities or other investments, each Fund may, among other things, use modeling tools or other processes that may take into account factors such as securities or other market activity and/or significant events that occur after the close of the foreign market and before the time each Fund’s NAV is calculated. Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security, and fair values used to determine a Fund’s NAV may differ from quoted or published prices, or from prices that are used by others, for the same securities. In addition, the use of fair value pricing may not always result in adjustments to the prices of securities held by a Fund. Valuations for securities traded in the OTC market may be based on factors such as market information, transactions for comparable securities, various relationships between securities or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers. Evaluated prices from a third-party pricing service may require subjective determinations and may be different than actual market prices or prices provided by other pricing services. As of the date of this prospectus, the Funds’ Adviser serves as the Funds’ valuation designee for purposes of compliance with Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act.
Trading in some of the portfolio securities or other investments of some of the Funds takes place in various markets outside the United States on days and at times other than when the NYSE is open for trading. Therefore, the calculation of these Funds’ NAVs does not take place at the same time as the prices of many of its portfolio securities or other investments are determined, and the value of these Funds’ portfolios may change on days when these Funds’ are not open for business and their shares may not be purchased or redeemed.
Dividends and Distributions
The Funds generally distribute all of their net investment income (other than capital gains) as dividends. The following table shows when each Fund expects to distribute dividends.

Dividend Payment Schedule
Annually | Quarterly
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund | Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund | Gateway Fund

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Dividend Payment Schedule
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund |

In addition, each Fund expects to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized long- and short-term capital gains annually (or, in the case of short-term capital gains, more frequently than annually if determined by the Fund to be in the best interest of shareholders), after applying any capital loss carryovers. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Trustees may adopt a different schedule for making distributions as long as payments are made at least annually. A Fund’s distribution rate fluctuates over time for various reasons, and there can be no assurance that a Fund’s distributions will not decrease or that a Fund will make any distributions when scheduled. For example, foreign currency losses could potentially reduce or eliminate, and have in the past reduced or eliminated, regularly scheduled distributions for certain Funds.
Distributions will automatically be reinvested in shares of the same class of the distributing Fund at NAV unless you select one of the following alternatives:

• | Participate in the Dividend Diversification Program, which allows you to have all dividends and distributions automatically invested at NAV in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund registered in your name. Certain investment minimums and restrictions may apply. For more information about the program, see the section “Additional Investor Services;”

• | Receive distributions from dividends and interest in cash while reinvesting distributions from capital gains in additional shares of the same class of the Fund, or in the same class of another Natixis Fund;

• | Receive distributions from capital gains in cash while reinvesting distributions from dividends and interest in additional shares of the same class of the Fund, or in the same class of another Natixis Fund; or

• | Receive all distributions in cash.

For accounts held directly with a Fund, any cash distributions to be paid by check, in an amount of $10 or less, will instead be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares. If a dividend or capital gain distribution check remains uncashed for six months and your account is still open, each Fund will reinvest the dividend or distribution in additional shares of the Fund promptly after making this determination and the check will be canceled. In addition, future dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of a Fund unless you subsequently contact the Fund and request to receive distributions by check.
If you do not select an option when you open your account, all distributions will be reinvested.
Generally, if you earn more than $10 annually in taxable income from a Fund held in a non-retirement plan account, you will receive a Form 1099-DIV to help you report the prior calendar year’s distributions on your U.S. federal income tax return. This information will also be reported to the IRS. Be sure to keep this Form 1099-DIV as a permanent record. A fee may be charged for any duplicate information requested.
Tax Consequences
Except as noted, the discussion below addresses only the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Funds and does not address any non-U.S., state or local tax consequences.
Each Fund intends to meet all requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), necessary to qualify and be eligible for treatment each year as a “regulated investment company” and thus does not expect to pay any U.S. federal income tax on income and capital gains that are timely distributed to shareholders.
Unless otherwise noted, the discussion below, to the extent it describes shareholder-level tax consequences, pertains solely to taxable shareholders. The Funds are not managed with a view toward minimizing taxes imposed on such shareholders.
Taxation of Distributions from the Funds. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable to Fund shareholders as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions attributable to the excess of net long-term capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year over net short-term capital losses from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less, and that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as long-term capital gain includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. Distributions attributable to the excess of net short-term capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less over net long-term capital losses from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, will be taxable as ordinary income.
Distributions of investment income properly reported by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the reduced rates applicable to net capital gain, provided that holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels. Income generated by investments in fixed-income securities, derivatives and REITs generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. Dividends received by a Fund from foreign corporations that are not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the U.S. (other than dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S.) will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income, and hence will not increase the amount of a Fund’s distributions that may be reported as qualified dividend income. Additionally, a

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Fund Services

portion of a Fund’s distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders, provided certain requirements are met.
A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax is imposed on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Net investment income generally includes for this purpose dividends, including any Capital Gain Dividends paid by a Fund and net capital gains recognized on the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of a Fund.
Fund distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. In addition, Fund distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid for his or her shares). Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s NAV reflects gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed.
Dividends declared by a Fund and payable to shareholders of record in October, November or December of one year and paid in January of the next year generally are taxable in the year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the year in which the distributions are received.
Dividends derived from interest on securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if any, may be exempt from state and local income taxes. Each Fund will advise shareholders annually of the proportion of its dividends that are derived from such interest.
Dividends paid by a Fund to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws generally will not be taxable, although distributions by retirement plans to their participants may be taxable. Special tax rules apply to investments through such retirement plans. If your investment is through such a plan, you should consult your tax adviser to determine the suitability of the Fund as an investment through your plan and the tax treatment of distributions to you (including distributions of amounts attributable to an investment in a Fund) from the plan.
Redemption, Sale or Exchange of Fund Shares. A redemption, sale or exchange of Fund shares (including an exchange of Fund shares for shares of another Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund) is a taxable event and generally will result in recognition of gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the amount received. Gain or loss, if any, recognized by a shareholder on a redemption, sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares generally will be taxed as long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder held the shares for more than one year, and as short-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder held the shares for one year or less, assuming in each case that the shareholder held the shares as capital assets. Short-term capital gains generally are taxed at the rates applicable to ordinary income. Any loss realized upon a disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, capital loss to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received by the shareholder with respect to the shares. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale of shares of a Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition, including pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. See “Cost Basis Reporting” above for information about certain cost basis reporting obligations.
Taxation of Certain Fund Investments. A Fund’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. In that case, the Fund’s yield on those securities would be decreased. If a Fund invests more than 50% of its assets in foreign securities, it generally may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The Funds generally do not expect that its shareholders will be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes incurred by the Fund. In addition, a Fund’s investments in foreign securities and foreign currencies may be subject to special tax rules that have the effect of increasing or accelerating the Fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of the Fund’s distributions.
A Fund’s investments in certain debt obligations (such as those issued with “OID” or accrued market discount, in each case, as defined in the SAI), mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, REITs and derivatives may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such investments. Thus, a Fund could be required to liquidate investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code. In addition, a Fund’s investments in derivatives may affect the amount, timing or character of distributions to shareholders. In particular, a Fund’s transactions in options or other derivatives or short sales may cause a larger portion of distributions to be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income than would be the case absent such transactions.
Backup Withholding. Each Fund is required in certain circumstances to apply backup withholding on taxable dividends, redemption proceeds and certain other payments that are paid to any shareholder who does not furnish the Fund with certain information and certifications or who is otherwise subject to backup withholding.
Other Information
Non-U.S. investors are generally not subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends, as defined in the SAI and subject to limitations set forth in the SAI. With respect to distributions other than Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends, non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate). Non-U.S. investors may also be subject to U.S. state, local, and estate tax with respect to their Fund shares.
Please see the SAI for additional information on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in a Fund.
You should consult your tax adviser for more information on your own situation, including possible U.S. federal, state, local, foreign or other applicable taxes.

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Fund Services

Additional Investor Services
Retirement Plans
Natixis Funds offer a range of retirement plans, including IRAs and SEPs. For more information about our Retirement Plans, call us at 800-225-5478.
Investment Builder Program
This is Natixis Funds’ automatic investment plan. Once you meet the Fund minimum, you may authorize automatic monthly transfers from your bank checking or savings account to purchase shares of one or more Natixis Funds. For instructions on how to join the Investment Builder Program, please refer to the section “How to Purchase Shares.”
Dividend Diversification Program
This program allows you to have all dividends and any other distributions automatically invested in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund subject to the eligibility requirements of that other fund and to state securities law requirements. The fund minimum must be met in the new fund prior to establishing the dividend diversification program. Shares will be purchased at the selected fund’s NAV without a front-end sales charge or CDSC on the ex dividend date. Before establishing a Dividend Diversification Program into any other Natixis Fund, please read its prospectus carefully.
Automatic Exchange Plan
Natixis Funds have an automatic exchange plan under which shares of a class of a Natixis Fund are automatically exchanged each month for shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund. The fund minimum must be met prior to establishing an automatic exchange plan. There is no fee for exchanges made under this plan. Please see the section “Exchanging or Converting Shares” above and refer to the SAI for more information on the Automatic Exchange Plan.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
This plan allows you to redeem shares and receive payments from a Fund on a regular schedule. Redemptions of shares that are part of the Systematic Withdrawal Plan are not subject to a CDSC, however, the amount or percentage you specify in the plan may not exceed, on an annualized basis, 10% of the value of your Fund account based upon the value of your Fund account on the day you establish your plan. For information on establishing a Systematic Withdrawal Plan, please refer to the section “How to Redeem Shares.”

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Financial Performance

Financial Performance
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand each Fund’s financial performance for the last five years (or, if shorter, the period of the Fund’s operations). Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the return that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with each Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Funds’ filing on Form N-CSR. The Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, the Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR and the Gateway Trust Form N-CSR is incorporated by reference into the SAI, all of which are available free of charge upon request from the Distributor.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 19.86 | $ | 17.01 | $ | 14.60 | $ | 16.66 | $ | 14.03
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.07 |  | 0.10 |  | 0.12 |  | 0.10 |  | 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.48 |  | 2.85 |  | 2.41 |  | (2.06 ) |  | 2.62
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.55 |  | 2.95 |  | 2.53 |  | (1.96 ) |  | 2.69
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.08 ) |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.06 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 22.33 | $ | 19.86 | $ | 17.01 | $ | 14.60 | $ | 16.66
Total return(b)(c) |  | 12.91 % |  | 17.38 % |  | 17.35 % |  | (11.77 )% |  | 19.20 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 3,443 | $ | 3,090 | $ | 2,073 | $ | 1,617 | $ | 2,613
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.93 % |  | 0.93 % |  | 0.93 % |  | 0.93 % |  | 1.03 % (e)(f)
Gross expenses |  | 1.05 % |  | 1.07 % |  | 1.09 % |  | 1.16 % |  | 1.20 %
Net investment income |  | 0.34 % |  | 0.52 % |  | 0.78 % |  | 0.66 % |  | 0.43 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 18 % |  | 19 % |  | 32 % |  | 11 % |  | 5 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.20% to 0.93%.
(f) | Includes additional voluntary waiver of advisory fee of 0.02%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 19.60 | $ | 16.83 | $ | 14.46 | $ | 16.52 | $ | 13.96
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | (0.08 ) |  | (0.04 ) |  | 0.00 (b) |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.05 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.44 |  | 2.81 |  | 2.38 |  | (2.04 ) |  | 2.61
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.36 |  | 2.77 |  | 2.38 |  | (2.05 ) |  | 2.56
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | — |  | (0.00 ) (b) |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.00 ) (b)
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 21.96 | $ | 19.60 | $ | 16.83 | $ | 14.46 | $ | 16.52
Total return(c)(d) |  | 12.09 % |  | 16.47 % |  | 16.44 % |  | (12.36 )% |  | 18.28 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 821 | $ | 1,053 | $ | 1,130 | $ | 944 | $ | 814
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.68 % |  | 1.68 % |  | 1.68 % |  | 1.68 % |  | 1.79 % (f)(g)
Gross expenses |  | 1.80 % |  | 1.82 % |  | 1.84 % |  | 1.91 % |  | 1.96 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | (0.40 )% |  | (0.23 )% |  | 0.03 % |  | (0.06 )% |  | (0.33 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 18 % |  | 19 % |  | 32 % |  | 11 % |  | 5 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.95% to 1.68%.
(g) | Includes additional voluntary waiver of advisory fee of 0.02%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 19.82 | $ | 16.98 | $ | 14.57 | $ | 16.63 | $ | 14.01
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.13 |  | 0.15 |  | 0.17 |  | 0.14 |  | 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.48 |  | 2.85 |  | 2.40 |  | (2.05 ) |  | 2.61
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.61 |  | 3.00 |  | 2.57 |  | (1.91 ) |  | 2.72
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.14 ) |  | (0.16 ) |  | (0.16 ) |  | (0.15 ) |  | (0.10 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 22.29 | $ | 19.82 | $ | 16.98 | $ | 14.57 | $ | 16.63
Total return(b) |  | 13.27 % |  | 17.69 % |  | 17.74 % |  | (11.51 )% |  | 19.49 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 208 | $ | 309 | $ | 255 | $ | 219 | $ | 437
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.63 % |  | 0.63 % |  | 0.63 % |  | 0.63 % |  | 0.77 % (d)
Gross expenses |  | 1.07 % |  | 1.05 % |  | 1.28 % |  | 1.23 % |  | 1.08 %
Net investment income |  | 0.63 % |  | 0.82 % |  | 1.08 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.70 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 18 % |  | 19 % |  | 32 % |  | 11 % |  | 5 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.90% to 0.63%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 19.84 | $ | 16.99 | $ | 14.59 | $ | 16.65 | $ | 14.02
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.12 |  | 0.14 |  | 0.17 |  | 0.14 |  | 0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.48 |  | 2.86 |  | 2.39 |  | (2.06 ) |  | 2.63
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.60 |  | 3.00 |  | 2.56 |  | (1.92 ) |  | 2.73
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.13 ) |  | (0.15 ) |  | (0.16 ) |  | (0.14 ) |  | (0.10 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 22.31 | $ | 19.84 | $ | 16.99 | $ | 14.59 | $ | 16.65
Total return(b) |  | 13.20 % |  | 17.68 % |  | 17.59 % |  | (11.48 )% |  | 19.43 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 296,829 | $ | 243,477 | $ | 267,033 | $ | 136,629 | $ | 102,004
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.68 % |  | 0.68 % |  | 0.68 % |  | 0.68 % |  | 0.78 % (d)(e)
Gross expenses |  | 0.80 % |  | 0.82 % |  | 0.84 % |  | 0.91 % |  | 0.95 %
Net investment income |  | 0.59 % |  | 0.76 % |  | 1.04 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.67 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 18 % |  | 19 % |  | 32 % |  | 11 % |  | 5 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.95% to 0.68%.
(e) | Includes additional voluntary waiver of advisory fee of 0.02%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 46.31 | $ | 40.42 | $ | 35.57 | $ | 40.70 | $ | 36.76
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.14 |  | 0.19 |  | 0.27 |  | 0.22 |  | 0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.78 |  | 5.89 |  | 4.85 |  | (5.13 ) |  | 3.93
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.92 |  | 6.08 |  | 5.12 |  | (4.91 ) |  | 4.11
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.14 ) |  | (0.19 ) |  | (0.27 ) |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.17 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 51.09 | $ | 46.31 | $ | 40.42 | $ | 35.57 | $ | 40.70
Total return(b)(c) |  | 10.59 % |  | 15.08 % |  | 14.43 % |  | (12.06 )% |  | 11.24 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 683,058 | $ | 688,801 | $ | 778,973 | $ | 869,122 | $ | 1,073,713
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.94 % (e) |  | 0.94 % (f) |  | 0.94 % (f) |  | 0.93 % (g) |  | 0.94 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 0.97 % (e) |  | 0.98 % (f) |  | 0.98 % (f) |  | 0.96 % (g) |  | 0.98 % (g)
Net investment income |  | 0.30 % |  | 0.44 % |  | 0.71 % |  | 0.60 % |  | 0.46 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 17 % |  | 12 % |  | 18 % |  | 16 % |  | 11 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Includes refund of prior year service fee of less than 0.01%.
(f) | Includes refund of prior year service fee of less than 0.01%.
(g) | Includes refund of prior year service fee of 0.01%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 45.70 | $ | 40.02 | $ | 35.26 | $ | 40.41 | $ | 36.60
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment loss(a) |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.14 ) |  | (0.02 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.11 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.69 |  | 5.83 |  | 4.80 |  | (5.09 ) |  | 3.92
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.47 |  | 5.69 |  | 4.78 |  | (5.15 ) |  | 3.81
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.00 ) (b) |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.02 ) |  | — |  | —
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 50.17 | $ | 45.70 | $ | 40.02 | $ | 35.26 | $ | 40.41
Total return(c)(d) |  | 9.72 % |  | 14.22 % |  | 13.56 % |  | (12.74 )% |  | 10.41 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 40,593 | $ | 50,388 | $ | 61,730 | $ | 77,355 | $ | 114,019
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.70 % |  | 1.70 % |  | 1.70 % |  | 1.70 % |  | 1.70 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.73 % |  | 1.73 % |  | 1.73 % |  | 1.71 % |  | 1.73 %
Net investment loss |  | (0.46 )% |  | (0.32 )% |  | (0.06 )% |  | (0.17 )% |  | (0.30 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 17 % |  | 12 % |  | 18 % |  | 16 % |  | 11 %

(a) | Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 46.27 | $ | 40.39 | $ | 35.55 | $ | 40.68 | $ | 36.74
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.28 |  | 0.32 |  | 0.39 |  | 0.33 |  | 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.77 |  | 5.88 |  | 4.83 |  | (5.13 ) |  | 3.94
Total from Investment Operations |  | 5.05 |  | 6.20 |  | 5.22 |  | (4.80 ) |  | 4.23
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.28 ) |  | (0.32 ) |  | (0.38 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | (0.29 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 51.04 | $ | 46.27 | $ | 40.39 | $ | 35.55 | $ | 40.68
Total return |  | 10.89 % |  | 15.40 % (b) |  | 14.75 % (b) |  | (11.80 )% |  | 11.57 % (b)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 484,162 | $ | 416,799 | $ | 540,446 | $ | 378,377 | $ | 504,299
Net expenses |  | 0.65 % |  | 0.65 % (c) |  | 0.65 % (c) |  | 0.65 % |  | 0.65 % (c)
Gross expenses |  | 0.65 % |  | 0.66 % |  | 0.66 % |  | 0.65 % |  | 0.67 %
Net investment income |  | 0.59 % |  | 0.74 % |  | 1.00 % |  | 0.88 % |  | 0.74 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 17 % |  | 12 % |  | 18 % |  | 16 % |  | 11 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Gateway Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 46.27 | $ | 40.38 | $ | 35.54 | $ | 40.67 | $ | 36.73
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.26 |  | 0.29 |  | 0.36 |  | 0.31 |  | 0.27
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.76 |  | 5.90 |  | 4.84 |  | (5.13 ) |  | 3.94
Total from Investment Operations |  | 5.02 |  | 6.19 |  | 5.20 |  | (4.82 ) |  | 4.21
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.30 ) |  | (0.36 ) |  | (0.31 ) |  | (0.27 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 51.03 | $ | 46.27 | $ | 40.38 | $ | 35.54 | $ | 40.67
Total return(b) |  | 10.84 % |  | 15.37 % |  | 14.70 % |  | (11.85 )% |  | 11.49 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 5,935,682 | $ | 5,646,527 | $ | 5,071,145 | $ | 5,013,186 | $ | 6,492,511
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.70 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.73 % |  | 0.73 % |  | 0.73 % |  | 0.71 % |  | 0.73 %
Net investment income |  | 0.54 % |  | 0.67 % |  | 0.94 % |  | 0.83 % |  | 0.70 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 17 % |  | 12 % |  | 18 % |  | 16 % |  | 11 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 19.89 | $ | 17.94 | $ | 15.22 | $ | 20.53 | $ | 19.57
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | 0.02 |  | 0.01 |  | 0.06 |  | 0.08 |  | (0.01 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.90 |  | 2.30 |  | 2.73 |  | (4.62 ) |  | 3.45
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.92 |  | 2.31 |  | 2.79 |  | (4.54 ) |  | 3.44
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.00 ) (b)
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.90 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | — |  | (0.70 ) |  | (2.48 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.93 ) |  | (0.36 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.77 ) |  | (2.48 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 21.88 | $ | 19.89 | $ | 17.94 | $ | 15.22 | $ | 20.53
Total return(c)(d) |  | 15.00 % |  | 12.83 % |  | 18.32 % |  | (22.56 )% |  | 17.82 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 36,419 | $ | 35,416 | $ | 30,525 | $ | 29,013 | $ | 43,117
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.20 % |  | 1.20 % |  | 1.20 % |  | 1.20 % (f) |  | 1.21 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 1.26 % |  | 1.24 % |  | 1.24 % |  | 1.26 % (f) |  | 1.24 % (g)
Net investment income (loss) |  | 0.09 % |  | 0.05 % |  | 0.37 % |  | 0.51 % |  | (0.03 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 21 % |  | 18 % |  | 23 % |  | 23 % |  | 40 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 1.20% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.25%.
(g) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 1.20% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.24%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 18.70 | $ | 16.99 | $ | 14.48 | $ | 19.62 | $ | 18.95
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment loss(a) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.13 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.04 ) |  | (0.16 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.70 |  | 2.18 |  | 2.58 |  | (4.40 ) |  | 3.31
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.58 |  | 2.05 |  | 2.52 |  | (4.44 ) |  | 3.15
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | — |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.01 ) |  | — |  | (0.00 ) (b)
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.90 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | — |  | (0.70 ) |  | (2.48 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.90 ) |  | (0.34 ) |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.70 ) |  | (2.48 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 20.38 | $ | 18.70 | $ | 16.99 | $ | 14.48 | $ | 19.62
Total return(c)(d) |  | 14.17 % |  | 11.99 % |  | 17.41 % |  | (23.11 )% |  | 16.85 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 6,807 | $ | 9,305 | $ | 10,786 | $ | 11,441 | $ | 17,248
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.95 % |  | 1.95 % |  | 1.95 % |  | 1.95 % (f) |  | 1.96 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 2.01 % |  | 1.99 % |  | 1.99 % |  | 2.01 % (f) |  | 1.99 % (g)
Net investment loss |  | (0.64 )% |  | (0.70 )% |  | (0.38 )% |  | (0.23 )% |  | (0.79 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 21 % |  | 18 % |  | 23 % |  | 23 % |  | 40 %

(a) | Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 1.95% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 2.00%.
(g) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 1.95% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.99%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 20.08 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 15.36 | $ | 20.72 | $ | 19.71
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.09 |  | 0.07 |  | 0.11 |  | 0.13 |  | 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.93 |  | 2.32 |  | 2.76 |  | (4.67 ) |  | 3.49
Total from Investment Operations |  | 3.02 |  | 2.39 |  | 2.87 |  | (4.54 ) |  | 3.54
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.09 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.05 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.90 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | — |  | (0.70 ) |  | (2.48 )
Total Distributions |  | (1.00 ) |  | (0.42 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.82 ) |  | (2.53 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 22.10 | $ | 20.08 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 15.36 | $ | 20.72
Total return |  | 15.38 % (b) |  | 13.15 % |  | 18.70 % |  | (22.32 )% |  | 18.17 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 139,265 | $ | 285,343 | $ | 239,009 | $ | 189,957 | $ | 219,679
Net expenses |  | 0.89 % (c) |  | 0.89 % |  | 0.89 % |  | 0.90 % (d) |  | 0.91 % (e)(f)
Gross expenses |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.89 % |  | 0.89 % |  | 0.90 % (d) |  | 0.91 % (e)(f)
Net investment income |  | 0.44 % |  | 0.36 % |  | 0.64 % |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.24 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 21 % |  | 18 % |  | 23 % |  | 23 % |  | 40 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 0.89% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 0.89%.
(e) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 0.90% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 0.90%.
(f) | Includes fee/expense recovery of 0.01%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 20.08 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 15.36 | $ | 20.71 | $ | 19.71
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.07 |  | 0.07 |  | 0.11 |  | 0.12 |  | 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.93 |  | 2.31 |  | 2.75 |  | (4.66 ) |  | 3.46
Total from Investment Operations |  | 3.00 |  | 2.38 |  | 2.86 |  | (4.54 ) |  | 3.51
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.08 ) |  | (0.08 ) |  | (0.11 ) |  | (0.11 ) |  | (0.03 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.90 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | — |  | (0.70 ) |  | (2.48 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.98 ) |  | (0.41 ) |  | (0.11 ) |  | (0.81 ) |  | (2.51 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 22.10 | $ | 20.08 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 15.36 | $ | 20.71
Total return(b) |  | 15.32 % |  | 13.06 % |  | 18.63 % |  | (22.33 )% |  | 18.06 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 664,906 | $ | 644,038 | $ | 753,396 | $ | 637,021 | $ | 840,638
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.95 % (d) |  | 0.96 % (e)
Gross expenses |  | 1.01 % |  | 0.99 % |  | 0.99 % |  | 1.01 % (d) |  | 0.99 % (e)
Net investment income |  | 0.33 % |  | 0.32 % |  | 0.63 % |  | 0.76 % |  | 0.22 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 21 % |  | 18 % |  | 23 % |  | 23 % |  | 40 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 0.95% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.00%.
(e) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 0.95% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 0.99%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 24.04 | $ | 22.76 | $ | 19.64 | $ | 22.70 | $ | 21.79
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | 0.01 |  | (0.01 ) |  | 0.05 |  | 0.11 |  | 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.84 |  | 4.22 |  | 3.14 |  | (2.53 ) |  | 4.52
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.85 |  | 4.21 |  | 3.19 |  | (2.42 ) |  | 4.57
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.02 ) |  | (0.00 ) (b) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.13 ) |  | (0.04 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (8.51 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | — |  | (0.51 ) |  | (3.62 )
Total Distributions |  | (8.53 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.64 ) |  | (3.66 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 18.36 | $ | 24.04 | $ | 22.76 | $ | 19.64 | $ | 22.70
Total return(c)(d) |  | 12.14 % |  | 18.36 % |  | 16.26 % |  | (10.80 )% |  | 21.32 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 38,972 | $ | 42,321 | $ | 38,864 | $ | 33,507 | $ | 37,849
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.17 % (f)
Gross expenses |  | 1.27 % |  | 1.26 % |  | 1.25 % |  | 1.21 % |  | 1.23 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | 0.05 % |  | (0.05 )% |  | 0.25 % |  | 0.55 % |  | 0.22 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 163 % |  | 109 % |  | 94 % |  | 53 % |  | 71 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.20% to 1.15%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 21.16 | $ | 20.48 | $ | 17.75 | $ | 20.58 | $ | 20.15
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment loss(a) |  | (0.15 ) |  | (0.18 ) |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.04 ) |  | (0.13 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.48 |  | 3.79 |  | 2.83 |  | (2.28 ) |  | 4.18
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.33 |  | 3.61 |  | 2.73 |  | (2.32 ) |  | 4.05
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.02 ) |  | (0.00 ) (b) |  | — |  | — |  | (0.00 ) (b)
Net realized capital gains |  | (8.51 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | — |  | (0.51 ) |  | (3.62 )
Total Distributions |  | (8.53 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | — |  | (0.51 ) |  | (3.62 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 14.96 | $ | 21.16 | $ | 20.48 | $ | 17.75 | $ | 20.58
Total return(c)(d) |  | 11.30 % |  | 17.47 % |  | 15.38 % |  | (11.46 )% |  | 20.44 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 2,417 | $ | 2,426 | $ | 3,650 | $ | 7,405 | $ | 11,436
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.93 % (f)
Gross expenses |  | 2.02 % |  | 2.01 % |  | 2.00 % |  | 1.96 % |  | 1.98 %
Net investment loss |  | (0.70 )% |  | (0.82 )% |  | (0.55 )% |  | (0.22 )% |  | (0.56 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 163 % |  | 109 % |  | 94 % |  | 53 % |  | 71 %

(a) | Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.95% to 1.90%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 24.56 | $ | 23.12 | $ | 19.95 | $ | 23.05 | $ | 22.07
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.09 |  | 0.06 |  | 0.11 |  | 0.17 |  | 0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.90 |  | 4.31 |  | 3.19 |  | (2.57 ) |  | 4.58
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.99 |  | 4.37 |  | 3.30 |  | (2.40 ) |  | 4.72
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.09 ) |  | (0.00 ) (b) |  | (0.13 ) |  | (0.19 ) |  | (0.12 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (8.51 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | — |  | (0.51 ) |  | (3.62 )
Total Distributions |  | (8.60 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | (0.13 ) |  | (0.70 ) |  | (3.74 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 18.95 | $ | 24.56 | $ | 23.12 | $ | 19.95 | $ | 23.05
Total return(c) |  | 12.44 % |  | 18.77 % |  | 16.56 % |  | (10.54 )% |  | 21.70 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 10,869 | $ | 52,213 | $ | 63,894 | $ | 72,804 | $ | 91,416
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.86 % (e)
Gross expenses |  | 0.92 % |  | 0.91 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.87 % |  | 0.89 %
Net investment income |  | 0.36 % |  | 0.23 % |  | 0.55 % |  | 0.84 % |  | 0.55 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 163 % |  | 109 % |  | 94 % |  | 53 % |  | 71 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.90% to 0.85%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 24.60 | $ | 23.17 | $ | 19.99 | $ | 23.09 | $ | 22.10
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.07 |  | 0.05 |  | 0.10 |  | 0.16 |  | 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.91 |  | 4.31 |  | 3.20 |  | (2.57 ) |  | 4.60
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.98 |  | 4.36 |  | 3.30 |  | (2.41 ) |  | 4.71
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.00 ) (b) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.18 ) |  | (0.10 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (8.51 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | — |  | (0.51 ) |  | (3.62 )
Total Distributions |  | (8.58 ) |  | (2.93 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.69 ) |  | (3.72 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 19.00 | $ | 24.60 | $ | 23.17 | $ | 19.99 | $ | 23.09
Total return(c) |  | 12.39 % |  | 18.69 % |  | 16.52 % |  | (10.58 )% |  | 21.65 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 102,858 | $ | 146,248 | $ | 144,247 | $ | 148,505 | $ | 226,838
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.93 % (e)
Gross expenses |  | 1.02 % |  | 1.01 % |  | 1.00 % |  | 0.96 % |  | 0.98 %
Net investment income |  | 0.30 % |  | 0.20 % |  | 0.49 % |  | 0.78 % |  | 0.45 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 163 % |  | 109 % |  | 94 % |  | 53 % |  | 71 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.95% to 0.90%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 19.51 | $ | 18.88 | $ | 15.17 | $ | 17.87 | $ | 16.69
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | 0.13 |  | 0.16 |  | 0.09 |  | (0.02 ) |  | 0.00 (b)(c)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.21 |  | 0.75 |  | 3.67 |  | (1.78 ) |  | 4.98
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.34 |  | 0.91 |  | 3.76 |  | (1.80 ) |  | 4.98
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.16 ) |  | (0.14 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | — |  | (0.01 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (1.04 ) |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | (0.90 ) |  | (3.79 )
Total Distributions |  | (1.20 ) |  | (0.28 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.90 ) |  | (3.80 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 20.65 | $ | 19.51 | $ | 18.88 | $ | 15.17 | $ | 17.87
Total return(d)(e) |  | 11.88 % |  | 4.80 % |  | 24.82 % |  | (10.19 )% |  | 30.24 % (c)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 286,920 | $ | 152,088 | $ | 111,268 | $ | 66,339 | $ | 81,493
Net expenses(f) |  | 1.25 % |  | 1.25 % |  | 1.25 % |  | 1.25 % |  | 1.27 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 1.31 % |  | 1.31 % |  | 1.37 % |  | 1.37 % |  | 1.43 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | 0.67 % |  | 0.79 % |  | 0.53 % |  | (0.12 )% |  | 0.01 % (c)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 120 % |  | 80 % |  | 72 % |  | 63 % |  | 92 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment loss per share would have been $(0.05), total return would have been 29.95% and the ratio of net investment loss to average net assets would have been (0.25)%.
(d) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(e) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(f) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.30% to 1.25%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 6.51 | $ | 6.51 | $ | 5.30 | $ | 6.94 | $ | 8.34
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | (0.01 ) |  | 0.00 (b) |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.04 ) |  | (0.06 ) (c)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.76 |  | 0.26 |  | 1.28 |  | (0.70 ) |  | 2.45
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.75 |  | 0.26 |  | 1.27 |  | (0.74 ) |  | 2.39
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | — |  | —
Net realized capital gains |  | (1.04 ) |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | (0.90 ) |  | (3.79 )
Total Distributions |  | (1.16 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.90 ) |  | (3.79 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 6.10 | $ | 6.51 | $ | 6.51 | $ | 5.30 | $ | 6.94
Total return(d)(e) |  | 11.11 % |  | 4.00 % |  | 23.93 % |  | (11.01 )% |  | 29.45 % (c)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 8,409 | $ | 12,948 | $ | 7,988 | $ | 2,118 | $ | 966
Net expenses(f) |  | 2.00 % |  | 2.00 % |  | 2.00 % |  | 2.00 % |  | 2.03 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 2.06 % |  | 2.06 % |  | 2.12 % |  | 2.12 % |  | 2.19 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | (0.10 )% |  | 0.03 % |  | (0.14 )% |  | (0.74 )% |  | (0.67 )% (c)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 120 % |  | 80 % |  | 72 % |  | 63 % |  | 92 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment loss per share would have been $(0.10), total return would have been 29.09% and the ratio of net investment loss to average net assets would have been (0.99)%.
(d) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(e) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(f) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 2.05% to 2.00%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 20.84 | $ | 20.14 | $ | 16.16 | $ | 18.96 | $ | 17.52
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.21 |  | 0.23 |  | 0.15 |  | 0.04 |  | 0.01 (b)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.36 |  | 0.80 |  | 3.93 |  | (1.91 ) |  | 5.29
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.57 |  | 1.03 |  | 4.08 |  | (1.87 ) |  | 5.30
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.19 ) |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.07 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (1.04 ) |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | (0.90 ) |  | (3.79 )
Total Distributions |  | (1.26 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.93 ) |  | (3.86 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 22.15 | $ | 20.84 | $ | 20.14 | $ | 16.16 | $ | 18.96
Total return |  | 12.22 % |  | 5.08 % |  | 25.24 % (c) |  | (9.95 )% (c) |  | 30.64 % (b)(c)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 200,762 | $ | 111,877 | $ | 2,506 | $ | 1,493 | $ | 1,383
Net expenses |  | 0.94 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.95 % (d) |  | 0.95 % (d) |  | 0.97 % (d)(e)
Gross expenses |  | 0.94 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 1.08 % |  | 1.10 % |  | 1.19 %
Net investment income |  | 1.00 % |  | 1.08 % |  | 0.84 % |  | 0.22 % |  | 0.03 % (b)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 120 % |  | 80 % |  | 72 % |  | 63 % |  | 92 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment income per share would have been $0.01, total return would have been 30.37% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.03%.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.00% to 0.95%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 20.81 | $ | 20.11 | $ | 16.15 | $ | 18.95 | $ | 17.51
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.19 |  | 0.22 |  | 0.16 |  | 0.04 |  | 0.06 (b)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.36 |  | 0.80 |  | 3.89 |  | (1.91 ) |  | 5.23
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.55 |  | 1.02 |  | 4.05 |  | (1.87 ) |  | 5.29
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.20 ) |  | (0.18 ) |  | (0.09 ) |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.06 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (1.04 ) |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | (0.90 ) |  | (3.79 )
Total Distributions |  | (1.24 ) |  | (0.32 ) |  | (0.09 ) |  | (0.93 ) |  | (3.85 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 22.12 | $ | 20.81 | $ | 20.11 | $ | 16.15 | $ | 18.95
Total return(c) |  | 12.16 % |  | 5.05 % |  | 25.10 % |  | (9.98 )% |  | 30.61 % (b)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 796,514 | $ | 943,370 | $ | 530,371 | $ | 120,585 | $ | 66,054
Net expenses(d) |  | 1.00 % |  | 1.00 % |  | 1.00 % |  | 1.00 % |  | 1.02 % (e)
Gross expenses |  | 1.06 % |  | 1.06 % |  | 1.12 % |  | 1.12 % |  | 1.18 %
Net investment income |  | 0.90 % |  | 1.03 % |  | 0.91 % |  | 0.22 % |  | 0.28 % (b)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 120 % |  | 80 % |  | 72 % |  | 63 % |  | 92 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment income per share would have been $0.00, total return would have been 30.26% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.01%.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.05% to 1.00%.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information
Set forth below is information regarding sales load waivers and discounts available at specific financial intermediaries which are not affiliated with the Fund, the Advisers, and/or the Distributor. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales load waivers or discounts.
Ameriprise Financial
Front-end sales charge reductions on Class A shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Shareholders purchasing Class A shares of the fund through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only for the following sales charge reductions, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI. Such shareholders can reduce their initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares as follows:
• Transaction size breakpoints, as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
• Rights of accumulation (ROA), as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
• Letter of intent, as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Shareholders purchasing Class A shares of the fund through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only for the following sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI. Such shareholders may purchase Class A shares at NAV without payment of a sales charge as follows:
• Shares purchased by employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer- sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
• Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the seven-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to such shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply to exchanges following such shorter period. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares for load waived shares, that waiver will also apply to such exchanges.
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.
• Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise Financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Fund shares purchased through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only for the following CDSC waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI:
• Redemptions due to death or disability of the shareholder;
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus or the SAI;
• Redemptions made in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account;
• Shares purchased through a Right of Reinstatement (as defined above); or
• Redemptions made as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”)
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this Prospectus or in the SAI or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder’s responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Natixis Funds, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
• Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”)
• The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of the Natixis Funds held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge.
• The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.
• ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).
Letter of Intent (“LOI”)
• Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.
• If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer.
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
• Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate’s life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones’ policies and procedures.
• Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met: the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, the sale and purchase are made from a share class that charges a front load and one of the following (“Right of Reinstatement”):

• | The redemption and repurchase occur in the same account.

• | The redemption proceeds are used to process an: IRA contribution, excess contributions, conversion, recharacterizing of contributions, or distribution, and the repurchase is done in an account within the same Edward Jones grouping for ROA.

• | The Right of Reinstatement excludes systematic or automatic transactions including, but not limited to, purchases made through payroll deductions, liquidations to cover account fees, and reinvestments from non-mutual fund products.

• Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

• Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares through a rollover from either another education savings plan or a security used for qualified distributions.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares made for recontribution of refunded amounts.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
• The death or disability of the shareholder.
• Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value.
• Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
• Shares redeemed as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
• Shares redeemed to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones.
• Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
• Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement.
• Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below.
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
• Initial purchase minimum: $250 (for Natixis Funds Class A and Class C shares only)
• Subsequent purchase minimum: none
Minimum Balances
• Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:
• A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform
• A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform
• An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI
Exchanging Share Classes
• At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder’s holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”) account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at Janney
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney.
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).
• Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.
Sales charge waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney
Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
• Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
• Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, and/or rights of accumulation

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

• Breakpoints as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
• Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
Effective September 29, 2023, if you purchase or hold fund shares through an applicable J.P. Morgan Securities LLC brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC, or back-end sales charge, waivers), share class conversion policy and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
• Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged into Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s share class exchange policy.
• Qualified employer-sponsored defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, other employee benefit plans and trusts used to fund those plans. For purposes of this provision, such plans do not include SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SAR-SEPs or 501(c)(3) accounts.
• Shares of funds purchased through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Self-Directed Investing accounts.
• Shares purchased through rights of reinstatement.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC or its affiliates and their spouse or financial dependent as defined by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.
Class C to Class A share conversion
• A shareholder in the fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the same fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is consistent with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s policies and procedures.
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
• Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
• Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC: breakpoints, rights of accumulation & letters of intent
• Breakpoints as described in the prospectus.
• Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in the fund’s prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Eligible fund family assets not held at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies their financial advisor about such assets.
• Letters of Intent (“LOI”) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable).
Merrill Lynch
Purchases or sales of front-end (i.e. Class A) or level-load (i.e., Class C) mutual fund shares through a Merrill platform or account will be eligible only for the following sales load waivers (front-end, contingent deferred, or back-end waivers) and discounts, which differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus. Purchasers will have to buy mutual fund shares directly from the mutual fund company or through another intermediary to be eligible for waivers or discounts not listed below.
It is the client’s responsibility to notify Merrill at the time of purchase or sale of any relationship or other facts that qualify the transaction for a waiver or discount. A Merrill representative may ask for reasonable documentation of such facts and Merrill may condition the granting of a waiver or discount on the timely receipt of such documentation.
Additional information on waivers and discounts is available in the Merrill Sales Load Waiver and Discounts Supplement (the “Merrill SLWD Supplement”) and in the Mutual Fund Investing at Merrill pamphlet at ml.com/funds. Clients are encouraged to review these documents and speak with their financial advisor to determine whether a transaction is eligible for a waiver or discount.
Front-end Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Merrill

• | Shares of mutual funds available for purchase by employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation, and employee benefit plans (including health

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

| savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans provided the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans;

• | Shares purchased through a Merrill investment advisory program;

• | Brokerage class shares exchanged from advisory class shares due to the holdings moving from a Merrill investment advisory program to a Merrill brokerage account;

• | Shares purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform;

• | Shares purchased through the systematic reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same mutual fund in the same account;

• | Shares exchanged from level-load shares to front-end load shares of the same mutual fund in accordance with the description in the Merrill SLWD Supplement;

• | Shares purchased by eligible employees of Merrill or its affiliates and their family members who purchase shares in accounts within the employee’s Merrill Household (as defined in the Merrill SLWD Supplement);

• | Shares purchased by eligible persons associated with the fund as defined in this prospectus (e.g. the fund’s officers or trustees);

• | Shares purchased from the proceeds of a mutual fund redemption in front-end load shares provided (1) the repurchase is in a mutual fund within the same fund family; (2) the repurchase occurs within 90 calendar days from the redemption trade date, and (3) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for Rights of Reinstatement.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers on Front-end, Back-end, and Level Load Shares Available at Merrill

• | Shares sold due to the client’s death or disability (as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 22(e)(3));

• | Shares sold pursuant to a systematic withdrawal program subject to Merrill’s maximum systematic withdrawal limits as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement;

• | Shares sold due to return of excess contributions from an IRA account;

• | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the investor reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulation;

• | Front-end or level-load shares held in commission-based, non-taxable retirement brokerage accounts (e.g. traditional, Roth, rollover, SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans) that are transferred to fee-based accounts or platforms and exchanged for a lower cost share class of the same mutual fund.

Front-end load Discounts Available at Merrill: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

• | Breakpoint discounts, as described in this prospectus, where the sales load is at or below the maximum sales load that Merrill permits to be assessed to a front-end load purchase, as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement;

• | Rights of Accumulation (ROA), as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement, which entitle clients to breakpoint discounts based on the aggregated holdings of mutual fund family assets held in accounts in their Merrill Household; On or about May 1, 2026, assets not held at Merrill will no longer be included in the ROA calculation. For more detail on the timing and calculation, please refer to the Merrill SLWD Supplement.

• | Letters of Intent (LOI), which allow for breakpoint discounts on eligible new purchases based on anticipated future eligible purchases within a fund family at Merrill, in accounts within your Merrill Household, as further described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement. On or about May 1, 2026, Merrill will no longer accept new LOIs. For more detail on the timing, please refer to the Merrill SLWD Supplement.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account are eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
• Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund
• Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account
• Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

Oppenheimer
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“OPCO”) platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO
• Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
• Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan
• Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
• Shares purchased form the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same amount, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).
• A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of OPCO
• Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family members
• Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus
CDSC Waivers on A, B and C Shares available at OPCO
• Death or disability of the shareholder
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the prospectus
• Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
• Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
• Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., & Raymond James affiliates (“Raymond James”)
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Raymond James
• Shares purchased in an investment advisory program
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
• Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occurs in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement)
• A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James
CDSC Waivers on Classes A and C Shares available at Raymond James
• Death or disability of the shareholder
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Return of excess contributions from an IRA account

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulation
• Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
• Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the rights of accumulation calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
Robert W. Baird & Co. (“Baird”)
Effective January 01, 2026, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Investors A-shares Available at Baird
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Baird
• Shares purchased within 90 days following a redemption from a Natixis Fund, provided (1) the redemption and purchase occur within the purchaser’s Baird household and (2) the redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)
• A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their share converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird
• Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs
CDSC Waivers on Investor A and C shares Available at Baird
• Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
• Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable Internal Revenue Service regulations as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations
• Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
• Rights of accumulations which entitles shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Natixis assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Natixis assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
• Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Natixis assets through Baird, over a 13-month period of time
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (collectively, “Wells Fargo Advisors”)
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC operates a First Clearing business, but these rules are not intended to include First Clearing firms.
Clients of Wells Fargo Advisors purchasing fund shares through Wells Fargo Advisors are eligible for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the prospectus or statement of additional information (“SAI”). In all instances, it is the investor’s responsibility to inform Wells Fargo Advisors at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings, or other facts qualifying the investor for discounts or waivers. Wells Fargo Advisors can ask for documentation supporting the qualification.
Wells Fargo Advisors Class A share front-end sales charge waivers information.
Wells Fargo Advisors clients purchasing or converting to Class A shares of the fund in a Wells Fargo Advisors brokerage account are entitled to a waiver of the front-end load in the following circumstances:

• | Wells Fargo Advisors employee and employee-related accounts according to Wells Fargo Advisor’s employee account linking rules. Legacy accounts and positions receiving affiliate discounts prior to the effective date will continue to receive discounts. Going forward employees of affiliate businesses will not be offered NAV.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

• | Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund.

WellsTrade, the firm’s online self-directed brokerage account, generally offers no-load share classes but there could be instances where a Class A share is offered without a front-end sales charge.
Wells Fargo Advisors Class 529-A share front-end sales charge waivers information.
Wells Fargo Advisors clients purchasing or converting to Class 529-A shares of the fund through Wells Fargo Advisors transactional brokerage accounts are entitled to a waiver of the front-end load in the following circumstances:

• | Shares purchased through a rollover from another 529 plan.

• | Recontribution(s) of distributed funds are only allowed during the NAV reinstatement period as dictated by the sponsor’s specifications outlined by the plan.

Wells Fargo Advisors is not able to apply the NAV Reinstatement privilege for 529 Plan account purchases placed directly at the fund company. Investors wishing to utilize this privilege outside of Wells Fargo systems will need to do so directly with the Plan or a financial intermediary that supports this feature.
Unless specifically described above, other front-end load waivers are not available on mutual fund purchases through Wells Fargo Advisors.
Wells Fargo Advisors Contingent Deferred Sales Charge information.

• | Contingent deferred sales charges (CDSC) imposed on fund redemptions will not be rebated based on future purchases.

Wells Fargo Advisors Class A front-end load discounts
Wells Fargo Advisors Clients purchasing Class A shares of the fund through Wells Fargo Advisors brokerage accounts will follow the following aggregation rules for breakpoint discounts:

• | SEP or SIMPLE IRAs will not be aggregated as a group plan. They will aggregate with the client’s personal accounts based on Social Security Number. Previously established SEP and SIMPLE IRAs may still be aggregated as a group plan.

• | Employer-sponsored retirement plan (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans) accounts will aggregate with other plan accounts under the same Tax ID and will not be aggregated with other retirement plan accounts under a different Tax ID or personal accounts. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans.

• | Gift of shares will not be considered when determining breakpoint discounts.

Stifel
Effective immediately, shareholders purchasing or holding Natixis Funds’ shares, including existing fund shareholders, through a Stifel or affiliated platform that provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible for the following sales charge load waivers (including front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, (CDSC) sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Funds’ Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
CLASS A SHARES
As described elsewhere in this prospectus, Stifel may receive compensation out of the front-end sales charge if you purchase Class A shares through Stifel.
Rights of accumulation
Rights of accumulation (ROA) that entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts on front-end sales charges will be calculated by Stifel based on the aggregated holding of eligible assets in the Natixis Funds held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Stifel. Ineligible assets include class A Money Market Funds not assessed a sales charge. Fund Family assets not held at Stifel may be included in the calculation of ROA only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at Stifel
Sales charges may be waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
• Class C shares that have been held for more than seven (7) years may be converted to Class A shares or other front-end share class(es) of the same fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to the exchange or conversion of such shares following a shorter holding period, those provisions shall continue to apply.
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Stifel or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Stifel.
• Shares purchased in a Stifel fee-based advisory program, often referred to as a “wrap” program.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same or other fund within the Natixis Funds.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the Natixis Funds so long as the proceeds are from the sale of shares from an account with the same owner/beneficiary within 90 days of the purchase. For the absence of doubt, automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases, including salary deferral transactions and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are sold to cover Stifel Nicolaus’ account maintenance fees are not eligible for rights of reinstatement.
• Shares from rollovers into Stifel from retirement plans to IRAs.
• Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the direction of Stifel. Stifel is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in this prospectus.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares through a rollover from another 529 plan.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares made for reinvestment of refunded amounts.
• Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges Waivers on Class A and C Shares
• Death or disability of the shareholder or, in the case of 529 plans, the account beneficiary.
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan not to exceed 12% annually.
• Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
• Shares sold to pay Stifel fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Stifel.
• Shares exchanged or sold in a Stifel fee-based program.
Share Class Conversions in Advisory Accounts
• Stifel continually looks to provide our clients with the lowest cost share class available based on account type. Stifel reserves the right to convert shares to the lowest cost share class available at Stifel upon transfer of shares into an advisory program.

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Appendix B - Financial Intermediary Specific Commissions & Investment Minimum Waivers

Appendix B - Financial Intermediary Specific Commissions & Investment Minimum Waivers
UBS Financial Services, Inc. (“UBS-FS”)
Pursuant to an agreement with the Funds, Class Y shares may be available on certain brokerage platforms at UBS-FS. For such platforms, UBS-FS may charge commissions on brokerage transactions in the Funds’ Class Y shares. A shareholder should contact UBS-FS for information about the commissions charged by UBS-FS for such transactions.
The minimum for the Class Y shares is waived for transactions through such brokerage platforms at UBS-FS.

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Appendix C - Additional Index Information

Appendix C - Additional Index Information

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | A broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, US dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market. The index includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities (agency and non-agency).
Cboe S&P 500 BuyWrite Index (BXM SM) | A benchmark index designed to track the performance of a hypothetical buy-write strategy on the S&P 500® Index. The BXM is a passive total return index based on (1) buying an S&P 500 stock index portfolio, and (2) “writing” (or selling) the near-term S&P 500® Index (SPX SM) “covered” call option, generally on the third Friday of each month. The SPX call written will have about one month remaining to expiration, with an exercise price just above the prevailing index level. The SPX call is held until expiration and cash settled, at which time a new one-month, near-the-money call is written.
MSCI World Index (Net) | A free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that captures large and mid-cap representation across developed markets. Emerging markets are excluded.
Russell 2000® Value Index | The index measures the performance of the small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® companies with relatively lower price-to-book ratios, lower I/B/E/S forecast medium term growth and lower sales per share historical growth.
Russell 3000® Index | The index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable US equity market.
Russell Midcap® Value Index | The index measures the performance of the mid-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap® Index companies with relatively lower price-to-book ratios, lower I/B/E/S forecast medium term growth and lower sales per share historical growth.
S&P 500® Index | The index measures the performance of 500 widely held stocks in the U.S. equity market. Standard and Poor’s chooses member companies for the index based on market size, liquidity and industry group representation.

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If you would like more information about the Funds, the following documents are available free upon request:
Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders and Form N-CSR—Provide additional information about each Fund’s investments. Each annual shareholder report filed on Form N-CSR includes the Funds’ financial statements and accompanying notes, as well as a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)—Provides more detailed information about the Funds and their investment limitations and policies. The SAI has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference.
For a free copy of the Funds’ shareholder reports or their SAIs, to request other information about the Funds, and to make shareholder inquiries generally, contact your financial representative, visit the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com or call the Funds at 800-225-5478.
Important Notice Regarding Delivery of Shareholder Documents:
In our continuing effort to reduce a fund’s expenses and the amount of mail that you receive from us, we will combine mailings of prospectuses, shareholder reports and proxy statements to your household. If more than one family member in your household owns the same fund or funds described in a single prospectus, report or proxy statement, you will receive one mailing unless you request otherwise. Additional copies of our prospectuses, reports or proxy statements may be obtained at any time by calling 800-225-5478. If you are currently receiving multiple mailings to your household and would like to receive only one mailing or if you wish to receive separate mailings for each member of your household in the future, please call us at the telephone number listed above and we will resume separate mailings within 30 days of your request.
Your financial representative or Natixis Funds will also be happy to answer your questions or to provide any additional information that you may require.
Text-only copies of the Funds’ reports on Form N-CSR and SAI and other information are available free from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at: www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may also be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22099 Investment Company Act File No.811-04323 Investment Company Act File No. 811-00242 | XMA51-0526

Prospectus
May 1, 2026

| Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y | Admin Class
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund | NEFHX | NEHCX | LSHNX | NEHYX |
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund | LIGGX | LIGCX | LIGNX | LIGYX |
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund | LIGRX | LGBCX | LGBNX | LSIIX | LIGAX
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund | LABAX | LABCX | LASNX | LASYX |
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund | NEFZX | NECZX | NEZNX | NEZYX | NEZAX
Natixis Oakmark Fund | NEFOX | NECOX | NOANX | NEOYX |
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | NOIAX | NOICX | NIONX | NOIYX |
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | NEFSX | NECCX | NESNX | NESYX |

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved any Fund’s shares or determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a crime.

Table of Contents

Fund Summary | 1
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund | 1
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund | 8
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund | 15
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund | 22
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund | 30
Natixis Oakmark Fund | 37
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | 42
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | 48
Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks | 55
More About Goals and Strategies | 55
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund | 55
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund | 55
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund | 56
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund | 57
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund | 58
Natixis Oakmark Fund | 59
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | 59
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | 60
All Funds | 61
More About Risks | 63
Management Team | 70
Meet the Funds' Investment Advisers and Subadvisers | 70
Meet the Funds' Portfolio Managers | 71
Additional Information | 72
Fund Services | 72
Investing in the Funds | 72
How Sales Charges Are Calculated | 73
Compensation to Securities Dealers | 76
How To Purchase Shares | 77
How To Redeem Shares | 79
Exchanging or Converting Shares | 80
Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares | 81
Self-Servicing Your Account | 83
Restructuring and Liquidations | 83
How Fund Shares are Priced | 83
Dividends and Distributions | 85
Tax Consequences | 85
Additional Investor Services | 87
Financial Performance | 87
Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information | A-1
Appendix B - Financial Intermediary Specific Commissions & Investment Minimum Waivers | B-1
Appendix C - Additional Index Information | C-1

Fund Summary

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks high current income plus the opportunity for capital appreciation to produce a high total return.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 4.25% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None* | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

* | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.55% | 0.55% | 0.55% | 0.55%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.53% | 0.53% | 0.47% | 0.53%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.33% | 2.08% | 1.02% | 1.08%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1,2 | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.37% | 0.38%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 0.95% | 1.70% | 0.65% | 0.70%

1 | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 0.95%, 1.70%, 0.65% and 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

2 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the dates noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 518 | $ | 793 | $ | 1,088 | $ | 1,927
Class C | $ | 273 | $ | 615 | $ | 1,084 | $ | 2,188

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class N | $ | 66 | $ | 288 | $ | 527 | $ | 1,214
Class Y | $ | 72 | $ | 306 | $ | 559 | $ | 1,283

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 173 | $ | 615 | $ | 1,084 | $ | 2,188

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 107% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in below investment grade fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). Below investment grade fixed-income securities are rated below investment grade quality (i.e., none of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)), have rated the securities in one of its top four rating categories) or, if the security is unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. There is no minimum rating for the securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign fixed-income securities, including those in emerging markets. Although certain securities purchased by the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, the Adviser does not consider these securities to be foreign if the issuer is included in the U.S. fixed-income indices published by Bloomberg.
The Adviser performs its own extensive credit analysis to determine the creditworthiness and potential for capital appreciation of a security. The Fund’s management minimizes both market timing and interest rate forecasting. Instead, it uses a strategy based on gaining a thorough understanding of industry and company dynamics as well as individual security characteristics such as issuer debt and debt maturity schedules, earnings prospects, responsiveness to changes in interest rates, experience and perceived strength of management, borrowing requirements and liquidation value, market price in relation to cash flow, interest and dividends.
In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser will consider, among other things, the financial strength of the issuer, current interest rates, current valuations, the Adviser’s expectations regarding future changes in interest rates and comparisons of the level of risk associated with particular investments with the Adviser’s expectations concerning the potential return of those investments.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes the skills of its in-house team of more than 30 research analysts to cover a broad universe of industries, companies and markets. The Fund’s portfolio managers take advantage of these extensive resources to identify securities that meet the Fund’s investment criteria. The Adviser employs a selection strategy that focuses on a value-driven, bottom-up approach to identify securities that provide an opportunity for both generous yields and capital appreciation. The Adviser analyzes an individual company’s potential for positive financial news to determine if it has growth potential. Examples of positive financial news include an upward turn in the business cycle, improvement in cash flows, rising profits or the awarding of new contracts. The Adviser emphasizes in-depth credit analysis, appreciation potential and diversification in its bond selection. Each bond is evaluated to assess the ability of its issuer to pay interest and, ultimately, principal (which helps the Fund generate an ongoing flow of income). The Adviser also assesses a bond’s relation to market conditions within its industry and favors bonds whose prices may benefit from positive business developments. The Adviser seeks to diversify the Fund’s holdings to reduce the inherent risk in below investment grade fixed-income securities.
In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may also invest in structured notes, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, zero-coupon securities, pay-in-kind securities, convertible securities, securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed investments such as private credit investments, and futures, forward contracts and swaps (including credit default swaps) for hedging and investment purposes. The Fund may from time to time satisfy the 80% test above by obtaining investment exposure to below investment grade fixed-income securities through investments in these derivative instruments. Except as provided above or as required by applicable law, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.

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Fund Summary

The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Below Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities Risk: The Fund’s investments in below investment grade fixed-income securities, also known as “junk bonds,” may be subject to greater risks than other fixed-income securities, including being subject to greater levels of interest rate risk, credit/counterparty risk (including a greater risk of default) and liquidity risk. The ability of the issuer to make principal and interest payments is predominantly speculative for below investment grade fixed-income securities.
Credit/Counterparty Risk: Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. The Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. This risk will be heightened to the extent the Fund enters into derivatives transactions with a single counterparty (or affiliated counterparties that are part of the same organization), causing the Fund to have significant exposure to such counterparty. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges and clearing houses, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of the Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Fund’s investments will fall if interest rates rise. Generally, the value of fixed-income securities rises when prevailing interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Interest rate risk generally is greater for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with relatively longer durations than for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with shorter durations. The value of zero-coupon and pay-in-kind bonds may be more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates than other fixed-income securities. In addition, an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell them, negatively impacting the performance of the Fund. Fiscal, economic, monetary or other governmental or central bank policies, actions or measures have in the past, and may in the future, cause or exacerbate risks associated with interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated credit and other investments are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Derivatives, and particularly OTC derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.
Bank Loans Risk: Bank loans risk is the risk that the Fund’s investments in bank loans are subject to credit risk and may not be adequately collateralized. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and thus bank loans are subject to interest rate risk. Transactions in bank loans may settle on a delayed basis, such that the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. There may also be less public information available about bank loans as compared to other debt securities.
Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities have investment characteristics of both equity and debt securities. Investments in convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt instruments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to many of the same risks as investing in common stock. The Fund may convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative instruments (such as those in which the Fund may invest, including futures, forward contracts, structured notes and swaps (including credit default swaps)) are subject to changes in the value of the underlying assets or indices on which such instruments are based. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund’s exposure to securities market values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible

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Fund Summary

that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those that would have occurred had derivatives not been used. The Fund’s use of derivatives, such as futures, forward contracts, structured notes and swaps (including credit default swaps) involves other risks, such as credit/counterparty risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for forward currency contracts, uncleared swaps and other OTC derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with changes in the value of relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, allocation risk and the risk of losing more than any amounts paid or margin transferred to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivative position at an advantageous time or price. The Fund’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Leverage Risk: Leverage is the risk associated with securities or investment practices (e.g., borrowing and the use of certain derivatives) that multiply small index, market or asset-price movements into larger changes in value. The use of leverage increases the impact of gains and losses on the Fund’s returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: In addition to the risks associated with investments in fixed-income securities generally (for example, credit, liquidity, inflation and valuation risk), mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are subject to the risks of the mortgages and assets underlying the securities as well as prepayment risk, the risk that the securities may be prepaid and result in the reinvestment of the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Conversely, there is a risk that a rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage-related or asset-backed security beyond the expected prepayment time, typically reducing the security’s value, which is called extension risk. The Fund also may incur a loss when there is a prepayment of securities that were purchased at a premium. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.
Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk: The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to pursue its principal investment strategy. A high rate of portfolio turnover may involve correspondingly greater expenses, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and also may result in short term capital gains or losses to shareholders. Portfolio turnover is subject to fluctuations and is dependent on certain factors including current market conditions, portfolio re-balancing, cash flows, new issuance, and individual portfolio needs.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten-year, and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund and an additional index that represents the market sectors in which the Fund primarily invests. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.

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Fund Summary

The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2020, 11.39% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -14.16%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (11/30/16)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 9.16% | 3.19% | 5.51% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 6.38% | 0.55% | 3.11% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 5.36% | 1.23% | 3.19% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 4.25% | 2.05% | 4.77% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 6.99% | 2.12% | 4.61% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 9.19% | 3.23% | - | 4.69%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | 7.30% | -0.36% | 2.01% | 1.93%
Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High-Yield Bond Index | 8.62% | 4.51% | 6.53% | 5.55%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Loomis Sayles
Portfolio Managers
Matthew J. Eagan, CFA®, Portfolio Manager and Director of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2002.
Brian P. Kennedy, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2018.
Peter S. Sheehan, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2023.
Eric Williams, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2025.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500

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Fund Summary

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.

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Fund Summary

Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund’s investment goal is long-term growth of capital.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus, and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None* | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

* | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.91%1 | 0.88%1 | 0.81% | 0.91%1
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.91% | 2.63% | 1.56% | 1.66%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 2,3 | 0.71% | 0.68% | 0.66% | 0.71%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 1.20% | 1.95% | 0.90% | 0.95%

1 | Pursuant to an expense offset arrangement, credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances may be used to reduce the Fund’s transfer agent expenses. Other expenses are shown net of such reductions of transfer agent expenses of 1bps.

2 | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 1.20%, 1.95%, 0.90% and 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

3 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the dates noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 690 | $ | 1,076 | $ | 1,485 | $ | 2,625

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 298 | $ | 753 | $ | 1,334 | $ | 2,738
Class N | $ | 92 | $ | 428 | $ | 787 | $ | 1,800
Class Y | $ | 97 | $ | 454 | $ | 835 | $ | 1,906

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 198 | $ | 753 | $ | 1,334 | $ | 2,738

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest primarily in equity securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts. The Fund will primarily invest in securities of companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., companies that have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or companies that have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. The Fund will invest in securities that provide exposure to no fewer than three countries outside the U.S. including companies located in emerging markets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser uses a proprietary definition to determine whether a security is classified as U.S. or non-U.S. In determining the location of an issuer for these purposes, or where the issuer’s principal activities are based, the Adviser will consider a variety of factors (collectively designed to assess whether an issuer is economically tied to a particular country or region), including but not limited to: the markets in which the issuer’s securities are primarily traded; the location of the issuer’s headquarters, principal offices, or operations; the country where the issuer is organized; the percentage of the issuer’s revenues or profits derived from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the relevant country; and information provided by third-party data analytics service providers. No single factor will necessarily be determinative, nor must all factors be present for the Adviser to assess an issuer’s location. The Adviser may assign different weights to these factors based on different geographic policies, countries, or products. The Fund considers a security to be an emerging market security if its country, as determined through the proprietary process described above, is included in the MSCI Emerging & Frontier Markets Index.
The Fund’s portfolio manager employs a growth style of equity management, which means that the Fund seeks to invest in companies with sustainable competitive advantages versus others, long-term structural growth drivers that will lead to above-average future cash flow growth, attractive cash flow returns on invested capital, and management teams focused on creating long-term value for shareholders. The Fund’s portfolio manager also aims to invest in companies when they trade at a significant discount to the estimate of intrinsic value (i.e., companies with share prices trading significantly below what the portfolio manager believes the share price should be).
The Fund will consider selling a portfolio investment when the portfolio manager believes an unfavorable structural change occurs within a given business or the markets in which it operates, when a critical underlying investment assumption is flawed, when a more attractive reward-to-risk opportunity becomes available, when the current price fully reflects intrinsic value, or for other investment reasons which the portfolio manager deems appropriate.
The Fund may also engage in foreign currency transactions (including foreign currency forwards and foreign currency futures) for hedging purposes, invest in options for hedging and investment purposes and invest in interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”) and other privately placed investments such as private equity investments. The Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments. The Fund may also gain investment exposure to Chinese companies through the use of a structure known as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The VIE structure allows investors, such as the Fund, to gain exposure to sectors or industries where non-Chinese ownership is restricted or prohibited by the Chinese government.
The Fund is “non-diversified.” As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer and may invest in fewer issuers, as compared with other mutual funds that are diversified.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.

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Fund Summary

The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Growth stocks are generally more sensitive to market movements than other types of stocks primarily because their stock prices are based heavily on future expectations. If the Adviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s growth is wrong, or if the Adviser’s judgment of how other investors will value the company’s growth is wrong, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock. Securities of real estate-related companies and REITs in which the Fund may invest may be considered equity securities, thus subjecting the Fund to the risks of investing in equity securities generally.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Non-Diversification Risk: Compared with other mutual funds, the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer and may invest in fewer issuers. Therefore, the Fund may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security or the impact of a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence may have a greater adverse impact on the Fund’s net asset value.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio manager may fail to produce the intended result.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated equity and other investments are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Derivatives, and particularly over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.
Credit/Counterparty Risk: Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. The Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. This risk will be heightened to the extent the Fund enters into derivatives transactions with a single counterparty (or affiliated counterparties that are part of the same organization), causing the Fund to have significant exposure to such counterparty. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges and clearing houses, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with OTC derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of the Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself.
Currency Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in foreign currency forwards and foreign currency futures and may invest in securities or other instruments denominated in, or that generate income denominated in, foreign currencies. The Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative instruments (such as those in which the Fund may invest, including foreign currency forwards, foreign currency futures and options) are subject to changes in the value of the underlying assets or indices on which such instruments are based. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund’s exposure to securities market values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those

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Fund Summary

that would have occurred had derivatives not been used. The Fund’s use of derivatives involves other risks, such as credit/counterparty risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for forward currency contracts, uncleared swaps and other OTC derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with changes in the value of relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, allocation risk and the risk of losing more than any amounts paid or margin transferred to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivative position at an advantageous time or price. The Fund’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
The Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund’s exposure to VIEs may pose additional risks because, instead of directly investing in the underlying Chinese operating company, the Fund’s investment is in a holding company domiciled outside of China. The holding company has contractual arrangements with the operating company that are expected to provide investors, such as the Fund, with economic exposure to the operating company. While VIEs are a longstanding industry practice that is well known to Chinese officials and regulators historically, they have not been formally recognized under Chinese law. Effective March 31, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) released new rules that permit the use of VIE structures, provided they abide by Chinese laws and register with the CSRC. The rules, however, may cause Chinese companies to undergo greater scrutiny and may make the process to create VIEs more difficult and costly. The Chinese government may cease to tolerate VIE structures at any time or impose new restrictions. Similarly, these investments may face delisting or other adverse actions under U.S. or other non-Chinese law. Any of these events may reduce the value of the Fund’s investments in these companies or render them valueless.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Leverage Risk: Leverage is the risk associated with securities or investment practices (e.g., borrowing and the use of certain derivatives) that multiply small index, market or asset-price movements into larger changes in value. The use of leverage increases the impact of gains and losses on the Fund’s returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful.
REITs Risk: Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk: Compared to large-capitalization companies, small- and mid-capitalization companies are more likely to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Stocks of these companies often trade less frequently and in limited volume and their prices may fluctuate more than stocks of large-capitalization companies. As a result, it may be relatively more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year and life-of-fund periods compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.

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Fund Summary

The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2023, 14.01% Lowest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2022, -13.00%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Life of Fund (12/15/20)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 10.09% | 3.67% | 3.92%
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 9.67% | 3.47% | 3.72%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 6.33% | 2.87% | 3.07%
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 3.54% | 2.19% | 2.45%
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 8.01% | 2.61% | 2.86%
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 10.15% | 3.71% | 3.96%
MSCI All Country World ex USA Index (Net) | 32.39% | 7.91% | 8.31%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Loomis Sayles
Portfolio Manager
Aziz V. Hamzaogullari, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer and Founder of the Growth Equity Strategies Team, has served as Portfolio Manager of the Fund since 2020.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

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Fund Summary

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other

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Fund Summary

intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks high total investment return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y | Admin Class
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 4.25% | None | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None* | 1.00% | None | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None | None

* | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y | Admin Class
Management fees 1 | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.25%
Other expenses | 0.15% | 0.15% | 0.07% | 0.15% | 0.40%2
Total annual fund operating expenses | 0.78% | 1.53% | 0.45% | 0.53% | 1.03%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 3 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.05%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 0.73% | 1.48% | 0.43% | 0.48% | 0.98%

1 | The Fund’s operating expenses have been restated to reflect a reduction in management fees, effective as of January 1, 2026, as if reduction had been in effect during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. The information has been restated to better reflect anticipated expenses of the Fund.

2 | Other expenses include an administrative services fee of 0.25% for Admin Class shares.

3 | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 0.73%, 1.48%, 0.43%, 0.48% and 0.98% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, Class C, Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the dates noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 496 | $ | 659 | $ | 835 | $ | 1,346
Class C | $ | 251 | $ | 478 | $ | 829 | $ | 1,617

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class N | $ | 44 | $ | 142 | $ | 250 | $ | 565
Class Y | $ | 49 | $ | 165 | $ | 291 | $ | 660
Admin Class | $ | 100 | $ | 323 | $ | 564 | $ | 1,255

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 151 | $ | 478 | $ | 829 | $ | 1,617

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 51% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in investment grade fixed-income securities (for example, bonds and other investments that the Adviser believes have similar economic characteristics, such as notes, debentures and loans). “Investment grade” securities are those securities that are rated in one of the top four categories at the time of purchase by at least one of the three major rating agencies — Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or, if unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Although the Fund invests primarily in investment grade fixed-income securities, it may invest up to 15% of its assets in below investment grade fixed-income securities (also known as “junk bonds”). There is no minimum rating for the securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities of any maturity.
In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser will consider, among other things, the financial strength of the issuer, current interest rates, current valuations, the Adviser’s expectations regarding future changes in interest rates and comparisons of the level of risk associated with particular investments with the Adviser’s expectations concerning the potential return of those investments.
Three themes typically drive the Fund’s investment approach. First, the Adviser generally seeks fixed-income securities of issuers whose credit profiles it believes are improving. Second, the Fund may invest significantly in securities the prices of which the Adviser believes are more sensitive to events related to the underlying issuer than to changes in general interest rates or overall market default rates. The Adviser believes that the Fund may generate positive returns by having a portion of the Fund’s assets invested in non-market-related securities, rather than by relying primarily on changes in interest rates to produce returns for the Fund. Third, the Adviser analyzes different sectors of the economy and differences in the yields (“spreads”) of various fixed-income securities in an effort to find securities that it believes may produce attractive returns for the Fund in comparison to their risk. The Adviser generally prefers securities that are protected against calls (early redemption by the issuer).
In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities, including emerging markets securities. The Fund may also invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of supranational entities without limit (e.g., the World Bank). Although certain securities purchased by the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, the Adviser does not consider these securities to be foreign if the issuer is included in the U.S. fixed-income indices published by Bloomberg. The Fund may also invest in corporate securities, U.S. government securities, commercial paper, zero-coupon securities, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, mortgage-backed securities, including mortgage dollar rolls, stripped mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations and other asset-backed securities, when-issued securities, convertible securities, securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed investments such as private credit investments, and structured notes. The Fund may also invest in futures, forward contracts and swaps (including credit default swaps) for hedging and investment purposes. Except as provided above or as required by applicable law, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.

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Fund Summary

Credit/Counterparty Risk: Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. The Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. This risk will be heightened to the extent the Fund enters into derivatives transactions with a single counterparty (or affiliated counterparties that are part of the same organization), causing the Fund to have significant exposure to such counterparty. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges and clearing houses, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of the Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself.
Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Fund’s investments will fall if interest rates rise. Generally, the value of fixed-income securities rises when prevailing interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Interest rate risk generally is greater for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with relatively longer durations than for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with shorter durations. The value of zero-coupon securities and securities with longer maturities are generally more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates than other fixed-income securities. In addition, an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell them, negatively impacting the performance of the Fund. Fiscal, economic, monetary or other governmental or central bank policies, actions or measures have in the past, and may in the future, cause or exacerbate risks associated with interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates.
Below Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities Risk: The Fund’s investments in below investment grade fixed-income securities, also known as “junk bonds,” may be subject to greater risks than other fixed-income securities, including being subject to greater levels of interest rate risk, credit/counterparty risk (including a greater risk of default) and liquidity risk. The ability of the issuer to make principal and interest payments is predominantly speculative for below investment grade fixed-income securities.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated credit and other investments are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Derivatives, and particularly OTC derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.
Bank Loans Risk: Bank loans risk is the risk that the Fund’s investments in bank loans are subject to credit risk and may not be adequately collateralized. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and thus bank loans are subject to interest rate risk. Transactions in bank loans may settle on a delayed basis, such that the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. There may also be less public information available about bank loans as compared to other debt securities.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative instruments (such as those in which the Fund may invest, including forward currency contracts, structured notes and swap transactions (including credit default swaps)) are subject to changes in the value of the underlying assets or indices on which such instruments are based. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund’s exposure to securities market values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those that would have occurred had derivatives not been used. The Fund’s use of derivatives, such as forward currency contracts, structured notes and swap transactions (including credit default swaps), involves other risks, such as credit/counterparty risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for forward currency contracts, uncleared swaps, and other OTC derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with changes in the value of relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, allocation risk and the risk of losing more than any amounts paid or margin transferred to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the risk that

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Fund Summary

the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivative position at an advantageous time or price. The Fund’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Leverage Risk: Leverage is the risk associated with securities or investment practices (e.g., borrowing and the use of certain derivatives) that multiply small index, market or asset-price movements into larger changes in value. The use of leverage increases the impact of gains and losses on the Fund’s returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: In addition to the risks associated with investments in fixed-income securities generally (for example, credit, liquidity, inflation and valuation risk), mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are subject to the risks of the mortgages and assets underlying the securities as well as prepayment risk, the risk that the securities may be prepaid and result in the reinvestment of the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Conversely, there is a risk that a rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage-related or asset-backed security beyond the expected prepayment time, typically reducing the security’s value, which is called extension risk. The Fund also may incur a loss when there is a prepayment of securities that were purchased at a premium. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year and ten-year periods compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.

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Fund Summary

Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2020, 8.60% Lowest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2022, -5.35%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 6.96% | 1.00% | 3.74%
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 4.85% | -0.69% | 1.99%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 4.09% | 0.05% | 2.21%
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 2.28% | -0.12% | 3.05%
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 5.01% | 0.00% | 2.87%
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 7.12% | 1.06% | 3.82%
Admin Class - Return Before Taxes | 6.44% | 0.49% | 3.24%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | 7.30% | -0.36% | 2.01%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Loomis Sayles
Portfolio Managers
Matthew J. Eagan, CFA®, Portfolio Manager and Director of the Adviser, served as associate portfolio manager of the Fund from 2006 to 2012 and has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.
Brian P. Kennedy, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2013.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

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Fund Summary

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Admin Class Shares
Admin Class shares of the Fund are intended primarily for Certain Retirement Plans held in an omnibus fashion and are not available for purchase by individual investors. There are no initial or subsequent investment minimums for these shares.
Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”), clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.

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Fund Summary

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks to provide an attractive absolute total return, complemented by prudent investment management designed to manage risks and protect investor capital. The secondary goal of the Fund is to achieve these returns with relatively low volatility.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 4.25% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None* | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

* | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.60% | 0.60% | 0.60% | 0.60%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.18% | 0.18% | 0.11% | 0.18%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.03% | 1.78% | 0.71% | 0.78%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.03% | 0.05%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 0.98% | 1.73% | 0.68% | 0.73%

1 | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 0.98%, 1.73%, 0.68% and 0.73% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fee/expense was waived/reimbursed.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the dates noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 521 | $ | 734 | $ | 965 | $ | 1,627
Class C | $ | 276 | $ | 555 | $ | 960 | $ | 1,893
Class N | $ | 69 | $ | 224 | $ | 392 | $ | 880

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class Y | $ | 75 | $ | 244 | $ | 428 | $ | 961

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 176 | $ | 555 | $ | 960 | $ | 1,893

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund has an absolute total return investment objective, which means that it is not managed relative to an index and that it attempts to achieve positive total returns over a full market cycle. The Fund intends to pursue its objective by utilizing a flexible investment approach that allocates investments across a global range of investment opportunities related to credit, currencies and interest rates, while employing risk management strategies to mitigate downside risk. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in below investment grade fixed-income securities (also known as “junk bonds”) and derivatives that have returns related to the returns on below investment grade fixed-income securities, although it is expected that, under normal market conditions, the Fund’s net exposure (i.e., long exposures obtained through direct investments in securities and in derivatives minus short exposures obtained through derivatives) to below investment grade fixed-income assets generally will not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total assets. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities are rated below investment-grade quality (i.e., none of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)) have rated the securities in one of their respective top four ratings categories). Under normal market conditions, the Fund also may invest up to 50% of its total assets in investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies and related derivatives, including up to 20% in investments denominated in emerging market currencies and related derivatives. The Fund expects that its exposure to these asset classes will often be obtained substantially through the use of derivative instruments. The Fund defines an “emerging market currency” as a currency of a country that carries a sovereign debt quality rating that is rated below investment grade by either S&P or Moody’s, or is unrated by both S&P and Moody’s. Currency positions that are intended to hedge the Fund’s non-U.S. currency exposure (i.e., currency positions that are not made for investment purposes) will offset positions in the same currency that are made for investment purposes when calculating the limitation on investments in non-U.S. and emerging market currency investments because the Fund believes that hedging a currency position is likely to negate some or all of the currency risk associated with the original currency position. The Fund does not have limits on the duration of its portfolio, and the Fund’s duration will change over time. The Fund also may invest in equity securities (including preferred stocks) as well as derivatives whose returns are linked to the returns of equity securities.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser develops long-term portfolio themes driven by macro-economic indicators. These include global economic trends, demographic trends and labor supply, analysis of global capital flows and assessments of geopolitical factors. The Adviser then develops shorter-term portfolio strategies based on factors including, but not limited to, economic, credit and Federal Reserve cycles, and top-down sector valuations and bottom-up security valuations. The Adviser seeks to actively manage risk, with a focus on managing the Fund’s exposure to credit, interest rate and currency risks in relation to the market. Additionally, the portfolio managers will use risk management tools, such as models that evaluate risk correlation to various market factors or asset classes, to seek to manage risk on an ongoing basis. The portfolio management team expects to actively evaluate each investment idea and to decide to buy or sell an investment based upon: (i) its return potential; (ii) its level of risk; and (iii) its fit within the team’s overall macro strategy, with the goal of continually optimizing the Fund’s portfolio. The Adviser incorporates systematic and quantitative models with respect to selection of certain investments.
The Adviser currently targets an annualized volatility range of 4% to 6% (as measured by the standard deviation of the Fund’s returns). The Fund’s actual or realized volatility during certain periods or over time may materially exceed or be lower than its target volatility range for various reasons, including changes in market levels of volatility and because the Fund’s portfolio may include instruments that are inherently volatile. This would increase the risk of investing in the Fund.
The Fund will pursue its investment goal by obtaining long investment exposures through investments in securities and derivatives and short investment exposures substantially through derivatives. A “long” investment exposure is an investment that rises in value with a rise in the value of an asset, asset class or index and declines in value with a decline in the value of that asset, asset class or index. A “short” investment exposure is an investment that rises in value with a decline in the value of an asset, asset class or index and declines in value with a rise in the value of that asset, asset class or index. The value of the Fund’s long and short investment exposures may, at times, each reach 100% of the assets invested in the Fund (excluding instruments primarily used for duration management or yield curve management and short-term investments (such as cash and money market instruments)), although these exposures may be higher or lower at any given time.

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Fund Summary

Fixed-Income Investments. In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may invest in a broad range of U.S. and non-U.S. fixed-income securities, including, but not limited to, corporate bonds, municipal securities, U.S. and non-U.S. government securities (including their agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored entities), securities of supranational entities, emerging market securities, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, other mortgage-related securities (such as adjustable rate mortgage securities), asset-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, convertible bonds, securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed investments such as private credit investments, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), zero-coupon securities, step coupon securities, pay-in-kind (“PIK”) securities, inflation-linked bonds, variable and floating rate securities, private placements and commercial paper.
Non-U.S. Currency Investments. Under normal market conditions, the Fund may engage in a broad range of transactions involving non-U.S. and emerging market currencies, including, but not limited to, purchasing and selling forward currency exchange contracts in non-U.S. or emerging market currencies, investing in non-U.S. currency futures contracts, investing in options on non-U.S. currencies and non-U.S. currency futures, investing in cross-currency instruments (such as swaps), investing directly in non-U.S. currencies and investing in securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies. The Fund may engage in non-U.S. currency transactions for investment or for hedging purposes.
Derivative Investments. For investment and hedging purposes, the Fund may invest substantially in a broad range of derivatives instruments and sometimes the majority of its investment returns will derive from its derivative investments. These derivative instruments include, but are not limited to, futures contracts (such as treasury futures and index futures), forward contracts, options (such as options on futures contracts, options on securities, interest rate/bond options, currency options, options on swaps and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options), warrants (such as non-U.S. currency warrants), swap transactions (such as interest rate swaps, total return swaps and index swaps) and structured notes (such as equity-linked notes). In addition, the Fund may invest in credit derivative products that may be used to manage default risk and credit exposure. Examples of such products include, but are not limited to, credit default swap index products (such as LCDX, CMBX and ABX index products), single name credit default swaps, loan credit default swaps and asset-backed credit default swaps. The Fund may, at times, invest substantially all of its assets in derivatives and securities used to support its obligations under those derivatives. The Fund’s strategy may be highly dependent on the use of derivatives, and to the extent that they become unavailable or unattractive the Fund may be unable to fully implement its investment strategy.
Equity Investments. In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may invest in common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible preferred stocks.
The Fund expects to engage in active and frequent trading of securities and other instruments. Effects of frequent trading may include high transaction costs, which may lower the Fund’s return, and realization of greater short-term capital gains, distributions of which are taxable as ordinary income to taxable shareholders. Trading costs and tax effects associated with frequent trading may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
The percentage limitations set forth herein are not investment restrictions and the Fund may exceed these limits from time to time. In addition, when calculating these exposures, the Fund may use the market value, the notional value, an adjusted notional value or some other measure of the value of a derivative in order to reflect what the Adviser believes to be the most accurate assessment of the Fund’s real economic exposure. The total notional value of the Fund’s derivative instruments may significantly exceed the total value of the Fund’s assets.
Although the Fund seeks positive total returns over time, the Fund’s investment returns may be volatile over short periods of time. The Fund may outperform the overall securities market during periods of flat or negative performance and may underperform during periods of strong market performance. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s returns over time or during any period will be positive.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Bank Loans Risk: Bank loans risk is the risk that the Fund’s investments in bank loans are subject to credit risk and may not be adequately collateralized. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and thus bank loans are subject to interest rate risk. Transactions in bank loans may settle on a delayed basis, such that the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. There may also be less public information available about bank loans as compared to other debt securities.
Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: In addition to the risks associated with investments in fixed-income securities generally (for example, credit, liquidity, inflation and valuation risk), mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are subject to the risks of the mortgages and assets underlying the securities as well as prepayment risk, the risk that the securities may be prepaid and result in the reinvestment of the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Conversely, there is a risk that a rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage-related or asset-backed security beyond the expected prepayment time, typically reducing the security’s value, which is called extension risk. The Fund also may incur a

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loss when there is a prepayment of securities that were purchased at a premium. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.
Below Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities Risk: The Fund’s investments in below investment grade fixed-income securities, also known as “junk bonds,” may be subject to greater risks than other fixed-income securities, including being subject to greater levels of interest rate risk, credit/counterparty risk (including a greater risk of default) and liquidity risk. The ability of the issuer to make principal and interest payments is predominantly speculative for below investment grade fixed-income securities.
Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Fund’s investments will fall if interest rates rise. Generally, the value of fixed-income securities rises when prevailing interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Interest rate risk generally is greater for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with relatively longer durations than for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with shorter durations. The value of zero-coupon and PIK bonds may be more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates than other fixed-income securities. In addition, an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell them, negatively impacting the performance of the Fund. Fiscal, economic, monetary or other governmental or central bank policies, actions or measures have in the past, and may in the future, cause or exacerbate risks associated with interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Agency Securities Risk: Certain debt securities issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the relevant entity but have not been backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Instead, they have been supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations. An event affecting the guaranteeing entity could adversely affect the payment of principal or interest or both on the security and, therefore, these types of securities should be considered to be riskier than U.S. government securities.
Credit/Counterparty Risk: Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. The Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. This risk will be heightened to the extent the Fund enters into derivatives transactions with a single counterparty (or affiliated counterparties that are part of the same organization), causing the Fund to have significant exposure to such counterparty. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges and clearing houses, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with OTC derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of the Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself.
Currency Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest a significant portion of its assets in currency-related instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments denominated in, or that generate income denominated in, foreign currencies. The Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative instruments (such as those in which the Fund may invest, including futures contracts, forward contracts, options, warrants and swap transactions) are subject to changes in the value of the underlying assets or indices on which such instruments are based. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund’s exposure to securities market values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those that would have occurred had derivatives not been used. The Fund’s use of derivatives, such as futures, forward contracts, options, warrants, foreign currency transactions, swaps, credit default swaps and equity-linked and other structured notes, involves other risks, such as credit/counterparty risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for forward currency contracts, uncleared swaps and other OTC derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with changes in the value of relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, allocation risk and the risk of losing more than any amounts paid or margin transferred to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the

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Fund Summary

risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivative position at an advantageous time or price. The Fund’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund. There is a risk that the Adviser’s use of derivatives, such as futures and forward contracts, to manage the Fund’s volatility may be ineffective or may exacerbate losses, for example, if the derivative or the underlying assets decrease in value over time.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.
Inflation/Deflation Risk: Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the present value of future payments. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically. The Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to the Fund’s investors. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time - the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. Because the Fund seeks positive returns that exceed the rate of inflation over time, if the portfolio managers’ inflation forecasts are incorrect, the Fund may be more severely impacted than other funds.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Leverage Risk: Taking short positions in securities results in a form of leverage. Leverage is the risk associated with securities or investment practices (e.g., borrowing and the use of certain derivatives) that multiply small index, market or asset-price movements into larger changes in value. The use of leverage increases the impact of gains and losses on the Fund’s returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated credit and other investments are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Derivatives, and particularly OTC derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services. The Fund’s Adviser will attempt to reduce this risk by implementing various volatility management strategies and techniques. However, there is no guarantee that such strategies and techniques will produce the intended result.
Models and Data Risk: The Adviser utilizes various proprietary quantitative models (including models that may utilize forms of artificial intelligence, such as machine learning) to identify investment opportunities. There is a possibility that one or all of the quantitative models may fail to identify profitable opportunities at any time. Furthermore, the models may incorrectly identify opportunities and these misidentified opportunities may lead to substantial losses for the Fund. Models may be predictive in nature and such models may result in an incorrect assessment of future events. Data used in the construction of models may prove to be inaccurate or stale, which may result in losses for the Fund.
Short Exposure Risk: A short exposure through a derivative may present various risks, including credit/counterparty risk and leverage risk. If the value of the asset, asset class or index on which the Fund has obtained a short investment exposure increases, the Fund will incur a loss. Unlike a direct cash investment such as a stock, bond or exchange-traded fund (“ETF”), where the potential loss is limited to the purchase price, the potential risk of loss from a short exposure is theoretically unlimited. Moreover, there can be no assurance that securities necessary to cover (repurchase in order to close) a short

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Fund Summary

position will be available for purchase. The Fund may be unable to borrow securities in connection with a short sale or to enter into a short position at an advantageous time or price, which could limit its ability to obtain the desired short exposure.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten year and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund and an additional index that reflects the Fund’s absolute return orientation. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2020, 8.07% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -5.57%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 8.58% | 3.42% | 4.17% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 6.52% | 1.60% | 2.64% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 5.05% | 1.80% | 2.54% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 3.73% | 2.28% | 3.47% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 6.48% | 2.39% | 3.29% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 8.62% | 3.47% | - | 3.93%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | 7.30% | -0.36% | 2.01% | 1.84%
ICE BofA 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index | 4.18% | 3.17% | 2.18% | 2.45%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Loomis Sayles
Portfolio Managers
Matthew J. Eagan, CFA®, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2010.
Brian P. Kennedy, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2021.

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Fund Summary

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”), clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the

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Fund Summary

Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks high current income with a secondary objective of capital growth.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y | Admin Class
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 4.25% | None | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None* | 1.00% | None | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None | None

* | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y | Admin Class
Management fees | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.25%
Other expenses | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.08% | 0.17% | 0.42%1
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.00% | 1.75% | 0.66% | 0.75% | 1.25%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 2 | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.08% | 0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 0.92% | 1.67% | 0.62% | 0.67% | 1.17%

1 | Other expenses include an administrative services fee of 0.25% for Admin Class shares.

2 | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles” or the “Adviser”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 0.92%, 1.67%, 0.62%, 0.67% and 1.17% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N, Y and Admin Class shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the dates noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 515 | $ | 722 | $ | 947 | $ | 1,591
Class C | $ | 270 | $ | 543 | $ | 941 | $ | 1,858
Class N | $ | 63 | $ | 207 | $ | 364 | $ | 819

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class Y | $ | 68 | $ | 232 | $ | 409 | $ | 923
Admin Class | $ | 119 | $ | 389 | $ | 679 | $ | 1,504

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 170 | $ | 543 | $ | 941 | $ | 1,858

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 100% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest substantially all of its assets in income producing securities (including below investment grade securities, or “junk bonds”) with a focus on U.S. corporate bonds, convertible securities, foreign debt instruments, including those in emerging markets and related foreign currency transactions, and U.S. government securities. Below investment grade fixed-income securities are rated below investment grade quality (i.e., none of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)), have rated the securities in one of its top four rating categories) or, if the security is unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in preferred stocks and dividend-paying common stocks. The portfolio managers may shift the Fund’s assets among various types of income-producing securities based upon changing market conditions. The Adviser performs its own extensive credit analyses to determine the creditworthiness and potential for capital appreciation of a security.
The Fund’s portfolio managers use a flexible approach to identify securities in the global marketplace with characteristics including discounted price compared to economic value, undervalued credit ratings with strong or improving credit profiles and yield premium relative to its benchmark (although not all of the securities selected will have these attributes).
In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser will consider, among other things, the financial strength of the issuer, current interest rates, current valuations, the Adviser’s expectations regarding future changes in interest rates and comparisons of the level of risk associated with particular investments with the Adviser’s expectations concerning the potential return of those investments.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes the skills of its in-house team of more than 30 research analysts to cover a broad universe of industries, companies and markets. The Fund’s portfolio managers take advantage of these extensive resources to identify securities that meet the Fund’s investment criteria. The Adviser seeks to buy bonds that offer a positive yield advantage over the market and, in its view, have room to increase in price. It may also invest to take advantage of what the portfolio managers believe are temporary disparities in the yield of different segments of the market for U.S. government securities. The Adviser provides the portfolio managers with maximum flexibility to find investment opportunities in a wide range of markets, both domestic and foreign. This flexible approach provides the Fund with access to a wide array of investment opportunities. The three key sectors that the portfolio managers focus upon are U.S. corporate issues (including convertible securities), foreign debt securities and U.S. government securities. The Fund’s portfolio managers maintain a core of the Fund’s investments in corporate bond issues and shift its assets among other income-producing securities as opportunities develop. The Fund generally seeks to maintain a high level of diversification as a form of risk management.
In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may also invest in securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed investments such as private credit investments, structured notes, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, zero-coupon bonds, pay-in-kind bonds, mortgage-related securities, stripped securities and futures, swaps (including credit default swaps) and foreign currency transactions (such as forward currency contracts) for hedging and investment purposes. Except as provided above or as required by applicable law, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.

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Fund Summary

Bank Loans Risk: Bank loans risk is the risk that the Fund’s investments in bank loans are subject to credit risk and may not be adequately collateralized. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and thus bank loans are subject to interest rate risk. Transactions in bank loans may settle on a delayed basis, such that the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. There may also be less public information available about bank loans as compared to other debt securities.
Credit/Counterparty Risk: Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. The Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. This risk will be heightened to the extent the Fund enters into derivatives transactions with a single counterparty (or affiliated counterparties that are part of the same organization), causing the Fund to have significant exposure to such counterparty. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges and clearing houses, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of the Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself.
Below Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities Risk: The Fund’s investments in below investment grade fixed-income securities, also known as “junk bonds,” may be subject to greater risks than other fixed-income securities, including being subject to greater levels of interest rate risk, credit/counterparty risk (including a greater risk of default) and liquidity risk. The ability of the issuer to make principal and interest payments is predominantly speculative for below investment grade fixed-income securities.
Currency Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in currency-related instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments denominated in, or that generate income denominated in, foreign currencies. The Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Derivatives Risk: Derivative instruments (such as those in which the Fund may invest, including futures, structured notes, swaps (including credit default swaps) and forward currency contracts) are subject to changes in the value of the underlying assets or indices on which such instruments are based. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund’s exposure to securities market values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those that would have occurred had derivatives not been used. The Fund’s use of derivatives, such as futures, structured notes, swaps (including credit default swaps) and forward currency contracts involves other risks, such as credit/counterparty risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for forward currency contracts, uncleared swaps and other OTC derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with changes in the value of relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, allocation risk and the risk of losing more than any amounts paid or margin transferred to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivative position at an advantageous time or price. The Fund’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.

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Fund Summary

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Fund’s investments will fall if interest rates rise. Generally, the value of fixed-income securities rises when prevailing interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Interest rate risk generally is greater for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with relatively longer durations than for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with shorter durations. The value of zero-coupon bonds may be more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates than other fixed-income securities. In addition, an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell them, negatively impacting the performance of the Fund. Fiscal, economic, monetary or other governmental or central bank policies, actions or measures have in the past, and may in the future, cause or exacerbate risks associated with interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Leverage Risk: Leverage is the risk associated with securities or investment practices (e.g., borrowing and the use of certain derivatives) that multiply small index, market or asset-price movements into larger changes in value. The use of leverage increases the impact of gains and losses on the Fund’s returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated credit and other investments are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Derivatives, and particularly OTC derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: In addition to the risks associated with investments in fixed-income securities generally (for example, credit, liquidity, inflation and valuation risk), mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are subject to the risks of the mortgages and assets underlying the securities as well as prepayment risk, the risk that the securities may be prepaid and result in the reinvestment of the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Conversely, there is a risk that a rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage-related or asset-backed security beyond the expected prepayment time, typically reducing the security’s value, which is called extension risk. The Fund also may incur a loss when there is a prepayment of securities that were purchased at a premium. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.
Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk: The may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to pursue its principal investment strategy. A high rate of portfolio turnover may involve correspondingly greater expenses, which must be borne by the and its shareholders, and also may result in short term capital gains or losses to shareholders. Portfolio turnover is subject to fluctuations and is dependent on certain factors including current market conditions, portfolio re-balancing, cash flows, new issuance, and individual portfolio needs.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year and ten-year periods compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.

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Fund Summary

The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Fourth Quarter 2023, 7.70% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -12.29%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 10.56% | 3.16% | 4.10%
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 8.22% | 1.03% | 2.19%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 6.22% | 1.46% | 2.36%
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 5.62% | 2.01% | 3.38%
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 8.36% | 2.12% | 3.21%
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 10.62% | 3.22% | 4.17%
Admin Class - Return Before Taxes | 9.95% | 2.65% | 3.58%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | 7.30% | -0.36% | 2.01%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Loomis Sayles
Portfolio Managers
Matthew J. Eagan, CFA®, Portfolio Manager and Director of the Adviser, served as associate portfolio manager of the Fund from 2007 to 2012 and has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.
Brian P. Kennedy, Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since 2016.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

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Fund Summary

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Admin Class Shares
Admin Class shares of the Fund are intended primarily for Certain Retirement Plans held in an omnibus fashion and are not available for purchase by individual investors. There are no initial or subsequent investment minimums for these shares.
Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”), clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.

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Fund Summary

Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Natixis Oakmark Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None* | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

* | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.63% | 0.63% | 0.63% | 0.63%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.18% | 0.18% | 0.16%1 | 0.18%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.06% | 1.81% | 0.79% | 0.81%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 2,3 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.03%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 1.03% | 1.78% | 0.73% | 0.78%

1 | Pursuant to an expense offset arrangement, credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances may be used to reduce the Fund’s transfer agent expenses. Other expenses are shown net of such reductions of transfer agent expenses of 2 bps.

2 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 1.03%, 1.78%, 0.73% and 0.78% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

3 | Natixis Advisors has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the dates noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 674 | $ | 890 | $ | 1,123 | $ | 1,792

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 281 | $ | 567 | $ | 977 | $ | 1,927
Class N | $ | 75 | $ | 246 | $ | 433 | $ | 972
Class Y | $ | 80 | $ | 256 | $ | 447 | $ | 999

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 181 | $ | 567 | $ | 977 | $ | 1,927

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 53% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund primarily invests in common stocks of U.S. companies. The Fund generally invests in securities of larger-capitalization companies in any industry. Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) uses a value investment philosophy in selecting equity securities, including common stocks. This value investment philosophy is based upon the belief that, over time, a company’s stock price converges with the company’s intrinsic value. By “intrinsic value,” Harris Associates means its estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris Associates believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what Harris Associates believes is a company’s intrinsic value presents the best opportunity to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives.
Harris Associates uses this value investment philosophy to identify companies that it believes have discounted stock prices compared to what Harris Associates believes are the companies’ intrinsic values. In assessing such companies, Harris Associates looks for the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes: (1) free cash flows and intelligent investment of excess cash; (2) earnings that are growing and are reasonably predictable; and (3) high level of company management alignment with shareholders.
Once Harris Associates identifies a stock that it believes is selling at a significant discount to Harris Associates’ estimate of intrinsic value and that the issuer has one or more of the additional qualities mentioned above, Harris Associates generally will consider buying that security for the Fund. Harris Associates usually sells a security when the price approaches its estimated value or the issuer’s fundamentals change. Harris Associates monitors each holding and adjusts its price targets as warranted to reflect changes in the issuer’s fundamentals. The Fund’s portfolio typically holds 30 to 60 stocks.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.
Focused Investment Risk: Because the Fund may invest in a small number of industries or issuers, it may have more risk because the impact of a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence may have a greater adverse impact on the Fund’s net asset value.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.

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Fund Summary

Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Options Risk: The value of the Fund’s positions in index options will fluctuate in response to changes in the value of the underlying index. Writing index call options limits the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of stocks in exchange for up-front cash at the time of selling the call option. The Fund also risks losing all or part of the cash paid for purchasing index put options. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular option at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of the Fund’s option strategies, and for these and other reasons the Fund’s option strategies may not reduce the Fund’s volatility to the extent desired.
Value Style Risk: Investing in “value” stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser considers to be the companies’ intrinsic values or because the Adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform other investments during given periods.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten-year, and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Fourth Quarter 2020, 23.76% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -29.68%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 15.15% | 15.43% | 13.97% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 13.32% | 13.43% | 12.03% | -

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Fund Summary

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 10.16% | 12.00% | 11.06% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 8.26% | 13.78% | 13.01% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 13.03% | 14.28% | 13.00% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 15.20% | 15.51% | - | 13.48%
S&P 500® Index | 17.88% | 14.42% | 14.82% | 14.77%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Natixis Advisors
Subadviser
Harris Associates
Portfolio Managers
William C. Nygren, CFA®, Partner, Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, U.S. and portfolio manager of Harris Associates, has served as co-manager of the Fund since 2014.
Michael A. Nicolas, CFA®, Partner, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, has served as co-manager of the Fund since 2020.
Robert F. Bierig, Partner, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, has served as co-manager of the Fund since 2022.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

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Fund Summary

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Natixis Oakmark International Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None* | 1.00% | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

* | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.80% | 0.80% | 0.80% | 0.80%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses 1,2 | 0.37% | 0.37% | 0.47%3 | 0.37%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.42% | 2.17% | 1.27% | 1.17%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 4,5 | 0.27% | 0.27% | 0.42% | 0.27%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 1.15% | 1.90% | 0.85% | 0.90%

1 | The expense information shown in the table above includes acquired fund fees and expenses of less than 0.01%; the ratios may differ from the expense information disclosed in the Fund’s financial highlights table because the financial highlights table reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

2 | Other expenses are shown net of tax reclaim expense of the following: Class A 0.13%, Class C 0.10%, Class N 0.11%, and Class Y 0.13%. Without these reductions, total annual fund operating expenses would have been 1.55%, 2.28%, 1.38%, and 1.30%, and total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement would have been 1.28%, 2.00%, 0.96%, and 1.03%.

3 | Pursuant to an expense offset arrangement, credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances may be used to reduce the Fund’s transfer agent expenses. Other expenses are shown net of such reductions of transfer agent expenses of 1bps.

4 | Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 1.15%, 1.90%, 0.85% and 0.90% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

5 | Natixis Advisors has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the dates noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares

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Fund Summary

for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 685 | $ | 973 | $ | 1,282 | $ | 2,157
Class C | $ | 293 | $ | 653 | $ | 1,140 | $ | 2,291
Class N | $ | 87 | $ | 361 | $ | 657 | $ | 1,497
Class Y | $ | 92 | $ | 345 | $ | 618 | $ | 1,396

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 193 | $ | 653 | $ | 1,140 | $ | 2,291

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 68% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of non-U.S. companies. The Fund may invest in non-U.S. markets throughout the world, including emerging markets. Ordinarily, the Fund will invest in the securities of at least five countries outside the U.S. There are no geographic limits on the Fund’s non-U.S. investments. Although the Fund invests primarily in common stocks of non-U.S. companies it may also invest in the securities of U.S. companies. The Fund may invest in the securities of small-, mid- and large-capitalization companies.
The Fund’s subadviser, Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) uses a value investment philosophy in selecting equity securities, such as common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, and securities convertible into common stocks and preferred stocks. This value investment philosophy is based upon the belief that, over time, a company’s stock price converges with Harris Associates’ estimate of its intrinsic value. By “intrinsic value,” Harris Associates means its estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris Associates believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what Harris Associates believes is a company’s intrinsic value presents the best opportunity to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
Harris Associates uses this value investment philosophy to identify companies that have discounted stock prices compared to what Harris Associates believes are the companies’ intrinsic values. In assessing such companies, Harris Associates looks for the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes: (1) free cash flows and intelligent investment of excess cash; (2) earnings that are growing and are reasonably predictable; and (3) high level of company management alignment with shareholders.
Once Harris Associates identifies a stock that it believes is selling at a significant discount to Harris Associates’ estimated intrinsic value and that the issuer has one or more of the additional qualities mentioned above, Harris Associates generally will consider buying that security for the Fund. Harris Associates usually sells a security when the price approaches its estimated value or the issuer’s fundamentals change. Harris Associates monitors each holding and adjusts its price targets as warranted to reflect changes in the issuer’s fundamentals. The Fund’s portfolio typically holds 30 to 65 stocks.
Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.

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Fund Summary

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Currency Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in currency-related instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments denominated in, or that generate income denominated in, foreign currencies. The Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.
Focused Investment Risk: Because the Fund may invest in a small number of industries or issuers, it may have more risk because the impact of a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence may have a greater adverse impact on the Fund’s net asset value.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Value Style Risk: Investing in “value” stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser considers to be the companies’ intrinsic values or because the Adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform other investments during given periods.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten-year and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of a broad-based securities market index that reflects the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.

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Fund Summary

Total Returns for Class A Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Fourth Quarter 2020, 31.94% Lowest Quarterly Return: First Quarter 2020, -38.74%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 25.00% | 5.22% | 5.90% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 24.06% | 4.79% | 5.53% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 15.40% | 4.10% | 4.80% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 30.66% | 5.67% | 5.89% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 32.91% | 6.77% | - | 5.21%
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 32.94% | 6.73% | 6.76% | -
MSCI World ex USA Index (Net) | 31.85% | 9.46% | 8.55% | 8.42%

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. The Return After Taxes on Distributions and the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for the 1-year and 5-year periods exceed the Return Before Taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from the pass-through of foreign tax credits and from losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the measurement period.
Management
Investment Adviser
Natixis Advisors
Subadviser
Harris Associates
Portfolio Managers
Anthony P. Coniaris, CFA®, Partner, Chairman, Co-Chief Investment Officer of International Equities and portfolio manager of Harris Associates, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2025.
David G. Herro, CFA®, Partner, Deputy Chairman, Co-Chief Investment Officer of International Equities, and portfolio manager of Harris Associates, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2010.
Eric Liu, CFA®, Partner, Vice President, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, has served as a co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2023.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500

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Fund Summary

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.

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Fund Summary

Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Fund Summary

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fund Fees & Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in this table. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Funds Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” on page 73 of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section “Reduced Sales Charges” of the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.75% | None | None | None
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable) | None | 1.00%1 | None | None
Redemption fees | None | None | None | None

1 | A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class N | Class Y
Management fees | 0.67% | 0.67% | 0.67% | 0.67%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Other expenses | 0.14% | 0.14% | 0.12% | 0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.06% | 1.81% | 0.79% | 0.81%
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1,2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.00%
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | 1.06% | 1.81% | 0.75% | 0.81%

Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to 1.08%, 1.83%, 0.78% and 0.83% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class A, C, N and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Natixis Advisors will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below both (1) the class’ applicable expense limitation at the time such amounts were waived/reimbursed and (2) the class’ current applicable expense limitation. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.

2 | Natixis Advisors has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, except that the example for Class N shares is based on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement assuming that such waiver and/or reimbursement will only be in place through the date noted above and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. The example for Class C shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares after eight years. The example does not take into account brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries that you may pay on your purchases and sales of shares of the Fund. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class A | $ | 677 | $ | 893 | $ | 1,126 | $ | 1,795

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Fund Summary

If shares are redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 284 | $ | 569 | $ | 980 | $ | 1,930
Class N | $ | 77 | $ | 248 | $ | 435 | $ | 974
Class Y | $ | 83 | $ | 259 | $ | 450 | $ | 1,002

If shares are not redeemed: | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years
Class C | $ | 184 | $ | 569 | $ | 980 | $ | 1,930

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 38% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Equity securities may include common stocks and preferred stocks. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund’s approach to equity investing combines the styles of two subadvisers in selecting securities for each of the Fund’s sleeves. The sleeves and their subadvisers are listed below.

• | Harris Associates - Large Cap Value sleeve - Under normal circumstances, the Large Cap Value sleeve of the Fund managed by Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) will invest primarily in the common stocks of larger-capitalization companies that Harris Associates believes are trading at a substantial discount to the company’s “intrinsic value.” By “intrinsic value,” Harris Associates means its estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris Associates believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what Harris Associates believes is a company’s intrinsic value presents the best opportunity to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. Harris Associates usually sells a security when the price approaches its estimated value and monitors each holding and adjusts its price targets as warranted to reflect changes in the issuer’s fundamentals. In determining whether an issuer is a U.S. or foreign issuer for the Harris Associates – Large Cap Value sleeve, Harris Associates considers various factors, including its country of domicile, the primary stock exchange on which it trades, the location from which the majority of its revenue comes, and its reporting currency.

• | Loomis Sayles - All Cap Growth sleeve - Under normal circumstances, the All Cap Growth sleeve of the Fund, managed by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”), will invest primarily in equity securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts. This sleeve may invest in companies of any size. The sleeve normally invests across a wide range of sectors and industries. The sleeve’s portfolio manager employs a growth style of equity management that emphasizes companies with sustainable competitive advantages versus others, long-term structural growth drivers that will lead to above-average future cash flow growth, attractive cash flow returns on invested capital, and management teams focused on creating long-term value for shareholders. The sleeve’s portfolio manager aims to invest in companies when they trade at a significant discount to the estimate of intrinsic value (i.e. companies with share prices trading significantly below what the portfolio manager believes the share price should be). The sleeve will consider selling a portfolio investment when the portfolio manager believes an unfavorable structural change occurs within a given business or the markets in which it operates, a critical underlying investment assumption is flawed, when a more attractive reward-to-risk opportunity becomes available, when the portfolio manager believes the current price fully reflects intrinsic value, or for other investment reasons which the portfolio manager deems appropriate. Although certain equity securities purchased by the Loomis Sayles – All Cap Growth sleeve of the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, Loomis Sayles uses a propriety definition to determine whether a security is classified as U.S. or non-U.S. In determining the location of an issuer for these purposes, or where the issuer’s principal activities are based, Loomis Sayles will consider a variety of factors (collectively designed to assess whether an issuer is economically tied to a particular country or region), including but not limited to: the markets in which the issuer’s securities are primarily traded; the location of the issuer’s headquarters, principal offices, or operations; the country where the issuer is organized; the percentage of the issuer’s revenues or profits derived from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the relevant country; and information provided by third-party data analytics service providers. No single factor will necessarily be determinative, nor must all factors be present for Loomis Sayles to assess an issuer’s location. Loomis Sayles may assign different weights to these factors based on different geographic policies, countries, or products.

Subject to the allocation policy adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, Natixis Advisors generally allocates capital invested in the Fund equally (i.e., 50%) between its two sleeves. Under the allocation policy, Natixis Advisors may also allocate capital away from or towards each sleeve from time to time and may reallocate capital between the sleeves. Each subadviser manages its sleeve of the Fund’s assets in accordance with its distinct investment style and strategy.
The Fund may also:

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Fund Summary

• | Invest in securities offered in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”).

• | Invest in convertible preferred stock and convertible debt securities.

• | Invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

• | Invest in fixed-income securities, including U.S. government bonds and below-investment grade fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”).

• | Hold securities of foreign issuers traded over-the-counter or on foreign exchanges, including securities in emerging markets and related currency hedging transactions.

• | Invest in equity securities of Canadian issuers.

Principal Investment Risks
The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Growth stocks are generally more sensitive to market movements than other types of stocks primarily because their stock prices are based heavily on future expectations. If the subadviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s growth is wrong, or if the subadviser’s judgment of how other investors will value the company’s growth is wrong, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or not approach the value that the subadviser has placed on it. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. Securities issued in initial public offerings tend to involve greater market risk than other equity securities due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.
Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers’ goods and services.
Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be required to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, may increase transaction costs, and may otherwise negatively impact fund performance. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, such transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund’s expenses. A number of circumstances may cause the Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. During times of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes and dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated equity and other investments are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Derivatives, and particularly over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund’s investments. The Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars.

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Fund Summary

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk: Compared to large-capitalization companies, small- and mid-capitalization companies are more likely to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Stocks of these companies often trade less frequently and in limited volume and their prices may fluctuate more than stocks of large-capitalization companies. As a result, it may be relatively more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies.
Allocation Risk: This is the risk that the Adviser’s judgments about, and allocations between, asset classes and market exposures may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s investment performance depends, in part, on how its assets are allocated. The allocation, between asset classes and market exposures, may not be optimal in every market condition. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund as a result of this allocation.
Credit/Counterparty Risk: Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, the Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. The Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. This risk will be heightened to the extent the Fund enters into derivatives transactions with a single counterparty (or affiliated counterparties that are part of the same organization), causing the Fund to have significant exposure to such counterparty. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges and clearing houses, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with OTC derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of the Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk: The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders.
Emerging Markets Risk: In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.
REITs Risk: Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table
The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the one-year, five-year, ten-year, and life-of-class periods (as applicable) compare to those of two broad-based securities market indices that reflect the performance of the overall market applicable to the Fund. Performance for Class C shares includes the automatic conversion to Class A shares after eight years, where applicable. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at im.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.
The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund’s shares. A sales charge will reduce your return. To the extent that a class of shares was subject to the waiver or reimbursement of certain expenses during a period, had such expenses not been waived or reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.

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Fund Summary

Total Returns for Class Y Shares

| Highest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2020, 22.61% Lowest Quarterly Return: Second Quarter 2022, -20.63%

Average Annual Total Returns |  |  |  |
(for the periods ended December 31, 2025) | Past 1 Year | Past 5 Years | Past 10 Years | Life of Class N (5/1/17)
Class Y - Return Before Taxes | 17.62% | 14.63% | 15.53% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 16.31% | 12.61% | 13.58% | -
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 11.24% | 11.17% | 12.38% | -
Class A - Return Before Taxes | 10.57% | 13.00% | 14.56% | -
Class C - Return Before Taxes | 15.47% | 13.49% | 14.55% | -
Class N - Return Before Taxes | 17.68% | 14.70% | - | 15.57%
S&P 500® Index | 17.88% | 14.42% | 14.82% | 14.77%
Russell 1000® Index | 17.37% | 13.59% | 14.59% | 14.49%

The Fund uses multiple subadvisers. The performance results shown above reflect results achieved by previous subadvisers using different investment strategies.
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
Management
Investment Adviser
Natixis Advisors
Subadvisers
Harris Associates
Loomis Sayles
Portfolio Managers
Harris Associates
William C. Nygren, CFA®, Partner, Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, U.S. and portfolio manager of Harris Associates, has served as co-manager of the Harris Associates Large Cap Value segment of the Fund since 2014.
Michael A. Nicolas, CFA®, Partner, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, has served as co-manager of the Harris Associates Large Cap Value segment of the Fund since 2020.
Robert F. Bierig, Partner, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, has served as co-manager of the Harris Associates Large Cap Value segment of the Fund since 2022.

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Fund Summary

Loomis Sayles
Aziz V. Hamzaogullari, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer and Founder of the Growth Equity Strategies Team, Portfolio Manager and Director at Loomis Sayles, has served as a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2011 and of the Loomis Sayles All Cap Growth segment of the Fund since 2014.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Class A and C Shares
The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

Type of Account | Minimum Initial Purchase
Any account other than those listed below | $2,500
For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds’ Automatic Investment Plan | $1,000
For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans | $1,000

There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”) may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

The minimum investment requirements for Class A shares may be waived or lowered for investments effected through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum investment requirement applicable to your investment.
Class N Shares
Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. This minimum applies to Fee Based Programs and accounts (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no initial investment minimum for:

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Funds of funds that are distributed by the Distributor.

• | Sub-accounts held within an omnibus account, where the omnibus account has at least $1,000,000. (Effective June 1, 2026, this waiver no longer applies.)

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Fund are generally subject to a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares. There is no minimum initial investment for:

• | Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where an advisory fee is paid to the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

• | Certain Retirement Plans. Please consult your retirement plan administrator to determine if your retirement plan is subject to additional or different conditions or fees imposed by the plan administrator.

• | Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

• | Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management or consulting fee.

• | Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, accounts invested through certain intermediaries held within an Intermediary Omnibus Account.

• | Effective June 1, 2026, in its sole discretion, the Distributor may waive any share class eligibility requirement.

At the discretion of Natixis Advisors, clients of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums.

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Fund Summary

Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain fee based programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.
The Fund’s shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at im.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
Tax Information
Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments through such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

More About Goals and Strategies
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks high current income plus the opportunity for capital appreciation to produce a high total return. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in below investment grade fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). Below investment grade fixed-income securities are rated below investment grade quality (i.e., none of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)), have rated the securities in one of its top four rating categories) or, if the security is unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. There is no minimum rating for the securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign fixed-income securities, including those in emerging markets. Although certain securities purchased by the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, the Adviser does not consider these securities to be foreign if the issuer is included in the U.S. fixed-income indices published by Bloomberg.
The Adviser performs its own extensive credit analysis to determine the creditworthiness and potential for capital appreciation of a security. The Fund’s management minimizes both market timing and interest rate forecasting. Instead, it uses a strategy based on gaining a thorough understanding of industry and company dynamics as well as individual security characteristics such as issuer debt and debt maturity schedules, earnings prospects, responsiveness to changes in interest rates, experience and perceived strength of management, borrowing requirements and liquidation value, market price in relation to cash flow, interest and dividends.
In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser will consider, among other things, the financial strength of the issuer, current interest rates, current valuations, the Adviser’s expectations regarding future changes in interest rates and comparisons of the level of risk associated with particular investments with the Adviser’s expectations concerning the potential return of those investments.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes the skills of its in-house team of more than 30 research analysts to cover a broad universe of industries, companies and markets. The Fund’s portfolio managers take advantage of these extensive resources to identify securities that meet the Fund’s investment criteria. The Adviser employs a selection strategy that focuses on a value-driven, bottom-up approach to identify securities that provide an opportunity for both generous yields and capital appreciation. The Adviser analyzes an individual company’s potential for positive financial news to determine if it has growth potential. Examples of positive financial news include an upward turn in the business cycle, improvement in cash flows, rising profits or the awarding of new contracts. The Adviser emphasizes in-depth credit analysis, appreciation potential and diversification in its bond selection. Each bond is evaluated to assess the ability of its issuer to pay interest and, ultimately, principal (which helps the Fund generate an ongoing flow of income). The Adviser also assesses a bond’s relation to market conditions within its industry and favors bonds whose prices may benefit from positive business developments. The Adviser seeks to diversify the Fund’s holdings to reduce the inherent risk in below investment grade fixed-income securities.
In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may also invest in structured notes, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, zero-coupon securities, pay-in-kind securities, convertible securities, securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed investments such as private credit investments, and futures, forward contracts and swaps (including credit default swaps) for hedging and investment purposes. The Fund may from time to time satisfy the 80% test above by obtaining investment exposure to below investment grade fixed-income securities through investments in these derivative instruments. Except as provided above or as required by applicable law, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund’s investment goal is long-term growth of capital. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest primarily in equity securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts. The Fund will primarily invest in securities of companies that maintain their principal place of business or conduct their principal business activities outside the U.S., companies that have their securities traded on non-U.S. exchanges or companies that have been formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. The Fund will invest in securities that provide exposure to no fewer than three countries outside the U.S. including companies located in emerging markets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser uses a proprietary definition to determine whether a security is classified as U.S. or non-U.S. In determining the location of an issuer for these purposes, or where the issuer’s principal activities are based, the Adviser will consider a variety of factors (collectively designed to assess whether an issuer is economically tied to a particular country or region), including but not limited to: the markets in which the issuer’s securities are primarily traded;

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the location of the issuer’s headquarters, principal offices, or operations; the country where the issuer is organized; the percentage of the issuer’s revenues or profits derived from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the relevant country; and information provided by third-party data analytics service providers. No single factor will necessarily be determinative, nor must all factors be present for the Adviser to assess an issuer’s location. The Adviser may assign different weights to these factors based on different geographic policies, countries, or products. The Fund considers a security to be an emerging market security if its country, as determined through the proprietary process described above, is included in the MSCI Emerging & Frontier Markets Index.
The Fund’s portfolio manager employs a growth style of equity management, which means that the Fund seeks to invest in companies with sustainable competitive advantages versus others, long-term structural growth drivers that will lead to above-average future cash flow growth, attractive cash flow returns on invested capital, and management teams focused on creating long-term value for shareholders. The Fund’s portfolio manager also aims to invest in companies when they trade at a significant discount to the estimate of intrinsic value (i.e., companies with share prices trading significantly below what the portfolio manager believes the share price should be).
The Fund will consider selling a portfolio investment when the portfolio manager believes an unfavorable structural change occurs within a given business or the markets in which it operates, when a critical underlying investment assumption is flawed, when a more attractive reward-to-risk opportunity becomes available, when the current price fully reflects intrinsic value, or for other investment reasons which the portfolio manager deems appropriate.
The Fund may also engage in foreign currency transactions (including foreign currency forwards and foreign currency futures) for hedging purposes, invest in options for hedging and investment purposes and invest in interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”) and other privately placed investments such as private equity investments. The Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments. The Fund may also gain investment exposure to Chinese companies through the use of a structure known as a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The VIE structure allows investors, such as the Fund, to gain exposure to sectors or industries where non-Chinese ownership is restricted or prohibited by the Chinese government.
The Fund is “non-diversified.” As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer and may invest in fewer issuers, as compared with other mutual funds that are diversified.
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks high total investment return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in investment grade fixed-income securities (for example, bonds and other investments that the Adviser believes have similar economic characteristics, such as notes, debentures and loans). “Investment grade” securities are those securities that are rated in one of the top four categories at the time of purchase by at least one of the three major rating agencies — Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or, if unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Although the Fund invests primarily in investment grade fixed-income securities, it may invest up to 15% of its assets in below investment grade fixed-income securities (also known as “junk bonds”). There is no minimum rating for the securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities of any maturity.
In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser will consider, among other things, the financial strength of the issuer, current interest rates, current valuations, the Adviser’s expectations regarding future changes in interest rates and comparisons of the level of risk associated with particular investments with the Adviser’s expectations concerning the potential return of those investments.
Three themes typically drive the Fund’s investment approach. First, the Adviser generally seeks fixed-income securities of issuers whose credit profiles it believes are improving. Second, the Fund may invest significantly in securities the prices of which the Adviser believes are more sensitive to events related to the underlying issuer than to changes in general interest rates or overall market default rates. The Adviser believes that the Fund may generate positive returns by having a portion of the Fund’s assets invested in non-market-related securities, rather than by relying primarily on changes in interest rates to produce returns for the Fund. Third, the Adviser analyzes different sectors of the economy and differences in the yields (“spreads”) of various fixed-income securities in an effort to find securities that it believes may produce attractive returns for the Fund in comparison to their risk. The Adviser generally prefers securities that are protected against calls (early redemption by the issuer).
In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may invest up to 30% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities, including emerging markets securities. The Fund may also invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of supranational entities without limit (e.g., the World Bank). Although certain securities purchased by the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, the Adviser does not consider these securities to be foreign if the issuer is included in the U.S. fixed-income indices published by Bloomberg. The Fund may also invest in corporate securities, U.S. government securities, commercial paper, zero-coupon securities, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, mortgage-backed securities, including mortgage dollar rolls, stripped mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations and other asset-backed securities, when-issued securities, convertible securities, securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed

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investments such as private credit investments, and structured notes. The Fund may also invest in futures, forward contracts and swaps (including credit default swaps) for hedging and investment purposes. Except as provided above or as required by applicable law, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.
In accordance with applicable SEC requirements, the Fund will notify shareholders prior to any change to the 80% policy discussed above taking effect.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks to provide an attractive absolute total return, complemented by prudent investment management designed to manage risks and protect investor capital. The secondary goal of the Fund is to achieve these returns with relatively low volatility. The Fund’s investment goals may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goals.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund has an absolute total return investment objective, which means that it is not managed relative to an index and that it attempts to achieve positive total returns over a full market cycle. The Fund intends to pursue its objective by utilizing a flexible investment approach that allocates investments across a global range of investment opportunities related to credit, currencies and interest rates, while employing risk management strategies to mitigate downside risk. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in below investment grade fixed-income securities (also known as “junk bonds”) and derivatives that have returns related to the returns on below investment grade fixed-income securities, although it is expected that, under normal market conditions, the Fund’s net exposure (i.e., long exposures obtained through direct investments in securities and in derivatives minus short exposures obtained through derivatives) to below investment grade fixed-income assets generally will not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total assets. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities are rated below investment-grade quality (i.e., none of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)) have rated the securities in one of their respective top four ratings categories). Under normal market conditions, the Fund also may invest up to 50% of its total assets in investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies and related derivatives, including up to 20% in investments denominated in emerging market currencies and related derivatives. The Fund expects that its exposure to these asset classes will often be obtained substantially through the use of derivative instruments. The Fund defines an “emerging market currency” as a currency of a country that carries a sovereign debt quality rating that is rated below investment grade by either S&P or Moody’s, or is unrated by both S&P and Moody’s. Currency positions that are intended to hedge the Fund’s non-U.S. currency exposure (i.e., currency positions that are not made for investment purposes) will offset positions in the same currency that are made for investment purposes when calculating the limitation on investments in non-U.S. and emerging market currency investments because the Fund believes that hedging a currency position is likely to negate some or all of the currency risk associated with the original currency position. The Fund does not have limits on the duration of its portfolio, and the Fund’s duration will change over time. The Fund also may invest in equity securities (including preferred stocks) as well as derivatives whose returns are linked to the returns of equity securities.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser develops long-term portfolio themes driven by macro-economic indicators. These include global economic trends, demographic trends and labor supply, analysis of global capital flows and assessments of geopolitical factors. The Adviser then develops shorter-term portfolio strategies based on factors including, but not limited to, economic, credit and Federal Reserve cycles, and top-down sector valuations and bottom-up security valuations. The Adviser seeks to actively manage risk, with a focus on managing the Fund’s exposure to credit, interest rate and currency risks in relation to the market. Additionally, the portfolio managers will use risk management tools, such as models that evaluate risk correlation to various market factors or asset classes, to seek to manage risk on an ongoing basis. The portfolio management team expects to actively evaluate each investment idea and to decide to buy or sell an investment based upon: (i) its return potential; (ii) its level of risk; and (iii) its fit within the team’s overall macro strategy, with the goal of continually optimizing the Fund’s portfolio. The Adviser incorporates systematic and quantitative models with respect to selection of certain investments.
The Adviser currently targets an annualized volatility range of 4% to 6% (as measured by the standard deviation of the Fund’s returns). The Fund’s actual or realized volatility during certain periods or over time may materially exceed or be lower than its target volatility range for various reasons, including changes in market levels of volatility and because the Fund’s portfolio may include instruments that are inherently volatile. This would increase the risk of investing in the Fund.
The Fund will pursue its investment goal by obtaining long investment exposures through investments in securities and derivatives and short investment exposures substantially through derivatives. A “long” investment exposure is an investment that rises in value with a rise in the value of an asset, asset class or index and declines in value with a decline in the value of that asset, asset class or index. A “short” investment exposure is an investment that rises in value with a decline in the value of an asset, asset class or index and declines in value with a rise in the value of that asset, asset class or index. The value of the Fund’s long and short investment exposures may, at times, each reach 100% of the assets invested in the Fund (excluding instruments primarily used for duration management or yield curve management and short-term investments (such as cash and money market instruments)), although these exposures may be higher or lower at any given time.
Fixed-Income Investments. In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may invest in a broad range of U.S. and non-U.S. fixed-income securities, including, but not limited to, corporate bonds, municipal securities, U.S. and non-U.S. government securities (including their agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored entities), securities of supranational entities, emerging market securities, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, other mortgage-related securities (such as adjustable rate mortgage securities), asset-backed securities,

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collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, convertible bonds, securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed investments such as private credit investments, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), zero-coupon securities, step coupon securities, pay-in-kind (“PIK”) securities, inflation-linked bonds, variable and floating rate securities, private placements and commercial paper.
Non-U.S. Currency Investments. Under normal market conditions, the Fund may engage in a broad range of transactions involving non-U.S. and emerging market currencies, including, but not limited to, purchasing and selling forward currency exchange contracts in non-U.S. or emerging market currencies, investing in non-U.S. currency futures contracts, investing in options on non-U.S. currencies and non-U.S. currency futures, investing in cross-currency instruments (such as swaps), investing directly in non-U.S. currencies and investing in securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies. The Fund may engage in non-U.S. currency transactions for investment or for hedging purposes.
Derivative Investments. For investment and hedging purposes, the Fund may invest substantially in a broad range of derivatives instruments and sometimes the majority of its investment returns will derive from its derivative investments. These derivative instruments include, but are not limited to, futures contracts (such as treasury futures and index futures), forward contracts, options (such as options on futures contracts, options on securities, interest rate/bond options, currency options, options on swaps and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options), warrants (such as non-U.S. currency warrants), swap transactions (such as interest rate swaps, total return swaps and index swaps) and structured notes (such as equity-linked notes). In addition, the Fund may invest in credit derivative products that may be used to manage default risk and credit exposure. Examples of such products include, but are not limited to, credit default swap index products (such as LCDX, CMBX and ABX index products), single name credit default swaps, loan credit default swaps and asset-backed credit default swaps. The Fund may, at times, invest substantially all of its assets in derivatives and securities used to support its obligations under those derivatives. The Fund’s strategy may be highly dependent on the use of derivatives, and to the extent that they become unavailable or unattractive the Fund may be unable to fully implement its investment strategy.
Equity Investments. In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may invest in common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible preferred stocks.
The Fund expects to engage in active and frequent trading of securities and other instruments. Effects of frequent trading may include high transaction costs, which may lower the Fund’s return, and realization of greater short-term capital gains, distributions of which are taxable as ordinary income to taxable shareholders. Trading costs and tax effects associated with frequent trading may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
The percentage limitations set forth herein are not investment restrictions and the Fund may exceed these limits from time to time. In addition, when calculating these exposures, the Fund may use the market value, the notional value, an adjusted notional value or some other measure of the value of a derivative in order to reflect what the Adviser believes to be the most accurate assessment of the Fund’s real economic exposure. The total notional value of the Fund’s derivative instruments may significantly exceed the total value of the Fund’s assets.
Although the Fund seeks positive total returns over time, the Fund’s investment returns may be volatile over short periods of time. The Fund may outperform the overall securities market during periods of flat or negative performance and may underperform during periods of strong market performance. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s returns over time or during any period will be positive.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks high current income with a secondary objective of capital growth. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest substantially all of its assets in income producing securities (including below investment grade securities, or “junk bonds”) with a focus on U.S. corporate bonds, convertible securities, foreign debt instruments, including those in emerging markets and related foreign currency transactions, and U.S. government securities. Below investment grade fixed-income securities are rated below investment grade quality (i.e., none of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)), have rated the securities in one of its top four rating categories) or, if the security is unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in preferred stocks and dividend-paying common stocks. The portfolio managers may shift the Fund’s assets among various types of income-producing securities based upon changing market conditions. The Adviser performs its own extensive credit analyses to determine the creditworthiness and potential for capital appreciation of a security.
The Fund’s portfolio managers use a flexible approach to identify securities in the global marketplace with characteristics including discounted price compared to economic value, undervalued credit ratings with strong or improving credit profiles and yield premium relative to its benchmark (although not all of the securities selected will have these attributes).
In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser will consider, among other things, the financial strength of the issuer, current interest rates, current valuations, the Adviser’s expectations regarding future changes in interest rates and comparisons of the level of risk associated with particular investments with the Adviser’s expectations concerning the potential return of those investments.
In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes the skills of its in-house team of more than 30 research analysts to cover a broad universe of industries, companies and markets. The Fund’s portfolio managers take advantage of these extensive resources to identify securities that meet the Fund’s

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investment criteria. The Adviser seeks to buy bonds that offer a positive yield advantage over the market and, in its view, have room to increase in price. It may also invest to take advantage of what the portfolio managers believe are temporary disparities in the yield of different segments of the market for U.S. government securities. The Adviser provides the portfolio managers with maximum flexibility to find investment opportunities in a wide range of markets, both domestic and foreign. This flexible approach provides the Fund with access to a wide array of investment opportunities. The three key sectors that the portfolio managers focus upon are U.S. corporate issues (including convertible securities), foreign debt securities and U.S. government securities. The Fund’s portfolio managers maintain a core of the Fund’s investments in corporate bond issues and shift its assets among other income-producing securities as opportunities develop. The Fund generally seeks to maintain a high level of diversification as a form of risk management.
In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may also invest in securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”), other privately placed investments such as private credit investments, structured notes, collateralized loan obligations, bank loans, zero-coupon bonds, pay-in-kind bonds, mortgage-related securities, stripped securities and futures, swaps (including credit default swaps) and foreign currency transactions (such as forward currency contracts) for hedging and investment purposes. Except as provided above or as required by applicable law, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.
Natixis Oakmark Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund primarily invests in common stocks of U.S. companies. The Fund generally invests in securities of larger-capitalization companies in any industry. Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) uses a value investment philosophy in selecting equity securities, including common stocks. This value investment philosophy is based upon the belief that, over time, a company’s stock price converges with the company’s intrinsic value. By “intrinsic value,” Harris Associates means its estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris Associates believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what Harris Associates believes is a company’s intrinsic value presents the best opportunity to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives.
Harris Associates uses this value investment philosophy to identify companies that it believes have discounted stock prices compared to what Harris Associates believes are the companies’ intrinsic values. In assessing such companies, Harris Associates looks for the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes: (1) free cash flows and intelligent investment of excess cash; (2) earnings that are growing and are reasonably predictable; and (3) high level of company management alignment with shareholders.
Once Harris Associates identifies a stock that it believes is selling at a significant discount to Harris Associates’ estimate of intrinsic value and that the issuer has one or more of the additional qualities mentioned above, Harris Associates generally will consider buying that security for the Fund. Harris Associates usually sells a security when the price approaches its estimated value or the issuer’s fundamentals change. Harris Associates monitors each holding and adjusts its price targets as warranted to reflect changes in the issuer’s fundamentals. The Fund’s portfolio typically holds 30 to 60 stocks.
Natixis Oakmark International Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of non-U.S. companies. The Fund may invest in non-U.S. markets throughout the world, including emerging markets. Ordinarily, the Fund will invest in the securities of at least five countries outside the U.S. There are no geographic limits on the Fund’s non-U.S. investments. Although the Fund invests primarily in common stocks of non-U.S. companies it may also invest in the securities of U.S. companies. The Fund may invest in the securities of small-, mid- and large-capitalization companies.
The Fund’s subadviser, Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) uses a value investment philosophy in selecting equity securities, such as common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, and securities convertible into common stocks and preferred stocks. This value investment philosophy is based upon the belief that, over time, a company’s stock price converges with Harris Associates’ estimate of its intrinsic value. By “intrinsic value,” Harris Associates means its estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris Associates believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what Harris Associates believes is a company’s intrinsic value presents the best opportunity to achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
Harris Associates uses this value investment philosophy to identify companies that have discounted stock prices compared to what Harris Associates believes are the companies’ intrinsic values. In assessing such companies, Harris Associates looks for the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes: (1) free cash flows and intelligent investment of excess cash; (2) earnings that are growing and are reasonably predictable; and (3) high level of company management alignment with shareholders.

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Once Harris Associates identifies a stock that it believes is selling at a significant discount to Harris Associates’ estimated intrinsic value and that the issuer has one or more of the additional qualities mentioned above, Harris Associates generally will consider buying that security for the Fund. Harris Associates usually sells a security when the price approaches its estimated value or the issuer’s fundamentals change. Harris Associates monitors each holding and adjusts its price targets as warranted to reflect changes in the issuer’s fundamentals. The Fund’s portfolio typically holds 30 to 65 stocks.
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The Fund’s investment goal may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Equity securities may include common stocks and preferred stocks. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in securities of U.S. issuers. The Fund’s approach to equity investing combines the styles of two subadvisers in selecting securities for each of the Fund’s sleeves. The sleeves and their subadvisers are listed below.

• | Harris Associates - Large Cap Value sleeve - Under normal circumstances, the Large Cap Value sleeve of the Fund managed by Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) will invest primarily in the common stocks of larger-capitalization companies that Harris Associates believes are trading at a substantial discount to the company’s “intrinsic value.” By “intrinsic value,” Harris Associates means its estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris Associates believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what Harris Associates believes is a company’s intrinsic value presents the best opportunity to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. Harris Associates usually sells a security when the price approaches its estimated value and monitors each holding and adjusts its price targets as warranted to reflect changes in the issuer’s fundamentals. In determining whether an issuer is a U.S. or foreign issuer for the Harris Associates – Large Cap Value sleeve, Harris Associates considers various factors, including its country of domicile, the primary stock exchange on which it trades, the location from which the majority of its revenue comes, and its reporting currency.

• | Loomis Sayles - All Cap Growth sleeve - Under normal circumstances, the All Cap Growth sleeve of the Fund, managed by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”), will invest primarily in equity securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts. This sleeve may invest in companies of any size. The sleeve normally invests across a wide range of sectors and industries. The sleeve’s portfolio manager employs a growth style of equity management that emphasizes companies with sustainable competitive advantages versus others, long-term structural growth drivers that will lead to above-average future cash flow growth, attractive cash flow returns on invested capital, and management teams focused on creating long-term value for shareholders. The sleeve’s portfolio manager aims to invest in companies when they trade at a significant discount to the estimate of intrinsic value (i.e. companies with share prices trading significantly below what the portfolio manager believes the share price should be). The sleeve will consider selling a portfolio investment when the portfolio manager believes an unfavorable structural change occurs within a given business or the markets in which it operates, a critical underlying investment assumption is flawed, when a more attractive reward-to-risk opportunity becomes available, when the portfolio manager believes the current price fully reflects intrinsic value, or for other investment reasons which the portfolio manager deems appropriate. Although certain equity securities purchased by the Loomis Sayles – All Cap Growth sleeve of the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, Loomis Sayles uses a propriety definition to determine whether a security is classified as U.S. or non-U.S. In determining the location of an issuer for these purposes, or where the issuer’s principal activities are based, Loomis Sayles will consider a variety of factors (collectively designed to assess whether an issuer is economically tied to a particular country or region), including but not limited to: the markets in which the issuer’s securities are primarily traded; the location of the issuer’s headquarters, principal offices, or operations; the country where the issuer is organized; the percentage of the issuer’s revenues or profits derived from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the relevant country; and information provided by third-party data analytics service providers. No single factor will necessarily be determinative, nor must all factors be present for Loomis Sayles to assess an issuer’s location. Loomis Sayles may assign different weights to these factors based on different geographic policies, countries, or products.

Subject to the allocation policy adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, Natixis Advisors generally allocates capital invested in the Fund equally (i.e., 50%) between its two sleeves. Under the allocation policy, Natixis Advisors may also allocate capital away from or towards each sleeve from time to time and may reallocate capital between the sleeves. Each subadviser manages its sleeve of the Fund’s assets in accordance with its distinct investment style and strategy.
The Fund may also:

• | Invest in securities offered in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Rule 144A securities”).

• | Invest in convertible preferred stock and convertible debt securities.

• | Invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

• | Invest in fixed-income securities, including U.S. government bonds and below-investment grade fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”).

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• | Hold securities of foreign issuers traded over-the-counter or on foreign exchanges, including securities in emerging markets and related currency hedging transactions.

• | Invest in equity securities of Canadian issuers.

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund -
More on Investment Strategies
The Fund’s portfolio is divided into two different segments managed by the two subadvisers set forth below. These subadvisers pursue the Fund’s overall goal by employing the strategies and techniques described below.
Harris Associates - Large Cap Value segment
Under normal circumstances, the Large Cap Value segment of the Fund managed by Harris Associates will invest primarily in the common stocks of larger- capitalization companies that Harris Associates believes are trading at a substantial discount to the company’s “intrinsic value.” By “intrinsic value,” Harris Associates means its estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris Associates believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what Harris Associates believes is a company’s intrinsic value presents the best opportunity to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. Harris Associates usually sells a security when the price approaches its estimated value and monitors each holding and adjusts its price targets as warranted to reflect changes in the issuer’s fundamentals.
Loomis Sayles - All Cap Growth segment
Under normal circumstances, the All Cap Growth segment of the Fund, managed by Loomis Sayles, will invest primarily in equity securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts. This segment may invest in companies of any size. The segment normally invests across a wide range of sectors and industries. The segment’s portfolio manager employs a growth style of equity management that emphasizes companies with sustainable competitive advantages versus others, long-term structural growth drivers that will lead to above-average future cash flow growth, and attractive cash flow returns on invested capital and management teams focused on creating long-term value for shareholders. The segment’s portfolio manager aims to invest in companies when they trade at a significant discount to the estimate of intrinsic value (i.e. companies with share prices trading significantly below what the portfolio manager believes the share price should be). The segment will consider selling a portfolio investment when the portfolio manager believes an unfavorable structural change occurs within a given business or the markets in which it operates, a critical underlying investment assumption is flawed, when a more attractive reward-to-risk opportunity becomes available, when the portfolio manager believes the current price fully reflects intrinsic value, or for other investment reasons which the portfolio manager deems appropriate.
All Funds
Temporary Defensive Measures
Temporary defensive measures may be used by a Fund during adverse economic, market, political or other conditions. In this event, a Fund may hold any portion of its assets in cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and/or invest in cash equivalents such as money market instruments or high-quality debt securities as it deems appropriate. A Fund may miss certain investment opportunities if it uses defensive strategies and thus may not achieve its investment goal.
Securities Lending
Each Fund may lend a portion of its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. Please see “Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for details. If a Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and the Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. These fees or interest are income to each Fund, although a Fund often must share the income with the securities lending agent and/or the borrower. Securities lending involves, among other risks, the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent. A Fund may pay lending fees to the party arranging the loan.
In addition, any investment of cash is generally at the sole risk of a Fund. Any income or gains and losses from investing and reinvesting any cash collateral delivered by a borrower pursuant to a loan are generally at a Fund’s risk, and to the extent any such losses reduce the amount of cash below the amount required to be returned to the borrower upon the termination of any loan, the Fund may be required by the securities lending agent to pay or cause to be paid to such borrower an amount equal to such shortfall in cash, possibly requiring it to liquidate other portfolio securities to satisfy its obligations. Each Fund’s securities lending activities are implemented pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees and are subject to Board oversight.
Percentage Investment Limitations
Except as set forth in the Funds’ SAI, the percentage limitations set forth in this Prospectus and the SAI apply at the time an investment is made and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment.

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

Portfolio Holdings
A description of each Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the section “Portfolio Holdings Information” in the SAI.
A “snapshot” of each Fund’s investments may be found in its filing on Form N-CSR. In addition, a list of each Fund’s full portfolio holdings, which is updated monthly after an aging period of at least 30 calendar days (10 business days after quarter-end for Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund), is available on the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com/us/fund-documents (in the “Holdings” column select “Full portfolio holdings” for the relevant Fund). These holdings will remain accessible on the website at least until each Fund files its respective Form N-CSR or Form N-PORT with the SEC for the period that includes the date of the information. In addition, a list of each Fund’s top 10 holdings as of the month-end is generally available within 7 business days after the month-end (10 business days after quarter-end for Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund, and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund) on the Funds’ website at https://www.im.natixis.com/us/fund-documents (click Fund name and navigate to “Top Ten Holdings” section on the web page).

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More About Risks

More About Risks
This section provides more information on certain principal risks that may affect a Fund’s portfolio, as well as information on additional risks a Fund may be subject to because of its investments or practices. In seeking to achieve its investment goals, a Fund may also invest in various types of securities and engage in various investment practices which are not a principal focus of a Fund and therefore are not described in this Prospectus. These securities and investment practices and their associated risks are discussed in the Funds’ SAI, which is available without charge upon request (see back cover). The significance of any specific risk to an investment in a Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to a Fund.
Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.
Recent Market Events Risk
The Funds are subject to the risk that geopolitical and other events (e.g., wars, pandemics, terrorism, trade disputes, and rapid technological developments or widespread adoption of new technologies) will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect particular economies and markets as well as global economies and markets, thereby potentially decreasing the value of a Fund’s investments. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in, among other things, significant market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and economic downturns and recessions, and may continue to have similar effects in the future. Such factors, and the effects of other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics, may have a significant adverse effect on a Fund’s performance, exacerbate other risks that apply to a Fund, exacerbate existing economic, political, or social tensions, have the potential to impair the ability of a Fund’s investment adviser, Subadviser, or other service providers to serve the Fund, and lead to disruptions that negatively impact a Fund.
In addition, Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the resulting responses by the United States and other countries, and the potential for wider conflict could increase volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets and adversely affect regional and global economies. These and any related events could significantly impact a Fund’s performance and the value of an investment in the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to Russian issuers or issuers in other countries affected by the invasion.
In addition, U.S. trade policy has changed rapidly in the past, and may do so in the future, and it may be an ongoing source of instability, potentially resulting in significant currency fluctuations and/or having other adverse effects on international markets, international trade agreements, and/or other existing cross-border cooperation arrangements (whether economic, tax, fiscal, legal, regulatory, or otherwise). To the extent trade disputes escalate globally, there could be additional significant impacts on the sectors or industries in which a Fund invests and financial markets generally, as well as other adverse impacts on the Fund’s overall performance. Events such as these and their impact on the Funds are impossible to predict. Other issuers or markets could be similarly affected by past or future geopolitical or other events or conditions.
Agency Securities Risk
Certain debt securities issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the relevant entity but have not been backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Instead, they have been supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations. An event affecting the guaranteeing entity could adversely affect the payment of principal or interest or both on the security and, therefore, these types of securities should be considered to be riskier than U.S. government securities. In addition, in 2008 the U.S. Treasury Department placed certain government-sponsored companies into conservatorship. The companies remain in conservatorship, and the effect that this conservatorship will have on the companies’ debt and equity securities is unclear.
Allocation Risk
A Fund’s investment performance depends, in part, on how its assets are allocated. A Fund’s allocations between asset classes and market exposures may not be optimal in every market condition and may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. You could lose money on your investment in a Fund as a result of this allocation.
Bank Loans Risk
A Fund’s investments in bank loans are subject to credit risk and may not be adequately collateralized. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and thus bank loans are subject to interest rate risk. Most bank loans, like most investment-grade bonds, are not traded on any national securities exchange. There may also be less public information available about bank loans as compared to other debt securities. Some loans may not be considered “securities” for certain purposes under the federal securities laws, and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.
Transactions in bank loans may settle on a delayed basis, such that the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. In order to finance redemptions pending settlement of bank loans, the Fund may employ a wide variety of means to meet short-term liquidity needs, including, without limitation, drawing on its cash and other short-term positions, all of which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

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Below Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities Risk
Below investment grade fixed-income securities, also known as “junk bonds,” are rated below investment grade quality and may be considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. To be considered rated below investment grade quality, a security must not have been rated by any of the three major rating agencies (Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Ratings, Inc. or S&P Global Ratings) in one of their respective top four rating categories at the time a Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, the portfolio managers have determined it to be of comparable quality. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of below investment grade fixed-income securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher-quality debt securities, and a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives may, to the extent the Fund invests in below investment grade fixed-income securities, be more dependent upon the portfolio managers’ credit analysis than would be the case if the Fund were investing in higher-quality securities. The issuers of these securities may be in default or have a currently identifiable vulnerability to default on their payments of principal and interest, or may otherwise present elements of danger with respect to payments of principal or interest. Below investment grade fixed-income securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher-grade securities. Yields on below investment grade fixed-income securities will fluctuate. When a Fund makes an investment, the Fund may incur costs, such as transactional or legal expenses, associated with the investment. With respect to investments in distressed instruments, including some below investment grade fixed-income securities, a Fund may be more likely to incur additional expenses. For example, if the issuer of below investment grade fixed-income securities defaults, a Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.
The secondary markets in which below investment-grade securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for higher-grade securities. A lack of liquidity in the secondary trading markets could adversely affect the price at which a Fund could sell a particular below investment-grade security when necessary to meet liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer, and could adversely affect and cause large fluctuations in the net asset value (“NAV”) of a Fund’s shares. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities generally. It is reasonable to expect that any adverse economic conditions could disrupt the market for below investment-grade securities, have an adverse impact on the value of such securities and adversely affect the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon. New laws and proposed new laws may adversely impact the market for below investment-grade fixed-income securities.
Convertible Securities Risk
Convertible securities have investment characteristics of both equity and debt securities. Investments in convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt instruments, such as interest rate risk and credit risk. Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to many of the same risks as investing in common stock. A Fund may convert a convertible security at an inopportune time, which may decrease the Fund’s return.
Credit/Counterparty Risk
Credit/counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivative or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. As a result, a Fund may sustain losses or be unable or delayed in its ability to realize gains. A Fund will be subject to credit/counterparty risk with respect to the counterparties to its derivatives transactions. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges, such as the performance guarantee given by a central clearing house, are not available in connection with OTC derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. For centrally cleared derivatives, such as cleared swaps, futures and many options, the primary credit/counterparty risk is the creditworthiness of a Fund’s clearing broker and the central clearing house itself. Regulatory requirements may also limit the ability of a Fund to protect its interests in the event of an insolvency of a derivatives counterparty. In the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, a Fund’s ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization on collateral, could be stayed or eliminated under special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty. In particular, with respect to counterparties who are subject to such proceedings in the European Union and the United Kingdom, the liabilities of such counterparties to a Fund could be reduced, eliminated, or converted to equity in such counterparties (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”).
Currency Risk
Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. A Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in currency-related instruments and/or securities or other instruments denominated in, or that generate income denominated in, foreign currencies. The market for some or all currencies may from time to time have low trading volume and become illiquid, which may prevent a Fund from effecting a position or from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions in such markets, thus subjecting the Fund to substantial losses. A Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risk
The Funds, their service providers and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Funds and their shareholders. These risks include, among others, theft, misuse, and improper release of confidential or highly sensitive information relating to the Funds and their shareholders, as well as compromises or failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the operations of the Funds and their service providers, including those relating to the performance and effectiveness of security procedures used by a Fund or its service providers to protect a Fund’s assets. Power outages, natural disasters, equipment

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malfunctions and processing errors that threaten these systems, as well as market events that occur at a pace that overloads these systems, may also disrupt business operations or impact critical data. Cybersecurity incidents and cyber-attacks have been occurring globally at a more frequent and severe level and will likely continue to increase in frequency in the future. There may be an increased risk of cyber-attacks during periods of geopolitical or military conflict, and geopolitical tensions may increase the scale and sophistication of deliberate cybersecurity attacks, particularly those from nation-states or from entities with nation-state backing. Any problems relating to the performance and effectiveness of security procedures used by a Fund or its service providers to protect a Fund’s assets, such as algorithms, codes, passwords, multiple signature systems, encryption and telephone call-backs, may have an adverse impact on an investment in a Fund. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Funds and their shareholders, impede business transactions, violate privacy and other laws, subject the Funds to certain regulatory penalties and reputational damage, and increase compliance costs and expenses. Furthermore, as a Fund’s assets grow, it may become a more appealing target for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware. Although the Funds have developed processes, risk management systems and business continuity plans designed to reduce these risks, the Funds do not directly control the cybersecurity defenses, operational and technology plans and systems of their service providers, financial intermediaries and companies in which they invest or with which they do business. The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. Similar types of cybersecurity risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Funds’ investment in such securities to lose value.
The Adviser, the Funds and the issuers in which they invest, service providers, and other market participants may utilize artificial intelligence technologies in business operations. It is possible that the information provided through use of artificial intelligence could be insufficient, incomplete, inaccurate or biased leading to adverse effects for a Fund, including, potentially, operational errors and investment losses. Moreover, recent technological developments in, and the increasingly widespread use of, artificial intelligence technologies may pose risks to the Adviser and the Funds. For instance, the economy may be significantly impacted by the advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence technologies. As artificial intelligence technologies are used more widely, the profitability and growth of a Fund’s holdings may be impacted, which could significantly impact the overall performance of the Fund. The legal and regulatory frameworks within which artificial intelligence technologies operate continue to rapidly evolve, and it is not possible to predict the full extent of current or future risks related thereto.
Derivatives Risk
As described herein and in the SAI, the use of derivatives involves special risks. Derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon or is derived from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. There is no guarantee that a Fund’s use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on a Fund’s exposure to securities market values, interest rates, currency exchange rates or other markets. It is possible that a Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. A Fund’s use of derivatives, such as futures, structured notes, swaps (including credit default swaps), options and warrants, involves other risks, such as the credit/counterparty risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is generally greater for OTC derivatives than for centrally cleared derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk and the risk of losing more than any amounts paid or margin transferred to initiate derivatives positions. A Fund may be required to sell other securities at inopportune times to meet collateral requirements on its derivatives transactions. There is also the risk that a Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. The use of derivatives may cause a Fund to incur losses greater than those which would have occurred had derivatives not been used. Losses resulting from the use of derivatives will reduce a Fund’s NAV, and possibly income. To the extent that a Fund uses a derivative for purposes other than as a hedge, or if a Fund hedges imperfectly, the Fund is directly exposed to the risks of that derivative and any loss generated by the derivative will not be offset by a gain. When used, derivatives may affect the timing, amount, or character of distributions payable to, and thus taxes payable by, shareholders. Similarly, for accounting and performance reporting purposes, income and gain characteristics may be different than if a Fund held the underlying securities or other assets directly.
Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) governs the use of derivative investments and certain financing transactions by registered investment companies. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 requires funds that invest in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk based limit to their use of derivative instruments and financing transactions and to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program. A fund that uses derivative instruments in a limited amount is not subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. Compliance with the rule by the Funds could, among other things, make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility, or otherwise adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Emerging Markets Risk
In addition to the risks of investing in foreign investments generally, emerging markets investments are subject to greater risks arising from political or economic instability, war, nationalization or confiscatory taxation, currency exchange or repatriation restrictions, sanctions by other countries (such as the United States or the European Union), new or inconsistent government treatment of or restrictions on new issuers and instruments, and an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. Emerging markets companies may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets. In addition, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases may exacerbate pre-existing problems in emerging market countries with less established health care systems.
Economic and Political Risks. Emerging market countries often experience instability in their political and economic structures and have less market depth, infrastructure, capitalization and regulatory oversight than more developed markets. Government actions could have a significant impact on the economic conditions in such countries, which in turn would affect the value and liquidity of the assets of a Fund invested in emerging market securities. Specific risks

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that could decrease a Fund’s return include seizure of a company’s assets, restrictions imposed on payments as a result of blockages on foreign currency exchanges or sanctions and unanticipated social or political occurrences.
The ability of the government of an emerging market country to make timely payments on its debt obligations will depend on many factors, including the extent of its reserves, fluctuations in interest rates and access to international credit and investments. A country that has non-diversified exports or relies on certain key imports will be subject to greater fluctuations in the pricing of those commodities. Failure to generate sufficient earnings from foreign trade will make it difficult for an emerging market country to service its foreign debt.
Companies trading in developing securities markets are generally smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies trading in developed markets. Foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales. Settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets may be subject to risk of loss and may be delayed more often than transactions settled in the United States, in part because a Fund will need to use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable compared to more developed countries. Disruptions resulting from social and political factors may cause the securities markets to close. If extended closings were to occur, the liquidity and value of a Fund’s assets invested in corporate debt obligations of emerging market companies would decline.
Investment Controls; Repatriation. Foreign investment in emerging market country debt securities is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain emerging market country debt securities. Certain emerging market countries require government approval of investments by foreign persons, limit the amount of investments by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit investments by foreign persons only to a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by domiciliaries of the countries and/or impose additional taxes or controls on foreign investors or currency transactions. Certain emerging market countries may also restrict investment opportunities in issuers in industries deemed important to national interests.
Emerging market countries may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or proceeds of sale of securities by foreign investors. In addition, if a deterioration occurs in an emerging market country’s balance of payments, the country could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to a Fund of any restrictions on investments. Investing in local markets in emerging market countries may require a Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local governmental approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs to a Fund.
A Fund’s exposure to VIEs may pose additional risks because, instead of directly investing in the underlying Chinese operating company, the Fund’s investment is in a holding company domiciled outside of China. The holding company has contractual arrangements with the operating company that are expected to provide investors, such as a Fund, with economic exposure to the operating company. While VIEs are a longstanding industry practice that is well known to Chinese officials and regulators historically, they have not been formally recognized under Chinese law. Effective March 31, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) released new rules that permit the use of VIE structures, provided they abide by Chinese laws and register with the CSRC. The rules, however, may cause Chinese companies to undergo greater scrutiny and may make the process to create VIEs more difficult and costly. The Chinese government may cease to tolerate VIE structures at any time or impose new restrictions. Similarly, these investments may face delisting or other adverse actions under U.S. or other non-Chinese law. Any of these events may reduce the value of a Fund’s investments in these companies or render them valueless.
Equity Securities Risk
The value of your investment in a Fund is based on the market value (or price) of the securities the Fund holds. You may lose money on your investment due to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and/or periods of below-average performance in individual securities, industries or in the equity market as a whole. This may impact a Fund’s performance and may result in higher portfolio turnover, which may increase the tax liability to taxable shareholders and the expenses incurred by the Fund. The market value of a security can change daily due to political, economic and other events that affect the securities markets generally, as well as those that affect particular companies or governments. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, will vary depending on the types of securities a Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of a Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response to such trends and developments. Securities issued in initial public offerings tend to involve greater market risk than other equity securities due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. Rule 144A securities may be less liquid than other equity securities. Small-capitalization and emerging growth companies may be subject to more abrupt price movements, limited markets and less liquidity than larger, more established companies, which could adversely affect the value of a Fund’s portfolio. Growth stocks are generally more sensitive to market movements than other types of stocks primarily because their stock prices are based heavily on future expectations. If the Adviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s growth is wrong, or if the Adviser’s judgment of how other investors will value the company’s growth is wrong, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. Common stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.

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Focused Investment Risk
Because a Fund may invest in a small number of industries or issuers, it may have more risk because the impact of a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence may have a greater adverse impact on the Fund’s NAV.
Foreign Securities Risk
Foreign securities risk is the risk associated with investments in issuers located in foreign countries. A Fund’s investments in foreign securities may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than investments in securities of U.S. issuers. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of issuers and a small number of securities. In addition, foreign companies often are not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. companies. Reporting, accounting, disclosure, custody and auditing standards and practices of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards and practices, and are often not as rigorous. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. Many countries, including developed nations and emerging markets, are faced with concerns about high government debt levels, credit rating downgrades, the future of the euro as a common currency, possible government debt restructuring and related issues, all of which may cause the value of a Fund’s non-U.S. investments to decline. Nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, the imposition of sanctions or threat thereof by other countries (such as the United States), political changes or diplomatic developments, as well as civil unrest, geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, wars and acts of terrorism, may impair a Fund’s ability to buy, sell, hold, receive, deliver, or otherwise transact in certain securities and may also cause the value of a Fund’s non-U.S. investments to decline. When imposed, foreign withholding or other taxes reduce a Fund’s return on foreign securities. In the event of nationalization, expropriation, confiscation, or other government action, intervention, or restriction, a Fund could lose its entire investment in a particular foreign issuer or country. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to these risks to a greater extent than those in more developed markets and securities of developed market companies that conduct substantial business in emerging markets may also be subject to greater risk. These risks also apply to securities of foreign issuers traded in the United States or through depositary receipt programs such as American Depositary Receipts. To the extent a Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a specific geographic region, the Fund may have more exposure to regional political, economic, environmental, credit/counterparty and information risks. In addition, foreign securities may be subject to increased credit/counterparty risk because of the potential difficulties of requiring foreign entities to honor their contractual commitments. Finally, the threat of or actual imposition of tariffs may adversely impact the price of non-U.S. securities.
Inflation/Deflation Risk
Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the present value of future payments. As inflation increases, the real value of a Fund’s portfolio could decline. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy (or expectations that such policies will change), and a Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to the Fund’s investors. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time (the opposite of inflation). Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of a Fund’s portfolio.
Because the Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund seeks positive returns that exceed the rate of inflation over time, if the portfolio managers’ inflation forecasts are incorrect, the Fund may be more severely impacted than other funds.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the value of a Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities, such as bonds, notes, asset-backed securities and other income-producing securities and derivatives. Fixed-income securities are obligations of the issuer to make payments of principal and/or interest on future dates. Increases in interest rates may cause the value of a Fund’s investments to decline. In addition, the value of certain derivatives (such as interest rate futures) is related to changes in interest rates and their value may suffer significant decline as a result of interest rate changes. A prolonged period of low interest rates may cause a Fund to have a low or negative yield, potentially reducing the value of your investment. Generally, the value of fixed-income securities, including short-term fixed-income securities, rises when prevailing interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. Interest rate risk generally is greater for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with relatively longer durations than for funds that invest in fixed-income securities with shorter durations. A significant change in interest rates could cause a Fund’s share price (and the value of your investment) to change. The value of zero-coupon and pay-in-kind bonds may be more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates than other fixed-income securities. Interest rates can also change in response to the supply and demand for credit, inflation rates, and other factors. Fiscal, economic, monetary or other governmental or central bank policies, actions or measures have in the past, and may in the future, cause or exacerbate risks associated with interest rates, including fluctuations in interest rates.
Large Shareholder Transaction Risk
Ownership of shares of a Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors, which may include, among others, institutional investors, financial intermediaries, or Funds over which the Adviser has investment discretion. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). In the event of a large shareholder transaction, the Fund may be forced to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders, and may increase transaction costs. The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund

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shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged plan. In addition, the Fund also may be required to sell its more liquid investments to meet a large redemption, in which case the Fund’s remaining assets may be less liquid, more volatile, and more difficult to price. These transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase a Fund’s expenses or could result in a Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratios. Any of these potential effects may also negatively impact Fund performance. In addition, large purchases of Fund shares may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would, diluting its investment returns. A number of circumstances may cause a Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for a Fund or share class of the Fund; liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events; or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
Leverage Risk
Taking short positions in stocks results in a form of leverage. Leverage is the risk associated with securities or investment practices (e.g., borrowing and the use of certain derivatives) that multiply small index, market or asset-price movements into larger changes in value. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss. As a result, a relatively small decline in the value of the underlying investments could result in a relatively large loss. The use of leverage will increase the impact of gains and losses on the Fund’s returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that a Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in a Fund’s investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund’s exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of a Fund’s investments when it needs to dispose of them. Markets may become illiquid quickly. If a Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities and privately negotiated credit, equity and other investments, as applicable, are generally subject to significant liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. Derivatives, and particularly OTC derivatives, are generally subject to liquidity risk as well. In other circumstances, liquid investments may become illiquid. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value a Fund’s investments. A Fund may invest in liquid investments that become illiquid due to financial distress, or geopolitical events such as sanctions, trading halts or wars. In some cases, especially during periods of market turmoil, there may be no buyers or sellers for securities in certain asset classes, dealers may be unwilling or unable to make a market for certain securities, and a redemption may dilute the interest of the remaining shareholders.
Management Risk
Management risk is the risk that the portfolio managers’ investment techniques could fail to achieve a Fund’s objective and could cause your investment in a Fund to lose value. Each Fund is subject to management risk because each Fund is actively managed. The portfolio managers will apply their investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Funds, but there can be no guarantee that such decisions will produce the desired results. For example, securities that the portfolio managers expect to appreciate in value may, in fact, decline. Similarly, in some cases, derivative and other investment techniques may be unavailable or the portfolio managers may determine not to use them, even under market conditions where their use could have benefited the Funds.
Market/Issuer Risk
The market value of a Fund’s investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon political, regulatory, market, economic, and social conditions, as well as developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries, or segments of the market, including conditions that directly relate to the issuers of a Fund’s investments, such as management performance, financial condition, and demand for the issuers’ goods and services. A Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will adversely affect global economies and markets. War, terrorism, and related geopolitical events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on global economies and markets or on specific sectors, industries and countries. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters and epidemics or pandemics may be highly disruptive to economies and markets or on specific sectors, industries and countries. Due to the interconnectedness of economies and financial markets throughout the world, if a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic and financial difficulties, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected. Events such as these and their impact on the Funds may be difficult or impossible to predict.
Models and Data Risk
The Advisers utilize various proprietary quantitative models (including models that may utilize forms of artificial intelligence, such as machine learning to identify investment opportunities). There is a possibility that one or all of the quantitative models may fail to identify profitable opportunities at any time. Furthermore, the models may incorrectly identify opportunities and these misidentified opportunities may lead to substantial loss. Models may be predictive in nature and such models may result in an incorrect assessment of future events. Data used in the construction of models may prove to be inaccurate or stale, which may result in losses for a Fund. Investments selected using the models may perform differently than expected as a result of the market factors used in creating models, the weight given to each such market factor, changes from the market factors’ historical trends, human error and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models (e.g., data problems, and/or software issues). Models may cause a Fund’s portfolio to underperform other

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More About Risks

investment strategies and may not perform as intended in volatile markets. The Advisers’ judgments about the weightings among various models and strategies may be incorrect, adversely affecting performance.
Mortgage-Related and Asset-Backed Securities Risk
In addition to the risks associated with investments in fixed-income securities generally (for example, credit, liquidity, inflation and valuation risk), mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are subject to the risks of the mortgages and assets underlying the securities as well as prepayment risk, the risk that the securities may be prepaid and result in the reinvestment of the prepaid amounts in securities with lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Conversely, there is a risk that a rise in interest rates will extend the life of a mortgage-related or asset-backed security beyond the expected prepayment time, typically reducing the security’s value, which is called extension risk. A Fund also may incur a loss when there is a prepayment of securities that were purchased at a premium. Stripped securities are more sensitive to changes in the prevailing interest rates and the rate of principal payments on the underlying assets than regular mortgage-related securities. The value of some mortgage-related securities and other asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans, or which may be negatively impacted by economic and market conditions, but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic downturn or recession, high unemployment, a general slowdown in the real estate market, a drop in the market prices of real estate, or an increase in interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments by holders of adjustable rate mortgages. During periods of difficult economic conditions, delinquencies and losses on commercial mortgage-backed investments in particular generally increase, including as a result of the effects of those conditions on commercial real estate markets, the ability of commercial tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain commercial tenants. A Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with the servicing of those assets. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. A dollar roll involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. A Fund may be required to purchase securities at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since the counterparty in the transaction is required to deliver a similar, but not identical, security to the Fund, the security that the Fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. There is no assurance that a Fund’s use of cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
Non-Diversification Risk
Compared with diversified mutual funds, a non-diversified Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer and may invest in fewer issuers. Therefore, a non-diversified Fund may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security or the impact of a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence may have a greater adverse impact on the Fund’s net asset value.
Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk: The Funds may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to pursue its principal investment strategy. A high rate of portfolio turnover may involve correspondingly greater expenses, which must be borne by the Funds and its shareholders, and also may result in short term capital gains or losses to shareholders. Portfolio turnover is subject to fluctuations and is dependent on certain factors including current market conditions, portfolio re-balancing, cash flows, new issuance, and individual portfolio needs.
REITs Risk
The performance of a Fund that invests in REITs may be dependent in part on the performance of the real estate market and the real estate industry in general. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns. Securities of companies in the real estate industry, including REITs, are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. The U.S. residential and commercial real estate markets may, in the future, experience and have, in the past, experienced a decline in value, with certain regions experiencing significant losses in property values. When growth is slowing, demand for property decreases and prices may decline, which could impact the value of real estate investments as well as mortgage-backed securities that may be held by a Fund. Although interest rates have significantly increased in recent years, the prices of real estate-related assets generally have not decreased as much as may be expected based on historical correlations between interest rates and prices of real estate-related assets. This presents an increased risk of a correction or severe downturn in real estate-related asset prices, which could adversely impact the value of other investments as well (such as loans, securitized debt and other fixed income securities). This risk is particularly present with respect to commercial real estate-related asset prices, and the value of other investments with a connection to the commercial real estate sector. Exposure to such real estate may adversely affect a REIT’s performance, and therefore a Fund’s performance. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or the mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs also are subject to default and prepayment risk. REITs are dependent upon cash flow from their investments to repay financing costs and also on the ability of the REITs’ managers. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund.
Short Exposure Risk
A short exposure through a derivative or short sale may present various risks, including credit/counterparty risk and leverage risk. If the value of the asset, asset class or index on which a Fund has obtained a short investment exposure increases, the Fund will incur a loss. Unlike a direct cash investment like a stock, bond or ETF, where the potential loss is limited to the purchase price, the potential risk of loss from a short exposure is theoretically unlimited.

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Management Team

Moreover, there can be no assurance that securities necessary to cover (repurchase in order to close) a short position will be available for purchase. If a Fund is unable to borrow the security it wishes to sell short or otherwise enter into a short position at an advantageous time or price, the Fund’s ability to pursue its short sale strategy may be adversely affected. A Fund’s use of short sales involves additional investment risks and transaction costs. To sell a security short, a Fund must borrow that security from a lender, such as a prime broker, and deliver it to a counterparty. When closing a short sale, the Fund will have to purchase the security it originally sold short. A Fund may not be able to purchase that security at an advantageous time or price, which may lower the Fund’s return or result in a loss. While short exposure can be used to further a Fund’s investment objective, under certain market conditions, it can increase the volatility of a Fund and decrease the liquidity of a Fund. Ordinarily, a Fund will incur a fee or pay a premium to borrow securities, may also be required to pay interest charges and will have to repay the lender any dividends or interest that accrue on the security while the loan is outstanding. Other short exposures may impose similar costs. The amount of the premium, dividends, interest or expenses a Fund pays in connection with short exposure will decrease the amount of any gain from a short sale and increase the amount of any loss.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk
Compared to companies with large market capitalization, small- and mid-capitalization companies are more likely to have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or to depend on a small, inexperienced management group. Securities of these companies often trade less frequently and in limited volume and their prices may fluctuate more than stocks of large-capitalization companies. Securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies may therefore be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of large-capitalization companies. As a result, it may be relatively more difficult for a Fund to buy and sell securities of small- and mid-capitalization companies.
Value Style Risk: Investing in “value” stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser considers to be the companies’ intrinsic values or because the Adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform other investments during given periods.
Management Team
Meet the Funds’ Investment Advisers and Subadvisers
The Natixis Funds family currently includes 22 mutual funds (the “Natixis Funds”). The Natixis Funds family had combined assets of $64.4 billion as of December 31, 2025. Natixis Funds are distributed through Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”).
Advisers
Natixis Advisors, located at 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197, serves as the adviser to the Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund. Natixis Advisors oversees, evaluates, and monitors the subadvisory services provided to the Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund. It also provides general business management and administration to the Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund. Natixis Advisors does not determine what investments will be purchased or sold by the Funds. The advisers and subadvisers listed below make the investment decisions for their respective Funds.
The combined advisory and subadvisory fees paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 as a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets were 0.63% for the Natixis Oakmark Fund, 0.53% for the Natixis Oakmark International Fund (after waiver) and 0.67% for the Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund.
Loomis Sayles, located at One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, serves as the adviser to the Loomis Sayles High Income Fund, Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund and Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund. Founded in 1926, Loomis Sayles is one of the oldest investment advisory firms in the United States with over $431.4 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Loomis Sayles is well known for its professional research staff. Loomis Sayles makes investment decisions for each of these Funds. Loomis Sayles also serves as a subadviser to the Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (see below).
The aggregate advisory fees paid by the Funds during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets, was 0.18% for the Loomis Sayles High Income Fund (after waiver), 0.06% for the Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund (after waiver), 0.34% for the Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund (after waiver), 0.55% for the Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund (after waiver) and 0.50% for the Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund (after waiver).
Subadvisers
Each Subadviser has full investment discretion and makes all determinations with respect to the investment of the assets of a Fund or a segment of the Fund, subject to the general supervision of the Fund’s adviser and the Board of Trustees.
Harris Associates, located at 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as subadviser to the Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and a segment of the Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund. Harris Associates, managed approximately $109.5 billion in assets as of

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Management Team

December 31, 2025, and, together with its predecessor, has managed investments since 1976. It also manages investments for other mutual funds as well as assets of individuals, trusts, retirement plans, endowments, foundations, and several private partnerships.
Loomis Sayles, located at One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, serves as a subadviser to the Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund. Founded in 1926, Loomis Sayles is one of the oldest investment advisory firms in the United States with over $431.4 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Loomis Sayles is well known for its professional research staff.
Subadvisory Agreements
Natixis Advisors and the Natixis Funds have received an exemptive order from the SEC (the “Order”), which permits Natixis Advisors, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees but without shareholder approval, to hire or terminate, and to modify any existing or future subadvisory agreement with, subadvisers that are not affiliated with Natixis Advisors as well as subadvisers that are indirect or direct wholly-owned subsidiaries of Natixis Advisors or of another company that, indirectly or directly, wholly owns Natixis Advisors. Before any Natixis Fund can begin to rely on the exemptions described above, a majority of the shareholders of the Fund must approve the Fund’s ability to rely on the Order. Shareholders of certain Natixis Funds have already approved the Fund’s operation under the manager-of-managers structure contemplated by the Order. If a new subadviser is hired for a Fund, shareholders will receive information about the new subadviser within 90 days of the change.
A discussion of the factors considered by the Funds’ Board of Trustees in approving the Funds’ investment advisory and subadvisory contracts is available in the Funds’ filing on Form N-CSR for the six months ended June 30, 2025.
The Funds consider the series of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Natixis ETF Trust and Natixis ETF Trust II, all of which are advised or subadvised by Natixis Advisors, Loomis Sayles, AEW Capital Management, L.P., Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC, Mirova US LLC, Harris Associates or Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (collectively, the “Affiliated Investment Managers”), to be part of the “same group of investment companies” under Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act for the purchase of other investment companies. The Affiliated Investment Managers are all under common control.
Portfolio Trades
In placing portfolio trades, a Fund’s adviser or subadviser may use brokerage firms that market the Funds’ shares or are affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Advisors or any adviser or subadviser. In placing trades, any adviser or subadviser will seek to obtain the best combination of price and execution, which involves a number of subjective factors. Such portfolio trades are subject to applicable regulatory restrictions and related procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Meet the Funds’ Portfolio Managers
The following persons have had primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the indicated Fund’s portfolio since the dates stated below.
Harris Associates
William C. Nygren, CFA® — William C. Nygren has co-managed the Natixis Oakmark Fund since 2014 and the Harris Associates segment of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund since 2014. Mr. Nygren, Partner, Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, U.S. and portfolio manager of Harris Associates, joined the firm in 1983. Mr. Nygren received a B.S. from the University of Minnesota and an M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mr. Nygren holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 44 years of investment experience.
David G. Herro, CFA® — David G. Herro has co-managed the Natixis Oakmark International Fund since 2010. Mr. Herro, Partner, Deputy Chairman, Co-Chief Investment Officer of International Equities and portfolio manager of Harris Associates, joined the firm in 1992 as a portfolio manager and analyst. Mr. Herro holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a B.S. in Business and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Mr. Herro holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 39 years of investment experience.
Robert F. Bierig — Robert F. Bierig has co-managed the Natixis Oakmark Fund and the Harris Associates segment of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund since 2022. Mr. Bierig, Partner, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, joined the firm in 2012. Mr. Bierig received a B.A. in economics from Duke University and has over 26 years of investment experience.
Anthony P. Coniaris, CFA® — Anthony P. Coniaris has co-managed the Natixis Oakmark International Fund since 2025. Mr. Coniaris, Partner, Chairman, Co-Chief Investment Officer of International Equities and portfolio manager, of Harris Associates, joined the firm in 1999 as a research associate and became an analyst in 2003. Mr. Coniaris holds an M.B.A from Northwestern University and a B.A from Wheaton College. Mr. Coniaris holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 26 years of investment experience.
Eric Liu, CFA® — Eric Liu has co-managed the Natixis Oakmark International Fund since 2023. Mr. Liu, Partner, Vice President, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, joined the firm in 2009. Mr. Liu received a B.A. from the University of California Los Angeles and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Mr. Liu holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 23 years of investment experience.
Michael A. Nicolas, CFA® – Michael A. Nicolas has co-managed the Natixis Oakmark Fund and the Harris Associates segment of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund since 2020. Mr. Nicolas, Partner, portfolio manager and analyst of Harris Associates, joined the firm in 2013. Mr. Nicolas received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mr. Nicolas holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 22 years of investment experience.

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Fund Services

Loomis Sayles
Matthew J. Eagan, CFA® — Matthew J. Eagan has served as co-portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles High Income Fund since 2002, the Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund since 2012, and the Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund since its inception in 2010. He served as an associate portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund from 2006 until 2012. He also served as an associate portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund from 2007 until 2012, at which time his title changed to portfolio manager for the Fund. Mr. Eagan, Portfolio Manager and Director of Loomis Sayles, began his investment career in 1989 and joined Loomis Sayles in 1997. He earned a B.A. from Northeastern University and an M.B.A. from Boston University. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has over 35 years of investment experience.
Aziz V. Hamzaogullari, CFA® — Aziz V. Hamzaogullari is the Chief Investment Officer and Founder of the Growth Equity Strategies Team at Loomis Sayles. He has managed a segment of the Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund since 2011 and the All Cap Growth segment of the Fund since 2014 and has managed the Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund since its inception in 2020. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Loomis Sayles. Mr. Hamzaogullari received a B.S. in management from Bilkent University in Turkey and an M.B.A. from George Washington University. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst® and has 32 years of investment industry experience.
Brian P. Kennedy — Brian P. Kennedy has served as co-portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles High Income Fund since 2018, the Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund since 2013, and the Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund since 2021. He has served as portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund since 2016. Mr. Kennedy, Portfolio Manager of Loomis Sayles, began his investment career in 1990 and joined Loomis Sayles in 1994 as a structured finance and government bond trader, then a credit trader in 2001 and a product manager in 2009. He earned a B.S. from Providence College, an M.B.A. from Babson College and has over 35 years of investment experience.
Peter S. Sheehan — Peter S. Sheehan has served as a portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles High Income Fund since 2023. Mr. Sheehan, Portfolio Manager of Loomis Sayles, began his investment career in 2006 and joined Loomis Sayles in 2012. He received a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Mr. Sheehan has over 18 years of investment experience.
Eric Williams – Eric Williams has served as a portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles High Income Fund since 2025. Mr. Williams, Portfolio Manager of Loomis Sayles, began his investment career in 2008 and joined Loomis Sayles in 2025. He received a B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder, and an M.B.A. from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Mr. Williams has over 18 years of investment experience.
Please see the SAI for information on portfolio manager compensation, other accounts under management by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Funds.
Additional Information
The Funds enter into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Advisers, Subadvisers, the Distributor and the Funds’ custodian and transfer agent, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce such arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy thereunder against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Funds.
This Prospectus provides information concerning the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Funds. None of this Prospectus, the SAI or any contract that is an exhibit to the Funds’ registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Funds and any investor, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by applicable federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
Fund Services
Investing in the Funds
Choosing a Share Class
Each class has different costs associated with buying, selling and holding Fund shares, which allows you to choose the class that best meets your needs. Which class is best for you depends upon a number of factors, including the size of your investment and how long you intend to hold your shares. Certain share classes and certain shareholder features may not be available to you if you hold your shares through a financial intermediary. Your financial representative can help you decide which class of shares is most appropriate for you. The Funds may engage financial intermediaries to receive, purchase, exchange and sell orders on their behalf. Accounts established directly with the Funds will be serviced by the Funds’ transfer agent. The Funds, the Funds’ transfer agent and the Distributor do not provide investment advice.
Pursuant to expense offset arrangements, credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances may be used to reduce a Fund’s transfer agent expense. For information about a Fund’s expenses, including the impact of any such arrangements on a Fund’s total annual operating expenses, see the section “Fund Fees & Expenses” in each Fund Summary.

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Fund Services

Class A Shares

• | You pay a sales charge when you buy Class A shares. There are several ways to reduce this charge. See the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated.”

• | You pay lower annual expenses than Class C and Admin Class shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share. However, where front-end sales charges are applicable, returns are earned on a smaller amount of your investment.

• | You pay higher annual expenses than Class N and Class Y shares.

• | You do not pay a sales charge if your total investment reaches $1 million or more, but you may pay a charge on redemptions if you redeem these shares within 18 months of purchase.

Class C Shares

• | You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class C shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

• | You pay higher annual expenses than Class A, Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares.

• | You may pay a sales charge on redemptions if you sell your Class C shares within one year of purchase.

• | Investors will not be permitted to purchase $1 million or more of Class C shares as a single investment per account. There may be certain exceptions to this restriction for omnibus and other nominee accounts. Investors may want to consider the lower operating expense of Class A shares in such instances. You may pay a charge on redemptions if you redeem Class A shares within 18 months of purchase.

• | Except as noted below, Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years. Please see the section “Exchanging or Converting Shares” for details regarding a conversion of shares. Generally, to be eligible to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares, the Fund or the financial intermediary through which you purchased your shares will need to have records verifying that your Class C shares have been held for eight years. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares may be limited. Group retirement plans of certain financial intermediaries who hold Class C shares with a Fund in an omnibus account do not track participant level aging of shares and therefore these shares will not be eligible for an automatic conversion. Certain intermediaries may convert your Class C shares to Class A shares in accordance with a conversion schedule that may differ from the one described above. Please consult your financial representative for more information.

Class N Shares

• | You have a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000. There are several ways to waive this minimum. See the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.”

• | You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class N shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

• | You do not pay a sales charge on redemptions.

• | You may pay lower annual expenses than Class A, Class C, Class Y and Admin Class shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share.

Class Y Shares

• | You have a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There are several ways to waive this minimum. See the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.”

• | You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class Y shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

• | You do not pay a sales charge on redemptions.

• | You pay lower annual expenses than Class A, Class C and Admin Class shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share.

Admin Class Shares

• | The shares are available to a limited type of investor. See the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.”

• | You have no minimum initial investment.

• | You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Admin Class shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

• | You do not pay a sales charge on redemptions.

• | You pay lower annual expenses than Class C shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share.

• | You pay higher annual expenses than Class A, Class N and Class Y shares.

How Sales Charges Are Calculated
Class A Shares
The price that you pay when you buy Class A shares (the “offering price”) is their NAV plus a sales charge (sometimes called a “front-end sales charge”), which varies depending upon the size of your purchase:

Class A Sales Charges* |  |
| Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund, Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund |  |  | Loomis Sayles High Income Fund, Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund and Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund
Your Investment | As a % of offering price | As a % of your investment |  | Your Investment | As a % of offering price | As a % of your investment
Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.10% |  | Less than $100,000 | 4.25% | 4.44%

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Fund Services

Class A Sales Charges* |  |
| Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund, Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund |  |  | Loomis Sayles High Income Fund, Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund and Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund
Your Investment | As a % of offering price | As a % of your investment |  | Your Investment | As a % of offering price | As a % of your investment
$50,000-$99,999 | 4.50% | 4.71% |  | $100,000-$249,999 | 3.50% | 3.63%
$100,000-$249,999 | 3.50% | 3.63% |  | $250,000-$499,999 | 2.50% | 2.56%
$250,000-$499,999 | 2.50% | 2.56% |  | $500,000-$999,999 | 2.00% | 2.04%
$500,000-$999,999 | 2.00% | 2.04% |  | $1,000,000 or more** | 0.00% | 0.00%
$1,000,000 or more** | 0.00% | 0.00% |

Due to rounding, the actual sales charge for a particular transaction may be higher or lower than the rates listed above.
*Not imposed on shares that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions.
** For purchases of Class A shares of the Fund of $1 million or more, there is no front-end sales charge, but a CDSC of 1.00% may apply to redemptions of your shares within 18 months of the date of purchase. See the section “How the CDSC is Applied to Your Shares.”
If you invest in Class A shares through a financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure that you obtain the proper “breakpoint” discount. At the time of purchase you must inform the Distributor and the financial intermediary of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated to meet sales load breakpoints of the Funds. You may be required to provide certain records and information, such as account statements, with respect to all of your accounts that hold shares, including accounts with other financial intermediaries and your family members’ and other related party accounts, in order to verify your eligibility for a reduced sales charge. If the Distributor is not notified that you are eligible for a reduced sales charge, the Distributor will be unable to ensure that the reduction is applied to your account. Additional information concerning sales load breakpoints is available from your financial intermediary, by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com (click on “Sales Charges” at the bottom of the home page) or in the SAI.
Reducing Front-End Sales Charges
There are several ways you can lower your sales charge for Class A shares, including:

• | Letter of Intent — By signing a Letter of Intent, you may purchase Class A shares of any Natixis Fund over a 13-month period but pay sales charges as if you had purchased all shares at once. This program can save you money if you plan to invest $50,000 or more (or $100,000 or more for Loomis Sayles High Income Fund, Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund or Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund) within 13 months.

• | Cumulative Purchase Discount — You may be entitled to a reduced sales charge if your “total investment” reaches a breakpoint for a reduced sales charge. The total investment is determined by adding the amount of your current purchase in a Fund, including the applicable sales charge, to the current public offering price of all series and classes of shares of the Natixis Funds held by you in one or more accounts. If your total investment exceeds a sales charge breakpoint in the table above, the lower sales charge applies to the entire amount of your current purchase in a Fund.

• | Combining Accounts — This allows you to combine shares of multiple Natixis Funds and classes for purposes of calculating your sales charge.

| Individual Accounts: You may elect to combine your purchase(s) and your total investment, as defined above, with the purchases and total investment of your spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws (of those previously mentioned), individual retirement accounts, sole proprietorships, single trust estates and any other individuals acceptable to the Distributor.

| Certain Retirement Plan Accounts: The Distributor may, at its discretion, combine the purchase(s) and total investment of all qualified participants in the same retirement plan for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge.

| In most instances, individual accounts may not be linked with certain retirement plan accounts for the purposes of calculating sales charges. Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE IRA”) contributions will automatically be linked with those of other participants in the same SIMPLE IRA Plan (Class A shares only) using the Natixis Funds prototype document. Effective May 8, 2026, all share classes will be linked for the purpose of calculating sales charges. SIMPLE IRA accounts may not be linked with any other Natixis Fund account for rights of accumulation. Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information on combining accounts.

Eliminating Front-End Sales Charges and CDSCs
Class A shares may be offered without front-end sales charges or a CDSC to the following individuals and institutions:

• | Clients of a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and has been approved by the Distributor to offer Fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee;

• | Any government entity that is prohibited from paying a sales charge or commission to purchase mutual fund shares;

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• | All employees of financial intermediaries under arrangements with the Distributor (this also applies to spouses and children under the age of 21 of those mentioned);

• | Fund trustees, former trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned);

• | Certain Retirement Plans. The availability of this pricing may depend upon the policies and procedures of your specific financial intermediary; consult your financial adviser;

• | Non-discretionary and non-retirement accounts of bank trust departments or trust companies, but only if they principally engage in banking or trust activities;

• | Fee Based Programs of certain broker-dealers, the Advisers or the Distributor. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your fee based program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees; and

• | Registered Investment Advisers investing on behalf of clients in exchange for an advisory, management or consulting fee.

In order to receive Class A shares without a front-end sales charge or a CDSC, you must notify the appropriate Fund of your eligibility at the time of purchase. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a sales charge or a CDSC may be assessed; please consult your financial representative.
The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from a Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or CDSC waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify a Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see Appendix A to this Prospectus for information regarding eligibility for load waivers and discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or in the SAI.
Repurchasing Fund Shares
You may apply proceeds from redeeming Class A shares of a Fund to repurchase Class A shares of any Natixis Fund without paying a front-end sales charge. To qualify, you must reinvest some or all of the proceeds within 120 days after your redemption and notify Natixis Funds in writing (directly or through your financial representative) at the time of reinvestment that you are taking advantage of this privilege. You may reinvest your proceeds by returning your original redemption check or sending a new check for some or all of the redemption amount. Please note: for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a redemption generally is treated as a sale that involves tax consequences, even if the proceeds are later reinvested. Please consult your tax adviser to discuss how a redemption would affect you.
Eliminating the CDSC
As long as the Distributor is notified at the time you sell, the CDSC for Class A shares will generally be eliminated in the following cases: (1) to make distributions from Certain Retirement Plans (as defined below) to pay plan participants or beneficiaries due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement, loans from the plan, hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, or required minimum distributions (an individual participant’s voluntary distribution or a total plan termination or total plan redemption may incur a CDSC); (2) to make payments through a systematic withdrawal plan; (3) due to shareholder death or disability; (4) to return excess IRA contributions; or (5) to make required minimum distributions (applies only to the amount necessary to meet the required minimum distributions).
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a CDSC may be assessed, notwithstanding the exemptions above; please consult your financial representative. Please see the SAI for more information on eliminating or reducing front-end sales charges and the CDSC.
Class C Shares
The offering price of Class C shares is their NAV without a front-end sales charge. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% on redemptions made within one year of the date of their acquisition. The holding period for determining the CDSC will continue to run after an exchange to Class C shares of another Natixis Fund.
Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charges

Year Since Purchase | CDSC on Shares Being Sold
1st | 1.00%
Thereafter | 0.00%

Eliminating the CDSC
The availability of certain CDSC waivers will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of CDSC waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see Appendix A to this

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Prospectus for information regarding eligibility for CDSC discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus or in the SAI.
As long as the Distributor is notified at the time you sell, the CDSC for Class C shares will generally be eliminated in the following cases: (1) to make distributions from Certain Retirement Plans (as defined below) to pay plan participants or beneficiaries due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement, loans from the plan, hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, or required minimum distributions (an individual participant’s voluntary distribution or a total plan termination or total plan redemption may incur a CDSC); (2) to make payments through a systematic withdrawal plan; (3) due to shareholder death or disability; (4) to return excess IRA contributions; or (5) to make required minimum distributions (applies only to the amount necessary to meet the required minimum distributions).
Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a CDSC may be assessed, notwithstanding the exemptions above; please consult your financial representative. Please see the SAI for more information on eliminating or reducing front-end sales charges and the CDSC.
How the CDSC is Applied to Your Shares
The CDSC is a sales charge you pay when you redeem certain Fund shares. The CDSC:

• | Is calculated based on the number of shares you are selling;

• | Calculation is based on either your original purchase price or the current NAV of the shares being sold, whichever is lower in order to minimize your CDSC;

• | Is deducted from the proceeds of the redemption unless you request, at the time of the redemption, that it be deducted from the amount remaining in your account; and

• | Applies to redemptions made within the time frame shown above for each class.

A CDSC will not be charged on:

• | Increases in NAV above the purchase price;

• | Shares you acquired by reinvesting your dividends or capital gains distributions; or

• | Exchanges. However, the original purchase date of the shares from which the exchange is made determines if the newly acquired shares are subject to the CDSC when they are sold.

To minimize the amount of the CDSC you may pay when you redeem shares, the relevant Fund will first redeem shares acquired through reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Shares will be sold in the order in which they were purchased (earliest to latest).
Class N, Class Y and Admin Class Shares
The offering price of Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares is their NAV without a front-end load sales charge. No CDSC applies when you redeem your shares. You must meet eligibility criteria in order to invest in Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares.
Information about purchasing shares of the Funds and sales loads is available on the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
Compensation to Securities Dealers
As part of their business strategies, each Fund pays securities dealers and other financial institutions (collectively, “dealers”) that sell their shares. This compensation originates from two sources: sales charges (front-end or deferred) and 12b-1 fees (comprising the annual service and/or distribution fees paid under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The sales charges, some or all of which may be paid to dealers, are discussed in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated” and dealer commissions are disclosed in the SAI. Class A, Class C and Admin Class shares pay an annual service fee each of 0.25% of their respective average daily net assets. Admin Class shares may pay an administrative services fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to Admin Class shares to the Distributor and/or securities dealers or financial intermediaries for providing personal service and account maintenance for their customers who hold these shares. Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution fee of 0.75% of their average daily net assets. Generally, the 12b-1 fees are paid to securities dealers on a quarterly basis, but may be paid on other schedules. The SAI includes additional information about the payment of some or all of such fees to dealers. Because these distribution fees and service (12b-1) fees are paid out of each Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees for Class C and Admin Class shares will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying the front-end sales charge and service fees on Class A shares. Similarly, over time the fees for Class A and Class C shares will increase the cost of your investment and will cost you more than an investment in Class N or Class Y shares.
In addition, each Fund may make payments to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder services to shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus accounts, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents to compensate those intermediaries for services they provide to such shareholders, including, but not limited to, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, similar shareholder or participant recordkeeping, shareholder or participant reporting, or shareholder or participant transaction processing (“recordkeeping and processing-related services”). The actual payments, and the services provided, vary from firm to firm. These fees are paid by each Fund (with the exception of Class N shares, which do not bear such expenses) in light of the fact that other costs may be avoided by each Fund where the intermediary, not each Fund’s service provider, provides services to Fund shareholders.
The Distributor, a Fund’s Adviser and each of their respective affiliates may, out of their own resources, which generally come directly or indirectly from fees paid by the Funds, make payments to certain dealers and other financial intermediaries that satisfy certain criteria established from time to time by the

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Distributor. Payments may vary based on sales, the amount of assets a dealer’s or intermediary’s clients have invested in the Funds, and other factors. These payments may also take the form of sponsorship of seminars or informational meetings or payments for attendance by persons associated with a dealer or intermediary at informational meetings. The Distributor and its affiliates may also make payments for recordkeeping and processing-related services to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares; such payments will not be made with respect to Class N shares. These payments may be in addition to payments made by each Fund for similar services.
The payments described in this section, which may be significant to the dealers and the financial intermediaries, may create an incentive for a dealer or financial intermediary or their representatives to recommend or sell shares of a particular Fund or share class over other mutual funds or share classes. Additionally, these payments may result in the Funds receiving certain marketing or servicing advantages that are not generally available to mutual funds that do not make such payments, including placement on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs. These payments, which are in addition to any amounts you may pay your dealer or other financial intermediary, may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and a dealer or other financial intermediary who is recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds. Before investing, you should consult with your financial representative and review carefully any disclosure by the dealer or other financial intermediary as to the services it provides, what monies it receives from mutual funds and their advisers and distributors, as well as how your financial representative is compensated. Please see the SAI for additional information about payments made by the Distributor and its affiliates to dealers and intermediaries.
How to Purchase Shares
Each Fund is generally available for purchase in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Funds will only accept investments from U.S. citizens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) or resident aliens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) and a U.S. taxpayer identification number. U.S. citizens living abroad are not allowed to purchase shares in the Funds. Admin Class shares are offered exclusively through intermediaries (who will be the record owner of such shares), are intended primarily for Certain Retirement Plans held in omnibus fashion, and are not available for purchase by individual investors. Class N shares are not eligible to be exchanged or purchased through the website or through the Natixis Funds Automated Voice Response System.
Each Fund sells its shares at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives a properly completed investment order. A Fund generally must receive your properly completed order before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) for your shares to be bought or sold at the Fund’s NAV on that day.
All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to Natixis Funds. Third party checks, travelers checks, starter checks and credit card convenience checks will not be accepted, except that third party checks under $10,000 may be accepted. You may return an uncashed redemption check from your account to be repurchased back into your account. Upon redemption of an investment by check or by periodic account investment, redemption proceeds may be withheld until the check has cleared or the shares have been in your account for 10 days.
A Fund may periodically close to new purchases of shares or refuse any order to buy shares if the Fund determines that doing so would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. See the section “Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares.”
The Funds are not available to new SIMPLE IRA plans using the Natixis Funds’ Prototype document.
You can buy shares of each Fund in several ways:
The Funds may engage financial intermediaries to receive purchase, exchange and sell orders on their behalf. Accounts established directly with the Funds will be serviced by the Funds’ transfer agent. The Funds, the Funds’ transfer agent and the Distributor do not provide investment advice.
Through a financial adviser (certain restrictions may apply). Your financial adviser will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documents to Natixis Funds. Your financial adviser may charge you for these services. Your financial adviser must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV.
Through a broker-dealer (certain restrictions may apply). You may purchase shares of the Funds through a broker-dealer that has been approved by the Distributor. Your broker-dealer may charge you a fee for effecting such transactions. Your broker-dealer must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV.
Directly from a Fund. Natixis Funds’ transfer agent must receive your purchase request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE in order for you to receive that day’s NAV.
You can purchase shares directly from each Fund in several ways:
By mail. You can buy shares of each Fund by submitting a completed application form, which is available online at www.im.natixis.com or by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478, along with a check payable to Natixis Funds for the amount of your purchase to:
Regular Mail
Natixis Funds
P.O. Box 219579
Kansas City, MO 64121-9579
Overnight Mail

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Natixis Funds
801 Pennsylvania Ave
Suite 219579
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
After your account has been established, you may send subsequent investments directly to Natixis Funds at the above addresses. Please include either the investment slip from your account statement or a letter specifying the Fund name, your account number and your name, address and telephone number.
By wire. You also may wire subsequent investments. Call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 to obtain wire transfer instructions. At the time of the wire transfer, you will need to include the Fund name, your class of shares, your account number and the registered account owner name(s). Your bank may charge you for such a transfer.
By telephone. You can make subsequent investments by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 if you have already established electronic transfer privileges.
By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Fund by exchange of shares of the same class of another fund by sending a signed letter of instruction to Natixis Funds, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by accessing your account online at www.im.natixis.com.
Through Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). Before you can purchase shares of Natixis Funds through ACH, you must provide specific instructions to Natixis Funds in writing (see STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee below). You may purchase shares of a Fund through ACH by either calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by accessing your account online at www.im.natixis.com.
By internet. If you have established a user name and password and you have established the electronic transfer privilege, you can make subsequent investments through your online account at www.im.natixis.com. If you have not established a user name and password, but you have established the electronic transfer privilege, go to www.im.natixis.com, click on “Account Access,” and follow the instructions.
Through systematic investing. You can make regular investments through automatic deductions from your bank checking or savings account. If you did not establish the electronic transfer privilege on your application, you may add the privilege by obtaining a Service Options Form through your financial adviser, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by visiting www.im.natixis.com. A medallion signature guarantee may be required to add this option.
Minimum Investment Requirements for each Fund and each share class are described in the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares.”
Minimum Balance Policy
In order to address the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller fund positions, on an annual basis each Fund may close an account and send the account holder the proceeds if the account falls below $500. The valuation of account balances for this purpose and liquidation itself generally occur during October of each calendar year, although they may occur at another date in the year.
Certain accounts, such as accounts using the Natixis Funds’ prototype document (including IRAs, Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts), accounts associated with fee-based programs (such as wrap programs), trust networked accounts, accounts initially funded within six months of the liquidation date, certain retirement accounts, or accounts that fall below the minimum as a result of an automatic conversion of Class C to Class A shares, are excluded from the liquidation.
Due to operational limitations, the Funds’ ability to apply the Minimum Balance Policy to shareholder accounts held through an intermediary in an omnibus fashion may be limited. The Funds may work with these intermediaries to enforce the Minimum Balance Policy on these accounts as can best be applied per the timing and constraints of the intermediaries’ account recordkeeping systems. For information about the policy for Class N shares, see the section “Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares” in each Fund summary.
Accounts held through certain financial intermediaries that have entered into special arrangements with the Distributor may be subject to a different minimum balance policy than the one described above. Please see Appendix A to the Prospectus for more information regarding the minimum balance policies of specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Prospectus or in the SAI. Consult your financial intermediary for additional information regarding the minimum balance policy applicable to your investment.
Certain Retirement Plans
Natixis Funds defines “Certain Retirement Plans” as it relates to load waivers, share class eligibility, and account minimums as follows:
Certain Retirement Plans include 401(k), 457, 401(a), (including profit-sharing, money purchase pension plans), 403(b), 403(b)(7), defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Taft-Hartley multi-employer plans, and retiree health benefit plans. Accounts must be plan-level omnibus accounts to qualify.
Certain Retirement Plans do not include individual retirement accounts such as an IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, SARSEP IRA, and Roth IRA. Any account registered in the name of a participant does not qualify.
Intermediary Omnibus Account
Natixis Funds defines an “Intermediary Omnibus Account” as a single account in the Fund held in the name of an intermediary that contains the aggregated assets for all of the intermediary’s investments in the fund. Consult your financial advisor or intermediary if you are unsure how your intermediary assets are held.

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How to Redeem Shares
You can redeem shares of each Fund directly from the Fund on any day on which the NYSE is open for business. The information below details the various ways you can redeem shares of a Fund. Except as noted below and in the “Selling Restrictions” section of this Prospectus, each Fund typically expects to pay out redemption proceeds on the next business day after a redemption request is received in good order. The information below also notes certain fees that may be charged by a Fund, its agents, your bank or your financial representative in connection to your redemption request. The Funds do not currently impose any redemption charge other than the CDSC imposed by the Funds’ distributor, as described in the “How Sales Charges are Calculated” section of this Prospectus. The Funds’ Board of Trustees reserves the right to impose additional charges at any time.
Each Fund may fund a redemption request from various sources, including sales of portfolio securities, holdings of cash or cash equivalents, and borrowings from banks (including overdrafts from the Fund’s custodian bank and/or under the Fund’s line of credit, which is shared across certain other Natixis Funds and Loomis Sayles Funds). Each Fund typically will redeem shares for cash; however, as described in more detail below, each Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in-kind (i.e., in portfolio securities rather than cash), if the Fund’s Adviser determines it to be advisable and in the best interest of shareholders. If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk associated with the distributed securities and would incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.
Because large redemptions are likely to require liquidation by a Fund of portfolio holdings, payment for large redemptions may be delayed for up to seven days to provide for orderly liquidation of such holdings. Under unusual circumstances, the Funds may suspend redemptions or postpone payment for more than seven days as permitted by the SEC.
Redemptions totaling more than $100,000 from a single fund/account cannot be processed on the same day unless the proceeds of the redemption are sent via pre-established banking information on the account. Please see the section “STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee” for details.
Generally, for expedited payment of redemption proceeds, a transaction fee of $5.50 for wire transfers, $50 for international wire transfers or $36.00 for overnight delivery will be charged. These fees are subject to change.
Redemptions through your financial adviser. Your financial adviser must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV. Your financial adviser will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documents to Natixis Funds on a timely basis and may charge you for his or her services.
Redemptions through your broker-dealer. You may redeem shares of the Funds through a broker-dealer that has been approved by the Distributor, which can be contacted at 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197. Your broker-dealer may charge you a fee for effecting such transaction. Your broker-dealer must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV. Your redemptions generally will be wired to your broker-dealer on the first business day after your request is received in good order.
Redemptions directly to the Funds. Natixis Funds’ transfer agent must receive your redemption request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE in order for you to receive that day’s NAV. Your redemptions generally will be sent to you on the first business day after your request is received in good order, although it may take longer.
You may make redemptions directly from each Fund in several ways:
By mail. Send a signed letter of instruction that includes the name of the Fund, the exact name(s) in which the shares are registered, your address, telephone number, account number and the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed to the following address:
Regular Mail
Natixis Funds
P.O. Box 219579
Kansas City, MO 64121-9579
Overnight Mail
Natixis Funds
801 Pennsylvania Ave
Suite 219579
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
All owners of shares must sign the written request in the exact names in which the shares are registered. The owners should indicate any special capacity in which they are signing (such as trustee or custodian or on behalf of a partnership, corporation or other entity).
By exchange. You may sell some or all of your shares of a Fund and use the proceeds to buy shares of the same class of another fund by sending a signed letter of instruction to Natixis Funds, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by accessing your account online at www.im.natixis.com.
By internet. If you have established a user name and password and you have established the electronic transfer privilege, you can redeem shares through your online account at www.im.natixis.com. If you have not established a user name and password but you have established the electronic transfer privilege, go to www.im.natixis.com, click on “Account Access,” and follow the instructions.

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By telephone. You may redeem shares by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478. Proceeds from telephone redemption requests (less any applicable fees) can be wired to your bank account, sent electronically by ACH to your bank account or sent by check in the name of the registered owner(s) to the address of record. A wire fee will be deducted from your proceeds. Your bank may charge you a fee to receive the wire.
The telephone redemption privilege may be modified or terminated by the Funds without notice.
You may redeem by telephone to have a check sent to the address of record for the maximum amount of $100,000 per day from a single fund/account. For your protection, telephone or internet redemption requests will not be permitted if Natixis Funds has been notified of an address change or bank account information change for your account within the preceding 30 days. If you prefer, you can decline telephone redemption and transfer privileges by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If the value of your account is $10,000 or more, you can have periodic redemptions automatically paid to you or to someone you designate. Please call 800-225-5478 for more information or to set up a systematic withdrawal plan or visit www.im.natixis.com to obtain a Service Options Form.
In-Kind. Shares normally will be redeemed for cash upon receipt of a redemption request in good order, although each Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in-kind if the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser(s) determines it to be advisable and in the best interest of shareholders. For example, a Fund may pay a redemption in-kind under stressed market conditions or if the redemption amount is large.
You may also request an in-kind redemption of your shares by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478. In-kind redemptions typically take several weeks to effectuate following a redemption request given the operational steps necessary to coordinate with the redeeming shareholder’s custodian. Typically, the redemption date is mutually-agreed upon by the Fund and the redeeming shareholder. A Fund is not required to pay a redemption in-kind even if requested and may in its discretion pay the redemption proceeds in cash.
Redemptions in-kind will generally, but not necessarily, result in a pro rata distribution of each security held in a Fund’s portfolio. If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk associated with the distributed securities and would incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.
By wire. Before Natixis Funds can wire redemption proceeds (less any applicable fees) to your bank account, you must provide specific wire instructions to Natixis Funds in writing (see “STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee” below). A wire fee will be deducted from the proceeds of each wire. Your bank may charge you a fee to receive the wire.
By ACH. Before Natixis Funds can send redemptions through ACH, you must provide specific wiring instructions to Natixis Funds in writing (see “STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee” below). For ACH redemptions, proceeds will generally arrive at your bank within three business days.
STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee. You must have your signature guaranteed by a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution that can issue a STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee for the following types of redemptions:

• | If you are selling more than $100,000 per day from a single fund/account and you are requesting the proceeds by check (this does not apply to IRA transfer of assets to new custodian).

• | If you are requesting that the proceeds check (of any amount) be made out to someone other than the registered owner(s) or sent to an address other than the address of record.

• | If the account registration or bank account information has changed within the past 30 days.

• | If you are instructing us to send the proceeds by check, wire or ACH to a bank not already active on the fund account.

The Funds will only accept STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantees bearing the STAMP2000 Medallion imprint. The surety amount of the STAMP2000 medallion imprint must meet or exceed the amount on the request. Please note that a notary public cannot provide a STAMP2000 Medallion Signature Guarantee. This signature guarantee requirement may be waived by Natixis Funds in certain cases.
Exchanging or Converting Shares
In general, you may exchange shares of each Fund for shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund that offers such class of shares (see the sections “How to Purchase Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares”) without paying a sales charge or a CDSC, if applicable, subject to restrictions noted below. The exchange must be for at least the minimum to open an account (or the total NAV of your account, whichever is less), or, once the fund minimum is met (see the section “Additional Investor Services”). All exchanges are subject to the eligibility requirements of the fund into which you are exchanging and any other limits on sales of or exchanges into that fund. The exchange privilege may be exercised only in those states where shares of such funds may be legally sold. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares for shares of another fund is generally treated as a sale on which gain or loss may be recognized. Subject to the applicable rules of the SEC, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify the exchange privilege at any time. Before requesting an exchange into any other fund, please read its prospectus carefully. You may be unable to hold your shares through the same financial intermediary if you engage in certain share exchanges. You should contact your financial intermediary for further details. Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information on exchanging Fund shares. Class N shares are not eligible to be exchanged through the website or through the Natixis Funds Automated Voice Response System.
In certain circumstances, you may convert shares of your Fund from your current share class into another share class in the same Fund. A conversion is subject to the eligibility requirements of the share class of your Fund that you are converting into including investment minimum requirements. The conversion

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from one class of shares to another will be based on the respective NAVs of the separate share classes on the trade date for the conversion. Except as noted below, Class C shares will automatically convert to Class A shares after eight years. Generally, to be eligible to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares, the Fund or the financial intermediary through which you purchased your shares will need to have records verifying that your Class C shares have been held for eight years. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares may be limited. Group retirement plans of certain financial intermediaries who hold Class C shares with the Fund in an omnibus account do not track participant level aging of shares and therefore these shares will not be eligible for an automatic conversion. Certain intermediaries may convert your Class C shares to Class A shares in accordance with a conversion schedule that may differ from the one described above. Please consult your financial representative for more information.
Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be assessed the CDSC before converting to the new share class. Any conversions into a class of shares with a front end sales charge will not be subject to an initial sales charge; however, future purchases may be subject to a sales charge, if applicable.
Generally, a conversion between share classes of the same fund is a nontaxable event to the shareholder. All requests for conversions must follow the procedures set forth by the Distributor. Each Fund reserves the right to refuse any conversion request. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to convert share classes of the same fund or have your Class C shares automatically converted to Class A shares may be limited. Please consult your financial representative for more information.
In general, you may sell Class Y shares of any Natixis Fund and use the proceeds to purchase Class I shares in any Loomis Sayles Fund, subject to the eligibility requirements, including fund minimums, of the fund you are purchasing into.
Cost Basis Reporting. Upon the redemption or exchange of your shares in a Fund, the Fund, or, if you purchased your shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, your financial intermediary will be required to provide you and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the Fund shares you redeemed or exchanged. The cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased, including through dividend reinvestment, on or after January 1, 2012. Please contact the Fund at 800-225-5478, visit im.natixis.com or consult your financial intermediary, as appropriate, for more information regarding available methods for cost basis reporting and how to select a particular method. Please also consult your tax adviser to determine which available cost basis method is best for you.
Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
The Funds discourage excessive short-term trading that may be detrimental to the Funds and their shareholders. Frequent abusive purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by shareholders may present certain risks for other shareholders in a Fund. This includes the risk of diluting the value of Fund shares held by long term shareholders, interfering with the efficient management of each Fund’s portfolio and increasing brokerage and administrative costs. Funds investing in securities that require special valuation processes (such as foreign securities, below investment grade securities or small-capitalization securities), also may have increased exposure to these risks. The Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies to address and discourage such trading.
Each Fund reserves the right to suspend or change the terms of purchasing or exchanging shares. Each Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason, including if the transaction is deemed not to be in the best interests of the Fund’s other shareholders or possibly disruptive to the management of the Fund. A shareholder whose exchange order has been rejected may still redeem its shares by submitting a redemption request as described under “How to Redeem Shares.”
Limits on Frequent Trading. Excessive trading activity in a Fund is measured by the number of round-trip transactions in a shareholder’s account. A round trip is defined as (1) a purchase (including a purchase by exchange) into a Fund followed by a redemption (including a redemption by exchange) out of the same Fund; or (2) a redemption (including a redemption by exchange) out of a Fund followed by a purchase (including a purchase by exchange) into the same Fund. A round trip transaction is defined as occurring in a single Fund within a 30-day period. Two round trips in a 90-day period will constitute a violation of the Fund’s trading limitations. After the detection of a first violation, the Fund or the Distributor will issue the shareholder and/or their financial intermediary a written warning. The written warning will expire one year from the date the warning is issued, if no further violations occur during the period. After the detection of a second violation (i.e., two more round trip transactions in the Fund within a 90-day period), the Fund or the Distributor will restrict the shareholder from making subsequent purchases (including purchases by exchange) in that Fund for 90 days. After the detection of a third violation within 12 months of the second violation, the Fund or the Distributor will restrict the shareholder and/or their financial intermediary from making purchases (including purchases by exchange) into any of the shareholder’s accounts in the violated Fund for one year from the date the third violation is issued. The above limits are applicable whether a shareholder holds shares directly with a Fund or indirectly through a financial intermediary, such as a broker, bank, investment adviser, record keeper for retirement plan participants, or other third party. The preceding is not an exclusive description of activities that a Fund and the Distributor may consider to be excessive, and, at its discretion, a Fund and the Distributor may restrict or prohibit transactions by such identified shareholders or intermediaries including a period of restriction with no end date.
Notwithstanding the above, certain financial intermediaries, such as retirement plan administrators, may monitor and restrict the frequency of purchase and redemption transactions in a manner different from that described above. The policies of these intermediaries may be more or less restrictive than the generally applicable policies described above. Each Fund may choose to rely on a financial intermediary’s restrictions on frequent trading in place of the Fund’s own restrictions if the Fund determines, at its discretion, that the financial intermediary’s restrictions provide reasonable protection for the Fund from excessive short-term trading activity. Please contact your financial representative for additional information regarding their policies for limiting the frequent trading of Fund shares.

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This policy also does not apply with respect to shares purchased by certain funds-of-funds or similar asset allocation programs that rebalance their investments only infrequently. To be eligible for this exemption, the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program must identify itself to and receive prior written approval from a Fund or the Distributor. A Fund and the Distributor may request additional information to enable them to determine that the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program is not designed to and/or is not serving as a vehicle for disruptive short-term trading, which may include requests for (i) written assurances from the sponsor or investment manager of the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program that it enforces the Fund’s frequent trading policy on investors or another policy reasonably designed to deter disruptive short-term trading in Fund shares, and/or (ii) data regarding transactions by investors in the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program, for periods and on a frequency determined by the Fund and the Distributor, so that the Funds can monitor compliance by such investors with the trading limitations of the Funds or of the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program. Under certain circumstances, waivers to these conditions (including waivers to permit more frequent rebalancing) may be approved for programs that in the Fund’s opinion are not vehicles for excessive trading and are not likely to engage in abusive trading.
The Fund and the Distributor may deem shares acquired, redeemed, or exchanged through a firm discretionary program where purchases and redemptions are made at a home office or firm level on behalf of a client not deemed to be intended to engage in market timing. In addition to the circumstances previously noted, the Funds reserve the right to waive any purchase and exchange restrictions at each Fund’s sole discretion where it believes such action is in the Fund’s best interests. The exception would require additional review as noted above for asset allocation programs.
Trade Activity Monitoring. Trading activity is monitored selectively on a daily basis in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities. If a Fund or the Distributor believes that a shareholder or financial intermediary has engaged in excessive, short-term trading activity, it may, at its discretion, request that the shareholder or financial intermediary stop such activities or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the accounts. At its discretion, a Fund and the Distributor, as well as an adviser to a Fund may ban trading in an account if, in their judgment, a shareholder or financial intermediary has engaged in short-term transactions that, while not necessarily in violation of the Fund’s stated policies on frequent trading, are harmful to a Fund or its shareholders. A Fund and the Distributor also reserve the right to notify financial intermediaries of the shareholder’s trading activity.
Accounts Held by Financial Intermediaries. The ability of a Fund and the Distributor to monitor trades that are placed by omnibus or other nominee accounts may be severely limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary maintains the record of a Fund’s underlying beneficial owners. In general, each Fund and the Distributor will review trading activity at the omnibus account level. If a Fund and the Distributor detect suspicious activity, they may request and receive personal identifying information and transaction histories for some or all underlying shareholders (including plan participants) to determine whether such shareholders have engaged in excessive short-term trading activity. If a Fund believes that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading activity in violation of the Fund’s policies through an omnibus account, the Fund will attempt to limit transactions by the underlying shareholder that engaged in such trading, although it may be unable to do so. A Fund may also limit or prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by an intermediary. Investors should not assume a Fund will be able to detect or prevent all trading practices that may disadvantage a Fund.
Purchase Restrictions
Each Fund is required by federal regulations to obtain certain personal information from you and to use that information to verify your identity. The Funds may not be able to open your account if the requested information is not provided. Each Fund reserves the right to refuse to open an account, close an account and redeem your shares at the then-current price or take other such steps that the Fund deems necessary to comply with federal regulations if your identity cannot be verified.
Selling Restrictions
The table below describes restrictions placed on selling shares of a Fund. Please see the SAI for additional information regarding redemption payment policies.

Restriction | Situation
Each Fund may suspend the right of redemption: | When the NYSE is closed (other than a weekend/holiday) as permitted by the SEC. During an emergency as permitted by the SEC. During any other period permitted by the SEC.
Each Fund reserves the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests: | With a notice of a dispute between registered owners or death of a registered owner. With suspicion/evidence of a fraudulent act.
Each Fund may pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of readily marketable securities in lieu of cash or may take up to 7 days to pay a redemption request in order to raise capital: | When or if it is advisable for the Fund to redeem in-kind, as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser or Subadviser, or if requested by the redeeming shareholder and agreed to by the Fund.
Each Fund may withhold redemption proceeds for 10 days from the purchase date: | When redemptions are made within 10 calendar days of purchase by check or ACH to allow the check or ACH transaction to clear.

The Funds reserve the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests if a Fund receives notice of a dispute between registered owners or of the death of a registered owner or a Fund suspects a fraudulent act. If a Fund refuses a transaction request because it receives notice of a dispute, the

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transaction will be processed at the NAV next determined after the Fund receives notice that the dispute has been settled or a court order has been entered adjudicating the dispute. If a Fund determines that its suspicion of fraud or belief that a dispute existed was mistaken, the transaction will be processed as of the NAV next determined after the transaction request was first received in good order.
Certificates. Certificates will not be issued or honored for any class of shares.
Unclaimed Property Laws. Many states have unclaimed property laws and regulations that provide for transfer to the state (also known as “escheatment”) of unclaimed or abandoned property under various circumstances. The particular circumstances may include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. If your account is deemed unclaimed or abandoned under applicable state property laws or regulations, the Funds may be required to “escheat” or transfer the assets in your account to the applicable state’s unclaimed property administration. The state may sell escheated shares and, if you subsequently seek to reclaim your proceeds of liquidation from the state, you may only be able to recover the amount received when the shares were sold (and not the amount those shares are worth currently).
It is your responsibility to maintain a correct address for your account, to keep your account active by contacting the Transfer Agent by mail or telephone or accessing your account through the Funds’ website, and to promptly cash all checks for dividends, capital gains and redemptions. Each state’s requirements to keep an account active can vary and are subject to change. If you invest in a Fund through a financial intermediary, you are encouraged to contact the financial intermediary regarding applicable state unclaimed property laws. The Funds, the Transfer Agent and the Distributor will not be liable to shareholders or their representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed property laws.
Self-Servicing Your Account
Shareholders that hold their accounts directly with the Funds may use the following self-service options. Shareholders that hold Fund shares through a financial intermediary should consult their financial intermediary regarding any self-service options that they may offer.
Natixis Funds Website.
You can access our website at www.im.natixis.com to perform transactions (purchases, redemptions or exchanges), review your account information and Fund NAVs, change your address, order duplicate statements or tax forms or obtain a prospectus, an SAI, an application or periodic reports (certain restrictions may apply).
Natixis Funds Automated Voice Response System.
(Excludes Class N shares) You have access to your account 24 hours a day by calling Natixis Funds’ Automated Voice Response System at 800-225-5478. You may review your account balance and Fund NAVs, order duplicate statements, order duplicate tax forms, obtain distribution and performance information.
Restructuring and Liquidations
Investors should note that each Fund reserves the right to merge or reorganize at any time, or to cease operations or liquidate itself. At any time prior to the liquidation of a Fund, shareholders may redeem their shares of the Fund pursuant to the procedures set forth under “How to Redeem Shares.” The proceeds from any such redemption will be the NAV of the Fund’s shares, less any applicable sales charges, redemption fees or other charges. Shareholders may also exchange their shares, subject to investment minimums and other restrictions on exchanges as described under “Exchanging or Converting Shares.” For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of a fund’s shares for shares of another Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund is generally treated as a sale on which a gain or loss may be recognized.
Retirement Accounts. Absent an instruction to the contrary prior to the liquidation date of a Fund, for shares of a Fund held using a Natixis Funds’ prototype document, in individual retirement accounts, in custodial accounts under a SEP, SIMPLE, SARSEP or 403(b) plan, or in certain other retirement accounts, the Distributor may exchange any shares remaining in the Fund on the liquidation date for shares of Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund (or, if that fund is no longer in existence, then in shares of another comparable Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund) at NAV. Please refer to your plan documents or contact your plan administrator or plan sponsor to determine whether the preceding sentence applies to you.
How Fund Shares Are Priced
NAV is the price of one share of a Fund without a sales charge, and is calculated each business day using this formula:
The policies and procedures used to determine the NAV of Fund shares are summarized below:

• | A share’s NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the days the NYSE is open for trading. This is normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. A Fund’s shares will not be priced on the days on which the NYSE is closed for trading. In addition, a Fund’s shares will not be priced on the holidays listed in the SAI. See the section “Net Asset Value” in the SAI for more details.

• | The price you pay for purchasing, redeeming or exchanging a share will be based upon the NAV next calculated (plus or minus applicable sales charges as

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| described earlier in the Fund Summary) after your order is received by the transfer agent, SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., (rather than when the order arrives at the P.O. box) “in good order” (meaning that the order is complete and contains all necessary information).1

• | Requests received by the Funds after the NYSE closes will be processed based upon the NAV determined at the close of regular trading on the next day that the NYSE is open. If the transfer agent receives the order in good order prior to the NYSE market close (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), the shareholder will receive that day’s NAV. Under limited circumstances, the Distributor may enter into contractual agreements pursuant to which orders received by your investment dealer before a Fund determines its NAV and transmitted to the transfer agent prior to market open on the next business day are processed at the NAV determined on the day the order was received by your investment dealer. Please contact your investment dealer to determine whether it has entered into such a contractual agreement. If your investment dealer has not entered into such a contractual agreement, your order will be processed at the NAV next determined after your investment dealer submits the order to a Fund.

• | If a Fund invests in foreign securities, it may have NAV changes on days when you cannot buy or sell its shares.

1 | Please see the section “How to Purchase Shares,” which provides additional information regarding who can receive a purchase order.

Generally, during times of substantial economic or market change, it may be difficult to place your order by phone. During these times, you may send your order by mail as described in the sections “How to Purchase Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares.”
Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are readily available, as outlined in the Funds’ policies and procedures, are valued at market value. The Funds may use third-party pricing services to obtain market quotations and other valuation information, such as evaluated bids.
Generally, Fund securities and other investments are valued as follows:

• | Equity securities (including shares of closed-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), exchange traded notes, rights, and warrants — listed equity securities are valued at the last sale price quoted on the exchange where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market and NASDAQ Capital Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), or if lacking an NOCP, at the most recent bid quotations on the applicable NASDAQ Market. Unlisted equity securities (except unlisted preferred equity securities discussed below) are valued at the last sale price quoted in the market where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. If there is no sale price or closing bid quotation available, unlisted equity securities will be valued using evaluated bids furnished by a third-party pricing service, if available. In some foreign markets, an official close price and a last sale price may be available from the foreign exchange or market. In those cases, the official close price is used. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies described below. If a right is not traded on any exchange, its value is based on the market value of the underlying security, less the cost to subscribe to the underlying security (e.g., to exercise the right), adjusted for the subscription ratio. If a warrant is not traded on any exchange, a price is obtained from a broker-dealer.

• | Debt securities and unlisted preferred equity securities — evaluated bids furnished to a Fund by a third-party pricing service using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

• | Senior Loans — bid prices supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

• | Bilateral Swaps — bilateral credit default swaps are valued based on mid prices (between the bid price and the ask price) supplied by a third-party pricing service. Bilateral interest rate swaps and bilateral standardized commodity and equity index total return swaps are valued based on prices supplied by a third-party pricing service. If prices from a third-party pricing service are not available, prices from a broker-dealer may be used.

• | Centrally Cleared Swaps — settlement prices of the clearing house on which the contracts were traded or prices obtained from broker-dealers.

• | Options — domestic exchange-traded index and single name equity options contracts (including options on ETFs) are valued at the mean of the National Best Bid and Offer quotations as determined by the Options Price Reporting Authority. Foreign exchange-traded single name equity options contracts are valued at the most recent settlement price. Options contracts on foreign indices are priced at the most recent settlement price. Options on futures contracts are valued using the current settlement price on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Other exchange-traded options are valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. OTC currency options and swaptions are valued at mid prices (between the bid price and the ask price) supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available. Other OTC options contracts (including currency options and swaptions not priced through a third-party pricing service) are valued based on prices obtained from broker-dealers. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies as described below.

• | Futures —most recent settlement price on the exchange on which the valuation designee believes that, over time, they are traded most extensively. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies as described below.

• | Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — interpolated rates determined based on information provided by a third-party pricing service.

• | Mutual Funds - net asset value.

Foreign denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates supplied by a third-party pricing service. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser in its capacity as “valuation designee.” A Fund may also value securities and other investments at fair value in other circumstances such as when extraordinary events occur after the close of a foreign market but prior to the close of the NYSE. This may include situations relating to a single issuer (such as a declaration of bankruptcy or a delisting of the issuer’s security from the primary market on which it has traded) as well as events affecting the securities markets in general (such as market disruptions or closings and significant fluctuations in U.S. and/or foreign markets). When fair valuing its securities or other

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investments, each Fund may, among other things, use modeling tools or other processes that may take into account factors such as securities or other market activity and/or significant events that occur after the close of the foreign market and before the time each Fund’s NAV is calculated. Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security, and fair values used to determine a Fund’s NAV may differ from quoted or published prices, or from prices that are used by others, for the same securities. In addition, the use of fair value pricing may not always result in adjustments to the prices of securities held by a Fund. Valuations for securities traded in the OTC market may be based on factors such as market information, transactions for comparable securities, various relationships between securities or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers. Evaluated prices from a third-party pricing service may require subjective determinations and may be different than actual market prices or prices provided by other pricing services. As of the date of this prospectus, the Funds’ Adviser serves as the Funds’ valuation designee for purposes of compliance with Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act.
Trading in some of the portfolio securities or other investments of some of the Funds takes place in various markets outside the United States on days and at times other than when the NYSE is open for trading. Therefore, the calculation of these Funds’ NAVs does not take place at the same time as the prices of many of its portfolio securities or other investments are determined, and the value of these Funds’ portfolios may change on days when these Funds are not open for business and their shares may not be purchased or redeemed.
Dividends and Distributions
The Funds generally distribute annually all or substantially all of their net investment income (other than capital gains) as dividends. The following table shows when each Fund expects to distribute dividends. Each Fund expects to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized long- and short-term capital gains annually (or, in the case of short-term capital gains, more frequently than annually if determined by the Fund to be in the best interest of shareholders), after applying any capital loss carryovers. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Trustees may adopt a different schedule for making distributions as long as distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, are made at least annually. A Fund’s distribution rate fluctuates over time for various reasons, and there can be no assurance that a Fund’s distributions will not decrease or that a Fund will make any distributions when scheduled. For example, foreign currency losses could potentially reduce or eliminate, and have in the past reduced and eliminated, regularly scheduled distributions for certain Funds.

Dividend Payment Schedule
Annually | Quarterly | Monthly
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund | Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund | Loomis Sayles High Income Fund
Natixis Oakmark Fund |  | Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund
Natixis Oakmark International Fund |  | Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund |  |

Distributions will automatically be reinvested in shares of the same class of the distributing Fund at NAV unless you select one of the following alternatives:

• | Participate in the Dividend Diversification Program, which allows you to have all dividends and distributions automatically invested at NAV in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund registered in your name. Certain investment minimums and restrictions may apply. For more information about the program, see the section “Additional Investor Services;”

• | Receive distributions from dividends and interest in cash while reinvesting distributions from capital gains in additional shares of the same class of the Fund, or in the same class of another Natixis Fund;

• | Receive distributions from capital gains in cash while reinvesting distributions from dividends and interest in additional shares of the same class of the Fund, or in the same class of another Natixis Fund; or

• | Receive all distributions in cash.

For accounts held directly with a Fund, any cash distributions to be paid by check, in an amount of $10 or less, will instead be automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares. If a dividend or capital gain distribution check remains uncashed for six months and your account is still open, each Fund will reinvest the dividend or distribution in additional shares of the Fund promptly after making this determination and the check will be canceled. In addition, future dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of a Fund unless you subsequently contact the Fund and request to receive distributions by check.
If you do not select an option when you open your account, all distributions will be reinvested.
Generally, if you earn more than $10 annually in taxable income from a Fund held in a non-retirement plan account, you will receive a Form 1099-DIV to help you report the prior calendar year’s distributions on your U.S. federal income tax return. This information will also be reported to the IRS. Be sure to keep this Form 1099-DIV as a permanent record. A fee may be charged for any duplicate information requested.
Tax Consequences
Except as noted, the discussion below addresses only the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Funds and does not address any non-U.S., state or local tax consequences.

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Each Fund intends to meet all requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) necessary to qualify and be eligible for treatment each year as a “regulated investment company” and thus does not expect to pay any U.S. federal income tax on income and capital gains that are timely distributed to shareholders.
Unless otherwise noted, the discussion below, to the extent it describes shareholder-level tax consequences, pertains solely to taxable shareholders.
Taxation of Distributions from the Funds. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable to Fund shareholders as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions attributable to the excess of net long-term capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year over net short-term capital losses from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less, and that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as long-term capital gain includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. Distributions attributable to the excess of net short-term capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less over net long-term capital losses from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, will be taxable as ordinary income.
Distributions of investment income properly reported by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the reduced rates applicable to net capital gain, provided that holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels. Income generated by investments in fixed-income securities, derivatives and REITs generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. Dividends received by a Fund from foreign corporations that are not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the U.S. (other than dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S.) will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income, and hence will not increase the amount of a Fund’s distributions that may be reported as qualified dividend income. Additionally, a portion of the Fund’s distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders, provided certain requirements are met.
A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax is imposed on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Net investment income generally includes for this purpose dividends, including any Capital Gains Dividends, paid by a Fund and net capital gains recognized on the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of the Fund.
Fund distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. In addition, Fund distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid for his or her shares). Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s NAV reflects gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed.
Dividends declared by a Fund and payable to shareholders of record in October, November or December of one year and paid in January of the next year generally are taxable in the year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the year in which the distributions are received.
Dividends derived from interest on securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if any, may be exempt from state and local income taxes. Each Fund will advise shareholders annually of the proportion of its dividends that are derived from such interest.
Dividends paid by a Fund to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws generally will not be taxable, although distributions by retirement plans to their participants may be taxable. Special tax rules apply to investments through such retirement plans. If your investment is through such a plan, you should consult your tax adviser to determine the suitability of the Funds as an investment through your plan and the tax treatment of distributions to you (including distributions of amounts attributable to an investment in a Fund) from the plan.
Redemption, Sale or Exchange of Fund Shares. A redemption, sale or exchange of Fund shares (including an exchange of Fund shares for shares of another Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund) is a taxable event and generally will result in recognition of gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the amount received. Gain or loss, if any, recognized by a shareholder on a redemption, sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares generally will be taxed as long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder held the shares for more than one year, and as short-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder held the shares for one year or less, assuming in each case that the shareholder held the shares as capital assets. Short-term capital gains generally are taxed at the rates applicable to ordinary income. Any loss realized upon a disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, capital loss to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received by the shareholder with respect to the shares. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale of shares of a Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition, including pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. See “Cost Basis Reporting” above for information about certain cost basis reporting obligations.
Taxation of Certain Fund Investments. A Fund’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. In that case, the Fund’s yield on those securities would be decreased. If a Fund invests more than 50% of its assets in foreign securities, it generally may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. It is expected LS International Growth Fund and Natixis Oakmark International Fund to be eligible to make this election. In addition, a Fund’s investments in foreign securities and foreign currencies

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may be subject to special tax rules that have the effect of increasing or accelerating the Fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of the Fund’s distributions to shareholders.
A Fund’s investments in certain debt obligations (such as those issued with “OID” or accrued market discount, in each case, as defined in the SAI), mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, REITs and derivatives may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such investments. Thus, a Fund could be required to liquidate investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code. In addition, a Fund’s investments in derivatives may affect the amount, timing or character of distributions to shareholders.
A Fund may at times purchase debt instruments at a discount from the price at which they were originally issued, especially during periods of rising interest rates. For federal income tax purposes, some or all of this market discount will, when recognized as income by a Fund, be included in such Fund’s ordinary income, and will be taxable to shareholders as such when it is distributed.
Backup Withholding. Each Fund is required in certain circumstances to apply backup withholding on taxable dividends, redemption proceeds and certain other payments that are paid to any shareholder who does not furnish to the Fund certain information and certifications or who is otherwise subject to backup withholding.
Other Information
Non-U.S. investors are generally not subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends, as defined in the SAI and subject to limitations set forth in the SAI. With respect to distributions other than Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends, non-U.S. shareholders are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate). Non-U.S. investors may also be subject to U.S. state, local, and estate tax with respect to their Fund shares.
Please see the SAI for additional information on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in a Fund.
You should consult your tax adviser for more information on your own situation, including possible U.S. federal, state, local, foreign or other applicable taxes.
Additional Investor Services
Retirement Plans
Natixis Funds offer a range of retirement plans, including IRAs and SEPs. For more information about our Retirement Plans, call us at 800-225-5478.
Investment Builder Program
This is Natixis Funds’ automatic investment plan. Once you meet the Fund minimum, you may authorize automatic monthly transfers from your bank checking or savings account to purchase shares of one or more Natixis Funds. For instructions on how to join the Investment Builder Program, please refer to the section “How to Purchase Shares.”
Dividend Diversification Program
This program allows you to have all dividends and any other distributions automatically invested in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund subject to the eligibility requirements of that other fund and to state securities law requirements. The fund minimum must be met in the new fund prior to establishing the dividend diversification program. Shares will be purchased at the selected fund’s NAV without a front-end sales charge or CDSC on the ex dividend date. Before establishing a Dividend Diversification Program into any other Natixis Fund, please read its prospectus carefully.
Automatic Exchange Plan
Natixis Funds have an automatic exchange plan under which shares of a class of a Natixis Fund are automatically exchanged each month for shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund. The fund minimum must be met prior to establishing an automatic exchange plan. There is no fee for exchanges made under this plan. Please see the section “Exchanging or Converting Shares” above and refer to the SAI for more information on the Automatic Exchange Plan.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
This plan allows you to redeem shares and receive payments from a Fund on a regular schedule. Redemptions of shares that are part of the Systematic Withdrawal Plan are not subject to a CDSC, however, the amount or percentage you specify in the plan may not exceed, on an annualized basis, 10% of the value of your Fund account based upon the value of your Fund account on the day you establish your plan. For information on establishing a Systematic Withdrawal Plan, please refer to the section “How to Redeem Shares.”
Financial Performance
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand each Fund’s financial performance for the last five years (or, if shorter, the period of the Fund’s operations). Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the return that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with each Fund’s financial statements, is included in the

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Funds’ filing on Form N-CSR. The Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR and Loomis Sayles Funds II Form N-CSR are incorporated by reference into the SAI, all of which are available free of charge upon request from the Distributor.

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For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 3.61 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.50 | $ | 4.29 | $ | 4.35
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.23 |  | 0.23 |  | 0.21 |  | 0.19 |  | 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.08 |  | 0.08 |  | 0.11 |  | (0.77 ) |  | (0.05 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.31 |  | 0.31 |  | 0.32 |  | (0.58 ) |  | 0.12
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.23 ) |  | (0.25 ) |  | (0.27 ) |  | (0.21 ) |  | (0.18 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 3.69 | $ | 3.61 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.50 | $ | 4.29
Total return(b)(c) |  | 8.88 % |  | 9.08 % |  | 9.53 % |  | (13.66 )% |  | 2.87 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 14,925 | $ | 16,770 | $ | 16,031 | $ | 19,108 | $ | 20,470
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.98 % (e) |  | 1.00 % |  | 1.00 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.33 % |  | 1.51 % |  | 1.40 % |  | 1.18 % |  | 1.19 %
Net investment income |  | 6.22 % |  | 6.54 % |  | 6.10 % |  | 5.13 % |  | 3.83 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 107 % |  | 106 % |  | 40 % |  | 53 % |  | 67 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 1.00% to 0.95%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 3.63 | $ | 3.57 | $ | 3.51 | $ | 4.31 | $ | 4.37
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.20 |  | 0.21 |  | 0.19 |  | 0.16 |  | 0.14
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.08 |  | 0.07 |  | 0.11 |  | (0.78 ) |  | (0.05 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.28 |  | 0.28 |  | 0.30 |  | (0.62 ) |  | 0.09
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.20 ) |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.24 ) |  | (0.18 ) |  | (0.15 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 3.71 | $ | 3.63 | $ | 3.57 | $ | 3.51 | $ | 4.31
Total return(b)(c) |  | 7.99 % |  | 8.19 % |  | 8.94 % |  | (14.50 )% |  | 2.07 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 419 | $ | 558 | $ | 754 | $ | 1,182 | $ | 1,795
Net expenses(d) |  | 1.70 % |  | 1.70 % |  | 1.73 % (e) |  | 1.75 % |  | 1.75 %
Gross expenses |  | 2.08 % |  | 2.26 % |  | 2.15 % |  | 1.93 % |  | 1.94 %
Net investment income |  | 5.46 % |  | 5.85 % |  | 5.28 % |  | 4.34 % |  | 3.14 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 107 % |  | 106 % |  | 40 % |  | 53 % |  | 67 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 1.75% to 1.70%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 3.61 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.50 | $ | 4.29 | $ | 4.36
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.24 |  | 0.22 |  | 0.23 |  | 0.20 |  | 0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.08 |  | 0.10 |  | 0.10 |  | (0.77 ) |  | (0.05 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.32 |  | 0.32 |  | 0.33 |  | (0.57 ) |  | 0.13
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.24 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.28 ) |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.20 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 3.69 | $ | 3.61 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.50 | $ | 4.29
Total return(b) |  | 9.19 % |  | 9.40 % |  | 9.85 % |  | (13.40 )% |  | 2.95 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 33,706 | $ | 19,912 | $ | 173 | $ | 132 | $ | 105
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.65 % |  | 0.65 % |  | 0.67 % (d) |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.70 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.02 % |  | 1.31 % |  | 1.82 % |  | 1.80 % |  | 0.86 %
Net investment income |  | 6.56 % |  | 6.35 % |  | 6.47 % |  | 5.46 % |  | 4.10 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 107 % |  | 106 % |  | 40 % |  | 53 % |  | 67 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 0.70% to 0.65%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 3.60 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.49 | $ | 4.28 | $ | 4.34
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.24 |  | 0.24 |  | 0.22 |  | 0.20 |  | 0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.08 |  | 0.07 |  | 0.12 |  | (0.77 ) |  | (0.05 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.32 |  | 0.31 |  | 0.34 |  | (0.57 ) |  | 0.13
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.24 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.28 ) |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.19 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 3.68 | $ | 3.60 | $ | 3.55 | $ | 3.49 | $ | 4.28
Total return(b) |  | 9.16 % |  | 9.05 % |  | 10.13 % |  | (13.47 )% |  | 3.15 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 29,601 | $ | 26,955 | $ | 28,150 | $ | 97,059 | $ | 104,957
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.73 % (d) |  | 0.75 % |  | 0.75 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.08 % |  | 1.26 % |  | 1.16 % |  | 0.93 % |  | 0.95 %
Net investment income |  | 6.48 % |  | 6.80 % |  | 6.17 % |  | 5.39 % |  | 4.16 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 107 % |  | 106 % |  | 40 % |  | 53 % |  | 67 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 0.75% to 0.70%.

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For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 10.60 | $ | 9.42 | $ | 7.84 | $ | 9.57 | $ | 10.13
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | 0.03 |  | 0.03 (b) |  | 0.01 |  | 0.02 |  | (0.01 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.99 |  | 1.20 |  | 1.60 |  | (1.71 ) |  | (0.41 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.02 |  | 1.23 |  | 1.61 |  | (1.69 ) |  | (0.42 )
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.04 ) |  | (0.01 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.13 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.17 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.04 ) |  | (0.14 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 11.45 | $ | 10.60 | $ | 9.42 | $ | 7.84 | $ | 9.57
Total return(c)(d) |  | 9.89 % |  | 13.09 % (b) |  | 20.56 % |  | (17.71 )% |  | (4.07 )%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 587 | $ | 316 | $ | 151 | $ | 125 | $ | 113
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.20 % |  | 1.21 % (f) |  | 1.20 % |  | 1.20 % |  | 1.20 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.92 % (g) |  | 1.75 % (f) |  | 1.87 % |  | 2.05 % |  | 2.71 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | 0.29 % |  | 0.28 % (b) |  | 0.12 % |  | 0.26 % |  | (0.07 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 9 % |  | 36 % |  | 5 % |  | 11 % |  | 9 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment income per share would have been $0.01, total return would have been 12.98% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.12%.
(c) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 1.20% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.74%.
(g) | Includes transfer agent fees and expenses before expense offsets, had offsets been included the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.91%.

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For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 10.42 | $ | 9.29 | $ | 7.77 | $ | 9.51 | $ | 10.13
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.05 ) (b) |  | (0.06 ) |  | 0.02 |  | (0.09 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.97 |  | 1.18 |  | 1.58 |  | (1.76 ) |  | (0.40 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.91 |  | 1.13 |  | 1.52 |  | (1.74 ) |  | (0.49 )
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | — |  | (0.00 ) (c) |  | — |  | — |  | (0.00 ) (c)
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.13 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.14 ) |  | (0.00 ) |  | — |  | — |  | (0.13 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 11.19 | $ | 10.42 | $ | 9.29 | $ | 7.77 | $ | 9.51
Total return(d)(e) |  | 9.01 % |  | 12.19 % (b) |  | 19.56 % |  | (18.30 )% |  | (4.79 )%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 38
Net expenses(f) |  | 1.95 % |  | 1.95 % (g) |  | 1.95 % |  | 1.95 % |  | 1.95 %
Gross expenses |  | 2.64 % (h) |  | 2.57 % (g) |  | 2.53 % |  | 2.79 % |  | 3.46 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | (0.57 )% |  | (0.55 )% (b) |  | (0.68 )% |  | 0.21 % |  | (0.90 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 9 % |  | 36 % |  | 5 % |  | 11 % |  | 9 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment loss per share would have been $(0.07), total return would have been 12.08% and the ratio of net investment loss to average net assets would have been (0.75)%.
(c) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(d) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(e) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(f) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(g) | Includes interest expense of less than 0.01%.
(h) | Includes transfer agent fees and expenses before expense offsets, had offsets been included the ratio of gross expenses would have been 2.63%.

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For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 10.63 | $ | 9.44 | $ | 7.85 | $ | 9.58 | $ | 10.13
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.06 |  | 0.05 (b) |  | 0.04 |  | 0.05 |  | 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.99 |  | 1.21 |  | 1.61 |  | (1.72 ) |  | (0.42 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.05 |  | 1.26 |  | 1.65 |  | (1.67 ) |  | (0.39 )
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.03 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.13 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.20 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.06 ) |  | (0.16 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 11.48 | $ | 10.63 | $ | 9.44 | $ | 7.85 | $ | 9.58
Total return(c) |  | 10.15 % |  | 13.36 % (b) |  | 20.99 % |  | (17.47 )% |  | (3.77 )%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 10,970 | $ | 10,089 | $ | 25,661 | $ | 21,331 | $ | 22,953
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 % (e) |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.56 % |  | 1.39 % (e) |  | 1.47 % |  | 1.67 % |  | 1.58 %
Net investment income |  | 0.51 % |  | 0.47 % (b) |  | 0.41 % |  | 0.62 % |  | 0.29 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 9 % |  | 36 % |  | 5 % |  | 11 % |  | 9 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment income per share would have been $0.03, total return would have been 13.26% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.29%.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Includes interest expense of less than 0.01%.

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For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 10.63 | $ | 9.44 | $ | 7.85 | $ | 9.58 | $ | 10.13
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.05 |  | 0.06 (b) |  | 0.03 |  | 0.04 |  | 0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.99 |  | 1.20 |  | 1.61 |  | (1.72 ) |  | (0.41 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.04 |  | 1.26 |  | 1.64 |  | (1.68 ) |  | (0.39 )
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.03 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (0.14 ) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.13 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.19 ) |  | (0.07 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.16 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 11.48 | $ | 10.63 | $ | 9.44 | $ | 7.85 | $ | 9.58
Total return(c) |  | 10.09 % |  | 13.45 % (b) |  | 20.81 % |  | (17.50 )% |  | (3.81 )%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 20,357 | $ | 18,657 | $ | 4,911 | $ | 3,124 | $ | 222
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.96 % (e) |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.95 % |  | 0.95 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.67 % (f) |  | 1.50 % (e) |  | 1.62 % |  | 1.80 % |  | 2.46 %
Net investment income |  | 0.46 % |  | 0.54 % (b) |  | 0.32 % |  | 0.47 % |  | 0.19 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 9 % |  | 36 % |  | 5 % |  | 11 % |  | 9 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes a non-recurring dividend. Without this dividend, net investment income per share would have been $0.04, total return would have been 13.23% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.34%.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Includes interest expense. Without this expense the ratio of net expenses would have been 0.95% and the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.49%.
(f) | Includes transfer agent fees and expenses before expense offsets, had offsets been included the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.66%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.71 | $ | 9.92 | $ | 9.63 | $ | 11.22 | $ | 11.65
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.45 |  | 0.45 |  | 0.39 |  | 0.28 |  | 0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.20 |  | (0.21 ) |  | 0.30 |  | (1.58 ) |  | (0.26 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.65 |  | 0.24 |  | 0.69 |  | (1.30 ) |  | 0.00 (b)
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.46 ) |  | (0.45 ) |  | (0.40 ) |  | (0.28 ) |  | (0.26 )
Net realized capital gains |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.17 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.46 ) |  | (0.45 ) |  | (0.40 ) |  | (0.29 ) |  | (0.43 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.90 | $ | 9.71 | $ | 9.92 | $ | 9.63 | $ | 11.22
Total return(c)(d) |  | 6.80 % |  | 2.44 % |  | 7.34 % |  | (11.62 )% |  | 0.07 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 759,813 | $ | 776,083 | $ | 717,999 | $ | 641,311 | $ | 793,271
Net expenses(e) |  | 0.74 % (f) |  | 0.74 % |  | 0.74 % |  | 0.75 % (g) |  | 0.75 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.80 % |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.80 % |  | 0.79 %
Net investment income |  | 4.61 % |  | 4.55 % |  | 4.04 % |  | 2.71 % |  | 2.24 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 51 % |  | 39 % |  | 25 % |  | 31 % |  | 27 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2025, the expense limit decreased from 0.74% to 0.73%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 0.75% to 0.74%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.57 | $ | 9.78 | $ | 9.51 | $ | 11.07 | $ | 11.51
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.37 |  | 0.37 |  | 0.31 |  | 0.20 |  | 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.20 |  | (0.20 ) |  | 0.29 |  | (1.55 ) |  | (0.26 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.57 |  | 0.17 |  | 0.60 |  | (1.35 ) |  | (0.09 )
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.39 ) |  | (0.38 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | (0.20 ) |  | (0.18 )
Net realized capital gains |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.17 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.39 ) |  | (0.38 ) |  | (0.33 ) |  | (0.21 ) |  | (0.35 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.75 | $ | 9.57 | $ | 9.78 | $ | 9.51 | $ | 11.07
Total return(b)(c) |  | 6.01 % |  | 1.71 % |  | 6.43 % |  | (12.26 )% |  | (0.70 )%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 78,600 | $ | 78,152 | $ | 68,821 | $ | 56,520 | $ | 80,099
Net expenses(d) |  | 1.48 % (e) |  | 1.49 % |  | 1.49 % |  | 1.50 % (f) |  | 1.50 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.55 % |  | 1.56 % |  | 1.56 % |  | 1.55 % |  | 1.54 %
Net investment income |  | 3.86 % |  | 3.80 % |  | 3.29 % |  | 1.94 % |  | 1.50 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 51 % |  | 39 % |  | 25 % |  | 31 % |  | 27 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2025, the expense limit decreased from 1.49% to 1.48%.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 1.50% to 1.49%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.71 | $ | 9.92 | $ | 9.64 | $ | 11.22 | $ | 11.65
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.48 |  | 0.48 |  | 0.42 |  | 0.31 |  | 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.20 |  | (0.21 ) |  | 0.29 |  | (1.57 ) |  | (0.25 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.68 |  | 0.27 |  | 0.71 |  | (1.26 ) |  | 0.04
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.49 ) |  | (0.48 ) |  | (0.43 ) |  | (0.31 ) |  | (0.30 )
Net realized capital gains |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.17 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.49 ) |  | (0.48 ) |  | (0.43 ) |  | (0.32 ) |  | (0.47 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.90 | $ | 9.71 | $ | 9.92 | $ | 9.64 | $ | 11.22
Total return(b) |  | 7.12 % |  | 2.74 % |  | 7.55 % |  | (11.26 )% |  | 0.37 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 3,613,568 | $ | 2,763,066 | $ | 1,496,893 | $ | 1,348,621 | $ | 1,473,020
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.43 % (d) |  | 0.44 % |  | 0.44 % |  | 0.45 % (e) |  | 0.45 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.47 % |  | 0.48 % |  | 0.47 % |  | 0.47 % |  | 0.47 %
Net investment income |  | 4.92 % |  | 4.86 % |  | 4.32 % |  | 3.02 % |  | 2.53 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 51 % |  | 39 % |  | 25 % |  | 31 % |  | 27 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2025, the expense limit decreased from 0.44% to 0.43%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 0.45% to 0.44%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.72 | $ | 9.92 | $ | 9.64 | $ | 11.22 | $ | 11.66
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.48 |  | 0.47 |  | 0.42 |  | 0.30 |  | 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.18 |  | (0.20 ) |  | 0.28 |  | (1.56 ) |  | (0.27 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.66 |  | 0.27 |  | 0.70 |  | (1.26 ) |  | 0.02
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.48 ) |  | (0.47 ) |  | (0.42 ) |  | (0.31 ) |  | (0.29 )
Net realized capital gains |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.17 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.48 ) |  | (0.47 ) |  | (0.42 ) |  | (0.32 ) |  | (0.46 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.90 | $ | 9.72 | $ | 9.92 | $ | 9.64 | $ | 11.22
Total return(b) |  | 6.96 % |  | 2.80 % |  | 7.50 % |  | (11.31 )% |  | 0.24 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 12,548,305 | $ | 11,221,966 | $ | 7,942,477 | $ | 4,833,608 | $ | 3,920,635
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.48 % (d) |  | 0.49 % |  | 0.49 % |  | 0.49 % (e) |  | 0.50 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.55 % |  | 0.56 % |  | 0.56 % |  | 0.55 % |  | 0.54 %
Net investment income |  | 4.86 % |  | 4.80 % |  | 4.33 % |  | 3.01 % |  | 2.49 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 51 % |  | 39 % |  | 25 % |  | 31 % |  | 27 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2025, the expense limit decreased from 0.49% to 0.48%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 0.50% to 0.49%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

| Admin Class
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.68 | $ | 9.88 | $ | 9.60 | $ | 11.18 | $ | 11.62
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.43 |  | 0.42 |  | 0.36 |  | 0.25 |  | 0.23
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.18 |  | (0.20 ) |  | 0.29 |  | (1.56 ) |  | (0.26 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.61 |  | 0.22 |  | 0.65 |  | (1.31 ) |  | (0.03 )
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.43 ) |  | (0.42 ) |  | (0.37 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.24 )
Net realized capital gains |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.17 )
Total Distributions |  | (0.43 ) |  | (0.42 ) |  | (0.37 ) |  | (0.27 ) |  | (0.41 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.86 | $ | 9.68 | $ | 9.88 | $ | 9.60 | $ | 11.18
Total return(b) |  | 6.44 % |  | 2.28 % |  | 6.99 % |  | (11.80 )% |  | (0.26 )%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 81,213 | $ | 90,999 | $ | 142,689 | $ | 122,710 | $ | 139,169
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.99 % (d) |  | 0.99 % |  | 0.99 % |  | 1.00 % (e) |  | 1.00 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.05 % |  | 1.06 % |  | 1.06 % |  | 1.05 % |  | 1.04 %
Net investment income |  | 4.35 % |  | 4.27 % |  | 3.79 % |  | 2.47 % |  | 1.98 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 51 % |  | 39 % |  | 25 % |  | 31 % |  | 27 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2025, the expense limit decreased from 0.99% to 0.98%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 1.00% to 0.99%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.57 | $ | 9.34 | $ | 9.14 | $ | 10.34 | $ | 10.43
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.51 |  | 0.52 |  | 0.42 |  | 0.34 |  | 0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.26 |  | 0.22 |  | 0.27 |  | (1.20 ) |  | (0.15 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.77 |  | 0.74 |  | 0.69 |  | (0.86 ) |  | 0.11
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.44 ) |  | (0.51 ) |  | (0.49 ) |  | (0.34 ) |  | (0.20 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.90 | $ | 9.57 | $ | 9.34 | $ | 9.14 | $ | 10.34
Total return(b) |  | 8.18 % (c)(d) |  | 8.10 % (c) |  | 7.70 % (c) |  | (8.29 )% |  | 1.07 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 16,222 | $ | 15,930 | $ | 17,891 | $ | 29,797 | $ | 41,765
Net expenses |  | 0.98 % (e) |  | 0.99 % (e)(f) |  | 1.00 % (e) |  | 1.00 % |  | 0.97 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.03 % |  | 1.05 % |  | 1.03 % |  | 1.00 % |  | 0.97 %
Net investment income |  | 5.17 % |  | 5.47 % |  | 4.51 % |  | 3.59 % |  | 2.45 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 57 % |  | 55 % |  | 38 % |  | 46 % (g) |  | 218 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | Generally accepted accounting principles require certain adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Fund for financial statement purposes only, and as such, the total return based on the adjusted net asset value per share may differ from the live total return reported on the Fund’s website or any corresponding Shareholder Report. Without these adjustments, total return would have been 8.29%.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 1.00% to 0.98%.
(g) | The variation in the Fund’s turnover rate from 2021 to 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in trading volume and shareholder flows.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.55 | $ | 9.33 | $ | 9.13 | $ | 10.32 | $ | 10.40
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.43 |  | 0.45 |  | 0.35 |  | 0.27 |  | 0.18
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.26 |  | 0.21 |  | 0.26 |  | (1.19 ) |  | (0.15 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.69 |  | 0.66 |  | 0.61 |  | (0.92 ) |  | 0.03
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.36 ) |  | (0.44 ) |  | (0.41 ) |  | (0.27 ) |  | (0.11 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.88 | $ | 9.55 | $ | 9.33 | $ | 9.13 | $ | 10.32
Total return(b) |  | 7.37 % (c)(d) |  | 7.31 % (c) |  | 6.77 % (c) |  | (8.90 )% |  | 0.30 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 2,320 | $ | 2,134 | $ | 2,531 | $ | 3,309 | $ | 4,266
Net expenses |  | 1.73 % (e) |  | 1.74 % (e)(f) |  | 1.75 % (e) |  | 1.75 % |  | 1.73 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.78 % |  | 1.80 % |  | 1.78 % |  | 1.75 % |  | 1.73 %
Net investment income |  | 4.43 % |  | 4.72 % |  | 3.81 % |  | 2.84 % |  | 1.68 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 57 % |  | 55 % |  | 38 % |  | 46 % (g) |  | 218 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | Generally accepted accounting principles require certain adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Fund for financial statement purposes only, and as such, the total return based on the adjusted net asset value per share may differ from the live total return reported on the Fund’s website or any corresponding Shareholder Report. Without these adjustments, total return would have been 7.48%.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 1.75% to 1.73%.
(g) | The variation in the Fund’s turnover rate from 2021 to 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in trading volume and shareholder flows.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.54 | $ | 9.32 | $ | 9.12 | $ | 10.32 | $ | 10.41
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.53 |  | 0.55 |  | 0.44 |  | 0.37 |  | 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.27 |  | 0.21 |  | 0.27 |  | (1.19 ) |  | (0.15 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.80 |  | 0.76 |  | 0.71 |  | (0.82 ) |  | 0.14
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.47 ) |  | (0.54 ) |  | (0.51 ) |  | (0.38 ) |  | (0.23 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.87 | $ | 9.54 | $ | 9.32 | $ | 9.12 | $ | 10.32
Total return |  | 8.51 % (b)(c) |  | 8.45 % (b) |  | 7.94 % (b) |  | (8.00 )% |  | 1.38 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 127,923 | $ | 119,054 | $ | 105,702 | $ | 164,264 | $ | 484,005
Net expenses |  | 0.68 % (d) |  | 0.69 % (d)(e) |  | 0.70 % (d) |  | 0.69 % |  | 0.67 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.71 % |  | 0.73 % |  | 0.71 % |  | 0.69 % |  | 0.67 %
Net investment income |  | 5.48 % |  | 5.77 % |  | 4.83 % |  | 3.81 % |  | 2.74 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 57 % |  | 55 % |  | 38 % |  | 46 % (f) |  | 218 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | Generally accepted accounting principles require certain adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Fund for financial statement purposes only, and as such, the total return based on the adjusted net asset value per share may differ from the live total return reported on the Fund’s website or any corresponding Shareholder Report. Without these adjustments, total return would have been 8.62%.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 0.70% to 0.68%.
(f) | The variation in the Fund’s turnover rate from 2021 to 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in trading volume and shareholder flows.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 9.53 | $ | 9.31 | $ | 9.12 | $ | 10.31 | $ | 10.41
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.53 |  | 0.54 |  | 0.44 |  | 0.37 |  | 0.28
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.26 |  | 0.21 |  | 0.26 |  | (1.19 ) |  | (0.15 )
Total from Investment Operations |  | 0.79 |  | 0.75 |  | 0.70 |  | (0.82 ) |  | 0.13
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.46 ) |  | (0.53 ) |  | (0.51 ) |  | (0.37 ) |  | (0.23 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 9.86 | $ | 9.53 | $ | 9.31 | $ | 9.12 | $ | 10.31
Total return |  | 8.47 % (b)(c) |  | 8.29 % (b) |  | 7.90 % (b) |  | (7.97 )% |  | 1.32 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 890,697 | $ | 460,318 | $ | 476,304 | $ | 650,242 | $ | 930,815
Net expenses |  | 0.73 % (d) |  | 0.74 % (d)(e) |  | 0.75 % (d) |  | 0.75 % |  | 0.72 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.78 % |  | 0.80 % |  | 0.78 % |  | 0.75 % |  | 0.72 %
Net investment income |  | 5.45 % |  | 5.72 % |  | 4.80 % |  | 3.83 % |  | 2.70 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 57 % |  | 55 % |  | 38 % |  | 46 % (f) |  | 218 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | Generally accepted accounting principles require certain adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Fund for financial statement purposes only, and as such, the total return based on the adjusted net asset value per share may differ from the live total return reported on the Fund’s website or any corresponding Shareholder Report. Without these adjustments, total return would have been 8.58%.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 0.75% to 0.73%.
(f) | The variation in the Fund’s turnover rate from 2021 to 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in trading volume and shareholder flows.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the year | $ | 12.04 | $ | 11.92 | $ | 11.65 | $ | 14.19 | $ | 14.03
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.72 |  | 0.62 |  | 0.57 |  | 0.44 |  | 0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.48 |  | 0.18 |  | 0.34 |  | (2.24) |  | 0.27
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.20 |  | 0.80 |  | 0.91 |  | (1.80) |  | 0.53
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.63) |  | (0.68) |  | (0.64) |  | (0.74) |  | (0.37)
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 12.61 | $ | 12.04 | $ | 11.92 | $ | 11.65 | $ | 14.19
Total return(b)(c) |  | 10.27% |  | 6.95% |  | 8.02% |  | (12.80)% |  | 3.85%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 803,617 | $ | 840,790 | $ | 946,579 | $ | 1,067,151 | $ | 1,512,939
Net expenses(d) |  | 0.92% |  | 0.93%(e) |  | 0.94%(f) |  | 0.95%(g) |  | 0.96%(h)
Gross expenses |  | 1.00% |  | 1.00% |  | 1.00% |  | 0.98% |  | 0.97%
Net investment income |  | 5.83% |  | 5.18% |  | 4.89% |  | 3.45% |  | 1.85%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 100% |  | 81% |  | 39% |  | 23% |  | 99%

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 0.93% to 0.92%.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 0.94% to 0.93%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 0.95% to 0.94%.
(h) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.00% to 0.95%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the year | $ | 12.22 | $ | 12.08 | $ | 11.80 | $ | 14.36 | $ | 14.18
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.63 |  | 0.54 |  | 0.48 |  | 0.34 |  | 0.16
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.49 |  | 0.18 |  | 0.35 |  | (2.26) |  | 0.28
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.12 |  | 0.72 |  | 0.83 |  | (1.92) |  | 0.44
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.53) |  | (0.58) |  | (0.55) |  | (0.64) |  | (0.26)
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 12.81 | $ | 12.22 | $ | 12.08 | $ | 11.80 | $ | 14.36
Total return(b)(c) |  | 9.36% |  | 6.13% |  | 7.26% |  | (13.48)% |  | 3.13%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 23,598 | $ | 27,013 | $ | 34,212 | $ | 52,977 | $ | 120,091
Net expenses(d) |  | 1.67% |  | 1.68%(e) |  | 1.69%(f) |  | 1.70%(g) |  | 1.71%(h)
Gross expenses |  | 1.75% |  | 1.75% |  | 1.75% |  | 1.73% |  | 1.72%
Net investment income |  | 5.08% |  | 4.43% |  | 4.09% |  | 2.62% |  | 1.12%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 100% |  | 81% |  | 39% |  | 23% |  | 99%

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 1.68% to 1.67%.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 1.69% to 1.68%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 1.70% to 1.69%.
(h) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.75% to 1.70%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the year | $ | 12.02 | $ | 11.90 | $ | 11.63 | $ | 14.17 | $ | 14.01
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.74 |  | 0.66 |  | 0.60 |  | 0.47 |  | 0.31
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.50 |  | 0.17 |  | 0.34 |  | (2.23) |  | 0.27
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.24 |  | 0.83 |  | 0.94 |  | (1.76) |  | 0.58
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.66) |  | (0.71) |  | (0.67) |  | (0.78) |  | (0.42)
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 12.60 | $ | 12.02 | $ | 11.90 | $ | 11.63 | $ | 14.17
Total return |  | 10.62%(b) |  | 7.20%(b) |  | 8.45%(b) |  | (12.55)% |  | 4.19%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 67,618 | $ | 204,205 | $ | 220,360 | $ | 220,229 | $ | 280,661
Net expenses |  | 0.62%(c) |  | 0.62%(c)(d) |  | 0.64%(c)(e) |  | 0.64%(f) |  | 0.65%(g)
Gross expenses |  | 0.66% |  | 0.67% |  | 0.66% |  | 0.64% |  | 0.65%
Net investment income |  | 5.97% |  | 5.48% |  | 5.20% |  | 3.77% |  | 2.17%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 100% |  | 81% |  | 39% |  | 23% |  | 99%

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 0.63% to 0.62%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 0.64% to 0.63%.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 0.65% to 0.64%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.70% to 0.65%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the year | $ | 12.02 | $ | 11.90 | $ | 11.63 | $ | 14.17 | $ | 14.01
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.75 |  | 0.65 |  | 0.60 |  | 0.47 |  | 0.30
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.48 |  | 0.18 |  | 0.34 |  | (2.24) |  | 0.27
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.23 |  | 0.83 |  | 0.94 |  | (1.77) |  | 0.57
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.66) |  | (0.71) |  | (0.67) |  | (0.77) |  | (0.41)
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 12.59 | $ | 12.02 | $ | 11.90 | $ | 11.63 | $ | 14.17
Total return(b) |  | 10.56% |  | 7.24% |  | 8.30% |  | (12.60)% |  | 4.12%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 1,742,859 | $ | 1,629,062 | $ | 1,586,092 | $ | 1,816,763 | $ | 3,058,635
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.67% |  | 0.67%(d) |  | 0.69%(e) |  | 0.70%(f) |  | 0.71%(g)
Gross expenses |  | 0.75% |  | 0.75% |  | 0.75% |  | 0.73% |  | 0.72%
Net investment income |  | 6.10% |  | 5.43% |  | 5.13% |  | 3.68% |  | 2.10%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 100% |  | 81% |  | 39% |  | 23% |  | 99%

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 0.68% to 0.67%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 0.69% to 0.68%.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 0.70% to 0.69%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.75% to 0.70%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

| Admin Class
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the year | $ | 11.99 | $ | 11.87 | $ | 11.60 | $ | 14.14 | $ | 13.97
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.69 |  | 0.59 |  | 0.54 |  | 0.40 |  | 0.23
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 0.47 |  | 0.18 |  | 0.34 |  | (2.23) |  | 0.28
Total from Investment Operations |  | 1.16 |  | 0.77 |  | 0.88 |  | (1.83) |  | 0.51
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.60) |  | (0.65) |  | (0.61) |  | (0.71) |  | (0.34)
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 12.55 | $ | 11.99 | $ | 11.87 | $ | 11.60 | $ | 14.14
Total return(b) |  | 9.95% |  | 6.72% |  | 7.78% |  | (13.07)% |  | 3.68%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 59,042 | $ | 61,083 | $ | 66,181 | $ | 68,788 | $ | 95,250
Net expenses(c) |  | 1.17% |  | 1.18%(d) |  | 1.19%(e) |  | 1.20%(f) |  | 1.21%(g)
Gross expenses |  | 1.25% |  | 1.26% |  | 1.25% |  | 1.23% |  | 1.22%
Net investment income |  | 5.58% |  | 4.93% |  | 4.65% |  | 3.20% |  | 1.60%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 100% |  | 81% |  | 39% |  | 23% |  | 99%

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 1.18% to 1.17%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2023, the expense limit decreased from 1.19% to 1.18%.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2022, the expense limit decreased from 1.20% to 1.19%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.25% to 1.20%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 29.51 | $ | 27.24 | $ | 21.55 | $ | 29.04 | $ | 23.20
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.21 |  | 0.25 |  | 0.20 |  | 0.17 |  | 0.07
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.06 |  | 4.04 |  | 6.48 |  | (4.00 ) |  | 7.81
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.27 |  | 4.29 |  | 6.68 |  | (3.83 ) |  | 7.88
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.23 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.16 ) |  | (0.20 ) |  | (0.05 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.02 ) |  | (1.76 ) |  | (0.83 ) |  | (3.46 ) |  | (1.99 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.25 ) |  | (2.02 ) |  | (0.99 ) |  | (3.66 ) |  | (2.04 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 31.53 | $ | 29.51 | $ | 27.24 | $ | 21.55 | $ | 29.04
Total return(b)(c) |  | 14.86 % |  | 15.82 % |  | 30.96 % |  | (13.30 )% |  | 33.97 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 313,337 | $ | 289,368 | $ | 257,098 | $ | 192,750 | $ | 222,435
Net expenses(d) |  | 1.03 % |  | 1.04 % (e) |  | 1.05 % |  | 1.05 % |  | 1.12 % (f)
Gross expenses |  | 1.06 % |  | 1.09 % |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.10 % |  | 1.14 %
Net investment income |  | 0.70 % |  | 0.86 % |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.65 % |  | 0.25 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 53 % |  | 51 % |  | 40 % |  | 69 % |  | 23 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(c) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(d) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 1.05% to 1.03%.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.30% to 1.05%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 22.18 | $ | 20.92 | $ | 16.74 | $ | 23.50 | $ | 19.17
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | (0.01 ) |  | 0.03 |  | 0.01 |  | (0.02 ) |  | (0.12 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 3.01 |  | 3.08 |  | 5.01 |  | (3.23 ) |  | 6.44
Total from Investment Operations |  | 3.00 |  | 3.11 |  | 5.02 |  | (3.25 ) |  | 6.32
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.08 ) |  | (0.09 ) |  | (0.01 ) |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.00 ) (b)
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.02 ) |  | (1.76 ) |  | (0.83 ) |  | (3.46 ) |  | (1.99 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.10 ) |  | (1.85 ) |  | (0.84 ) |  | (3.51 ) |  | (1.99 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 23.08 | $ | 22.18 | $ | 20.92 | $ | 16.74 | $ | 23.50
Total return(c)(d) |  | 14.03 % |  | 14.95 % |  | 29.99 % |  | (13.97 )% |  | 32.99 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 58,090 | $ | 55,187 | $ | 55,880 | $ | 51,987 | $ | 50,042
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.78 % |  | 1.79 % (f) |  | 1.80 % |  | 1.80 % |  | 1.87 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 1.81 % |  | 1.84 % |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.85 % |  | 1.89 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | (0.05 )% |  | 0.11 % |  | 0.05 % |  | (0.10 )% |  | (0.49 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 53 % |  | 51 % |  | 40 % |  | 69 % |  | 23 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 1.80% to 1.78%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 2.05% to 1.80%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 32.29 | $ | 29.63 | $ | 23.36 | $ | 31.13 | $ | 24.72
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.33 |  | 0.38 |  | 0.30 |  | 0.26 |  | 0.23
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.47 |  | 4.39 |  | 7.03 |  | (4.29 ) |  | 8.31
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.80 |  | 4.77 |  | 7.33 |  | (4.03 ) |  | 8.54
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.33 ) |  | (0.35 ) |  | (0.23 ) |  | (0.28 ) |  | (0.14 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.02 ) |  | (1.76 ) |  | (0.83 ) |  | (3.46 ) |  | (1.99 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.35 ) |  | (2.11 ) |  | (1.06 ) |  | (3.74 ) |  | (2.13 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 34.74 | $ | 32.29 | $ | 29.63 | $ | 23.36 | $ | 31.13
Total return(b) |  | 15.20 % |  | 16.17 % |  | 31.35 % |  | (13.06 )% |  | 34.54 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 4,680 | $ | 1,718 | $ | 647 | $ | 517 | $ | 682
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.73 % |  | 0.74 % (d) |  | 0.75 % |  | 0.75 % |  | 0.80 % (e)
Gross expenses |  | 0.81 % (f) |  | 0.89 % (g) |  | 1.03 % |  | 0.93 % |  | 1.55 %
Net investment income |  | 0.99 % |  | 1.16 % |  | 1.11 % |  | 0.93 % |  | 0.79 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 53 % |  | 51 % |  | 40 % |  | 69 % |  | 23 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 0.75% to 0.73%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.00% to 0.75%.
(f) | Includes transfer agent fees and expenses before expense offset. Without these expenses the ratio of gross expenses would have been 0.79%.
(g) | Includes transfer agent fees and expenses before expense offset. Without these expenses the ratio of gross expenses would have been 0.87%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 32.18 | $ | 29.53 | $ | 23.29 | $ | 31.04 | $ | 24.68
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.32 |  | 0.36 |  | 0.31 |  | 0.25 |  | 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.44 |  | 4.39 |  | 6.98 |  | (4.28 ) |  | 8.31
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.76 |  | 4.75 |  | 7.29 |  | (4.03 ) |  | 8.48
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.31 ) |  | (0.34 ) |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.13 )
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.02 ) |  | (1.76 ) |  | (0.83 ) |  | (3.46 ) |  | (1.99 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.33 ) |  | (2.10 ) |  | (1.05 ) |  | (3.72 ) |  | (2.12 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 34.61 | $ | 32.18 | $ | 29.53 | $ | 23.29 | $ | 31.04
Total return(b) |  | 15.15 % |  | 16.13 % |  | 31.28 % |  | (13.10 )% |  | 34.35 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 825,265 | $ | 525,267 | $ | 323,867 | $ | 103,213 | $ | 99,008
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.78 % |  | 0.79 % (d) |  | 0.80 % |  | 0.80 % |  | 0.86 % (e)
Gross expenses |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.84 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.89 %
Net investment income |  | 0.96 % |  | 1.12 % |  | 1.13 % |  | 0.89 % |  | 0.56 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 53 % |  | 51 % |  | 40 % |  | 69 % |  | 23 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(d) | Effective July 1, 2024, the expense limit decreased from 0.80% to 0.78%.
(e) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.05% to 0.80%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark International Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 13.49 | $ | 14.64 | $ | 12.52 | $ | 15.15 | $ | 14.15
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.36 |  | 0.26 |  | 0.26 (b) |  | 0.19 |  | 0.27 (c)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.05 |  | (1.01 ) |  | 2.11 |  | (2.60 ) |  | 0.96
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.41 |  | (0.75 ) |  | 2.37 |  | (2.41 ) |  | 1.23
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.54 ) |  | (0.40 ) |  | (0.25 ) |  | (0.22 ) |  | (0.23 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 17.36 | $ | 13.49 | $ | 14.64 | $ | 12.52 | $ | 15.15
Total return(d)(e) |  | 32.60 % |  | (5.13 )% |  | 18.94 % (b) |  | (15.91 )% |  | 8.73 % (c)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 133,269 | $ | 111,397 | $ | 142,825 | $ | 120,316 | $ | 152,900
Net expenses(f) |  | 1.28 % (g) |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.15 % |  | 1.17 % (h)
Gross expenses |  | 1.55 % (g) |  | 1.38 % |  | 1.37 % |  | 1.38 % |  | 1.34 %
Net investment income |  | 2.26 % |  | 1.84 % |  | 1.84 % (b) |  | 1.48 % |  | 1.73 % (c)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 68 % |  | 35 % |  | 26 % |  | 33 % |  | 37 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.25, total return would have been 18.78% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.74%.
(c) | Includes a non-recurring dividend and tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.13, total return would have been 7.74% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.84%.
(d) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(e) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(f) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(g) | Includes tax reclaim IRS closing agreement expenses of 0.13%.
(h) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.20% to 1.15%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark International Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 13.31 | $ | 14.42 | $ | 12.31 | $ | 14.86 | $ | 13.85
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.24 |  | 0.15 |  | 0.16 (b) |  | 0.10 |  | 0.13 (c)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 3.98 |  | (1.00 ) |  | 2.06 |  | (2.55 ) |  | 0.97
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.22 |  | (0.85 ) |  | 2.22 |  | (2.45 ) |  | 1.10
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.37 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.11 ) |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.09 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 17.16 | $ | 13.31 | $ | 14.42 | $ | 12.31 | $ | 14.86
Total return(d)(e) |  | 31.66 % |  | (5.88 )% |  | 18.01 % (b) |  | (16.50 )% |  | 7.92 % (c)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 13,384 | $ | 17,235 | $ | 28,598 | $ | 39,202 | $ | 69,335
Net expenses(f) |  | 2.00 % (g) |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.90 % |  | 1.93 % (h)
Gross expenses |  | 2.28 % (g) |  | 2.13 % |  | 2.12 % |  | 2.13 % |  | 2.09 %
Net investment income |  | 1.56 % |  | 1.08 % |  | 1.18 % (b) |  | 0.78 % |  | 0.85 % (c)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 68 % |  | 35 % |  | 26 % |  | 33 % |  | 37 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.15, total return would have been 17.85% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.10%.
(c) | Includes a non-recurring dividend and tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.02, total return would have been 6.98% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.13%.
(d) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(e) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(f) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(g) | Includes tax reclaim IRS closing agreement expenses of 0.10%.
(h) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 1.95% to 1.90%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark International Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 13.42 | $ | 14.57 | $ | 12.46 | $ | 15.08 | $ | 14.09
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.43 |  | 0.24 |  | 0.29 (b) |  | 0.32 |  | 0.38 (c)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.00 |  | (0.94 ) |  | 2.11 |  | (2.68 ) |  | 0.89
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.43 |  | (0.70 ) |  | 2.40 |  | (2.36 ) |  | 1.27
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.59 ) |  | (0.45 ) |  | (0.29 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.28 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 17.26 | $ | 13.42 | $ | 14.57 | $ | 12.46 | $ | 15.08
Total return(d) |  | 32.91 % |  | (4.82 )% |  | 19.30 % (b) |  | (15.65 )% |  | 9.01 % (c)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 454 | $ | 407 | $ | 348 | $ | 222 | $ | 704
Net expenses(e) |  | 0.96 % (f) |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.87 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 1.38 % (f)(h) |  | 1.21 % (i) |  | 1.44 % |  | 1.01 % |  | 1.25 %
Net investment income |  | 2.77 % |  | 1.69 % |  | 2.08 % (b) |  | 2.56 % |  | 2.49 % (c)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 68 % |  | 35 % |  | 26 % |  | 33 % |  | 37 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.27, total return would have been 19.14% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.95%.
(c) | Includes a non-recurring dividend and tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.11, total return would have been 8.09% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.70%.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Includes tax reclaim IRS closing agreement expenses of 0.11%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.90% to 0.85%.
(h) | Includes transfer agent fees and expenses before expense offset. Without these expenses the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.37%.
(i) | Includes transfer agent fees and expenses before expense offset. Without these expenses the ratio of gross expenses would have been 1.19%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis Oakmark International Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 13.41 | $ | 14.56 | $ | 12.45 | $ | 15.07 | $ | 14.08
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.39 |  | 0.29 |  | 0.29 (b) |  | 0.22 |  | 0.30 (c)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 4.04 |  | (1.00 ) |  | 2.11 |  | (2.58 ) |  | 0.96
Total from Investment Operations |  | 4.43 |  | (0.71 ) |  | 2.40 |  | (2.36 ) |  | 1.26
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.58 ) |  | (0.44 ) |  | (0.29 ) |  | (0.26 ) |  | (0.27 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 17.26 | $ | 13.41 | $ | 14.56 | $ | 12.45 | $ | 15.07
Total return(d) |  | 32.94 % |  | (4.89 )% |  | 19.26 % (b) |  | (15.71 )% |  | 8.97 % (c)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 157,741 | $ | 139,971 | $ | 216,862 | $ | 200,175 | $ | 312,930
Net expenses(e) |  | 1.03 % (f) |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.90 % |  | 0.92 % (g)
Gross expenses |  | 1.30 % (f) |  | 1.13 % |  | 1.12 % |  | 1.13 % |  | 1.09 %
Net investment income |  | 2.46 % |  | 2.04 % |  | 2.08 % (b) |  | 1.66 % |  | 1.96 % (c)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 68 % |  | 35 % |  | 26 % |  | 33 % |  | 37 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Includes tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.28, total return would have been 19.18% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.98%.
(c) | Includes a non-recurring dividend and tax reclaims. Without these, net investment income per share would have been $0.17, total return would have been 8.04% and the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.07%.
(d) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(e) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.
(f) | Includes tax reclaim IRS closing agreement expenses of 0.13%.
(g) | Effective July 1, 2021, the expense limit decreased from 0.95% to 0.90%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

| Class A
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 43.26 | $ | 36.73 | $ | 29.01 | $ | 43.12 | $ | 39.04
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income (loss)(a) |  | 0.00 (b) |  | 0.04 |  | 0.04 |  | 0.03 |  | (0.11 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 7.24 |  | 9.26 |  | 10.66 |  | (8.89 ) |  | 8.99
Total from Investment Operations |  | 7.24 |  | 9.30 |  | 10.70 |  | (8.86 ) |  | 8.88
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | — |  | (0.05 ) |  | (0.03 ) |  | (0.03 ) |  | —
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.82 ) |  | (2.72 ) |  | (2.95 ) |  | (5.22 ) |  | (4.80 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.82 ) |  | (2.77 ) |  | (2.98 ) |  | (5.25 ) |  | (4.80 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 47.68 | $ | 43.26 | $ | 36.73 | $ | 29.01 | $ | 43.12
Total return(c) |  | 17.32 % |  | 25.23 % |  | 37.01 % |  | (21.15 )% |  | 23.14 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 769,429 | $ | 706,644 | $ | 612,653 | $ | 512,392 | $ | 733,423
Net expenses |  | 1.06 % |  | 1.07 % |  | 1.10 % |  | 1.12 % |  | 1.14 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.06 % |  | 1.07 % |  | 1.10 % |  | 1.12 % |  | 1.14 %
Net investment income (loss) |  | 0.00 % (d) |  | 0.09 % |  | 0.11 % |  | 0.09 % |  | (0.25 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 38 % |  | 33 % |  | 36 % |  | 46 % |  | 18 %

(a) | Per share net investment income (loss) has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | A sales charge for Class A shares is not reflected in total return calculations.
(d) | Amount rounds to less than 0.01%.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

| Class C
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 14.09 | $ | 13.51 | $ | 12.12 | $ | 21.82 | $ | 21.89
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment loss(a) |  | (0.11 ) |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.09 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.24 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 2.18 |  | 3.41 |  | 4.43 |  | (4.36 ) |  | 4.97
Total from Investment Operations |  | 2.07 |  | 3.31 |  | 4.34 |  | (4.48 ) |  | 4.73
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | — |  | (0.01 ) |  | — |  | — |  | —
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.82 ) |  | (2.72 ) |  | (2.95 ) |  | (5.22 ) |  | (4.80 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.82 ) |  | (2.73 ) |  | (2.95 ) |  | (5.22 ) |  | (4.80 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 13.34 | $ | 14.09 | $ | 13.51 | $ | 12.12 | $ | 21.82
Total return(b) |  | 16.42 % |  | 24.32 % |  | 35.98 % |  | (21.77 )% |  | 22.27 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 26,946 | $ | 28,720 | $ | 30,479 | $ | 29,356 | $ | 57,492
Net expenses |  | 1.81 % |  | 1.82 % |  | 1.85 % |  | 1.87 % |  | 1.89 %
Gross expenses |  | 1.81 % |  | 1.82 % |  | 1.85 % |  | 1.87 % |  | 1.89 %
Net investment loss |  | (0.75 )% |  | (0.65 )% |  | (0.64 )% |  | (0.66 )% |  | (0.99 )%
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 38 % |  | 33 % |  | 36 % |  | 46 % |  | 18 %

(a) | Per share net investment loss has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | A contingent deferred sales charge for Class C shares is not reflected in total return calculations.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

| Class N
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 58.31 | $ | 48.71 | $ | 37.72 | $ | 54.14 | $ | 47.84
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.19 |  | 0.20 |  | 0.20 |  | 0.18 |  | 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 9.86 |  | 12.30 |  | 13.89 |  | (11.23 ) |  | 11.07
Total from Investment Operations |  | 10.05 |  | 12.50 |  | 14.09 |  | (11.05 ) |  | 11.10
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.13 ) |  | (0.18 ) |  | (0.15 ) |  | (0.15 ) |  | —
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.82 ) |  | (2.72 ) |  | (2.95 ) |  | (5.22 ) |  | (4.80 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.95 ) |  | (2.90 ) |  | (3.10 ) |  | (5.37 ) |  | (4.80 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 65.41 | $ | 58.31 | $ | 48.71 | $ | 37.72 | $ | 54.14
Total return(b) |  | 17.68 % |  | 25.60 % |  | 37.44 % |  | (20.88 )% |  | 23.53 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 2,951 | $ | 2,206 | $ | 224 | $ | 167 | $ | 177
Net expenses(c) |  | 0.75 % |  | 0.76 % |  | 0.78 % |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.83 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.79 % |  | 0.82 % |  | 1.39 % |  | 1.34 % |  | 1.38 %
Net investment income |  | 0.31 % |  | 0.35 % |  | 0.43 % |  | 0.41 % |  | 0.06 %
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 38 % |  | 33 % |  | 36 % |  | 46 % |  | 18 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the period, total returns would have been lower.
(c) | The investment adviser agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse a portion of the Fund’s expenses during the period. Without this waiver/reimbursement, expenses would have been higher.

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Financial Performance

For a share outstanding throughout each period.
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

| Class Y
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net asset value, beginning of the period | $ | 58.10 | $ | 48.54 | $ | 37.60 | $ | 53.99 | $ | 47.74
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income(a) |  | 0.16 |  | 0.19 |  | 0.17 |  | 0.15 |  | 0.00 (b)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |  | 9.82 |  | 12.24 |  | 13.84 |  | (11.20 ) |  | 11.05
Total from Investment Operations |  | 9.98 |  | 12.43 |  | 14.01 |  | (11.05 ) |  | 11.05
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  | (0.10 ) |  | (0.15 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | (0.12 ) |  | —
Net realized capital gains |  | (2.82 ) |  | (2.72 ) |  | (2.95 ) |  | (5.22 ) |  | (4.80 )
Total Distributions |  | (2.92 ) |  | (2.87 ) |  | (3.07 ) |  | (5.34 ) |  | (4.80 )
Net asset value, end of the period | $ | 65.16 | $ | 58.10 | $ | 48.54 | $ | 37.60 | $ | 53.99
Total return |  | 17.62 % |  | 25.54 % |  | 37.35 % |  | (20.95 )% |  | 23.48 %
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net assets, end of the period (000’s) | $ | 519,836 | $ | 391,084 | $ | 322,106 | $ | 191,912 | $ | 284,738
Net expenses |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.82 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.87 % |  | 0.89 %
Gross expenses |  | 0.81 % |  | 0.82 % |  | 0.85 % |  | 0.87 % |  | 0.89 %
Net investment income |  | 0.25 % |  | 0.34 % |  | 0.37 % |  | 0.35 % |  | 0.00 % (c)
Portfolio turnover rate |  | 38 % |  | 33 % |  | 36 % |  | 46 % |  | 18 %

(a) | Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) | Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
(c) | Amount rounds to less than 0.01%.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information
Set forth below is information regarding sales load waivers and discounts available at specific financial intermediaries which are not affiliated with the Fund, the Advisers, and/or the Distributor. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales load waivers or discounts.
Ameriprise Financial
Front-end sales charge reductions on Class A shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Shareholders purchasing Class A shares of the fund through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only for the following sales charge reductions, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI. Such shareholders can reduce their initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares as follows:
• Transaction size breakpoints, as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
• Rights of accumulation (ROA), as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
• Letter of intent, as described in this prospectus or the SAI.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Shareholders purchasing Class A shares of the fund through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only for the following sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI. Such shareholders may purchase Class A shares at NAV without payment of a sales charge as follows:
• Shares purchased by employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer- sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
• Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the seven-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to such shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply to exchanges following such shorter period. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares for load waived shares, that waiver will also apply to such exchanges.
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.
• Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise Financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial
Fund shares purchased through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account are eligible only for the following CDSC waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI:
• Redemptions due to death or disability of the shareholder;
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this prospectus or the SAI;
• Redemptions made in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account;
• Shares purchased through a Right of Reinstatement (as defined above); or
• Redemptions made as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”)
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
The following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in this Prospectus or in the SAI or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder’s responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Natixis Funds, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
• Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”)
• The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of the Natixis Funds held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge.
• The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.
• ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).
Letter of Intent (“LOI”)
• Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.
• If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer.
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
• Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate’s life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones’ policies and procedures.
• Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met: the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, the sale and purchase are made from a share class that charges a front load and one of the following (“Right of Reinstatement”):

• | The redemption and repurchase occur in the same account.

• | The redemption proceeds are used to process an: IRA contribution, excess contributions, conversion, recharacterizing of contributions, or distribution, and the repurchase is done in an account within the same Edward Jones grouping for ROA.

• | The Right of Reinstatement excludes systematic or automatic transactions including, but not limited to, purchases made through payroll deductions, liquidations to cover account fees, and reinvestments from non-mutual fund products.

• Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.

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• Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares through a rollover from either another education savings plan or a security used for qualified distributions.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares made for recontribution of refunded amounts.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
• The death or disability of the shareholder.
• Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value.
• Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
• Shares redeemed as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
• Shares redeemed to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones.
• Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
• Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement.
• Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below.
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
• Initial purchase minimum: $250 (for Natixis Funds Class A and Class C shares only)
• Subsequent purchase minimum: none
Minimum Balances
• Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:
• A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform
• A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform
• An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI
Exchanging Share Classes
• At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder’s holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”) account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at Janney
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney.
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).
• Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.
Sales charge waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney
Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
• Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
• Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, and/or rights of accumulation

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• Breakpoints as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
• Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
Effective September 29, 2023, if you purchase or hold fund shares through an applicable J.P. Morgan Securities LLC brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC, or back-end sales charge, waivers), share class conversion policy and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
• Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged into Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s share class exchange policy.
• Qualified employer-sponsored defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, other employee benefit plans and trusts used to fund those plans. For purposes of this provision, such plans do not include SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SAR-SEPs or 501(c)(3) accounts.
• Shares of funds purchased through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Self-Directed Investing accounts.
• Shares purchased through rights of reinstatement.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC or its affiliates and their spouse or financial dependent as defined by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.
Class C to Class A share conversion
• A shareholder in the fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the same fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is consistent with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s policies and procedures.
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
• Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
• Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC: breakpoints, rights of accumulation & letters of intent
• Breakpoints as described in the prospectus.
• Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in the fund’s prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Eligible fund family assets not held at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies their financial advisor about such assets.
• Letters of Intent (“LOI”) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable).
Merrill Lynch
Purchases or sales of front-end (i.e. Class A) or level-load (i.e., Class C) mutual fund shares through a Merrill platform or account will be eligible only for the following sales load waivers (front-end, contingent deferred, or back-end waivers) and discounts, which differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus. Purchasers will have to buy mutual fund shares directly from the mutual fund company or through another intermediary to be eligible for waivers or discounts not listed below.
It is the client’s responsibility to notify Merrill at the time of purchase or sale of any relationship or other facts that qualify the transaction for a waiver or discount. A Merrill representative may ask for reasonable documentation of such facts and Merrill may condition the granting of a waiver or discount on the timely receipt of such documentation.
Additional information on waivers and discounts is available in the Merrill Sales Load Waiver and Discounts Supplement (the “Merrill SLWD Supplement”) and in the Mutual Fund Investing at Merrill pamphlet at ml.com/funds. Clients are encouraged to review these documents and speak with their financial advisor to determine whether a transaction is eligible for a waiver or discount.
Front-end Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Merrill

• | Shares of mutual funds available for purchase by employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation, and employee benefit plans (including health

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| savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans provided the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans;

• | Shares purchased through a Merrill investment advisory program;

• | Brokerage class shares exchanged from advisory class shares due to the holdings moving from a Merrill investment advisory program to a Merrill brokerage account;

• | Shares purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform;

• | Shares purchased through the systematic reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same mutual fund in the same account;

• | Shares exchanged from level-load shares to front-end load shares of the same mutual fund in accordance with the description in the Merrill SLWD Supplement;

• | Shares purchased by eligible employees of Merrill or its affiliates and their family members who purchase shares in accounts within the employee’s Merrill Household (as defined in the Merrill SLWD Supplement);

• | Shares purchased by eligible persons associated with the fund as defined in this prospectus (e.g. the fund’s officers or trustees);

• | Shares purchased from the proceeds of a mutual fund redemption in front-end load shares provided (1) the repurchase is in a mutual fund within the same fund family; (2) the repurchase occurs within 90 calendar days from the redemption trade date, and (3) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for Rights of Reinstatement.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers on Front-end, Back-end, and Level Load Shares Available at Merrill

• | Shares sold due to the client’s death or disability (as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 22(e)(3));

• | Shares sold pursuant to a systematic withdrawal program subject to Merrill’s maximum systematic withdrawal limits as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement;

• | Shares sold due to return of excess contributions from an IRA account;

• | Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the investor reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulation;

• | Front-end or level-load shares held in commission-based, non-taxable retirement brokerage accounts (e.g. traditional, Roth, rollover, SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans) that are transferred to fee-based accounts or platforms and exchanged for a lower cost share class of the same mutual fund.

Front-end load Discounts Available at Merrill: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

• | Breakpoint discounts, as described in this prospectus, where the sales load is at or below the maximum sales load that Merrill permits to be assessed to a front-end load purchase, as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement;

• | Rights of Accumulation (ROA), as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement, which entitle clients to breakpoint discounts based on the aggregated holdings of mutual fund family assets held in accounts in their Merrill Household; On or about May 1, 2026, assets not held at Merrill will no longer be included in the ROA calculation. For more detail on the timing and calculation, please refer to the Merrill SLWD Supplement.

• | Letters of Intent (LOI), which allow for breakpoint discounts on eligible new purchases based on anticipated future eligible purchases within a fund family at Merrill, in accounts within your Merrill Household, as further described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement. On or about May 1, 2026, Merrill will no longer accept new LOIs. For more detail on the timing, please refer to the Merrill SLWD Supplement.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account are eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
• Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
• Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund
• Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account
• Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge.

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Oppenheimer
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“OPCO”) platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO
• Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
• Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan
• Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
• Shares purchased form the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same amount, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).
• A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of OPCO
• Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family members
• Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus
CDSC Waivers on A, B and C Shares available at OPCO
• Death or disability of the shareholder
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the prospectus
• Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
• Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
• Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., & Raymond James affiliates (“Raymond James”)
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Raymond James
• Shares purchased in an investment advisory program
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
• Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occurs in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement)
• A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James
CDSC Waivers on Classes A and C Shares available at Raymond James
• Death or disability of the shareholder
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Return of excess contributions from an IRA account

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• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulation
• Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
• Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the rights of accumulation calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
Robert W. Baird & Co. (“Baird”)
Effective January 01, 2026, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Investors A-shares Available at Baird
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Baird
• Shares purchased within 90 days following a redemption from a Natixis Fund, provided (1) the redemption and purchase occur within the purchaser’s Baird household and (2) the redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)
• A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their share converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird
• Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs
CDSC Waivers on Investor A and C shares Available at Baird
• Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
• Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable Internal Revenue Service regulations as described in the Fund’s prospectus
• Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations
• Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
• Rights of accumulations which entitles shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Natixis assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Natixis assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
• Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Natixis assets through Baird, over a 13-month period of time
Stifel
Effective immediately, shareholders purchasing or holding Natixis Funds’ shares, including existing fund shareholders, through a Stifel or affiliated platform that provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible for the following sales charge load waivers (including front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, (CDSC) sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Funds’ Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
CLASS A SHARES
As described elsewhere in this prospectus, Stifel may receive compensation out of the front-end sales charge if you purchase Class A shares through Stifel.
Rights of accumulation
Rights of accumulation (ROA) that entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts on front-end sales charges will be calculated by Stifel based on the aggregated holding of eligible assets in the Natixis Funds held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Stifel. Ineligible assets include class A Money Market Funds not assessed a sales charge. Fund Family assets not held at Stifel may be included in the calculation of ROA only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.
The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at Stifel
Sales charges may be waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
• Class C shares that have been held for more than seven (7) years may be converted to Class A shares or other front-end share class(es) of the same fund pursuant to Stifel’s policies and procedures. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to the exchange or conversion of such shares following a shorter holding period, those provisions shall continue to apply.
• Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Stifel or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Stifel.
• Shares purchased in a Stifel fee-based advisory program, often referred to as a “wrap” program.
• Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same or other fund within the Natixis Funds.
• Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the Natixis Funds so long as the proceeds are from the sale of shares from an account with the same owner/beneficiary within 90 days of the purchase. For the absence of doubt, automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases, including salary deferral transactions and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are sold to cover Stifel Nicolaus’ account maintenance fees are not eligible for rights of reinstatement.
• Shares from rollovers into Stifel from retirement plans to IRAs.
• Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the direction of Stifel. Stifel is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in this prospectus.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares through a rollover from another 529 plan.
• Purchases of Class 529-A shares made for reinvestment of refunded amounts.
• Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges Waivers on Class A and C Shares
• Death or disability of the shareholder or, in the case of 529 plans, the account beneficiary.
• Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan not to exceed 12% annually.
• Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
• Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
• Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
• Shares sold to pay Stifel fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Stifel.
• Shares exchanged or sold in a Stifel fee-based program.
Share Class Conversions in Advisory Accounts
• Stifel continually looks to provide our clients with the lowest cost share class available based on account type. Stifel reserves the right to convert shares to the lowest cost share class available at Stifel upon transfer of shares into an advisory program.
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (collectively, “Wells Fargo Advisors”)
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC operates a First Clearing business, but these rules are not intended to include First Clearing firms.
Clients of Wells Fargo Advisors purchasing fund shares through Wells Fargo Advisors are eligible for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the prospectus or statement of additional information (“SAI”). In all instances, it is the investor’s responsibility to inform Wells Fargo Advisors at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings, or other facts qualifying the investor for discounts or waivers. Wells Fargo Advisors can ask for documentation supporting the qualification.
Wells Fargo Advisors Class A share front-end sales charge waivers information.
Wells Fargo Advisors clients purchasing or converting to Class A shares of the fund in a Wells Fargo Advisors brokerage account are entitled to a waiver of the front-end load in the following circumstances:

• | Wells Fargo Advisors employee and employee-related accounts according to Wells Fargo Advisor’s employee account linking rules. Legacy accounts and positions receiving affiliate discounts prior to the effective date will continue to receive discounts. Going forward employees of affiliate businesses will not be offered NAV.

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Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Information

• | Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund.

WellsTrade, the firm’s online self-directed brokerage account, generally offers no-load share classes but there could be instances where a Class A share is offered without a front-end sales charge.
Wells Fargo Advisors Class 529-A share front-end sales charge waivers information.
Wells Fargo Advisors clients purchasing or converting to Class 529-A shares of the fund through Wells Fargo Advisors transactional brokerage accounts are entitled to a waiver of the front-end load in the following circumstances:

• | Shares purchased through a rollover from another 529 plan.

• | Recontribution(s) of distributed funds are only allowed during the NAV reinstatement period as dictated by the sponsor’s specifications outlined by the plan.

Wells Fargo Advisors is not able to apply the NAV Reinstatement privilege for 529 Plan account purchases placed directly at the fund company. Investors wishing to utilize this privilege outside of Wells Fargo systems will need to do so directly with the Plan or a financial intermediary that supports this feature.
Unless specifically described above, other front-end load waivers are not available on mutual fund purchases through Wells Fargo Advisors.
Wells Fargo Advisors Contingent Deferred Sales Charge information.

• | Contingent deferred sales charges (CDSC) imposed on fund redemptions will not be rebated based on future purchases.

Wells Fargo Advisors Class A front-end load discounts
Wells Fargo Advisors Clients purchasing Class A shares of the fund through Wells Fargo Advisors brokerage accounts will follow the following aggregation rules for breakpoint discounts:

• | SEP or SIMPLE IRAs will not be aggregated as a group plan. They will aggregate with the client’s personal accounts based on Social Security Number. Previously established SEP and SIMPLE IRAs may still be aggregated as a group plan.

• | Employer-sponsored retirement plan (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans) accounts will aggregate with other plan accounts under the same Tax ID and will not be aggregated with other retirement plan accounts under a different Tax ID or personal accounts. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans.

• | Gift of shares will not be considered when determining breakpoint discounts.

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Appendix B - Financial Intermediary Specific Commissions & Investment Minimum Waivers

Appendix B - Financial Intermediary Specific Commissions & Investment Minimum Waivers
UBS Financial Services, Inc. (“UBS-FS”)
Pursuant to an agreement with the Funds, Class Y shares may be available on certain brokerage platforms at UBS-FS. For such platforms, UBS-FS may charge commissions on brokerage transactions in the Funds’ Class Y shares. A shareholder should contact UBS-FS for information about the commissions charged by UBS-FS for such transactions.
The minimum for the Class Y shares is waived for transactions through such brokerage platforms at UBS-FS.
JP Morgan
There is no initial investment minimum for shareholders purchasing Class N shares through Fee Based Programs (such as wrap accounts) where such shares are held within a JP Morgan omnibus account.
Class N shares purchased through a Fee Based Program and held within a JP Morgan omnibus account, where the omnibus account does not have a balance of at least $1,000,000 within two years of the establishment of the omnibus account, will not be subject to liquidation.
Exemption from Minimum Balance Policy
Class N accounts held within an omnibus account are exempt from the $500 minimum balance policy.
Effective June 1, 2026, the preceding provisions relating to shares held within a JP Morgan account will no longer apply.

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Appendix C - Additional Index Information

Appendix C - Additional Index Information

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | A broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, US dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market. The index includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities (agency fixed-rate pass-throughs), asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities (agency and non-agency).
Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High-Yield Bond Index | Measures the market of U.S. dollar-denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bonds. Securities are classified as high yield if the middle rating of Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P is Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below, excluding emerging market debt.
ICE BofA 3-Month U.S.Treasury Bill Index | The index measures the performance of a single issue of outstanding Treasury bill which matures closest to, but not beyond, three months from the rebalancing date. The issue is purchased at the beginning of the month and held for a full month. At the end of the month that issue is sold and rolled into a newly selected issue.
MSCI All Country World ex USA Index (Net) | A free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that captures large and mid-cap representation across both developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States.
MSCI World ex USA Index (Net) | A free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that captures large and mid-cap representation across developed markets. The United States and emerging markets are excluded.
Russell 1000® Index | The index measures the performance of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. It is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index and includes approximately 1,000 of the largest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.
S&P 500® Index | The index measures the performance of 500 widely held stocks in the U.S. equity market. Standard and Poor’s chooses member companies for the index based on market size, liquidity and industry group representation.

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If you would like more information about the Funds, the following documents are available free upon request:
Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders and Form N-CSR—Provide additional information about each Fund’s investments. Each annual shareholder report filed on Form N-CSR includes the Funds’ financial statements and accompanying notes, as well as a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)—Provides more detailed information about the Funds and their investment limitations and policies. The SAI has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference.
For a free copy of the Funds’ shareholder reports or their SAIs, to request other information about the Funds, and to make shareholder inquiries generally, contact your financial representative, visit the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com or call the Funds at 800-225-5478.
Important Notice Regarding Delivery of Shareholder Documents:
In our continuing effort to reduce a fund’s expenses and the amount of mail that you receive from us, we will combine mailings of prospectuses, shareholder reports and proxy statements to your household. If more than one family member in your household owns the same fund or funds described in a single prospectus, report or proxy statement, you will receive one mailing unless you request otherwise. Additional copies of our prospectuses, reports or proxy statements may be obtained at any time by calling 800-225-5478. If you are currently receiving multiple mailings to your household and would like to receive only one mailing or if you wish to receive separate mailings for each member of your household in the future, please call us at the telephone number listed above and we will resume separate mailings within 30 days of your request.
Your financial representative or Natixis Funds will also be happy to answer your questions or to provide any additional information that you may require.
Text-only copies of the Funds’ reports on Form N-CSR and SAI and other information are available free from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at: www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may also be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-04323 Investment Company Act File No. 811-00242 Investment Company Act File No. 811-06241 | XLH51-0526

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
May 1, 2026
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I
Mirova Global Megatrends Fund (“Global Megatrends Fund”)
Class A (ESGMX), Class C (ESGCX), Class N (ESGNX), and Class Y (ESGYX)
Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund (“Small Cap Fund”)
Class A (NEFJX), Class C (NEJCX), Class N (VSCNX), and Class Y (NEJYX)
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II
Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund (“Mid Cap Fund”)
Class A (VNVAX), Class C (VNVCX), Class N (VNVNX), and Class Y (VNVYX)
GATEWAY TRUST
Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund (“Equity Call Premium Fund”)
Class A (GCPAX), Class C (GCPCX), Class N (GCPNX), and Class Y (GCPYX)
Gateway Fund (“Gateway Fund”)
Class A (GATEX), Class C (GTECX), Class N (GTENX), and Class Y (GTEYX)
This Statement of Additional Information (“Statement”) contains specific information that may be useful to investors but that is not included in the Statutory Prospectuses of the series of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, or Gateway Trust listed above (each, a “Trust” and together, the “Trusts,” with each series being known as a “Fund”). This Statement is not a prospectus and is authorized for distribution only when accompanied or preceded by each Fund’s Summary or Statutory Prospectus, each of which is dated May 1, 2026, as from time to time revised or supplemented (each a “Prospectus” and together the “Prospectuses”). This Statement should be read together with the Prospectuses. Investors may obtain the Prospectuses without charge from Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”), Prospectus Fulfillment Desk, 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
This Statement incorporates by reference the Funds’ audited financial statements and accompanying notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 from the Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, the Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR, and the Gateway Trust Form N-CSR, each for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Each Fund’s Prospectus, shareholder reports, and financial statements and other information are available upon request and without charge by calling 800-225-5478 or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com or the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at https://www.sec.gov.
XMA33-0526

Table of Contents

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS............................................................................... | 3
FUND CHARGES AND EXPENSES............................................................................ | 7
OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES.............................................................................. | 11
THE TRUSTS............................................................................................... | 16
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS...................................................................... | 17
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS........................................................................ | 58
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER.................................................................................... | 58
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION...................................................................... | 58
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS............................................................................. | 61
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES............................................................. | 71
OTHER ARRANGEMENTS................................................................................... | 76
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT INFORMATION.................................................................. | 77
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE.............................................................. | 80
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUSTS.............................................................................. | 82
VOTING RIGHTS........................................................................................... | 83
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY................................................................... | 84
HOW TO BUY SHARES...................................................................................... | 84
REDEMPTIONS............................................................................................ | 84
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES.................................................................................. | 85
NET ASSET VALUE......................................................................................... | 88
REDUCED SALES CHARGES................................................................................. | 89
DISTRIBUTIONS........................................................................................... | 91
TAXES.................................................................................................... | 91
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION............................................................................. | 101
THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION............................................................................... | 102
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.................................................................................. | 102
APPENDIX A............................................................................................... | A-1

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The following is a description of restrictions on the investments to be made by the Funds. The restrictions marked with an asterisk (*) are fundamental policies that may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)). The other restrictions set forth below are not fundamental policies and may be changed by each Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Except in the case of restrictions marked with a dagger (†) below, the percentages set forth below and the percentage limitations set forth in each Prospectus apply at the time an investment is made and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment. The Funds have elected to be classified as diversified series of an open-end investment company. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
Equity Call Premium Fund may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries and finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents. For purposes of this restriction with regard to bank obligations, bank obligations are considered to be one industry, and asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(2) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position or purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain short-term credits as necessary for the clearance of security transactions, and the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
†*(3) | Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
*(4) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, provided however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
*(5) | Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.
*(6) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.
*(7) | Purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options, may enter into foreign exchange contracts and may enter into swap agreements and other financial transactions not requiring the delivery of physical commodities.
*(8) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The 80% policy is applied at the time of investment. However, if the Fund no longer meets the 80% policy (due to changes in the value of its portfolio holdings or other circumstances beyond its control), it must make future investments in a manner that would bring the Fund into compliance with the 80% requirement, but would not be required to sell portfolio holdings that have increased in value.
Gateway Fund may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries and finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents. For purposes of this restriction with regard to bank obligations, bank obligations are considered to be one industry, and asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(2) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position or purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain short-term credits as necessary for the clearance of security transactions, and the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
†*(3) | Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

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*(4) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, provided however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
*(5) | Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.
*(6) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.
*(7) | Purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options, may enter into foreign exchange contracts and may enter into swap agreements and other financial transactions not requiring the delivery of physical commodities.
*(8) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

To the extent such Fund is an “acquired fund” in a fund of funds arrangement relying on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund will limit its acquisition of securities of investment companies and companies that would be investment companies under the 1940 Act but for the exclusion from the definition of investment company in Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act to an aggregate amount that does not exceed 10% of the Fund’s total assets (measured immediately after acquisition); provided that such limitation shall not apply to investments by the Fund in: (a) another fund as part of a master-feeder structure in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(E) of the 1940 Act (master feeder arrangements); (b) money market funds in reliance on Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act; (c) a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund; (d) securities received as a dividend or as a result of a plan of reorganization of a company; or (e) securities of another fund received pursuant to an interfund borrowing and lending arrangement permitted by an exemptive order issued by the SEC.
Global Megatrends Fund may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries and finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents, finance companies whose financing activities are not related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry the Fund’s adviser believes is most applicable to such finance companies, and each foreign country’s government (together with all subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry. For purposes of this restriction, asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(2) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except that the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
†*(3) | Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
*(4) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, provided, however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
*(5) | Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.
*(6) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.
*(7) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

Global Megatrends Fund may:

*(8) | Purchase and sell commodities to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC.
The 80% policy is applied at the time of investment. However, if the Fund no longer meets the 80% policy (due to changes in the value of its portfolio holdings or other circumstances beyond its control), it must make future investments in a manner that would bring the Fund into compliance with the 80% requirement, but would not be required to sell portfolio holdings that have increased in value.
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Mid Cap Fund may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries, finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents and each foreign country’s government (together with all subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry). For purposes of this restriction, securities and other obligations of issuers in the banking industry are considered to be one industry, and asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(2) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position or purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain short-term credits as necessary for the clearance of security transactions, and the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
†*(3) | Borrow money except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
*(4) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, provided however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
*(5) | Purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and options, may enter into foreign exchange contracts and may enter into swap agreements and other financial transactions not requiring the delivery of physical commodities.
*(6) | Act as underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.
*(7) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.
*(8) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in mid-cap companies. Currently, the Fund defines a mid-cap company to be one whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, falls within the capitalization range of the Russell Midcap® Value Index. Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC.
The 80% policy is applied at the time of investment. However, if the Fund no longer meets the 80% policy (due to changes in the value of its portfolio holdings or other circumstances beyond its control), it must make future investments in a manner that would bring the Fund into compliance with the 80% requirement, but would not be required to sell portfolio holdings that have increased in value.
Small Cap Fund may not:

(1) | With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest in the securities of any one issuer (other than the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities) if, immediately after and as a result of such investment, more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in such issuer.
*(2) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry (in the utilities category, gas, electric, water and telephone companies will be considered as being in separate industries, and each foreign country’s government (together with all subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry.)
(3) | Purchase securities on margin (but it may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities). (For this purpose, the deposit or payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with futures contracts or related options transactions is not considered the purchase of a security on margin.)
(4) | Acquire more than 10% of any class of securities of an issuer (other than U.S. government securities and taking all preferred stock issues of an issuer as a single class and all debt issues of an issuer as a single class) or, with respect to 75% of its total assets, acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer.
†*(5) | Borrow money in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets, and then only as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes.
*(6) | Make loans, except by entering into repurchase agreements or by purchase of bonds, debentures, commercial paper, corporate notes and similar evidences of indebtedness, which are a part of an issue to the public or to financial institutions, or through the lending of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

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*(7) | Buy or sell oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty contracts, real estate or commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and related options, swap contracts, currency forward contracts, structured notes and other similar instruments. (This restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing securities of companies investing in the foregoing.)
*(8) | Act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
(9) | Except to the extent permitted by rule or order of the SEC, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any trading account in securities. (The “bunching” of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities with any investment adviser or subadviser of the Fund or accounts under any such investment adviser’s or subadviser’s management to reduce brokerage commissions, to average prices among them or to facilitate such transactions is not considered a trading account in securities for purposes of this restriction.)
†(10) | Purchase any illiquid security if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets (taken at current value) would be invested in such securities.
*(11) | Issue senior securities. For the purpose of this restriction none of the following is deemed to be a senior security: any pledge or other encumbrance of assets permitted by restriction (6) above; any borrowing permitted by restriction (5) above; any collateral arrangements with respect to options or futures contracts, and with respect to initial and variation margin; the purchase or sale of options, forward contracts, futures contracts, swap contracts or other similar instruments; and the issuance of shares of beneficial interest permitted from time to time by the provisions of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, or any exemption therefrom. (The Fund is required, under regulatory provisions applicable to it as interpreted by the staff of the SEC, to set aside in a segregated account with its custodian bank liquid assets in amounts sufficient at all times to satisfy its obligations under options, futures contracts, forward contracts, swap contracts and other similar instruments.)

Small Cap Fund may:

(12) | Pledge its assets to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in small cap companies. Currently, the Fund defines a small cap company to be one whose market capitalization, at the time of purchase, either falls within the capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Value Index, an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values, or is $3.5 billion or less. Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC.
The 80% policy is applied at the time of investment. However, if the Fund no longer meets the 80% policy (due to changes in the value of its portfolio holdings or other circumstances beyond its control), it must make future investments in a manner that would bring the Fund into compliance with the 80% requirement, but would not be required to sell portfolio holdings that have increased in value.
General Notes on Investment Restrictions
With respect to restrictions on borrowing, the 1940 Act limits a Fund’s ability to borrow money on a non-temporary basis if such borrowings constitute “senior securities.” In addition to temporary borrowing, and subject to any stricter restrictions on borrowing applicable to any particular Fund, a Fund may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by the Fund and provided further, that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) thereafter or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%. The Funds may also borrow money or engage in economically similar transactions if those transactions do not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
Where applicable, the foregoing investment restrictions shall be interpreted based upon rules, no-action letters and other pronouncements of the staff of the SEC. In connection with its compliance with Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, a Fund may treat all reverse repurchase transactions and similar financing transactions as derivatives transactions subject to the requirements of Rule 18f-4 or treat all reverse repurchase transactions and similar financing transactions as senior securities subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund.
A Fund may not purchase any illiquid security if, as a result, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets (based on current value) would then be invested in such securities. Securities generally will be considered “illiquid” if a Fund reasonably expects the security cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the security.
With respect to limitations on industry concentration as disclosed in this Statement, a Fund applies such policies to direct investments in the securities of issuers in a particular industry, as determined by the Adviser. Even if a Fund may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in any one industry, the Fund may invest in a number of similar industries that could roll up to a broad sector.
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FUND CHARGES AND EXPENSES
Advisory Fees
Pursuant to separate advisory agreements, Natixis Advisors, LLC, (“Natixis Advisors”) has agreed, subject to the supervision of the Board of the relevant Trust, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of Mid Cap Fund and Small Cap Fund, and to provide a range of administrative services to such Funds.
For the services described in the advisory agreements, each Fund has agreed to pay Natixis Advisors an advisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table, reduced by the amount of any subadvisory fees payable directly by the Fund to Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (“Vaughan Nelson” or the “Subadviser”) pursuant to the subadvisory agreement:

Fund | Date of Agreement | Advisory fee payable by Fund to Natixis Advisors (as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund)
Mid Cap Fund | 10/31/08, as amended 7/1/21 | 0.75% of the first $1.5 billion 0.70% of the amounts in excess of $1.5 billion
Small Cap Fund | 10/30/00, as amended 7/1/21 | 0.85%

Pursuant to separate advisory agreements, Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC (“Gateway”) has agreed to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of Equity Call Premium Fund and Gateway Fund, subject to the supervision of the Board. For the services described in the advisory agreement, Equity Call Premium Fund and Gateway Fund have agreed to pay Gateway an advisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table:

Fund | Date of Agreement | Advisory fee payable by Fund to Gateway (as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund)
Equity Call Premium Fund | 9/30/14, as amended 7/1/21 | 0.58%
Gateway Fund | 2/16/08, as amended 7/1/21 | 0.60% of the first $5 billion 0.55% of the next $5 billion 0.53% of amounts in excess of $10 billion

Pursuant to separate investment advisory agreements, Mirova US LLC (“Mirova US”) has agreed to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Global Megatrends Fund, subject to the supervision of the Board. For the services described in the advisory agreement, each Fund has agreed to pay Mirova US an advisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table:

Fund | Date of Agreement | Advisory fee payable by Fund to Mirova US (as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund)
Global Megatrends Fund | 03/29/19 | 0.80%

Natixis Advisors, Gateway and Mirova US (each an “Adviser”) have each given a binding contractual undertaking to all classes of the applicable Fund to waive its advisory fee and, if necessary, to reimburse certain expenses related to operating the Funds in order to limit the Funds’ expenses, exclusive of acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, and organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses, to the annual rates indicated below. The undertakings are in effect until April 30, 2027 and may be modified before then only with the consent of the Board and are reevaluated on an annual basis. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the undertaking described above (whether through waiver of its advisory fee or otherwise) to the extent that a class’s expenses in later periods fall below the annual rate set forth in the relevant undertaking. A Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fee/expense was waived/reimbursed.

Fund | Expense Limit | Date of Undertaking
Equity Call Premium Fund 1 |  |
Class A | 0.93% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.68% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.63% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.68% | May 1, 2026
Gateway Fund |  |
Class A | 0.94% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.70% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.65% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.70% | May 1, 2026

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Fund | Expense Limit | Date of Undertaking
Global Megatrends Fund 2 |  |
Class A | 1.20% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.95% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.90% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.95% | May 1, 2026
Mid Cap Fund 3 |  |
Class A | 1.15% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.90% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.85% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.90% | May 1, 2026
Small Cap Fund 3 |  |
Class A | 1.25% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 2.00% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.95% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 1.00% | May 1, 2026

1 | Natixis Advisors will bear a portion of the waiver/reimbursement. The Natixis Advisors portion of the waiver/reimbursement will be equal to the ratio of the Natixis Advisors Support Services Fee divided by the management fee earned by Gateway.

2 | Natixis Advisors will bear a portion of the waiver/reimbursement. The Natixis Advisors portion of the waiver/reimbursement will be equal to the ratio of the Natixis Advisors Support Services Fee divided by the management fee earned by Mirova US.

3 | Natixis Advisors and Vaughan Nelson have agreed to bear the waiver/reimbursement jointly on a pro rata basis relative to their advisory and sub-advisory fees, respectively.

Subadvisory Fees
Each advisory agreement between Natixis Advisors and a Fund provides that Natixis Advisors may delegate its responsibilities thereunder to other parties. Pursuant to separate subadvisory agreements, Natixis Advisors has delegated its portfolio management responsibilities to Vaughan Nelson in the case of Mid Cap Fund and Small Cap Fund. For the services described in the subadvisory agreements, Mid Cap Fund and Small Cap Fund have agreed to pay Vaughan Nelson a subadvisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table:

Fund | Subadviser | Date of Subadvisory Agreement | Subadvisory fee payable to Subadviser (as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund/Segment)
Mid Cap Fund | Vaughan Nelson | 10/31/08, as amended 07/01/21 | 0.47% of the first $1.5 billion 0.44% of the amounts in excess of $1.5 billion
Small Cap Fund | Vaughan Nelson | 03/01/04, as amended 07/01/21 | 0.52%

Payment of Advisory and Subadvisory Fees
Advisory and subadvisory fees are allocated and paid on a pro rata basis by each class of each Fund based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of that Fund.
The following table shows the total advisory fees (including subadvisory fees) paid by each Fund for the last three fiscal years (or, if shorter, the period of a Fund’s operations).

| Fiscal Year Ended
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
EQUITY CALL PREMIUM FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $1,331,624 | $1,764,570 | $1,551,355
Fee Reduced | $372,113 | $405,439 | $321,187
Total Paid | $959,511 | $1,359,131 | $1,230,168
GATEWAY FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $37,243,672 | $38,718,490 | $40,078,439
Fee Reduced | $2,100,511 | $1,567,550 | $1,644,870
Total Paid | $35,143,161 | $37,150,940 | $38,433,569
GLOBAL MEGATRENDS FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $7,814,183 | $8,602,808 | $7,196,903
Fee Reduced | $0 | $0 | $0
Total Paid | $7,814,183 | $8,602,808 | $7,196,903
MID CAP FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $1,868,542 | $1,911,523 | 1,613,400

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| Fiscal Year Ended
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Natixis Advisors |  |  |
Fee Earned | $697,589 | $713,636 | $602,336
Fee Reduced | $76,219 | $90,648 | $114,760
Total Paid | $621,370 | $622,988 | $487,576
Vaughan Nelson |  |  |
Fee Earned | $1,170,953 | $1,197,887 | $1,011,064
Fee Reduced | $127,940 | $152,158 | $114,760
Total Paid | $1,043,013 | $1,045,729 | $896,304
SMALL CAP FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $2,975,008 | $8,955,710 | 11,034,612
Natixis Advisors |  |  |
Fee Earned | $1,155,003 | $3,476,923 | $4,284,026
Fee Reduced | $157,099 | $0 | $0
Total Paid | $997,904 | $3,476,923 | $4,284,026
Vaughan Nelson |  |  |
Fee Earned | $1,820,005 | $5,478,787 | $6,750,586
Fee Reduced | $247,551 | $0 | $0
Total Paid | $1,572,454 | $5,478,787 | $6,750,586

For more information about the Funds’ advisory and subadvisory agreements, see the section “Investment Advisory and Other Services” in this Statement.
The table below shows the expenses of the Funds that were reimbursed for the periods shown below.

| Fiscal Year Ended
Fund | 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Equity Call Premium Fund | $— | $— | $—
Gateway Fund | $81,624 | $70,409 | $66,867
Global Megatrends Fund | $309,437 | $291,817 | $390,301
Mid Cap Fund | $— | $— | $—
Small Cap Fund | $— | $561,194 | $611,758

The table below shows the expenses of the Small Cap Fund that were recovered for the last three fiscal years.

| Fiscal Year Ended
Fund | 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Small Cap Fund | $— | $2,423 | $—

Brokerage Commissions
Set forth below are the amounts each Fund paid in brokerage commissions and the amount of brokerage transactions allocated to brokers providing research services during the periods shown below.
For a description of how transactions in portfolio securities are effected and how the Funds’ Advisers or Subadvisers select brokers, see the section entitled “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage” in this Statement.

| Fiscal Year Ended
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Equity Call Premium Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $60,604 | $65,933 | $49,642
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—

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| Fiscal Year Ended
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Gateway Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $3,383,269,084 | $— | $—
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $1,849,209 | $1,383,777 | $1,980,846
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $739,794 | $— | $—
Global Megatrends Fund* |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $61,867 | $69,073 | $80,506
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Mid Cap Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $314,797,751 | $313,069,994 | $430,036,859
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $162,957 | $215,922 | $194,407
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $137,973 | $171,371 | $148,479
Small Cap Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $359,404,985 | $874,961,400 | $1,670,123,062
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $346,561 | $778,718* | $1,290,826*
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $254,015 | $492,359 | $936,850

* | The aggregate brokerage commissions paid significantly increased from 2024 to 2025 due to an increase in trading volume and total assets.

Regular Broker-Dealers
The table below contains the aggregate value of securities of each Fund’s regular broker-dealers* (or the parent of the regular broker-dealers) held by each Fund, if any, as of the close of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

Fund | Regular Broker-Dealer | Aggregate Value of Securities of Each Regular Broker-Dealer (or its Parent) Held by Fund
Equity Call Premium Fund | Bank of America Corp. | $2,393,270
Gateway Fund | Bank of America Corp. | $84,227,825
| Morgan Stanley | $73,547,661

*“Regular Broker-Dealers” are defined by the SEC as: (a) one of the ten brokers or dealers that received the greatest dollar amount of brokerage commissions by virtue of direct or indirect participation in the company’s portfolio transactions during the company’s most recent fiscal year; (b) one of the ten brokers or dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of portfolio transactions of the investment company during the company’s most recent fiscal year; or (c) one of the ten brokers or dealers that sold the largest dollar amount of securities of the investment company during the company’s most recent fiscal year.
Sales Charges and Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
As explained in this Statement, the Class A, and Class C shares of each Fund pay the Distributor fees under plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (each a “Plan” and collectively the “Plans”). The following table shows the amounts of Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the Funds under the Plans during the last three fiscal years. The anticipated benefits to the Funds of the Plans include the ability to attract and maintain assets. See the section “Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans” for more information.
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| Fiscal Year Ended
Fund | 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Equity Call Premium Fund |  |  |
Class A | $4,981 | $6,464 | $8,433
Class C | $10,492 | $11,687 | $9,273
Total | $15,473 | $18,151 | $17,706
Gateway Fund |  |  |
Class A | $2,023,389 | $1,742,564 | $1,642,443
Class C | $702,274 | $566,568 | $446,561
Total | $2,725,663 | $2,309,132 | $2,089,004
Global Megatrends Fund |  |  |
Class A | $73,677 | $84,218 | $87,395
Class C | $110,572 | $108,894 | $81,880
Total | $184,249 | $193,112 | $169,275
Mid Cap Fund |  |  |
Class A | $85,732 | $103,886 | $101,071
Class C | $58,217 | $27,509 | $23,769
Total | $143,949 | $131,395 | $124,840
Small Cap Fund |  |  |
Class A | $211,518 | $312,237 | $637,217
Class C | $43,981 | $116,149 | $116,881
Total | $255,499 | $428,386 | $754,098

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the Distributor used the Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the Funds under the Plans as follows:

Fund | Compensation to Broker-Dealers | Retained by Distributor 1 | Total
Equity Call Premium Fund | $17,706 | $0 | $17,706
Gateway Fund | $2,089,004 | $0 | $2,089,004
Global Megatrends Fund | $169,275 | $0 | $169,275
Mid Cap Fund | $124,840 | $0 | $124,840
Small Cap Fund | $754,098 | $0 | $754,098

1 | Distributor retains Rule 12b-1 fees on Class C shares for the first 12 months.

OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES
As of April 1, 2026, to the Trusts’ knowledge, the following persons owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the indicated classes of the Funds set forth below.*

FUND | SHAREHOLDER | PERCENTAGE
Equity Call Premium Fund 1 |  |
Class A | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94105 1901 | 15.67%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94105 1901 | 12.40%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 9.47%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 8.51%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 6.49%
| Raymond James St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 5.44%

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Class C | LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 42.16%
| American Enterprise Investments SVC Windsor, CT 06095-4773 | 18.51%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 17.31%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 7.62%
Class N | Voya Retirement, Insurance & Annuity Co. Windsor, CT 06095-4773 | 98.97%
Class Y | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 24.17%
Gateway Fund
Class A | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 14.59%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. For the Sole Benefit of its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 13.47%
| [Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905] | 12.02%
| Raymond James St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 10.74%
| UBS WM USA Omni Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 6.26%
Class C | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 20.65%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 16.73%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account FBO Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 14.33%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. For the Sole Benefit of its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 13.14%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 8.37%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 6.64%
| JP Morgan Securities LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 | 5.41%
Class N | JP Morgan Securities LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 | 25.42%

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| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 16.48%
| SEI Private Trust Co. Oaks, PA 19456-9989 | 12.29%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account FBO Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 8.42%
| Mori & Co. Kansas City, MO 64106-1802 | 7.97%
| NA Bank & Co. Tulsa, OK 74101-2180 | 6.20%
Class Y | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 17.41%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers New York, NY 10004-1901 | 12.87%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 7.06%
| SEI Private Trust Co. Oaks, PA 19456-9989 | 6.64%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. For the Sole Benefit of its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 5.88%
| UBS WM USA Omni Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 5.55%
Global Megatrends Fund
Class A | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 47.79%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 23.64%
Class C | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 50.55%
| JP Morgan Securities LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 | 16.09%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 8.30%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 7.62%
Class N | JP Morgan Securities LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 | 41.62%
| CFA Institute Charlottesville, VA 22902-4818 | 20.26%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 12.01%
| Saxon & Co Cleveland, OH 44101-4597 | 7.17%
Class Y | American Enterprise Investments SVC Windsor, CT 06095-4773 | 28.84%

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| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 18.47%
| UBS WM USA Omni Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 13.66%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 12.73%
| Empower Trust For the Benefit IRA Advantage Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002 | 6.92%
Mid Cap Fund 2
Class A | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 33.09%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For the Exclusive Benefits of its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 9.30%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 8.97%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 5.98%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 5.38%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 5.35%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. FBO Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 5.27%
Class C | Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 64.26%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. FBO Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 19.16%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 5.37%
Class N | National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 66.66%
| Capinco C/O US Bank NA Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 | 27.01%
Class Y | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 19.72%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. FBO Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 14.35%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 10.94%
| LPL Financial San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 9.92%
Small Cap Fund

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Class A | National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 42.91%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1901 | 19.09%
Class C | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 39.35%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 22.08%
| American Enterprise Investment SVC Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 13.14%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 7.13%
Class N | SEI Private Trust Company Oaks, PA 19456-9989 | 59.28%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 18.63%
Class Y | American Enterprise Investment SVC Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 17.60%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 13.79%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 9.26%
| Raymond James St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 8.99%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 8.41%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of its Customer Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 7.79%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account FBO Customers San Francisco, CA 94105 1901 | 5.91%

1 | As of April 1, 2026, National Financial Services LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995, owned 61.04% of the Equity Call Premium Fund and therefore may be presumed to “control” the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. However, such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than National Financial Services LLC.

2 | As of April 1, 2026, National Financial Services LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995, owned 27.72% of the Mid Cap Fund and therefore may be presumed to “control” the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. However, such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than National Financial Services LLC.

*Such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than the owner listed. To the extent that any listed shareholder beneficially owns more than 25% of a Fund, it may be deemed to “control” such Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The effect of such control may be to reduce the ability of other shareholders of such Fund to take actions requiring the affirmative vote of holders of a plurality or majority of the Fund’s shares without the approval of the controlling shareholder.
Ownership of shares of a Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. For Funds that have recently launched and/or have limited operating history, such investors may include an affiliate of the Fund’s Adviser. A Fund may experience large and/or frequent redemptions or investments due to transactions in Fund shares by funds of funds, other large shareholders or similarly managed accounts. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). While it is impossible to predict the overall effect of these transactions over time, there could be an adverse impact on a Fund’s performance. In the event of a large shareholder transaction, a
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Fund could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it may not otherwise desire to do so. Large shareholder transactions may increase a Fund’s brokerage and/or other transaction costs. In addition, when funds of funds or other investors own a substantial portion of a Fund’s shares, a large shareholder transaction could cause actual expenses to increase, or could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. Large shareholder transactions may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, which may accelerate the realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income if sales of securities result in capital gains, and could also accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders and may limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax advantaged plan. The impact of large shareholder transactions is likely to be greater when an investor or investors purchase, redeem or owns a substantial portion of a Fund’s shares. Furthermore, large redemptions could also result in a Fund failing to comply with its investment restrictions or relevant regulatory requirements. When possible, a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser will consider how to minimize these potential adverse effects and may take such actions as it deems appropriate to address potential adverse effects, including redemption of shares in kind rather than in cash or carrying out the transactions over a period of time, although there can be no assurance that such actions will be successful. A number of circumstances may cause a Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund, liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events, or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
THE TRUSTS
Natixis Funds Trust I is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of Massachusetts by a Declaration of Trust dated June 7, 1985, as amended and restated on June 2, 2005, and is a “series” company as described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act. Currently, each series of the Natixis Funds Trust I is diversified. The name of Natixis Funds Trust I has changed several times since its organization, as noted below:

Trust Name | Date
The New England Life Government Securities Trust | June 1985 to October 1986
The New England Funds | October 1986 to January 1994
New England Funds Trust I | January 1994 to January 2000
Nvest Funds Trust I | February 2000 to March 2001
CDC Nvest Funds Trust I | March 2001 to April 2005
IXIS Advisor Funds Trust I | May 2005 to August 2007
Natixis Funds Trust I | August 2007 to present

Natixis Funds Trust I has five (5) separate portfolios. Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund has a different fiscal year end and information regarding this portfolio can be found in the Natixis Funds’ Statement dated February 1, 2026. Information for two (2) of these portfolios can be found in the Statement for the Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund dated May 1, 2026. Global Megatrends Fund was organized in 2016 and commenced operations on March 31, 2016. Prior to May 1, 2025, Global Megatrends Fund was named “Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund.” Natixis Oakmark International Fund was organized in 2010 and commenced operations on December 15, 2010. Small Cap Fund was organized in 1996 and commenced operations on December 31, 1996. Prior to May 1, 2025, Small Cap Fund was named “Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund” and prior to March 1, 2004, Small Cap Fund was named “CDC Nvest Star Small Cap Fund.” Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund was organized in 1994 and commenced operations on July 7, 1994. Prior to March 1, 2014, Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund was known as “Natixis U.S. Multi-Cap Equity Fund” and prior to May 31, 2011, Natixis U.S. Multi-Cap Equity Fund was named “Natixis U.S. Diversified Portfolio.”
Natixis Funds Trust II is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of Massachusetts pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated May 6, 1931, as amended and restated on June 2, 2005, and consisted of a single Fund (now the Natixis Oakmark Fund) until January 1989, when it was reorganized as a “series” company as described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act. Currently, each series of Natixis Funds Trust II, except the Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund and Vaughan Nelson Select Fund, is diversified. The name of Natixis Funds Trust II has changed several times since its organization, as noted below:

Trust Name | Date
Investment Trust of Boston | May 1931 to November 1988
Investment Trust of Boston Funds | December 1988 to April 1992
TNE Funds Trust | April 1992 to March 1994
New England Funds Trust II | April 1994 to January 2000
Nvest Funds Trust II | February 2000 to March 2001
CDC Nvest Funds Trust II | March 2001 to April 2005
IXIS Advisor Funds Trust II | May 2005 to August 2007

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Trust Name | Date
Natixis Funds Trust II | August 2007 to present

Natixis Funds Trust II currently has six (6) separate portfolios. Information for two (2) of these portfolios can be found in the Statement for the Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund and Natixis Oakmark Fund dated May 1, 2026. Information for three (3) other portfolios, Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund and Vaughan Nelson Select Fund can be found in their Statement dated April 1, 2026. Natixis Oakmark Fund was organized in 1931 and commenced operations on May 6, 1931. Prior to March 1, 2014, the Natixis Oakmark Fund was named “Harris Associates Large Cap Value Fund” and prior to March 1, 2004, Harris Associates Large Cap Value Fund was named “Harris Associates Growth and Income Fund.” Mid Cap Fund was organized in 2008 and commenced operations on October 31, 2008. Prior to July 1, 2020, Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund was named “Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund.”
Gateway Trust is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of Massachusetts pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated May 29, 2007, and is a “series” company as described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act. Gateway Trust has two series: the Equity Call Premium Fund and the Gateway Fund. Each series of the Trust is diversified.
The Gateway Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Gateway Fund, a series of The Gateway Trust, an Ohio business trust (the “Predecessor Trust”), in a transaction that closed in February 2008 (the “Reorganization”). After the closing of the Reorganization, the Gateway Fund became the successor to the Gateway Predecessor Fund, which has had the prior names indicated below. The name of the Predecessor Trust changed several times since its organization in August 1977, as noted below:

Fund Name | Date
Gateway Option Income Fund, Inc. | August 1977 to May 1986
Gateway Option Income Fund | May 1986 to February 1988
Gateway Option Index Fund | February 1988 until March 1990
Gateway Index Plus Fund | March 1990 to April 1998
Gateway Fund | April 1998 to present

The Predecessor Trust had one portfolio. Gateway Option Income Fund, Inc., the predecessor to the Trust, was organized in 1977 as a Maryland corporation. It was reorganized to become The Gateway Trust, an Ohio business trust, effective as of May 2, 1986, with the Gateway Option Income Fund as its sole initial fund. As a result of the transaction, shareholders of the corporation on May 2, 1986, became shareholders of the Option Income Fund. The Option Income Fund was later renamed the Gateway Fund. As of the close of business February 15, 2008, shareholders of the Gateway Predecessor Fund became shareholders of the Gateway Fund.
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Investment Strategies
The descriptions below summarize and describe certain investment strategies, including particular types of securities, instruments or specific practices that may be used by an Adviser or Subadviser in managing a Fund. Because of the Funds’ use of derivative instruments, the Funds are subject to many of the risks below indirectly through their derivatives transactions as well as directly through investment in the actual securities themselves. For example, to the extent a Fund enters into a futures contract on an equity index, the Fund is subject to “equity securities” risk, and to the extent a Fund enters into an interest rate swap contract, the Fund is subject to “interest rate” risk.
Each Fund’s principal strategies are described in its Prospectus. This Statement describes some of the non-principal strategies the Funds may use, in addition to providing additional information, including related risks, about their principal strategies.
The list of securities or other instruments under each category below is not intended to be an exclusive list of securities, instruments and practices for investment. Unless a strategy, practice or security is specifically prohibited by the investment restrictions listed in a Fund’s Prospectus, in the section “Investment Restrictions” in this Statement or under applicable law, each Fund may engage in each of the strategies and invest in securities and instruments in addition to those listed below. The Advisers or Subadviser may invest in a general category listed below and, where applicable, with particular emphasis on a certain type of security, but investment is not limited to the categories listed below or the securities specifically enumerated under each category. A Fund is not required to engage in a particular transaction or invest in any security or instrument, even if to do so might benefit the Fund. A Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser may invest in some securities under a given category as a primary strategy and in other securities under the same category as a secondary strategy. The Advisers or Subadviser may invest in any security that falls under the specific category, including securities that are not listed below. The relevant Prospectus and/or this Statement will be updated if a Fund begins to engage in investment practices that are not described in a Prospectus and/or this Statement.
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Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Securities (“ARMs”)
Some Funds may invest in ARMs. An ARM, like a traditional mortgage security, is an interest in a pool of mortgage loans that provides investors with payments consisting of both principal and interest, as mortgage loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. ARMs have interest rates that are reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to some 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 changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since the interest rates are reset only periodically, changes in the interest rate on ARMs may lag behind changes in prevailing market interest rates. In addition, some ARMs (or the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors that limit the maximum change in 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. Because of the resetting of interest rates, ARMs are less likely than non-adjustable rate securities of comparable quality and maturity to increase significantly in value when market interest rates fall. In addition, a Fund will not benefit from increases in interest rates to the extent that interest rates rise to the point where they cause the current coupon of the underlying ARM to exceed a cap rate for a particular mortgage. See the section “Mortgage-Related Securities” for more information on the risks involved in ARMs.
Asset-Backed Securities
Some Funds may invest in asset-backed securities, which are securities that represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, a stream of payments generated by particular assets, most often a pool or pools of similar assets (e.g., trade receivables). The credit quality of these securities depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided. Mortgage-backed securities are a type of asset-backed security. The securitization techniques used to develop mortgage securities are also applied to a broad range of other assets. Through the use of trusts and special purpose vehicles, assets, such as automobile and credit card receivables, are securitized in pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through structures or in a pay-through structure similar to a collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) structure (described herein). Generally, the issuers of asset-backed bonds, notes or pass-through certificates are special purpose entities and do not have any significant assets other than the receivables securing such obligations. In general, the collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans. Instruments backed by pools of receivables are similar to mortgage-backed securities in that they are subject to unscheduled prepayments of principal prior to maturity. When the obligations are prepaid, a Fund will ordinarily reinvest the prepaid amounts in securities, the yields of which reflect interest rates prevailing at the time. Therefore, a Fund’s ability to maintain a portfolio that includes high-yielding asset-backed securities will be adversely affected to the extent that prepayments of principal must be reinvested in securities that have lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Moreover, prepayments of securities purchased at a premium could result in a realized loss. In addition, the value of some mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of its Adviser or Subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. Asset-backed securities involve risks similar to those described in the section “Mortgage-Related Securities.” Some Funds may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which are interests in the excess cash flow remaining after the issuer makes required payments on the securities and pays related administrative expenses. The total amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rate on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual performance of the underlying assets. Among other things, such performance is influenced by the amount and timing of losses incurred on the assets and leasing and disposition activity of the asset manager.
Asset-backed securities also involve the risk that borrowers may default on the obligations backing them and that the values of and interest earned on such investments will decline as a result. Loans made to lower quality borrowers, including those of sub-prime quality, involve a higher risk of default. Therefore, the values of asset-backed securities backed by lower quality assets, such as lower quality loans, including those of sub-prime quality, may suffer significantly greater declines in value due to defaults, payment delays or a perceived increased risk of default, especially during periods when economic conditions worsen. Additionally, asset-backed securities may be “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool, and a holder of those “subordinated” securities would receive payments only after any obligations to other more “senior” investors have been satisfied. During periods of deteriorating economic conditions, such as recessions or periods of rising unemployment, delinquencies and losses generally increase, sometimes dramatically, with respect to securitizations involving loans, sales contracts, receivables and other obligations underlying asset-backed securities.
Certain Funds may also gain exposure to asset-backed securities through entering into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments related to this asset class. For example, a Fund may enter into credit default swaps on asset-backed securities, which are indices made up of tranches of asset-backed securities, each with different credit ratings. Utilizing asset-backed securities, one can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of such securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying asset-backed securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to asset-backed securities are subject to the risks associated with asset-backed securities generally, as well as the risks of derivatives transactions. See the section “Derivative Instruments” below.
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Bank-Issued Investments
Certain Funds may invest a portion of their assets in certificates of deposit (certificates representing the obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time), time deposits (non-negotiable deposits maintained in a bank for a specified period of time up to seven days at a stated interest rate), bankers’ acceptances (credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer) and other securities and instruments issued by domestic banks, foreign branches of domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks. Banks may also serve as counterparties on some of a Fund’s derivative contracts.
A Fund may also purchase U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued by foreign branches of domestic banks or foreign branches of foreign banks (“Eurodollar” obligations) and domestic branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollar” obligations) Eurodollar and other foreign obligations involve special investment risks, including the possibility that (i) liquidity could be impaired because of future political and economic developments, (ii) the obligations may be less marketable than comparable domestic obligations of domestic issuers, (iii) a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding or other taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, (iv) deposits may be seized or nationalized, (v) foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be adopted which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on those obligations, (vi) the selection of foreign obligations may be more difficult because there may be less information publicly available concerning foreign issuers, (vii) there may be difficulties in enforcing a judgment against a foreign issuer, or (viii) the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign issuers may differ from those applicable to domestic issuers. In addition, foreign banks are not subject to examination by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. See the section “Financial Service Risk” for more information.
Bank Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments
Some Funds may invest in bank loans, which include both senior secured and unsecured floating rate loans made by banks and other financial institutions to corporate customers. Typically, these loans hold the most senior position in a borrower’s capital structure, may be secured by the borrower’s assets and have interest rates that reset frequently. Senior loans can include term loans, revolving credit facility loans and second lien loans. The proceeds of senior loans primarily are used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, dividends, and, to a lesser extent, to finance internal growth and for other corporate purposes. These loans may not be rated investment-grade by the rating agencies. Although secured loans are secured by collateral of the borrower, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. Economic downturns generally lead to higher non-payment and default rates and a senior loan could lose a substantial part of its value prior to a default. However, as compared to junk bonds, senior floating rate loans are typically senior in the capital structure and are often secured by collateral of the borrower. Some senior loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate such senior loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such senior loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower.
A Fund’s investments in loans are subject to credit/counterparty risk, and, as described above, even secured bank loans may not be adequately collateralized. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and therefore investors are subject to the risk that the return will be less than anticipated when the investment was first made. Most bank loans, like most investment-grade bonds, are not traded on any national securities exchange. Bank loans generally have less liquidity than investment-grade bonds and there may be less public information available about them. A Fund may participate in the primary syndicate for a bank loan or it may also purchase loans from other lenders (sometimes referred to as loan assignments).
Bank loans are generally less liquid than many other debt securities. Transactions in bank loans may settle on a delayed basis, such that a Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. As a result, the proceeds related to the sale of bank loans may not be available to make additional investments or to meet a Fund’s redemption obligations until a substantial period after the sale of the loans. In order to finance redemptions pending settlement of bank loans, a Fund may employ a wide variety of means to meet short-term liquidity needs, including, without limitation drawing on its cash and other short-term positions, all of which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. With limited exceptions, the Adviser will take steps intended to ensure that it does not receive material non-public information about the issuers of bank loans who also issue publicly traded securities, and therefore the Adviser may have less information than other investors about certain of the loans in which it seeks to invest.
Large loans to corporations or governments may be shared or syndicated among several lenders, usually (but often not limited to) banks. A Fund may participate in the primary syndicate for a loan or it may also purchase loans from other lenders (sometimes referred to as loan assignments), in either case becoming a direct lender. A Fund may also acquire a participation interest in another lender’s portion of the loan. Participation interests involve special types of risk, including liquidity risk and the risks of being a lender. Loans and loan participations may be transferable among financial institutions; however, they may not have the liquidity of conventional debt securities and because they may be subject to restrictions on resale, they are potentially illiquid. The purchase or sale of loans may require the consent of a third party or of the borrower, and although such consent is rarely withheld in practice, the consent requirement could delay a purchase or affect a Fund’s ability to dispose of its investments in loans in a timely fashion. Although the market for loans and loan participations has become increasingly liquid over time, this market is still developing, and there can be no assurance that adverse developments with respect to this market or particular borrowers will not prevent a Fund from selling these loans at their market values at a desirable time or price. To the extent a senior loan has been deemed illiquid, it will be subject to a Fund’s restrictions on
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investment in illiquid securities. When investing in a loan participation, a Fund typically will have the right to receive payments only from the lender to the extent the lender receives payments from the borrower, and not from the borrower itself. Likewise, a Fund typically will be able to enforce its rights only through the lender, and not directly against the borrower. As a result, a Fund will assume the credit/counterparty risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation.
Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial institution’s interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks to a Fund. For example, if the 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. Some loans may not be considered “securities” for certain purposes under the federal securities laws, and purchasers, such as a Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Loans and other debt instruments that are not in the form of securities may offer less legal protection to a Fund in the event of fraud or misrepresentation.
A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, a Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, it may have to rely on the agent to pursue appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. In addition, holders of the loans, such as the Funds, may be required to indemnify the agent bank in certain circumstances.
In addition to investing in senior secured loans, a Fund may invest in other loans, such as second lien loans and other secured loans, as well as unsecured loans. Second lien loans and other secured loans are subject to the same risks associated with investment in senior loans and below investment-grade bonds. However, such loans may rank lower in right of payment than senior secured loans, and are subject to additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and any property securing the loan may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the higher ranking secured obligations of the borrower. Second lien loans and other secured loans are expected to have greater price volatility than more senior loans and may be less liquid. There is also a possibility that originators will not be able to sell participations in lower ranking loans, which would create greater credit/counterparty risk exposure. Each of these risks may be increased in the case of unsecured loans, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral.
Certain Funds may also gain exposure to loan investments through the use of derivatives. See the section “Derivative Instruments.”
Some of the loans in which a Fund may invest or to which a Fund may gain exposure through its investments in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) may be covenant-lite loans, which contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower than certain other types of loans. Covenant-lite loans generally do not include terms that allow the lender to monitor the performance of the borrower and declare a default or force a borrower into bankruptcy restructuring if certain criteria are breached. Under such loans, lenders typically must rely on covenants that restrict a company from incurring additional debt or engaging in certain actions. Such covenants can only be breached by an affirmative action of the borrower, rather than by a deterioration in the borrower’s financial condition. Accordingly, a Fund may have fewer rights against a borrower when it invests in or has exposure to such loans and, accordingly, may have a greater risk of loss on such investments as compared to investments in or exposure to loans with additional or more conventional covenants.
Financial Services Risk
Events leading to limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect the financial services industry, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems, may spread to other industries, and could negatively affect the value and liquidity of a Fund’s investments. Should such events occur, the U.S. government may take measures to stabilize the financial system; however, uncertainty and liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry may remain. Additionally, should there be additional systemic pressure on the financial system and capital markets, there can be no assurances of the response of any government or regulator, and any response may not be as favorable to industry participants as the measures currently being pursued. In addition, highly publicized issues related to the U.S. and global capital markets in the past have led to significant and widespread investor concerns over the integrity of the capital markets. Such events could in the future lead to further rules and regulations for public companies, banks, financial institutions and other participants in the U.S. and global capital markets, and complying with the requirements of any such rules or regulations may be burdensome. Even if not adopted, evaluating and responding to any such proposed rules or regulations could result in increased costs and require significant attention from a Fund’s investment adviser. Other adverse developments that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally may have other adverse effects on the economy, a Fund or issuers in which the Funds invest.
Benchmark Reference Rates Risk
Many debt securities, derivatives, and other financial instruments, including some of a Fund’s investments, utilize benchmark or reference rates for variable interest rate calculations, including the Euro Interbank Offer Rate, Sterling Overnight Index Average Rate, and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) (each a “Reference Rate”). Instruments in which a Fund invests may pay interest at floating rates based on such Reference Rates or may be subject to interest caps or floors based on such Reference Rates. A Fund and issuers of instruments in which a Fund invests may also obtain financing at floating rates based on such Reference Rates. The elimination of a Reference Rate or any other changes to or reforms of the determination or supervision of Reference Rates could have an adverse impact on the market for—or value of—any instruments or payments linked to those Reference Rates.
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For example, such Reference Rates as well as other types of rates and indices are classed as “benchmarks” and have been the subject of ongoing national and international regulatory reform, including under the European Union regulation on indices used as benchmarks in financial instruments and financial contracts (known as the “Benchmarks Regulation”). The Benchmarks Regulation has been enacted into United Kingdom law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended), subject to amendments made by the Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/657) and other statutory instruments. Following the implementation of these reforms, the manner of administration of benchmarks has changed and may further change in the future, with the result that relevant benchmarks may perform differently than in the past, the use of benchmarks that are not compliant with the new standards by certain supervised entities may be restricted, and certain benchmarks may be eliminated entirely. Such changes could cause increased market volatility and disruptions in liquidity for instruments that rely on or are impacted by such benchmarks. Additionally, there could be other consequences which cannot be predicted.
Canadian Investments
Certain Funds may invest in securities of Canadian issuers to a significant extent. The Canadian and U.S. economies are closely integrated, and U.S. market conditions, including consumer spending, can have a significant impact on the Canadian economy such that an investment in Canadian securities may not have the same diversifying effect as investments in other countries. In addition, Canada is a major producer of commodities, such as forest products, metals, agricultural products and energy-related products like oil, gas and hydroelectricity. As a result, the Canadian economy is very dependent on the demand for, and supply and price of, natural resources and the Canadian market is relatively concentrated in issuers involved in the production and distribution of natural resources. Canada’s economic growth may be significantly affected by fluctuations in currency and global demand for such commodities. Investments in Canadian securities may be in Canadian dollars; see the section “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information.
Collateralized Loan Obligations (“CLOs”)
Some Funds may invest in CLOs. CLOs are types of asset-backed 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. CLOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.
For CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since they are partially protected from defaults, senior tranches from a trust typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment-grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CLO 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, as well as aversion to CLO securities as a class. A Fund may invest in any tranche, including the equity tranche, of a CLO. The risks of an investment in a CLO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the instrument in which a Fund invests.
Normally, CLOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CLOs may be characterized by a Fund as illiquid securities, although an active dealer market may exist for CLOs allowing them to qualify for Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In addition to the normal risks associated with debt instruments discussed elsewhere in the Prospectus and in this Statement (e.g., prepayment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk, structural risk, legal risk, default risk and interest rate risk (which may be exacerbated if the interest rate payable on a structured financing changes inversely to changes in interest rates or based on multiples of changes in interest rates)), CLOs may carry additional risks including, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the possibility that the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the possibility that 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”)
Some Funds may invest in CMOs. CMOs are securities backed by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities held under indentures. CMOs may be issued either by U.S. government instrumentalities or by non-governmental entities. CMOs are not direct obligations of the U.S. government. The issuer’s obligation to make interest and principal payments is secured by the underlying portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. CMOs are issued with a number of classes or series which have different maturities and which may represent interests in some or all of the interest or principal on the underlying collateral or a combination thereof. CMOs of different classes are generally retired in sequence as the underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of the CMO first to mature generally will be retired prior to its maturity. Thus, the early retirement of a particular class or series of CMO held by a Fund would have a similar effect to the prepayment of mortgages underlying a mortgage pass-through security. CMOs and other asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities may be considered derivative instruments. CMOs involve risks similar to those described in the section “Mortgage-Related Securities.”
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Commodities
Commodities are assets that have tangible properties, such as oil, metals, livestock or agricultural products. Historically, commodity investments have had a relatively high correlation with changes in inflation and a relatively low correlation to stock and bond returns. Exposure to commodities is often achieved through derivative instruments, such as commodity futures, and such investments therefore are subject to the risks associated with derivatives generally. See the section “Derivative Instruments.” Commodity-related securities and other instruments, such as futures, provide exposure, which may include long and/or short exposure, to the investment returns of physical commodities that trade in commodities markets, without investing directly in physical commodities. A Fund may invest in commodity-related securities and other instruments, such as structured notes, swap agreements, options, futures and options on futures that derive value from the price movement of commodities, or some other readily measurable economic variable dependent upon changes in the value of commodities or the commodities markets. However, investments in commodity-linked instruments do not generally provide a claim on the underlying commodity. In addition, the ability of a Fund to invest directly in commodities, and in certain commodity-related securities and other instruments, is subject to significant limitations in order to enable a Fund to maintain its status as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). See the section “Taxes” below for more information.
The value of commodity-related instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, volatility of the underlying benchmark, changes in interest rates or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as droughts, floods, weather, livestock disease, insufficient storage capacity, embargoes, wars, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The value of commodity-related instruments will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index. Investments in commodity-related instruments may be subject to greater volatility than non-commodity-based investments. A highly liquid secondary market may not exist for certain commodity-related instruments, and there can be no assurance that one will develop. Commodity-related instruments are also subject to credit and interest rate risks that in general affect the values of debt securities. A Fund may lose money on its commodity investments.
Convertible Securities
Some Funds may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities include corporate bonds, notes or preferred stocks of U.S. or foreign issuers that can be converted into (exchanged for) common stocks or other equity securities. Convertible securities also include other securities, such as warrants, that provide an opportunity for equity participation. Since convertible securities may be converted into equity securities, their values will normally vary in some proportion with those of the underlying equity securities. Convertible securities usually provide a higher yield than the underlying equity, however, so that the price decline of a convertible security may sometimes be less substantial than that of the underlying equity security. Convertible securities are generally subject to the same risks as non-convertible fixed-income securities, but usually provide a lower yield than comparable fixed-income securities. Many convertible securities are relatively illiquid.
Contingent Convertible Securities
Contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) have no stated maturity, have fully discretionary coupons and are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments. CoCos generally either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain triggering events (“triggers”) which may be linked to the issuer’s stock price, regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions relating to the issuer’s continued viability, or other pre-specified events. As a result, an investment by a Fund in CoCos is subject to the risk that coupon (i.e., interest) payments or obligations to repay principal may be cancelled by the issuer or a regulatory authority in order to help the issuer absorb losses. A write down of the par value would occur automatically and if written down to zero, would effectively cancel the securities, causing investors (including a Fund) to lose the entire value of their investment, even as the issuer remains in business. If such an event occurs, an investor may not have any rights to repayment of the principal amount of the securities and may not entitle the holders to seek bankruptcy of the company. An investment by a Fund in CoCos is also subject to the risk that, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a trigger event, a Fund’s rights and claims will generally rank junior to the claims of holders of the issuer’s other debt obligations or may be cancelled entirely. In addition, if CoCos held by a Fund are converted into the issuer’s underlying equity securities following a trigger event, a Fund’s holding may be further subordinated due to the conversion from a debt to equity instrument. Further, the value of an investment in CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors and risks, including interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, and regulatory risk. An investment by a Fund in CoCos may result in losses to the Fund.
Corporate Reorganizations
Certain Funds may invest in securities for which a tender or exchange offer has been made or announced and in securities of companies for which a merger, consolidation, liquidation or reorganization proposal has been announced if, in the judgment of an Subadviser, there is a reasonable prospect of capital appreciation significantly greater than the brokerage and other transaction expenses involved. The primary risk of such investments is that if the contemplated transaction is abandoned, revised, delayed or becomes subject to unanticipated uncertainties, the market price of the securities may decline below the purchase price paid by a Fund.
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In general, securities that are the subject of such an offer or proposal sell at a premium to their historic market price immediately prior to the announcement of the offer or proposal. However, the increased market price of such securities may also discount what the stated or appraised value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved or consummated. Such investments may be advantageous when the discount significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved, significantly undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received by shareholders of the prospective company as a result of the contemplated transaction, or fails adequately to recognize the possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an offer or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of such contingencies requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the part of an Adviser or Subadviser, which must appraise not only the value of the issuer and its component businesses, but also the financial resources and business motivation of the offer or proposal as well as the dynamics of the business climate when the offer or proposal is in process.
Cybersecurity, Operational and Technology Risk
The Funds, their service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect the Funds and their shareholders. These risks include theft, loss, misuse, improper release, corruption and destruction of, or unauthorized access to, confidential or highly sensitive information relating to a Fund and its shareholders; and compromises or failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the operations of a Fund and its service providers, including those relating to the performance and effectiveness of security procedures used by a Fund or its service providers to protect a Fund’s assets. Power outages, natural disasters, equipment malfunctions and processing errors that threaten these systems, as well as market events that occur at a pace that overloads these systems, may also disrupt business operations or impact critical data. Cybersecurity incidents and cyber-attacks have been occurring globally at a more frequent and severe level and will likely continue to increase in frequency in the future. There may be an increased risk of cyber-attacks during periods of geopolitical or military conflict, and geopolitical tensions may increase the scale and sophistication of deliberate cybersecurity attacks, particularly those from nation-states or from entities with nation-state backing. Furthermore, as a Fund’s assets grow, it may become a more appealing target for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware. The rapid development and increasingly widespread use of new technologies, including machine learning technology and generative models, could exacerbate these risks. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in, among other things, financial losses to a Fund and its shareholders; the inability of a Fund to transact business with its shareholders or to engage in portfolio transactions; delays or mistakes in the calculation of a Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) or other materials provided to shareholders; the inability to process transactions with shareholders or other parties; violations of privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties and reputational damage; and compliance and remediation costs, legal fees and other expenses. A Fund’s service providers (including, but not limited to, the adviser, any subadvisers, administrator, distributor, transfer agent, and custodian), financial intermediaries, companies in which a Fund invests and parties with which a Fund engages in portfolio or other transactions also may be adversely impacted by cybersecurity and other operational and technology risks, resulting in losses to a Fund or its shareholders. Furthermore, as a result of breaches in cybersecurity or other operational and technology disruptions or failures, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities or the entire market, which may result in the Funds being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or unable to accurately price their investments. The Funds have developed processes, risk management systems and business continuity plans designed to reduce the risks associated with cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues. However, there is no guarantee that those measures will be effective, particularly since the Funds do not directly control the cybersecurity defenses and operational and technology plans and systems of their service providers, financial intermediaries and companies in which they invest or with which they do business and there are inherent limitations in systems designed to minimize the risk of cyber-attacks through the use of technology, processes and controls. Additionally, such third party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Advisers or Subadviser or the Funds. Similar types of cybersecurity risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause a Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence and encompasses various different forms of artificial intelligence, including machine learning models. Artificial intelligence is typically designed to analyze data, learn from patterns and experiences, make decisions, and solve problems.
The Adviser, the Funds and the issuers in which they invest, service providers, and other market participants may use and/or expand use of artificial intelligence in connection with business, operating and investment activities. Actual usage of such artificial intelligence will vary. While the Adviser expects from time to time to adopt and adjust usage policies and procedures governing the use of artificial intelligence by its personnel, there is a risk of misuse of artificial intelligence technologies.
Artificial intelligence is highly reliant on the collection and analysis of large amounts of data and complex algorithms, but it is not possible nor practicable to incorporate all data that would be relevant for a task conducted by artificial intelligence. Therefore, it is possible that the information provided through use of artificial intelligence could be insufficient, incomplete, inaccurate or biased leading to adverse effects for a Fund, including, potentially, operational errors and investment losses.
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Artificial intelligence and its current and potential future applications, including in the investment and financial sectors, as well as the regulatory frameworks within which they operate, continue to rapidly evolve, and it is impossible to predict the full extent of future applications or regulations. Ongoing and future regulatory actions with respect to artificial intelligence generally or artificial intelligence’s use in any industry in particular may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the ability of the Adviser, a Fund or the issuers in which it invests, service providers, or other market participants to utilize artificial intelligence in the manner used to-date, and may have an adverse impact on the ability of the Adviser, the Fund or the issuers in which it invests, service providers, or other market participants to continue to operate as intended.
Debt Securities
Each of the Funds may invest in debt securities. Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. The issuer usually pays a fixed, variable or floating rate of interest and must repay the amount borrowed at the maturity of the security. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon securities, do not pay interest but are sold at a discount from their face values. Debt securities include corporate bonds, government securities and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities. Debt securities include a broad array of short-, medium- and long-term obligations issued by the U.S. or foreign governments, government or international agencies and instrumentalities, and corporate issuers of various types. Some debt securities represent uncollateralized obligations of their issuers; in other cases, the securities may be backed by specific assets (such as mortgages or other receivables) that have been set aside as collateral for the issuer’s obligation. Debt securities generally involve an obligation of the issuer to pay interest or dividends on either a current basis or at the maturity of the securities, as well as the obligation to repay the principal amount of the security at maturity.
Debt securities are subject to market/issuer risk and credit/counterparty risk. Credit/counterparty risk relates to the ability of the issuer to make payments of principal and interest and includes the risk of default. Sometimes, an issuer may make these payments from money raised through a variety of sources, including, with respect to issuers of municipal securities, (i) the issuer’s general taxing power, (ii) a specific type of tax, such as a property tax, or (iii) a particular facility or project such as a highway. The ability of an issuer to make these payments could be affected by general economic conditions, issues specific to the issuer, litigation, legislation or other political events, the bankruptcy of the issuer, war, natural disasters, terrorism or other major events. U.S. government securities are not generally perceived to involve credit/counterparty risks to the same extent as investments in other types of fixed-income securities; as a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than the yields available from corporate and municipal debt securities. Market/issuer risk is the risk that the value of the security will fall because of changes in market rates of interest. Generally, the value of debt securities falls when market rates of interest are rising. Some debt securities also involve prepayment or call risk. This is the risk that the issuer will repay a Fund the principal on the security before it is due, thus depriving the Fund of a favorable stream of future interest payments.
Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of a Fund that invests in debt securities for any particular period. Fluctuations in the value of a Fund’s investments in debt securities will cause the Fund’s NAV to increase or decrease. See section “Variable and Floating Rate Instruments.”
Derivative Instruments
Some Funds may, but are not required to, use derivative instruments for risk management purposes or to seek to enhance investment returns. Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, related indices and other assets. For additional information about the use of derivatives in connection with foreign currency transactions, see the section “Foreign Currency Transactions.” An Adviser or Subadviser may decide not to employ one or more of these strategies and there is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by a Fund will succeed. In addition, suitable derivatives transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that a Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial. Examples of derivative instruments that a Fund may use include (but are not limited to) options and warrants, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, structured notes, zero-strike warrants and options, swap agreements (including total return, interest rate and credit default swaps), swaptions and debt-linked and equity-linked securities.
Derivatives involve special risks, including credit/counterparty risk, correlation risk, illiquidity, difficulties in valuation, leverage risk and, to the extent an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of derivatives could result in significantly greater losses or lower income or gains than if they had not been used. A Fund’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund. Losses resulting from the use of derivatives will reduce a Fund’s NAV, and possibly income, and the losses may be significantly greater than if derivatives had not been used. The degree of a Fund’s use of derivatives may be limited by certain provisions of the Code. When used, derivatives may affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions payable to, and thus taxes payable by, shareholders. Although a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser will attempt to ensure that the Fund has sufficient liquid assets to cover its obligations under its derivatives contracts, it is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support such obligations under its derivatives positions. See the subsection “Certain Additional Risks of Derivative Instruments” below for additional information about the risks relating to derivative instruments.
Several types of derivative instruments in which a Fund may invest are described in more detail below. However, the Funds are not limited to investments in these instruments and may decide not to employ any or all of these strategies.
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Futures Contracts
Futures transactions involve a Fund’s buying or selling futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a particular security, commodity, currency or other asset, or group or index of securities, commodities, currencies or other assets, for a specified price on a specified future date. A futures contract creates an obligation by the seller to deliver and the buyer to take delivery of the type of instrument or cash (depending on whether the contract calls for physical delivery or cash settlement) at the time and in the amount specified in the contract. In the case of futures on an index, the seller and buyer agree to settle in cash, at a future date, based on the difference in value of the contract between the date it is opened and the settlement date. The value of each contract is equal to the value of the index from time to time multiplied by a specified dollar amount. For example, S&P 500® Index futures may trade in contracts with a value equal to $250 multiplied by the value of the S&P 500® Index.
When an investor, such as a Fund, enters into a futures contract, it is required to deposit with (or for the benefit of) its broker as “initial margin” an amount of cash or short-term, high-quality/liquid securities (such as U.S. Treasury bills or high-quality tax-exempt bonds acceptable to the broker), the value of which may vary depending on applicable exchange rules and the terms of a Fund’s contractual arrangement with its broker. Initial margin is held to secure the performance of the holder of the futures contract. As the value of the contract changes, the value of futures contract positions increases or declines. At the end of each trading day, the amount of such increase and decline is received and paid respectively by and to the holders of these positions. The amount received or paid is known as “variation margin.”
The gain or loss on a futures position is equal to the net variation margin received or paid over the time the position is held, plus or minus the amount received or paid when the position is closed, minus brokerage commissions and other transaction costs. Should the value of the assets in the margin account drop below the minimum amount required to be maintained, or “maintenance margin,” a Fund will be required to deposit additional assets to the account. Although many futures contracts call for the delivery (or acceptance) of the specified instrument, futures are usually cash-settled or closed out before the settlement date through the purchase (or sale) of an offsetting contract. If the price of the sale of the futures contract by a Fund is less than the price of the offsetting purchase (in each case taking into account any brokerage commission and other transaction costs), the Fund will realize a loss. A futures sale is closed by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity and with the same delivery date. Similarly, a futures purchase is closed by the purchaser selling an offsetting futures contract.
Futures contract prices, and the prices of the related contracts in which a Fund may trade, may be highly volatile. Such prices are influenced by, among other things: changing supply and demand relationships; government trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; national and international political and economic events; and changes in interest rates. In addition, governments from time to time intervene, directly and by regulation, in these markets, with the specific intention of influencing such prices. The effect of such intervention is often heightened by a group of governments acting in concert. However, if futures or options are used to hedge portfolio securities, an increase in the price of the securities, if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.
Furthermore, the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading permit an extremely high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract can result in immediate and substantial losses to the investor. As an added risk in these volatile and highly leveraged markets, it is not always possible to liquidate futures positions to prevent further losses or recognize unrealized gains. Positions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be established or closed out only on an exchange or board of trade. There is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. Illiquidity can arise due to daily price limits taking effect or to market disruptions. Futures positions may be illiquid because certain commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain futures contract prices during a single day through regulations referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits.” Under such daily limits, during a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limits. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in that contract can neither be taken nor liquidated unless market participants are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Futures prices have occasionally moved beyond the daily limits for several consecutive days with little or no trading. If there is not a liquid market at a particular time, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position at such time, and, in the event of adverse price movements, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. The potential inability to liquidate futures positions creates the possibility of a Fund being unable to control its losses. If a Fund were to borrow money to use for trading purposes, the effects of such leverage would be magnified. Cash posted as margin in connection with a Fund’s futures contracts will not be available to the Fund for investment or other purposes. In addition, a Fund’s futures broker may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in certain futures contracts. Such restrictions may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and its ability to achieve its investment objective.
Funds that invest in futures contracts may be subject to risks related to rolling. When investing in futures contracts, a Fund will generally seek to “roll” its futures positions rather than hold them through expiration. In some circumstances, the prices of futures contracts with near-term expirations are lower than the prices of similar futures contracts with longer-term expirations, resulting in a cost to “roll” the futures contracts. The actual realization of a potential roll cost will depend on the difference in prices of futures contracts with near- and longer-term expirations, and the rolling of futures positions may result in losses to a Fund.
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Commodity Futures Contracts
Some Funds may invest in commodity futures contracts. There are additional risks associated with transactions in commodity futures contracts including, but not limited to the following:
Storage. Unlike the financial futures markets, in the commodity futures markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while a Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may also change (even if the Fund does not intend to physically settle the commodity futures contract). While the Funds typically do not intend to physically settle any commodity futures contracts, physical delivery of commodities can result in temporary illiquidity and a Fund would incur additional charges associated with the holding and safekeeping of any such commodities.
Reinvestment. In the commodity futures markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at the relevant delivery date. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the futures contract at a lower price than the expected future spot price. Conversely, if most hedgers in the futures market are purchasing futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the futures contract at a higher futures price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing positions and views of the participants in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for a Fund. If the positions and views of the participants in futures markets have shifted when it is time for a Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing contract in a new futures contract, a Fund might reinvest at higher or lower futures prices, or choose to pursue other investments.
Speculative Position Limits. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), certain foreign regulators and many futures exchanges have established (and continue to evaluate and revise) limits (“position limits”) on the maximum net long or net short positions which any person, or group of persons acting in concert, may hold or control in certain options and futures contracts. In addition, U.S. federal position limits apply to swaps that are economically equivalent to futures contracts on certain agricultural, metals, and energy commodities. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, must be aggregated for purposes of determining whether applicable position limits have been exceeded, unless an exemption applies. Thus, even if a Fund does not intend to exceed applicable position limits, it is possible that different clients managed by the Adviser or Subadviser and its affiliates may be aggregated for this purpose. Therefore, the trading decisions of the Adviser may have to be modified and positions held by a Fund liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits. The modification of investment decisions or the elimination of open positions, if it occurs, may adversely affect the profitability of the Fund. A violation of position limits could also lead to regulatory action materially adverse to a Fund’s investment strategy. A Fund may also be affected by other regimes, including those of the European Union and United Kingdom, and trading venues that impose position limits on commodity derivative contracts.
Index Futures Contracts
In the case of futures on an index, the seller and buyer agree to settle in cash, at a future date, based on the difference in value of the contract between the date it is opened and the settlement date. The value of each contract is equal to the value of the index from time to time multiplied by a specified dollar amount. For example, S&P 500® Index futures may trade in contracts with a value equal to $250 multiplied by the value of the S&P 500® Index. The price of index futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market distortions. One such distortion stems from the fact that all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationship between the index and futures markets. Another market distortion results from the deposit requirements in the futures market being less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result the futures market may attract more speculators than does the securities market. A third distortion is caused by the fact that trading hours for foreign stock index futures may not correspond perfectly to hours of trading on the foreign exchange to which a particular foreign stock index futures contract relates. This may result in a disparity between the price of index futures and the value of the relevant index due to the lack of continuous arbitrage between the index futures price and the value of the underlying index. Finally, hedging transactions using stock indices involve the risk that movements in the price of the index may not correlate with price movements of the particular portfolio securities being hedged.
Options
Options transactions may involve a Fund’s buying or writing (selling) options on securities, futures contracts, securities indices (including futures on securities indices) or currencies. A Fund may engage in these transactions either to enhance investment return or to hedge against changes in the value of other assets that it owns or intends to acquire. Options can generally be classified as either “call” or “put” options. There are two parties to a typical options transaction: the “writer” (seller) and the “buyer.” A call option gives the buyer the right to buy a security or other asset (such as an amount of currency or a futures contract) from, and a put option gives the buyer the right to sell a security or other asset to, the option writer at a specified price, on or before a specified date. The buyer of an option pays a premium when purchasing the option, which reduces the return (by the amount of such premium) on the underlying security or other asset if the option is exercised, and results in a loss (equal to the amount of such premium) if the option expires unexercised. The writer
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of an option receives a premium from writing an option, which may increase its return if the option expires or is closed out at a profit. An “American-style” option allows exercise of the option at any time during the term of the option. A “European-style” option allows an option to be exercised only at a specific time or times, such as the end of its term. Options may be traded on or off an established securities or options exchange.
If the holder (writer) of an option wishes to terminate its position, it may seek to effect a closing sale transaction by selling (buying) an option identical to the option previously purchased. The effect of the purchase is that the previous option position will be canceled. A Fund will realize a profit from closing out an option if the price received for selling the offsetting position is more than the premium paid to purchase the option; a Fund will realize a loss from closing out an option transaction if the price received for selling the offsetting option is less than the premium paid to purchase the option (in each case taking into account any brokerage commission and other transaction costs). Since premiums on options having an exercise price close to the value of the underlying securities or futures contracts usually have a time value component (i.e., a value that diminishes as the time within which the option can be exercised grows shorter), the value of an options contract may change as a result of the lapse of time even though the value of the futures contract or security underlying the option (and of the security or other asset deliverable under the futures contract) has not changed. As an alternative to purchasing call and put options on index futures, a Fund may purchase or sell call or put options on the underlying indices themselves. Such options would be used in a manner similar to the use of options on index futures.
Warrants and Rights
Some Funds may invest in warrants and rights. A warrant is an instrument that gives the holder a right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular security at a specified price until a stated expiration date. Buying a warrant generally can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an investment of equivalent amounts in the underlying common stock. The market value of a warrant does not necessarily move with the value of the underlying securities. If a holder does not sell the warrant, it risks the loss of its entire investment if the market price of the underlying security does not, before the expiration date, exceed the exercise price of the warrant. Investment in warrants is a speculative activity. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights (other than the right to purchase the underlying securities) with respect to the assets of the issuer. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe for shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price.
Some Funds may invest in low exercise price call warrants, which are equity call warrants with an exercise price that is very low relative to the market price of the underlying instrument at the time of issue. Low exercise price call warrants are typically used to gain exposure to stocks in difficult to access local markets. The warrants typically have a strike price set such that the value of the warrants will be identical to the price of the underlying stock. The value of the warrants is correlated with the value of the underlying stock price and therefore, the risk and return profile of the warrants is similar to owning the underlying securities. In addition, the owner of the warrant is subject to the risk that the issuer of the warrant (i.e., the counterparty) will default on its obligations under the warrant. The warrants have no voting rights. Dividends issued to the warrant issuer by the underlying company will generally be distributed to the warrant holders, net of any taxes or commissions imposed by the local jurisdiction in respect of the receipt of such amount. Low exercise price call warrants are typically sold in private placement transactions, may be illiquid and may be classified as derivative instruments.
Options on Indices
Some Funds may transact in options on indices (“index options”). Put and call index options are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss at expiration depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities or futures contracts. When a Fund writes an index call option, it receives a premium and undertakes the obligation that, prior to the expiration date (or, upon the expiration date for European-style options), the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the exercise settlement value of the relevant index is greater than the exercise price of the call. The manner of determining “exercise settlement value” for a particular option series is fixed by the options market on which the series is traded. S&P 500® Index options, for example, have a settlement value that is calculated using the opening sales price in the primary market of each component security on the last business day (usually a Friday) before the expiration date. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the exercise settlement value of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”). When a Fund buys an index call option, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When a Fund buys an index put option, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date (or, upon the expiration date for European-style options), to collect, upon the Fund’s exercise of the put, an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the exercise settlement value of the index, times a multiplier, similar to that described above for calls, if the exercise settlement value is less than the exercise price. When a Fund writes an index put option, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise settlement value of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the exercise settlement value is less than the exercise price.
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Options on Futures
An option on a futures contract is the right, purchased for a certain price, to either buy or sell the underlying futures contract during a certain period of time for a fixed price. Options trading requires many of the same skills as does successful futures contract trading. However, since specific market movements of the underlying futures contract must be predicted accurately, the risks involved are somewhat different. For example, if a Fund buys an option (either to sell or buy a futures contract), the Fund will pay a “premium” representing the market value of the option. Unless the price of the futures contract underlying the option changes and it becomes profitable to exercise or offset the option before it expires, the Fund may lose the entire amount of the premium. Conversely, if a Fund sells an option (either to sell or buy a futures contract), the Fund will be credited with the premium but will have to deposit margin due to the Fund’s contingent liability to take or make delivery of the underlying futures contract in the event the option is exercised. The writing of an option involves the risk of losing the entire investment or substantially more than the entire investment, thereby causing significant losses to the client in a relatively short period of time. The ability to trade in or exercise options may be restricted in the event that trading in the underlying futures contract becomes restricted.
Exchange-Traded and Over-the-Counter Options
Some Funds may purchase or write both exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in that they are bilateral, uncleared contracts, with price and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options.
An exchange-traded option may be closed out before its scheduled maturity only on an exchange that generally provides a liquid secondary market for an option of the same series. If a liquid secondary market for an exchange-traded option does not exist, it might not be possible to effect a closing transaction with respect to a particular option. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) or other clearing organization may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
For some Funds, rather than transferring margin to and from a counterparty, a Fund’s custodian (or a securities depository acting for the custodian) acts as the Fund’s escrow agent as to securities on which the Fund has written call options. The escrow agent enters into documents known as escrow receipts with respect to the stocks included in a Fund (or escrow receipts with respect to other acceptable securities). The escrow agent releases the stocks from the escrow account when the call option expires or when a Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Until such release, the underlying stocks cannot be sold by a Fund, which could prevent the Fund from selling securities when it might otherwise wish to do so.
An OTC option (an option not traded on an established exchange) may be closed out before its scheduled maturity only by agreement with the other party to the original option transaction. With OTC options, a Fund is not only subject to the credit/counterparty risk of the other party to the transaction, but also the risk that its counterparty will not permit the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. While a Fund will seek to enter into OTC options only with dealers who agree to or are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC option at a favorable price at any time prior to its expiration. OTC options are not subject to the protections afforded purchasers of listed options by the OCC or other clearing organizations.
Index Warrants
Some Funds may purchase put warrants and call warrants whose values vary depending on the change in the value of one or more specified securities indices (“index warrants”). Index warrants are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive, upon exercise of the warrant, a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In general, if the value of the underlying index rises above the exercise price of the index warrant, the holder of a call warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the value of the underlying index falls, the holder of a put warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. The holder of a warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at a time when, in the case of a call warrant, the exercise price is more than the value of the underlying index, or in the case of a put warrant, the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If a Fund were not to exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, then the Fund would lose the amount of the purchase price paid by it for the warrant. A Fund will normally use index warrants in a manner similar to its use of options on securities indices.
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The risks of a Fund’s use of index warrants generally are similar to those relating to its use of index options. Unlike most index options, however, index warrants are issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated clearing agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other institution which issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer terms than index options. Although a Fund will normally invest only in exchange-listed warrants, index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as certain index options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index warrants may limit a Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants at such time, or in such quantities, as the Fund would otherwise wish to do.
Forward Contracts
As described in the section “Foreign Currency Transactions,” each Fund may invest in forward contracts. Forward contracts are transactions involving a Fund’s obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency or other asset at a future date at a specified price. For example, forward contracts may be used when the Adviser or Subadviser anticipates that particular foreign currencies will appreciate or depreciate in value or to take advantage of the expected relationships between various currencies, regardless of whether securities denominated in such currencies are held in a Fund’s investment portfolio. Forward contracts may also be used by a Fund for hedging purposes to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates, such as when a Fund anticipates purchasing or selling a foreign security. This technique would allow a Fund to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the investment. Forward contracts also may be used to attempt to protect the value of a Fund’s existing holdings of foreign securities. There may be, however, imperfect correlation between a Fund’s foreign securities holdings and the forward contracts entered into with respect to such holdings. The cost to a Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing.
Forward contracts are not traded on exchanges and are not standardized; rather, banks and dealers act as principals in these markets negotiating each transaction on an individual basis. There is no limitation on the daily price movements of forward contracts. Principals in the forward markets have no obligation to continue to make markets in the forward contracts traded. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which they are prepared to buy and that at which they are prepared to sell. Disruptions can occur in the forward markets because of unusually high trading volume, government intervention or other factors. For example, the imposition of credit controls by governmental authorities might limit forward trading, to the possible detriment of a Fund.
Forward contracts are subject to many of the same risks as options, warrants and futures contracts described above. As described in the section “Foreign Currency Transactions,” above, forward contracts may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. In addition, the effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of a Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable. A Fund’s investments in forward contracts may be subject to foreign currency risk. See the section “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information.
Additionally, in their forward trading, the Funds are subject to the credit/counterparty risk of, or the inability or refusal to perform with respect to their forward contracts by, the principals with which the Funds trade. Funds on deposit with such principals are generally not protected by the same segregation requirements imposed on CFTC regulated commodity brokers and futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) in respect of customer funds on deposit with them. A Fund may place forward trades through agents, and the insolvency or bankruptcy of such agents could also subject a Fund to the risk of loss. See the section “Credit/Counterparty Risk” for additional information.
Swap Transactions
Some Funds may enter into a variety of swap transactions, including, but not limited to, interest rate, index, commodity, equity-linked, credit default, credit-linked and currency exchange swaps. A Fund may enter into swap transactions for a variety of reasons, including to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to gain exposure to one or more securities, currencies, commodities or interest rates, to protect against or attempt to take advantage of currency fluctuations, to protect against any increase in the price of securities that a Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, to efficiently gain exposure to certain markets, to add economic leverage to the Fund’s portfolio or to shift the Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another.
Swap transactions are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to a number of years. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of types of investments or market factors. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties generally are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” such as the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. In a typical interest rate swap, for example, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate times a “notional principal amount,” in return for payments equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for the term of the swap agreement. The “notional principal amount” of a swap transaction is the agreed-upon basis for calculating the payments that the parties agree to exchange (i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate), in a particular foreign currency or commodity or in a “basket” of securities. Under most swap agreements, payments by the parties will be exchanged on a “net basis,” and a party will receive or pay, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
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Swap transactions are sophisticated financial instruments that typically involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed. Swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on a Fund’s performance, as the potential gain or loss on any swap transaction is not subject to any fixed limit. A Fund’s successful use of swap transactions will depend on the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because swaps 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. If 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. A Fund may also suffer losses if it is unable to terminate (or terminate at the time and price desired) outstanding swap transactions (either by assignment or other disposition) or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions.
Moreover, a Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. See the section “Credit/Counterparty Risk” below.
Additionally, U.S. regulators, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and certain other jurisdictions have adopted minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. These rules impose minimum margin requirements on derivatives transactions between a Fund and its swap counterparties and may increase the amount of margin the Fund is required to provide. They also impose regulatory requirements on the timing of transferring margin and the types of margin that can be provided. See the section “Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives” below.
Some Funds may also enter into swaptions. A Fund may engage in swaptions for hedging purposes or to manage and mitigate credit and interest rate risk. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. The use of swaptions involves risks, including, among others, (i) imperfect correlation between movements of the price of the swaptions and the price of the securities, indices or other assets serving as reference instruments for the swaption, reducing the effectiveness of the instrument for hedging or investment purposes, (ii) the absence of a liquid market to sell a swaption, which could result in difficulty closing a position, (iii) the exacerbation of losses incurred due to changes in the market value of the securities to which they relate, and (iv) credit/counterparty risk.
Credit Default Swaps
Some Funds may enter into credit default swap agreements, which may have as reference obligations one or more debt securities or an index of such securities. In a credit default swap, one party (the “protection buyer”) is obligated to pay the other party (the “protection seller”) a stream of payments over the term of the contract, provided that no credit event, such as a default or a downgrade in credit rating, occurs on the reference obligation. If a credit event occurs, the protection seller must generally pay the protection buyer the “par value” (the agreed-upon notional value) of the referenced debt obligation in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable reference obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending upon the terms of the swap.
A Fund may be either the protection buyer or protection seller in a credit default swap. If a Fund is a protection buyer, such Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract and would not recover any of those payments if no credit event were to occur. However, if a credit event occurs, a Fund that is a protection buyer has the right to deliver the referenced debt obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending on the terms of the swap, and receive the par value of such debt obligations from the counterparty protection seller. As a protection seller, a Fund would receive fixed payments throughout the term of the contract if no credit event occurs. If a credit event occurs, however, the value of the obligation received by a Fund (e.g., bonds which defaulted), plus the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the par value of the obligation, or cash received, resulting in a loss to the protection seller. Furthermore, a Fund that is a protection seller would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because such Fund will have investment exposure to the notional amount of the swap.
Credit default swap agreements are subject to greater risk than a direct investment in the reference obligation. Like all swap agreements, credit default swaps are subject to liquidity, credit and counterparty risks. The notional value of credit default swaps with respect to a particular investment is often larger than the total par value of such investment outstanding and, in event of a default, there may be difficulties in making the required deliveries of the reference investments, possibly delaying payments.
A Fund generally may exit its obligations under a credit default swap only by terminating the contract and paying applicable breakage fees, or by entering into an offsetting credit default swap position, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.
Swap Execution Facilities (“SEF”)
Certain derivatives contracts are required to be executed through SEFs. A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. Such requirements may make it more difficult and costly for investment funds, such as the Funds, to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions. Certain derivatives are also available to be traded on a SEF on a voluntary basis. Trading swaps on a SEF may offer certain advantages over traditional bilateral OTC trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. Execution through a SEF is not, however, without additional costs and risks, as parties are required to comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations, including disclosure and recordkeeping obligations, and SEF rights of inspection, among others. SEFs typically charge fees, and if a Fund executes derivatives on a SEF through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. A Fund also may be required to indemnify a SEF, or a broker intermediary who executes swaps on a SEF on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the SEF. In addition, a Fund may be subject to execution risk if it enters into
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a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared, and no clearing member is willing to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and a Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the trade. Similar “trade execution” regulations have been implemented in the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Investment Pools of Swap Contracts
Some Funds may invest in publicly or privately issued interests in investment pools whose underlying assets are credit default, credit-linked, interest rate, currency exchange, equity-linked or other types of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements. The pools’ investment results may be designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified securities index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single security. These types of pools are often used to gain exposure to multiple securities with less of an investment than would be required to invest directly in the individual securities. They may also be used to gain exposure to foreign securities markets without investing in the foreign securities themselves and/or the relevant foreign market. To the extent that a Fund invests in pools of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements whose performance corresponds to the performance of a foreign securities index or one or more foreign securities, investing in such pools will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities. See the section “Foreign Securities” below. In addition to the risks associated with investing in swaps generally, an investing Fund bears the risks and costs generally associated with investing in pooled investment vehicles, such as paying the fees and expenses of the pool and the risk that the pool or the operator of the pool may default on its obligations to the holder of interests in the pool, such as a Fund. Interests in privately offered investment pools of swap contracts may be considered illiquid and, except to the extent that such interests are deemed liquid under the Funds’ policies, subject to a Fund’s restriction on investments in illiquid securities.
Hybrid Instruments
Some Funds may invest in hybrid instruments. A hybrid instrument is a type of derivative that combines a traditional stock or bond with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption or interest rate of a hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some currency or securities index, another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed-income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be economically similar to a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.
Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes a Fund to the credit/counterparty risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the NAV of a Fund.
Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative instruments with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or debt securities, leveraged or unleveraged, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable and therefore are subject to many of the same risks as investments in those underlying securities, instruments or commodities. For more information, see the sections “Commodities” and “Structured Notes.”
Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, a Fund’s investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to restrictions contained in the 1940 Act.
Hedging
Certain Funds’ investment strategies may involve hedging certain risks, such as market risk, interest rate risk, and currency risk through the use of various derivative instruments. It is generally not possible to eliminate all risk of adverse market movement. Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that a Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to risks when that would be beneficial. The use of hedging instruments may enable a Fund to increase its profits from favorable market price movements and diminish its exposure to market volatility. However, any reduction or increase in the hedge from the theoretical neutral hedge also increases the exposure of the Fund to adverse market price movements, and at times could present material risk to the capital of the Fund.
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Short Exposure Risk
A short exposure through a derivative may present various risks, including credit/counterparty risk and leverage risk. If the value of the asset, asset class or index on which a Fund has obtained a short investment exposure increases, the Fund will incur a loss. Unlike a direct cash investment such as a stock, bond or exchange-traded fund, where the potential loss is limited to the purchase price, the potential risk of loss from a short exposure is theoretically unlimited. A Fund may be unable to borrow securities in connection with a short sale or to enter into a short position at an advantageous time or price, which could limit its ability to obtain the desired short exposure. Moreover, there can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to cover its short positions. For example, an uncovered call writer’s loss is potentially unlimited.
Certain Additional Risks of Derivative Instruments
General. As described in the Prospectus, the Funds intend to use derivative instruments, including several of the instruments described above, to seek to enhance investment returns as well as for risk management purposes. Although an Adviser or Subadviser may seek to use these instruments to achieve a Fund’s investment goals, no assurance can be given that the use of these instruments will achieve this result. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time. The ability of a Fund to utilize these derivative instruments successfully will depend on its Adviser’s or Subadviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. Furthermore, a Fund’s use of certain derivatives may in some cases involve forms of financial leverage, which involves risk and may increase the volatility of a Fund’s NAV. Leveraging may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations when it may not be advantageous to do so. To the extent that a Fund is not able to close out a leveraged position because of market illiquidity, its liquidity may be impaired to the extent that it has a substantial portion of liquid assets used as collateral for its derivatives transactions. Each Fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, involving greater risks than are involved in hedging. A short exposure through a derivative may present additional risks. If the value of the asset, asset class or index on which a Fund has obtained a short exposure increases, the Fund will incur a loss. Moreover, the potential loss from a short exposure is theoretically unlimited.
The value of some derivative instruments in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates or other economic factors and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of an Adviser or Subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If an Adviser or Subadviser incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, a Fund could be exposed to the risk of loss. If an Adviser or Subadviser incorrectly forecasts interest rates, market values or other economic factors in using a derivatives strategy for a Fund, the Fund might have been in a better position if it had not entered into the transaction at all. Also, suitable derivatives transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including a possible imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of derivative instruments and price movements of related investments. While some strategies involving derivative 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 related investments or otherwise, due to the possible inability of a Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable and the possible inability of a Fund to close out or to liquidate its derivatives positions. In addition, a Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) or ordinary income than if it had not used such instruments. To the extent that a Fund gains exposure to an asset class using derivative instruments backed by a collateral portfolio of other securities, changes in the value of those other securities may result in greater or lesser exposure to that asset class than would have resulted from a direct investment in securities comprising that asset class.
Although the Adviser or Subadviser may seek to use derivatives transactions to achieve a Fund’s investment goals, no assurance can be given that the use of these transactions will achieve this result. One risk arises because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of derivatives contracts and movements in the price of the securities, indices or other assets serving as reference instruments for the derivative. A Fund’s derivative strategies will not be fully effective unless the Fund can compensate for such imperfect correlation. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to effect such compensation. For example, the correlation between the price movement of the derivatives contract and the hedged security may be distorted due to differences in the nature of the relevant markets. If the price of the futures contract moves more than the price of the hedged security, a Fund would experience either a loss or a gain on the derivative that is not completely offset by movements in the price of the hedged securities. For example, in an attempt to compensate for imperfect price movement correlations, a Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the hedged securities if the price movement volatility of the hedged securities is historically greater than the volatility of the futures contract. Conversely, a Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a smaller dollar amount than the hedged securities if the volatility of the price of hedged securities is historically less than that of the futures contracts. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. With respect to certain derivatives transactions (e.g., short positions in which a Fund does not hold the instrument to which the short position relates), the potential risk of loss to a Fund is theoretically unlimited.
The price of index futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market distortions. See the section entitled “Index Futures Contracts” for more information.
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Price movement correlation in derivatives transactions also may be distorted by the illiquidity of the derivatives markets and the participation of speculators in such markets. If an insufficient number of contracts are traded, commercial users may not deal in derivatives because they do not want to assume the risk that they may not be able to close out their positions within a reasonable amount of time. In such instances, derivatives market prices may be driven by different forces than those driving the market in the underlying securities, and price spreads between these markets may widen. The participation of speculators in the market enhances its liquidity. Nonetheless, the presence of speculators may create temporary price distortions unrelated to the market in the underlying securities.
Once the daily limit has been reached in a contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, which may prevent the liquidation of open futures or options positions. Futures prices have in the past occasionally exceeded the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading. However, if futures or options are used to hedge portfolio securities, an increase in the price of the securities, if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.
Income earned by a Fund from its options activities generally will be treated as capital gain and, if not offset by net recognized capital losses incurred by the Fund, will be distributed to shareholders in taxable distributions. Gain from options transactions may hedge against a decline in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities. However, that gain, to the extent not offset by losses, will be distributed to eliminate Fund-level tax, resulting in a distribution of the portion of the Fund value so preserved via such options transactions.
The value of a Fund’s derivative instruments may fluctuate based on a variety of market and economic factors. In some cases, the fluctuations may offset (or be offset by) changes in the value of securities or derivatives held in a Fund’s portfolio. All transactions in derivatives involve the possible risk of loss to a Fund of all or a significant part of the value of its investment. In some cases, the risk of loss may exceed the amount of a Fund’s investment. For example, when a Fund writes a call option or sells a futures contract without holding the underlying securities, currencies or futures contracts, its potential loss is unlimited.
The successful use of derivatives will depend in part on the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s ability to forecast securities market, currency or other financial market movements correctly. For example, a Fund’s ability to hedge against adverse changes in the value of securities held in its portfolio through options and futures also depends on the degree of correlation between changes in the value of futures or options positions and changes in the values of the portfolio securities. The successful use of certain other derivatives also depends on the availability of a liquid secondary market to enable a Fund to close its positions on a timely basis. There can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time. Furthermore, a Fund’s use of certain derivatives may in some cases involve forms of financial leverage, which involves risk and may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Leveraging may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations when it may not be advantageous to do so. To the extent a Fund is not able to close out a leveraged position because of market illiquidity, its liquidity may be impaired to the extent that it has a substantial portion of liquid assets used as collateral for its derivatives transactions.
In the case of OTC options, a Fund is at increased risk that the other party to the transaction will default on its obligations, or will not permit the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. See the section entitled “Credit/Counterparty Risk” below for additional information.
The derivatives markets of some foreign countries are small compared to those of the United States and consequently are characterized in some cases by less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, derivatives that are traded on foreign exchanges may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, may be subject to less detailed reporting requirements and regulatory controls, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (v) lesser trading volume. Furthermore, investments in derivatives markets outside of the United States are subject to many of the same risks as other foreign investments. See the section “Foreign Securities.”
Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions. Transactions in some types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default index swaps on North American and European indices) are required to be centrally cleared. Other types of derivatives are also available to be centrally cleared on a voluntary basis. In a cleared derivatives transaction, a Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Since the Funds are not members of a clearing house and only members of clearing houses can participate directly in the clearing house, the Funds will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, the Funds will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house.
Under some circumstances, centrally cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to the Funds than bilateral arrangements. For example, the Funds 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, following a period of notice to a Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time or increases 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. Any increase in margin requirements or termination by the clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of a Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could also expose a Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member, because margin for
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cleared derivatives transactions in excess of clearing house margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, a Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Adviser or Subadviser expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. In those cases, the transaction might have to be terminated, and a Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the transaction, including loss of an increase in the value of the transaction and/or loss of hedging protection offered by the transaction. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Funds and the clearing members is developed by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Funds than typical bilateral derivatives documentation. For example, this documentation generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Funds in favor of the clearing member, indemnifying the clearing member against losses it incurs in connection with acting as the Funds’ clearing member, and the documentation typically does not give the Funds any rights to exercise remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent.
Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be (or are capable of being) executed on an exchange or on a SEF. A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While trading on a SEF can increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a SEF can also create additional costs and risks for the Funds. For example, SEFs typically charge fees, and if a Fund executes derivatives on a SEF through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, a Fund may indemnify a SEF, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a SEF on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the SEF. See the subsection “Swap Execution Facilities” above for additional information.
Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives. The regulation of derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government, self-regulatory organization and judicial action. For example, the U.S. government enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which includes provisions for regulation of the derivatives market, including clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements. Various U.S. regulatory agencies have implemented and are continuing to implement rules and regulations prescribed by the Dodd-Frank Act. The European Union, the United Kingdom, and some other jurisdictions have also implemented and continue to implement similar requirements that will affect a Fund when it enters into derivatives transactions with a counterparty organized in that jurisdiction or otherwise subject to that jurisdiction’s derivatives regulations. Because these requirements are evolving (and some of the rules are not yet final), their ultimate impact remains unclear. These regulatory changes could, among other things, restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions (including because certain types of derivatives transactions may no longer be available to a Fund) and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions (including through increased margin requirements), and the Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result.
It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent a Fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent a Fund from being able to achieve its investment goals. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or completely restrict the ability of a Fund to use these instruments as a part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which a Fund engages in derivatives transactions could also prevent a Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investments.
There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment of the Funds or the ability of the Funds to continue to implement their investment strategies. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act has and will continue to change the way in which the U.S. financial system is supervised and regulated. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act has caused broad changes to the OTC derivatives market and granted significant authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants. Pursuant to such authority, rules have been enacted that currently require clearing of many OTC derivatives transactions and may require clearing of additional OTC derivatives transactions in the future and that impose minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. Similar regulations have been and are being adopted in other jurisdictions around the world.
These and other rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to a Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to a Fund or otherwise limiting liquidity. The implementation of the clearing requirement for certain swaps has generally increased the costs of derivatives transactions for the Funds, since each Fund has to pay fees to its clearing members and is typically required to post more margin for cleared derivatives than it has historically posted for bilateral derivatives. The costs of derivatives transactions are expected to increase further as clearing members and their affiliates raise their fees to cover the costs of additional capital requirements and other regulatory changes applicable to the clearing members and their affiliates. These rules and regulations are evolving, so their full impact on the Funds and the financial system are not yet known. While the rules and regulations and central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk (i.e., the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause them to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that they will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing and related requirements expose the Funds to other kinds of costs and risks.
The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. The CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.
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Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governs the use of derivative investments and certain financing transactions by registered investment companies. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 requires funds that invest in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk based limit to their use of certain derivative instruments and financing transactions and to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program. A fund that uses derivative instruments in a limited amount is not subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 by a Fund could, among other things, make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility, or otherwise adversely affect their performance.
Additionally, special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and various other jurisdictions may result in increased uncertainty about credit/counterparty risk and may also limit the ability of a Fund to protect its interests in the event of the insolvency (or similar designation) of a derivatives counterparty. More specifically, in the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency (or similar designation), a Fund’s ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization on collateral, could be stayed or eliminated. Such special resolution regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty. In particular, with respect to counterparties who are subject to such proceedings in the European Union and the United Kingdom, the liabilities of such counterparties to a Fund could be reduced, eliminated, or converted to equity in such counterparties (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”).
Credit/Counterparty Risk
A Fund will be exposed to the credit/counterparty risk of the counterparties with which it trades, or the brokers, dealers and exchanges through which it trades, whether it engages in exchange-traded or off-exchange transactions. Transactions entered into by the Funds may be executed on various U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges, and may be cleared and settled through various clearing houses, custodians, depositories and prime brokers throughout the world. There can be no assurance that a failure by any such entity will not lead to a loss to a Fund. To the extent a Fund engages in cleared derivatives transactions, it will be subject to the credit/counterparty risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position. If a Fund engages in futures transactions, it will also be exposed to the credit/counterparty risk of its FCM. If a Fund’s FCM or clearing member (as applicable) becomes bankrupt or insolvent, or otherwise defaults on its obligations to the Fund, the Fund may not receive all amounts owed to it in respect of its trading, even if the clearing house fully discharges all of its obligations. The Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) requires an FCM to segregate all funds received from its customers with respect to regulated futures transactions from such FCM’s proprietary funds. If an FCM were not to do so to the full extent required by law, the assets of an account might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of an FCM. Furthermore, in the event of an FCM’s bankruptcy, a Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of an FCM’s combined customer accounts, even if certain property held by an FCM is specifically traceable to the Fund (for example, U.S. Treasury bills deposited by the Fund). It is possible that a Fund would be unable to recover from the FCM’s estate the full amount of its funds on deposit with such FCM and owing to it. Such situations could arise due to various factors, or a combination of factors, including inadequate FCM capitalization, inadequate controls on customer trading and inadequate customer capital. Similar requirements, restrictions and risks apply to clearing members as well. In addition, in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a clearing house, a Fund might experience a loss of funds deposited through its FCM or clearing member (as applicable) as margin with the clearing house, a loss of unrealized profits on its open positions and the loss of funds owed to it as realized profits on closed positions. Such a bankruptcy or insolvency might also cause a substantial delay before a Fund could obtain the return of funds owed to it by an FCM who is a member of such clearing house.
Each Fund may also engage in bilateral OTC derivatives transactions, which are not centrally cleared. Because bilateral derivatives transactions are traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Funds are subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the contracts. Although the Funds intend to enter into transactions only with counterparties which an Adviser or Subadviser believes to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that a Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result. In situations where a Fund is required to post margin or other collateral with a counterparty, the counterparty may fail to segregate the collateral or may commingle the collateral with the counterparty’s own assets. As a result, in the event of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency, a Fund’s collateral may be subject to conflicting claims of the counterparty’s creditors, and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of a court treating the Fund as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.
When a counterparty’s obligations are not fully secured by collateral, then a Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. If a counterparty’s credit becomes significantly impaired, multiple requests for collateral posting in a short period of time could increase the risk that a Fund may not receive adequate collateral or that the counterparty may default. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations pursuant to such contracts or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Credit/counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because a Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Credit/counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by a Fund (if any), a Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument. As described above, in the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, the Funds’ ability to exercise remedies could be stayed or eliminated under special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty and may prohibit a Fund from exercising termination rights based on the financial institution’s insolvency.
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Credit/counterparty risk with respect to derivatives is also being affected by rules and regulations affecting the derivatives market. Some derivatives transactions are required to be centrally cleared, and, as described above, a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit/counterparty risk of the clearing house and the FCM clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit/counterparty risk of its original counterparty to the derivatives transaction. Credit/counterparty risk of market participants with respect to derivatives that are centrally cleared is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and increasingly fewer clearing members. It is not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system. A clearing member is obligated by contract and by applicable regulation 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 generally are held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, and the clearing member may invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of a Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of a Fund’s clearing member, because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. Also, the clearing member is required to transfer to the clearing organization the amount of margin required by the clearing organization for cleared derivatives, which amounts generally are held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization for all customers of the clearing member. 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 organization that is attributable to each customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, the Funds are subject to the risk that a clearing organization will use a Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. In addition, clearing members generally provide to the clearing organization the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer. The Funds are therefore subject to the risk that a clearing organization will not make variation margin payments owed to a Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default, and the risk that a Fund will be required to provide additional variation margin to the clearing house before the clearing house will move the Fund’s cleared derivatives transactions to another clearing member. In addition, if a clearing member does not comply with the applicable regulations or its agreement with the Funds, or in the event of fraud or misappropriation of customer assets by a clearing member, a Fund could have only an unsecured creditor claim in an insolvency of the clearing member with respect to the margin held by the clearing member.
The Funds may enter into derivatives transactions, repurchase transactions and short sale transactions with a single counterparty or with counterparties that are affiliated with one another. In such an arrangement, a Fund may have significant exposure to that counterparty and the Fund’s credit/counterparty risk will be heightened. A Fund’s derivative counterparties generally will have broad discretion to establish margin requirements for the Fund’s derivative positions, and may be able to change such margin requirements at any time.
Each Fund is subject to the risk that issuers of the instruments in which the Fund invests and trades may default on their obligations under those instruments, and that certain events may occur that have an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of those instruments and any derivatives whose value is based on such instruments. There can be no assurance that an issuer of an instrument in which a Fund invests will not default, or that an event that has an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of an instrument will not occur, and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result.
Other Derivatives; Future Developments
The above discussion relates to the Funds’ proposed use of certain types of derivatives currently available. However, the Funds are not limited to the transactions described above. In addition, the relevant markets and related regulations are constantly changing and, in the future, the Funds may use derivatives not currently available or widely in use.
CFTC Regulation
As of the date of this Statement, the Adviser to each of the Global Megatrends Fund, the Small Cap Fund and the Mid Cap Fund (the “Excluded Funds”) has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the CEA with respect to the Excluded Funds pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA (the “exclusion”) promulgated by the CFTC with respect to its operation of each Excluded Fund. Accordingly, the Advisers, with respect to the Excluded Funds, are not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA. To remain eligible for the exclusion, each of the Excluded Funds will be limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments, including futures and options on futures and certain swaps transactions (“commodity interests”). In the event that an Excluded Fund’s exposure to commodity interests is not within the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, the relevant Adviser may be required to register as a CPO and/or “commodity trading advisor” with the CFTC with respect to that Fund. The Advisers’ eligibility to claim the exclusion with respect to an Excluded Fund will be based upon, among other things, the level and scope of such Fund’s exposure to commodity interests, the purposes of such exposure and the manner in which the Fund holds out its use of commodity interests. Each Excluded Fund’s ability to have exposure to commodity interests is limited by the Advisers’ intention to operate the Excluded Fund in a manner that would permit the Advisers to continue to claim the exclusion under Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect such Fund’s total return. In the event the Advisers becomes unable to rely on the exclusion in Rule 4.5 and is required to register with the CFTC as a CPO with respect to an Excluded Fund, such Fund’s expenses may increase, adversely affecting that Fund’s total return.
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E m erging Markets
Investments in foreign securities may include investments in emerging or developing countries whose economies or securities markets are not yet highly developed. The same or similar risks are seen in investments in companies that are located in developed markets but derive substantial revenues from emerging markets. The risks associated with investing in foreign securities are often heightened for investments in emerging market countries. These heightened risks include (i) greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, war, and less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the small size of the markets for securities of emerging market issuers and the oftentimes low or nonexistent volume of trading, resulting in lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies that may restrict a Fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests or currency transfer or repatriation restrictions; (iv) an economy’s dependence on revenues from particular commodities or on international aid or development assistance; (v) the absence of developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment and private property and/or less developed custodial and deposit systems and delays and disruptions in securities settlement procedures; (vi) risks associated with the imposition of sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, by the U.S. government or the European Union; and (vii) an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. A Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging market countries may be constrained by limitations as to daily changes in the prices of listed securities, periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of foreign investors. In certain cases, such limitations may be computed based upon the aggregate trading by or holdings of a Fund, its Adviser or Subadviser and its affiliates, and their respective clients and other service providers. A Fund may not be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement volume limitations have been reached. These limitations may have a negative impact on a Fund’s performance and may adversely affect the liquidity of a Fund’s investment to the extent that it invests in certain emerging market countries. Moreover, settlement and asset custody practices for transactions in emerging markets may differ from those in developed markets. Such differences may include possible delays in settlement and certain settlement practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment, which increases the likelihood of a “failed settlement.” Failed settlements can result in losses. In addition, some emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain emerging market countries’ currencies may not be internationally traded. Certain of these currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. If a Fund does not hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities it owns denominated in currencies that are devalued, the Fund’s NAV will be adversely affected. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have adverse effects on the economies and securities markets of certain of these countries.
In determining whether to invest in securities of foreign issuers, a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser (as applicable) may consider the likely effects of foreign taxes on the net yield available to a Fund and its shareholders. Compliance with foreign tax laws may reduce a Fund’s net income available for distribution to shareholders.
For the purposes of determining whether a particular country is considered a developed or emerging market, a Fund will use a country’s sovereign quality rating. An emerging market country is defined as a country that carries a sovereign quality rating below investment-grade by either S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investor Services (“Moody’s”), or is unrated by both S&P and Moody’s. Thus, an emerging market security is defined as a security that is issued by sovereign or corporate entities domiciled in an emerging market country as defined above.
Equity Securities
Some Funds may invest in equity securities. Common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, securities convertible into common or preferred stocks and similar securities, together called “equity securities,” are generally volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment. Equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies and the broad equity market indices generally.
Equity securities are securities that represent an ownership interest (or the right to acquire such an interest) in a company and may include common and preferred stocks and securities exercisable for, or convertible into, common or preferred stocks, such as warrants, convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stock, and other equity-like interests in an entity. Equity securities may take the form of stock in a corporation, limited partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies, depositary receipts, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other trusts and other direct or indirect interests in business organizations. Common stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. Shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Under normal circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights. In the event that an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and other debt securities generally take precedence over holders of preferred stock, whose claims take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
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While offering greater potential for long-term growth, equity securities generally are more volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment, particularly debt securities. The value of your investment in a Fund that invests in equity securities may decrease, potentially by a significant amount. A Fund may invest in equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations. Securities of such companies may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies and the broad equity market indices. See the section “Market Capitalizations/Small Capitalization Companies” below. A Fund’s investments may include securities traded OTC as well as those traded on a securities exchange. Some securities, particularly OTC securities, may be more difficult to sell under some market conditions.
Stocks of companies that a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser believes have earnings that will grow faster than the economy as a whole are known as growth stocks. Growth stocks typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other stocks. As a result, the values of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks. If an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s earnings growth is wrong, or if its judgment of how other investors will value the company’s earnings growth is wrong, then the price of that company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that the Adviser or Subadviser has placed on it.
Stocks of companies that are not expected to experience significant earnings growth, but whose stocks a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser believes are undervalued compared to their true worth, are known as value stocks. These companies may have experienced adverse business developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused their stocks to be out of favor. If an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s assessment of a company’s prospects is wrong, or if other investors do not eventually recognize the value of the company, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that the Adviser or Subadviser has placed on it.
Many stocks may have both “growth” and “value” characteristics, and for some stocks it may be unclear into which category, if any, the stock should be characterized.
Fixed-Income Securities
The Funds may invest in fixed-income securities. Fixed-income securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends, or a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to some specified index or market rate. Fixed-income securities include securities issued by federal, state, local and foreign governments and related agencies, and by a wide range of private or corporate issuers. Fixed-income securities include, among others, bonds, debentures, notes, bills and commercial paper. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of a Fund for any particular period. In addition, the prices of fixed-income securities generally vary inversely with changes in interest rates. Prices of fixed-income securities may also be affected by items related to a particular issue or to the debt markets generally. For example, changes to monetary policy by the Federal Reserve or other regulatory actions could expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity and reduced liquidity, which may impact a Fund’s operations and return potential. The NAV of a Fund’s shares will vary as a result of changes in the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio. As inflation increases, the present value of a Fund’s fixed-income investment typically will decline. Investors’ expectation of future inflation can also adversely affect the current value of portfolio investments, resulting in lower asset values and potential losses.

| Investment-Grade Fixed-Income Securities. To be considered investment-grade quality, at least one of the three major rating agencies (Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), Moody’s or S&P) must have rated the security in one of its respective top four rating categories at the time a Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser must have determined it to be of comparable quality.

| Below Investment-Grade Fixed-Income Securities. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) are rated below investment-grade quality. To be considered below investment-grade quality, none of the three major rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) must have rated the security in one of its respective top four rating categories at the time a Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser must have determined it to be of comparable quality.

Below investment-grade fixed-income securities are subject to greater credit/counterparty risk and market/issuer risk than higher-quality fixed-income securities. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the ability of the issuer to make timely principal and interest payments. If a Fund invests in below investment-grade fixed-income securities, a Fund’s achievement of its objective may be more dependent on the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s own credit analysis than is the case with funds that invest in higher-quality fixed-income securities. The market for below investment-grade fixed-income securities may be more severely affected than some other financial markets by economic recession or substantial interest rate increases, by changing public perceptions of this market, or by legislation that limits the ability of certain categories of financial institutions to invest in these securities. In addition, the secondary market may be less liquid for below investment-grade fixed-income securities. This lack of liquidity at certain times may affect the values of these securities and may make the evaluation and sale of these securities more difficult. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities may be in poor standing or in default and typically have speculative characteristics. These risks are especially acute for distressed instruments, which are securities of issuers in extremely weak financial condition or perceived to have a deteriorating financial condition that will materially affect their ability to meet their financial obligations. Issuers of such instruments are generally experiencing financial or operating difficulties, have substantial capital needs or negative net worth, face special
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competitive or product obsolescence problems, or may be involved in various stages of bankruptcy, restructuring, or liquidation. When a Fund makes an investment, the Fund may incur costs, such as transactional or legal expenses, associated with the investment. With respect to investments in distressed instruments, a Fund may be more likely to incur additional expenses, including costs associated with seeking recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
For more information about the ratings services’ descriptions of the various ratings categories, see Appendix A. A Fund may continue to hold fixed-income securities that are downgraded in quality subsequent to their purchase if the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser believes it would be advantageous to do so.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Some Funds may engage in foreign currency transactions for both hedging and investment purposes. Many foreign securities in a Fund’s portfolio will be denominated in foreign currencies or traded in securities markets in which settlements are made in foreign currencies. Any income on such investments is generally paid to a Fund in foreign currencies. The value of these foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar varies continually, causing changes in the dollar value of a Fund’s portfolio investments (even if the local market price of the investments is unchanged) and changes in the dollar value of a Fund’s income available for distribution to its shareholders. The effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of a Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable.
To protect against a change in the foreign currency exchange rate between the date on which a Fund contracts to purchase or sell a security and the settlement date for the purchase or sale, to gain exposure to one or more foreign currencies or to “lock in” the equivalent of a dividend or interest payment in another currency, a Fund might purchase or sell a foreign currency on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the prevailing spot rate or may enter into futures contracts on an exchange. If conditions warrant, a Fund may also enter into contracts with banks or broker-dealers to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date (“forward contracts”). See the section “Derivative Instruments.”
Forward contracts are subject to many of the same risks as derivatives described in the section “Derivative Instruments.” Forward contracts may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. A Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies, and the Fund will be subject to increased illiquidity and credit/counterparty risk because forward contracts are not traded on an exchange and often are not standardized. A Fund may also be required to liquidate portfolio assets, or may incur increased currency conversion costs, to compensate for a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency occurring between the time when the Fund declares and pays a dividend, or between the time when the Fund accrues and pays an operating expense in U.S. dollars.
In addition, a Fund may buy and write options on foreign currencies in a manner similar to that in which futures or forward contracts on foreign currencies will be utilized. A Fund may use options on foreign currencies to hedge against adverse changes in foreign currency conversion rates. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will reduce the U.S. dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of the portfolio securities, a Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency declines, a Fund will have the right to sell such currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars, thereby offsetting, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio.
Conversely, when a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby increasing the cost of such securities, a Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency. The purchase of such options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to a Fund from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, if currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent desired, a Fund could sustain losses or lesser gains on transactions in foreign currency options that would require the Fund to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in those rates.
Some Funds may also write options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. dollar due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, a Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the decline expected by a Fund occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of portfolio securities be offset at least in part by the amount of the premium received. Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option to hedge against a potential increase in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired, a Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency which, if rates move in the manner projected by the Fund, will expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge the increased cost up to the amount of the premium. If exchange rates do not move in the expected direction, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss, which may not be fully offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, a Fund also may lose all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements in exchange rates.
An Adviser or Subadviser may decide not to engage in currency transactions, and there is no assurance that any currency strategy used by a Fund will succeed. In addition, suitable currency transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that a Fund will engage in these transactions when they would be beneficial. The foreign currency transactions in which a Fund may engage involve risks similar to those described in the section “Derivative Instruments.”
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A Fund’s use of currency transactions may be limited by tax considerations. Transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency denominated debt and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned and may affect the timing or amount of distributions to shareholders.
Transactions in non-U.S. currencies are also subject to many of the risks of investing in non-U.S. securities described in the section “Foreign Securities.” Because a Fund may invest in foreign securities and foreign currencies, changes in foreign economies and political climates are more likely to affect a Fund than a mutual fund that invests exclusively in U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision of foreign markets, resulting in non-uniform accounting practices and less publicly available information. If a Fund’s portfolio is over-weighted in a certain geographic region, any negative development affecting that region will have a greater impact on a Fund than a fund that is not over-weighted in that region.
Foreign Investment Companies
Some of the countries in which the Funds may invest may not permit, or may place economic restrictions on, direct investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may only be permitted through foreign government-approved or authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. A Fund may also invest in registered or unregistered closed-end investment companies that invest in foreign securities. Investing through such vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be subject to limitation under the 1940 Act or to special tax rules under the Code. If a Fund invests in investment companies, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses (including operating expenses and the fees of the Fund’s Adviser), but also, indirectly, the similar expenses of the underlying investment companies.
Foreign Securities
Some Funds may invest in foreign securities. Foreign securities may include, among other things, securities of issuers organized or headquartered outside the U.S. as well as obligations of supranational entities. The examples described in this section should not be considered a definition of “foreign securities.” In addition to the risks associated with investing in securities generally, such investments present additional risks not typically associated with investments in comparable securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to these risks to a greater extent than those in more developed markets, as described more fully in the section “Emerging Markets.”
Non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may include, among other investments: (a) debt obligations issued or guaranteed by non-U.S. national, provincial, state, municipal or other governments or by their agencies or instrumentalities; (b) debt obligations of supranational entities; (c) debt obligations of the U.S. government issued in non-dollar securities; (d) debt obligations and other fixed-income securities of foreign corporate issuers; (e) non-U.S. dollar denominated securities of U.S. corporate issuers; and (f) equity securities issued by foreign corporations or other business organizations. In addition to the risks associated with investing in foreign securities generally, such investments present additional risks not typically associated with investments in comparable securities of U.S. issuers.
There may be less information publicly available about a foreign corporate or government issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign corporate issuers are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the United States. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and securities custody costs are often higher than those in the United States, and judgments against foreign entities may be more difficult to obtain and enforce. Investors in foreign countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue shareholder claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons is limited. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of governmental expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments that could affect the value of investments in those countries. Foreign issuers may become subject to sanctions imposed by the U.S. or another country or other governmental or non-governmental organizations, which could result in the immediate freeze of the foreign issuers’ assets or securities and/or make their securities worthless. The imposition of such sanctions, such as sanctions imposed against Russia, Russian entities and Russian individuals in recent years, could impair the market value of the securities of such foreign issuers and limit a Fund’s ability to buy, sell, receive or deliver the securities. Sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, may cause volatility in regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of such Fund. If a Fund’s portfolio is over-weighted in a certain geographic region, any negative development affecting that region will have a greater impact on a Fund than a fund that is not over-weighted in that region. The receipt of interest on foreign government securities may depend on the availability of tax or other revenues to satisfy the issuer’s obligations.
Since most foreign securities are denominated in foreign currencies or traded primarily in securities markets in which settlements are made in foreign currencies, the value of these investments and the net investment income available for distribution to shareholders of a Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations. To the extent a Fund may purchase securities denominated in foreign currencies, a change in the value of any such currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets and the Fund’s income available for distribution. The 2008 global economic crisis has caused many European countries to experience serious fiscal difficulties, including bankruptcy, public budget deficits, recession, sovereign default, restructuring of government debt, credit rating downgrades and an overall weakening of the
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banking and financial sectors. In addition, some European economies may depend on others for assistance, and the inability of such economies to achieve the reforms or objectives upon which that assistance is conditioned may result in deeper and/or longer financial downturns among the Eurozone nations. Recent events in the Eurozone have called into question the long-term viability of the euro as a shared currency among the Eurozone nations. Moreover, strict fiscal and monetary controls imposed by the European Economic and Monetary Union as well as any other requirements it may impose on member countries may significantly impact such countries and limit them from implementing their own economic policies to some degree. As the result of economic, political, regulatory or other actions taken in response to this crisis, including any discontinuation of the euro as the shared currency among the Eurozone nations or the implementation of capital controls or the restructuring of financial institutions, a Fund’s euro-denominated investments may become difficult to value, a Fund may be unable to dispose of investments or repatriate investment proceeds, a Fund’s ability to operate its strategy in connection with euro-denominated securities may be significantly impaired and the value of the Fund’s euro-denominated investments may decline significantly and unpredictably.
Global economies and financial markets are interconnected, and conditions in one country, region, or market could adversely impact economic conditions, market conditions, and issuers in other countries, regions, or markets. For example, a member state’s decision to leave the European Economic and Monetary Union and/or the European Union, or any increased uncertainty as to the status of such entities, could have significant adverse effects on global currency and financial markets, and on the values of a Fund’s investments. The European Union faces challenges related to member states seeking to change their relationship with the European Union, exemplified by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2020 (an event commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Brexit has resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. There is still considerable uncertainty remaining in the market regarding the ramifications of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the arrangements that will apply to the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union and other countries following its withdrawal; the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. Moreover, other countries may seek to withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the euro, the common currency of the European Union. Additionally, certain European countries, as well as China, have developed increasingly strained relationships with the U.S., and if these relations were to worsen, they could adversely affect European and Chinese issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade. Moreover, the national politics of countries in Europe have been unpredictable and subject to influence by disruptive political groups and ideologies, including for example, secessionist movements. The governments of European countries may be subject to change and such countries may experience social and political unrest. The ultimate effects of these events and other socio-political or geopolitical issues are not known but could profoundly affect global economies and markets. Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments.
Furthermore, many emerging and developing market countries have experienced outbreaks of pandemic or contagious diseases from time to time. Because emerging and developing market countries tend to have less established health care systems, the adverse impact of outbreaks may be more severe for these countries. The risks of such outbreaks and resulting social, political, economic and environmental damage cannot be quantified. Such outbreaks can affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general. The impact may be short term or may last for an extended period of time.
Although a Fund’s income may be received or realized in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines after a Fund’s income has been earned in that currency, translated into U.S. dollars and declared as a dividend, but before payment of such dividend, the Fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to pay such dividend. Similarly, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines between the time a Fund incurs expenses or other obligations in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses or obligations are paid, the amount of such currency required to be converted into U.S. dollars in order to pay such expenses in U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount in such currency of such expenses at the time they were incurred. Compliance with foreign tax laws may reduce a Fund’s net income available for distribution to shareholders.
In addition, because the Funds may invest in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time each such Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by a Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of a Fund’s shares by virtue of their transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although each such Fund has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating its NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments that are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. The Funds’ securities may change in price on days on which the U.S. markets are closed and the Funds do not calculate their NAVs or sell or redeem their shares. For more information on how the Funds use fair value pricing, see the section “Net Asset Value.”
Foreign withholding or other taxes imposed on a Fund’s investments in foreign securities will reduce the Fund’s return on those securities. In certain circumstances, a Fund may be able to elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. See the section “Taxes.”
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Depositary Receipts
Some Funds may invest in foreign equity securities by purchasing “depositary receipts.” Depositary receipts are instruments issued by banks that represent an interest in foreign equity securities held by arrangement with the bank. Depositary receipts can be either “sponsored” or “unsponsored.” Sponsored depositary receipts are issued by banks in cooperation with the issuer of the underlying equity securities. Unsponsored depositary receipts are arranged without involvement by the issuer of the underlying equity securities and, therefore, less information about the issuer of the underlying equity securities may be available and the price may be more volatile than in the case of sponsored depositary receipts. American Depositary Receipts are depositary receipts that are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company. European Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts are depositary receipts that are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies and evidence ownership of securities issued by either foreign banks or trust companies; they may evidence ownership of securities issued by a U.S. or foreign company. All depositary receipts, including those denominated in U.S. dollars, will be subject to foreign currency risk. See the section “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information.
Because some Funds may invest in depositary receipts, changes in foreign economies and political climates are more likely to affect those Funds than a mutual fund that invests exclusively in U.S. companies. In addition, legislation passed in the U.S. could cause securities of a foreign issuer, including American Depositary Receipts, to be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges if the issuer does not allow the U.S. government to inspect or investigate the auditing of its financial information. Although the requirements of this legislation apply to securities of all foreign issuers, the U.S. government has thus far limited its enforcement efforts to securities of Chinese companies. If securities are delisted, a Fund’s ability to transact in such securities will be impaired, and the liquidity and market price of the securities may decline. A Fund may also need to seek other markets in which to transact in such securities, which could increase the Fund’s costs. See the section “Foreign Securities” for more information.
Supranational Entities
Some Funds may invest in securities issued by supranational entities, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly called the “World Bank”), the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The governmental members of these supranational entities are “stockholders” that typically make capital contributions to support or promote such entities’ economic reconstruction or development activities and may be committed to make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its borrowings. A supranational entity’s lending activities may be limited to a percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no assurance that the constituent governments will be able or willing to honor their commitments to those entities, with the result that the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and a Fund may lose money on such investments. Obligations of a supranational entity that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies, as described above in the sections “Foreign Securities” and “Foreign Currency Transactions.”
Geopolitical Risk
Occurrence of global events similar to those in recent years, such as war (including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine), terrorist attacks, natural or environmental disasters, country instability, infectious disease epidemics, such as that caused by the COVID-19 virus, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions, trade disputes and other trade barriers and other governmental trade or market control programs, the potential exit of a country from its respective union and related geopolitical events, may result in market volatility and may have long-lasting impacts on both the U.S. and global financial markets. Events occurring in one region of the world may negatively impact industries and regions that are not otherwise directly impacted by the events. Additionally, those events, as well as other changes in foreign and domestic political and economic conditions, could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. Trade disputes have in the past affected the economies of the United States and its trading partners, as well as companies directly or indirectly affected and financial markets generally. Similar circumstances may arise in the future, and the occurrence of such events and their impact on the Funds are impossible to predict.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions. The United States and many other countries have instituted various economic sanctions against Russian individuals and entities. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions imposed and other punitive actions taken and resulting future market disruptions in Europe and globally cannot be easily predicted, but could be significant and have a severe adverse effect on the global economy, securities markets and commodities markets globally. Other issuers or markets could be similarly affected by past or future geopolitical or other events or conditions. Furthermore, prolonged conflict in the Middle East, and the potential expansion of the conflict in the surrounding areas and the involvement of other nations in such conflict, such as the Houthi movement’s attacks on marine vessels in the Red Sea, could further destabilize the Middle East region and introduce new uncertainties in global markets, including the oil and natural gas markets.
Adverse developments that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, may reduce liquidity in the market generally or have other adverse effects on the economy, a Fund or issuers in which the Funds invest. In addition, issuers in which the Funds invest and the Funds may not be able to identify all potential solvency or stress concerns with respect to a financial institution or to transfer assets from one bank or financial institution to another in a timely manner in the event such bank or financial institution comes under stress or fails. See the section “Financial Services Risk” above for more information.
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Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies. The U.S. government recently altered its approach to international trade policy, resulting in significant impacts on international trade relations, certain tax and immigration policies, and other aspects of the national and international political and financial landscape. The rise in protectionist trade policies, slowing economic growth, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with trade agreements between the U.S. and the European Union, and the risks associated with trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
Global trade disruption, significant introductions of trade barriers, and bilateral trade frictions, together with any future downturns in the global economy resulting therefrom, could adversely affect the financial performance of a Fund and its investments. Trade policy may be an ongoing source of instability, potentially resulting in significant currency fluctuations and/or having other adverse effects on international markets, international trade agreements, and/or other existing cross-border cooperation arrangements (whether economic, tax, fiscal, legal, regulatory, or otherwise). To the extent trade disputes escalate globally, there could be additional significant impacts on the sectors or industries in which a Fund invests and financial markets generally, as well as other adverse impacts on a Fund’s overall performance.
Green Bonds
Some Funds may invest in green bonds. Green bonds are issued to finance specific projects to generate an environmental benefit while offering potential market return in the same manner as other “conventional” fixed-income securities. Green bonds may be issued by corporations, banks, supranational entities, development banks, agencies, regions and governments, among others. Certain green bonds may be dependent on government incentives and subsidies and lack of political support for the financing of projects with a positive environmental impact could negatively impact the performance of the Fund. As the green bond market is relatively new and continues to evolve, the criteria used to define green bonds may change in the future. Green bonds are often purchased on the primary market and a Fund’s ability to purchase green bonds on the primary market may be restricted if an affiliate of the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser is part of the underwriting or selling syndicate.
Illiquid Securities
Some Funds may invest in illiquid securities, either by acquiring illiquid investments or owning investments that become illiquid because of financial distress or geopolitical events (such as trading halts, sanctions or wars). Illiquid securities generally are those that are not readily resalable. Securities whose disposition is restricted by federal securities laws may be considered illiquid. Securities generally will be considered “illiquid” if a Fund reasonably expects the security cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the security. Investment in illiquid securities involves the risk that a Fund may be unable to sell such a security at the desired time or at the price at which the Fund values the security. Also, a Fund may incur expenses, losses or delays in the process of registering restricted securities prior to resale.
The Funds have implemented a liquidity risk management program pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with Rule 22e-4, the Funds may not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Funds would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. In the event a Fund’s illiquid investments exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the Adviser will seek to bring the Fund’s illiquid investments to or below 15% of the Fund’s net assets within a reasonable time.
Indirect Exposure to Cryptocurrency Risk
Cryptocurrencies are currencies which exist in a digital form and may act as a store of wealth, a medium of exchange or an investment asset. Cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in the United States. There are thousands of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin. Some issuers have begun to accept cryptocurrency for payment of services, use cryptocurrencies as reserve assets or invest in cryptocurrencies, and the Funds may invest in securities of such issuers. The Funds may also invest in securities of issuers which provide cryptocurrency-related services.
Cryptocurrencies are subject to substantial fluctuations in value. Cryptocurrencies are not backed by any government, corporation, or other identified body. Rather, the value of a cryptocurrency is determined by other factors, such as the perceived future prospects or the supply and demand for such cryptocurrency in the global market for the trading of cryptocurrency. Such trading markets are unregulated and may be more exposed to operational or technical issues as well as fraud or manipulation in comparison to established, regulated exchanges for securities, derivatives and traditional currencies. The value of a cryptocurrency may decline precipitously (including to zero) for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, regulatory changes, a loss of confidence in its network or a change in user preference to other cryptocurrencies. An issuer that owns cryptocurrencies may experience custody issues, and may lose its cryptocurrency holdings through theft, hacking, and technical glitches in the applicable blockchain. The Funds may experience losses as a result of the decline in value of its securities of issuers that own or have exposure to cryptocurrencies or which provide cryptocurrency-related services, including banks that provide cryptocurrency-related banking services. If an issuer that owns cryptocurrencies intends to pay a dividend using such holdings or to otherwise make a distribution of such holdings to its stockholders, such dividends or distributions may face regulatory, operational and technical issues.
Factors affecting the further development of cryptocurrencies include, but are not limited to: continued worldwide growth of, or possible cessation of or reversal in, the adoption and use of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets; the developing regulatory environment relating to cryptocurrencies, including the characterization of cryptocurrencies as currencies, commodities, or securities, the tax treatment of cryptocurrencies, and government and quasi-government regulation or restrictions on, or regulation of access to and operation of,
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cryptocurrency networks and the exchanges on which cryptocurrencies trade, including anti-money laundering regulations and requirements; perceptions regarding the environmental impact of a cryptocurrency; changes in consumer demographics and public preferences; general economic conditions; maintenance and development of open-source software protocols; the availability and popularity of other forms or methods of buying and selling goods and services; the use of the networks supporting digital assets, such as those for developing smart contracts and distributed applications; and general risks tied to the use of information technologies, including cyber risks. A hack or failure of one cryptocurrency may lead to a loss in confidence in, and thus decreased usage and/or value of, other cryptocurrencies.
Inflation-Linked and Inflation-Indexed Securities
Some Funds may invest in inflation-linked and -indexed securities. Inflation-linked and -indexed securities are fixed-income securities whose principal values are adjusted periodically according to the rate of inflation. These securities generally have maturities of ten or thirty years and interest is payable semiannually. The principal amount of these securities increases with increases in the price index used as a reference value for the securities. In addition, the amounts payable as coupon interest payments increase when the price index increases because the interest amount is calculated by multiplying the principal amount (as adjusted) by a fixed coupon rate.
Although inflation-linked and -indexed securities protect their holders from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may result in a decline in value. The values of inflation-linked and -indexed securities generally fluctuate in response to changes to real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a rate faster than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of the inflation-linked and -indexed securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of inflation-linked and -indexed securities. If inflation is lower than expected during a period in which a Fund holds inflation-linked and -indexed securities, the Fund may earn less on such securities than on a conventional security. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in inflation-linked and -indexed securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the price index used as a reference for the securities. There can be no assurance that the price index used for an inflation-linked and -indexed security will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Inflation-linked and -indexed securities include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities issued by the U.S. government (see the section “U.S. Government Securities” for additional information), but also may include securities issued by state, local and non-U.S. governments and corporations and supranational entities.
A Fund’s investments in inflation-linked and -indexed securities can cause the Fund to accrue income for U.S. federal income tax purposes without a corresponding receipt of cash; the Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio securities (including when not otherwise advantageous to do so) in order to obtain sufficient cash to meet its distribution requirements for eligibility to be treated as a RIC under the Code.
Initial Public Offerings (“IPO”)
Some Funds may purchase securities of companies that are offered pursuant to an IPO. An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public in the primary market, typically to raise additional capital. A Fund may purchase a “hot” IPO (also known as a “hot issue”), which is an IPO that is oversubscribed and, as a result, is an investment opportunity of limited availability. As a consequence, the price at which these IPO shares open in the secondary market may be significantly higher than the original IPO price. IPO securities tend to involve greater risk due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. There is the possibility of losses resulting from the difference between the issue price and potential diminished value of the stock once traded in the secondary market. A Fund’s investment in IPO securities may have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance and may result in significant capital gains.
Investment Companies
Certain Funds may invest in other investment companies. Investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), are essentially pools of securities. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying securities, but may involve additional expenses at the investment company level, such as investment advisory fees and operating expenses. In some cases, investing in an investment company may involve the payment of a premium over the value of the assets held in that investment company’s portfolio. In other circumstances, the market value of an investment company’s shares may be less than the NAV per share of the investment company. As an investor in another investment company, a Fund will bear its ratable share of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, and the Fund’s shareholders will bear such expenses indirectly, in addition to similar fees and expenses of the Fund. A Fund may also be exposed to the risks associated with the underlying investment company’s investments.
Despite the possibility of greater fees and expenses, investment in other investment companies may be attractive nonetheless for several reasons, especially in connection with foreign investments. Because of restrictions on direct investment by U.S. entities in certain countries, investing indirectly in such countries (by purchasing shares of another fund that is permitted to invest in such countries) may be the most practical and efficient way for a Fund to invest in such countries. In other cases, when a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser desires to make only a relatively small investment in a particular country, investing through another fund that holds a diversified portfolio in that country may be more effective than investing directly in issuers in that country. In addition, it may be efficient for a Fund to gain exposure to particular market segments by investing in shares of one or more investment companies.
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ETFs
Some of the Funds may invest in shares of ETFs. An ETF is an investment company that is generally registered under the 1940 Act that holds a portfolio of securities designed to track the performance of a particular index and may be actively managed. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which can be bought and redeemed from the issuing fund by all shareholders at a price based on NAV, shares of an ETF may be purchased or redeemed directly from the ETF solely by Authorized Participants (“APs”) and only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (often 10,000 or more) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market in lots of any size at any time during the trading day. The Funds will typically buy and redeem shares of ETFs on the secondary market. ETFs sometimes also refer to entities that are not registered under the 1940 Act that invest directly in commodities or other assets (e.g., gold bullion). Investments in ETFs involve certain inherent risks generally associated with investments in a broadly-based portfolio of securities, including risks that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of each unit of the ETF or other instrument. In addition, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index because of the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or number of stocks held. ETFs are also subject to additional risks, including, among others, the risk that the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below its NAV, the risk that an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained, the risk that trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted, and the risk that the ETF’s shares may be delisted from the listing exchange. ETFs may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as APs and to the extent that those APs exit the business, or are unable to or choose not to process creation and/or redemption orders for creation units and no other AP steps forward to create and redeem ETF shares, the ETF’s shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts or delisting.
Limitations on Investments in Other Investment Companies.
Investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, are typically subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act limitations currently provide, in part, that, unless an exception applies, a Fund may not purchase shares of an investment company if such a purchase would cause the Fund (a) to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company; (b) to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the aggregate in the investment company; or (c) to have more than 10% of its total assets invested in the aggregate in all investment companies. Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act permits the Funds to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions, including that the Funds must enter into investment agreements with other investment companies in certain circumstances. These restrictions could affect a Fund’s ability to redeem its investments in other investment companies, make such investments less attractive, cause the Fund to incur losses, realize taxable gains distributable to shareholders, incur greater or unexpected expenses, or experience other adverse consequences.
Market Capitalizations
Some Funds may invest in companies with small, medium or large market capitalizations. Large capitalization companies are generally large companies that have been in existence for a number of years and are well established in their market. Middle market capitalization companies are generally medium-sized companies that are not as established as large capitalization companies, may be more volatile and are subject to many of the same risks as smaller capitalization companies.
Small Capitalization Companies
Some Funds may invest in companies with relatively small market capitalizations. Such investments may involve greater risk than is usually associated with more established companies. These companies often have sales and earnings growth rates that exceed those of companies with larger market capitalizations. Such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation. However, companies with smaller market capitalization often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may be dependent upon a relatively small management group. These securities may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements in price than securities of companies with larger market capitalization or market averages in general. To the extent that a Fund invests in companies with relatively small market capitalizations, the value of its stock portfolio may fluctuate more widely than broad market averages.
Money Market Instruments
Each Fund may invest in money market instruments. Money market instruments are high-quality, short-term securities. A Fund’s money market investments at the time of purchase (other than U.S. government securities (defined below) and repurchase agreements relating thereto) generally will be rated at the time of purchase in the two highest short-term rating categories as rated by a major credit agency or, if unrated, will be of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser or Subadviser. A Fund may invest in instruments of lesser quality and do not have any minimum credit quality restriction. Money market instruments maturing in less than one year may yield less than obligations of comparable quality having longer maturities.
Although changes in interest rates can change the market value of a security, the Funds expect those changes to be minimal with respect to these securities, which may be purchased by a Fund for defensive purposes. A Fund’s money market investments may be issued by U.S. banks, foreign banks (including their U.S. branches) or foreign branches and subsidiaries of U.S. banks. Obligations of foreign banks may be subject to foreign economic, political and legal risks. Such risks include foreign economic and political developments, foreign governmental restrictions that may adversely affect payment of principal and interest on the obligations, foreign withholding or
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other taxes on interest income, difficulties in obtaining and enforcing a judgment against a foreign obligor, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage) and the expropriation or nationalization of assets or deposits. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks are not necessarily subject to the same or similar regulatory requirements that apply to domestic banks. For instance, such branches and banks may not be subject to the types of requirements imposed on domestic banks with respect to mandatory reserves, loan limitations, examinations, accounting, auditing, recordkeeping and the public availability of information. Obligations of such branches or banks will be purchased only when the Adviser or Subadviser believes the risks are minimal.
A Fund may invest in U.S. government securities that include all securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities (“U.S. government securities”). Some U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. U.S. government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are considered riskier than those that are. See the section “U.S. Government Securities” for additional information.
Although the Funds may invest in money market instruments, they are not money market funds and therefore are not subject to the portfolio quality, maturity and NAV requirements applicable to money market funds. A Fund will not seek to maintain a stable NAV. The Funds also will not be required to comply with the rating restrictions applicable to money market funds, and will not necessarily sell an investment in cases where a security’s rating has been downgraded.
Considerations of liquidity, safety and preservation of capital may preclude a Fund from investing in money market instruments paying the highest available yield at a particular time. In addition, a Fund’s ability to trade money market securities may be constrained by the collateral requirements related to the Fund’s other investments. As a result, a Fund may need to buy or sell money market instruments at inopportune times. In addition, even though money market instruments generally are considered to be high-quality and a low-risk investment, issuers of money market and money market-type instruments have in the past experienced financial difficulties, leading in some cases to rating downgrades and decreases in the value of their securities, and similar circumstances may occur in the future. For example, during the market volatility caused by the COVID-19 outbreak beginning in March 2020, many money market instruments that were thought to be highly liquid became illiquid and lost value. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, took extraordinary actions with respect to the financial markets generally and money market instruments in particular. While these actions stabilized the markets for these instruments, there can be no assurances that governments and central banks will take such actions in response to similar market volatility in the future, or that any actions, if taken, would be effective. If a Fund’s money market instruments become illiquid, the Fund may be unable to satisfy certain of its obligations or may only be able to do so by selling other securities at prices or times that may be disadvantageous to do so.
Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by a Fund. The SEC has adopted amendments to money market fund regulation that permit a money market fund to impose discretionary liquidity fees, increase the fund’s daily and weekly liquid asset minimum requirements and eliminate the ability of the fund to temporarily suspend redemptions due to declines in such fund’s weekly liquid assets, among other changes. These changes may result in reduced yields for money market funds, including funds that may invest in other money market funds. The SEC or other regulators may adopt additional money market fund reforms, which may impact the structure and operation or performance of a Fund.
Mortgage Dollar Rolls
The Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls. A dollar roll involves the sale of a security by a Fund and its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price, and may be considered a form of borrowing for some purposes. A dollar roll involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. A Fund may be required to purchase securities at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since the counterparty in the transaction is required to deliver a similar, but not identical, security to a Fund, the security that the Fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. There is no assurance that a Fund’s use of the cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
Mortgage-Related Securities
Each Fund may invest in mortgage-related securities, such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) certificates, which differ from traditional debt/fixed-income securities. Among the major differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans generally may be prepaid at any time. As a result, if a Fund purchases these assets at a premium, a faster-than-expected prepayment rate will tend to reduce yield to maturity, and a slower-than-expected prepayment rate may have the opposite effect of increasing yield to maturity. If a Fund purchases mortgage-related securities at a discount, faster-than-expected prepayments will tend to increase, and slower-than-expected prepayments will tend to reduce, yield to maturity. Prepayments, and resulting amounts available for reinvestment by a Fund, are likely to be greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates. Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased at a premium may result in a loss of principal if the premium has not been fully amortized at the time of prepayment. Although these securities will decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates generally, they are likely to appreciate less than other fixed-income securities when interest rates decline because of the risk of prepayments. In addition, an increase in interest rates would increase the inherent volatility of a Fund by increasing the average life of the Fund’s portfolio securities.
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The value of some mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by mortgage pools that contain “subprime” or “Alt-A” loans (loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories, less documentation or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans), but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic downturn, high unemployment, a general slowdown in the real estate market, a drop in the market prices of real estate, or an increase in interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments by holders of adjustable-rate mortgages. For example, ongoing developments in the residential and commercial mortgage markets may have additional consequences for the market for mortgage-backed securities. During periods of deteriorating economic conditions, such as recessions or periods of rising unemployment, delinquencies and losses generally increase, sometimes drastically, with respect to securitizations involving mortgage loans. Many subprime mortgage pools have become distressed during the periods of economic distress and may trade at significant discounts to their face value during such periods. The effects of and responses to pandemics and epidemics, may result in increased delinquencies and losses and may have other, potentially unanticipated, adverse effects on such investments and the markets for those investments.
Securities issued by the GNMA and the FNMA and similar issuers also may be exposed to risks described in the section “U.S. Government Securities.” A Fund also may gain exposure to mortgage-related securities through entering into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments related to this asset class. For example, a Fund may enter into credit default swaps on CMBX, which are indices made up of tranches of commercial mortgage-backed securities, each with different credit ratings. Utilizing CMBX, one can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of such securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying mortgage-backed securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to mortgage-related securities are subject to the risks associated with mortgage-related securities generally, as well as the risks of derivatives transactions. See the section “Derivative Instruments” above.
Municipal Obligations
Some Funds may purchase municipal obligations. The term “municipal obligations” generally is understood to include debt obligations issued by municipalities to obtain funds for various public purposes, the income from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, if the proceeds from private activity bonds are used for the construction, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, the interest paid on such bonds may be excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, although current U.S. federal income tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of these issues. A Fund’s distributions of any interest it earns on municipal obligations will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
The two principal classifications of municipal obligations are “general obligation” and “revenue” bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable 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, but not from the general taxing power. Private activity bonds are revenue bonds that are issued by municipalities and other public authorities to finance development of industrial or other facilities for use by private enterprise. The private enterprise (and/or any guarantor) pays the principal and interest on the bond; the user does not pledge its faith, credit and taxing power for repayment. The credit and quality of private activity bonds are usually tied to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Sizable investments in these obligations could involve an increased risk to the Funds should any of the related facilities experience financial difficulties. Private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds and do not generally carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality. There are, of course, variations in the security of municipal obligations, both within a particular classification and between classifications.
Municipal securities include debt obligations issued by governmental entities to obtain funds for various public purposes, such as the construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding obligations, the payment of general operating expenses, and the extension of loans to other public institutions and facilities. Other types of municipal securities include short-term general obligation notes, tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, project notes, tax-exempt commercial paper, construction loan notes and other forms of short-term tax-exempt loans. Such instruments are issued with a short-term maturity in anticipation of the receipt of tax funds, the proceeds of bond placements or other revenues. An issuer’s obligations under its municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the federal bankruptcy code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon the enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on and principal of its municipal securities may be materially adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.
Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, especially those relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. In addition, changes in the financial condition of an individual municipal issuer can affect the overall municipal
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market. Additionally, because some municipal obligations may be secured or guaranteed by banks and other institutions, the risk associated with investments in such municipal securities could increase if the banking or financial sector suffers an economic downturn and/or if the credit ratings of the institutions issuing the guarantee are downgraded or at risk of being downgraded by a national rating organization. If such events occur, the value of the security could decrease or the value could be lost entirely, and it may be difficult or impossible to sell the security at the time and the price that normally prevails in the market.
Municipal bonds, which generally have maturities of more than one year when issued, are designed to meet longer-term capital needs. Some longer-term municipal bonds allow an investor to “put” or sell the security at a specified time and price to the issuer or other “put provider.” If a put provider fails to honor its commitment to purchase the security, a Fund may have to treat the security’s final maturity as its effective maturity, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.
A Fund that invests in the municipal bond market is subject to certain risks. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of a Fund may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of its Adviser or Subadviser. Recent events have demonstrated that the lack of disclosure rules in this area can make it difficult for investors to obtain reliable information on the obligations underlying municipal bonds. The secondary market for municipal bonds, particularly the lower-rated bonds, also tends to be less well developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to sell its bonds at attractive prices. Reduced liquidity in the secondary market for municipal bonds may have an adverse impact on the market price of such bonds and on a Fund’s ability to sell such bonds in response to changes or anticipated changes in economic conditions or to meet the Fund’s cash needs. Reduced liquidity may also make it more difficult to obtain market quotations based on actual trades for purposes of valuing a Fund’s portfolio. The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal, state and local governments. Local and national market forces–such as declines in real estate prices and general business activity–may result in decreasing tax bases, fluctuations in interest rates, and increasing construction costs, all of which could reduce the ability of certain issuers of municipal bonds to repay their obligations. Certain issuers of municipal bonds have also been unable to obtain additional financing through, or must pay higher interest rates on, new issues, which may reduce revenues available for issuers of municipal bonds to pay existing obligations. The recent economic downturn and budgetary constraints have made municipal bonds more susceptible to downgrade, default and bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, a Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. In addition, difficulties in the municipal bond markets could result in increased liquidity risk, volatility risk and credit/counterparty risk, and a decrease in the number of municipal bond investment opportunities. The perceived increased likelihood of default among issuers of municipal bonds has resulted in reduced liquidity, increased price volatility and credit downgrades of issuers of municipal bonds. Adverse developments in the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of all or a substantial portion of a Fund’s holdings in municipal bonds.
The value of municipal bonds may also be affected by uncertainties involving the taxation of municipal bonds or the rights of municipal bond holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal bonds are introduced before Congress from time to time. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipal issuers to levy taxes. These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal bond market as a whole, certain specific sectors of the market, or the credit rating of particular securities.
National Security / Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) Regulation Risk
Certain investments by a Fund that involve a business connected with or related to national security (including, without limitation, critical technology, critical infrastructure, or sensitive data) may be subject to review and approval by CFIUS and/or non-U.S. national security/investment clearance regulators. In the event that CFIUS or another regulator reviews one or more of a Fund’s proposed or existing investments, it is possible that CFIUS or another regulator will seek to impose limitations on or prohibit one or more of the Fund’s investments or unwind a transaction. Such limitations or restrictions may prevent a Fund from pursuing certain investments, cause delays with respect to consummating such investments, or require the Fund to consummate an investment on terms that are less advantageous than would be the case absent such restrictions. Where a Fund is required to unwind a transaction, in addition to incurring additional legal, administrative, and other costs, the Fund may have to dispose of the investment at a price that is less than it would have received had the Fund exited at a different time or under different circumstances. Any of these outcomes could adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Original Issue Discount (“OID”) Securities
Some Funds may invest in OID securities. OID securities are securities that have OID as defined in section 1273 of the Code and that generate OID inclusions in the holder’s taxable income under section 1272 of the Code. Generally, OID is the excess of a security’s stated redemption price at maturity over the issue price. OID securities generally include any securities issued with a term exceeding one year at a discount to redemption price, including but not limited to pay-in-kind securities and zero-coupon securities. In general, for tax purposes, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in a Fund’s income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. In order to satisfy a requirement for qualification for treatment as a RIC under the Code, a Fund must distribute each year at least 90% of its net investment income, including the OID accrued on OID securities. Because a Fund will not, on a current basis, receive cash payments
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from the issuer of an OID security in respect of accrued OID, in some years a Fund may have to distribute cash obtained from other sources in order to satisfy its distribution requirements for eligibility to be treated as a RIC under the Code and to eliminate tax at the fund level. Such cash might be obtained from selling other portfolio holdings of a Fund. In some circumstances, such sales might be necessary in order to satisfy cash distribution requirements even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for a Fund to sell such securities at such time.
Pay-in-Kind Securities
Some Funds may invest in pay-in-kind securities, which are securities that pay dividends or interest in the form of additional securities of the issuer, rather than in cash. These securities are usually issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on various factors, such as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of pay-in-kind securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than are other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. A Fund would be required to distribute the income on these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund would not receive the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, such Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to its shareholders.
Preferred Stock
Some Funds may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock pays dividends at a specified rate and generally has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the issuer’s assets, but is junior to the debt securities of the issuer in those same respects. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, dividends on preferred stock are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors. Shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Under normal circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights.
Private Placements
Some Funds may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements. While private placements may offer opportunities for investment that are not otherwise available on the open market, these securities may be subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for these securities, 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 or impossible to sell the securities when its Adviser or Subadviser believes that it is advisable to do so, or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if the securities were more widely held. At times, it also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of the securities for purposes of computing a Fund’s NAV.
The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for illiquid investments such as private placements. Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell the illiquid securities promptly at an acceptable price. A Fund may have to bear the extra expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting the registration. In addition, market quotations are typically less readily available (if available at all) for these securities. The judgment of a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser may at times play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of unrestricted securities.
A Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act when reselling privately issued securities to the public. As such, a Fund may be liable to purchasers of the securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of the registration statement, is materially inaccurate or misleading.
Privatizations
Some Funds may participate in privatizations. In a number of countries around the world, governments have undertaken to sell to investors interests in enterprises that the governments have historically owned or controlled. These transactions are known as “privatizations” and may in some cases represent opportunities for significant capital appreciation. In some cases, the ability of U.S. investors, such as the Funds, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, and the terms of participation for U.S. investors may be less advantageous than those for local investors. Also, there is no assurance that privatized enterprises will be successful, or that an investment in such an enterprise will retain its value or appreciate in value.
Regulation S Securities
Subject to certain conditions, a Fund may purchase securities issued pursuant to Regulation S of the Securities Act (“Regulation S Securities”). Regulation S Securities are subject to restrictions on sales to U.S. persons. Therefore, when a Fund sells Regulation S Securities that it has purchased, the market for such securities will generally be limited to non-U.S. investors.
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REITs
Some Funds may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs involve certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general (such as possible declines in the value of real estate, lack of availability of mortgage funds, or extended vacancies of property). The U.S. residential and commercial real estate markets may, in the future, experience and have, in the past, experienced a decline in value, with certain regions experiencing significant losses in property values. Exposure to such real estate, including through REITs, may adversely affect Fund performance. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended and changes in interest rates. REITs, whose underlying assets are concentrated in properties used by a particular industry, such as health care, are also subject to risks associated with such industry. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, risks of default by borrowers, and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Code, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.
REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks, including prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. If the REIT invests in adjustable rate mortgage loans the interest rates on which are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates. This causes the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than more widely held securities.
A Fund’s investment in a REIT may result in the Fund making distributions that constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, distributions by a Fund from REITs will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction, or, generally, for treatment as qualified dividend income.
Real Estate Securities
The Funds may invest in securities of companies in the real estate industry, including REITs and issuers similar to REITs formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. Therefore, the Funds are subject to the special risks associated with the real estate market and the real estate industry in general. Companies in the real estate industry are considered to be those that (i) have principal activity involving the development, ownership, construction, management or sale of real estate; (ii) have significant real estate holdings, such as hospitality companies, supermarkets and mining, lumber and paper companies; and/or (iii) provide products or services related to the real estate industry, such as financial institutions that make and/or service mortgage loans and manufacturers or distributors of building supplies. Securities of companies in the real estate industry are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer (as well as the creditworthiness of and defaults by underlying borrowers and tenants). Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under applicable laws (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act, environmental, tax and hazardous waste laws).
Repurchase Agreements
The Funds may enter into repurchase agreements, by which a Fund purchases a security and obtains a simultaneous commitment from the seller (a bank or, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, a recognized securities dealer) to repurchase the security at an agreed-upon price and date (usually seven days or less from the date of original purchase). The resale price is in excess of the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. Repurchase agreements are economically similar to collateralized loans by a Fund. Such transactions afford a Fund the opportunity to earn a return on temporarily available cash at relatively low market/issuer risk. The Funds do not have percentage limitations on how much of their total assets may be invested in repurchase agreements. The Funds typically may also use repurchase agreements for cash management and temporary defensive purposes, and certain Funds may use repurchase agreements for investment purposes. A Fund may invest in a repurchase agreement that does not produce a positive return to the Fund if the Adviser or Subadviser believes it is appropriate to do so under the circumstances (for example, to help protect the Fund’s uninvested cash against the risk of loss during periods of market turmoil). While the underlying security may be a bill, certificate of indebtedness, note or bond issued by an agency, authority or instrumentality of the U.S. government, the obligation of the seller is not guaranteed by the U.S. government and there is a risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the underlying security. In such event, a Fund would attempt to exercise rights with respect to the underlying security, including possible disposition in the market. However, a Fund may be subject to various delays and risks of loss, including (i) possible declines in the value of the underlying security during the period while a Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto, (ii) possible reduced levels of income and lack of access to income during this period, and (iii) inability to enforce rights and the expenses involved in the attempted enforcement, for example, against a counterparty undergoing financial distress. See also the “Credit/Counterparty Risk” and “Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives” sections. The SEC recently finalized rules that will require certain transactions involving U.S. Treasuries, including repurchase agreements, to be centrally cleared. Historically, such transactions have not been required
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to be cleared and voluntary clearing of such transactions has generally been limited. Compliance with these rules is expected to be required by mid-2027. Although the impact of these rules on each Fund is difficult to predict, they may reduce the availability or increase the costs of such transactions, or otherwise make it more difficult for a Fund to execute certain investment strategies, and may adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
The Funds may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement a Fund transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another person, such as a financial institution, broker or dealer, in return for cash, and agrees that on a stipulated date in the future the Fund will repurchase the portfolio instrument by remitting the original consideration plus interest at an agreed-upon rate. The ability to use reverse repurchase agreements may enable, but does not ensure the ability of, a Fund to avoid selling portfolio instruments at a time when a sale may be deemed to be disadvantageous. Pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, a Fund has the option to treat all reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions as “derivatives transactions,” or to include all such transactions in the Fund’s asset coverage ratio for borrowings. The SEC recently finalized rules that will require certain transactions involving U.S. Treasuries, including reverse repurchase agreements, to be centrally cleared. Historically, such transactions have not been required to be cleared and voluntary clearing of such transactions has generally been limited. Compliance with these rules is expected to be required by mid-2027. Although the impact of these rules on the Funds is difficult to predict, they may reduce the availability or increase the costs of such transactions, or otherwise make it more difficult for a Fund to execute certain investment strategies, and may adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Rule 144A Securities and Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper
The Funds may invest in Rule 144A securities and/or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper. Rule 144A securities are privately offered securities that can be resold only to certain qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. A Fund may also purchase commercial paper issued under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or similar debt obligations.
Commercial paper is generally considered to be short-term unsecured debt of corporations. Like all fixed-income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial paper prices will decline and vice versa. However, the short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to volatility than many other fixed-income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws, and generally is sold to investors who agree that they are purchasing the paper for investment and not with a view to public distribution. Any resale by the purchaser must be in an exempt transaction. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is normally resold to other investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or dealers who make a market in Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper, thus providing liquidity.
Investing in Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the level of a Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities. The Adviser, in accordance with a Fund’s liquidity risk management program, will determine whether securities purchased under Rule 144A and/or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper are illiquid. A Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser will also monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities and/or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper and, if as a result of changes in market, trading, and investment-specific considerations, the Adviser or Subadviser determines that such securities are no longer liquid, the Adviser or Subadviser will review the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities to determine what, if any, action is required to assure that such Fund complies with its restriction on investment in illiquid securities. The Funds may also invest in securities that are purchased in other private placements. See the section “Private Placements” for more information.
Securities Lending
The Funds may lend a portion of their portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, financial institutions or other borrowers under contracts calling for the deposit by the borrower with the Funds’ custodian of collateral equal to at least the market value of the securities loaned, marked to market on a daily basis. If a Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and the Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral, which may include shares of a money market fund subject to any investment restrictions listed in this Statement. These fees or interest are income to each Fund, although a Fund often must share a portion of the income with the securities lending agent and/or the borrower. A Fund will continue to benefit from interest or dividends on the securities loaned (although the payment characteristics may change) and may also earn a return from the collateral, which may include shares of a money market fund subject to any investment restrictions listed in this Statement. Under some securities lending arrangements, a Fund may receive a set fee for keeping its securities available for lending. Any voting rights, or rights to consent, relating to securities loaned, pass to the borrower. However, if a material event (as determined by the Adviser or Subadviser) affecting the investment occurs, a Fund may seek to recall the securities so that the securities may be voted by the Fund, although the Adviser or Subadviser may not know of such event in time to recall the securities or may be unable to recall the securities in time to vote them. The Funds pay various fees in connection with such loans, including fees to the party arranging the loans, shipping fees and custodian and placement fees approved by the Board or persons acting pursuant to the direction of the Board.
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Securities loans must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some credit/counterparty risk to the Funds if the borrower or the party (if any) guaranteeing the loan should default on its obligation and the Funds are delayed in or prevented from recovering or applying the collateral. In addition, any investment of cash collateral is generally at the sole risk of the Funds. Regulations require certain bank-regulated counterparties and certain of their affiliates to include in certain financial contracts, including many securities lending agreements, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Funds, to terminate such agreements, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the counterparty and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. It is possible that these requirements, as well as potential additional government regulation and other developments in the market, could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to terminate existing securities lending agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements in the event the counterparty or its affiliate becomes subject to a resolution or insolvency proceeding. Any income or gains and losses from investing and reinvesting any cash collateral delivered by a borrower pursuant to a loan generally are at a Fund’s risk, and to the extent any such losses reduce the amount of cash below the amount required to be returned to the borrower upon the termination of any loan, a Fund may be required by the securities lending agent to pay or cause to be paid to such borrower an amount equal to such shortfall in cash, possibly requiring it to liquidate other portfolio securities to satisfy its obligations. The Funds did not have any securities lending activity during their most recently completed fiscal year.
Short Sales
Some Funds may enter into short sales of securities. To sell a security short, a Fund must borrow that security from a lender, such as a prime broker, and deliver it to the short sale counterparty. If a Fund is unable to borrow the security it wishes to sell short at an advantageous time or price, the Fund’s ability to pursue its short sale strategy may be adversely affected. When closing out a short position, a Fund will have to purchase the security it originally sold short. A Fund will realize a profit from closing out a short position if the price of the security sold short has declined since the short position was opened; a Fund will realize a loss from closing out a short position if the value of the shorted security has risen since the short position was opened. Because there is no upper limit on the price to which a security can rise, short selling exposes a Fund to potentially unlimited losses if it does not hold the security sold short.
While short sales can be used to further a Fund’s investment objective, under certain market conditions, they can increase the volatility of the Fund and decrease the liquidity of the Fund. Under adverse market conditions, a Fund may have difficulty purchasing the securities required to meet its short sale delivery obligations, and may have to sell portfolio securities at a disadvantageous time or price to raise the funds necessary to meet its short sale obligations. If a request to return the borrowed securities occurs at a time when other short sellers of those same securities are receiving similar requests, a “short squeeze” can occur, and a Fund may be forced to replace the borrowed securities with purchases on the open market at a disadvantageous time, potentially at a cost that significantly exceeds the original short sale proceeds originally received in selling the securities short. It is possible that the value of a Fund’s long positions will decrease at the same time that the value of its short positions increases, which could increase losses to the Fund.
Ordinarily, a Fund will incur a fee or pay a premium to borrow securities, may also be required to pay interest and other charges, and will have to repay the lender any dividends or interest that accrue on the security while the loan is outstanding. The amount of the premium, dividends, interest and other expenses a Fund pays in connection with the short sale will decrease the amount of any gain from a short sale and increase the amount of any loss.
Short sales may protect a Fund against the risk of losses in the value of its portfolio securities because any unrealized losses with respect to such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. However, any potential gains in such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are offset will depend on the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount a Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where the Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the conversion premium.
Short sale transactions involve certain risks. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time a Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss, and if the price declines during this period, the Fund will realize a short-term capital gain. Any realized short-term capital gain will be decreased, and any incurred loss increased, by the amount of transaction costs and any premium, dividend or interest which a Fund may have to pay in connection with such short sale. The prime broker(s) through which the Fund enters into short sale transactions has broad discretion to establish margin requirements for a Fund’s short positions, and may change such margin requirements at any time. Certain provisions of the Code may limit the degree to which a Fund is able to enter into short sales. There is no limitation on the amount of each Fund’s assets that, in the aggregate, may be deposited as collateral for the obligation to replace securities borrowed to effect short sales and allocated to segregated accounts in connection with short sales. A Fund is subject to credit/counterparty risk in connection with short sale transactions entered into through a prime broker. To the extent that a Fund uses a single prime broker, this risk will be magnified. If a Fund’s prime broker becomes insolvent or otherwise fails to perform its obligations, a Fund may not be able to recover amounts owed to it in connection with its short positions, or may experience a significant delay and/or incur significant costs in recovering such amounts.
Additionally, the SEC has adopted new rules requiring the filing of monthly confidential reports with the SEC regarding equity short sales and related activity. Under the new rules, the SEC will publicly disclose aggregated short position information on a monthly basis. In addition, other non-U.S. jurisdictions where the Fund may trade have adopted reporting requirements.
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In addition, the SEC and EU and UK regulators have imposed certain restrictions on short sales of certain securities, including short positions on such securities acquired through derivatives. If the SEC or regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions were to adopt additional restrictions regarding short sales and/or short positions, they could restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in such investments in certain circumstances, and the Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result.
Short-Term Trading
The Funds may, consistent with their investment objectives, engage in portfolio trading in anticipation of, or in response to, changing economic or market conditions and trends. These policies may result in higher turnover rates in a Fund’s portfolio, which may produce higher transaction costs and the realization of taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which generally are taxed to individuals as ordinary income). Portfolio turnover considerations will not limit an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s investment discretion in managing a Fund’s assets. Each Fund anticipates that its portfolio turnover rate will vary significantly from time to time depending on the volatility of economic and market conditions.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies
A Fund may invest in stock, rights, warrants, and other securities of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) or similar special purpose entities. A SPAC is a publicly traded company that raises investment capital in the form of a blind pool via an IPO for the purpose of acquiring an existing company. The shares of a SPAC are typically issued in “units” that include one share of common stock and one right or warrant (or partial right or warrant) conveying the right to purchase additional shares or partial shares. At a specified time following the SPAC’s IPO (generally 1–2 months), the rights and warrants may be separated from the common stock at the election of the holder, after which the common stock, rights and warrants become freely tradeable. After going public and until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC generally invests the proceeds of its IPO (less a portion retained to cover expenses), which are held in trust, in U.S. government securities, money market securities and cash. To the extent the SPAC is invested in cash or similar securities, this may impact a Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. If a SPAC does not complete an acquisition within a specified period of time after going public, the SPAC is dissolved, at which point the invested funds are returned to the SPAC’s shareholders (less certain permitted expenses) and any rights or warrants issued by the SPAC expire worthless or may be repurchased or retired by the SPAC at an unfavorable price.
Because SPACs and similar entities are in essence blank check companies without an operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition, the securities issued by a SPAC, which are typically traded in the over-the-counter market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.
SPACs often have pre-determined time frames to make an acquisition (typically two years). In addition, as the number of SPACs grows, there is greater competition among SPACs and traditional purchasers of companies. These factors further increase the likelihood that SPAC sponsors may be incentivized to consummate acquisitions or mergers at less attractive valuations, as well as the risk that SPACs cannot successfully complete business combinations.
An investment in a SPAC is subject to a variety of risks in addition to those described above, including that: a significant portion of the funds raised by the SPAC for the purpose of identifying and effecting an acquisition or merger may be expended during the search for a target transaction; any proposed merger or acquisition may be unable to obtain the requisite approval, if any, of SPAC shareholders and/or antitrust and securities regulators; an acquisition or merger once effected may prove unsuccessful and an investment in the SPAC may lose value; the Fund may be delayed in receiving any redemption or liquidation proceeds from a SPAC to which it is entitled; an investment in a SPAC may be diluted by subsequent public or private offerings of securities in the SPAC or by other investors exercising existing rights to purchase securities of the SPAC; SPAC sponsors generally purchase interests in the SPAC at more favorable terms than investors in the IPO or subsequent investors on the open market; no or only a thinly traded market for shares of or interests in a SPAC may develop, leaving the Fund unable to sell its interest in a SPAC or to sell its interest only at a price below what the Fund believes is the SPAC security’s value; and the values of investments in SPACs may be highly volatile and may depreciate significantly over time. SPACs are subject to increasing scrutiny, and potential legal challenges or regulatory developments may limit their effectiveness or prevalence (for example, the SEC recently adopted rules and guidance addressing a number of SPAC-related topics, including enhanced disclosure requirements).
Step-Coupon Securities
The Funds may invest in step-coupon securities. Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest. The coupon rate is low for an initial period and then increases to a higher coupon rate thereafter. Market values of these types of securities generally fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than conventional interest-paying securities of comparable term and quality. Under many market conditions, investments in such securities may be illiquid, making it difficult for a Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.
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“Stripped” Securities
The Funds may invest in stripped securities, which are usually structured with two or more classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution on a pool of U.S. government or foreign government securities or mortgage assets. In some cases, 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). Stripped securities commonly have greater market volatility than other types of fixed-income securities. In the case of stripped mortgage securities, if the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its investments in IOs. Stripped securities may be illiquid. Stripped securities may be considered derivative instruments. See the section “Derivative Instruments.”
Structured Notes
Each Fund may invest in a broad category of instruments known as “structured notes.” These instruments are debt obligations issued by industrial corporations, financial institutions or governmental or international agencies. Traditional debt obligations typically obligate the issuer to repay the principal plus a specified rate of interest. Structured notes, by contrast, obligate the issuer to pay amounts of principal or interest that are determined by reference to changes in some external factor or factors, or the principal and interest rate may vary from the stated rate because of changes in these factors. For example, the issuer’s obligations could be determined by reference to changes in the value of a commodity (such as gold or oil) or commodity index, a foreign currency, a security or an index of securities (such as the S&P 500® Index) or an interest rate (such as the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to changes over time in the difference (or “spread”) between two or more external factors (such as the U.S. prime lending rate and the total return of the stock market in a particular country, as measured by a stock index). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may fluctuate inversely with changes in an external factor or factors (for example, if the U.S. prime lending rate goes up, the issuer’s interest payment obligations are reduced). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may be determined by some multiple of the change in an external factor or factors (for example, three times the change in the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations remain fixed (as with a traditional debt instrument) so long as an external factor or factors do not change by more than the specified amount (for example, if the value of a stock index does not exceed some specified maximum), but if the external factor or factors change by more than the specified amount, the issuer’s obligations may be sharply reduced.
Structured notes include, but are not limited to, equity-linked notes. An equity-linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a basket of stocks, or a stock index. Equity-linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed-income securities with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity securities. For example, an equity-linked note that refers to the stock of an issuer may be the economic equivalent of holding a position in that stock and simultaneously selling a call option on that stock with a strike price greater than the current stock price. The holder of the note would be exposed to decreases in the price of the equity to the same extent as if it held the equity directly. However, if the stock appreciated in value, the noteholder would only benefit from stock price increases up to the strike price (i.e., the point at which the holder of the call option would be expected to exercise its right to buy the underlying stock). In exchange for limiting its ability to benefit from price appreciation, the noteholder may receive periodic payments on the note. In such a case, the note may be analyzed as converting potential stock appreciation into current yield.
Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities. Depending on the terms of the note, equity-linked notes may also have a “cap” or “floor” on the principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the linked securities. For example, in consideration for greater current income (or yield), a noteholder may forego its participation in the capital appreciation of the underlying equity assets above a predetermined price limit. Alternatively, if the linked securities have depreciated in value, or if their price fluctuates outside of a preset range, the noteholder may receive only the principal amount of the note, or may lose the principal invested in the equity-linked note entirely.
Structured notes can serve many different purposes in the management of a Fund. For example, they can be used to increase a Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of assets that the Fund would not ordinarily purchase directly (such as commodities or stocks traded in a market that is not open to U.S. investors). They can also be used to hedge the risks associated with other investments a Fund holds. For example, if a structured note has an interest rate that fluctuates inversely with general changes in a country’s stock market index, the value of the structured note would generally move in the opposite direction to the value of holdings of stocks in that market, thus moderating the effect of stock market movements on the value of a Fund’s portfolio as a whole. They will often be used to generate income while producing a level of exposure to equity markets or specific equity securities.
Structured notes involve special risks. As with any debt obligation, structured notes involve the risk that the issuer will become insolvent or otherwise default on its payment obligations. This risk is in addition to the risk that the issuer’s obligations (and thus the value of a Fund’s investment) will be reduced because of adverse changes in the external factor or factors to which the obligations are linked. The value of structured notes will in many cases be more volatile (that is, will change more rapidly or severely) than the value of traditional debt instruments. Volatility will be especially high if the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to some multiple of the change in the external factor or factors. Many structured notes have limited or no liquidity, so that a Fund would be unable to dispose of the investment prior to maturity. As with all investments, successful use of structured notes depends in significant part on the accuracy of an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s analysis of the issuer’s creditworthiness and financial prospects, and of an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s forecast as to changes in relevant economic and financial market conditions and factors. In instances where the issuer of a structured note is a foreign entity, the usual risks associated with investments in foreign securities (described below) apply. Structured notes may be considered derivative instruments.
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A Fund’s use of commodity-linked structured notes will potentially be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC, and will potentially bear on the Fund’s ability to so qualify. The tax treatment of certain commodity-linked instruments including structured notes in which a Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a RIC. If a Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.
Tax-Exempt Securities
Some Funds may invest in tax-exempt securities (“Tax-Exempt Securities”), which are debt securities the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority believed by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be reliable), exempt from U.S. federal income tax. Tax-Exempt Securities include debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions (for example, counties, cities, towns, villages and school districts) and authorities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. Other public purposes for which certain Tax-Exempt Securities may be issued include the refunding of outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for federal operating expenses or obtaining funds to lend to public or private institutions for the construction of facilities such as educational, hospital and housing facilities. In addition, certain types of private activity bonds have been or may be issued by public authorities or on behalf of state or local governmental units to finance privately operated housing facilities, sports facilities, convention or trade facilities, air or water pollution control facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas, electricity or sewage or solid waste disposal. Such obligations are included within the term “Tax-Exempt Securities” if the interest paid thereon is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority believed by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be reliable), exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. The Funds do not expect to qualify to pass through to shareholders the tax-exempt character of interest paid on Tax-Exempt Securities.
Funds that invest in certain tax-exempt bonds or certain private activity bonds may not be a desirable investment for “substantial users” of facilities financed by such obligations or bonds or for “related persons” of substantial users. You should contact your financial adviser or attorney for more information if you think you may be a “substantial user” or a “related person” of a substantial user.
There are variations in the quality of Tax-Exempt Securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications, depending on numerous factors (see Appendix A).
The two principal classifications of tax-exempt bonds are general obligation bonds and limited obligation (or revenue) bonds. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from the issuer’s general unrestricted revenues and not from any particular fund or source. The characteristics and method of enforcement of general obligation bonds vary according to the law applicable to the particular issuer, and payment may be dependent upon an appropriation by the issuer’s legislative body. 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 such as the user of the facility. Tax-exempt private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds and generally are not payable from the unrestricted revenues of the issuer. The credit and quality of such bonds are usually directly related to the credit standing of the corporate user of the facilities. Principal and interest on such bonds are the responsibilities of the corporate user (and any guarantor).
The yields on Tax-Exempt Securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the Tax-Exempt Securities market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. Further, information about the financial condition of an issuer of tax-exempt bonds may not be as extensive as that made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the Tax-Exempt Securities which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, Tax-Exempt Securities with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different yields while Tax-Exempt Securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield. Subsequent to its purchase by a Fund, an issue of Tax-Exempt Securities or other investments may cease to be rated or the rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the Fund. Neither event will require the elimination of an investment from a Fund’s portfolio, but the Adviser will consider such an event as part of its normal, ongoing review of all the Fund’s portfolio securities.
Tax-Exempt Securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the federal Bankruptcy Code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by Congress or the state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. 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 Tax-Exempt Securities may be materially affected or that their obligations may be found to be invalid and unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for tax-exempt bonds or certain segments thereof, or materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of a Fund’s Tax-Exempt Securities in the same manner.
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From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the U.S. federal income tax exemption for interest on debt obligations issued by states and their political subdivisions. In this regard, for bonds issued after December 31, 2017, the tax-advantaged treatment previously available to “tax credit bonds” and “advance refunding bonds” is no longer available. Further similar proposals may well be introduced in the future. If such a proposal were enacted, the availability of Tax-Exempt Securities for investment by a Fund and the value of such Fund’s portfolios could be materially affected, in which event such Fund would reevaluate its investment objectives and policies and consider changes in their structure or dissolution.
All debt securities, including tax-exempt bonds, are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, for any given change in the level of interest rates, prices for longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices for shorter maturity issues.
U.S. Government Securities
The Funds may invest in some or all of the following U.S. government securities:

| U.S. Treasury Bills – Direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury that are issued in maturities of one year or less. No interest is paid on Treasury bills; instead, they are issued at a discount and repaid at full face value when they mature. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

| U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds – Direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury issued in maturities that vary between one and thirty years, with interest normally payable every six (6) months. These obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

| U.S. Treasury Floating Rate Notes – Treasury Floating Rate Notes are relatively new instruments authorized by amendments to the U.S. Treasury’s marketable securities auction rules. As with other floating rate securities, at certain intervals the interest payment on a Treasury Floating Rate Note will increase when the applicable index increases, and will decrease when the applicable index decreases. Treasury Floating Rate Notes are a relatively new type of financial instrument. As such, there is no significant trading history of these securities, and there can be no assurance that a liquid market in these securities will develop. Lack of a liquid market may impose the risk of higher transaction costs and the possibility that a Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so.

| Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) – Fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The interest rate on TIPS is fixed at issuance, but over the life of the bond this interest may be paid on an increasing or decreasing principal value that has been adjusted for inflation. Although repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed, the market value of TIPS is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate.

| “Ginnie Maes” – Debt securities issued by a mortgage banker or other mortgagee that represent an interest in a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or the Rural Housing Service or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. The GNMA guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest when such payments are due, whether or not these amounts are collected by the issuer of these certificates on the underlying mortgages. It is generally understood that a guarantee by GNMA is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Mortgages included in single-family or multi-family residential mortgage pools backing an issue of Ginnie Maes have a maximum maturity of 30 years. Scheduled payments of principal and interest are made to the registered holders of Ginnie Maes (such as the Funds) each month. Unscheduled prepayments may be made by homeowners, or as a result of a default. Prepayments are passed through to the registered holder (such as the Funds, which reinvest any prepayments) of Ginnie Maes along with regular monthly payments of principal and interest.

| “Fannie Maes” – The FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders that purchases residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers, including state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage banks. Fannie Maes are pass-through securities issued by FNMA that are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA, but these obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

| “Freddie Macs” – The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) is a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government. Freddie Macs are participation certificates issued by FHLMC that represent an interest in residential mortgages from FHLMC’s National Portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but these obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

U.S. government securities generally do not involve the credit/counterparty risks associated with investments in other types of fixed-income securities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities generally are lower than the yields available from corporate fixed-income securities. Like other debt securities, however, the values of U.S. government securities change as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in a Fund’s NAV. Because the magnitude of these fluctuations generally will be greater at times when a Fund’s average maturity is longer, under certain market conditions a Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities. Securities such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the relevant entity (e.g., FNMA or FHLMC) but have not been backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Instead, they have been supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations. An event affecting the guaranteeing entity could adversely affect the payment of
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principal or interest or both on the security, and therefore, these types of securities should be considered to be riskier than U.S. government securities. From time to time, uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. government to increase the statutory debt ceiling could: increase the risk that the U.S. government may default on payments on certain U.S. government securities; cause the credit rating of the U.S. government to be downgraded or increase volatility in both stock and bond markets; result in higher interest rates; reduce prices of U.S. Treasury securities; and/or increase the costs of certain kinds of debt. If a U.S. government-sponsored entity is negatively impacted by legislative or regulatory action, is unable to meet its obligations, or its creditworthiness declines, the performance of a Fund that holds securities of the entity may be adversely impacted.
The downgrade in the long-term U.S. credit rating by all three major rating agencies has introduced greater uncertainty about the ability of the U.S. to repay its obligations. Further credit rating downgrades or a U.S. credit default may result in increased volatility or liquidity risk, higher interest rates and lower prices for U.S. government securities and increased costs for all kinds of debt. The value of the Funds’ shares may be adversely affected by rating agency downgrades of the U.S. government’s credit rating given that the Funds may invest in U.S. government securities.
In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. The companies remain in conservatorship, and the effect that this conservatorship will have on the companies’ debt and equity securities is unclear. Although the U.S. government has provided financial support to FNMA and FHLMC in the past, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored enterprises in the future. In addition, any such government support may benefit the holders of only certain classes of an issuer’s securities.
Under the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s “Single Security Initiative,” FNMA and FHLMC have entered into a joint initiative to develop a common securitization platform for the issuance of Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities (“UMBS”), which would generally align the characteristics of FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities. In June 2019 FNMA and FHLMC started to issue UMBS in place of their current offerings of TBA-eligible mortgage-backed securities. The long-term effects of the issuance of UMBS on the market for mortgage-backed securities are still uncertain.
The values of TIPS generally fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in the value of TIPS. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of TIPS. If inflation is lower than expected during the period a Fund holds TIPS, the Fund may earn less on the TIPS than on a conventional bond. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in TIPS may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bonds’ inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index for TIPS will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.
See the section “Mortgage-Related Securities” for additional information on these securities.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments
The Funds may purchase variable and floating rate instruments (which may include bank loans, which are discussed in the section “Bank Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments” above). These instruments may include variable amount master demand notes, which are unsecured demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. These instruments may also include leveraged inverse floating rate debt instruments, or “inverse floaters.” The interest rate of an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest on a security or interest to which it is related. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest, and is subject to many of the same risks as derivatives. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Certain of these investments may be illiquid. The absence of an active secondary market with respect to these investments could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a variable or floating rate note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligation or during periods that the Fund is not entitled to exercise its demand rights, and the Fund could, for these or other reasons, suffer a loss with respect to such instruments.
Many variable and floating rate instruments use or may use a floating rate based on SOFR. See “Benchmark Reference Rates Risk” section for more information.
When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Securities
To reduce the risk of changes in interest rates and securities prices, the Funds may purchase securities on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis, which means delivery and payment take place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable with respect to such purchases are fixed when a Fund enters into the commitment, but a Fund does not make payment until it receives delivery from the counterparty. An Adviser or Subadviser will commit to purchase such securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Adviser or Subadviser may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.
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Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis are subject to changes in value, generally changing in the same way, i.e., appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates rise, based upon the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Securities so purchased may expose a Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis when an Adviser or Subadviser is fully or almost fully invested may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of a Fund’s net assets. In addition, there is a risk that securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may not be delivered and that the purchaser of securities sold by a Fund on a forward commitment basis will not honor its purchase obligation. In such cases, a Fund may incur a loss.
Zero-Coupon Securities
Some Funds may invest in zero-coupon securities. Zero-coupon securities are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest either for the entire life of the obligation or for an initial period after the issuance of the obligations; the holder generally is entitled to receive the par value of the security at maturity. These securities are issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero-coupon securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than are other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. A Fund’s investment in zero-coupon securities will require the Fund to accrue income without a corresponding receipt of cash; the Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio securities (including when not otherwise advantageous to do so) in order to obtain sufficient cash to meet its distribution requirements for treatment as a RIC under the Code.
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
Each Fund has the flexibility to respond promptly to changes in market and economic conditions. In the interest of preserving shareholders’ capital, each Adviser or Subadviser may employ a temporary defensive strategy if it determines such a strategy to be warranted. Pursuant to such a defensive strategy, a Fund may temporarily hold cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies, or multinational currency units) and/or invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, high-quality debt securities or money market instruments of U.S. or foreign issuers. It is impossible to predict whether, when or for how long a Fund will employ temporary defensive strategies. The use of temporary defensive strategies may prevent a Fund from achieving its goals.
In addition, pending investment of proceeds from new sales of Fund shares or to meet ordinary daily cash needs, a Fund may temporarily hold cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and may invest any portion of its assets in money market or other short-term high-quality debt instruments.
In the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where a Fund maintains its cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that the Fund would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all, and the Fund may incur losses. Any such event could adversely affect the business, liquidity, financial position and performance of the Fund.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Each of the Funds’ portfolio turnover rate for a fiscal year is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year, in each case excluding securities having maturity dates at acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by a Fund, thereby decreasing the Fund’s total return. High portfolio turnover also may give rise to additional taxable income for a Fund’s shareholders, including through the realization of short-term capital gains which are typically taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates, and, therefore, can result in higher taxes for shareholders that hold their shares in taxable accounts. It is impossible to predict with certainty whether future portfolio turnover rates will be higher or lower than those experienced during past periods. Each Fund anticipates that its portfolio turnover rate will vary from time to time depending on the volatility of economic, market and other conditions.
Generally, the Funds intend to invest for long-term purposes. However, the rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions, and it will not be a limiting factor when the Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser believes that portfolio changes are appropriate.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
Each Trust’s Board has adopted policies to limit the disclosure of confidential portfolio holdings information and to ensure equal access to such information, except in certain circumstances as approved by the Board. These policies are summarized below. Generally, portfolio holdings information will not be disclosed until it is first posted on the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com. Generally, full portfolio holdings information will not be posted until it is aged for at least 30 calendar days. However, an officer of the Funds, after consultation with a Fund’s Adviser and Subadviser, as appropriate, can approve a shorter or longer period if such officer determines that the different period is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. For the Global Megatrends Fund, portfolio holdings information will not be posted until it is aged for at least 10 business days, and for Mid Cap Fund and Small Cap Fund, 15 calendar days. Notwithstanding the
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above, the top ten holdings of a Fund as of any month-end may be posted to a Fund’s website prior to the approved aging period if the Adviser or Subadviser of the Fund has consented to the posting in advance. A list of the top 10 holdings of the Global Megatrends Fund, Mid Cap Fund, and Small Cap Fund will generally be posted on a monthly basis within 7 business days after month-end. Any holdings information that is released must clearly indicate the date of the information, and must state that due to active management, the Funds may or may not still invest in the securities listed. Portfolio characteristics, such as industry/sector breakdown, current yield, quality breakdown, duration, average price-earnings ratio and other similar information may be provided on a current basis. However, portfolio characteristics do not include references to specific portfolio holdings.
Other Permitted Disclosure. There are circumstances where disclosure of portfolio holdings to third parties is necessary in connection with services provided to the Funds or is otherwise in the best interests of the Funds. An officer of the Funds may permit such disclosure, but only if: (i) the recipient of the information has entered into a written confidentiality agreement with the Funds, their principal underwriter or an affiliate of the Funds’ principal underwriter relating to such information, including a duty not to trade on the non-public information (or the recipient is otherwise subject to duties of confidentiality and not to trade); (ii) there is a legitimate business purpose for releasing the holdings disclosure; and (iii) the release of the holdings disclosure is necessary in connection with services provided to the Funds or is otherwise in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. In addition, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed to an affiliate of a Fund’s investment adviser if such affiliate requires the information for regulatory, oversight or other legitimate business purposes. Such release will be made in accordance with (i) through (iii) above.
As of the date of this Statement, the only entities that receive information pursuant to this exception are:

Entity | Fund(s) | Type | Frequency | Purpose
Abel Noser | Certain Funds | Transactions | Daily | Trade cost analysis
ACA Group (formally Global Trading Analytics) | Certain Funds | Transactions | Quarterly | Trade cost analysis
Advent | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Electronic reconciliation of portfolio holdings of the Funds
Bloomberg | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Attribution analysis and portfolio analytics
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Proxy voting recordkeeping services
CAPIS | Certain Funds | Transactions | Daily | Trade cost analysis
Confluence Technologies, Inc. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Quarterly, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain functions related to quarterly Form N-PORT filings and production of shareholder reports
Dinkum Management Consultants Co., Ltd. | Certain Funds | Holdings in Taiwan-based issuers | Annually | Performing certain duties for compliance with Taiwan’s tax laws
Donnelley Financial Solutions | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Quarterly, or more frequently as needed | Certain functions related to the production of the Funds’ financial statements, quarterly Form N-PORT filings and other related items
Ernst & Young LLP | All Funds | Foreign equity holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain functions related to the production of the Funds’ Federal income and excise tax returns
eVestment | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Quarterly | Provides research management services
FactSet | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Performing attribution analysis and portfolio analytics
Gateway | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Fund Advisor
Gresham Technologies plc | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Certain electronic reconciliations of portfolio holdings of the Funds
ICE Data Services | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Performing functions related to the liquidity classification of investments, and facilitating reporting to Natixis as disclosed previously in this section

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Entity | Fund(s) | Type | Frequency | Purpose
Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS) | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Proxy voting administration and research
KPMG LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain duties related to tax compliance services
KPMG Global Services Private Limited | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain duties related to tax compliance services
Lipper | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Monthly | Industry wide services
Mirova | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Fund Advisor
Natixis Advisors, LLC | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Fund Advisor and/or Administrator
NIM-os, LLC | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Hosting of Portfolio Accounting and Trade Order Management and Compliance Systems, Corporate Actions, Trade Settlements, Pricing, and Reconciliation
NIM-os EU | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Risk Analysis
OnCorps, Inc. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Quarterly, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain functions related to the production of the Funds’ financial statements and quarterly Form N-PORT filings
Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Funds’ independent public accountant
Qontigo | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Compliance testing related to the Funds’ use of derivatives.
Ropes & Gray LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Funds’ outside counsel
Stradley Ronan Stevens & Young, LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Counsel to the independent Trustees
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Funds’ custodian, fund accounting agent, and sub-administrator
Vaughan Nelson | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Fund Sub-Advisor

These entities may in turn disclose portfolio holdings information to their affiliates and third parties. Although each Trust may enter into written confidentiality agreements, in other circumstances, the obligation to keep information confidential may be based on common law, professional or statutory duties of confidentiality. Common law, professional or statutory duties of confidentiality, including the duty not to trade on the information, may not be as clearly delineated and may be more difficult to enforce than contractual duties. The Board exercises oversight of the disclosure of portfolio holdings by, among other things, receiving and reviewing reports from the Funds’ chief compliance officer regarding any material issues concerning the Funds’ disclosure of portfolio holdings as well as periodic reports on the persons receiving portfolio holdings information as described above. Notwithstanding the above, there is no assurance that the Funds’ policies on the sharing of portfolio holdings information will protect the Funds from the potential misuse of holdings by individuals or firms in possession of that information.
Other registered investment companies that are advised or sub-advised by the Advisers or Subadvisers may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither the Advisers/Subadviser nor the Board exercises control over such policies or disclosure. In addition, separate account clients of the Adviser or Subadviser have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to each Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policies. Some of the funds that are advised or sub-advised by the Advisers or Subadvisers and some of the separate accounts managed by the Adviser or Subadviser may have investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar or identical to the Funds’, and therefore potentially substantially similar, and in certain cases nearly identical, portfolio holdings as certain Funds. As a result, it is possible that other market participants may be able to use such information for their own benefit, which could negatively impact the Funds’ execution of purchase and sale transactions and, as a result, Fund performance.
In addition, any disclosures of portfolio holdings information by a Fund or an Adviser or Subadviser must be consistent with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, a Fund’s and the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s fiduciary duty to shareholders, and a Fund’s code of ethics. Each Fund’s policies expressly prohibit the sharing of portfolio holdings information if the Fund, an Adviser, Subadviser, or any other affiliated party receives compensation or other consideration in connection with such arrangement. The term “compensation or other consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in a Fund or in other funds or accounts managed by an Adviser and/or by any affiliated person of the Adviser and/or Subadviser, but shall not include the provision of “seed capital” by an Adviser or its affiliates.
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MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS
Each Trust is governed by the Board, which is responsible for generally overseeing the conduct of Fund business and for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Trustees of the Board (the “Trustees”) meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds’ activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Funds and review the Funds’ performance.
Trustees and Officers
The table below provides certain information regarding the Trustees and officers of the Trusts. For the purposes of this table and for purposes of this Statement, the term “Independent Trustee” means those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the relevant Trust. In certain circumstances, Trustees are also required to have no direct or indirect financial interest in the approval of a matter being voted on in order to be considered “independent” for the purposes of the requisite approval. For the purposes of this Statement, the term “Interested Trustee” means those Trustees who are “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the relevant Trust.
The following table provides information about the members of the Board, including information about their principal occupations during the past five years, information about other directorships held at public companies, and a summary of the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as such. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons below is 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197.

Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s), Length of Time Served and Term of Office 1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen 2 and Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | Experience, Qualifications, Attributes, Skills for Board Membership
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Edmond J. English (1953) | Trustee since 2013 Contract Review Committee Member | Executive Chairman of Bob’s Discount Furniture (retail) | 36 Director, Burlington Stores, Inc. (retail); Director, Rue La La, Inc. (e-commerce retail) | Significant experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations (including retail companies and a bank); executive experience (including at a retail company)
Richard A. Goglia (1951) | Trustee since 2015 Chairperson of the Audit Committee | Retired | 36 Director, Ardian Access LLC (investment management/private markets industry) | Significant experience on the Board and executive experience (including his role as Vice President and treasurer of a defense company and experience at a financial services company)
Martin T. Meehan (1956) | Trustee since 2012 Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Contract Review Committee Member | President, University of Massachusetts | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations; experience as President of the University of Massachusetts; government experience (including as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives);academic experience

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Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s), Length of Time Served and Term of Office 1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen 2 and Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | Experience, Qualifications, Attributes, Skills for Board Membership
Maureen B. Mitchell (1951) | Trustee since 2017 Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee | Retired | 36 Director, Sterling Bancorp (bank) | Significant experience on the Board; financial services industry and executive experience (including role as President of global sales and marketing at a financial services company)
James P. Palermo (1955) | Trustee since 2016 Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member | Founding Partner, Breton Capital Management, LLC (private equity); formerly, Partner, STEP Partners, LLC (private equity) | 36 Director, Candidly (chemicals and biofuels) | Significant experience on the Board; financial services industry and executive experience (including roles as Chief Executive Officer of client management and asset servicing for a banking and financial services company)
Erik R. Sirri (1958) | Chairperson of the Board since 2021 Trustee since 2009 Ex Officio Member of the Audit Committee, Contract Review Committee and Governance Committee | Retired; formerly, Professor of Finance at Babson College | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; experience as Director of the Division of Trading and Markets at the SEC; academic experience; training as an economist
Kirk A. Sykes (1958) | Trustee since 2019 Contract Review Committee Member and Governance Committee Member | Managing Director of Accordia Partners, LLC (real estate development); President of Primary Corporation (real estate development); Managing Principal of Merrick Capital Partners (infrastructure finance) | 36 Advisor/Risk Management Committee, Eastern Bank (bank); Director, Apartment Investment and Management Company (real estate investment trust) | Significant experience on the Board and significant experience on the boards of other business organizations (including real estate companies and banks)

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Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s), Length of Time Served and Term of Office 1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen 2 and Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | Experience, Qualifications, Attributes, Skills for Board Membership
Cynthia L. Walker (1956) | Trustee since 2005 Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member | Executive Consultant for Finance & Administration, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine; formerly, Deputy Dean for Finance and Administration, Yale University School of Medicine | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; executive experience in a variety of academic organizations (including roles as dean for finance and administration)
INTERESTED TRUSTEES
Kevin P. Charleston 3 (1965) One Financial Center Boston, MA 02111 | Trustee since 2015 President and Chief Executive Officer of Loomis Sayles Funds I since 2015 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L. P. | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; continuing service as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Loomis Sayles
David L. Giunta 4 (1965) | Trustee since 2011 President and Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Funds Trust I, Executive Vice President of Loomis Sayles Funds I and President of Loomis Sayles Funds II since 2008; Chief Executive Officer of Loomis Sayles Funds II since 2015 | President and Chief Executive Officer, Natixis Advisors, and Natixis Distribution, LLC | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Advisors, and Natixis Distribution, LLC
Marina Gross 5 (1976) | Trustee since 2024 | Executive Vice President - Head of Solutions, US, Natixis Investment Managers | 36 None | Experience as Executive Vice President - Head of Solutions, US, Natixis Investment Managers

1 | Each Trustee serves until retirement, resignation, or removal from the Board. The current retirement age is 75. The position of Chairperson of the Board is appointed for a three-year term.

2 | The Trustees of the Trusts serve as Trustees of a fund complex that includes all series of the Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV and Gateway Trust, (collectively, the “Natixis Funds Trusts”), Loomis Sayles Funds I and Loomis Sayles Funds II (collectively, the “Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts”), and Natixis ETF Trust and Natixis ETF Trust II (collectively, the “Natixis ETF Trusts”) (collectively, the “Fund Complex”).

3 | Mr. Charleston is deemed an “interested person” of the Trusts because he holds the following positions with an affiliated person of the Trusts: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

4 | Mr. Giunta is deemed an “interested person” of the Trusts because he holds the following positions with an affiliated person of the Trusts: President and Chief Executive Officer, Natixis Advisors, LLC and Natixis Distribution, LLC.

5 | Ms. Gross is deemed an “interested person” of the Trusts because she holds the following position with an affiliated person of the Trusts: Executive Vice President and Head of Solutions, US, Natixis Investment Managers.

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Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s) | Term of Office 1 and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years 2
OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
Matthew J. Block (1981) | Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | Since 2022 | Senior Vice President, Natixis Advisors and Natixis Distribution, LLC; formerly, Vice President, Natixis Advisors, LLC and Natixis Distribution, LLC; Assistant Treasurer of the Fund Complex
Susan McWhan Tobin (1963) | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer | Since 2022 Since 2025 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Natixis Advisors, LLC and Natixis Distribution, LLC; formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Natixis Investment Managers (March 2019 - May 2022)

1 | Each officer of the Trusts serves for an indefinite term in accordance with the Trusts’ current by-laws until the date his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, retires, is removed or becomes disqualified.

2 | Each person listed above, except as noted, holds the same position(s) with the Fund Complex. Previous positions during the past five years with Natixis Distribution, LLC, Natixis Advisors or Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. are omitted, if not materially different from an officer’s current position with such entity.

Qualifications of Trustees
The preceding tables provide an overview of the considerations that led the Board to conclude that each individual serving as a Trustee of the Trusts should so serve. The current members of the Board have joined the Board at different points in time. Generally, no one factor was determinative in the original selection of an individual to join the Board. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s knowledge in matters relating to the mutual fund industry; (ii) any experience possessed by the individual as a director or senior officer of other public companies; (iii) the individual’s educational background; (iv) the individual’s reputation for high ethical standards and personal and professional integrity; (v) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the individual, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (vi) the individual’s perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the individual’s ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board; (vii) the individual’s ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee for purposes of applicable regulations; and (viii) such other factors as the Board determined to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other transitions. Each Trustee’s professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that an individual should serve on the Board are summarized in the tables above.
Leadership and Structure of the Board
The Board is led by the Chairperson of the Board, who is an Independent Trustee. The Board currently consists of twelve Trustees, nine of whom are Independent Trustees. The Trustees have delegated significant oversight authority to the three standing committees of the Trusts, the Audit Committee, the Contract Review Committee and the Governance Committee, each of which consists solely of Independent Trustees. These committees meet separately and at times jointly, with the joint meetings intended to educate and involve all Independent Trustees in significant committee-level topics. As well as handling matters directly, the committees raise matters to the Board for consideration. In addition to the oversight performed by the committees and the Board, the Chairperson of the Board and the chairpersons of each committee interact frequently with management regarding topics to be considered at Board and committee meetings as well as items arising between meetings. At least once a year the Governance Committee reviews the Board’s governance practices and procedures and recommends appropriate changes to the full Board. The Board believes its leadership structure is appropriate and effective in that it allows for oversight at the committee or board level, as the case may be, while facilitating communications among the Trustees and between the Board and Fund management.
The Contract Review Committee of the Trusts consists solely of Trustees who are not employees, officers or directors of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates and considers matters relating to advisory, subadvisory and distribution arrangements and potential conflicts of interest between a Fund’s Adviser and the Trusts. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, this committee held five meetings.
The Governance Committee of the Trusts consists solely of Trustees who are not employees, officers or directors of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates and considers matters relating to candidates for membership on the Board and Trustee compensation. The Governance Committee makes nominations for Independent Trustee membership on the Board when necessary and considers recommendations from shareholders of the Funds that are submitted in accordance with the procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Pursuant to those procedures, shareholders must submit a recommendation for nomination in a signed writing addressed to the attention of the Board, c/o Secretary of the Funds, Natixis Advisors, LLC, 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197. This written communication must (i) be signed by the shareholder, (ii) include the name and address of the shareholder, (iii) identify the Fund(s) to which the communication relates, and (iv) identify the account number, class and number of
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shares held by the shareholder as of a recent date or the intermediary through which the shares are held. The recommendation must be received in a timely manner (and in any event no later than the date specified for receipt of shareholder proposals in any applicable proxy statement with respect to a Fund). A recommendation for Trustee nomination shall be kept on file and considered by the Board for six (6) months from the date of receipt, after which the recommendation shall be considered stale and discarded. The recommendation must contain sufficient background information concerning the Trustee candidate to enable a proper judgment to be made as to the candidate’s qualifications. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, this committee held four meetings.
The Governance Committee has not established specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by an individual to be recommended for nomination as an Independent Trustee. The Governance Committee, however, believes that the Board as a whole should reflect a diversity of viewpoints, and will generally consider each nominee’s professional experience, education, financial expertise, gender, ethnicity, age and other individual qualities and attributes. Such considerations will vary based on the Board’s existing composition. The Governance Committee has adopted a diversity policy pursuant to which the committee, through its nomination and evaluation process, will seek to maintain a well-rounded and diverse Board that is composed of individuals who can fairly represent the interests and concerns of Fund shareholders. The Governance Committee conducts an annual self-assessment and will consider the effectiveness of its diversity policy as part of this process. In evaluating candidates for a position on the Board, the Governance Committee may consider a variety of factors, including (i) the nominee’s reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards; (ii) the nominee’s educational and professional accomplishments; (iii) the nominee’s demonstrated business acumen, including, but not limited to, knowledge of the mutual fund industry and/or any experience possessed by the nominee as a director or senior officer of a financial services company or a public company; (iv) the nominee’s ability to exercise sound judgment in matters related to the objectives of the Funds; (v) the nominee’s willingness to contribute positively to the decision-making process of the Board and to bring an independent point of view; (vi) the nominee’s commitment and ability to devote the necessary time and energy to be an effective Independent Trustee; (vii) the nominee’s ability to understand the sometimes conflicting interests of various constituencies of the Funds and to act in the interests of all shareholders; (viii) the absence of conflicts of interests that would impair his or her ability to represent all shareholders and to fulfill director fiduciary responsibilities; (ix) the nominee’s ability to be collegial and compatible with current members of the Board and management of the Funds; (x) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the nominee, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (xi) the nominee’s ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee for purposes of applicable regulations; and (xii) such other factors as the Governance Committee may request in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other transitions.
The Audit Committee of the Trusts consists solely of Independent Trustees and considers matters relating to the scope and results of the Trusts’ audits and serves as a forum in which the independent registered public accounting firm can raise any issues or problems identified in an audit with the Board. The Audit Committee also reviews and monitors compliance with stated investment objectives and policies, SEC regulations as well as operational issues relating to the transfer agent, administrator, sub-administrator and custodian. In addition, the Audit Committee implements procedures for receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by a Fund regarding its accounting, internal accounting controls and the confidential, anonymous submission by officers of a Fund or employees of certain service providers of concerns related to such matters. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, this committee held four meetings.
The current membership of each committee is as follows:

Audit Committee | Contract Review Committee | Governance Committee
Richard A. Goglia – Chairperson | Maureen B. Mitchell – Chairperson | Martin T. Meehan – Chairperson
James P. Palermo | Edmond J. English | James P. Palermo
Cynthia L. Walker | Martin T. Meehan | Kirk A. Sykes
| Kirk A. Sykes | Cynthia L. Walker

As Chairperson of the Board, Mr. Sirri is an ex officio member of each committee.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight of the Funds
The Board’s role is one of oversight of the practices and processes of the Funds and their service providers, rather than active management of the Trusts, including in matters relating to risk management. The Board seeks to understand the key risks facing the Funds, including those involving conflicts of interest; how Fund management identifies and monitors these risks on an ongoing basis; how Fund management develops and implements controls to mitigate these risks; and how Fund management tests the effectiveness of those controls. The Board cannot foresee, know, or guard against all risks, nor are the Trustees guarantors against risk.
Periodically, Fund officers provide the full Board with an overview of the enterprise risk assessment program in place at Natixis Advisors and the Distributor, which serve as the administrator of and principal underwriter to the Funds, respectively. Fund officers on a quarterly and annual basis also provide the Board (or one of its standing committees) with written and oral reports on regulatory and compliance matters, operational and service provider matters, organizational developments, product proposals, Fund and internal audit results, and insurance and fidelity bond coverage, along with a discussion of the risks and controls associated with these matters, and periodically make presentations to management on risk issues and industry best practices. Fund service providers, including advisory,
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subadvisory transfer agents and the custodian, periodically provide Fund management and/or the Board with information about their risk assessment programs and/or the risks arising out of their activities. The scope and frequency of these reports vary. Fund officers also communicate with the Trustees between meetings regarding material exceptions and other items germane to the Board’s risk oversight function.
Pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, the Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who is responsible for administering the Funds’ compliance program, including monitoring and enforcing compliance by the Funds and their service providers with the federal securities laws. The CCO has an active role in daily Fund operations and maintains a working relationship with all relevant advisory, compliance, operations and administration personnel for the Funds’ service providers. On at least a quarterly basis, the CCO reports to the Independent Trustees on significant compliance program developments, including material compliance matters, and on an annual basis, the CCO provides the full Board with a written report that summarizes his review and assessment of the adequacy of the compliance programs of the Funds and their service providers. The CCO also periodically communicates with the Audit Committee members between its scheduled meetings.
Fund Securities Owned by the Trustees
As of December 31, 2025, the Trustees had the following ownership in the Funds and in all funds in the Fund Complex:

Dollar Range of Fund Shares 1 | Edmond J. English 2 | Richard A. Goglia 2 | Martin T. Meehan 2 | Maureen B. Mitchell | James P. Palermo 2 | Erik R. Sirri 2 | Peter J. Smail | Kirk A. Sykes 2 | Cynthia L. Walker 2
Independent Trustees
Equity Call Premium Fund | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A
Gateway Fund | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | E
Global Megatrends Fund | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A
Mid Cap Fund | A | A | A | A | A | C | A | A | A
Small Cap Fund | A | A | A | C | A | A | A | A | A
Aggregate Dollar Range of Fund Shares in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | D | E

1 | A. None B. $1 – $10,000 C. $10,001 – $50,000 D. $50,001 – $100,000 E. over $100,000

2 | Amounts include economic value of notional investments held through the deferred compensation plan.

Dollar Range of Fund Shares 1 | Kevin P. Charleston | David L. Giunta | Marina Gross
Interested Trustees |  |  |
Equity Call Premium Fund | A | B | B
Gateway Fund | A | E | E
Global Megatrends Fund | A | A | D
Mid Cap Fund | A | A | C
Small Cap Fund | A | B | B
Aggregate Dollar Range of Fund Shares in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | E | E | E

1 | A. None B. $1 – $10,000 C. $10,001 – $50,000 D. $50,001 – $100,000 E. over $100,000

As of December 31, 2025, none of the Independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities of the Adviser, the Distributor, or of a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser or the Distributor.
Trustee Fees
The Trusts pay no compensation to their officers or to Trustees who are employees, officers or directors of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor, or their affiliates.
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The Chairperson of the Board receives a retainer fee at the annual rate of $410,000. The Chairperson does not receive any meeting attendance fees for Board meetings or committee meetings that he attends. Each Trustee who is not an employee, officer or director of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates (other than the Chairperson) receives, in the aggregate, a retainer fee at the annual rate of $235,000. Each Trustee who is not an employee, officer or director of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates also receives a meeting attendance fee of $10,000 for each meeting of the Board that he or she attends in person and $5,000 for each meeting of the Board that he or she attends telephonically. In addition, the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and the Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee, each receives an additional retainer fee at an annual rate of $30,000. The Chairperson of the Governance Committee receives an additional retainer fee at an annual rate of $20,000. Each Contract Review Committee and Audit Committee member is compensated $6,000 for each committee meeting that he or she attends in person and $3,000 for each committee meeting that he or she attends telephonically. Each Governance Committee member is compensated $2,500 for each committee meeting that he or she attends. These fees are allocated among the funds in the Fund Complex based on a formula that takes into account, among other factors, the relative net assets of each mutual fund portfolio. Trustees are reimbursed for travel expenses in connection with attendance at meetings.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the Trustees received the amounts set forth in the following table for serving as Trustees of the Trusts and of the Fund Complex. The table also sets forth, as applicable, pension or retirement benefits accrued as part of fund expenses, as well as estimated annual retirement benefits:
Compensation Table
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2025

| Aggregate Compensation from Natixis Funds Trust I 1 | Aggregate Compensation from Natixis Funds Trust II 1 | Aggregate Compensation from Gateway Trust 1 | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses | Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement | Total Compensation from the Fund Complex 2
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Edmond J. English | $47,711 | $22,059 | $26,520 | $0 | $0 | $310,000
Richard A. Goglia | $52,340 | $24,137 | $29,136 | $0 | $0 | $340,000
Martin T. Meehan | $52,340 | $24,137 | $29,136 | $0 | $0 | $340,000
Maureen B. Mitchell | $52,340 | $24,137 | $29,136 | $0 | $0 | $340,000
James P. Palermo | $49,254 | $22,751 | $27,392 | $0 | $0 | $320,000
Erik R. Sirri | $64,820 | $19,707 | $40,255 | $0 | $0 | $410,000
Peter J. Smail | $47,711 | $22,059 | $26,520 | $0 | $0 | $310,000
Kirk A. Sykes | $49,254 | $22,751 | $27,392 | $0 | $0 | $320,000
Cynthia L. Walker | $49,254 | $22,751 | $27,392 | $0 | $0 | $320,000
INTERESTED TRUSTEES
Kevin P. Charleston | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0
David L. Giunta | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0
Marina Gross | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0

1 | Amounts include payments deferred by Trustees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, with respect to the Trusts. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued for Natixis Funds Trust I as of December 31, 2025 for the Trustees is as follows: English $134,962, Goglia $186,892, Meehan $246,446, Palermo $449,565, Sirri $225,830, Sykes $18,672 and Walker $981,886. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued for Natixis Funds Trust II as of December 31, 2025 for the Trustees is as follows: English $239,054, Goglia $230,023, Meehan $298,998, Palermo $343,310, Sirri $319,510, Sykes $10,016 and Walker $1,030,325. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued for Gateway Trust as of December 31, 2025 for the Trustees is as follows: English $107,114, Goglia $130,118, Meehan $176,622, Palermo $276,883, Sirri $152,739, Sykes $10,856 and Walker $605,655.

2 | Total Compensation represents amounts paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 to a Trustee for serving on the board of eight (8) trusts with a total of thirty-six (36) funds as of December 31, 2025.

The Fund Complex does not provide pension or retirement benefits to the Trustees, but has adopted a deferred payment arrangement under which each Trustee may elect not to receive fees from the Funds on a current basis but to receive in a subsequent period an amount equal to the value that such fees would have been if they had been invested in a Fund or another fund in the Fund Complex selected by the Trustee on the normal payment date for such fees.
Management Ownership
As of record on April 1, 2026, the officers and Trustees of the Trusts collectively owned less than 1% of the then outstanding shares of each of the Funds.
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Code of Ethics
The Trusts, the Advisers, the Subadviser and the Distributor each have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit the personnel of these entities to invest in securities, including securities that the Funds may purchase or hold. The codes of ethics are on public file with, and are available from the SEC.
Proxy Voting Policies
The Board has adopted the Proxy Voting Policy and Guidelines (the “Procedures”) for the voting of proxies for securities held by the Funds. Under the Procedures, decisions regarding the voting of proxies are to be made solely in the interest of a Fund and its shareholders. The adviser or subadviser shall exercise its fiduciary responsibilities to vote proxies with respect to a Fund’s investments that are managed by that adviser or subadviser in a prudent manner in accordance with the Procedures and the proxy voting policies of the adviser or subadviser. The adviser or subadviser is responsible for maintaining certain records and reporting to the Audit Committee of the Trusts in connection with the voting of proxies. The adviser or subadviser shall make available to a Fund, or Natixis Advisors, the Fund’s administrator, the records and information maintained by the adviser or subadviser under the Procedures.
Natixis Advisors. Generally, proxy voting responsibility and authority are delegated to a Fund’s subadviser. In situations where Natixis Advisors retains proxy voting authority it follows the following guidelines. Natixis Advisors endeavors to do so in accordance with the best economic interest of its clients. Natixis Advisors endeavors to resolve any conflicts of interest exclusively in the best economic interest of the clients. In order to minimize conflicts of interest, Natixis Advisors has contracted with Broadridge/Glass, Lewis & Company (“Glass Lewis”), an independent third-party service provider, to vote Natixis Advisors’ client proxies. Natixis Advisors has a fiduciary responsibility to exercise proxy voting authority, when such authority is granted to it. Glass Lewis may maintain records, provide reports, develop models and research, and vote proxies in accordance with instructions and guidelines provided or approved by Natixis Advisors. These instructions and guidelines shall be consistent with the proxy voting policy of Natixis Advisors, which generally votes “for” proposals that, in the judgment of Natixis Advisors, would serve to enhance shareholder value, and votes “against” proposals that, in the judgment of Natixis Advisors, would impair shareholder value. These instructions and guidelines from Glass Lewis direct Broadridge to vote “for” or “against” specific types of routine proposals, while generally reserving other non-routine proposals for Natixis Advisors to decide on a case-by-case basis. With respect to proposals to be decided by Natixis Advisors on a case-by-case basis, a designated member of the portfolio management team of Natixis Advisors has the responsibility to determine how the proxies should be voted and for directing the proxy voting agent, through other operational personnel of Natixis Advisors, to vote accordingly.
Natixis Advisors reviews its proxy voting policy on a periodic basis, usually annually. Additionally, on a periodic basis, Natixis Advisors reviews reports produced by Broadridge that summarize voting activity. Furthermore, an internal team of Natixis Advisors, which team is composed of legal, compliance, portfolio management, and operational personnel, also conducts periodic reviews of proxy voting activity and issues, if any, that may arise. Finally, compliance conducts a random sampling review of proxy ballots to ascertain whether votes are cast in compliance with Natixis Advisors’ proxy voting policy. Upon request, clients may obtain a full and complete copy of the Natixis Advisors proxy voting policy and a record of how their securities were voted.
Gateway. Under the Procedures, the responsibility for voting proxies generally is delegated to Gateway for securities held by the Funds advised by Gateway. Under the Procedures, decisions regarding the voting of proxies are to be made solely in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Gateway shall exercise its fiduciary responsibilities to vote proxies with respect to the Fund’s investments that are managed by Gateway in a prudent manner in accordance with the Procedures and the proxy voting policies of Gateway. Gateway is responsible for maintaining certain records and reporting to the Audit Committee of the Trusts in connection with the voting of proxies. Gateway shall make available to the Fund and the Fund’s administrator the records and information maintained by Gateway under the Procedures.
Gateway has formally adopted ISS Governance Services (“ISS Governance”) proxy voting guidelines to determine how each issue on proxy ballots is to be voted and has appointed ISS Governance as its proxy agent to recommend how to vote each proxy as well as administer the voting of proxies on behalf of Gateway. ISS Governance has developed its US Proxy Voting Summary Procedures, which provide guidelines for proxy voting that are designed to serve the best interests of investors. These guidelines outline the rationale for determining how particular issues should be voted. Gateway has instructed ISS Governance to vote in accordance with the guidelines unless at least one of the following conditions apply:

A. | Gateway’s portfolio management team has decided to override the ISS Governance vote recommendation for a Client(s) based on its own determination that the Client(s) would best be served with a vote contrary to the ISS Governance recommendation based on Gateway’s higher degree of analysis of ISS Governance’s vote recommendation. Such decision(s) will be documented by Gateway (and communicated to ISS Governance if a decision(s) led to a vote override). Gateway’s CIO will determine, on an annual basis, as to which classification level an ISS Governance vote recommendation should be analyzed further by Gateway (which may include highly contested matters regarding mergers and acquisitions, dissolutions, conversions, consolidations, or contested elections of directors); or

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B. | Gateway’s portfolio management team has decided to override ISS Governance’s vote recommendation for a Client(s) based on its own determination that the Client(s) would best be served with a vote contrary to ISS Governance’s recommendation based on Gateway’s consideration of certain additional information. Specifically, in the event Gateway becomes aware that an issuer has filed additional soliciting material with the SEC regarding ISS Governance’s vote recommendation and if such additional information would reasonably be expected to affect Gateway’s voting determination, Gateway will consider this supplemental information if such additional material was submitted to Gateway via ISS no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the vote submission deadline. Only additional information from issuers that apply to the classification levels determined by the CIO would be considered information reasonably expected to affect Gateway’s voting determination. Information received within the five (5) calendar days before the cutoff time frame, but before the vote submission deadline, may be considered, but only on a best-efforts basis. Decision(s) as to whether this additional information affects whether or not Gateway follows ISS Governance’s vote recommendation will be documented by Gateway (and communicated to ISS Governance if the analysis led to a vote override); or

C. | ISS Governance does not give a vote recommendation, in which case Gateway will independently determine how a particular issue should be voted. In these instances, Gateway, through its portfolio management team, will document the reason(s) used in determining a vote and communicate Gateway’s voting instruction to ISS Governance. Gateway will generally seek to vote in accordance with ISS Governance’s guidelines; or if voting on any particular security compromises Gateway’s ability to later transact in such security (e.g. shareblocking practices) or if, in Gateway’s judgment, the expected cost associated with the vote exceeds the expected benefits of the vote (e.g. non-U.S. security restrictions), then Gateway will abstain from voting on a particular security; or

D. | If voting would impose costs on the Client, such as opportunity costs for the Client resulting from restricting the use of securities for lending in order to preserve the right to vote, then Gateway will not make efforts to vote these securities on behalf of the Client.

Mirova US and Mirova understand that proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and that reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised. Mirova US, in reliance on Mirova, will vote in a manner that is consistent with what it believes to be in the best interests of such clients and in accordance with the proxy voting policy and Procedures that it has adopted.
Mirova US has adopted written policies and procedures setting forth the principles and procedures by which it votes or gives consent with respect to securities owned by the Fund and other clients. With respect to its Mirova division, in particular, Mirova US has chosen to adopt a voting policy that develops an integrated voting and engagement strategy, focused on long-term value creation for all stakeholders. This approach is based on three principles: Pragmatism: Mirova analyses resolutions from an investor’s point of view, considering the macro-economic context as well as countries’ and companies’ specific characteristics; Responsibility: Mirova takes into consideration Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) issues when analyzing resolutions and making voting decisions;
Engagement: Mirova conducts ongoing and constructive dialogue with companies in order to promote good corporate governance practices and the integration of sustainable development issues to their long-term strategies.
This proxy voting policy emphasizes the essential issues facing companies in the new context in which they operate. Mirova favors, notably: (i) the institution of a board that incorporates stakeholders in a balanced fashion and that resolutely takes account of issues of corporate social responsibility (“CSR”), (ii) an equitable distribution of value among the different stakeholders, notably integrating environmental and social criteria in the remuneration of executives, and (iii) the transparency and quality of financial and extra-financial information, with the implementation of reporting that integrates the issues of sustainable development. These principles furthermore constitute the primary themes of engagement that Mirova emphasizes in the context of its dialogue with issuers. Below is additional detail on how the Mirova division of Mirova US generally will/will not vote on certain matters:

Governance Structure and Balance of Power | Mirova’s voting decisions generally will favor the appointment of directors allowing for: (1) a balance in the composition of the board among the company’s different strategic stakeholders; (2) effective supervision of decisions taken in the long-term interests of the company and the respect for the rights of all stakeholders; and (3) better integration of CSR issues in strategic considerations.

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Distribution of Value | Mirova generally will support votes concerning aspects of the compensation of executives that are: (1) tied to the long-term strategy of the company; (2) correlated with long-term economic, but also environmental and social objectives (with pertinent and stable measurement indicators); (3) consistent with the creation of real value and its distribution among the different stakeholders; and (4) consistent with the company’s social policy. Mirova generally will not support votes on dividend policies that: (1) are not correlated with the creation of value; (2) are detrimental to the company’s capacity to invest or to its solvency; and/or (3) are not consistent with the company’s social policy. Mirova generally will support all resolutions aiming to maintain the loyalty of long-term shareholders and to develop employee shareholding.
Transparency of Information | Mirova generally will not support a resolution approving the annual report if the annual report does not integrate audited and certified information on the environmental and social performance of the company

The proxy voting policy is reviewed annually by the Research team in order to take into account potential changes in national or regional legal framework and to also reflect evolutions in the Sustainable and Responsible Investment (“SRI”) philosophy. The Voting & Governance analyst and the Head of SRI Research are more specifically dedicated to this process. The new proxy voting policy is submitted to the Compliance Officer and the CEO for their respective approval.
The analysis of resolutions is carried out by the ESG Research team, and more specifically the Voting and Governance Analyst. This proxy voting procedure involves the analysis of resolutions presented at general meetings. Mirova may also engage in dialogue with issuers. Voting decisions are the responsibility of the voting committee, composed of Mirova’s Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Responsible Investment Research, and the Voting and Governance Analyst. Managers and extra-financial analysts may be invited to participate in the committee’s deliberations depending on the subject under discussion.
As part of the framework established for delegating voting rights, Mirova uses an independent voting services provider, Institutional Shareholder Services, to: (i) inform Mirova of upcoming general meetings related to securities belonging to its voting universe; (ii) analyze resolutions according to the principles defined in the present voting policy; (iii) provide access to a voting platform for the exercise of voting rights; and (iv) transmit voting instructions to issuers.
Although Mirova has implemented a customized voting policy with ISS, its in-house analysis has always priority on the voting recommendations proposed by ISS.
Mirova has implemented procedures to prevent, identify, and manage potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict of interest between Mirova and one of its clients is identified, the Head of Compliance and Internal Control, in coordination with the members of the voting committee, decide on the appropriate response. If exercising its voting rights for a given company exposes Mirova to a significant conflict of interest, the Voting and Governance Analyst will refer the matter to the Head of Compliance and Internal Control, who will decide on the appropriate measures to take, including whether or not to participate in the company’s general meeting. Generally, Mirova does not participate in the general meeting where a potential conflict of interest has been identified. Mirova US’s Chief Compliance Officer or her/his deputy is responsible for confirming that the Voting and Governance analyst is not aware of any conflicts of interest that may arise between Mirova US and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the interests of its clients, on the other, regardless of whether these conflicts are actual or perceived. If a conflict of interest is identified, the Chief Compliance Officer of Mirova US or her/his deputy (who may be located at Mirova) will decide on an appropriate response. Where the Chief Compliance Officer deems appropriate in her/his sole discretion, unaffiliated third parties may be used to help resolve conflicts. In this regard, the Chief Compliance Officer shall have the power to retain independent fiduciaries, consultants, or professionals to assist with voting decisions and/or to delegate voting or consent powers to such fiduciaries, consultants or professionals.
Vaughan Nelson. Vaughan Nelson undertakes to vote all client proxies in a manner reasonably expected to ensure that, where it has voting authority, the client’s best interest is upheld and in a manner that does not subrogate the client’s best interest to that of the firm’s in instances where a material conflict exists. Vaughan Nelson’s proxy voting policy and the Procedures, as implemented by the Vaughan Nelson Proxy Voting Committee (“PVC”), are intended to support good corporate governance, including those corporate practices that address environmental, social and governmental issues (“ESG Matters”), in all cases with the objective of protecting shareholder interests and maximizing shareholder value.
Vaughan Nelson has created a Proxy Voting Guideline (“Guideline”) believed to be in the best interest of clients relating to common and recurring issues found within proxy voting material. The Guideline, reviewed annually, is the work product of Vaughan Nelson’s Investment Team and it considers the nature of its business, the types of securities being managed and other sources of information including, but not limited to, research provided by an independent research firm Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), internal
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research, published information on corporate governance and experience. The Guideline helps to ensure voting consistency on issues common amongst issuers and to serve as evidence that a vote was not the product of a conflict of interest but rather a vote in accordance with a predetermined policy. However, in many recurring and common proxy issues a “blanket voting approach” cannot be applied. In these instances, the Guideline indicates that such issues will be addressed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with a portfolio manager to determine how to vote the issue in the client’s best interest.
Vaughan Nelson uses ISS in a limited capacity to collect proxy ballots for clients, provide a platform in which to indicate Vaughan Nelson’s vote, provide company research as a point of information and assist Vaughan Nelson in generating proxy voting reports.
Vaughan Nelson, in executing its duty to vote proxies, may encounter a material conflict of interest. Vaughan Nelson does not envision a large number of situations where a conflict of interest would exist, if any, given the nature of Vaughan Nelson’s business, client base, relationships, and the types of securities managed. Notwithstanding, if a conflict of interest arises, Vaughan Nelson will undertake to vote the proxy or proxy issue in the client’s continued best interest. This will be accomplished by either casting the vote in accordance with the Guideline, if the application of such policy to the issue at hand involves little discretion on Vaughan Nelson’s part, or casting the vote as indicated by the independent third-party research firm, ISS. If a conflict involves ISS, Vaughan Nelson will take that into consideration when evaluating a proxy item that is not addressed in the firm’s recurring Guideline. All issues presented for shareholder vote are subject to the oversight of the PVC, either directly or by application of this Policy and Guideline.
Vaughan Nelson, as an indirect subsidiary of a Bank Holding Company, is restricted from voting the shares it has invested in banking entities on the fund’s behalf in instances where the aggregate ownership of all the Bank Holding Company’s investment management subsidiaries exceed 5% of the outstanding share class of a bank. Where the aggregate ownership described exceeds the 5% threshold, the firm will instruct ISS, an independent third party, to vote the proxies in line with ISS’s recommendation.
Finally, there may be circumstances or situations that may preclude or limit the manner in which a proxy is voted. These may include: 1) Mutual funds – whereby voting may be controlled by restrictions within the fund or the actions of authorized persons, 2) International Securities – whereby the perceived benefit of voting an international proxy does not outweigh the anticipated costs of doing so, 3) New Accounts – instances where security holdings assumed will be sold in the near term thereby limiting any benefit to be obtained by a vote of proxy material, 4) Small Combined Holdings / Unsupervised Securities – where the firm does not have a significant holding or basis on which to offer advice, 5) a security is out on loan (voting rights have been passed to the borrower), or 6) securities held on record date but divested prior to meeting date. In summary, Vaughan Nelson’s goal is to vote proxy material in a manner that is believed to assist in maximizing the value of the portfolio.
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies related to their respective portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge (i) through the Funds’ website, im.natixis.com and (ii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
Information About the Organization and Ownership of the Advisers and Subadviser
Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC is a limited liability company owned by Natixis IM-NA.
Mirova US is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mirova, which is in turn a subsidiary of Natixis Investment Managers. Mirova US has entered into a personnel-sharing arrangement with its Paris-based affiliate, Mirova, which, like Mirova US, is part of Natixis Investment Managers. Pursuant to this arrangement, certain employees of Mirova, as a “participating affiliate,” serve as “associated persons” of Mirova US and, in this capacity, are subject to the oversight of Mirova US and its Chief Compliance Officer. These associated persons may, on behalf of Mirova US, provide discretionary investment management services (including acting as portfolio managers), research and related services to the Fund in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement. Unlike Mirova US, Mirova is not registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. The personnel-sharing arrangement is based on no-action letters of the staff of the SEC that permit SEC-registered investment advisers to rely on and use the resources of advisory affiliates, subject to certain conditions.
Vaughan Nelson is a limited partnership owned by Natixis IM-NA.
Natixis Advisors, formed in 1995, is a limited liability company owned by Natixis IM-NA.
Natixis IM-NA is part of Natixis Investment Managers, an international asset management group based in Paris, France, that is in turn owned by Natixis, a French investment banking and financial services firm. Natixis is wholly owned by BPCE, France’s second largest retail banking group. BPCE is owned by banks comprising two autonomous and complementary retail banking networks consisting of the Caisse d’Epargne regional savings banks and the Banque Populaire regional cooperative banks. The registered address of Natixis is 7 promenade Germaine Sablon, 75013 Paris, France. The registered address of BPCE is 7 promenade Germaine Sablon, 75013 Paris, France.
The 7 principal subsidiary or affiliated asset management firms of Natixis IM-NA collectively had over $716.1 billion in assets under management or administration as of December 31, 2025.
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Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements
Each Fund’s advisory agreement with its Adviser provides that the Adviser will furnish or pay the expenses of the applicable Fund for office space, facilities and equipment, services of executive and other personnel of the Trusts and certain administrative services. The Adviser may delegate certain administrative services to its affiliates. The Adviser is responsible for obtaining and evaluating such economic, statistical and financial data and information and performing such additional research as is necessary to manage the applicable Fund’s assets in accordance with its investment objectives and policies.
Each Fund pays all expenses not borne by the Adviser or Subadviser including, but not limited to, the charges and expenses of the Funds’ custodian and transfer agent, independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel for the Funds, legal counsel for the Trusts’ Independent Trustees, 12b-1 fees, all brokerage commissions and transfer taxes in connection with portfolio transactions, all taxes and filing fees, the fees and expenses for registration or qualification of its shares under federal and state securities laws, all expenses of shareholders’ and Trustees’ meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports to shareholders and the compensation of Trustees who are not directors, officers or employees of the Advisers, Subadvisers or their affiliates, other than affiliated registered investment companies. Certain expenses may be allocated differently among the Fund’s Class A and Class C shares, on the one hand, and Class N or Class Y shares on the other hand. See the section “Description of the Trusts” and “Ownership of Fund Shares”.
Each advisory and subadvisory agreement provides that it will continue in effect for two years from its date of execution and thereafter from year to year if its continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Board of the relevant Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Each advisory and subadvisory agreement may be terminated without penalty by vote of the Board of the relevant Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice, or by the Adviser upon 90 days’ written notice. Each advisory and subadvisory agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). The subadvisory agreement also may be terminated by the Subadviser upon 90 days’ notice, and automatically terminates upon termination of the related advisory agreement.
Each advisory and subadvisory agreement provides that the Adviser or Subadviser shall not be subject to any liability in connection with the performance of its services thereunder in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their obligations and duties.
In addition, Natixis Advisors also provides subadvised Funds with administrative services which include, among other things, day-to-day administration of matters related to the Fund’s existence, maintenance of its records, preparation of reports and assistance in the preparation of the Fund’s registration statement under federal and state laws. In addition, Natixis Advisors does not determine what investments will be purchased or sold for any Fund. Each Adviser will provide, or cause the Fund’s custodian to provide, information to the Subadviser regarding the composition of assets of the Fund and the assets to be invested and reinvested by the Subadviser. Each Adviser may terminate any subadvisory agreement to which it is a party without shareholder approval. In such case, such Adviser will either manage the Fund’s assets itself or, subject to the receipt of any necessary shareholder approvals, retain one or more subadvisers to manage some or all of the Fund’s assets.
Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans
Under a separate agreement with each Fund, the Distributor serves as the principal distributor of each class of shares of the Funds. The Distributor’s principal business address is 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197. Under these agreements (the “Distribution Agreements”), the Distributor conducts a continuous offering and is not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. The Distributor bears the cost of making information about the Funds available through advertising and other means, printing and mailing Prospectuses to persons other than shareholders, and providing compensation to underwriters, broker-dealers and sales personnel. Each Fund pays the cost of registering and qualifying its shares under state and federal securities laws and distributing Prospectuses to existing shareholders.
The Distributor is compensated under each agreement through receipt of the sales charges on Class A shares described below under “Net Asset Value” and is paid by each Fund the service and distribution fees described in the Prospectuses. The Distributor may, at its discretion, reallow the entire sales charge imposed on the sale of Class A and Class C shares of a Fund to investment dealers from time to time. The SEC is of the view that dealers receiving all or substantially all of the sales charge may be deemed underwriters of each Fund’s shares.
Each of the Funds has adopted Rule 12b-1 plans (the “Plans”) for its Class A and Class C shares. Class N and Class Y shares have no such plans. The Plans, among other things, permit the applicable class of shares to pay the Distributor monthly fees out of its net assets. These fees consist of a service fee and a distribution fee. Certain Distributor fees that are paid by a distributor to securities dealers are known as “trail commissions.” Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, each Plan was approved by the shareholders of each Fund, and (together with the related Distribution Agreement) by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Trusts. (Note that not all Funds offer Class N shares.)
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Under the Plans, each Fund pays the Distributor a monthly service fee at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of each Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the Class A and Class C shares. In the case of Class C shares, the Distributor retains the first year’s service fee of 0.25% assessed against such shares. For Class A, and, after the first year, for Class C shares, the Distributor may pay up to the entire amount of this fee to securities dealers who are dealers of record with respect to each Fund’s shares, on a monthly (or quarterly) basis, unless other arrangements are made between the Distributor and the securities dealer, for providing personal services to investors in shares of the Funds and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. This service fee will accrue to securities dealers of record immediately with respect to reinvested income dividends and capital gain distributions of each Fund’s Class A shares.
The service fees on Class A shares may be paid only to reimburse the Distributor for expenses of providing personal services to investors, including, but not limited to, (i) expenses (including overhead expenses) of the Distributor for providing personal services to investors in connection with the maintenance of shareholder accounts and (ii) payments made by the Distributor to any securities dealer or other organization (including, but not limited to, any affiliate of the Distributor) with which the Distributor has entered into a written agreement for this purpose, for providing personal services to investors and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts, which payments to any such organization may be in amounts in excess of the cost incurred by such organization in connection therewith.
Each Fund’s Class C shares also pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average net assets of the respective Fund’s Class C shares. The Distributor retains the 0.75% distribution fee assessed against Class C shares during the first year of investment. After the first year for Class C shares, the Distributor may pay up to the entire amount of this fee to securities dealers who are dealers of record with respect to each Fund’s shares, as distribution fees in connection with the sale of the Fund’s shares on a quarterly basis, unless other arrangements are made between the Distributor and the securities dealer. As stated in the Prospectuses, investors will not be permitted to purchase $1,000,000 or more of Class C shares as a single investment per account.
Each Plan may be terminated by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant class of shares of the relevant Fund. Each Plan may be amended by vote of the relevant Trustees, including a majority of the relevant Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. Any change in any Plan that would materially increase the fees payable thereunder by the relevant class of shares of the relevant Fund requires approval by a vote of the holders of a majority of such shares outstanding. The Trustees review quarterly a written report of such costs and the purposes for which such costs have been incurred. For so long as a Plan is in effect, selection and nomination of those Trustees who are Independent Trustees of the Trusts shall be committed to the discretion of such Trustees.
Fees paid by Class A or Class C shares of any Fund may indirectly support sales and servicing efforts relating to shares of the other series of the Natixis Funds Trusts or the Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts. In reporting its expenses to the Trustees, the Distributor itemizes expenses that relate to the distribution and/or servicing of a single fund’s shares, and allocates other expenses among the relevant funds based on their relative net assets or relative sales. Expenses allocated to each fund are further allocated among its classes of shares annually based on the relative sales of each class, except for any expenses that relate only to the sale or servicing of a single class.
The Distributor has entered into selling agreements with investment dealers, including affiliates of the Distributor, for the sale of the Funds’ shares. As described in more detail below, the Distributor, the Adviser and their affiliates may, at their expense, pay additional amounts to dealers who have selling agreements with the Distributor. Class Y shares of the Funds may be offered by registered representatives of certain affiliates who are also employees of Natixis IM-NA and may receive compensation from the Adviser with respect to sales of Class Y shares.
The Distribution Agreements may be terminated at any time on 60 days’ notice to the Distributor without payment of any penalty, by either vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities or by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Distribution Agreements may be terminated at any time on 90 days’, written notice to the Trusts, without payment of any penalty.
The Distribution Agreements and the Plans will continue in effect for successive one-year periods, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved (i) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, and (ii) by the vote of the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding securities of a Fund (or the relevant class, in the case of the Plans).
With the exception of the Distributor, its affiliated companies and those Trustees that are not Independent Trustees, no interested person of the Trusts or any Trustee of the Trusts had any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or any related agreement. Benefits to the Funds and their shareholders resulting from the Plans are believed to include (1) enhanced shareholder service, (2) asset retention, and (3) enhanced portfolio management opportunities and bargaining position with third-party service providers and economies of scale arising from having asset levels higher than they would be if the Plans were not in place.
The Distributor controls the word “Natixis” in the names of the Natixis Funds Trusts and if it should cease to be the principal distributor of such Funds’ shares, the Trusts may be required to change their names and delete these words or letters. The Distributor also acts as principal distributor for Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, and Gateway Trust. The address of the Distributor is 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197.
The portion of the various fees and expenses for Class A and Class C shares that are paid (reallowed) to securities dealers are shown below.
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Class A

Cumulative Investment | Maximum Sales Charge Paid by Investors (% of offering price) | Maximum Reallowance or Commission (% of offering price) | Maximum First Year Service Fee (% of net investment) | Maximum First Year Compensation (% of offering price)
All Funds |  |  |  |
Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 5.00% | 0.25% | 5.25%
$50,000 – $99,999 | 4.50% | 4.00% | 0.25% | 4.25%
$100,000 – $249,999 | 3.50% | 3.00% | 0.25% | 3.25%
$250,000 – $499,999 | 2.50% | 2.15% | 0.25% | 2.40%
$500,000 – $999,999 | 2.00% | 1.70% | 0.25% | 1.95%
Investments of $1,000,000 or more 1,2
Up to $2,999,999 | None | 1.00% | 0.25% | 1.25%
$3,000,000 to $4,999,999 | None | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00%
Excess over $5,000,000 | None | 0.50% | 0.25% | 0.75%
Investments with No Sales Charge 3 | None | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.25%

1 | Commissions are based on cumulative investments over the life of the account with no adjustment for redemptions, transfers or market declines. For example, if a shareholder has accumulated investments in excess of $5,000,000 and subsequently redeems all or a portion of the account(s), purchases following the redemption will generate a dealer commission of 0.50%.

2 | A securities dealer may elect, at the time of the investment, to waive their commission on investments of $1,000,000 or more. In such cases, investments will be processed as “Investment with no Sales Charge” as described above. No CDSC will be applied to these investments.

3 | Refers to any investments made by investors not subject to a sales charge as described in each Fund’s Prospectus for Class A shares in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated.” Also refers to any Class C share accounts established prior to December 1, 2000.

Class C
Class C service fees are payable regardless of the amount of the Distributor’s related expenses.

Cumulative Investment | Maximum Sales Charge Paid by Investors (% of offering price) | Maximum Reallowance or Commission (% of offering price) | Maximum First Year Service Fee (% of net investment) | Maximum First Year Compensation (% of offering price)
All amounts for Class C | None | 1.00% | 0.00% | 1.00%

As described in the Prospectuses, each purchase or sale of shares is effected at the NAV next determined after an order is received, less any applicable sales charge. The sales charge is allocated between the investment dealer and the Distributor, as indicated in the tables above. The Distributor receives the contingent deferred sales charge (the “CDSC”). Proceeds from the CDSC on Class A and Class C shares are paid to the Distributor and are used by the Distributor to defray the expenses for services the Distributor provides to the Trusts. The Distributor may, at its discretion, pay (reallow) the entire sales charge imposed on the sale of Class A shares to investment dealers from time to time.
For new amounts invested at NAV by an eligible governmental authority, the Distributor may, at its expense, pay investment dealers a commission of 0.025% of the average daily net assets of an account at the end of each calendar quarter for up to one year. These commissions are not payable if the purchase represents the reinvestment of redemption proceeds from any other Natixis Fund or if the account is registered in street name.
The Funds may pay fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other services, including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, shareholder or participant reporting or shareholder or participant recordkeeping (“recordkeeping and processing-related services”) associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. These fees are paid directly or indirectly by the Funds (with the exception of Class N shares, which do not bear such expenses) in light of the fact that other costs may be avoided by the Funds where the intermediary, not the Funds’ service providers, provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The intermediary may impose other account or service charges directly on account holders or participants. In addition, depending on the arrangements, the Funds’ Advisers and/or Distributor or their affiliates may, out of their own resources, compensate such financial intermediaries or their agents directly or indirectly for such recordkeeping and processing-related services; such payments will not be made with respect to Class N shares. The services provided and related payments vary from firm to firm. Under these programs, the Distributor may enter into administrative services agreements with intermediaries pursuant to which intermediaries will provide sub-transfer agency services, sub-administrative services and other services with respect to the Funds. These services may include, but are not limited to, shareholder record set-up and maintenance, account statement preparation and mailing, transaction processing and settlement and account level tax reporting. The Distributor is reimbursed by the Funds for all or a
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portion of any fees paid to intermediaries by the Distributor on behalf of the Funds. In certain cases, a recipient of 12b-1 distribution payments, shareholder servicing payments or revenue sharing payments may rebate some or all of such amounts to its clients or plan participants, or use such amounts to defray client or plan expenses. For more information, investors should contact their financial representatives or plan administrator.
Additional Payments
The Distributor, each Adviser and their affiliates may out of their own resources make additional payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds (with the exception of Class N shares, for which such additional payments are not made). Such payments and compensation are in addition to any fees paid or reimbursed by the Funds. These payments may include: (i) full reallowance of the sales charge of Class A shares, (ii) additional compensation with respect to the sale and/or servicing of Class A, Class C, Class N, and Class Y shares, (iii) payments based upon various factors, as described below, and (iv) financial assistance programs to firms who sell or arrange for the sale of Fund shares including, but not limited to, remuneration for: the firm’s internal sales contests and incentive programs, marketing and sales fees, expenses related to advertising or promotional activity and events, and shareholder recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency or miscellaneous administrative services. From its own profits and resources, the Distributor may, from time to time, make payments to qualified wholesalers, registered financial institutions and third-party marketers for marketing support services and/or retention of assets (with the exception of Class N shares, for which such additional payments are not made). Among others, an affiliate of the Advisor has agreed pay an annual fee for marketing support services to Equitable Advisors, LLC (formerly known as AXA Advisors, LLC). In addition to marketing and/or financial support payments described above, payment for travel, lodging and related expenses may be provided for attendance at Fund seminars and conferences, e.g., due diligence meetings held for training and educational purposes. The Distributor intends that the payment of these concessions and any other compensation offered will conform with state and federal laws and the rules of any self-regulatory organization, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The participation of such firms in financial assistance programs is at the discretion of the firm and the Distributor. The payments described in (iii) above may be based on sales and/or the amount of assets a financial intermediary’s clients have invested in the Funds. The actual payment rates to a financial intermediary will depend upon how the particular arrangement is structured (e.g., solely asset-based fees, solely sales-based fees or a combination of both) and other factors such as the length of time assets have remained invested in the Fund, redemption rates and the willingness of the financial intermediary to provide access to its representatives for educational and marketing purposes. The payments to financial intermediaries described in this section and elsewhere in this Statement, which may be significant to the financial intermediaries, may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or sell shares of the Funds or particular share class over other mutual funds or share classes. Additionally, these payments may result in the Funds’ inclusion on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs. Investors should contact their financial representative for details about the payment the financial intermediaries may receive.
In addition, Gateway pays to Natixis Distribution 0.10% of the new assets of the Gateway Fund raised following the Reorganization.
From time to time, the Funds’ service providers, or any of their affiliates, may also pay non-cash compensation to the sales representatives of financial intermediaries in the form of (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; and/or (iii) sponsorship support of regional events of intermediaries.
Dealers may charge their customers a processing fee or service fee in connection with the purchase or redemption of fund shares. The amount and applicability of such a fee is determined and disclosed to its customers by its individual dealer. Processing or service fees typically are fixed, nominal dollar amounts and are in addition to the sales and other charges described in the Funds’ Prospectuses and this Statement. Customers will be provided with specific information about any processing or service fees charged by their dealer.
The commissions and sales charges for the periods shown below were allocated as follows:

| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I† |  |  |
Total commissions on sales of Class A shares | $77,788 | $96,706 | $60,724
Amount reallowed to other securities dealers | $67,694 | $83,929 | $52,496
Amount retained by Distributor | $10,094 | $12,777 | $8,228
Total CDSCs on redemptions of Classes A and C shares | $2,802 | $2,046 | $4,277
Amount retained by Distributor 1 | $2,802 | $2,046 | $4,277
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II† |  |  |
Total commissions on sales of Class A shares | $3,553 | $9,001 | $398
Amount reallowed to other securities dealers | $3,139 | $7,766 | $345
Amount retained by Distributor | $414 | $1,234 | $53
Total CDSCs on redemptions of Classes A and C shares | $515 | $177 | $243
Amount retained by Distributor 1 | $515 | $177 | $243

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| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
GATEWAY TRUST† |  |  |
Total commissions on sales of Class A shares | $47,031 | $61,529 | $100,200
Amount reallowed to other securities dealers | $40,794 | $53,193 | $86,774
Amount retained by Distributor | $6,237 | $8,336 | $13,426
Total CDSCs on redemptions of Classes A and C shares | $32,826 | $2,905 | $6,956
Amount retained by Distributor 1 | $32,826 | $2,905 | $6,956

† | Information is only provided for the Funds in this Statement as listed on the cover page.

1 | See the section “Other Arrangements” for information about amounts received by the Distributor from the Trusts’ Advisers and Subadvisers or the Funds directly for providing certain administrative services relating to the Trusts.

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
Administrative Services. Natixis Advisors, 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197, performs certain accounting and administrative services for the Funds, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement dated January 1, 2005, as amended from time to time (the “Administrative Agreement”). Under the Administrative Agreement, Natixis Advisors provides the following services to the Funds: (i) personnel that perform bookkeeping, accounting, internal auditing and financial reporting functions and clerical functions relating to the Funds, (ii) services required in connection with the preparation of registration statements and prospectuses, registration of shares in various states, shareholder reports and notices, proxy solicitation material furnished to shareholders of the Funds or regulatory authorities and reports and questionnaires for SEC compliance, (iii) the various registrations and filings required by various regulatory authorities, and (iv) consultation and legal advice on Fund-related matters.
For these services, Natixis Advisors received the following fees from the Funds for the last three fiscal years.

| Fiscal Year Ended
Fund | 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
| Fee | Fee | Fee
Equity Call Premium Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $106,333 | $134,840 | $114,541
Gateway Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $2,925,931 | $2,917,074 | $2,927,204
Global Megatrends Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $452,405 | $476,643 | $385,588
Mid Cap Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $115,399 | $112,873 | $92,233
Small Cap Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $162,073 | $465,271 | $556,203

Support Services. Pursuant to intercompany agreements between Gateway and Natixis Advisors, Natixis Advisors provides various marketing, relationship management, and support services to the Funds and Gateway. Pursuant to separate support service agreements between Natixis Advisors and Mirova US (for the Global Megatrends Fund), Natixis Advisors provides various marketing, relationship management and other support services to the Funds, and Mirova US. With respect to these contractual arrangements, Gateway and Mirova US, and not the Funds, pay Natixis Advisors for such services.
Custodial Arrangements. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street Bank”), One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, MA 02114, serves as the custodian for the Trusts. As such, State Street Bank holds in safekeeping certificated securities and cash belonging to the Funds and, in such capacity, is the registered owner of securities in book-entry form belonging to the Funds. Upon instruction, State Street Bank receives and delivers cash and securities of the Funds in connection with Fund transactions and collects all dividends and other distributions made with respect to Fund portfolio securities. State Street Bank also maintains certain accounts and records of the Trusts and calculates the total NAV, total net income and NAV per share of the Funds on a daily basis.
Transfer Agency Services. Pursuant to a contract between the Trusts, on behalf of the Funds, and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (“SS&C GIDS” or the “Transfer Agent”), whose principal business address is 30 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 400 Braintree, MA 02184, SS&C GIDS acts as shareholder servicing and transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the Funds and is responsible for services in connection with the establishment, maintenance and recording of shareholder accounts, including all related tax and other reporting requirements and the implementation of investment and redemption arrangements offered in connection with the sale of the Funds’ shares.
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From time to time, the Funds, directly or indirectly through arrangements with the Adviser or Transfer Agent, may pay amounts to third parties that provide recordkeeping and other administrative services relating to a Fund to persons who beneficially own interests in the Fund, such as shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. See the section “Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans.”
Transfer Agency Expenses. Natixis Advisors has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund, Mirova Global Megatrends Fund, Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Board. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, Natixis Advisors reimbursed the Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund $991, Mirova Global Megatrends Fund $4,774, Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund $1,740, and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund $3,886 for transfer agency expenses related to Class N shares.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Trusts’ independent registered public accounting firm is PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at 101 Seaport Blvd., Boston, MA 02210. The independent registered public accounting firm conducts an annual audit of each Fund’s financial statements, assists in the review of federal and state income tax returns and consults with the Trusts as to matters of accounting and federal and state income taxation. The financial highlights in the Funds’ Prospectus and the Funds’ audited financial statements and accompanying notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 contained in the Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, the Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR, and the Gateway Trust Form N-CSR, each for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and incorporated by reference into this Statement, have been so included in reliance on the reports of the Trusts’ independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
Counsel to the Funds. Ropes & Gray LLP, located at Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199, serves as counsel to the Funds.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Portfolio Managers’ Management of Other Accounts
As of December 31, 2025, the portfolio managers of the Funds managed other accounts in addition to managing one or more of the Funds. The following table provides information on the other accounts managed by each portfolio manager.

| Registered Investment Companies | Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | Other Accounts
| Other Accounts Managed | Advisory fee is based on performance | Other Accounts Managed | Advisory fee is based on performance | Other Accounts Managed | Advisory fee is based on performance
Name of Portfolio Manager (Firm) | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets
Dennis G. Alff (Vaughan Nelson) | 2 | $1.5 billion | 0 | $0 | 1 | $30.9 million | 0 | $0 | 29 | $628.5 million | 1 | $27.6 million
Daniel M. Ashcraft (Gateway) | 4 | $2,087.2 million | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 70 | $607.8 million | 0 | $0
Michael T. Buckius (Gateway) | 4 | $2,087.2 million | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 87 | $826.0 million | 0 | $0
Hua Cheng (Mirova US) | 1 | $847.3 million | 0 | $0 | 26 | $12.8 billion | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0
James Eisenman (Vaughan Nelson) | 3 | $970.1 million | 0 | $0 | 3 | $266.4 million | 0 | $0 | 88 | $2.5 billion | 0 | $0
Sundeep Khanna (Vaughan Nelson) | 2 | $1.5 billion | 0 | $0 | 1 | $30.9 million | 0 | $0 | 29 | $628.5 million | 1 | $27.6 million
Jens Peers (Mirova US) | 1 | $847.3 million | 0 | $0 | 26 | $12.8 billion | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0
Kenneth H. Toft (Gateway) | 4 | $2,087.2 million | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 16 | $320.3 million | 0 | $0
Mitchell J. Trotta (Gateway) | 3 | $1,994.0 million | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | 43 | $554.7 million | 0 | $0
Chris D. Wallis (Vaughan Nelson) | 9 | $3.3 billion | 0 | $0 | 9 | $61.1 million | 0 | $0 | 254 | $7.7 billion | 21 | $333.6 million

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Material Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest may arise in the allocation of investment opportunities and the allocation of aggregated orders among the Funds and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers. A portfolio manager potentially could give favorable treatment to some accounts for a variety of reasons, including favoring larger accounts, accounts that pay higher fees, accounts that pay performance-based fees, accounts of affiliated companies and accounts in which the portfolio manager has an interest. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions among a Fund and a portfolio manager’s other accounts, the portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to a Fund. Although such favorable treatment could lead to more favorable investment opportunities or allocations for some accounts and may appear to create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time and resources, each Adviser and Subadviser strives to ensure that portfolio managers endeavor to exercise their discretion in a manner that is equitable to all interested persons. Furthermore, each Adviser and Subadviser makes investment decisions for all accounts (including institutional accounts, mutual funds, hedge funds and affiliated accounts) based on each account’s investment objectives, investment guidelines and restrictions, the availability of other comparable investment opportunities, and each Adviser and Subadviser’s desire to treat all accounts fairly and equitably over time. Each Adviser and Subadviser has adopted policies and procedures to mitigate the effects of these potential conflicts as well as other types of conflicts of interests. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation where a conflict arises or that each Adviser or Subadviser will treat all accounts identically. For more information on how each Adviser and Subadviser allocates investment opportunities between the Funds and their other clients, see the section “Allocation of Investment Opportunity Among the Funds and Other Accounts Managed by the Advisers and/or Subadvisers” in this Statement. Conflicts of interest also arise to the extent a portfolio manager short sells a stock or otherwise takes a short position in one client account but holds that stock long in other accounts, including the Funds, or sells a stock for some accounts while buying the stock for others, and through the use of “soft dollar arrangements,” which are discussed in the section “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.”
Portfolio Managers’ Compensation
The following describes the structure of, and the method used to determine, the compensation of each of the above-listed portfolio managers as of December 31, 2025:
Gateway. The compensation of the portfolio managers is comprised of three components: base salary; incentive compensation related to the profitability of Gateway (with management fees for the Gateway Fund, Equity Call Premium Fund and all other Gateway-managed accounts being asset-based, not performance-based, either absolutely or in relation to any benchmark); and a retirement plan. The incentive compensation component, comprised of both a long-term incentive pool and a short-term incentive pool, is anticipated to be larger than the base salary component. Messrs. Buckius and Toft are parties to employment agreements that provide for automatic renewals for successive one-calendar-year periods and, among other things, a specified base salary and certain undertakings not to compete with the Adviser or solicit its clients. The non-competition and non-solicitation undertakings will expire one year from the termination of employment.
Mirova US and Mirova. The portfolio managers are compensated according to the Mirova global salary policy. Mirova’s global salary policy is intended to encourage staff loyalty and performance, by rewarding individual and collective performance in an unbiased manner. Investment professionals are compensated through both fixed and variable compensation.
Portfolio Manager compensation is made up primarily of three main components: fixed compensation (salary), variable compensation (bonus) and, for key people, a long-term incentive program.
Fixed compensation is re-evaluated annually and applies the firm’s salary grid as well as industry compensation data. Base salary is a fixed amount based on a combination of factors, including industry experience, firm experience, job performance and market considerations.
Variable compensation is distributed in two forms:

● | Cash bonuses awarded to portfolio managers and analysts, with the allocation based upon quantitative (collective and individual) as well as qualitative criteria. Quantitative criteria include the excess performance of the portfolio versus the benchmark, for both one-year and three-year periods. Qualitative criteria are defined annually to assess the contribution of each team to the overall performance of all portfolios, not just their own.

● | A long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) is awarded to key people, i.e., people whose yearly performance and contribution to Mirova’s results are high. The LTIP is indexed to Mirova’s operating income before tax.

The allocation of variable compensation is validated by the Mirova Remuneration Committee to ensure internal equity and consistency with market practices. The Compliance Officer gives an annual opinion on Mirova’s variable compensation policy.
Vaughan Nelson. The compensation program at Vaughan Nelson is designed to align the interests of portfolio management professionals with the interests of clients and Vaughan Nelson by retaining top-performing employees and creating incentives to enhance Vaughan Nelson’s long-term success.
Compensation of portfolio management professionals includes a fixed base salary, a variable bonus and deferral plan and a contribution to the firm’s retirement plan.
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All portfolio management professionals (at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Vaughan Nelson Board) participate in the variable bonus and deferral plan component which, as a whole, is based upon a percentage of Vaughan Nelson’s net profit. Each portfolio management professional’s participation in the variable bonus and deferral plan is based upon many factors, including but not limited to

● | Performance of the strategy managed (both absolute and relative to peers)

● | Amount of revenue derived from the strategy managed

● | Contribution to the development and execution of the firm’s investment philosophy and process

● | Participation and effectiveness in performing client service activities and marketing initiatives

The degree to which any one factor influences participation in the bonus pool will vary between individuals and over time. A portion of the variable bonus is subject to deferral and each participant has the option to invest the deferral into Vaughan Nelson managed product(s) while it vests. Each year’s deferral is paid out over a period of three years. Payments are conditioned upon compliance with non-compete and non-solicitation arrangements.
The contribution to the firm’s retirement plan is based on a percentage (at the discretion of the Vaughan Nelson Board) of total cash compensation (subject to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) limits) and such percentage is the same for all firm personnel. Compensation at Vaughan Nelson is determined by the Compensation Committee at the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer. There is no distinction for purposes of compensation between the Funds and any other accounts managed.
Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Fund Shares
As of December 31, 2025, the portfolio managers of the Funds had the following ownership in the Funds:

Name of Portfolio Manager | Fund(s) Managed | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Invested*
Dennis G. Alff (Vaughan Nelson) | Mid Cap Fund | F
Daniel M. Ashcraft (Gateway) | Equity Call Premium Fund Gateway Fund | C C
Michael T. Buckius (Gateway) | Equity Call Premium Fund Gateway Fund | G G
Hua Cheng (Mirova US) | Global Megatrends Fund | E
James Eisenman (Vaughan Nelson) | Small Cap Fund | E
Sundeep Khanna** (Vaughan Nelson) | Mid Cap Fund | E
Soliane Varlet (Mirova US) | Global Megatrends Fund | A
Jens Peers (Mirova US) | Global Megatrends Fund | E
Kenneth H. Toft (Gateway) | Equity Call Premium Fund Gateway Fund | F F
Mitchell J. Trotta (Gateway) | Equity Call Premium Fund Gateway Fund | B B
Chris D. Wallis (Vaughan Nelson) | Small Cap Fund Mid Cap Fund | A A

*A. None
B. $1 – $10,000
C. $10,001 – $50,000
D. $50,001 – $100,000
E. $100,001 – $500,000
F. $500,001 – $1,000,000
G. over $1,000,000
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There are various reasons why a portfolio manager may not own shares of the Fund(s) he or she manages. One reason is that a Fund’s investment objectives and strategies may not match those of the portfolio manager’s personal investment objective. In addition, the portfolio managers may invest in other funds or pooled investment vehicles or separate accounts managed by the portfolio manager in a similar style to the Fund managed by such portfolio manager. Administrative reasons (such as facilitating compliance with an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s code of ethics) also may explain why a portfolio manager has chosen not to invest in the Funds.
Allocation of Investment Opportunity Among the Funds and Other Accounts Managed by the Advisers and/or Subadvisers
Gateway. Gateway manages other accounts using investment strategies similar to that of the Equity Call Premium Fund and Gateway Fund. A conflict of interest may exist if Gateway identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be appropriate for more than one account, but a Fund is not able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to the need to allocate that opportunity among multiple accounts. In addition, Gateway may execute transactions for another account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by either Fund. However, Gateway believes that these risks are mitigated by the fact that accounts with like investment strategies managed by Gateway are generally managed in a similar fashion, subject to exceptions, such as those resulting from different cash availability and/or liquidity requirements, investment restrictions or policies, the time competing accounts have had funds available for investment or have had investments available for sale, an account’s participation in other opportunities, tax considerations and the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities. In addition, Gateway has adopted trade allocation procedures that require equitable allocation of trade orders for a particular security among participating accounts.
Mirova US. Certain of a Fund’s portfolio managers may encounter situations in which they must determine how to allocate investment opportunities among various clients and other persons. The Adviser has written policies and procedures relating to the allocation of investment opportunities. These policies and procedures address the potential conflicts of interest that may arise as the portfolio managers allocate investment opportunities among the Fund and other clients. In allocating investment opportunities to client accounts, the Adviser first determines which of its clients will participate in such opportunity. The Adviser assesses whether an investment opportunity is appropriate for a particular client based on the client’s investment objectives, strategies and risk tolerance. Prior to allocating any investment opportunity to a client account, the Adviser determines what additional factors may restrict or limit the offering of an investment opportunity to the client. The Adviser then will, in its discretion, decide how to allocate such investment opportunity among the identified clients. To the extent a particular investment is suitable for multiple client accounts of the Adviser, such investment will be allocated among such client accounts in a manner that is fair and equitable over time under the circumstances to all clients. The Adviser’s exercise of its discretion in allocating investment opportunities with respect to a particular investment among such clients in this manner may not, and often will not, result in proportional allocations among such clients, and such allocations may be more or less advantageous to some clients relative to other clients. In exercising its discretion to allocate investment opportunities and fees and expenses, the Adviser may be faced with a variety of potential conflicts of interest. It is the adviser’s policy not to favor or disfavor, consistently or consciously, any client account or class of client accounts in relation to any other client accounts. Further, the Adviser will not allocate investment opportunities based, in whole or in part, on the relative fee structure or amount of fees paid by any client or the profitability of any client. In addition, principal executive officers and other personnel of the Adviser may invest indirectly in and may be permitted to invest directly in clients and may therefore participate indirectly in investments made by the clients in which such personnel may invest. Such interests will vary among clients. The existence of these varying circumstances may present conflicts of interest in determining how much, if any, of certain investment opportunities to offer to a client.
Vaughan Nelson. In addition to managing its Funds, Vaughan Nelson serves as investment adviser to foundations, university endowments, corporate retirement plans and family/individual funds. Portfolio transactions for each client account are either completed independently, or, when decisions are made to purchase or sell the same securities for a number of client accounts simultaneously, through a “blocked order.” Investments decisions are typically implemented across all accounts managed within a particular strategy through a blocked order. Blocked orders are averaged as to price and are generally allocated on a pro rata basis based upon the actual purchase or sell orders placed for each security. Block orders are undertaken when possible to facilitate best execution, as well as for the purpose of negotiating more favorable brokerage commissions.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
In placing orders for the purchase and sale of equity securities, each Adviser or Subadviser selects only brokers that it believes are financially responsible, will provide efficient and effective services in executing, clearing and settling an order and will charge commission rates that, when combined with the quality of the foregoing services, will produce the best price and execution for the transaction. This does not necessarily mean that the lowest available brokerage commission, if any, will be paid. However, the commissions charged are believed to be competitive with generally prevailing rates. Each Adviser or Subadviser will use its best efforts to obtain information as to the general level of commission rates being charged by the brokerage community from time to time and will evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions, if any, paid on transactions by reference to such data. In making such evaluation, factors affecting liquidity and execution of the order, as well as the amount of the capital commitment by the broker in connection with the order, are taken into account. An Adviser or Subadviser may place orders for the Funds which, combined with orders for the Adviser’s/Subadviser’s other clients, may impact the price of the relevant security. This could cause the Funds to obtain a worse price on the transaction than would otherwise be the case if the orders were placed in smaller amounts or spread out over a longer period of time.
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Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best possible execution of orders, an Adviser or Subadviser may allocate brokerage transactions to affiliated brokers. Any such transactions will comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. In order for the affiliated broker to effect portfolio transactions for the Funds, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees and other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period. Furthermore, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, has adopted procedures that are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standard.
Transactions on stock, option, and futures exchanges involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. In the case of securities traded in the OTC market, OTC transactions incorporate any commission within the bid/ask spread.
Gateway
As discussed in more detail below, Gateway’s receipt of brokerage and research services may sometimes be a factor in Gateway’s selection of a broker or dealer to execute transactions for the Funds where Gateway believes that the broker or dealer will provide the best execution of the transactions. Such brokerage and research services may be paid for with Gateway’s own assets or may, in connection with transactions in securities effected for client accounts for which Gateway exercises investment discretion, be paid for with client commissions (the latter sometimes referred to as “soft dollars”).
In effecting portfolio transactions for the Funds, Gateway is obligated to seek best execution, which is to execute the Fund’s transactions where the most favorable combination of price and execution services are available (“best execution”), except to the extent that it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services as described below. In seeking best execution, Gateway, in the Funds’ best interest, considers all relevant factors, including:

● | price;

● | the size of the transaction;

● | the nature of the market for the security;

● | the amount of commission;

● | the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends;

● | the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved;

● | the quality of service rendered by the broker-dealer in other transactions.

Gateway may not consider sales of shares of the Funds as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute securities transactions, nor may the Funds or Gateway enter into any agreement or understanding under which a Fund directs brokerage transactions or revenues generated by those transactions to broker-dealers to pay for distribution of Fund shares. Nevertheless, the Funds or Gateway may place portfolio transactions with brokers or dealers who promote or sell Fund shares so long as such placements are made pursuant to policies approved by the Funds’ Board that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the broker-dealer’s execution and not on its sales efforts.
The Trust has no obligation to deal with any broker or dealer in the execution of its transactions.
While Gateway does not intend to limit the placement of orders to any particular broker or dealer, Gateway generally gives preference to those brokers or dealers who are believed to give best execution at the most favorable prices and who also provide brokerage research, statistical or other services to Gateway and/or the Trust. These services include not only a wide variety of reports on such matters as economic and political developments, industries, companies, securities, portfolio strategy, account performance, daily prices of securities, stock and bond market conditions and projections, asset allocation and portfolio structure, but also meetings with management representatives of issuers and with other analysts and specialists. Commissions charged by broker-dealers who provide these services may be higher than commissions charged by those who do not provide them. Higher commissions are paid only if Gateway determines that they are reasonable in relation to the value of the services provided. The availability of such services was taken into account in establishing the advisory fee. Specific brokerage and research services furnished by broker-dealers through whom the Trust effects securities transactions may be used by Gateway in servicing all of its accounts and may not be used with respect to the Funds. Similarly, specific brokerage and research services furnished by brokers who execute transactions for other Gateway clients may be used by Gateway for the benefit of the Trust.
Mirova US. Mirova US has a Best Execution Committee that meets on a quarterly basis to evaluate systematically the execution performance of brokers used. For products where price is the same between different brokers, the analysis will be mainly qualitative. For products where price is a major determinant (e.g., bonds, FX), a regular audit of whether the best price was actually chosen will be performed as determined necessary. In placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for its Funds, Mirova US selects only brokers or dealers that it believes are financially responsible and will provide efficient and effective services in executing, clearing and settling an order. Transactions in unlisted securities are carried out through broker-dealers who make the primary market for such securities unless, in the judgment of Mirova US, a more favorable price can be obtained by carrying out such transactions through other brokers or dealers.
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Vaughan Nelson. In placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for its Funds, Vaughan Nelson selects only brokers or dealers that it believes are financially responsible and will provide efficient and effective services in executing, clearing and settling an order. Vaughan Nelson will use its best efforts to obtain information as to the general level of commission rates being charged by the brokerage community from time to time and will evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions, if any, paid on transactions by reference to such data. Transactions in unlisted securities are carried out through broker-dealers who make the primary market for such securities unless, in the judgment of Vaughan Nelson, a more favorable price can be obtained by carrying out such transactions through other brokers or dealers.
Receipt of research services from brokers is one factor used in selecting a broker that Vaughan Nelson believes will provide best execution for a transaction. These research services include not only a wide variety of reports on such matters as economic and political developments, industries, companies, securities, portfolio strategy, account performance, daily prices of securities, stock and bond market conditions and projections, asset allocation and portfolio structure, but also meetings with management representatives of issuers and with other analysts and specialists. Although it is not possible to assign an exact dollar value to these services, they will, to the extent used, reduce Vaughan Nelson’s expenses. Such services may be used by Vaughan Nelson in servicing other client accounts and in some cases may not be used with respect to the Funds. Receipt of services or products other than research from brokers is not a factor in the selection of brokers.
In placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for a Fund, Vaughan Nelson may cause the Fund to pay a broker-dealer that provides the brokerage and research services to Vaughan Nelson an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction. Vaughan Nelson must determine in good faith that such 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 that particular transaction or Vaughan Nelson’s overall responsibilities to Natixis Fund Trust I and Natixis Fund Trust II and its other clients. Vaughan Nelson’s authority to cause the Funds to pay such greater commissions is also subject to such policies as the Trustees of the Trusts may adopt from time to time.
General
Subject to procedures adopted by the Board of each Trust, the Funds’ brokerage transactions may be executed by brokers that are affiliated with Natixis IM-NA or the Advisers or Subadvisers. Any such transactions will comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, or other applicable restrictions as permitted by the SEC pursuant to exemptive relief or otherwise.
Under the 1940 Act, persons affiliated with the Trusts are prohibited from dealing with the Trusts’ funds as a principal in the purchase and sale of securities. Since transactions in the OTC market usually involve transactions with dealers acting as principals for their own accounts, affiliated persons of the Trusts may not serve as the Funds’ dealer in connection with such transactions.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, and in all instances subject to the foregoing policy of best execution, each Adviser or Subadviser may allocate brokerage transactions to broker-dealers (including affiliates of the Distributor) that have entered into arrangements in which the broker-dealer allocates a portion of the commissions paid by the Funds toward the reduction of the Funds’ expenses.
It is expected that the portfolio transactions in fixed-income securities will generally be with issuers or dealers on a net basis without a stated commission. Securities firms may receive brokerage commissions on transactions involving options, futures and options on futures and the purchase and sale of underlying securities upon exercise of options. The brokerage commissions associated with buying and selling options may be proportionately higher than those associated with general securities transactions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUSTS
The Declarations of Trust of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Fund Trust II and Gateway Trust permit the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of each series. Each share of the Funds represents an equal proportionate interest in the Funds with each other share of the Funds and is entitled to a proportionate interest in the dividends and distributions from the Funds. The Declarations of Trust further permit the Board to divide the shares of each series into any number of separate classes, each having such rights and preferences relative to other classes of the same series as the Board may determine. When you invest in a Fund, you acquire freely transferable shares of beneficial interest that entitle you to receive dividends as determined by the Board and to cast a vote for each share you own at shareholder meetings. The shares of the Funds do not have any preemptive rights. Upon termination of the Funds, whether pursuant to liquidation of a Trust or otherwise, shareholders of each class of the Funds are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets attributable to that class of shares of the Funds available for distribution to shareholders. The Declarations of Trust also permit the applicable Board to charge shareholders directly for custodial, transfer agency and servicing expenses.
The shares of all the Funds (except as noted in this Statement and in each of the Fund’s Prospectuses) are divided into four classes: Class A, Class C, Class N, and Class Y. Each Fund offers such classes of shares as set forth in such Fund’s Prospectus. As disclosed in the Prospectuses, not every Fund offers each class of shares. The share classes each have different eligibility and minimum investment requirements, which are disclosed in the relevant Prospectuses. All expenses of each Fund (including advisory and subadvisory fees but excluding class specific expenses such as transfer agency fees (“Other Expenses”)) are borne by its Class A, Class C, Class N, and Class Y, as applicable, on a pro rata basis, except for 12b-1 fees, which are borne only by Class A and Class C shares and may be charged at a
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separate rate to each such class. Other Expenses (with the exception of transfer agent expenses) are borne by such classes on a pro rata basis. Transfer agent expenses for Class A, Class C, and Class Y shares are borne on a pro rata basis. Class N transfer agent expenses are borne directly by that class. The multiple class structure could be terminated should certain IRS rulings or SEC regulatory positions be rescinded or modified.
The assets received by each class of the Funds for the issue or sale of its shares and all income, earnings, profits, losses and proceeds therefrom, subject only to the rights of creditors, are allocated to, and constitute the underlying assets of, that class of a Fund. The underlying assets of each class of a Fund are segregated and are charged with the expenses with respect to that class of a Fund and with a share of the general expenses of a Fund and Trust. Any general expenses of the Trusts that are not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular class of the Funds are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. While the expenses of the Trusts are allocated to the separate books of account of each series of the Trusts, certain expenses may be legally chargeable against the assets of all of the series in a Trust.
Each Declaration of Trust also permits the Board, without shareholder approval, to subdivide the Funds or series or class of shares into various sub-series or sub-classes with such dividend preferences and other rights as the Trustees may designate. The Board may also, without shareholder approval, except to the extent such shareholder approval is required by law, establish one or more additional series or classes or, with shareholder approval, merge two or more existing series or classes. Shareholders’ investments in such an additional or merged series would be evidenced by a separate series of shares (i.e., a new “fund”).
Each Declaration of Trust provides for the perpetual existence of the Trusts. Each Trust, however, may be terminated at any time by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each series of the Trust. In addition, a Fund may be terminated at any time by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of such Fund. Similarly, any class of a Fund may be terminated by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of such class. Each Declaration of Trust further provides that the Board may also, without shareholder approval, terminate the relevant Trust of Fund upon written notice to its shareholders.
VOTING RIGHTS
Shareholders of all Funds are entitled to one vote for each full share held (with fractional votes for each fractional share held) and may vote (to the extent provided therein) on the election of Trustees and the termination of a Trust and on other matters submitted to the vote of shareholders.
Shareholders of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II and Gateway Trust have identical voting rights to each other. All classes of shares of each Fund have identical voting rights, except that each class of shares has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to that class, and has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class. On any matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares of a Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the respective Trust’s by-laws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or class of shares, except (i) when required by the 1940 Act, or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more series or class of shares materially differently, shares shall be voted by individual series or class and (ii) when the matter affects only the interest of one or more series or classes, only shareholders of such series or class shall be entitled to vote thereon. Consistent with the current position of the SEC, shareholders of all series and classes vote together, irrespective of series or class, on the election of Trustees and the selection of the Trusts’ independent registered public accounting firm, but shareholders of each series vote separately on most other matters requiring shareholder approval, such as certain changes in investment policies of that series or the approval of the investment advisory and subadvisory agreement relating to that series, and shareholders of each class within a series vote separately as to the Rule 12b-1 plan (if any) relating to that class.
There will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees except that, in accordance with the 1940 Act, (i) a Trust will hold a shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees at such time as less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders, and (ii) if there is a vacancy on the Board, such vacancy may be filled only by a vote of the shareholders unless, after filling such vacancy by other means, at least two-thirds of the Trustees holding office shall have been elected by the shareholders. In addition, Trustees may be removed from office by a written consent signed by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares and filed with a Trust’s custodian or by a vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares at a meeting duly called for that purpose.
Upon written request by a minimum of ten holders of shares having held their shares for a minimum of six months and having a NAV of at least $25,000 or constituting at least 1% of the outstanding shares, whichever is less, stating that such shareholders wish to communicate with the other shareholders for the purpose of obtaining the signatures necessary to demand a meeting to consider removal of a Trustee, the Trusts have undertaken to provide a list of shareholders or to disseminate appropriate materials (at the expense of the requesting shareholders).
Except as set forth above, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor trustees. Shareholder voting rights are not cumulative.
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The affirmative vote of a majority of shares of the Trusts voted (assuming a quorum is present in person or by proxy) is required to amend a Declaration of Trust if such amendment (1) affects the power of shareholders to vote, (2) amends the section of the Declaration of Trust governing amendments, (3) is one for which a vote is required by law or by the Trusts’ registration statement, or (4) is submitted to the shareholders by the Trustees. If one or more new series of a Trust is established and designated by the Trustees, the shareholders having beneficial interests in the other funds shall not be entitled to vote on matters exclusively affecting such new series, such matters including, without limitation, the adoption of or any change in the investment objectives, policies or restrictions of the new series and the approval of the investment advisory contracts of the new series. Similarly, the shareholders of the new series shall not be entitled to vote on any such matters as they affect the other funds.
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of a Trust. However, the Declarations of Trust disclaim shareholder liability for acts or obligations of a Trust and require that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by a Trust or the Trustees. The Declarations of Trust provide for indemnification out of each Fund’s property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund by reason of owning shares of such Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is considered remote since it is limited to circumstances in which the disclaimer is inoperative and a Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations.
The Declarations of Trust further provide that the relevant Board will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. However, nothing in the Declarations of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to which the Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. The by-laws of each Trust provide for indemnification by the Trust of Trustees and officers of the relevant Trust, except with respect to any matter as to which any such person did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interests of the Trust. Such persons may not be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders to whom he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. Each Trust offers only its own Funds’ shares for sale, but it is possible that a Trust might become liable for any misstatements in a prospectus that relate to another Trust. The Trustees of each Trust have considered this possible liability and approved the use of the combined prospectus for Funds of the Trusts.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
The procedures for purchasing shares of the Funds are summarized in the Prospectuses. All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to Natixis Funds or the Funds’ custodian bank.
At the discretion of the Distributor, bank trust departments or trust companies may also be eligible for investment in Class Y shares at a reduced minimum, subject to certain conditions including a requirement to meet the minimum investment balance within a specified time period. Please contact the Distributor at 800-225-5478 for more information.
REDEMPTIONS
The procedures for redemption of shares of a Fund are summarized in its Prospectuses.
A shareholder automatically receives access to the ability to redeem shares by telephone following the completion of a Fund application, which is available at im.natixis.com or from your investment dealer. When selecting the service, a shareholder may have the withdrawal proceeds sent to his or her bank, in which case the shareholder must designate a bank account on his or her application to which the redemption proceeds should be sent as well as provide a check marked “VOID” and/or a deposit slip that includes the routing number of his or her bank. Any change in the bank account so designated or addition of a new bank account may be made by furnishing to SS&C GIDS or your investment dealer a completed Service Options Form, which may require a medallion signature guarantee or a Signature Validation Program Stamp. Telephone redemptions by ACH or wire may only be made if the designated bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System (the “System”) or has a correspondent bank that is a member of the System. If the account is with a savings bank, it must have only one correspondent bank that is a member of the System. The Funds, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and State Street Bank (the Funds’ custodian) are not responsible for the authenticity of withdrawal instructions received by telephone, although they will apply established verification procedures. SS&C GIDS, as agreed to with the Funds, will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that your telephone instructions are genuine, and if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Such verification procedures include, but are not limited to, requiring a form of personal identification prior to acting on an investor’s telephone instructions and recording an investor’s instructions.
The redemption price will be the NAV per share (less any applicable CDSC) next determined after the redemption request and any necessary special documentation is received by the Transfer Agent or your investment dealer in proper form. Payment normally will be made by the Funds within seven days thereafter. Shares purchased by check or through ACH may not be available immediately for redemption to the extent the check or ACH transaction has not cleared. The Funds may withhold redemption proceeds for ten days when redemptions are made within ten calendar days of purchase by check or through ACH.
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The CDSC may be waived on redemptions made from IRA accounts due to attainment of age 59½ for IRA shareholders who established accounts prior to January 3, 1995. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions made from IRA accounts due to death, disability, return of excess contribution, required minimum distributions (waivers apply only to amounts necessary to meet the required minimum amount based on assets held within a Fund), certain withdrawals pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, not to exceed 10% annually of the value of the account, and redemptions made from the account to pay custodial fees. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions within one year following the death of (i) the sole shareholder of an individual account, (ii) a joint tenant where the surviving joint tenant is the deceased’s spouse or (iii) the beneficiary of a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, Uniform Transfer to Minors Act or other custodial account. If the account is transferred to an account registered in the name of the deceased’s estate, the CDSC will be waived on any redemption occurring within one year of death. If the account is transferred to a new registration and then a redemption is requested, the applicable CDSC will be charged. However, if an account is transferred to a new registration solely as an operational processing step to facilitate the distribution request from the deceased shareholder’s (or the estate’s) account, the CDSC will be waived. If shares are not redeemed within one year of the death, they will remain subject to the applicable CDSC when redeemed from the transferee’s account.
The CDSC may be waived on redemptions made from 403(b)(7) custodial accounts due to attainment of age 59½ for shareholders who established custodial accounts prior to January 3, 1995. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions made from 403(b)(7) custodial accounts due to death or disability.
The CDSC also may be waived on redemptions necessary to pay plan participants or beneficiaries from certain retirement plans under Section 401 of the Code, including profit sharing plans, money purchase plans, 401(k) and custodial accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Code. Distributions necessary to pay plan participants and beneficiaries include payment made due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement as defined in the plan document, loans from the plan and hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, required minimum distributions (waivers only apply to amounts necessary to meet the required minimum amount), certain withdrawals pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, not to exceed 10% annually of the value of your account, and redemptions made from qualified retirement accounts or Section 403(b)(7) custodial accounts necessary to pay custodial fees.
A CDSC will apply in the event of plan level transfers, including transfers due to changes in investment where assets are transferred outside of Natixis Funds, including IRA and 403(b)(7) participant-directed transfers of assets to other custodians (except for the reasons given above) or qualified transfers of assets due to trustee-directed movement of plan assets due to merger, acquisition or addition of additional funds to the plan.
Each Fund will normally redeem shares for cash; however, each Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in-kind, if Natixis Advisors determines it to be advisable and in the interest of the remaining shareholders of a Fund. The redemptions in-kind will generally, but not necessarily, result in a pro rata distribution of each security held in a Fund’s portfolio. If portfolio securities are distributed in lieu of cash, the shareholder will normally incur brokerage commissions upon subsequent disposition of any such securities. However, the Funds have elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, pursuant to which each Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash for any shareholder during any 90-day period up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the total NAV of each Fund at the beginning of such period.
The Funds do not currently impose any redemption charge other than the CDSC imposed by the Funds’ Distributor, as described in the Prospectuses. The Board reserves the right to impose additional charges at any time. A redemption constitutes a sale of shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes on which the investor may realize a long- or short-term capital gain or loss. See the section “Taxes” in this Statement.
The Funds reserve the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests if a Fund receives notice of a dispute between registered owners or of the death of a registered owner or a Fund suspects a fraudulent act. If a Fund refuses a transaction request because it receives notice of a dispute, the transaction will be processed at the NAV next determined after the Fund receives notice that the dispute has been settled or a court order has been entered adjudicating the dispute. If a Fund determines that its suspicion of fraud or belief that a dispute existed was mistaken, the transaction will be processed as of the NAV next determined after the transaction request was first received in good order.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
Open Accounts
A shareholder’s investment is automatically credited to an open account maintained for the shareholder by SS&C GIDS. Following each additional investment or redemption from the account initiated by an investor (with the exception of systematic investment plans), a shareholder will receive a confirmation statement disclosing the current balance of shares owned and the details of recent transactions in the account. After the close of each calendar year, the Funds will send each shareholder a statement providing account information that may include U.S. federal income tax information on dividends and distributions paid to the shareholder during the year. This Statement should be retained as a permanent record.
The open account system provides for full and fractional shares expressed to three decimal places and, by making the issuance and delivery of stock certificates unnecessary, eliminates problems of handling and safekeeping, and the cost and inconvenience of replacing lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed certificates. Certificates will not be issued or honored for any class of shares.
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The costs of maintaining the open account system are paid by the Funds and no direct charges are made to shareholders. Although the Funds have no present intention of making such direct charges to shareholders, they each reserve the right to do so. Shareholders will receive prior notice before any such charges are made.
Minimum Balance Policy
The Funds’ minimum balance policy is described in the Prospectuses.
Automatic Investment Plans
Subject to each Fund’s investor eligibility requirements, investors may automatically invest in additional shares of a Fund on a monthly basis under the Investment Builder Program by authorizing the Fund to draw from an investor’s bank account. A Service Options Form must be completed to open an automatic investment plan and may be obtained by calling the Funds at 800-225-5478 or your investment dealer or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
This program is voluntary and may be terminated at any time by SS&C GIDS upon notice to existing plan participants. The Investment Builder Program plan may be discontinued at any time by the investor by written notice to SS&C GIDS, which must be received at least five business days prior to any payment date. The plan may be discontinued by State Street Bank at any time without prior notice if any check is not paid upon presentation or by written notice to the shareholder at least thirty days prior to any payment date. The Funds are under no obligation to notify shareholders as to the nonpayment of any check.
Retirement Plans and Other Plans Offering Tax Benefits (Class A and Class C Shares)
U.S. federal income tax laws provide for a variety of retirement plans offering tax benefits. These plans may be funded with shares of the Funds or with certain other investments. The plans include H.R. 10 (“Keogh”) plans for self-employed individuals and partnerships, individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), corporate pension trust and profit sharing plans, including 401(k) plans, and retirement plans for public school systems and certain tax-exempt organizations.
The minimum initial investment available to retirement plans and other plans offering tax benefits is referred to in the Prospectuses. For these plans, initial investments in a Fund for Class A and Class C shares must be at least $1,000 for IRAs and Keogh plans. There is no initial or subsequent investment minimum for SIMPLE IRAs using the Natixis Funds’ prototype documents. Income dividends and capital gain distributions must be reinvested (unless the investor is over age 59 1/2 or disabled). These types of accounts may be subject to fees. Plan documents and further information can be obtained from the Distributor.
Certain retirement plans may also be eligible to purchase Class N and Class Y shares. See the Prospectuses for details.
Systematic Withdrawal Plans
An investor owning a Fund’s shares having a value of $10,000 or more at the current public offering price may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (a “SWP”) providing for periodic payments of a fixed or variable amount. An investor may terminate the SWP at any time. A form for use in establishing an SWP is available from SS&C GIDS, your financial representative or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com. Withdrawals may be paid to a person other than the shareholder if a medallion signature guarantee is provided. Please consult your investment dealer or the Funds.
A shareholder under an SWP may elect to receive payments monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually for a fixed amount of not less than $50 or a variable amount based on (1) the market value of a stated number of shares, or (2) a specified percentage of the account’s market value.
In the case of shares subject to a CDSC, the amount or percentage you specify may not, on an annualized basis, exceed 10% of the value, as of the time you make the election, of your account with a Fund with respect to which you are electing the SWP. Withdrawals of shares of a Fund under the SWP will be treated as redemptions of shares purchased through the reinvestment of Fund distributions, or, to the extent such shares purchased through the reinvestment of distribution in your account are insufficient to cover SWP payments, as redemptions from the earliest purchased shares of such Fund in your account. No CDSC applies to redemptions pursuant to the SWP.
Since withdrawal payments represent proceeds from the liquidation of shares, withdrawals may reduce and possibly exhaust the value of the account, particularly in the event of a decline in NAV. Accordingly, a shareholder should consider whether an SWP and the specified amounts to be withdrawn are appropriate under the circumstances. The Funds and the Distributor make no recommendations or representations in this regard. It may be appropriate for a shareholder to consult a tax adviser before establishing an SWP. See the sections “Redemptions” and “Taxes” in this Statement for certain information as to U.S. federal income taxes.
It may be disadvantageous for a shareholder to purchase on a regular basis additional Fund shares with a sales charge while redeeming shares under an SWP. Accordingly, the Funds and the Distributor do not recommend additional investments in Class A shares by a shareholder who has an SWP in effect and who would be subject to a sales load on such additional investments. Natixis Funds may modify or terminate this program at any time.
Because of statutory restrictions an SWP may not be available to pension or profit-sharing plans and IRA plans that have UMB Bank N.A. as trustee. Different documentation may be required.
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Dividend Diversification Program
You may also establish a Dividend Diversification Program, which allows you to have all dividends and any other distributions for Class A, Class C, Class N and Class Y shares automatically invested in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund, subject to the investor eligibility requirements of that other Fund and to state securities law requirements. Shares will be purchased based upon the selected Fund’s NAV (without a sales charge or CDSC) determined as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the ex-dividend date for each dividend and distribution. A dividend diversification account must be registered to the same shareholder as the distributing Fund account and, if a new account in the purchased Fund is being established, the purchased Fund’s minimum investment requirements must be met. Before establishing a Dividend Diversification Program into any other Natixis Fund, you must obtain and carefully read a copy of that Fund’s Prospectus.
Exchanging or Converting Shares
A Fund’s policies for exchanging or converting shares are described in its Prospectus. Before requesting an exchange into any other Natixis Fund, please read its Prospectus carefully. Subject to the applicable rules of the SEC, the Board reserves the right to modify the exchange privilege at any time. Except as otherwise permitted by SEC rule, shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ advance notice of any material change to the exchange privilege.
For purposes of determining the date on which Class C shares convert into Class A shares, a Class C share purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions (a “Distributed Share”) will be considered to have been purchased on the purchase date (or deemed purchase date) of the Class C share through which such Distributed Share was issued. In addition, any Class C shares for which the Transfer Agent cannot determine a holding period (commonly known as “Free Shares”) may, depending upon system settings, convert to Class A shares even if such Class C Free Shares have been held for less than ten years. Free Shares typically arise with respect to reinvested dividends not associated with purchased shares and with respect to shares from a Fund that liquidated prior to implementation of the Class C to Class A conversion policy. Automatic conversions of Class C shares to Class A shares will generally be processed monthly on or about the 10th day of the month.
Merrill Lynch Client Accounts Only
A shareholder currently holding Class A or Class C shares of a Fund in a fee-based advisory program (“Advisory Program”) account or currently holding Class A or Class C shares in a brokerage account but wishing to transfer into an Advisory Program account may convert such shares to Class Y shares of the Fund within the Advisory Program at any time. Such conversions will be on the basis of the relative net asset values per share, without requiring any investment minimum to be met and without the imposition of any redemption fee or other charge. If a CDSC is applicable to such Class A or Class C shares, then the conversion may not occur until after the shareholder has held the shares for an 18-month period (Class A shares) or 12-month period (Class C shares), except that a CDSC applicable to Class A or Class C shares converted to Class Y shares through a fee-based individual retirement account on the Merrill Lynch platform will be waived and Merrill Lynch will remit the portion of the payment to be made to the Distributor equal to the number of months remaining on the CDSC period divided by the total number of months of the CDSC period.
Automatic Exchange Plan
As described in the Prospectuses, a shareholder may establish an Automatic Exchange Plan under which Class A, Class C, Class N or Class Y shares of a Fund are automatically exchanged each month for shares of the same class of one or more of the other Funds. Registration on all accounts must be identical. The fund minimum of the new fund must be met in connection with each investment. Exchanges may be processed on any day of the month (or the first business day thereafter if the exchange date is not a business day) until the account is exhausted or until SS&C GIDS is notified in writing to terminate the plan. Exchanges may be made in amounts of $50 or more. The Service Options Form may be used to establish an Automatic Exchange Plan and is available from SS&C GIDS, your financial representative or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
As stated in the Funds’ Prospectuses, each Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason. When a purchase or exchange order is rejected, a Fund or the Distributor will send notice to the prospective investor or the investor’s financial intermediary promptly after receipt of the rejected order.
Broker Trading Privileges
The Distributor may, from time to time, enter into agreements with one or more brokers or other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares until the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time on each day that the NYSE is open for trading); such purchase and redemption orders will be deemed to have been received by Fund when the authorized broker or intermediary accepts such orders; and such orders will be priced using that Fund’s NAV next computed after the orders are placed with and accepted by such brokers or intermediaries. Any purchase and redemption orders received by a broker or intermediary under these agreements will be transmitted daily to Fund no later than the time specified in such agreement; but, in any event, no later than market open, Eastern Time, following the day that such purchase or redemption orders are received by the broker or intermediary.
Transcript Requests
Transcripts of account transactions will be provided, free of charge, at the shareholder’s request.
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Self-Servicing Your Account with Natixis Funds Personal Access Line® (All Classes Except Class N) and Website
Natixis Funds’ shareholders may access account information, including share balances and recent account activity, online by visiting our website at im.natixis.com. Transactions may also be processed online for certain accounts (restrictions may apply). Such transactions include purchases, redemptions and exchanges, and shareholders are automatically eligible for these features. Natixis Funds has taken measures to ensure the security of shareholder accounts, including the encryption of data and the use of personal identification numbers (PINs). In addition, you may restrict these privileges from your account by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478, or writing to us at P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579. More information regarding these features may be found on our website at im.natixis.com.
NET ASSET VALUE
The method for determining the public offering price and NAV per share is summarized in the Prospectuses. The total NAV of each class of shares of a Fund (the excess of the assets of such Fund attributable to such class over the liabilities attributable to such class) is determined at the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day that the NYSE is open for trading. Each Fund will not price its shares on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are readily available, as outlined in the Funds’ policies and procedures, are valued at market value. A Fund may use a third-party pricing service to obtain market quotations and other valuation information, such as evaluated bids. Generally, Fund securities and other investments are valued as follows:

● | Equity securities (including shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs), exchange-traded notes, rights, and warrants — listed equity securities are valued at the last sale price quoted on the exchange where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market and NASDAQ Capital Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), or if lacking an NOCP, at the most recent bid quotations on the applicable NASDAQ Market. Unlisted equity securities (except unlisted preferred equity securities discussed below) are valued at the last sale price quoted in the market where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. If there is no sale price or closing bid quotation available, unlisted equity securities will be valued using evaluated bids furnished by a third-party pricing service, if available. In some foreign markets, an official close price and a last sale price may be available from the foreign exchange or market. In those cases, the official close price is used. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund’s fair value policies described below. If a right is not traded on any exchange, its value is based on the market value of the underlying security, less the cost to subscribe to the underlying security (e.g., to exercise the right), adjusted for the subscription ratio. If a warrant is not traded on any exchange, a price is obtained from a broker-dealer.

● | Debt securities and unlisted preferred equity securities — evaluated bids furnished to a Fund by a third-party pricing service using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

● | Senior Loans — bid prices supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

● | Bilateral Swaps — bilateral credit default swaps are valued based on mid prices (between the bid and ask prices) supplied by a third-party pricing service. Bilateral interest rate swaps and bilateral standardized commodity and equity index total return swaps are valued based on prices supplied by a third-party pricing service. If prices from a third-party pricing service are not available, prices from a broker-dealer may be used.

● | Centrally Cleared Swaps — settlement prices of the clearing house on which the contracts were traded or prices obtained from broker-dealers.

● | Options — domestic exchange-traded index and single name equity options contracts (including options on ETFs) are valued at the mean of the National Best Bid and Offer quotations as determined by the Options Price Reporting Authority. Foreign exchange-traded single name equity options contracts are valued at the most recent settlement price. Options contracts on foreign indices are priced at the most recent settlement price. Options on futures contracts are valued using the current settlement price on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Other exchange-traded options are valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. OTC currency options and swaptions are valued at mid-prices (between the bid and ask prices) supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available. Other OTC options contracts (including currency options and swaptions not priced through a third-party pricing service) are valued based on prices obtained from broker-dealers. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies described below.

● | Futures — most recent settlement price on the exchange on which the valuation designee believes that, over time, they are traded most extensively. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies described below.

● | Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — interpolated rates determined based on information provided by a third-party pricing service.

● | Mutual Funds — net asset value.

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Foreign denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates supplied by a third-party pricing service. As noted below, Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser or Subadviser in its capacity as “valuation designee.” A Fund may also value securities and other investments at fair value in other circumstances such as when extraordinary events occur after the close of a foreign market but prior to the close of the NYSE. This may include situations relating to a single issuer (such as a declaration of bankruptcy or a delisting of the issuer’s security from the primary market on which it has traded) as well as events affecting the securities markets in general (such as market disruptions or closings and significant fluctuations in U.S. and/or foreign markets). When fair valuing its securities or other investments, each Fund may, among other things, use modeling tools or other processes that may take into account factors such as securities or other market activity and/or significant events that occur after the close of the foreign market and before the time a Fund’s NAV is calculated. Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security, and fair values used to determine a Fund’s NAV may differ from quoted or published prices, or from prices that are used by others, for the same securities. In addition, the use of fair value pricing may not always result in adjustments to the prices of securities held by a Fund. Valuations for securities traded in the OTC market may be based on factors such as market information, transactions for comparable securities, and various relationships between securities or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers. Evaluated prices from a third-party pricing service may require subjective determinations and may be different than actual market prices or prices provided by other pricing services.
Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act addresses valuation practices and the role of the board of directors with respect to the fair value of the investments of a registered investment company. Among other things, Rule 2a-5 permits a fund’s board to designate the fund’s primary investment adviser to perform the fund’s fair value determinations, which are subject to board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements. As of the date of this Statement, each Fund’s adviser serves as the Fund’s valuation designee for purposes of compliance with Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act.
Trading in some of the portfolio securities or other investments of the Funds takes place in various markets outside the United States on days and at times other than when the NYSE is open for trading. Therefore, the calculation of these Funds’ NAV does not take place at the same time as the prices of many of their portfolio securities or other investments are determined, and the value of these Funds’ portfolios may change on days when these Funds are not open for business and their shares may not be purchased or redeemed.
The per share NAV of a class of each Fund’s shares is computed by dividing the number of shares outstanding into the total NAV attributable to such class. The public offering price of a Class A share of a Fund is the NAV per share plus a sales charge as set forth in each Fund’s Prospectus.
REDUCED SALES CHARGES
The following special purchase plans are summarized in the Prospectuses and are described in greater detail below. Investors should note that in many cases, the financial intermediary, and not the Funds, is responsible for ensuring that the investor receives current discounts.
If you invest in Class A shares through a financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure you obtain the proper “breakpoint” discount. In order to reduce your sales charge, it will be necessary at the time of purchase to inform the Distributor and your financial intermediary, in writing, of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated to meet sales load breakpoints. If the Distributor is not notified that you are eligible for a reduced sales charge, the Distributor will be unable to ensure that the reduction is applied to the investor’s account. You may be required to provide certain records and information, such as account statements, with respect to all of your accounts which hold Fund shares, including accounts with other financial intermediaries, and your family members’ and other related parties’ accounts, in order to verify your eligibility for the reduced sales charge.
Please see Appendix A to the Prospectus for information regarding eligibility for sales load waivers and discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Prospectus or this Statement.
Cumulative Purchase Discount
The Cumulative Purchase Discount privilege is described in the Prospectus.
Letter of Intent
A Letter of Intent (a “Letter”), which can be effected at any time, is a privilege available to investors that reduces the sales charge on investments in Class A shares. Ordinarily, reduced sales charges are available for single purchases of Class A shares only when they reach certain breakpoints (e.g., $50,000, $100,000, etc.). By signing a Letter, a shareholder indicates an intention to invest enough money in Class A shares within 13 months to reach a breakpoint. If the shareholder’s intended aggregate purchases of all series and classes of the Trusts and other Natixis Funds over a defined 13-month period will be large enough to qualify for a reduced sales charge, the shareholder may invest the smaller individual amounts at the public offering price calculated using the sales load applicable to the 13-month aggregate investment.
A Letter is a non-binding commitment, the amount of which may be increased, decreased or canceled at any time. The effective date of a Letter is the date it is received in good order by the Transfer Agent.
Purchases made within 90 days of the establishment of the Letter may be used towards meeting the Letter of Intent.
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The cumulative purchase discount, described in the Prospectus, permits the aggregate value at the current public offering price of Class A shares of any accounts with the Trusts held by a shareholder to be added to the dollar amount of the intended investment under a Letter, provided the shareholder lists them on the account application.
The Transfer Agent will hold in escrow shares with a value at the current public offering price of 5% of the aggregate amount of the intended investment. The amount in escrow will be released when the commitment stated in the Letter is completed. If the shareholder does not purchase shares in the amount indicated in the Letter, the shareholder agrees to remit to the Transfer Agent the difference between the sales charge actually paid and that which would have been paid had the Letter not been in effect, and authorizes the Transfer Agent to redeem escrowed shares in the amount necessary to make up the difference in sales charges. Reinvested dividends and distributions are not included in determining whether the Letter has been completed.
Combining Accounts
For purposes of determining the sales charge applicable to a given purchase, a shareholder may elect to combine the purchase and the shareholder’s total investment (calculated at the current public offering price) in all series and classes of the Natixis Funds with the purchases and total investment of the shareholder’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those previously mentioned, single trust estates, individual retirement accounts and sole proprietorships or any other group of individuals acceptable to the Distributor. If the combined value of the purchases and total investments exceeds a sales charge breakpoint as disclosed in the Prospectuses, the lower sales charge applies to the entire amount of the purchase, even though some portion of that investment is below the breakpoint to which a reduced sales charge applies.
For certain retirement plans, the Distributor may, in its discretion, combine the purchases and total investment of all qualified participants in the same retirement plan for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge. Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE IRA”) contributions will automatically be linked with those of participants in the same SIMPLE IRA Plan (Class A shares only) using the Natixis Funds prototype documents. Effective May 8, 2026, all share classes will be linked for the purpose of calculating sales charges. SIMPLE IRA accounts may not be linked with any other Natixis Fund account for rights of accumulation.
Purchases and total investments of individuals may not be combined with purchases and total investments of the retirement plan accounts described in the preceding paragraph for the purpose of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge. Only the purchases and total investments in tax-qualified retirement plans or other employee benefit plans in which the shareholder is the sole participant may be combined with individual accounts for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge.
Eligible Governmental Authorities
There is no sales charge or CDSC related to investments in Class A shares by any state, county or city or any instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof that has determined that Fund is a legally permissible investment and that is prohibited by applicable investment laws from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the purchase of shares of any registered investment company.
Investment Advisory Accounts
Class A shares of any Fund may be purchased at NAV by registered investment advisers, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts or by clients of registered investment advisers, financial planners or other intermediaries where the registered investment adviser, financial planner or other intermediary receives an advisory, management, or consulting fee for the investment in the Fund. Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent.
Certain Broker-Dealers and Financial Services Organizations
Class A shares of any Fund may also be purchased at NAV through certain broker-dealers or financial services organizations without any transaction fee. Such organizations may also receive compensation paid by Natixis Advisors, or its affiliates out of their own assets (as described in the section “Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans”), or be paid indirectly by the Funds in the form of servicing, distribution or transfer agent fees.
Certain Clients of Financial Intermediaries
Class A shares may be offered without front-end sales charges or a CDSC to clients of a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and has been approved by the Distributor to offer Fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee.
Certain Retirement Plans
Class A shares of the Funds may be purchased at NAV for investments by certain retirement plans. The availability of this pricing may depend upon the policies and procedures of your specific intermediary; consult your financial adviser.
“Certain Retirement Plans” as it relates to load waivers, share class eligibility, and account minimums is defined as follows:
Certain Retirement Plans include 401(k), 457, 401(a) (including profit-sharing, money purchase pension plans), 403(b), 403(b)(7), defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Taft-Hartley multi-employer plans, and retiree health benefit plans. Accounts must be plan level omnibus accounts to qualify.
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Certain Retirement Plans do not include individual retirement accounts such as an IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, SARSEP, IRA, and Roth IRA. Any account registered in the name of a participant does not qualify.
The reduction or elimination of the sales charges in connection with special purchase plans described above reflects the absence or reduction of expenses associated with such sales.
DISTRIBUTIONS
As described in the Prospectuses, it is the policy of each Fund to pay shareholders at least annually according to the schedule specified in each Fund’s Prospectus, as dividends, all or substantially all of its net investment income and to distribute annually (or, in the case of short-term gains, more frequently than annually if determined by the Fund to be in the best interest of shareholders) all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains, if any, after offsetting any capital loss carryforwards. To the extent permitted by law, the Board may adopt a different schedule for making distributions as long as distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, are made at least annually. A Fund’s distribution rate fluctuates over time for various reasons, and there can be no assurance that a Fund’s distributions will not decrease or that a Fund will make any distributions when scheduled. For example, foreign currency losses could potentially reduce or eliminate regularly scheduled distributions for certain funds.
Ordinary income dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested based upon the NAV determined as of the close of the NYSE on the ex-dividend date for each dividend or distribution. Shareholders, however, may elect to receive their ordinary income dividends or capital gain distributions, or both, in cash. The election may be made at any time by submitting a written request directly to Natixis Funds, contacting Natixis Funds at 1-800-225-5478 or visiting im.natixis.com to change your distribution option. In order for a change to be in effect for any dividend or distribution, it must be received by the Funds on or before the record date for such dividend or distribution.
If you elect to receive your dividends in cash and the dividend checks sent to you are returned as “undeliverable” to the Funds or remain uncashed for six months, your cash election will automatically be changed and your future dividends will be reinvested. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed dividend or redemption checks.
As required by federal law, U.S. federal tax information regarding Fund distributions will be furnished to each shareholder for each calendar year early in the succeeding year. Funds with significant investments in REITs typically request a 30-day extension to provide such federal tax information to their shareholders.
TAXES
The following discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in a Fund is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authorities, all as of the date of this Statement. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to an investment in a Fund. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situations and the possible application of foreign, state and local tax laws.
Taxation of the Funds
Each Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify and be eligible to be treated each year as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs under the Code, each Fund must, among other things: (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and (b) net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”); (ii) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each quarter of a Fund’s taxable year (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets consists of cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to no more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest (1) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (2) in the securities of one or more QPTPs; and (iii) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt income, if any, for such year.
In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in (i) above, income derived by a Fund from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived by a Fund from an interest in a QPTP (a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the
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substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in (i)(a) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes because they meet the passive income requirement under Code section 7704(c)(2). In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a QPTP.
For purposes of the diversification requirements described in (ii) above, outstanding voting securities of an issuer include the equity securities of a QPTP. Also for purposes of the diversification requirements described in (ii) above, identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular Fund investment can depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain under current law, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to identification of the issuer for a particular type of investment may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to satisfy the diversification requirements in (ii) above.
Assuming that it qualifies for treatment as a RIC, a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income or gains distributed to its shareholders in a timely manner in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below). If a Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification or distribution requirements described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax or interest, disposing of certain assets or making additional distributions. If a Fund were ineligible to or did not cure such a failure for any year, or if the Fund otherwise were to fail to qualify as a RIC accorded special tax treatment for such year, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net long-term capital gain, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and may be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, provided in both cases that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of a Fund’s shares (as described below). In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction). If a Fund retains any investment company taxable income, the Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. Each Fund also intends to distribute annually all or substantially all of its net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case, determined with reference to any loss carryforwards). If a Fund retains any net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amounts retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders, who in turn (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on properly filed U.S. federal income tax returns to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If a Fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of a Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Funds are not required to, and there can be no assurance that a Fund will, make this designation if a Fund retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.
In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a RIC may elect to treat any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year, if any, after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) and certain late-year ordinary losses (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion of the taxable year, if any, after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.
Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a Fund’s net investment income. Instead, potentially subject to certain limitations, a Fund may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to subsequent taxable years to offset capital gains, if any, realized during such subsequent taxable years. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether a Fund retains or distributes such gains. If a Fund incurs or has incurred net capital losses, those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration to offset capital gains realized during such subsequent taxable years; any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term.
If a Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (or December 31 of that year if the Fund is eligible to and so elects) plus any such amounts retained from the prior year, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, a Fund’s ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property that would be taken into account after October 31 (or December 31, if the Fund is
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eligible to and makes the election referred to above) are generally treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Also for purposes of the excise tax, each Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year. Each Fund generally intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.
Taxation of Fund Distributions
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of a Fund’s earnings and profits. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. In general, a Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on the disposition of assets it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on the disposition of investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less. Distributions of net capital gain that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as long-term capital gain includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury have issued final regulations that impose special rules in respect of Capital Gain Dividends received through partnership interests constituting “applicable partnership interests” under Section 1061 of the Code. Distributions of the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as ordinary income. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.
Distributions of investment income properly reported by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Fund’s shares. In general, a dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or the shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company (as defined below). Income derived from investments in fixed-income securities, REITs and derivatives generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.
In general, distributions of investment income properly reported by a Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income in the hands of a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to such Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by a Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly reported as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.
In general, properly reported dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of a Fund will qualify for the dividends received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. In general, a dividend received by a Fund will not be treated as an eligible dividend (1) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) or (2) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends received deduction may be disallowed or reduced (1) if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of the Fund or (2) otherwise by application of various provisions of the Code (for instance, the dividends received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock -- generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds).
Any distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by a Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, or (ii) dividend income received by a Fund on securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a loan by the Fund, may not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and may not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.
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Distributions by a RIC to its shareholders that the RIC properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, are treated as qualified REIT dividends in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. Non-corporate shareholders are permitted a federal income tax deduction equal to 20% of qualified REIT dividends received by them, subject to certain limitations. Very generally, a “section 199A dividend” is any dividend or portion thereof that is attributable to certain dividends received by the RIC from REITs, to the extent such dividends are properly reported as such by the RIC in a written notice to its shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A RIC is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.
A RIC that receives business interest income may pass through its net business interest income to shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to the interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of Code. A RIC’s total “Section 163(j) Interest Dividends” for a tax year are limited to the excess of the RIC’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. A RIC may, in its discretion, designate all or a portion of ordinary dividends as Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, which would allow the recipient shareholder to treat the designated portion of such dividends as interest income for purposes of determining such shareholder’s interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j). This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j). In general, among other requirements, in order to be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) Interest Dividend as interest income, a shareholder must have held the shares in the Fund on which such dividend is paid for more than 180 days during the 361-day period beginning on the date that is 180 days before the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend.
The Code generally imposes a 3.8% tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by a Fund of net investment income and capital gains as described above, and (ii) any net gain from the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in a Fund.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid for his or her shares). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or in additional shares.
Dividends declared and payable by a Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the Fund during the following January generally will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividends are declared rather than the calendar year in which they are received.
If a Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits” in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital generally is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.
Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Shares
A sale, exchange or redemption of Fund shares generally will give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held by a shareholder for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed under the Code’s “wash sale” rules if other substantially identical shares are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Upon the redemption or exchange of a Fund’s shares, the Fund or, in the case of shares purchased through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may be required to provide you and the IRS with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the Fund shares you redeemed or exchanged. See the Funds’ Prospectus for more information.
Certain Fixed-Income and Other Instruments
Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that are acquired by a Fund will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in a Fund’s income (and required to be distributed by the Fund) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. In addition, payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income that is required to be distributed and is taxable even though a Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.
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Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by a Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having “market discount.” Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Alternatively, a Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund’s income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in a Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.
Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance that are acquired by a Fund may be treated as having OID or, in certain cases, “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price). A Fund will be required to include the OID or acquisition discount in income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which OID or acquisition discount accrues, and thus is included in a Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.
If a Fund holds the foregoing kinds of debt obligations, or other debt obligations subject to special rules under the Code, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or, if necessary, by disposition of portfolio securities including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so. These dispositions may cause a Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) and, in the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger Capital Gain Dividend than if the Fund had not held such obligations.
Investments in Collateralized Loan Obligations
The timing and character of income or gains arising from CLOs can be uncertain depending on the tranche (debt or equity). Equity tranches of CLOs elect to be treated as partnerships or corporations. To the extent a Fund invests in equity tranches that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all or a portion of any income and gains from such entities could constitute non-qualifying income to the Fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. In such cases, a Fund’s investments in such entities could be limited by its intention to qualify as a RIC, and could bear on its ability to so qualify. Income from such entities may be allocated to a Fund on a gross, rather than net, basis, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. To the extent a Fund invests in equity tranches that are treated as corporations, the CLO could be subject to the PFIC rules depending on where the CLO is organized. See “Passive Foreign Investment Companies” discussion below.
Securities Purchased at a Premium
Very generally, where a Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity (i.e., a premium), the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if a Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the Fund is permitted to deduct, any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require a Fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortized premium.
Certain Higher-Risk and High Yield Securities
A Fund may invest in lower-quality debt obligations or debt obligations that are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of default, or are in default, present special tax issues for a Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether a Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation and, if so, the amount of market discount the Fund should recognize, when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent a Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and interest. These and other related issues will be addressed by each Fund when as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.
A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations in which a Fund may invest may be treated as a dividend for purposes of the corporate dividends received deduction. In such cases, if the issuer of the high yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction to the extent of the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.
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Commodity-Linked Derivatives
A Fund’s use of commodities and commodity-linked derivatives can bear on or be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC. Income and gains from certain commodity-linked derivatives do not constitute qualifying income to a RIC for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above. The tax treatment of certain other commodity-linked derivative instruments in which a Fund might invest, including ETNs and certain structured notes, is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a RIC. If a Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other non-qualifying income, caused the Fund’s non-qualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC unless it were eligible to and did pay a tax at the Fund level on the excess, to “cure” such failure.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
Funds that invest in foreign securities may own shares (or be treated as owning shares) in certain foreign entities that are treated as “passive foreign investment companies” (each a “PFIC”), which could potentially subject such a Fund to U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from a disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may make certain elections to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, a Fund may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in a PFIC “to the market” as though the Fund had sold and repurchased its holdings in the PFIC on the last day of each taxable year of the Fund. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. Each Fund may also in certain cases elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (i.e., make a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include in its income annually its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains, regardless of whether it receives any distributions from the PFIC.
The mark-to-market and QEF elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by a Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require a Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirements, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.
Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, a Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.
Foreign Taxes
Income, gains and proceeds received by Fund from investments in securities of foreign issuers may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. This will decrease the Fund’s yield on securities subject to such taxes. Tax treaties between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. The Funds generally do not expect that shareholders will be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to such foreign taxes incurred by the Funds.
Tax Implications of Certain Fund Investments
Options, Futures, Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements and Hedging Transactions.
The tax treatment of certain positions entered into by the Funds, including regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency positions and certain listed non-equity options, will be governed by Section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”). Gains or losses on Section 1256 Contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40” gains or losses) although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character, as described below. Also, any Section 1256 Contracts held by the Funds at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as 60/40 or ordinary gain or loss, as applicable.
A Fund’s investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, options, straddles, contingent payment debt instruments, trust preferred securities, convertible bonds, swap agreements, and options on swaps and foreign currencies, derivatives, as well as any of its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the mark-to-market, constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary or capital, accelerate the recognition of income (without receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by a Fund to avoid taxation, defer losses to the Fund, or cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, thereby affecting whether capital gains and losses are treated as short-term or long-term. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. In certain cases, these tax implications may require a Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirements (to avoid the payment of Fund-level taxes), which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.
Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid a Fund-level tax.
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In general, option premiums received by a Fund are not immediately included in the income of the Fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the Fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If a call option written by a Fund is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the Fund minus (b) the Fund’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, that Fund generally will subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the securities purchased. Gain or loss arising in respect of a termination of a Fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by that Fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a Fund expires unexercised, that Fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.
Certain covered call writing activities of a Fund may trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules contained primarily in Section 1092 of the Code. Very generally, where applicable, Section 1092 requires (i) that losses be deferred on positions deemed to be offsetting positions with respect to “substantially similar or related property,” to the extent of unrealized gain in the latter, and (ii) that the holding period of such a straddle position that has not already been held for the long-term holding period be terminated and begin anew once the position is no longer part of a straddle. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may constitute qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are “in the money” although not “deep in the money” will be suspended during the period that such calls are outstanding. Thus, the straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or to fail to qualify for the dividends-received deduction, as the case may be.
A Fund’s use of certain commodity-linked instruments and commodity-linked structured notes will potentially be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC, and will potentially bear on the Fund’s ability to so qualify. The tax treatment of certain commodity-linked instruments including structured notes in which a Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a RIC. If a Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.
Certain of a Fund’s investments, including but not limited to, derivative instruments, foreign currency denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment and avoid a fund-level tax. If a Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income, including net realized capital gains, and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, if any), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Gain or loss on foreign currency denominated debt securities and on certain other financial instruments, such as forward currency options, futures contracts, forward contracts and currency swaps (and similar instruments, that is attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates occurring between the date of acquisition and the date of settlement or disposition of such securities or instruments may be treated under Section 988 of the Code as ordinary income or loss. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year. Any such net losses generally will reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.
Fund may elect out of the application of Section 988 of the Code with respect to the tax treatment of each of its foreign currency forward contracts to the extent that (i) such contract is a capital asset in the hands of the Fund and is not part of a straddle transaction and (ii) the Fund makes an election by the close of the day the contract is entered into to treat the gain or loss attributable to such contract as capital gain or loss.
The Fund’s forward contracts may qualify as Section 1256 contracts under the Code if the underlying currencies are currencies for which there are futures contracts that are traded on and subject to the rules of a qualified board or exchange. However, a forward currency contract that is a Section 1256 contract would, absent an election out of Section 988 of the Code as described in the preceding paragraph, be subject to Section 988. Accordingly, although such a forward currency contract would be marked-to-market annually like other Section 1256 contracts, the resulting gain or loss would be ordinary. If Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to forward currency contracts that qualify as Section 1256 contracts, the tax treatment generally applicable to Section 1256 contracts, as described above, would apply to those forward currency contracts: that is, the contracts would be marked-to-market annually and gains and losses
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with respect to the contracts would be treated as 60/40 gain or loss. If Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to any of its forward currency contracts that do not qualify as Section 1256 contracts, such contracts would not be marked to market annually and the Fund would recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on the Fund’s holding period therein. Fund may elect out of Section 988 with respect to all, some or none of its forward currency contracts.
Investments in Other RICs
A Fund’s investments in shares of another mutual fund, ETF or another company that qualifies as a RIC (each an “underlying RIC”) can cause the Fund to be required to distribute greater amounts of net investment income or net capital gain than the Fund would have distributed had it invested directly in the securities held by the underlying RIC, rather than in shares of the underlying RIC. Further, the amount or timing of distributions from the Fund qualifying for treatment as a particular character (e.g., long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the underlying RIC.
If a Fund receives dividends from an underlying RIC, and the an underlying RIC reports such dividends as qualified dividend income, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report a portion of its distributions as qualified dividend income, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the an underlying RIC.
If a Fund receives dividends from an underlying RIC and the an underlying RIC reports such dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report its distributions derived from those dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction as well, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the an underlying RIC.
If a Fund were to own 20% or more of the voting interests of an underlying RIC, subject to a safe harbor in respect of certain fund of funds arrangements, the Fund would be required to “look through” the underlying RIC to its holdings and combine the appropriate percentage (as determined pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations) of the underlying RIC’s assets with the Fund’s assets for purposes of satisfying the 25% diversification test described above.
Partnerships and Other Pass-Through Structures
To the extent a Fund invests in entities that are treated as partnerships (other than QPTPs, as defined above), trusts, or other pass-through structures for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all or a portion of any income and gains from such entities could constitute non-qualifying income to the Fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. For example, income that a Fund derives from indirect investments, through such entities, in certain commodity-linked instruments generally will not or may not be considered qualifying income for the purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. In such cases, a Fund’s investments in such entities could be limited by its intention to qualify as a RIC, and could bear on its ability to so qualify. Income from such entities may be allocated to the Fund on a gross, rather than net, basis, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement.
Investments in Exchange-Traded Notes
The timing and character of income or gains arising from exchange-traded notes can be uncertain. An adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to such rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect the Fund’s ability to qualify for treatment as a RIC and to avoid a fund-level tax.
REITs, REMICs and TMPs
A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, such distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.
A Fund may invest directly or indirectly (including through REITs) in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) (including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC generally will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, a Fund investing in such interests may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”), as noted below. The Funds do not intend to invest in REITs in which a substantial portion of the assets will consist of residual interests in REMICs.
In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions) and (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to
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file a tax return and pay tax on such income. A shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such inclusions notwithstanding any exemption from such income tax otherwise available under the Code. See also the section “Tax-Exempt Shareholders” below for a discussion of the special tax consequences that may result where a tax-exempt entity invests in a RIC that recognizes excess inclusion income.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders
Income of a RIC that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute UBTI when distributed to a tax-exempt shareholder of the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking effect”, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investments in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Code.
A tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if a Fund recognizes excess inclusion income derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs, as described above, if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund). Furthermore, any investment in residual interests of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if a Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.
In addition, special tax consequences apply when CRTs invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, if a CRT (as defined in Section 664 of the Code) realizes any UBTI for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax is imposed on such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI as a result of investing in a Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income. Rather, if at any time during any taxable year, a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income, then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, each Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT (or other shareholder), and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in a Fund.
Backup Withholding
Each Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish a Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to a Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
Distributions by a Fund to shareholders that are not “U.S. persons” within the meaning of the Code (“Foreign Persons”) properly reported by the Fund as (1) Capital Gain Dividends, (2) interest-related dividends and (3) short-term capital gain dividends, each as defined below and subject to certain conditions described below, generally are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax.
In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions attributable to U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those that would not have been subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual shareholder that is a Foreign Person, in each case to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders. The exceptions to withholding for Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain dividends do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual Foreign Person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the Foreign Person of a trade or business within the United States under special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below. If a Fund invests in a RIC that pays such distributions to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to Foreign Persons. The exception to withholding for interest-related dividends does not apply to distributions to a Foreign Person (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (B) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the Foreign Person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, and (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the Foreign Person and the Foreign Person is a controlled foreign corporation. The Funds, however, do not intend to report any eligible distributions as interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends, and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for these exemptions from withholding.
In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend. Foreign Persons should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts.
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Distributions by the Fund to Foreign Persons other than Capital Gain Dividends, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S. source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) are generally subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).
If a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person has a trade or business in the United States, and Fund dividends received by such holder are effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, the dividends generally will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax. If a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the holder in the United States. More generally, a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person and who or which is a resident in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein, and is urged to consult its tax advisors.
A beneficial holder of Fund shares who is a Foreign Person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on a sale or redemption of shares of a Fund unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale, or redemption and certain other conditions are met or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) apply to the Foreign Person’s sale of shares of the Fund (as described below).
Subject to certain exceptions (for example, for a fund that is a “United States real property holding corporation” as described below), a Fund is generally not required to withhold on the amount of a non-dividend distribution (i.e., a distribution that is not paid out of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits for the applicable taxable year) when paid to a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person.
Special rules would apply if a Fund were a qualified investment entity (“QIE”) because it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition of USRPIs described below. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other trade or business assets. USRPIs generally are defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or, very generally, an entity that has been a USRPHC in the last five years. A Fund that holds, directly or indirectly, significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. Interests in domestically controlled QIEs, including REITs and RICs that are QIEs, not-greater- than-10% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in RICs generally are not USRPIs, but these exceptions do not apply for purposes of determining whether a Fund is a QIE.
If a Fund were a QIE, under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions by the Fund to a shareholder that is a Foreign Person (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its shares) attributable directly or indirectly to (i) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands and (ii) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund would retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the Fund’s shareholders that are Foreign Persons and would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the Foreign Person being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a Foreign Person, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the Foreign Person’s current and past ownership of the Fund.
In addition, if an interest in a Fund were a USRPI, the Fund would be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% shareholder that is a Foreign Person, in which case such Foreign Person generally would also be required to file U.S. tax returns and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.
Shareholders of a Fund that are Foreign Persons also may be subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and -payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.
The Funds generally do not expect that they will be QIEs.
In order to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, Foreign Persons must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to their non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or substitute form). Foreign Persons should consult their tax advisors concerning the tax consequences of owning shares of the Funds, including the certification and filing requirements imposed on Foreign Persons in order to qualify for exemption from the backup withholding tax rates described above or a reduced rate of withholding provided by treaty.
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Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of a Fund by vote or value could be required to report annually their financial interest in the Fund’s foreign financial accounts, if any, on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Shareholders should consult a tax advisor, or if holding shares through an intermediary, their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of at least $2 million in any single taxable year or $4 million in any combination of taxable years for an individual shareholder or at least $10 million in any taxable year or $20 million in any combination of taxable years for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct holders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Certain Additional Reporting and Withholding Requirements
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require a Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, a Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays. The IRS and the Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not apply to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or Capital Gain Dividends a Fund pays. If a payment by a Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends).
Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
Other Tax Matters
Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans and tax-advantaged arrangements. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the suitability of shares of a Fund as an investment through such plans and arrangements and the precise effect of such an investment in their particular tax situations.
Dividends and distributions, and gains from the sale of Fund shares may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to federal, state, local, and where applicable, foreign taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Yield and Total Return
Each Fund may advertise the yield and total return of each class of its shares. Each Fund’s yield and total returns will vary from time to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolio and operating expenses of the relevant Trust allocated to each Fund. These factors, possible differences in the methods used in calculating yield and total returns and the tax-exempt status of distributions should be considered when comparing a Fund’s yield and total returns to yields and total returns published for other investment companies and other investment vehicles. Yield and total returns should also be considered relative to changes in the value of the Fund’s shares and to the relative risks associated with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund. Yield and total returns may be stated with or without giving effect to any expense limitations in effect for a Fund. For those funds that present yield and total returns reflecting an expense limitation, its yield and total return would have been lower if no limitation were in effect. Yield and total returns will generally be higher for Class A and Class Y shares than for Class C shares of the same Fund, because of the higher levels of expenses borne by the Class C shares. Because of its lower operating expenses, Class N shares of each Fund can be expected to achieve a higher yield and total return than the same Fund’s Class A, Class C and Class Y shares.
Each Fund may also present one or more distribution rates for each class in its sales literature. These rates will be determined by annualizing the class’s distributions from net investment income and net short-term capital gain over a recent 12-month, 3-month or 30-day period and dividing that amount by the maximum offering price or the NAV. If the NAV, rather than the maximum offering price, is used to calculate the distribution rate, the rate will be higher.
At any time in the future, yield and total returns may be higher or lower than past yield or total return and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.
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Investors in the Funds are specifically advised that share prices, expressed as the NAVs per share, will vary just as yield will vary. An investor’s focus on the yield of a Fund to the exclusion of the consideration of the share price of that Fund may result in the investor’s misunderstanding the total return he or she may derive from the Fund.
Benchmark Comparisons
Performance information for each Fund is included in the Prospectuses (in the section “Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table” in each Fund’s Fund Summary), along with the performance of an appropriate benchmark index. Because index comparisons are generally calculated as of the end of each month, index performance information under the “Life of Fund” or “Life of Class” headings in the Prospectuses for Funds with less than ten years of performance history may not be coincident with the inception date of the Fund (or class, as applicable). In such instances, index performance is generally presented from the month-end nearest to the inception date of the Fund (or class, as applicable).
THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION
The Prospectuses and this Statement may contain references to third-party copyrights, indexes, and trademarks, each of which is the property of its respective owner. Such owner is not affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers, LLC or any of its related or affiliated companies (collectively “Natixis Affiliates”) and does not sponsor, endorse or participate in the provision of any Natixis Affiliates services, funds or other financial products.
The index information contained in the Prospectuses and this Statement is derived from third parties and is provided on an “as is” basis. The user of this information assumes the entire risk of use of this information. Each of the third-party entities involved in compiling, computing or creating index information, disclaims all warranties (including, without limitation, any warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, non-infringement, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose) with respect to such information.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements, financial highlights and the reports of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds included in the Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, the Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR, and the Gateway Trust Form N-CSR dated December 31, 2025, are incorporated herein by reference to such reports. The Funds’ shareholder reports are available upon request and without charge. Each Fund will send a single copy of its shareholder report to an address at which more than one shareholder of record with the same last name has indicated that mail is to be delivered. Shareholders may request additional copies of any shareholder report by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by writing to the Funds at: 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197 or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com. The shareholder reports are also available online at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
The Funds make use of average portfolio credit quality standards to assist institutional investors whose own investment guidelines limit their investments accordingly. In determining a Fund’s overall dollar-weighted average quality, unrated securities are treated as if rated, based on the Adviser’s view of their comparability to rated securities. A Fund’s use of average quality criteria is intended to be a guide for those investors whose investment guidelines require that assets be invested according to comparable criteria. Reference to an overall average quality rating for a Fund does not mean that all securities held by the Fund will be rated in that category or higher. A Fund’s investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest category in which the Fund is permitted to invest to securities rated in the highest category (as rated by S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality). The percentage of a Fund’s assets invested in securities in a particular rating category will vary. Following is a description of S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s, and Fitch ratings applicable to fixed-income securities.
S&P Global Ratings—A brief description of the applicable rating symbols of S&P Global Ratings and their meanings (as published by S&P Global Ratings) follows:
An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the credit worthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. We would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings we assign to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices.
Issue Credit Ratings
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P Global Ratings’ analysis of the following considerations:

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

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

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

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
AAA
An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA
An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.
A
An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.
BBB
An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
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BB, B, CCC, CC, and C
Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.
BB
An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
B
An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
CCC
An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
CC
An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
C
An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.
D
An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
*Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (–) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
B
A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
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C
A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
D
A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
SPUR (S&P Underlying Rating)
A SPUR is an opinion about the stand-alone capacity of an obligor to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer or obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. S&P Global Ratings maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.
Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings
An S&P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:

● | Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

● | Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

SP-1
Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2
Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3
Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
D
‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.
Dual Ratings
Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’ or ‘A-1+/A-1’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).
S&P Global Ratings Disclaimers
The analyses, including ratings, of S&P Global Ratings and its affiliates (together, S&P Global Ratings) are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or make any investment decisions. S&P Global Ratings assumes no obligation to update any information following publication. Users of ratings or other analyses should not rely on them in making any investment decision. S&P Global Ratings’ opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security. S&P Global Ratings does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor except where registered as such. While S&P Global Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, it does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. Ratings and other opinions may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time.
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Active Qualifiers
S&P Global Ratings uses the following qualifiers that limit the scope of a rating. The structure of the transaction can require the use of a qualifier such as a ‘p’ qualifier, which indicates the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. A qualifier appears as a suffix and is part of the rating.
Federal deposit insurance limit: ‘L’ qualifier
Ratings qualified with ‘L’ apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.
Principal: ‘p’ qualifier
This suffix is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation. The ‘p’ suffix indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only and that the interest is not rated.
Preliminary ratings: ‘prelim’ qualifier
Preliminary ratings, with the ‘prelim’ suffix, may be assigned to obligors or obligations, including financial programs, in the circumstances described below. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt by S&P Global Ratings of appropriate documentation. S&P Global Ratings reserves the right not to issue a final rating. Moreover, if a final rating is issued, it may differ from the preliminary rating.

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions.

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations that will likely be issued upon the obligor’s emergence from bankruptcy or similar reorganization, based on late-stage reorganization plans, documentation, and discussions with the obligor. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligors. These ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the reorganized or post-bankruptcy issuer as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s).

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in S&P Global Ratings’ opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligations of these entities.

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned when a previously unrated entity is undergoing a well-formulated restructuring, recapitalization, significant financing, or other transformative event, generally at the point that investor or lender commitments are invited. The preliminary rating may be assigned to the entity and to its proposed obligation(s). These preliminary ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the obligor, as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s), assuming successful completion of the transformative event. Should the transformative event not occur, S&P Global Ratings would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.

● | A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.

Termination structures: ‘t’ qualifier
This symbol indicates termination structures that are designed to honor their contracts to full maturity or, should certain events occur, to terminate and cash settle all their contracts before their final maturity date.
Counterparty instrument rating: ‘cir’ qualifier
This symbol indicates a counterparty instrument rating (“CIR”), which is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an issuer in a securitization structure with respect to a specific financial obligation to a counterparty (including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and liquidity facilities). The CIR is determined on an ultimate payment basis; these opinions do not take into account timeliness of payment.
Inactive Qualifiers
Inactive qualifiers are no longer applied or outstanding.
Contingent upon final documentation: ‘*’ inactive qualifier
This symbol indicated that the rating was contingent upon S&P Global Ratings’ receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flows. Discontinued use in August 1998.
Termination of obligation to tender: ‘c’ inactive qualifier
This qualifier was used to provide additional information to investors that the bank may terminate its obligation to purchase tendered bonds if the long-term credit rating of the issuer was lowered to below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer’s bonds were deemed taxable. Discontinued use in January 2001.
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U.S. direct government securities: ‘G’ inactive qualifier
The letter ‘G’ followed the rating symbol when a fund’s portfolio consisted primarily of direct U.S. government securities.
Interest Payment: ‘i’ inactive qualifier
This suffix was used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms, or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation. The ‘i’ suffix indicated that the rating addressed the interest portion of the obligation only. The ‘i’ suffix was always used in conjunction with the ‘p’ suffix, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal. For example, a rated obligation could have been assigned a rating of ‘AAApNRi’ indicating that the principal portion was rated ‘AAA’ and the interest portion of the obligation was not rated.
Public information ratings: ‘pi’ qualifier
This qualifier was used to indicate ratings that were based on an analysis of an issuer’s published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. Such ratings did not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer’s management and therefore could have been based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a ‘pi’ suffix. Discontinued use as of December 2014 and as of August 2015 for Lloyd’s Syndicate Assessments.
Provisional ratings: ‘pr’ inactive qualifier
The letters ‘pr’ indicate that the rating was provisional. A provisional rating assumed the successful completion of a project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements was largely or entirely dependent upon the successful, timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, made no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion.
Quantitative analysis of public information: ‘q’ inactive qualifier
A ‘q’ subscript indicates that the rating is based solely on quantitative analysis of publicly available information. Discontinued use in April 2001.
Extraordinary risks: ‘r’ inactive qualifier
The ‘r’ modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, that are not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an ‘r’ modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation would not exhibit extraordinary non-credit-related risks. S&P Global Ratings discontinued the use of the ‘r’ modifier for most obligations in June 2000 and for the balance of obligations (mainly structured finance transactions) in November 2002.
Local Currency And Foreign Currency Ratings
S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. A foreign currency rating on an issuer can differ from the local currency rating on it when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency versus obligations denominated in a foreign currency.
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable Moody’s rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:
Moody’s Global Rating Scales
Credit Ratings are assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales and are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Moody’s defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default or impairment. The contractual financial obligations addressed by Moody’s ratings are those that call for, without regard to enforceability, the payment of an ascertainable amount, which may vary based upon standard sources of variation (e.g., floating interest rates), by an ascertainable date. Moody’s rating addresses the issuer’s ability to obtain cash sufficient to service the obligation, and its willingness to pay. Moody’s ratings do not address non-standard sources of variation in the amount of the principal obligation (e.g., equity indexed), absent an express statement to the contrary in a press release accompanying an initial rating. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Moody’s issues ratings at the issuer level and instrument level on both the long-term scale and the short-term scale. Typically, ratings are made publicly available although private and unpublished ratings may also be assigned.
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Moody’s differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody’s aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.
Global Long-Term Rating Scale
Aaa
Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa
Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A
Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa
Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba
Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B
Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa
Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca
Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C
Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.*

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

Issuer Ratings
Issuer Ratings are opinions of the ability of entities to honor senior unsecured debt and debt like obligations. As such, Issuer Ratings incorporate any external support that is expected to apply to all current and future issuance of senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts, such as explicit support stemming from a guarantee of all senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts, and/or implicit support for issuers subject to joint default analysis (e.g. banks and government-related issuers). Issuer Ratings do not incorporate support arrangements, such as guarantees, that apply only to specific (but not to all) senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts.
While Issuer Ratings reflect the risk that debt and debt-like claims are not serviced on a timely basis, they do not reflect the risk that a contract or other non-debt obligation will be subjected to commercial disputes. Additionally, while an issuer may have senior unsecured obligations held by both supranational institutions and central banks (e.g., IMF, European Central Bank), as well as other investors, Issuer Ratings reflect only the risks faced by other investors.
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Long-Term and Short-Term Obligation Ratings
Moody’s assigns ratings to long-term and short-term financial obligations. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.
Medium-Term Note Program Ratings
Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to medium-term note (“MTN”) or similar programs and definitive ratings to the individual debt securities issued from them (referred to as drawdowns or notes).
MTN program ratings are intended to reflect the ratings likely to be assigned to drawdowns issued from the program with the specified priority of claim (e.g. senior or subordinated). To capture the contingent nature of a program rating, Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to MTN programs. A provisional rating is denoted by a (P) in front of the rating and is defined elsewhere in this document.
The rating assigned to a drawdown from a rated MTN or bank/deposit note program is definitive in nature, and may differ from the program rating if the drawdown is exposed to additional credit risks besides the issuer’s default, such as links to the defaults of other issuers, or has other structural features that warrant a different rating. In some circumstances, no rating may be assigned to a drawdown.
Moody’s encourages market participants to contact Moody’s Ratings Desks or visit moodys.com directly if they have questions regarding ratings for specific notes issued under a medium-term note program. Unrated notes issued under an MTN program may be assigned an NR (not rated) symbol.
Global Short-Term Rating Scale
P-1
Ratings of Prime-1 reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-2
Ratings of Prime-2 reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-3
Ratings of Prime-3 reflect an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Short-Term Issuer Ratings
N-1
N-1 issuers or issuances represent the strongest likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
N-2
N-2 issuers or issuances represent an above average likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
N-3
N-3 issuers or issuances represent an average likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
N-4
N-4 issuers or issuances represent a below average likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
Fitch Ratings, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable rating symbols of Fitch and their meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:
About Ratings and Rating Scales
Fitch publishes credit ratings that are forward-looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Issuer Default Ratings (“IDRs”) are assigned to corporations, sovereign entities, and financial institutions such as banks, leasing companies and insurers, and public finance entities (local and regional governments). Issue-level ratings are also assigned and often include an expectation of recovery, which may be notched above or below the issuer-level rating.
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Issue ratings are assigned to secured and unsecured debt securities, loans, preferred stock and other instruments, Structured finance ratings are issue ratings to securities backed by receivables or other financial assets that consider the obligations’ relative vulnerability to default.
Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e., rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation). Please see the section Specific Limitations Relating to Credit Rating Scales for details.
Fitch also publishes other ratings, scores and opinions. For example, Fitch provides specialized ratings of servicers of residential and commercial mortgages, asset managers and funds. In each case, users should refer to the definitions of each individual scale for guidance on the dimensions of risk covered in each assessment.
Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for ‘AA’ through ‘ CCC’ levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment-grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default already occurred.
Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its webpage.
Credit ratings express risk in relative rank order, which is to say they are ordinal measures of credit risk and are not predictive of a specific frequency of default or loss. For information about the historical performance of ratings, please refer to Fitch’s Ratings Transition and Default Studies, which detail the historical default rates. The European Securities and Markets Authority also maintains a central repository of historical default rates.
Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Nonetheless, ratings do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, payments linked to performance of an equity index).
Fitch will use credit rating scales to provide ratings to privately issued obligations or certain note issuance programs, or for private ratings using the same public scale and criteria. Private ratings are not published, and are only provided to the issuer or its agents in the form of a rating letter.
The primary credit rating scales may also be used to provide ratings for a narrower scope, including interest strips and return of principal, or in other forms of opinions such as Credit Opinions or Rating Assessment Services.
Credit Opinions are either a notch- or category-specific view using the primary rating scale and omit one or more characteristics of a full rating or meet them to a different standard. Credit Opinions will be indicated using a lowercase letter symbol combined with either an ‘*’ (e.g. ‘bbb+*’) or (cat) suffix to denote the opinion status. Credit Opinions will be typically point-in-time but may be monitored if the analytical group believes information will be sufficiently available.
Rating Assessment Services are a notch-specific view using the primary rating scale of how an existing or potential rating may be changed by a given set of hypothetical circumstances. While Credit Opinions and Rating Assessment Services are point-in-time and are not monitored, they may have a directional Watch or Outlook assigned, which can signify the trajectory of the credit profile.
Ratings assigned by Fitch are opinions based on established, approved and published criteria. A variation to criteria may be applied but will be explicitly cited in our rating action commentaries (RACs), which are used to publish credit ratings when established and upon annual or periodic reviews.
Ratings are the collective work product of Fitch, and no individual, or group of individuals, is solely responsible for a rating. Ratings are not facts and, therefore, cannot be described as being “accurate” or “inaccurate.” Users should refer to the definition of each individual rating for guidance on the dimensions of risk covered by the rating.
Issuer Default Ratings
Rated entities in several sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns, insurance companies and some sectors within public finance, are generally assigned IDRs. IDRs are also assigned to certain entities or enterprises in global infrastructure, project finance and public finance. IDRs opine on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default - including by way of a distressed debt exchange (“DDE”) - on financial obligations. The threshold default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts.
In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency’s view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default.
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AAA: Highest Credit Quality.
‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very High Credit Quality.
‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A: High Credit Quality.
‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good Credit Quality.
‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB: Speculative.
‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists that supports the servicing of financial commitments.
B: Highly Speculative.
‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC: Substantial Credit Risk.
Default is a real possibility.
CC: Very High Levels of Credit Risk.
Default of some kind appears probable.
C: Near Default.
A default or default-like process has begun, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include:

● | The issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;

● | The formal announcement by the issuer or their agent of a DDE; and

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

RD: Restricted Default.
‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced:

● | An uncured payment default or DDE on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but

● | Has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure, and

● | Has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:

○ | The selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

○ | The uncured expiry of any applicable original grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation.

D: Default
‘D’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure or that has otherwise ceased business and debt is still outstanding.
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a DDE.
In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.
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Specific Limitations Relevant to Ratings Assigned Using the Primary Credit Rating Scale and Financial Institution Ratings
The following specific limitations relate to issuer default scales, ratings assigned to corporate finance obligations, ratings assigned to public finance obligations, ratings assigned to structured finance transactions, ratings assigned to global infrastructure and project finance transactions, ratings assigned for banks and non-bank financial institutions (Viability Ratings, Government Support Ratings, Shareholder Supporting Ratings, Derivative Counterparty Ratings, Ex-government Support Ratings, as well as historical Support Ratings and Support Rating Floors) and Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings:

● | The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood or failure likelihood over any given time period.

● | The ratings do not opine on the market value of an issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

● | The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of an issuer’s securities or stock.

● | Obligation ratings assigned on the Probability of Default only scale do not opine on the possible loss severity on such obligation should an issuer (or an obligation with respect to structured finance transactions) default, except in limited circumstances for U.S. public finance obligations where Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code provides reliably superior prospects for ultimate recovery to local government obligations that benefit from a statutory lien on revenues or during the pendency of a bankruptcy proceeding under the Code if there is sufficient visibility on potential recovery prospects.

● | The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as a counterparty to trade credit.

| The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default or in the case of Viability Ratings (VRs) on its relative vulnerability to failure. For the avoidance of doubt, not all defaults will be considered a default for rating purposes. Typically, a default relates to a liability payable to an unaffiliated, outside investor.

| The ratings do not opine on any quality related to a transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of an issuer and/or of each rated tranche or security.

| The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of extraordinary support likelihood over any given period.

| In the case of Government and Shareholder Support Ratings, the ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative likelihood of receiving external extraordinary support.

The ratings do not opine on the suitability of any security for investment or any other purposes.
Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers and Obligations
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means a timeframe of up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
F1: Highest Short-Term Credit Quality
Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good Short-Term Credit Quality
Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3: Fair Short-Term Credit Quality
The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B: Speculative Short-Term Credit Quality
Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High Short-Term Default Risk
Default is a real possibility.
RD: Restricted Default
Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.
D: Default
Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
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Rating Actions and Reviews
Assignment (New Rating)*:
A rating has been assigned to a previously unrated issuer or issue.
Publication (Publish)*:
Initial public announcement of a rating on the agency’s website, although not necessarily the first rating assigned. This action denotes when a previously private rating is published. In cases where the publication coincides with a rating change, Fitch will only publish the changed rating. The rating history during the time when the rating was private will not be published.
Affirmations*:
The rating has been reviewed with no change in rating through this action. Ratings affirmations may also include an affirmation of, or change to, an Outlook when an Outlook is used.
Upgrade*:
The rating has been raised in the scale.
Downgrade*:
The rating has been lowered in the scale.
Reviewed- No Action*:
The rating has been reviewed by a credit rating committee with no change in rating or Outlook. As of the review date, the credit rating committee determined that nothing had sufficiently changed to warrant a new rating action. Such review will be published on the agency’s website, but a RAC will not be issued.
Matured*/Paid-In-Full:

● | ‘Matured’ – Denoted as ‘NR’. This action is used when an issue has reached its redemption date and rating coverage is discontinued. This indicates that a previously rated issue has been repaid, but other issues of the same program (rated or unrated) may remain outstanding. For the convenience of investors, Fitch may also include issues relating to a rated issuer or transaction that are not and have not been rated on its section of the web page relating to the respective issuer or transaction. Such issues will also be denoted ‘NR’.

● | ‘Paid-In-Full’ – Denoted as ‘PIF’. This action indicates that an issue has been paid in full. In covered bonds, PIF is only used when all issues of a program have been repaid.

Pre-refunded*:
Assigned to certain long-term U.S. public finance issues after Fitch assesses refunding escrow.
Withdrawn*:
The rating has been withdrawn and the issue or issuer is no longer rated by Fitch.
When a public rating is withdrawn, Fitch will issue a RAC that details the current rating and Outlook or Watch status (if applicable), a statement that the rating is withdrawn and the reason for the withdrawal. A RAC is not required when an issue has been redeemed, matured, repaid or paid in full.
Withdrawals cannot be used to forestall a rating action. Every effort is therefore made to ensure that the rating opinion upon withdrawal reflects an updated view. However, this is not always possible, for example if a rating is withdrawn due to a lack of information. Rating Watches are also resolved prior to or concurrent with withdrawal unless the timing of the event driving the Rating Watch does not support an immediate resolution. Ratings that have been withdrawn will be indicated by the symbol ‘WD’.
Under Criteria Observation
The rating has been placed Under Criteria Observation (“UCO”) upon the publication of new or revised criteria that is applicable to the rating, where the new or revised criteria has yet to be applied to the rating and where the criteria could result in a rating change when applied but the impact is not yet known. UCO is not a credit review and does not affect the rating level or Outlook/Watch, and does not satisfy the minimum annual review requirement. Placing a rating on UCO signals the beginning of a period during which the new or revised criteria will be applied. Where there is heightened probability of the application of the new or revised criteria resulting in a rating change in a particular direction, a Rating Watch may be assigned in lieu of the UCO to reflect the potential impact of the new or revised criteria. The status of UCO will be resolved after the application of the new or revised criteria, which must be completed within six months from the publication date of the new or revised criteria. UCO is only applicable to private and public international credit ratings. It is not applicable to National Ratings, Non-Credit Scale Ratings, Credit Opinions or Rating Assessment Services. It is not applicable to ratings status Paid in Full, Matured, Withdrawn or Not Rated.
Criteria Observation Removed
UCO can be addressed and removed by a subsequent rating action such as affirmation, upgrade or downgrade; with these actions, the annual review requirement is also met. Where a rating action has not been taken, a Criteria Observation Removed action may be taken if it has been determined that the rating would not change due to the application of the new criteria. The Criteria Observation Removed action does not satisfy Fitch’s minimum annual credit review requirement.
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Recovery Rating Revision
Change to an issue’s Recovery Rating.
Rating Modifier Actions
Modifiers include Rating Outlooks and Rating Watches.
Outlook Revision:
Outlook revisions (e.g. to Stable from Positive) are used to indicate changes in the likelihood of rating transition. In structured finance transactions, the Outlook may be revised independently of a full review of the underlying rating (Revision Outlook).
Rating Watch On*:
The issue or issuer has been placed on active Rating Watch status.
Rating Watch Maintained*:
The issue or issuer has been reviewed and remains on active Rating Watch status.
Rating Watch Revision*:
Rating Watch status has changed.
Under Review:
Applicable to ratings that may undergo a change in scale not related to changes in fundamental credit quality. Final action will be “Revision Rating.”

* | A Rating Action or Review must be recorded for each rating in a required cycle to be considered compliant with Fitch policy concerning aging of ratings. Not all Rating Actions, Data Actions, or changes in rating modifiers, meet this requirement. Actions or Reviews that can meet this requirement are noted with an *.

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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
May 1, 2026
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I
Natixis Oakmark International Fund
Class A (NOIAX), Class C (NOICX), Class N (NIONX) and Class Y (NOIYX)
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund
Class A (NEFSX), Class C (NECCX), Class N (NESNX) and Class Y (NESYX)
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund
Class A (LABAX), Class C (LABCX), Class N (LASNX) and Class Y (LASYX)
Natixis Oakmark Fund
Class A (NEFOX), Class C (NECOX), Class N (NOANX) and Class Y (NEOYX)
LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund
Class A (NEFHX), Class C (NEHCX), Class N (LSHNX) and Class Y (NEHYX)
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund
Class A (LIGGX), Class C (LIGCX), Class N (LIGNX) and Class Y (LIGYX)
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund
Class A (LIGRX), Class C (LGBCX), Class N (LGBNX), Class Y (LSIIX) and Admin Class (LIGAX)
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund
Class A (NEFZX), Class C (NECZX), Class N (NEZNX), Class Y (NEZYX) and Admin Class (NEZAX)
This Statement of Additional Information (“Statement”) contains specific information that may be useful to investors but that is not included in the Statutory Prospectus of the series of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, or Loomis Sayles Funds II listed above (each, a “Trust” and together, the “Trusts,” with each series being known as a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”). This Statement is not a prospectus and is authorized for distribution only when accompanied or preceded by the Funds’ Summary or Statutory Prospectus, each dated May 1, 2026, as from time to time revised or supplemented (collectively, the “Prospectus”). This Statement should be read together with the Prospectus. Investors may obtain the Prospectus without charge from Natixis Distribution, LLC (the “Distributor”), Prospectus Fulfillment Desk, 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
This Statement incorporates by reference the Funds’ audited financial statements and accompanying notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 from the Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, the Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR, and the Loomis Sayles Funds II Form N-CSR, each for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Each Fund’s Prospectus, shareholder reports and financial statements and other information are available upon request and without charge by calling 800-225-5478 or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com or the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at https://www.sec.gov.
XLH33-0526

Table of Contents

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS............................................................................... | 3
FUND CHARGES AND EXPENSES............................................................................ | 9
OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES.............................................................................. | 17
THE TRUSTS............................................................................................... | 25
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS...................................................................... | 26
TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS........................................................................ | 71
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER.................................................................................... | 71
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION...................................................................... | 71
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS............................................................................. | 74
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES............................................................. | 84
OTHER ARRANGEMENTS................................................................................... | 90
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT INFORMATION.................................................................. | 91
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE.............................................................. | 95
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUSTS.............................................................................. | 100
VOTING RIGHTS........................................................................................... | 100
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY................................................................... | 101
HOW TO BUY SHARES...................................................................................... | 101
REDEMPTIONS............................................................................................ | 101
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES.................................................................................. | 103
NET ASSET VALUE......................................................................................... | 105
REDUCED SALES CHARGES................................................................................. | 107
DISTRIBUTIONS........................................................................................... | 108
TAXES.................................................................................................... | 109
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION............................................................................. | 119
THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION............................................................................... | 120
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.................................................................................. | 120
APPENDIX A............................................................................................... | A-1

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The following is a description of restrictions on the investments to be made by the Funds. The restrictions marked with an asterisk (*) are fundamental policies that may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)). The other restrictions set forth below are not fundamental policies and may be changed by each Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Except in the case of restrictions marked with a dagger (†) below, the percentages set forth below and the percentage limitations set forth in each Fund’s Prospectus apply at the time an investment is made and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment.
The Loomis Sayles High Income Fund (the “High Income Fund”) may not:

*(1) | Buy more than 10% of the voting securities or more than 10% of all of the securities of any issuer, or invest to control or manage any company.
*(2) | Purchase securities on “margin,” except for short-term credits as needed to clear securities purchases.
*(3) | Invest in securities issued by other investment companies, except in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or reorganization, or by purchase in the open market of securities of closed-end investment companies where no underwriter or dealer commission or profit, other than a customary brokerage commission, is involved and only if immediately thereafter not more than 10% of the value of its total assets would be invested in such securities.
*(4) | Purchase securities, other than shares of the Fund, from or sell portfolio securities to its directors or officers, or firms they are affiliated with as principals, except as permitted by the regulations of the SEC.
*(5) | Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, or write, purchase or sell options, except that the Fund may (a) buy or sell futures contracts on securities or on securities indices and (b) write, purchase or sell put or call options on securities, on securities indices or on futures contracts of the type referred to in clause (a) of this restriction.
*(6) | Make loans, except loans of portfolio securities and except to the extent that the purchase of notes, repurchase agreements, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or deposits with banks or other financial institutions may be considered loans.
*(7) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position.
*(8) | Purchase or sell real estate, provided that the Fund may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or in securities issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein.
*(9) | Purchase or sell interests in oil and gas or other mineral exploration or development programs, provided that the Fund may invest in securities issued by companies which do invest in or sponsor such programs.
*(10) | Underwrite the securities of other issuers.
*(11) | Invest more than 10% of the value of its total assets, in the aggregate, in repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days and restricted securities.
*(12) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry (in the utilities category, gas, electric, water, and telephone companies will be considered as being in separate industries).
*†(13) | Borrow money, except as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, up to an amount not in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets.
*(14) | Issue senior securities. For the purpose of this restriction, none of the following is deemed to be a senior security: any borrowing permitted by restriction (13) above; any collateral arrangements with respect to options, forward contracts, futures contracts, swap contracts and other similar contracts and options on futures contracts and with respect to initial and variation margin; the purchase or sale of options, forward contracts, futures contracts, swap contracts or similar contracts or options on futures contracts; and the issuance of shares of beneficial interest permitted from time to time by the provisions of Loomis Sayles Funds II’s First Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, or any exemption therefrom.
†(15) | Invest more than 15% of the Fund’s total net assets in illiquid securities.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in below investment grade fixed-income securities. Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board of the Fund, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC.
The 80% policy is applied at the time of investment. However, if the Fund no longer meets the 80% policy due to changes in the value of its portfolio holdings or other circumstances beyond its control, it must make future investments in a manner that would bring the Fund into compliance with the 80% requirement, but would not be required to sell portfolio holdings that have increased in value.
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The Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund (the “International Growth Fund”) may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries and finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents, finance companies whose financing activities are not related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry the Fund’s adviser believes is most applicable to such finance companies, and each foreign country’s government (together with all subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry. For purposes of this restriction, asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(2) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except that the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
*†(3) | Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
*(4) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, provided, however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
*(5) | Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.
*(6) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.
*(7) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

International Growth Fund may:

*(8) | Purchase and sell commodities to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

The Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund (the “Investment Grade Bond Fund”) may not:

*(1) | Act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
*(2) | Invest in oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty contracts or in real estate, commodities or commodity contracts. (This restriction does not prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions in futures contracts relating to securities indices, interest rates or financial instruments or options, or from investing in issuers that invest or deal in the foregoing types of assets or from purchasing securities that are secured by real estate.)
*(3) | Make loans, except that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act. (For purposes of this investment restriction, neither (i) entering into repurchase agreements nor (ii) purchasing debt obligations in which the Fund may invest consistent with its investment policies is considered the making of a loan.)
(4) | With respect to 75% of its assets, purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s assets (taken at current value) would then be invested in securities of a single issuer.
(5) | With respect to 75% of its assets, acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer.
*(6) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry (in the utilities category, gas, electric, water and telephone companies will be considered as being in separate industries.)
*(7) | Borrow in excess of 10% of its assets (taken at cost) or 5% of its assets (taken at current value), whichever is lower, nor borrow any money except as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes.
(8) | Purchase securities on margin (except such short-term credits as are necessary for clearance of transactions) or make short sales (except where, by virtue of ownership of other securities, it has the right to obtain, without payment of additional consideration, securities equivalent in kind and amount to those sold.)
(9) | Participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any trading account in securities. (The “bunching” of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities with Loomis Sayles or accounts under its management to reduce brokerage commissions, to average prices among them or to facilitate such transactions is not considered a trading account in securities for purposes of this restriction.)
†(10) | Purchase any illiquid security, including any security that is not readily marketable, if, as a result, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets (based on current value) would then be invested in such securities.

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(11) | Write or purchase puts, calls, or combinations of both, except that the Fund may (1) acquire warrants or rights to subscribe to securities of companies issuing such warrants or rights, or of parents or subsidiaries of such companies, (2) purchase and sell put and call options on securities, and (3) write, purchase and sell put and call options on currencies and enter into currency forward contracts.
*(12) | Issue senior securities. (For purposes of this restriction, none of the following is deemed to be a senior security: any pledge or other encumbrance of assets permitted by restriction (14) below; any borrowing permitted by restriction (7) above; any collateral arrangements with respect to options, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts and with respect to initial and variation margin; and the purchase or sale of options, forward contracts, futures contracts, or options on futures contracts.)

Investment Grade Bond Fund may:

(13) | Pledge its assets to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in investment grade fixed-income securities (for example, bonds and other investments that Loomis Sayles believes have similar economic characteristics, such as notes, debentures and loans). Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board of the Fund, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC.
The 80% policy is applied at the time of investment. However, if the Fund no longer meets the 80% policy due to changes in the value of its portfolio holdings or other circumstances beyond its control, it must make future investments in a manner that would bring the Fund into compliance with the 80% requirement, but would not be required to sell portfolio holdings that have increased in value.
To the extent such Fund is an “acquired fund” in a fund of funds arrangement relying on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, the Fund will limit its acquisition of securities of investment companies and companies that would be investment companies under the 1940 Act but for the exclusion from the definition of investment company in Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act to an aggregate amount that does not exceed 10% of the Fund’s total assets (measured immediately after acquisition); provided that such limitation shall not apply to investments by the Fund in: (a) another fund as part of a master-feeder structure in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(E) of the 1940 Act (master feeder arrangements); (b) money market funds in reliance on Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act; (c) a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund; (d) securities received as a dividend or as a result of a plan of reorganization of a company; or (e) securities of another fund received pursuant to an interfund borrowing and lending arrangement permitted by an exemptive order issued by the SEC.
The Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund (the “Strategic Alpha Fund”) may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries, finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents, finance companies whose financing activities are not related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry the adviser believes is most applicable to such finance companies and each foreign country’s government (together with all subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry. For purposes of this restriction, asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(2) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except that the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
*†(3) | Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
*(4) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies, provided however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
*(5) | Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.
*(6) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers that deal in real estate, securities that are secured by interests in real estate, and securities that represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.
*(7) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

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Strategic Alpha Fund may:

*(8) | Purchase and sell commodities to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

The Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund (the “Strategic Income Fund”) may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry (in the utilities category, gas, electric, water and telephone companies will be considered as being in separate industries, and each foreign country’s government (together with subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry).
(2) | Purchase securities on margin (but it may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities), or make short sales except where, by virtue of ownership of other securities, it has the right to obtain, without payment of further consideration, securities equivalent in kind and amount to those sold, and the Fund will not deposit or pledge more than 10% of its total assets (taken at current value) as collateral for such sales. (For this purpose, the deposit or payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with futures contracts or related options transactions is not considered the purchase of a security on margin.)
(3) | With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase any security if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets (based on current value) would be invested in the securities of a single issuer or acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any issuer (in each case excluding U.S. government securities, cash and cash equivalents and the securities of other investment companies).
*(4) | Borrow money in excess of 25% of its total assets, and then only as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes.
*(5) | Make loans, except by entering into repurchase agreements or by purchase of bonds, debentures, commercial paper, corporate notes and similar evidences of indebtedness, which are a part of an issue to the public or to financial institutions, or through the lending of the Fund’s portfolio securities.
*(6) | Buy or sell oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty contracts, real estate or commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and related options. (This restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing securities of companies investing in the foregoing.)
*(7) | Act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
(8) | Except to the extent permitted by rule or order of the SEC, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any trading account in securities. (The “bunching” of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities with any investment adviser of the Fund or accounts under any such investment adviser’s management to reduce brokerage commissions, to average prices among them or to facilitate such transactions is not considered a trading account in securities for purposes of this restriction.)
(9) | Write, purchase or sell options, except that the Fund may (a) write, purchase and sell put and call options on securities, securities indices, currencies, futures contracts, swap contracts and other similar instruments and (b) enter into currency forward contracts.
†(10) | Invest more than 15% of its net assets (taken at current value) in illiquid securities (excluding Rule 144A securities and certain Section 4(2) commercial paper deemed to be liquid under guidelines established by the Trust’s Trustees).
*(11) | Issue senior securities. (For the purpose of this restriction none of the following is deemed to be a senior security: any pledge or other encumbrance of assets permitted by restriction (2); any borrowing permitted by restriction (4) above; any collateral arrangements with respect to forward contracts, options, futures contracts, swap contracts or other similar contracts and options on futures contracts, swap contracts or other similar contracts and with respect to initial and variation margin; the purchase or sale of options, forward contracts, futures contracts, swap contracts or other similar contracts or options on futures contracts, swap contracts or other similar contracts; and the issuance of shares of beneficial interest permitted from time to time by the provisions of the Loomis Sayles Funds II’s First Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, or any exemption therefrom.)

Strategic Income Fund may:

(12) | Pledge its assets to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

The Natixis Oakmark Fund (the “Natixis Oakmark Fund”) may not:

*(1) | With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase any security if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets (based on current value) would then be invested in the securities of a single issuer or acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any issuer; provided however, this limitation does not apply to government securities as defined in the 1940 Act.

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*(2) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries and finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents. For the purpose of this restriction with regard to bank obligations, bank obligations are considered to be one industry, and asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(3) | Make short sales of securities, maintain a short position or purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain short-term credits as necessary for the clearance of security transactions, and the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
*(4) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers that deal in real estate, securities that are secured by interests in real estate, and securities that represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate interests therein.
*(5) | Purchase or sell commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options, may enter into foreign exchange contracts and may enter into swap agreements and other financial transactions not requiring the delivery of physical commodities.
*(6) | Act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
*(7) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; provided however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
†*(8) | Borrow money except for temporary or emergency purposes; provided however, that the Fund may loan securities, engage in reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls, in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of its total assets taken at cost.
*(9) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.
†(10) | Invest more than 15% of the Fund’s total net assets in illiquid securities.

The Natixis Oakmark International Fund (the “Natixis Oakmark International Fund”) may not:

*(1) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries, finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents, finance companies whose financing activities are not related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry the Fund’s adviser or subadviser believes is most applicable to such finance companies, and each foreign country’s government (together with all subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry. For purposes of this restriction, securities and other obligations of issuers in the banking industry are considered to be one industry, and asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.
*(2) | Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except that the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
†*(3) | Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.
*(4) | Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies, provided, however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.
*(5) | Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.
*(6) | Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.
*(7) | Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

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Natixis Oakmark International Fund may:

*(8) | Purchase and sell commodities to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

The Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (the “U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund”) may not:

*(1) | With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest in the securities of any one issuer (other than the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities) if, immediately after and as a result of such investment, more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in such issuer.
*(2) | Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry (in the utilities category, gas, electric, water and telephone companies will be considered as being in separate industries, and each foreign country’s government (together with subdivisions thereof) will be considered to be a separate industry.)
(3) | Purchase securities on margin (but it may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities), or make short sales except when, by virtue of ownership of other securities, it has the right to obtain, without payment of further consideration, securities equivalent in kind and amount to those sold, and the Fund will not deposit or pledge more than 10% of its total assets (taken at current value) as collateral for such sales. (For this purpose, the deposit or payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with futures contracts or related options transactions is not considered the purchase of a security on margin.)
(4) | Acquire more than 10% of any class of securities of an issuer (other than U.S. government securities and taking all preferred stock issues of an issuer as a single class and all debt issues of an issuer as a single class) or with respect to 75% of its total assets, acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer.
*(5) | Borrow money in excess of 25% of its total assets, and then only as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes.
*(6) | Make loans, except by entering into repurchase agreements or by purchase of bonds, debentures, commercial paper, corporate notes and similar evidences of indebtedness, which are a part of an issue to the public or to financial institutions, or through the lending of the Fund’s portfolio securities.
*(7) | Buy or sell oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty contracts, real estate or commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and related options. (This restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing securities of companies investing in the foregoing.)
*(8) | Act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
(9) | Except to the extent permitted by rule or order of the SEC, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any trading account in securities. (The “bunching” of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities with any investment adviser or subadviser of the Fund or accounts under any such investment adviser’s or subadviser’s management to reduce brokerage commissions, to average prices among them or to facilitate such transactions is not considered a trading account in securities for purposes of this restriction.)
(10) | Write, purchase or sell options, except that the Fund may (a) write, purchase and sell put and call options on securities, securities indices, currencies, futures contracts, swap contracts and other similar instruments and (b) enter into currency forward contracts.
†(11) | Purchase any illiquid security if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets (taken at current value) would be invested in such securities.
*(12) | Issue senior securities. For the purpose of this restriction none of the following is deemed to be a senior security: any pledge or other encumbrance of assets permitted by restrictions (3) or (6) above; any borrowing permitted by restriction (5) above; any collateral arrangements with respect to forward contracts, options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts and with respect to initial and variation margin; the purchase or sale of options, forward contracts, futures contracts or options on futures contracts; and the issuance of shares of beneficial interest permitted from time to time by the provisions of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, or any exemption therefrom.

U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund may:

(13) | Pledge its assets to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in equity securities. Equity Securities may include common stocks and preferred stocks. Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board of the Fund, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC.
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Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings made for investment purposes) in securities of U.S. issuers. Prior to any change to such policy adopted by the Board of the Fund, the Fund will provide notice to shareholders as required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, as such Rule may be interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC.
The 80% policies are applied at the time of investment. However, if the Fund no longer meets the 80% policies (due to changes in the value of its portfolio holdings or other circumstances beyond its control), it must make future investments in a manner that would bring the Fund into compliance with the 80% requirement, but would not be required to sell portfolio holdings that have increased in value.
General Notes on Investment Restrictions
With respect to restrictions on borrowing, the 1940 Act limits a Fund’s ability to borrow money on a non-temporary basis if such borrowings constitute “senior securities.” In addition to temporary borrowing, and subject to any stricter restrictions on borrowing applicable to any particular Fund, each Fund may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by the Fund and provided further, that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) thereafter or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%. Each Fund may also borrow money or engage in economically similar transactions if those transactions do not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.
Where applicable, the foregoing investment restrictions shall be interpreted based upon rules, no-action letters and other pronouncements of the staff of the SEC. In connection with its compliance with Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, a Fund may treat all reverse repurchase transactions and similar financing transactions as derivatives transactions subject to the requirements of Rule 18f-4 or treat all reverse repurchase transactions and similar financing transactions as senior securities subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund.
A Fund may not purchase any illiquid security if, as a result, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets (based on current value) would then be invested in such securities. Securities generally will be considered “illiquid” if a Fund reasonably expects the security cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the security.
With respect to limitations on industry concentration as disclosed in this Statement, a Fund applies such policies to direct investments in the securities of issuers in a particular industry, as determined by the adviser. Even if a Fund may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in any one industry, the Fund may invest in a number of similar industries that could roll up to a broad sector.
FUND CHARGES AND EXPENSES
Advisory Fees
Pursuant to separate investment advisory agreements, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”) has agreed, subject to the supervision of the Board, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the High Income Fund, International Growth Fund, Investment Grade Bond Fund, Strategic Alpha Fund and Strategic Income Fund and to provide a range of administrative services to each Fund. For the services described in the advisory agreements, each Fund has agreed to pay Loomis Sayles an advisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table:

Fund | Date of Agreement | Advisory fee payable by Fund to Loomis Sayles (as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund)
High Income Fund | 9/12/03, as amended, 7/1/23 | 0.55%
International Growth Fund | 12/15/20 | 0.75%
Investment Grade Bond Fund | 10/30/00, as amended, 1/1/26 | 0.38% of the first $15 billion 0.35% of amounts in excess of $15 billion
Strategic Alpha Fund | 12/14/10, as amended, 7/1/17 | 0.60% of the first $1.25 billion 0.55% of amounts in excess of $1.25 billion
Strategic Income Fund | 9/12/03, as amended, 7/1/23 | 0.64% of the first $200 million 0.59% of the next $1.8 billion 0.54% of the next $23 billion 0.53% thereafter

Pursuant to separate advisory agreements, Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) has agreed, subject to the supervision of the Board of the relevant Trust, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund and to provide a range of administrative services to such Funds.
For the services described in the advisory agreements, each such Fund has agreed to pay Natixis Advisors an advisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table, reduced by the amount of any subadvisory fees payable directly by a Fund to its subadviser(s) pursuant to any subadvisory agreement:
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Fund | Date of Agreement | Advisory fee payable by Fund to Natixis Advisors (as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund)
Natixis Oakmark Fund | 10/30/00 | 0.70% of the first $200 million 0.65% of the next $300 million 0.60% of the amounts in excess of $500 million
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | 12/13/2010, as amended 7/1/19 | 0.85% of the first $150 million 0.75% of the next $850 million 0.70% of the amounts in excess of $1 billion
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | 10/30/00, as amended 7/1/23 | 0.67%

Natixis Advisors, in the case of Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund, and Loomis Sayles, in the case of High Income Fund, International Growth Fund, Investment Grade Bond Fund, Strategic Alpha Fund and Strategic Income Fund, have each given a binding contractual undertaking for all classes of the Funds in the table below to waive the advisory fees and, if necessary, to reimburse certain expenses related to operating the Funds in order to limit the Funds’ expenses, exclusive of acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes and organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses, to the annual rates indicated below. The undertakings are in effect through April 30, 2027, and will be reevaluated on an annual basis and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Funds’ Board. Natixis Advisors and Loomis Sayles will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the undertaking described above (whether through waiver of its advisory fee or otherwise) to the extent that a class’s expenses in later periods fall below the annual rate set forth in the relevant undertaking. The Funds will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fee/expense was waived/reimbursed.

Fund | Expense Limit | Date of Undertaking
High Income Fund*
Class A | 0.95% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.70% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.65% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.70% | May 1, 2026
International Growth Fund*
Class A | 1.20% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.95% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.90% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.95% | May 1, 2026
Investment Grade Bond Fund*
Class A | 0.73% | July 1, 2025
Class C | 1.48% | July 1, 2025
Class N | 0.43% | July 1, 2025
Class Y | 0.48% | July 1, 2025
Admin Class | 0.98% | July 1, 2025
Strategic Alpha Fund* |  |
Class A | 0.98% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.73% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.68% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.73% | May 1, 2026
Strategic Income Fund* |  |
Class A | 0.92% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.67% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.62% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.67% | May 1, 2026
Admin Class | 1.17% | May 1, 2026
Natixis Oakmark Fund** |  |
Class A | 1.03% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.78% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.73% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.78% | May 1, 2026

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Fund | Expense Limit | Date of Undertaking
Natixis Oakmark International Fund** |  |
Class A | 1.15% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.90% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.85% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.90% | May 1, 2026
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund*** |  |
Class A | 1.08% | May 1, 2026
Class C | 1.83% | May 1, 2026
Class N | 0.78% | May 1, 2026
Class Y | 0.83% | May 1, 2026

* | Natixis Advisors will bear a portion of the waiver and/or expense reimbursement. The Natixis Advisors portion of the waiver and/or expense reimbursement will be equal to the ratio of the Natixis Advisors Support Services Fee divided by the management fee earned by Loomis Sayles.

** | Natixis Advisors and Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) have agreed to bear the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement jointly on a pro rata basis relative to their advisory and sub-advisory fees, respectively.

*** | Natixis Advisors and each subadviser have agreed to bear the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement jointly on a pro rata basis relative to their advisory and sub-advisory fees, respectively.

Subadvisory Fees
Each advisory agreement between Natixis Advisors and a Fund provides that Natixis Advisors may delegate its responsibilities thereunder to other parties. Pursuant to separate subadvisory agreements, Natixis Advisors has delegated its portfolio management responsibilities to one or more subadvisers, as follows: Harris Associates, in the case of Natixis Oakmark Fund and Natixis Oakmark International Fund; and Harris Associates and Loomis Sayles, in the case of U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund. For the services described in the subadvisory agreements, each Fund has agreed to pay its respective subadviser(s) a subadvisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table:

Fund | Subadviser | Date of Subadvisory Agreement | Subadvisory fee payable to Subadviser (as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund/Sleeve)
Natixis Oakmark Fund | Harris Associates | 10/29/02, as amended 2/28/14 | 0.52% of the first $200 million 0.50% of the amounts in excess of $200 million
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | Harris Associates | 12/13/10, as amended 7/1/19 | 0.60% of the first $150 million 0.50% of the next $850 million 0.45% of the amounts in excess of $1 billion
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | Harris Associates – Large Cap Value Sleeve | 10/30/00, as amended 7/1/23 | 0.51% on all assets of the Large Cap Value sleeve
| Loomis Sayles – All Cap Growth Sleeve | 5/18/01, as amended 2/28/14 | 0.35% on all assets of the All Cap Growth sleeve

Payment of Advisory and Subadvisory Fees
Advisory fees and subadvisory fees are allocated and paid on a pro rata basis by each class of each Fund based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of that Fund. For the last three fiscal years, the following table shows the total advisory fees (including subadvisory fees) paid by the Funds, and of these amounts, the total paid to Natixis Advisors and the total paid to a subadviser of a Fund:

| Fiscal Year Ended
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
HIGH INCOME FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $332,827 | $245,163 | $407,455
Fee Waived | $244,170 | $245,163 | $275,449
Total Paid | $88,657 | $— | $132,006
INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $34,166,102 | $51,116,844 | $63,560,765
Fee Waived | $5,251,753 | $7,580,274 | $8,792,655
Total Paid | $28,914,349 | $43,536,570 | $54,768,110

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| Fiscal Year Ended
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
STRATEGIC INCOME FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $17,579,531 | $16,281,287 | $15,459,372
Fee Waived | $1,897,037 | $2,129,409 | $2,105,341
Total Paid | $15,682,494 | $14,151,878 | $13,354,031
International GROWTH FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $214,448 | $286,279 | $231,223
Fee Waived | $166,923 | $190,445 | $212,601
Total Paid | $47,525 | $95,834 | $18,622
STRATEGIC ALPHA FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $4,429,769 | $3,430,960 | $4,947,160
Fee Waived | $213,189 | $306,652 | $400,677
Total Paid | $4,216,580 | $3,124,308 | $4,546,483
NATIXIS OAKMARK FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $3,011,450 | $5,278,165 | $6,762,075
Natixis Advisors |  |  |
Fees Earned | $727,221 | $1,131,361 | $1,378,679
Fee Waived | $105,581 | $86,608 | $0
Total Paid | $621,640 | $1,044,753 | $1,378,679
Harris Associates |  |  |
Fees Earned | $2,284,229 | $4,146,804 | $5,383,396
Fee Waived | $332,874 | $315,163 | $0
Total Paid | $1,951,355 | $3,831,641 | $5,383,396
NATIXIS OAKMARK INTERNATIONAL FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $3,024,746 | $2,850,799 | $2,321,545
Natixis Advisors |  |  |
Fee Earned | $958,249 | $900,266 | $723,848
Fee Waived | $272,994 | $256,929 | $243,914
Total Paid | $685,255 | $643,337 | $479,934
Harris Associates |  |  |
Fee Earned | $2,066,497 | $1,950,533 | $1,597,697
Fee Waived | $588,721 | $556,795 | $538,132
Total Paid | $1,477,776 | $1,393,738 | $1,059,565
U.S. EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES FUND |  |  |
Total Advisory Fee | $5,769,710 | $7,057,328 | $8,108,060
Natixis Advisors |  |  |
Total Paid | $2,061,401 | $2,482,248 | $2,868,616
Harris Associates |  |  |
Total Paid | $2,362,131 | $2,831,826 | $3,199,900
Loomis Sayles |  |  |
Total Paid | $1,346,178 | $1,743,254 | $2,039,544

For more information about the Funds’ advisory and subadvisory agreements, see the section “Investment Advisory and Other Services” in this Statement.
The table below shows the expenses of the Natixis Oakmark Fund that were reimbursed for the periods shown below.

| Fiscal Year Ended
Fund | 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Natixis Oakmark Fund | $— | $— | $317,375

The table below shows the expenses of the Natixis Oakmark Fund that were recovered for the last three fiscal years.

| Fiscal Year Ended
Fund | 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Natixis Oakmark Fund | $— | $— | $163

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Brokerage Commissions
Set forth below are the amounts each Fund paid in brokerage commissions and the amount of brokerage transactions allocated to brokers providing research services during the periods shown below.
Loomis Sayles has a comprehensive internal voting process whereby the equity portfolio managers, research analysts and strategists vote on various aspects of a broker-dealer’s qualitative services, which include without limitation: research and other services, idea generation, models, expert consultants, political and economic analysts, technical analysts, discussions with research analysts and corporate executives, seminars and conferences (the “Equity Research Vote”). The Equity Research Vote is performed on a quarterly basis.
For a description of how transactions in portfolio securities are effected and how the Funds’ advisers or subadvisers select brokers, see the section entitled “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage” in this Statement.

| Fiscal Year Ended |  |
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Loomis Sayles High Income Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $142 1 | $218 1 | $1,439 1
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $811,794 1 | $1,661,182 1 | $1,353,140 1
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $235,428 | $488,576 2 | $762,350 2
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $3,257,326 | $32,518,424 | $5,260,398
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $3,012 3 | $26,768 3 | $4,694 3
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $3,012 | $26,764 | $4,693
Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $107,845 | $115,109 2 | $273,109 2
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $— | $— | $—
Natixis Oakmark Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $468,061,261 | $785,182,693 | $1,211,173,796
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $123,204 | $280,610 | $344,032
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $114,805 | $265,261 | $338,326

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| Fiscal Year Ended |  |
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
Natixis Oakmark International Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $226,477,163 | $331,474,634 | $394,144,826
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $96,529 | $152,484 | $183,952
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $96,112 | $148,974 | $177,701
Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund |  |  |
Brokerage Transactions |  |  |
Allocated to Brokers Providing Research Services | $610,584,468 | $755,560,947 | $762,233,860
Brokerage Commissions |  |  |
Total Brokerage Commissions Paid | $238,194 | $217,467 | $215,702
Commissions Paid to Brokers Providing Research Services | $233,506 | $205,886 | $199,440

1 | The aggregate brokerage commissions paid changed significantly from 2023 and 2024 to 2025 as a result of increased futures trading in the Fund’s portfolio.

2 | The aggregate brokerage commissions paid changed significantly from 2024 to 2025 as a result of increased futures trading in the Fund’s portfolio.

3 | The aggregate brokerage commissions paid changed significantly from 2023 and 2025 as a result of increased trading in the Fund’s portfolio.

Regular Broker-Dealers
The table below contains the aggregate value of securities of each Fund’s “regular broker-dealers”* (or the parent of the regular broker-dealers) held by each Fund, if any, as of the close of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

Fund | Regular Broker-Dealer | Aggregate Value of Securities of each Regular Broker-Dealer (or its Parent) Held by Fund
Investment Grade Bond Fund | Morgan Stanley | $324,705,117
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $132,156,208
| UBS Group AG | $108,632,250
| Wells Fargo & Co. | $93,251,585
| Bank of America Corp. | $40,617,581
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | $14,892,583
| Citadel LP | $22,151,539
| Citigroup, Inc. | $1,632,281
Strategic Alpha Fund | Barclays PLC | $10,837,430
| BNP Paribas SA | $9,801,608
| Morgan Stanley | $9,547,562
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $7,384,305
| Citigroup, Inc. | $5,407,589
| UBS Group AG | $5,038,944
| Wells Fargo & Co. | $9,227,382
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | $3,463,964
| Bank of America Corp. | $3,291,101
| Citadel LP | $583,781
Strategic Income Fund | Barclays PLC | $46,742,170
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $35,243,682
| Citigroup, Inc. | $28,507,647
| Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | $15,148,078
| Morgan Stanley | $14,085,838
| UBS Group AG | $11,233,454
| Wells Fargo & Co. | $15,648,462
| Citadel LP | $3,917,204
| Nomura America Finance LLC | $3,801,839
Natixis Oakmark Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $31,866,639
| Bank of America Corp. | $19,006,295
| Wells Fargo & Co. | $17,805,394
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | Citigroup, Inc. | $27,900,579
| Bank of America Corp. | $22,055,000
High Income Fund | Wells Fargo & Co. | $135,456

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*“Regular Broker-Dealers” are defined by the SEC as: (a) one of the ten brokers or dealers that received the greatest dollar amount of brokerage commissions by virtue of direct or indirect participation in the company’s portfolio transactions during the company’s most recent fiscal year; (b) one of the ten brokers or dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of portfolio transactions of the investment company during the company’s most recent fiscal year; or (c) one of the ten brokers or dealers that sold the largest dollar amount of securities of the investment company during the company’s most recent fiscal year.
Sales Charges and Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
As explained in this Statement, the Class A and Class C shares of each Fund and the Admin Class shares of Investment Grade Bond Fund and Strategic Income Fund pay the Distributor fees under plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plans”). The following tables show the amounts of Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the Funds under the Plans during the last three fiscal years. The anticipated benefits to the Funds of the Plans include the ability to attract and maintain assets. See the section “Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans” for more information.

| Fiscal Year Ended
Fund | 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
High Income Fund |  |  |
Class A | $42,422 | $40,989 | $40,201
Class C | $10,073 | $6,451 | $4,815
Total | $52,495 | $47,440 | $45,016
International Growth Fund |  |  |
Class A | $348 | $451 | $1,159
Class C | $8 | $11 | $11
Total | $356 | $462 | $1,170
Investment Grade Bond Fund |  |  |
Class A | $1,688,026 | $1,884,392 | $1,887,246
Class C | $622,908 | $735,359 | $780,753
Admin Class 1 | $640,954 | $505,526 | $454,850
Total | $2,951,888 | $3,125,277 | $3,122,849
Strategic Alpha Fund |  |  |
Class A | $60,591 | $42,237 | $41,503
Class C | $27,095 | $24,548 | $23,375
Total | $87,686 | $66,785 | $64,878
Strategic Income Fund |  |  |
Class A | $2,520,093 | $2,232,485 | $2,061,790
Class C | $420,884 | $295,507 | $242,397
Admin Class 1 | $332,550 | $319,164 | $301,246
Total | $3,273,527 | $2,847,156 | $2,605,433
Natixis Oakmark Fund |  |  |
Class A | $548,432 | $697,967 | $735,442
Class C | $520,712 | $575,608 | $548,955
Total | $1,069,144 | $1,273,575 | $1,284,397
Natixis Oakmark International Fund |  |  |
Class A | $343,505 | $328,016 | $308,767
Class C | $352,056 | $226,685 | $155,619
Total | $695,561 | $554,701 | $464,386
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund |  |  |
Class A | $1,409,846 | $1,646,873 | $1,823,148
Class C | $298,791 | $310,420 | $267,063
Total | $1,708,637 | $1,957,293 | $2,090,211

1 | Up to 50% of the fees paid to the Distributor are administrative service fees and are not paid pursuant to a 12b-1 plan.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the Distributor used the Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the Funds under the Plans as follows:
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Fund | Compensation to Broker-Dealers | Retained by Distributor | Total
High Income Fund | $45,016 | $0 | $45,016
International Growth Fund | $1,170 | $0 | $1,170
Investment Grade Bond Fund | $3,122,849 | $0 | $3,122,849
Natixis Oakmark Fund | $1,284,397 | $0 | $1,284,397
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | $464,386 | $0 | $464,386
Strategic Alpha Fund | $64,878 | $0 | $64,878
Strategic Income Fund | $2,605,433 | $0 | $2,605,433
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | $2,090,211 | $0 | $2,090,211

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OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES
As of April 1, 2026, to the Trusts’ knowledge, the following persons owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the indicated classes of the Funds set forth below.*

FUND | SHAREHOLDER | PERCENTAGE
High Income Fund 1
Class A | Deferred Compensation Plan for General Agents of New England Fin Met Life Securities Accounting Boston, MA 02111-2621 | 26.69%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 7.61%
| Raymond James Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 5.26%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 5.14%
Class C | Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 42.68%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For the Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1901 | 19.06%
| National Financial Services LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 7.75%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For the Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 7.51%
Class N | SEI Private Trust Company C/O Regions Bank Oaks, PA 19456-9989 | 99.35%
Class Y | Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 53.93%
| The Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co. Wayne, PA 19087-1816 | 7.12%
Investment Grade Bond Fund
Class A | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 22.93%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 13.28%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 12.20%
Class C | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 31.68%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For the Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 16.87%

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| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 8.66%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 7.59%
| Raymond James Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 7.54%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 6.04%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 5.24%
Class N | Edward D. Jones and Co. For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63131-3710 | 71.73%
Class Y | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 14.64%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 12.46%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 8.92%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 7.19%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefits of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 6.43%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 6.32%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 5.44%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 5.22%
Admin Class | Minnesota Life Insurance Company Saint Paul, MN 55101-2099 | 84.87%
| State Street Bank and Trust Co. TTE and/or Cust FBO ADP Access Product | 8.37%
Strategic Income Fund 2
Class A | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 25.29%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 15.92%

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| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 7.92%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 7.50%
Class C | Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 28.24%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 15.41%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 13.15%
| Raymond James Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 10.79%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 10.08%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefits of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 7.43%
Class N | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith LLC Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 33.73%
| National Financial Services, LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 12.80%
| Edward D. Jones & Co For the Benefit of Customers Saint Louis, MO 63131-3710 | 12.75%
| DCGT as TTEE and/or Cust FBO PLIC Various Retirement Plans Omnibus Des Moines, IA 50392-0001 | 10.97%
| State Street Bank and Trust Co. TTEE And/or Customer FBO ADP Access Product Boston, MA 02111-2901 | 7.37%
Class Y | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. For The Sole Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 27.40%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 14.97%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 13.47%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 6.38%
Admin Class | Voya Institutional Trust Company Windsor, CT 06095-4773 | 86.42%
Strategic Alpha Fund

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Class A | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. For The Sole Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 28.98%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 13.76%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 9.50%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 8.88%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 7.18%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 6.65%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefits of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94104-4151 | 5.95%
Class C | Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 49.02%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 18.54%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 14.93%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 5.32%
| American Enterprise Investment Services For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 5.10%
Class N | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 32.46%
| Band & Co C/O US Bank NA Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 | 18.45%
| Capinco & Co C/O US Bank NA Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787 | 15.69%
| National Financial Services, LLC Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995 | 13.04%
| California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-2787 | 12.82%
Class Y | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 20.78%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 16.83%

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| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 10.55%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 9.88%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 9.31%
Natixis Oakmark Fund
Class A | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 10.15%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith For The Sole Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 7.42%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 6.19%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 6.15%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 5.65%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 5.22%
Class C | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 23.10%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 13.55%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 12.85%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 11.25%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith For The Sole Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 7.67%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 7.23%
| American Enterprise Investment Services For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 5.87%
| RBC Capital Markets LLC Mutual Fund Omnibus Processing Minneapolis, MN 55401-7582 | 5.06%
Class N | Empower Trust FBO Employee Benefits Clients 401K Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002 | 29.38%

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| JP Morgan Securities LLC Omnibus Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 | 13.09%
| Voya Institutional Trust Company Windsor, CT 06095-4773 | 13.02%
Class Y | LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 34.28%
| American Enterprise Investment Services For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 24.71%
| Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 10.24%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 7.59%
Natixis Oakmark International Fund
Class A | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 34.67%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 17.47%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 6.32%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 6.12%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 6.04%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 5.26%
Class C | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 28.08%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 26.74%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 9.51%
| Raymond James Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 7.22%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 6.06%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 6.03%

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| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account for Mutual Funds San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 5.88%
Class N | Voya Retirement Windsor, CT 06095-4773 | 49.07%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 27.26%
| JP Morgan Securities LLC Omnibus Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Brooklyn, NY 11245-0003 | 23.31%
Class Y | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 11.00%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 8.64%
| Raymond James Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 8.55%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 8.38%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 7.55%
International Growth Fund 3
Class A | Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 52.62%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 46.24%
Class C | Natixis Advisors, LLC Boston, MA 02199-8197 | 99.90%
Class N | Natixis Investment Managers, LLC Boston, MA 02199-8197 | 61.51%
| Aziz Veysi Hamzaogullari & Nurgul Hamzaogullari Wellesley, MA 02481-4819 | 38.48%
Class Y | Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 79.93%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 6.67%
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund
Class A | LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 5.74%
Class C | Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers St. Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 26.10%

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| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 17.79%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 12.23%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 11.22%
| LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account for Mutual Funds San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 8.58%
| Raymond James Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 7.53%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 6.27%
Class N | CBNA As Custodian FBO Utica, NY 13502-6317 | 43.82%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 25.15%
| Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers San Francisco, CA 94105-1905 | 24.10%
Class Y | LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account San Diego, CA 92121-3091 | 9.34%
| UBS WM USA Omnibus Account M/F Weehawken, NJ 07086-6761 | 8.58%
| Raymond James Omnibus Account for Mutual Funds St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100 | 8.27%
| American Enterprise Investment Svc. For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405 | 8.20%
| Morgan Stanley Smith Barney For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers New York, NY 10004-1932 | 7.64%
| Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 | 6.82%
| Pershing LLC Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001 | 6.40%
| Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Account For The Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523 | 6.20%

1 | As of April 1, 2026, SEI Private Trust Company, Oaks, PA 19456-9989 owned 46.82% of the High Income Fund and therefore may be presumed to “control” the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. However, such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than SEI Private Trust Company.

2 | As of April 1, 2026, Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484 owned 26.31% of the Strategic Income Fund and therefore may be presumed

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| to “control” the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. However, such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith.

3 | As of April 1, 2026, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., San Francisco, CA 94105-1901, owned 48.46% of the International Growth Fund and therefore may be presumed to “control” the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. However, such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

*Such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than the owner listed. To the extent that any listed shareholder beneficially owns more than 25% of a Fund, it may be deemed to “control” such Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The effect of such control may be to reduce the ability of other shareholders of such Fund to take actions requiring the affirmative vote of holders of a plurality or majority of the Fund’s shares without the approval of the controlling shareholder.
Ownership of shares of a Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. For Funds that have recently launched and/or have limited operating history, such investors may include an affiliate of the Fund’s Adviser. A Fund may experience large and/or frequent redemptions or investments due to transactions in Fund shares by funds of funds, other large shareholders or similarly managed accounts. In addition, a large number of shareholders collectively may purchase or redeem Fund shares in large amounts rapidly or unexpectedly (collectively, such transactions are referred to as “large shareholder transactions”). While it is impossible to predict the overall effect of these transactions over time, there could be an adverse impact on a Fund’s performance. In the event of a large shareholder transaction a Fund could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it may not otherwise desire to do so. Large transactions may increase a Fund’s brokerage and/or other transaction costs. In addition, when funds of funds or other investors own a substantial portion of a Fund’s shares, a large shareholder transaction could cause actual expenses to increase, or could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. Large shareholder transactions may increase realized capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income for shareholders who hold Fund shares in a taxable account, which may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders and may limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). The effects of taxable income and/or gains resulting from large shareholder transactions would particularly impact non-redeeming shareholders who do not hold their Fund shares in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax advantaged plan. The impact of these large shareholder transactions is likely to be greater when a fund of funds or other significant investor or a large number of investors purchases, redeems, or owns a substantial portion of a Fund’s shares. Furthermore, large redemptions could also result in a Fund failing to comply with its investment restrictions or relevant regulatory requirements. When possible, a Fund’s Adviser will consider how to minimize these potential adverse effects and may take such actions as it deems appropriate to address potential adverse effects, including redemption of shares in-kind rather than in cash or carrying out the transactions over a period of time, although there can be no assurance that such actions will be successful. A number of circumstances may cause a Fund to experience large redemptions, such as changes in the eligibility criteria for the Fund or share class of the Fund, liquidations, reorganizations, repositionings, or other announced Fund events, or changes in investment objectives, strategies, policies, risks, or investment personnel.
THE TRUSTS
Natixis Funds Trust I is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of Massachusetts by a Declaration of Trust dated June 7, 1985, as amended and restated on June 2, 2005, and is a “series” company as described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act. Currently, each series of the Natixis Funds Trust I is diversified. The name of Natixis Funds Trust I has changed several times since its organization, as noted below:

Trust Name | Date
The New England Life Government Securities Trust | June 1985 to October 1986
The New England Funds | October 1986 to January 1994
New England Funds Trust I | January 1994 to January 2000
Nvest Funds Trust I | February 2000 to March 2001
CDC Nvest Funds Trust I | March 2001 to April 2005
IXIS Advisor Funds Trust I | May 2005 to August 2007
Natixis Funds Trust I | August 2007 to present

Natixis Funds Trust I has five (5) separate portfolios. Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund has a different fiscal year end and information regarding this portfolio can be found in the Natixis Funds’ Statement dated February 1, 2026. Information for two (2) of these portfolios can be found in the Statements for the Mirova Global Megatrends Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund dated May 1, 2026.
Natixis Funds Trust II is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company and is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of Massachusetts pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated May 6, 1931, as amended and restated on June 2, 2005, and consisted of a single Fund (now the Natixis Oakmark Fund) until January 1989, when it was reorganized as a “series” company as described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act. Currently, each series of Natixis Funds Trust II, except Vaughan Nelson Select Fund, is diversified. The name of Natixis Funds Trust II has changed several times since its organization, as noted below:
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Trust Name | Date
Investment Trust of Boston | May 1931 to November 1988
Investment Trust of Boston Funds | December 1988 to April 1992
TNE Funds Trust | April 1992 to March 1994
New England Funds Trust II | April 1994 to January 2000
Nvest Funds Trust II | February 2000 to March 2001
CDC Nvest Funds Trust II | March 2001 to April 2005
IXIS Advisor Funds Trust II | May 2005 to August 2007
Natixis Funds Trust II | August 2007 to present

Natixis Funds Trust II has six (6) separate portfolios. Information for three (3) portfolios, Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund and Vaughan Nelson Select Fund can be found in their Statement of Additional Information dated April 1, 2026. Information for one (1) portfolio can be found in the Statement of Additional Information for the Vaughan Nelson Mid Cap Fund dated May 1, 2026. Strategic Alpha Fund commenced operations on December 15, 2010. Natixis Oakmark Fund was organized in 1931 and commenced operations on May 6, 1931. Prior to March 1, 2014, the Natixis Oakmark Fund was named “Harris Associates Large Cap Value Fund” and prior to March 1, 2004, Harris Associates Large Cap Value Fund was named “Harris Associates Growth and Income Fund.”
Loomis Sayles Funds II is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company. Loomis Sayles Funds II is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of Massachusetts by a Declaration of Trust dated February 20, 1991, as amended and restated on July 21, 2005, and is a “series” company as described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act. Currently, each series of Loomis Sayles Funds II, except International Growth Fund, is diversified. Prior to July 1, 2003, Loomis Sayles Funds II was named “Loomis Sayles Funds.”
Loomis Sayles Funds II has nine (9) separate portfolios. Information for five (5) portfolios, Loomis Sayles Global Allocation Fund, Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund, Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund and Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund can be found in their Statements of Additional Information dated February 1, 2026. High Income Fund commenced operations on February 22, 1984 and was reorganized from Natixis Funds Trust I into Loomis Sayles Funds II on September 12, 2003. Prior to September 12, 2003, the name of the Fund was “CDC Nvest High Income Fund.” Investment Grade Bond Fund was organized in Massachusetts and commenced operations on December 31, 1996. International Growth Fund was organized in 2020 and commenced operations on December 15, 2020. Strategic Income Fund was organized in 1995 and commenced operations on May 1, 1995, and was reorganized from Natixis Funds Trust I into Loomis Sayles Funds II on September 12, 2003. Prior to September 12, 2003, the name of the Fund was “CDC Nvest Strategic Income Fund.”
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Investment Strategies
The descriptions below summarize and describe certain investment strategies, including particular types of securities, instruments, or specific practices that may be used by the adviser or subadviser of a Fund in managing the Fund. Each Fund’s principal strategies are described in its Prospectus. Due to the multi-manager approach of the U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund, investing in a certain security or engaging in a certain practice may be a principal strategy for one sleeve of the Fund and a secondary strategy for another sleeve of the Fund. Additionally, due to Strategic Alpha Fund’s use of derivative instruments, the Funds are subject to many of the risks below indirectly through their derivative transactions as well as directly through investment in the actual securities themselves. For example, to the extent Strategic Alpha Fund enters into a futures contract on an equity index, the Fund is subject to “equity securities” risk, and to the extent a Fund enters into an interest rate swap contract, the Fund is subject to “interest rate” risk. This Statement describes some of the non-principal strategies the Funds may use, in addition to providing additional information, including related risks, about their principal strategies.
The list of securities or other instruments under each category below is not intended to be an exclusive list of securities, instruments and practices for investment. Unless a strategy, practice or security is specifically prohibited by the investment restrictions listed in a Fund’s Prospectus, in the section “Investment Restrictions” in this Statement or under applicable law, each Fund may engage in each of the strategies and invest in securities and instruments in addition to those listed below. The adviser or subadviser may invest in a general category listed below and, where applicable, with particular emphasis on a certain type of security, but investment is not limited to the categories listed below or the securities specifically enumerated under each category. A Fund is not required to engage in a particular transaction or invest in any security or instrument, even if to do so might benefit the Fund. The adviser or subadviser may invest in some securities under a given category as a primary strategy and in other securities under the same category as a secondary strategy. The adviser or subadviser may invest in any security that falls under the specific category, including securities that are not listed below. The Prospectus and/or this Statement will be updated if a Fund begins to engage in investment practices that are not described in the Prospectus and/or this Statement.
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Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Securities (“ARMs”)
Some Funds may invest in ARMs. An ARM, like a traditional mortgage security, is an interest in a pool of mortgage loans that provides investors with payments consisting of both principal and interest, as mortgage loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. ARMs have interest rates that are reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to some 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 changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since the interest rates are reset only periodically, changes in the interest rate on ARMs may lag behind changes in prevailing market interest rates. In addition, some ARMs (or the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors that limit the maximum change in 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. Because of the resetting of interest rates, ARMs are less likely than non-adjustable rate securities of comparable quality and maturity to increase significantly in value when market interest rates fall. In addition, a Fund will not benefit from increases in interest rates to the extent that interest rates rise to the point where they cause the current coupon of the underlying ARM to exceed a cap rate for a particular mortgage. See the section “Mortgage-Related Securities” for more information on the risks involved in ARMs.
Asset-Backed Securities
Some of the Funds may invest in asset-backed securities, which are securities that represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, a stream of payments generated by particular assets, most often a pool or pools of similar assets (e.g., trade receivables). The credit quality of these securities depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided. Mortgage-backed securities are a type of asset-backed security. The securitization techniques used to develop mortgage securities are also applied to a broad range of other assets. Through the use of trusts and special purpose vehicles, assets, such as automobile and credit card receivables, are securitized in pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through structures or in a pay-through structure similar to a collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) structure (described herein). Generally, the issuers of asset-backed bonds, notes or pass-through certificates are special purpose entities and do not have any significant assets other than the receivables securing such obligations. In general, the collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans. Instruments backed by pools of receivables are similar to mortgage-backed securities in that they are subject to unscheduled prepayments of principal prior to maturity. When the obligations are prepaid, a Fund will ordinarily reinvest the prepaid amounts in securities, the yields of which reflect interest rates prevailing at the time. Therefore, a Fund’s ability to maintain a portfolio that includes high-yielding asset-backed securities will be adversely affected to the extent that prepayments of principal must be reinvested in securities that have lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Moreover, prepayments of securities purchased at a premium could result in a realized loss. In addition, the value of some mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. Asset-backed securities involve risks similar to those described in the section “Mortgage-Related Securities.” Some Funds may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which are interests in the excess cash flow remaining after the issuer makes required payments on the securities and pays related administrative expenses. The total amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rate on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual performance of the underlying assets. Among other things, such performance is influenced by the amount and timing of losses incurred on the assets and leasing and disposition activity of the asset manager.
Asset-backed securities also involve the risk that borrowers may default on the obligations backing them and that the values of and interest earned on such investments will decline as a result. Loans made to lower quality borrowers, including those of sub-prime quality, involve a higher risk of default. Therefore, the values of asset-backed securities backed by lower quality assets, such as lower quality loans, including those of sub-prime quality, may suffer significantly greater declines in value due to defaults, payment delays or a perceived increased risk of default, especially during periods when economic conditions worsen. Additionally, asset-backed securities may be “subordinated” to other interests in the same pool, and a holder of those “subordinated” securities would receive payments only after any obligations to other more “senior” investors have been satisfied. During periods of deteriorating economic conditions, such as recessions or periods of rising unemployment, delinquencies and losses generally increase, sometimes dramatically, with respect to securitizations involving loans, sales contracts, receivables and other obligations underlying asset-backed securities.
Certain Funds may also gain exposure to asset-backed securities through entering into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments related to this asset class. For example, a Fund may enter into credit default swaps on asset-backed securities, which are indices made up of tranches of asset-backed securities, each with different credit ratings. Utilizing asset-backed securities, one can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of such securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying asset-backed securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to asset-backed securities are subject to the risks associated with asset-backed securities generally, as well as the risks of derivatives transactions. See the section “Derivative Instruments” below.
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Bank-Issued Investments
International Growth Fund. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in certificates of deposit (certificates representing the obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time), time deposits (non-negotiable deposits maintained in a bank for a specified period of time up to seven days at a stated interest rate), bankers’ acceptances (credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer) and other securities and instruments issued by domestic banks, foreign branches of domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks. Banks also may serve as counterparties on some of a Fund’s derivative contracts.
The Fund may also purchase U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued by foreign branches of domestic banks or foreign branches of foreign banks (“Eurodollar” obligations) and domestic branches of foreign banks (“Yankee dollar obligations”). Eurodollar and other foreign obligations involve special investment risks, including the possibility that (i) liquidity could be impaired because of future political and economic developments, (ii) the obligations may be less marketable than comparable domestic obligations of domestic issuers, (iii) a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding or other taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, (iv) deposits may be seized or nationalized, (v) foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be adopted which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on those obligations, (vi) the selection of foreign obligations may be more difficult because there may be less information publicly available concerning foreign issuers, (vii) there may be difficulties in enforcing a judgment against a foreign issuer, or (viii) the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign issuers may differ from those applicable to domestic issuers. In addition, foreign banks are not subject to examination by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. See the section “Financial Services Risk” for more information.
Bank Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments
Some Funds may invest in bank loans, which include both senior secured and unsecured floating rate loans made by banks and other financial institutions to corporate customers. Typically, these loans hold the most senior position in a borrower’s capital structure, may be secured by the borrower’s assets and have interest rates that reset frequently. Senior loans can include term loans, revolving credit facility loans and second lien loans. The proceeds of senior loans primarily are used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, dividends, and, to a lesser extent, to finance internal growth and for other corporate purposes. These loans may not be rated investment-grade by the rating agencies. Although secured loans are secured by collateral of the borrower, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. Economic downturns generally lead to higher non-payment and default rates and a senior loan could lose a substantial part of its value prior to a default. However, as compared to junk bonds, senior floating rate loans are typically senior in the capital structure and are often secured by collateral of the borrower. Some senior loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate such senior loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such senior loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower.
A Fund’s investments in loans are subject to credit/counterparty risk, and, as described above, even secured bank loans may not be adequately collateralized. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and therefore investors are subject to the risk that the return will be less than anticipated when the investment was first made. Most bank loans, like most investment-grade bonds, are not traded on any national securities exchange. Bank loans generally have less liquidity than investment-grade bonds and there may be less public information available about them. A Fund may participate in the primary syndicate for a bank loan or it may also purchase loans from other lenders (sometimes referred to as loan assignments).
Bank loans are generally less liquid than many other debt securities. Transactions in bank loans may settle on a delayed basis, such that a Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. As a result, the proceeds related to the sale of bank loans may not be available to make additional investments or to meet a Fund’s redemption obligations until a substantial period after the sale of the loans. In order to finance redemptions pending settlement of bank loans, a Fund may employ a wide variety of means to meet short-term liquidity needs, including, without limitation drawing on its cash and other short-term positions, all of which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. With limited exceptions, the Adviser will take steps intended to ensure that it does not receive material non-public information about the issuers of bank loans who also issue publicly traded securities, and therefore the Adviser may have less information than other investors about certain of the loans in which it seeks to invest.
Large loans to corporations or governments may be shared or syndicated among several lenders, usually (but often not limited to) banks. A Fund may participate in the primary syndicate for a loan or it may also purchase loans from other lenders (sometimes referred to as loan assignments), in either case becoming a direct lender. A Fund may also acquire a participation interest in another lender’s portion of the loan. Participation interests involve special types of risk, including liquidity risk and the risks of being a lender. Loans and loan participations may be transferable among financial institutions; however, they may not have the liquidity of conventional debt securities and because they may be subject to restrictions on resale, they are potentially illiquid. The purchase or sale of loans may require the consent of a third party or of the borrower, and although such consent is rarely withheld in practice, the consent requirement could delay a purchase or affect a Fund’s ability to dispose of its investments in loans in a timely fashion. Although the market for loans and loan participations has become increasingly liquid over time, this market is still developing, and there can be no assurance that adverse developments with respect to this market or particular borrowers will not prevent a Fund from selling these loans at their market values at a desirable time or price. To the extent a senior loan has been deemed illiquid, it will be subject to a Fund’s restrictions on
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investment in illiquid securities. When investing in a loan participation, a Fund typically will have the right to receive payments only from the lender to the extent the lender receives payments from the borrower, and not from the borrower itself. Likewise, a Fund typically will be able to enforce its rights only through the lender, and not directly against the borrower. As a result, a Fund will assume the credit/counterparty risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation.
Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial institution’s interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks to a Fund. For example, if the 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. Some loans may not be considered “securities” for certain purposes under the federal securities laws, and purchasers, such as a Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws. Loans and other debt instruments that are not in the form of securities may offer less legal protection to a Fund in the event of fraud or misrepresentation.
A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, a Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, it may have to rely on the agent to pursue appropriate credit remedies against a borrower. In addition, holders of the loans, such as the Funds, may be required to indemnify the agent bank in certain circumstances.
In addition to investing in senior secured loans, a Fund may invest in other loans, such as second lien loans and other secured loans, as well as unsecured loans. Second lien loans and other secured loans are subject to the same risks associated with investment in senior loans and below investment-grade bonds. However, such loans may rank lower in right of payment than senior secured loans, and are subject to additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and any property securing the loan may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the higher ranking secured obligations of the borrower. Second lien loans and other secured loans are expected to have greater price volatility than more senior loans and may be less liquid. There is also a possibility that originators will not be able to sell participations in lower ranking loans, which would create greater credit/counterparty risk exposure. Each of these risks may be increased in the case of unsecured loans, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral.
A Fund may also gain exposure to loan investments through the use of derivatives. See the section “Derivative Instruments.”
Some of the loans in which a Fund may invest or to which a Fund may gain exposure through its investments in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) may be covenant-lite loans, which contain fewer or less restrictive constraints on the borrower than certain other types of loans. Covenant-lite loans generally do not include terms that allow the lender to monitor the performance of the borrower and declare a default or force a borrower into bankruptcy restructuring if certain criteria are breached. Under such loans, lenders typically must rely on covenants that restrict a company from incurring additional debt or engaging in certain actions. Such covenants can only be breached by an affirmative action of the borrower, rather than by a deterioration in the borrower’s financial condition. Accordingly, a Fund may have fewer rights against a borrower when it invests in or has exposure to such loans and, accordingly, may have a greater risk of loss on such investments as compared to investments in or exposure to loans with additional or more conventional covenants.
Financial Services Risk
Events leading to limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect the financial services industry, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems, may spread to other industries, and could negatively affect the value and liquidity of a Fund’s investments. Should such events occur, the U.S. government may take measures to stabilize the financial system; however, uncertainty and liquidity concerns in the broader financial services industry may remain. Additionally, should there be additional systemic pressure on the financial system and capital markets, there can be no assurances of the response of any government or regulator, and any response may not be as favorable to industry participants as the measures currently being pursued. In addition, highly publicized issues related to the U.S. and global capital markets in the past have led to significant and widespread investor concerns over the integrity of the capital markets. Such events could in the future lead to further rules and regulations for public companies, banks, financial institutions and other participants in the U.S. and global capital markets, and complying with the requirements of any such rules or regulations may be burdensome. Even if not adopted, evaluating and responding to any such proposed rules or regulations could result in increased costs and require significant attention from a Fund’s investment adviser. Other adverse developments that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally may have other adverse effects on the economy, the Fund or issuers in which the Funds invest.
Benchmark Reference Rates Risk
Many debt securities, derivatives, and other financial instruments, including some of a Fund’s investments, utilize benchmark or reference rates for variable interest rate calculations, including the Euro Interbank Offer Rate, Sterling Overnight Index Average Rate, and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) (each a “Reference Rate”). Instruments in which the Fund invests may pay interest at floating rates based on such Reference Rates or may be subject to interest caps or floors based on such Reference Rates. The Funds and issuers of instruments in which the Fund invests may also obtain financing at floating rates based on such Reference Rates. The elimination of a Reference Rate or any other changes to or reforms of the determination or supervision of Reference Rates could have an adverse impact on the market for—or value of—any instruments or payments linked to those Reference Rates.
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For example, such Reference Rates as well as other types of rates and indices are classed as “benchmarks” and have been the subject of ongoing national and international regulatory reform, including under the European Union regulation on indices used as benchmarks in financial instruments and financial contracts (known as the “Benchmarks Regulation”). The Benchmarks Regulation has been enacted into United Kingdom law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended), subject to amendments made by the Benchmarks (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/657) and other statutory instruments. Following the implementation of these reforms, the manner of administration of benchmarks has changed and may further change in the future, with the result that relevant benchmarks may perform differently than in the past, the use of benchmarks that are not compliant with the new standards by certain supervised entities may be restricted, and certain benchmarks may be eliminated entirely. Such changes could cause increased market volatility and disruptions in liquidity for instruments that rely on or are impacted by such benchmarks. Additionally, there could be other consequences which cannot be predicted.
Borrowing
A Fund can borrow up to one-third of the Fund’s assets (including the amount borrowed) and use other techniques to purchase investments, to manage its cash flow or to redeem shares, which is a technique called “leverage.” In addition to borrowing money from banks, a Fund may engage in certain other investment transactions that may be viewed as forms of financial leverage – for example, using mortgage dollar rolls, entering into when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment transactions or using derivatives such as futures contracts, warrants, structured notes, foreign currency transactions, credit default swaps, options contracts, swap transactions and forward currency contracts. Because a Fund either (i) sets aside cash (or other liquid assets) on its books in respect of such transactions during the period in which the transactions are open or (ii) otherwise “covers” its obligations under the transactions, such as by holding offsetting investments, the Fund does not consider these transactions to be borrowings for purposes of its investment restrictions or “senior securities” for purposes of the 1940 Act. Borrowing will increase a Fund’s exposure to fluctuations in the prices of its assets and, therefore, the volatility of its share price, exaggerating any increase or decrease in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund. In addition, the interest that a Fund pays on borrowed money, together with any other costs of borrowing, are additional costs borne by the Fund and could reduce or eliminate any net investment profits. Unless profits on assets acquired with borrowed funds exceed the costs of borrowing, the use of borrowing will diminish the investment performance of a Fund compared with what it would have been without borrowing. When a Fund borrows money it must comply with certain asset coverage requirements, which at times may require the Fund to dispose of some of its holdings at unfavorable times or prices.
A Fund has entered into a committed, secured line of credit with a bank under which it expects to borrow for investment purposes. In connection with its borrowings under this agreement, a Fund will be required to maintain specified asset coverage with respect to such borrowings by both the 1940 Act and the terms of its credit facility with the bank. The terms of the credit facility will require a Fund to maintain asset coverage levels that may be more restrictive than the provisions of the 1940 Act in connection with borrowings and to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain the line of credit.
In the event of a default under the credit facility, the bank may have the right to cause a liquidation of the collateral (i.e., to sell Fund assets). In addition, in the event of a default, a Fund may delay the payment of redemption requests to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act. In certain limited, extreme circumstances, a default might also prevent a Fund from making distributions to shareholders sufficient to eliminate income or excise tax at the Fund level, or to be eligible to be treated as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If a Fund were ineligible to be treated as a RIC and if the Fund were unable to cure such ineligibility, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net long-term capital gain, would generally be treated as ordinary income in the hands of shareholders.
Collateralized Loan Obligations
Certain Fundsmay invest in CLOs. CLOs are types of asset-backed 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. CLOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.
For CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since they are partially protected from defaults, senior tranches from a trust typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment-grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CLO 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, as well as aversion to CLO securities as a class. The Fund may invest in any tranche, including the equity tranche, of a CLO. The risks of an investment in a CLO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the instrument in which the Fund invests.
Normally, CLOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CLOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities, although an active dealer market may exist for CLOs allowing them to qualify for Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In addition to the normal risks associated with debt instruments discussed elsewhere in the Prospectus and in this Statement (e.g., prepayment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk, structural risk, legal risk, default risk and interest rate risk (which may be exacerbated if the interest rate payable on a structured financing
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changes inversely to changes in interest rates or based on multiples of changes in interest rates)), CLOs may carry additional risks including, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the possibility that the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the possibility that 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”)
Some Funds may invest in CMOs. CMOs are securities backed by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities held under indentures. CMOs may be issued either by U.S. government instrumentalities or by nongovernmental entities. CMOs are not direct obligations of the U.S. government. The issuer’s obligation to make interest and principal payments is secured by the underlying portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. CMOs are issued with a number of classes or series, which have different maturities and which may represent interests in some or all of the interest or principal on the underlying collateral or a combination thereof. CMOs of different classes are generally retired in sequence as the underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of the CMO first to mature generally will be retired prior to its maturity. Thus, the early retirement of a particular class or series of CMO held by a Fund would have a similar effect to the prepayment of mortgages underlying a mortgage pass-through security. CMOs and other asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities may be considered derivative instruments. CMOs involve risks similar to those described in the section “Mortgage-Related Securities.”
Commodities
Commodities are assets that have tangible properties, such as oil, metals, livestock or agricultural products. Historically, commodity investments have had a relatively high correlation with changes in inflation and a relatively low correlation to stock and bond returns. Exposure to commodities is often achieved through derivative instruments, such as commodity futures, and such investments therefore are subject to the risks associated with derivatives generally. See the section “Derivative Instruments.” Commodity-related securities and other instruments, such as futures, provide exposure, which may include long and/or short exposure, to the investment returns of physical commodities that trade in commodities markets, without investing directly in physical commodities. A Fund may invest in commodity-related securities and other instruments, such as structured notes, swap agreements, options, futures and options on futures that derive value from the price movement of commodities, or some other readily measurable economic variable dependent upon changes in the value of commodities or the commodities markets. However, investments in commodity-linked instruments do not generally provide a claim on the underlying commodity. In addition, the ability of a Fund to invest directly in commodities, and in certain commodity-related securities and other instruments, is subject to significant limitations in order to enable a Fund to maintain its status as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). See the section “Taxes” below for more information.
The value of commodity-related instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, volatility of the underlying benchmark, changes in interest rates or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as droughts, floods, weather, livestock disease, insufficient storage capacity, embargoes, wars, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The value of commodity-related instruments will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index. Investments in commodity-related instruments may be subject to greater volatility than non-commodity-based investments. A highly liquid secondary market may not exist for certain commodity-related instruments, and there can be no assurance that one will develop. Commodity-related instruments are also subject to credit and interest rate risks that in general affect the values of debt securities. A Fund may lose money on its commodity investments.
Convertible Securities
Some Funds may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities include corporate bonds, notes or preferred stocks of U.S. or foreign issuers that can be converted into (exchanged for) common stocks or other equity securities. Convertible securities also include other securities, such as warrants, that provide an opportunity for equity participation. Since convertible securities may be converted into equity securities, their values will normally vary in some proportion with those of the underlying equity securities. Convertible securities usually provide a higher yield than the underlying equity, however, so that the price decline of a convertible security may sometimes be less substantial than that of the underlying equity security. Convertible securities are generally subject to the same risks as non-convertible fixed-income securities, but usually provide a lower yield than comparable fixed-income securities. Many convertible securities are relatively illiquid.
Contingent Convertible Securities
Contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) have no stated maturity, have fully discretionary coupons and are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments. CoCos generally either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain triggering events (“triggers”) which may be linked to the issuer’s stock price, regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions relating to the issuer’s continued viability, or other pre-specified events. As a result, an investment by a Fund in CoCos is subject to the risk that coupon (i.e., interest) payments or obligations to repay principal may be cancelled by the issuer or a regulatory authority in order to help the issuer absorb losses. A write down of the par value would occur automatically and if written down to zero, would effectively cancel the securities, causing investors (including a Fund) to lose the entire value of their investment, even as the issuer remains in business. If such an event occurs, an investor may not have any rights to repayment of the principal amount of the securities and may not entitle the holders to seek bankruptcy of the company. An investment by a Fund in CoCos is also subject to the risk that, in
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the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a trigger event, a Fund’s rights and claims will generally rank junior to the claims of holders of the issuer’s other debt obligations or may be cancelled entirely. In addition, if CoCos held by a Fund are converted into the issuer’s underlying equity securities following a trigger event, a Fund’s holding may be further subordinated due to the conversion from a debt to equity instrument. Further, the value of an investment in CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors and risks, including interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk and regulatory risk. An investment by a Fund in CoCos may result in losses to the Fund.
Corporate Reorganizations
All Funds except International Growth Fund. Certain Funds may invest in securities for which a tender or exchange offer has been made or announced and in securities of companies for which a merger, consolidation, liquidation or reorganization proposal has been announced if, in the judgment of the adviser, there is a reasonable prospect of capital appreciation significantly greater than the brokerage and other transaction expenses involved. The primary risk of such investments is that if the contemplated transaction is abandoned, revised, delayed or becomes subject to unanticipated uncertainties, the market price of the securities may decline below the purchase price paid by a Fund.
In general, securities that are the subject of such an offer or proposal sell at a premium to their historic market price immediately prior to the announcement of the offer or proposal. However, the increased market price of such securities may also discount what the stated or appraised value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved or consummated. Such investments may be advantageous when the discount significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved, significantly undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received by shareholders of the prospective company as a result of the contemplated transaction or fails adequately to recognize the possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an offer or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of such contingencies requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the part of the Fund’s adviser or subadviser which must appraise not only the value of the issuer and its component businesses, but also the financial resources and business motivation of the offer or proposal as well as the dynamics of the business climate when the offer or proposal is in process.
Cybersecurity, Operational and Technology Risk
The Funds, their service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect the Funds and their shareholders. These risks include theft, loss, misuse, improper release, corruption and destruction of, or unauthorized access to, confidential or highly sensitive information relating to a Fund and its shareholders; and compromises or failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the operations of a Fund and its service providers, including those relating to the performance and effectiveness of security procedures used by a Fund or its service providers to protect a Fund’s assets. Power outages, natural disasters, equipment malfunctions and processing errors that threaten these systems, as well as market events that occur at a pace that overloads these systems, may also disrupt business operations or impact critical data. Cybersecurity incidents and cyber-attacks have been occurring globally at a more frequent and severe level and will likely continue to increase in frequency in the future. There may be an increased risk of cyber-attacks during periods of geopolitical or military conflict, and geopolitical tensions may increase the scale and sophistication of deliberate cybersecurity attacks, particularly those from nation-states or from entities with nation-state backing. Furthermore, as a Fund’s assets grow, it may become a more appealing target for cybersecurity threats such as hackers and malware. The rapid development and increasingly widespread use of new technologies, including machine learning technology and generative models could exacerbate these risks. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in, among other things, financial losses to a Fund and its shareholders; the inability of a Fund to transact business with its shareholders or to engage in portfolio transactions; delays or mistakes in the calculation of a Fund’s NAV or other materials provided to shareholders; the inability to process transactions with shareholders or other parties; violations of privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties and reputational damage; and compliance and remediation costs, legal fees and other expenses. A Fund’s service providers (including, but not limited to, the adviser, any subadvisers, administrator, distributor, transfer agent, and custodian), financial intermediaries, companies in which a Fund invests and parties with which a Fund engages in portfolio or other transactions also may be adversely impacted by cybersecurity and other operational and technology risks, resulting in losses to a Fund or its shareholders. Furthermore, as a result of breaches in cybersecurity or other operational and technology disruptions or failures, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities or the entire market, which may result in the Funds being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or unable to accurately price their investments. The Funds have developed processes, risk management systems and business continuity plans designed to reduce the risks associated with cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues. However, there is no guarantee that those measures will be effective, particularly since the Funds do not directly control the cybersecurity defenses and operational and technology plans and systems of their service providers, financial intermediaries and companies in which they invest or with which they do business and there are inherent limitations in systems designed to minimize the risk of cyber-attacks through the use of technology, processes and controls. Additionally, such third party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the advisers or the Funds. Similar types of cybersecurity risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause a Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value.
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Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that can perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence and encompasses various different forms of artificial intelligence, including machine learning models. Artificial intelligence is typically designed to analyze data, learn from patterns and experiences, make decisions, and solve problems.
The Adviser, the Funds and the issuers in which they invest, service providers, and other market participants may use and/or expand use of artificial intelligence in connection with business, operating and investment activities. Actual usage of such artificial intelligence will vary. While the Adviser expects from time to time to adopt and adjust usage policies and procedures governing the use of artificial intelligence by its personnel, there is a risk of misuse of artificial intelligence technologies.
Artificial intelligence is highly reliant on the collection and analysis of large amounts of data and complex algorithms, but it is not possible nor practicable to incorporate all data that would be relevant for a task conducted by artificial intelligence. Therefore, it is possible that the information provided through use of artificial intelligence could be insufficient, incomplete, inaccurate or biased leading to adverse effects for the Fund, including, potentially, operational errors and investment losses.
Artificial intelligence and its current and potential future applications, including in the investment and financial sectors, as well as the regulatory frameworks within which they operate, continue to rapidly evolve, and it is impossible to predict the full extent of future applications or regulations. Ongoing and future regulatory actions with respect to artificial intelligence generally or artificial intelligence’s use in any industry in particular may alter, perhaps to a materially adverse extent, the ability of the Adviser, the Fund or the issuers in which it invests, service providers, or other market participants to utilize artificial intelligence in the manner used to-date, and may have an adverse impact on the ability of the Adviser, the Fund or the issuers in which it invests, service providers, or other market participants to continue to operate as intended.
Debt Securities
Each of the Funds may invest in debt securities. Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. The issuer usually pays a fixed, variable or floating rate of interest and must repay the amount borrowed at the maturity of the security. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon securities, do not pay interest but are sold at a discount from their face values. Debt securities include corporate bonds, government securities and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities. Debt securities include a broad array of short-, medium- and long-term obligations issued by the U.S. or foreign governments, government or international agencies and instrumentalities, and corporate issuers of various types. Some debt securities represent uncollateralized obligations of their issuers; in other cases, the securities may be backed by specific assets (such as mortgages or other receivables) that have been set aside as collateral for the issuer’s obligation. Debt securities generally involve an obligation of the issuer to pay interest or dividends on either a current basis or at the maturity of the securities, as well as the obligation to repay the principal amount of the security at maturity.
Debt securities are subject to market/issuer risk and credit/counterparty risk. Credit/counterparty risk relates to the ability of the issuer to make payments of principal and interest and includes the risk of default. Sometimes, an issuer may make these payments from money raised through a variety of sources, including, with respect to issuers of municipal securities, (i) the issuer’s general taxing power, (ii) a specific type of tax, such as a property tax, or (iii) a particular facility or project such as a highway. The ability of an issuer to make these payments could be affected by general economic conditions, issues specific to the issuer, litigation, legislation or other political events, the bankruptcy of the issuer, war, natural disasters, terrorism or other major events. U.S. government securities are not generally perceived to involve credit/counterparty risks to the same extent as investments in other types of fixed-income securities; as a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than the yields available from corporate and municipal debt securities. Market/issuer risk is the risk that the value of the security will fall because of changes in market rates of interest. Generally, the value of debt securities falls when market rates of interest are rising. Some debt securities also involve prepayment or call risk. This is the risk that the issuer will repay a Fund the principal on the security before it is due, thus depriving the Fund of a favorable stream of future interest payments.
Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of a Fund that invests in debt securities for any particular period. Fluctuations in the value of a Fund’s investments in debt securities will cause the Fund’s NAV to increase or decrease. See section “Variable and Floating Rate Instruments.”
Derivative Instruments
Some Funds may, but are not required to, use derivative instruments for risk management purposes or to seek to enhance investment returns. Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, related indices and other assets. For additional information about the use of derivatives in connection with foreign currency transactions, see the section “Foreign Currency Transactions.” A Fund’s adviser or subadviser may decide not to employ one or more of these strategies and there is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by a Fund will succeed. In addition, suitable derivatives transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that a Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial. Examples of derivative instruments that a Fund may use include (but are not limited to) options and warrants, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, structured notes, zero strike warrants and options, swap agreements (including total return, interest rate and credit default swaps), swaptions and debt-linked and equity-linked securities.
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Derivatives involve special risks, including credit/counterparty risk, correlation risk, illiquidity, difficulties in valuation, leverage risk and, to the extent the adviser’s or subadviser’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of derivatives could result in significantly greater losses or lower income or gains than if they had not been used. A Fund’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund. Losses resulting from the use of derivatives will reduce a Fund’s NAV, and possibly income, and the losses may be significantly greater than if derivatives had not been used. The degree of a Fund’s use of derivatives may be limited by certain provisions of the Code. When used, derivatives may affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions payable to, and thus taxes payable by, shareholders. Although a Fund’s adviser or subadviser will attempt to ensure that the Fund has sufficient liquid assets to cover its obligations under its derivatives contracts, it is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support such obligations under its derivatives positions. See the subsection “Certain Additional Risks of Derivative Instruments” below for additional information about the risks relating to derivative instruments.
Several types of derivative instruments in which a Fund may invest are described in more detail below. However, the Funds are not limited to investments in these instruments and may decide not to employ any or all of these strategies.
Futures Contracts
Futures transactions involve a Fund’s buying or selling futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a particular security, commodity, currency or other asset, or group or index of securities, commodities, currencies or other assets, for a specified price on a specified future date. A futures contract creates an obligation by the seller to deliver and the buyer to take delivery of the type of instrument or cash (depending on whether the contract calls for physical delivery or cash settlement) at the time and in the amount specified in the contract. In the case of futures on an index, the seller and buyer agree to settle in cash, at a future date, based on the difference in value of the contract between the date it is opened and the settlement date. The value of each contract is equal to the value of the index from time to time multiplied by a specified dollar amount. For example, S&P 500® Index futures may trade in contracts with a value equal to $250 multiplied by the value of the S&P 500® Index.
When an investor, such as the Fund, enters into a futures contract, it is required to deposit with (or for the benefit of) its broker as “initial margin” an amount of cash or short-term, high-quality/liquid securities (such as U.S. Treasury bills or high-quality tax-exempt bonds acceptable to the broker), the value of which may vary depending on applicable exchange rules and the terms of a Fund’s contractual arrangement with its broker. Initial margin is held to secure the performance of the holder of the futures contract. As the value of the contract changes, the value of futures contract positions increases or declines. At the end of each trading day, the amount of such increase and decline is received and paid respectively by and to the holders of these positions. The amount received or paid is known as “variation margin.”
The gain or loss on a futures position is equal to the net variation margin received or paid over the time the position is held, plus or minus the amount received or paid when the position is closed, minus brokerage commissions and other transaction costs. Should the value of the assets in the margin account drop below the minimum amount required to be maintained, or “maintenance margin,” the Fund will be required to deposit additional assets to the account. Although many futures contracts call for the delivery (or acceptance) of the specified instrument, futures are usually cash-settled or closed out before the settlement date through the purchase (or sale) of an offsetting contract. If the price of the sale of the futures contract by the Fund is less than the price of the offsetting purchase (in each case taking into account any brokerage commission and other transaction costs), the Fund will realize a loss. A futures sale is closed by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity and with the same delivery date. Similarly, a futures purchase is closed by the purchaser selling an offsetting futures contract.
Futures contract prices, and the prices of the related contracts in which the Fund may trade, may be highly volatile. Such prices are influenced by, among other things: changing supply and demand relationships; government trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; national and international political and economic events; and changes in interest rates. In addition, governments from time to time intervene, directly and by regulation, in these markets, with the specific intention of influencing such prices. The effect of such intervention is often heightened by a group of governments acting in concert. However, if futures or options are used to hedge portfolio securities, an increase in the price of the securities, if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.
Furthermore, the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading permit an extremely high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract can result in immediate and substantial losses to the investor. As an added risk in these volatile and highly leveraged markets, it is not always possible to liquidate futures positions to prevent further losses or recognize unrealized gains. Positions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be established or closed out only on an exchange or board of trade. There is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. Illiquidity can arise due to daily price limits taking effect or to market disruptions. Futures positions may be illiquid because certain commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain futures contract prices during a single day through regulations referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits.” Under such daily limits, during a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limits. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in that contract can neither be taken nor liquidated unless market participants are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Futures prices have occasionally moved beyond the daily limits for several consecutive days with little or no trading. If there is not a liquid market at a particular time, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position at such time, and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. The potential inability to
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liquidate futures positions creates the possibility of the Fund being unable to control its losses. If the Fund were to borrow money to use for trading purposes, the effects of such leverage would be magnified. Cash posted as margin in connection with a Fund’s futures contracts will not be available to the Fund for investment or other purposes. In addition, a Fund’s futures broker may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in certain futures contracts. Such restrictions may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and its ability to achieve its investment objective.
Funds that invest in futures contracts may be subject to risks related to rolling. When investing in futures contracts, a Fund will generally seek to “roll” its futures positions rather than hold them through expiration. In some circumstances, the prices of futures contracts with near-term expirations are lower than the prices of similar futures contracts with longer-term expirations, resulting in a cost to “roll” the futures contracts. The actual realization of a potential roll cost will depend on the difference in prices of futures contracts with near- and longer-term expirations, and the rolling of futures positions may result in losses to a Fund.
Commodity Futures Contracts
Some Funds may invest in commodity futures contracts. There are additional risks associated with transactions in commodity futures contracts including, but not limited to the following:
Storage. Unlike the financial futures markets, in the commodity futures markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while a Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may also change (even if the Fund does not intend to physically settle the commodity futures contract). While the Funds typically do not intend to physically settle any commodity futures contracts, physical delivery of commodities can result in temporary illiquidity and a Fund would incur additional charges associated with the holding and safekeeping of any such commodities.
Reinvestment. In the commodity futures markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at the relevant delivery date. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the futures contract at a lower price than the expected future spot price. Conversely, if most hedgers in the futures market are purchasing futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the futures contract at a higher futures price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing positions and views of the participants in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for a Fund. If the positions and views of the participants in futures markets have shifted when it is time for a Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing contract in a new futures contract, a Fund might reinvest at higher or lower futures prices, or choose to pursue other investments.
Speculative Position Limits
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), certain foreign regulators and many futures exchanges have established (and continue to evaluate and revise) limits (“position limits”) on the maximum net long or net short positions which any person, or group of persons acting in concert, may hold or control in certain options and futures contracts. In addition, U.S. federal position limits apply to swaps that are economically equivalent to futures contracts on certain agricultural, metals and energy commodities. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, must be aggregated for purposes of determining whether applicable position limits have been exceeded, unless an exemption applies. Thus, even if a Fund does not intend to exceed applicable position limits, it is possible that different clients managed by the adviser or subadviser and its affiliates may be aggregated for this purpose. Therefore, the trading decisions of the adviser or subadviser may have to be modified and positions held by a Fund liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits. The modification of investment decisions or the elimination of open positions, if it occurs, may adversely affect the profitability of the Fund. A violation of position limits could also lead to regulatory action materially adverse to a Fund’s investment strategy. A Fund may also be affected by other regimes, including those of the European Union and United Kingdom, and trading venues that impose position limits on commodity derivative contracts.
Index Futures Contracts
In the case of futures on an index, the seller and buyer agree to settle in cash, at a future date, based on the difference in value of the contract between the date it is opened and the settlement date. The value of each contract is equal to the value of the index from time to time multiplied by a specified dollar amount. For example, S&P 500® Index futures may trade in contracts with a value equal to $250 multiplied by the value of the S&P 500® Index. The price of index futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market distortions. One such distortion stems from the fact that all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationship between the index and futures markets. Another market distortion results from the deposit requirements in the futures market being less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result the futures market may attract more speculators than does the securities market. A third distortion is caused by the fact that trading hours for foreign stock index futures may not correspond perfectly to hours of trading on the foreign
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exchange to which a particular foreign stock index futures contract relates. This may result in a disparity between the price of index futures and the value of the relevant index due to the lack of continuous arbitrage between the index futures price and the value of the underlying index. Finally, hedging transactions using stock indices involve the risk that movements in the price of the index may not correlate with price movements of the particular portfolio securities being hedged.
Options
Options transactions may involve a Fund’s buying or writing (selling) options on securities, futures contracts, securities indices (including futures on securities indices) or currencies, and equity-linked notes in which the Fund invests may provide exposure to options. A Fund may engage in these transactions either to enhance investment return or to hedge against changes in the value of other assets that it owns or intends to acquire. Options can generally be classified as either “call” or “put” options. There are two parties to a typical options transaction: the “writer” (seller) and the “buyer.” A call option gives the buyer the right to buy a security or other asset (such as an amount of currency or a futures contract) from, and a put option gives the buyer the right to sell a security or other asset to, the option writer at a specified price, on or before a specified date. The buyer of an option pays a premium when purchasing the option, which reduces the return (by the amount of such premium) on the underlying security or other asset if the option is exercised, and results in a loss (equal to the amount of such premium) if the option expires unexercised. The writer of an option receives a premium from writing an option, which may increase its return if the option expires or is closed out at a profit. An “American-style” option allows exercise of the option at any time during the term of the option. A “European-style” option allows an option to be exercised only at a specific time or times, such as the end of its term. Options may be traded on or off an established securities or options exchange.
If the holder (writer) of an option wishes to terminate its position, it may seek to effect a closing sale transaction by selling (buying) an option identical to the option previously purchased. The effect of the purchase is that the previous option position will be canceled. A Fund will realize a profit from closing out an option if the price received for selling the offsetting position is more than the premium paid to purchase the option; a Fund will realize a loss from closing out an option transaction if the price received for selling the offsetting option is less than the premium paid to purchase the option (in each case taking into account any brokerage commission and other transaction costs). Since premiums on options having an exercise price close to the value of the underlying securities or futures contracts usually have a time value component (i.e., a value that diminishes as the time within which the option can be exercised grows shorter), the value of an options contract may change as a result of the lapse of time even though the value of the futures contract or security underlying the option (and of the security or other asset deliverable under the futures contract) has not changed. As an alternative to purchasing call and put options on index futures, a Fund may purchase or sell call or put options on the underlying indices themselves. Such options would be used in a manner similar to the use of options on index futures.
Warrants and Rights
Some Funds may invest in warrants and rights. A warrant is an instrument that gives the holder a right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular security at a specified price until a stated expiration date. Buying a warrant generally can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an investment of equivalent amounts in the underlying common stock. The market value of a warrant does not necessarily move with the value of the underlying securities. If a holder does not sell the warrant, it risks the loss of its entire investment if the market price of the underlying security does not, before the expiration date, exceed the exercise price of the warrant. Investment in warrants is a speculative activity. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights (other than the right to purchase the underlying securities) with respect to the assets of the issuer. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe for shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price.
Some Funds may invest in low exercise price call warrants, which are equity call warrants with an exercise price that is very low relative to the market price of the underlying instrument at the time of issue. Low exercise price call warrants are typically used to gain exposure to stocks in difficult to access local markets. The warrants typically have a strike price set such that the value of the warrants will be identical to the price of the underlying stock. The value of the warrants is correlated with the value of the underlying stock price and therefore, the risk and return profile of the warrants is similar to owning the underlying securities. In addition, the owner of the warrant is subject to the risk that the issuer of the warrant (i.e., the counterparty) will default on its obligations under the warrant. The warrants have no voting rights. Dividends issued to the warrant issuer by the underlying company will generally be distributed to the warrant holders, net of any taxes or commissions imposed by the local jurisdiction in respect of the receipt of such amount. Low exercise price call warrants are typically sold in private placement transactions, may be illiquid and may be classified as derivative instruments.
Options on Indices
Some Funds may transact in options on indices (“index options”). Put and call index options are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss at expiration depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities or futures contracts. When a Fund writes an index call option, it receives a premium and undertakes the obligation that, prior to the expiration date (or, upon the expiration date for European-style options), the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the exercise settlement value of the relevant index is greater than the exercise price of the call. The manner of determining “exercise settlement value” for a particular option series is fixed by the options market on which the series is traded. S&P 500® Index options, for example, have a settlement value that is calculated using the opening sales price in the primary market of each component security on the last business day (usually a Friday) before the expiration
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date. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the exercise settlement value of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”). When a Fund buys an index call option, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When a Fund buys an index put option, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date (or, upon the expiration date for European-style options), to collect, upon the Fund’s exercise of the put, an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the exercise settlement value of the index, times a multiplier, similar to that described above for calls, if the exercise settlement value is less than the exercise price. When a Fund writes an index put option, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise settlement value of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the exercise settlement value is less than the exercise price.
Options on Futures
An option on a futures contract is the right, purchased for a certain price, to either buy or sell the underlying futures contract during a certain period of time for a fixed price. Options trading requires many of the same skills as does successful futures contract trading. However, since specific market movements of the underlying futures contract must be predicted accurately, the risks involved are somewhat different. For example, if a Fund buys an option (either to sell or buy a futures contract), the Fund will pay a “premium” representing the market value of the option. Unless the price of the futures contract underlying the option changes and it becomes profitable to exercise or offset the option before it expires, the Fund may lose the entire amount of the premium. Conversely, if a Fund sells an option (either to sell or buy a futures contract), the Fund will be credited with the premium but will have to deposit margin due to the Fund’s contingent liability to take or make delivery of the underlying futures contract in the event the option is exercised. The writing of an option involves the risk of losing the entire investment or substantially more than the entire investment, thereby causing significant losses to the client in a relatively short period of time. The ability to trade in or exercise options may be restricted in the event that trading in the underlying futures contract becomes restricted.
Exchange-Traded and Over-the-Counter Options
Some Funds may purchase or write both exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in that they are bilateral, uncleared contracts, with price and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options.
An exchange-traded option may be closed out before its scheduled maturity only on an exchange that generally provides a liquid secondary market for an option of the same series. If a liquid secondary market for an exchange-traded option does not exist, it might not be possible to effect a closing transaction with respect to a particular option. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) or other clearing organization may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
For some Funds, rather than transferring margin to and from a counterparty, a Fund’s custodian (or a securities depository acting for the custodian) acts as the Fund’s escrow agent as to securities on which the Fund has written call options. The escrow agent enters into documents known as escrow receipts with respect to the stocks included in a Fund (or escrow receipts with respect to other acceptable securities). The escrow agent releases the stocks from the escrow account when the call option expires or when a Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Until such release, the underlying stocks cannot be sold by a Fund, which could prevent the Fund from selling securities when it might otherwise wish to do so.
An OTC option (an option not traded on an established exchange) may be closed out before its scheduled maturity only by agreement with the other party to the original option transaction. With OTC options, a Fund is not only subject to the credit/counterparty risk of the other party to the transaction, but also the risk that its counterparty will not permit the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. While a Fund will seek to enter into OTC options only with dealers who agree to or are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC option at a favorable price at any time prior to its expiration. OTC options are not subject to the protections afforded purchasers of listed options by the OCC or other clearing organizations.
Index Warrants
Some Funds may purchase put warrants and call warrants whose values vary depending on the change in the value of one or more specified securities indices (“index warrants”). Index warrants are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive, upon exercise of the warrant, a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In general, if the value of the underlying index rises above the exercise price
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of the index warrant, the holder of a call warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the value of the underlying index falls, the holder of a put warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. The holder of a warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at a time when, in the case of a call warrant, the exercise price is more than the value of the underlying index, or in the case of a put warrant, the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If a Fund were not to exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, then the Fund would lose the amount of the purchase price paid by it for the warrant. A Fund will normally use index warrants in a manner similar to its use of options on securities indices.
The risks of a Fund’s use of index warrants generally are similar to those relating to its use of index options. Unlike most index options, however, index warrants are issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated clearing agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other institution which issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer terms than index options. Although a Fund will normally invest only in exchange-listed warrants, index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as certain index options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index warrants may limit a Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants at such time, or in such quantities, as the Fund would otherwise wish to do.
Forward Contracts
As described in the section “Foreign Currency Transactions,” some Funds may invest in forward contracts. Forward contracts are transactions involving a Fund’s obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency or other asset at a future date at a specified price. For example, forward contracts may be used when the adviser or subadviser anticipates that particular foreign currencies will appreciate or depreciate in value or to take advantage of the expected relationships between various currencies, regardless of whether securities denominated in such currencies are held in a Fund’s investment portfolio. Forward contracts may also be used by a Fund for hedging purposes to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates, such as when a Fund anticipates purchasing or selling a foreign security. This technique would allow a Fund to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the investment. Forward contracts also may be used to attempt to protect the value of a Fund’s existing holdings of foreign securities. There may be, however, imperfect correlation between a Fund’s foreign securities holdings and the forward contracts entered into with respect to such holdings. The cost to a Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing.
Forward contracts are not traded on exchanges and are not standardized; rather, banks and dealers act as principals in these markets negotiating each transaction on an individual basis. There is no limitation on the daily price movements of forward contracts. Principals in the forward markets have no obligation to continue to make markets in the forward contracts traded. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which they are prepared to buy and that at which they are prepared to sell. Disruptions can occur in the forward markets because of unusually high trading volume, government intervention or other factors. For example, the imposition of credit controls by governmental authorities might limit forward trading, to the possible detriment of a Fund.
Forward contracts are subject to many of the same risks as options, warrants and futures contracts described above. As described in the section “Foreign Currency Transactions,” forward contracts may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. In addition, the effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of a Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable. A Fund’s investments in forward contracts may be subject to foreign currency risk. See the section “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information.
A Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies, and the Fund will be subject to increased illiquidity and credit/counterparty risk because forward contracts are not traded on an exchange and often are not standardized. A Fund may also be required to liquidate portfolio assets, or may incur increased currency conversion costs, to compensate for a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency occurring between the time when the Fund declares and pays a dividend, or between the time when the Fund accrues and pays an operating expense in U.S. dollars.
Additionally, in their forward trading, the Funds are subject to the credit/counterparty risk of, or the inability or refusal to perform with respect to their forward contracts by, the principals with which the Funds trade. Funds on deposit with such principals are generally not protected by the same segregation requirements imposed on CFTC regulated commodity brokers and futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) in respect of customer funds on deposit with them. A Fund may place forward trades through agents, and the insolvency or bankruptcy of such agents could also subject the Fund to the risk of loss.
Forward contracts are subject to many of the same risks as options, warrants and futures contracts described above. As described in the section “Foreign Currency Transactions,” above, forward contracts may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. In addition, the effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of a Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable. A Fund’s investments in forward contracts may be subject to foreign currency risk. See the section “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information.
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Additionally, in their forward trading, the Funds are subject to the credit/counterparty risk of, or the inability or refusal to perform with respect to their forward contracts by, the principals with which the Funds trade. Funds on deposit with such principals are generally not protected by the same segregation requirements imposed on CFTC regulated commodity brokers and futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) in respect of customer funds on deposit with them. The Funds may place forward trades through agents, and the insolvency or bankruptcy of such agents could also subject the Fund to the risk of loss. See the section “Credit/Counterparty Risk” for additional information.
Swap Transactions
Some Funds may enter into a variety of swap transactions, including, but not limited to, interest rate, index, commodity, equity-linked, credit default, credit-linked and currency exchange swaps. The Funds may enter into swap transactions for a variety of reasons, including to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to gain exposure to one or more securities, currencies, commodities or interest rates, to protect against or attempt to take advantage of currency fluctuations, to protect against any increase in the price of securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, to efficiently gain exposure to certain markets, to add economic leverage to the Fund’s portfolio or to shift the Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another.
Swap transactions are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to a number of years. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of types of investments or market factors. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties generally are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” such as the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. In a typical interest rate swap, for example, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate times a “notional principal amount,” in return for payments equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for the term of the swap agreement. The “notional principal amount” of a swap transaction is the agreed-upon basis for calculating the payments that the parties agree to exchange (i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate), in a particular foreign currency or commodity or in a “basket” of securities. Under most swap agreements, payments by the parties will be exchanged on a “net basis,” and a party will receive or pay, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
Swap transactions are sophisticated financial instruments that typically involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed. Swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on a Fund’s performance, as the potential gain or loss on any swap transaction is not subject to any fixed limit. A Fund’s successful use of swap transactions will depend on the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because swaps 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. If 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. The Funds may also suffer losses if it is unable to terminate (or terminate at the time and price desired) outstanding swap transactions (either by assignment or other disposition) or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions.
Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. See the section “Credit/Counterparty Risk” below.
Additionally, U.S. regulators, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and certain other jurisdictions have adopted minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. These rules impose minimum margin requirements on derivatives transactions between the Fund and its swap counterparties and may increase the amount of margin the Fund is required to provide. They also impose regulatory requirements on the timing of transferring margin and the types of margin that can be provided. See the section “Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives” below.
Some Funds may also enter into swaptions. The Funds may engage in swaptions for hedging purposes or to manage and mitigate credit and interest rate risk. The Funds may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. The use of swaptions involves risks, including, among others, (i) imperfect correlation between movements of the price of the swaptions and the price of the securities, indices or other assets serving as reference instruments for the swaption, reducing the effectiveness of the instrument for hedging or investment purposes, (ii) the absence of a liquid market to sell a swaption, which could result in difficulty closing a position, (iii) the exacerbation of losses incurred due to changes in the market value of the securities to which they relate, and (iv) credit/counterparty risk.
Credit Default Swaps
Some Funds may enter into credit default swap agreements, which may have as reference obligations one or more debt securities or an index of such securities. In a credit default swap, one party (the “protection buyer”) is obligated to pay the other party (the “protection seller”) a stream of payments over the term of the contract, provided that no credit event, such as a default or a downgrade in credit rating, occurs on the reference obligation. If a credit event occurs, the protection seller must generally pay the protection buyer the “par value” (the agreed-upon notional value) of the referenced debt obligation in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable reference obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending upon the terms of the swap.
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The Funds may be either the protection buyer or protection seller in a credit default swap. If the Fund is a protection buyer, such Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract and would not recover any of those payments if no credit event were to occur. However, if a credit event occurs, the Fund that is a protection buyer has the right to deliver the referenced debt obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending on the terms of the swap, and receive the par value of such debt obligations from the counterparty protection seller. As a protection seller, the Fund would receive fixed payments throughout the term of the contract if no credit event occurs. If a credit event occurs, however, the value of the obligation received by the Fund (e.g., bonds which defaulted), plus the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the par value of the obligation, or cash received, resulting in a loss to the protection seller. Furthermore, the Fund that is a protection seller would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because such Fund will have investment exposure to the notional amount of the swap.
Credit default swap agreements are subject to greater risk than a direct investment in the reference obligation. Like all swap agreements, credit default swaps are subject to liquidity, credit and counterparty risks. The notional value of credit default swaps with respect to a particular investment is often larger than the total par value of such investment outstanding and, in event of a default, there may be difficulties in making the required deliveries of the reference investments, possibly delaying payments.
The Funds generally may exit its obligations under a credit default swap only by terminating the contract and paying applicable breakage fees, or by entering into an offsetting credit default swap position, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.
Swap Execution Facilities (“SEF”)
Certain derivatives contracts are required to be executed through SEFs. A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. Such requirements may make it more difficult and costly for investment funds, such as the Funds, to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions. Certain derivatives are also available to be traded on a SEF on a voluntary basis. Trading swaps on a SEF may offer certain advantages over traditional bilateral OTC trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. Execution through a SEF is not, however, without additional costs and risks, as parties are required to comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations, including disclosure and recordkeeping obligations, and SEF rights of inspection, among others. SEFs typically charge fees, and if a Fund executes derivatives on a SEF through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. The Funds also may be required to indemnify a SEF, or a broker intermediary who executes swaps on a SEF on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the SEF. In addition, a Fund may be subject to execution risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared, and no clearing member is willing 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 any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the trade. Similar “trade execution” regulations have been implemented in the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Structured Notes
Some Funds may invest in a broad category of instruments known as “structured notes.” These instruments are debt obligations issued by industrial corporations, financial institutions or governmental or international agencies. Traditional debt obligations typically obligate the issuer to repay the principal plus a specified rate of interest. Structured notes, by contrast, obligate the issuer to pay amounts of principal or interest that are determined by reference to changes in some external factor or factors, or the principal and interest rate may vary from the stated rate because of changes in these factors. For example, the issuer’s obligations could be determined by reference to changes in the value of a commodity (such as gold or oil) or commodity index, a foreign currency, a security or an index of securities (such as the S&P 500® Index) or an interest rate (such as the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to changes over time in the difference (or “spread”) between two or more external factors (such as the U.S. prime lending rate and the total return of the stock market in a particular country, as measured by a stock index). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may fluctuate inversely with changes in an external factor or factors (for example, if the U.S. prime lending rate goes up, the issuer’s interest payment obligations are reduced). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may be determined by some multiple of the change in an external factor or factors (for example, three times the change in the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations remain fixed (as with a traditional debt instrument) so long as an external factor or factors do not change by more than the specified amount (for example, if the value of a stock index does not exceed some specified maximum), but if the external factor or factors change by more than the specified amount, the issuer’s obligations may be sharply reduced.
Structured notes include, but are not limited to, equity-linked notes. An equity-linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a basket of stocks, or a stock index. Equity-linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed-income securities with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity securities. For example, an equity-linked note that refers to the stock of an issuer may be the economic equivalent of holding a position in that stock and simultaneously selling a call option on that stock with a strike price greater than the current stock price. The holder of the note would be exposed to decreases in the price of the equity to the same extent as if it held the equity directly. However, if the stock appreciated in value, the noteholder would only benefit from stock price increases up to the strike price (i.e., the point at which the holder of the call option would be expected to exercise its right to buy the underlying stock). In exchange for limiting its ability to benefit from price appreciation, the noteholder may receive periodic payments on the note. In such a case, the note may be analyzed as converting potential stock appreciation into current yield.
Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities.
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Depending on the terms of the note, equity-linked notes may also have a “cap” or “floor” on the principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the linked securities. For example, in consideration for greater current income (or yield), a noteholder may forego its participation in the capital appreciation of the underlying equity assets above a predetermined price limit. Alternatively, if the linked securities have depreciated in value, or if their price fluctuates outside of a preset range, the noteholder may receive only the principal amount of the note, or may lose the principal invested in the equity-linked note entirely.
Structured notes can serve many different purposes in the management of a Fund. For example, they can be used to increase a Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of assets that the Fund would not ordinarily purchase directly (such as commodities or stocks traded in a market that is not open to U.S. investors). They can also be used to hedge the risks associated with other investments a Fund holds. For example, if a structured note has an interest rate that fluctuates inversely with general changes in a country’s stock market index, the value of the structured note would generally move in the opposite direction to the value of holdings of stocks in that market, thus moderating the effect of stock market movements on the value of a Fund’s portfolio as a whole. They will often be used to generate income while producing a level of exposure to equity markets or specific equity securities.
Structured notes involve special risks. As with any debt obligation, structured notes involve the risk that the issuer will become insolvent or otherwise default on its payment obligations. This risk is in addition to the risk that the issuer’s obligations (and thus the value of a Fund’s investment) will be reduced because of adverse changes in the external factor or factors to which the obligations are linked. The value of structured notes will in many cases be more volatile (that is, will change more rapidly or severely) than the value of traditional debt instruments. Volatility will be especially high if the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to some multiple of the change in the external factor or factors. Many structured notes have limited or no liquidity, so that a Fund would be unable to dispose of the investment prior to maturity. As with all investments, successful use of structured notes depends in significant part on the accuracy of an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s analysis of the issuer’s creditworthiness and financial prospects, and of an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s forecast as to changes in relevant economic and financial market conditions and factors. In instances where the issuer of a structured note is a foreign entity, the usual risks associated with investments in foreign securities (described below) apply. Structured notes may be considered derivative instruments.
A Fund’s use of commodity-linked structured notes will potentially be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC, and will potentially bear on the Fund’s ability to so qualify. The tax treatment of certain commodity-linked instruments including structured notes in which a Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a RIC. If a Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.
Contracts for Differences
Some Funds may enter into contracts for differences. “Contracts for differences” are swap arrangements in which a Fund may agree with a counterparty that its return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or “baskets” of securities. For example, as to one of the baskets, a Fund’s return is based on theoretical long futures positions in the securities comprising that basket, and as to the other basket, the Fund’s return is based on theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising that other basket. The notional sizes of the baskets will not necessarily be the same, which can give rise to investment leverage. A Fund may also use actual long and short futures positions to achieve the market exposure(s) as contracts for differences. A Fund may enter into swaps and contracts for differences for investment return, hedging, risk management and for investment leverage.
Loan Based Derivatives
Some Funds may invest in derivative instruments that provide exposure to one or more credit default swaps. For example, a Fund may invest in a derivative instrument known as the Loan-Only Credit Default Swap Index (“LCDX”), a tradable index with 100 equally-weighted underlying single-name loan-only credit default swaps (“LCDS”). Each underlying LCDS references an issuer whose loans trade in the secondary leveraged loan market. A Fund can either buy the index (take on credit exposure) or sell the index (pass credit exposure to a counterparty). While investing in these types of derivatives will increase the universe of debt securities to which a Fund is exposed, such investments entail additional risks, such as those discussed below, that are not typically associated with investments in other debt securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to loans are subject to the risks associated with loans generally, as well as the risks of derivatives transactions.
Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars
Some Funds may use interest rate caps, floors and collars for the same purposes or similar purposes for which they use interest rate futures contracts and related options. Interest rate caps, floors and collars are similar to interest rate swap contracts because the payment obligations are measured by changes in interest rates as applied to a notional amount and because they are generally individually negotiated with a specific counterparty. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specific index exceeds a specified interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate cap.
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The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below specified interest rates, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate collar entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds or falls below a specified interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate collar.
Hybrid Instruments
Some Funds may invest in hybrid instruments. A hybrid instrument is a type of derivative that combines a traditional stock or bond with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption or interest rate of a hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some currency or securities index, another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed-income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be economically similar to a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.
Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes a Fund to the credit/counterparty risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the NAV of a Fund.
Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative instruments with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or debt securities, leveraged or unleveraged, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable and therefore are subject to many of the same risks as investments in those underlying securities, instruments or commodities. For more information, see the sections “Commodities” and “Structured Notes.”
Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, a Fund’s investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to restrictions contained in the 1940 Act.
Hedging
Certain Funds’ investment strategies may involve hedging certain risks, such as market risk, interest rate risk, and currency risk through the use of various derivative instruments. It is generally not possible to eliminate all risk of adverse market movement. Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to risks when that would be beneficial. The use of hedging instruments may enable the Fund to increase its profits from favorable market price movements and diminish its exposure to market volatility. However, any reduction or increase in the hedge from the theoretical neutral hedge also increases the exposure of the Fund to adverse market price movements, and at times could present material risk to the capital of the Fund.
Investment Pools of Swap Contracts
Some Funds may invest in publicly or privately issued interests in investment pools whose underlying assets are credit default, credit-linked, interest rate, currency exchange, equity-linked or other types of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements. The pools’ investment results may be designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified securities index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single security. These types of pools are often used to gain exposure to multiple securities with less of an investment than would be required to invest directly in the individual securities. They may also be used to gain exposure to foreign securities markets without investing in the foreign securities themselves and/or the relevant foreign market. To the extent that a Fund invests in pools of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements whose performance corresponds to the performance of a foreign securities index or one or more foreign securities, investing in such pools will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities. See the section “Foreign Securities” below. In addition to the risks associated with investing in swaps generally, an investing Fund bears the risks and costs generally associated with investing in pooled investment vehicles, such as paying the fees and expenses of the pool and the risk that the pool or the operator of the pool may default on its obligations to the holder of interests in the pool, such as a Fund. Interests in privately offered investment pools of swap contracts may be considered illiquid and, except to the extent that such interests are deemed liquid under the Funds’ policies, subject to a Fund’s restriction on investments in illiquid securities.
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Short Exposure Risk
A short exposure through a derivative may present various risks, including credit/counterparty risk and leverage risk. If the value of the asset, asset class or index on which the Fund has obtained a short investment exposure increases, the Fund will incur a loss. Unlike a direct cash investment such as a stock, bond or exchange-traded fund, where the potential loss is limited to the purchase price, the potential risk of loss from a short exposure is theoretically unlimited. A Fund may be unable to borrow securities in connection with a short sale or to enter into a short position at an advantageous time or price, which could limit its ability to obtain the desired short exposure. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to cover its short positions. For example, an uncovered call writer’s loss is potentially unlimited.
Certain Additional Risks of Derivative Instruments
General. As described in the Prospectus, certain Funds intend to use derivative instruments, including several of the instruments described above, to seek to enhance investment returns as well as for risk management purposes. Although an adviser or subadviser may seek to use these instruments to achieve a Fund’s investment goals, no assurance can be given that the use of these instruments will achieve this result. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time. The ability of a Fund to utilize these derivative instruments successfully will depend on its adviser’s or subadviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. Furthermore, a Fund’s use of certain derivatives may in some cases involve forms of financial leverage, which involves risk and may increase the volatility of a Fund’s NAV. Leveraging may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations when it may not be advantageous to do so. To the extent that a Fund is not able to close out a leveraged position because of market illiquidity, its liquidity may be impaired to the extent that it has a substantial portion of liquid assets used as collateral for its derivatives transactions. Each Fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, involving greater risks than are involved in hedging. A short exposure through a derivative may present additional risks. If the value of the asset, asset class or index on which a Fund has obtained a short exposure increases, the Fund will incur a loss. Moreover, the potential loss from a short exposure is theoretically unlimited.
The value of some derivative instruments in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates or other economic factors and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of an adviser or subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If an adviser or subadviser incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, a Fund could be exposed to the risk of loss. If an adviser or subadviser incorrectly forecasts interest rates, market values or other economic factors in using a derivatives strategy for a Fund, the Fund might have been in a better position if it had not entered into the transaction at all. Also, suitable derivatives transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including a possible imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of derivative instruments and price movements of related investments. While some strategies involving derivative 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 related investments or otherwise, due to the possible inability of a Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable and the possible inability of the Fund to close out or to liquidate its derivatives positions. In addition, a Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) or ordinary income than if it had not used such instruments. To the extent that a Fund gains exposure to an asset class using derivative instruments backed by a collateral portfolio of other securities, changes in the value of those other securities may result in greater or lesser exposure to that asset class than would have resulted from a direct investment in securities comprising that asset class.
Although the adviser or subadviser may seek to use derivatives transactions to achieve a Fund’s investment goals, no assurance can be given that the use of these transactions will achieve this result. One risk arises because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of derivatives contracts and movements in the price of the securities, indices or other assets serving as reference instruments for the derivative. A Fund’s derivative strategies will not be fully effective unless the Fund can compensate for such imperfect correlation. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to effect such compensation. For example, the correlation between the price movement of the derivatives contract and the hedged security may be distorted due to differences in the nature of the relevant markets. If the price of the futures contract moves more than the price of the hedged security, a Fund would experience either a loss or a gain on the derivative that is not completely offset by movements in the price of the hedged securities. For example, in an attempt to compensate for imperfect price movement correlations, a Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the hedged securities if the price movement volatility of the hedged securities is historically greater than the volatility of the futures contract. Conversely, a Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a smaller dollar amount than the hedged securities if the volatility of the price of hedged securities is historically less than that of the futures contracts. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. With respect to certain derivatives transactions (e.g. short positions in which a Fund does not hold the instrument to which the short position relates), the potential risk of loss to a Fund is theoretically unlimited.
The price of index futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market distortions. See the section entitled “Index Futures Contracts” for more information.
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Price movement correlation in derivatives transactions also may be distorted by the illiquidity of the derivatives markets and the participation of speculators in such markets. If an insufficient number of contracts are traded, commercial users may not deal in derivatives because they do not want to assume the risk that they may not be able to close out their positions within a reasonable amount of time. In such instances, derivatives market prices may be driven by different forces than those driving the market in the underlying securities, and price spreads between these markets may widen. The participation of speculators in the market enhances its liquidity. Nonetheless, the presence of speculators may create temporary price distortions unrelated to the market in the underlying securities.
Once the daily limit has been reached in a contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, which may prevent the liquidation of open futures or options positions. Futures prices have in the past occasionally exceeded the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading. However, if futures or options are used to hedge portfolio securities, an increase in the price of the securities, if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.
Income earned by a Fund from its options activities generally will be treated as capital gain and, if not offset by net recognized capital losses incurred by the Fund, will be distributed to shareholders in taxable distributions. Gain from options transactions may hedge against a decline in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities. However, that gain, to the extent not offset by losses, will be distributed to eliminate Fund level tax, resulting in a distribution of the portion of the Fund value so preserved via such options transactions.
The value of a Fund’s derivative instruments may fluctuate based on a variety of market and economic factors. In some cases, the fluctuations may offset (or be offset by) changes in the value of securities or derivatives held in a Fund’s portfolio. All transactions in derivatives involve the possible risk of loss to a Fund of all or a significant part of the value of its investment. In some cases, the risk of loss may exceed the amount of a Fund’s investment. For example, when a Fund writes a call option or sells a futures contract without holding the underlying securities, currencies or futures contracts, its potential loss is unlimited.
The successful use of derivatives will depend in part on the adviser’s or subadviser’s ability to forecast securities market, currency or other financial market movements correctly. For example, a Fund’s ability to hedge against adverse changes in the value of securities held in its portfolio through options and futures also depends on the degree of correlation between changes in the value of futures or options positions and changes in the values of the portfolio securities. The successful use of certain other derivatives also depends on the availability of a liquid secondary market to enable a Fund to close its positions on a timely basis. There can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time. Furthermore, a Fund’s use of certain derivatives may in some cases involve forms of financial leverage, which involves risk and may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Leveraging may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations when it may not be advantageous to do so. To the extent a Fund is not able to close out a leveraged position because of market illiquidity, its liquidity may be impaired to the extent that it has a substantial portion of liquid assets used as collateral for its derivatives transactions.
In the case of OTC options, a Fund is at risk that the other party to the transaction will default on its obligations, or will not permit the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. See the section entitled “Credit/Counterparty Risk” below for additional information.
The derivatives markets of some foreign countries are small compared to those of the United States and consequently are characterized in some cases by less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, derivatives that are traded on foreign exchanges may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, may be subject to less detailed reporting requirements and regulatory controls, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (v) lesser trading volume. Furthermore, investments in derivatives markets outside of the United States are subject to many of the same risks as other foreign investments. See the section “Foreign Securities.”
Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions
Transactions in some types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default index swaps on North American and European indices) are required to be centrally cleared. Other types of derivatives are also available to be centrally cleared on a voluntary basis. In a cleared derivatives transaction, a Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Since the Funds are not members of a clearing house and only members of clearing houses can participate directly in the clearing house, the Funds will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, the Funds will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house.
Under some circumstances, centrally cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to the Funds than bilateral arrangements. For example, the Funds 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, following a period of notice to the Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time or increases 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. Any increase in margin requirements or termination by the
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clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could also expose a Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member, because margin for cleared derivatives transactions in excess of clearing house margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, the Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Adviser or Subadviser expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. In those cases, the transaction might have to be terminated, and a Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the transaction, including loss of an increase in the value of the transaction and/or loss of hedging protection offered by the transaction. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Funds and the clearing members is developed by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Funds than typical bilateral derivatives documentation. For example, this documentation generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Funds in favor of the clearing member, indemnifying the clearing member against losses it incurs in connection with acting as the Funds’ clearing member, and the documentation typically does not give the Funds any rights to exercise remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent.
Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be (or are capable of being) executed on an exchange or on a SEF. A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While trading on a SEF can increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a SEF can also create additional costs and risks for the Funds. For example, SEFs typically charge fees, and if the Fund executes derivatives on a SEF through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, a Fund may indemnify a SEF, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a SEF on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the SEF. See the subsection “Swap Execution Facilities” above for additional information.
Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives
The regulation of derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government, self-regulatory organization and judicial action. For example, the U.S. government enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which includes provisions for regulation of the derivatives market, including clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements. Various U.S. regulatory agencies have implemented and are continuing to implement rules and regulations prescribed by the Dodd-Frank Act. The European Union, the United Kingdom and some other jurisdictions have also implemented and continue to implement similar requirements that will affect a Fund when it enters into derivatives transactions with a counterparty organized in that jurisdiction or otherwise subject to that jurisdiction’s derivatives regulations. Because these requirements are evolving (and some of the rules are not yet final), their ultimate impact remains unclear. These regulatory changes could, among other things, restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions (including because certain types of derivatives transactions may no longer be available to a Fund) and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions (including through increased margin requirements), and the Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result.
It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent a Fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent a Fund from being able to achieve its investment goals. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or completely restrict the ability of a Fund to use these instruments as a part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which a Fund engages in derivatives transactions could also prevent a Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investments.
There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment of the Funds or the ability of the Funds to continue to implement their investment strategies. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act has and will continue to change the way in which the U.S. financial system is supervised and regulated. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act has caused broad changes to the OTC derivatives market and granted significant authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants. Pursuant to such authority, rules have been enacted that currently require clearing of many OTC derivatives transactions and may require clearing of additional OTC derivatives transactions in the future and that impose minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. Similar regulations have been and are being adopted in other jurisdictions around the world.
These and other rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to a Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund or otherwise limiting liquidity. The implementation of the clearing requirement for certain swaps has generally increased the costs of derivatives transactions for the Funds, since each Fund has to pay fees to its clearing members and is typically required to post more margin for cleared derivatives than it has historically posted for bilateral derivatives. The costs of derivatives transactions are expected to increase further as clearing members and their affiliates raise their fees to cover the costs of additional capital requirements and other regulatory changes applicable to the clearing members and their affiliates. These rules and regulations are evolving, so their full impact on the Funds and the financial system are not yet known. While the rules and regulations and central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk (i.e., the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause them to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that they will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing and related requirements expose the Funds to other kinds of costs and risks.
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The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. The CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.
Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governs the use of derivative investments and certain financing transactions by registered investment companies. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 requires funds that invest in derivative instruments beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value-at-risk based limit to their use of certain derivative instruments and financing transactions and to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program. A fund that uses derivative instruments in a limited amount is not subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 by a Fund could, among other things, make derivatives more costly, limit their availability or utility, or otherwise adversely affect their performance.
Additionally, special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and various other jurisdictions may result in increased uncertainty about credit/counterparty risk and may also limit the ability of a Fund to protect its interests in the event of the insolvency (or similar designation) of a derivatives counterparty. More specifically, in the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency (or similar designation), a Fund’s ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization on collateral, could be stayed or eliminated. Such special resolution regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty. In particular, with respect to counterparties who are subject to such proceedings in the European Union and the United Kingdom, the liabilities of such counterparties to a Fund could be reduced, eliminated, or converted to equity in such counterparties (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”).
Credit/Counterparty Risk
A Fund will be exposed to the credit/counterparty risk of the counterparties with which it trades, or the brokers, dealers and exchanges through which it trades, whether it engages in exchange-traded or off-exchange transactions. Transactions entered into by the Funds may be executed on various U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges, and may be cleared and settled through various clearing houses, custodians, depositories and prime brokers throughout the world. There can be no assurance that a failure by any such entity will not lead to a loss to a Fund. To the extent a Fund engages in cleared derivatives transactions, it will be subject to the credit/counterparty risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position. If a Fund engages in futures transactions, it will also be exposed to the credit/counterparty risk of its FCM. If a Fund’s FCM or clearing member (as applicable) becomes bankrupt or insolvent, or otherwise defaults on its obligations to the Fund, the Fund may not receive all amounts owed to it in respect of its trading, even if the clearing house fully discharges all of its obligations. The Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) requires an FCM to segregate all funds received from its customers with respect to regulated futures transactions from such FCM’s proprietary funds. If an FCM were not to do so to the full extent required by law, the assets of an account might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of an FCM. Furthermore, in the event of an FCM’s bankruptcy, a Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of an FCM’s combined customer accounts, even if certain property held by an FCM is specifically traceable to the Fund (for example, U.S. Treasury bills deposited by the Fund). It is possible that a Fund would be unable to recover from the FCM’s estate the full amount of its funds on deposit with such FCM and owing to it. Such situations could arise due to various factors, or a combination of factors, including inadequate FCM capitalization, inadequate controls on customer trading and inadequate customer capital. Similar requirements, restrictions and risks apply to clearing members as well. In addition, in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a clearing house, a Fund might experience a loss of funds deposited through its FCM or clearing member (as applicable) as margin with the clearing house, a loss of unrealized profits on its open positions and the loss of funds owed to it as realized profits on closed positions. Such a bankruptcy or insolvency might also cause a substantial delay before a Fund could obtain the return of funds owed to it by an FCM who is a member of such clearing house.
The Funds may also engage in bilateral OTC derivatives transactions, which are not centrally cleared. Because bilateral derivatives transactions are traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Funds are subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the contracts. Although the Funds intend to enter into transactions only with counterparties which the adviser or subadviser believes to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that a Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result. In situations where a Fund is required to post margin or other collateral with a counterparty, the counterparty may fail to segregate the collateral or may commingle the collateral with the counterparty’s own assets. As a result, in the event of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency, a Fund’s collateral may be subject to conflicting claims of the counterparty’s creditors, and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of a court treating the Fund as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.
When a counterparty’s obligations are not fully secured by collateral, then a Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. If a counterparty’s credit becomes significantly impaired, multiple requests for collateral posting in a short period of time could increase the risk that a Fund may not receive adequate collateral or that the counterparty may default. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations pursuant to such contracts or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Credit/counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because a Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Credit/counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by a Fund (if any), the Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument. As described above, in the
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event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, the Funds’ ability to exercise remedies could be stayed or eliminated under special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty and may prohibit the Fund from exercising termination rights based on the financial institution’s insolvency.
Credit/counterparty risk with respect to derivatives is also being affected by rules and regulations affecting the derivatives market. Some derivatives transactions are required to be centrally cleared, and, as described above, a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit/counterparty risk of the clearing house and the FCM clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit/counterparty risk of its original counterparty to the derivatives transaction. Credit/counterparty risk of market participants with respect to derivatives that are centrally cleared is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and increasingly fewer clearing members. It is not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system. A clearing member is obligated by contract and by applicable regulation 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 generally are held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, and the clearing member may invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of a Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of a Fund’s clearing member, because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. Also, the clearing member is required to transfer to the clearing organization the amount of margin required by the clearing organization for cleared derivatives, which amounts generally are held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization for all customers of the clearing member. 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 organization that is attributable to each customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, the Funds are subject to the risk that a clearing organization will use a Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. In addition, clearing members generally provide to the clearing organization the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer. The Funds are therefore subject to the risk that a clearing organization will not make variation margin payments owed to a Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default, and the risk that a Fund will be required to provide additional variation margin to the clearing house before the clearing house will move the Fund’s cleared derivatives transactions to another clearing member. In addition, if a clearing member does not comply with the applicable regulations or its agreement with the Funds, or in the event of fraud or misappropriation of customer assets by a clearing member, a Fund could have only an unsecured creditor claim in an insolvency of the clearing member with respect to the margin held by the clearing member.
The Funds may enter into derivatives transactions, repurchase transactions and short sale transactions with a single counterparty or with counterparties that are affiliated with one another. In such an arrangement, a Fund may have significant exposure to that counterparty and the Fund’s credit/counterparty risk will be heightened. The Fund’s derivative counterparties generally will have broad discretion to establish margin requirements for the Fund’s derivative positions, and may be able to change such margin requirements at any time.
Each Fund is subject to the risk that issuers of the instruments in which the Fund invests and trades may default on their obligations under those instruments, and that certain events may occur that have an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of those instruments and any derivatives whose value is based on such instruments. There can be no assurance that an issuer of an instrument in which a Fund invests will not default, or that an event that has an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of an instrument will not occur, and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result.
Other Derivatives; Future Developments
The above discussion relates to the Funds’ proposed use of certain types of derivatives currently available. However, the Funds are not limited to the transactions described above. In addition, the relevant markets and related regulations are constantly changing and, in the future, the Funds may use derivatives not currently available or widely in use.
CFTC Regulation
The Strategic Alpha Fund is registered as a commodity pool (a “Pool”) under the CEA and Loomis Sayles is registered as a commodity pool operator (the “CPO”) under the CEA with respect to the Pool. The CPO and the Pool are subject to dual regulation by the SEC and CFTC. As a result, additional CFTC-mandated disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping obligations apply with respect to the Pool. Compliance with the CFTC’s regulatory requirements could increase the Pool’s expenses, adversely affecting the Pool’s total return.
The advisers have claimed an exclusion from the definition of CPO pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 (the “exclusion”) with respect to their operation of each Fund other than Strategic Alpha Fund (the “Excluded Funds”). Accordingly, the advisers, with respect to the Excluded Funds, are not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA. To remain eligible for the exclusion, each of the Excluded Funds will be limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments, including futures and options on futures and certain swaps transactions (“commodity interests”). In the event that an Excluded Fund’s exposure to in commodity interests is not within the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, the adviser may be required to register as a CPO and/or “commodity trading advisor” with the CFTC with respect to that Fund. An adviser’s eligibility to claim the exclusion with respect to an Excluded Fund will be based upon, among
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other things, the level and scope of such Fund’s exposure to commodity interests, the purposes of such investments and the manner in which the Fund holds out its use of commodity interests. Each Excluded Fund’s ability to have exposure to commodity interests is limited by its adviser’s intention to operate the Excluded Fund in a manner that would permit the adviser to continue to claim the exclusion under Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect such Fund’s total return. In the event an adviser becomes unable to rely on the exclusion in Rule 4.5 and is required to register with the CFTC as a CPO with respect to an Excluded Fund, such Fund’s expenses may increase, adversely affecting that Fund’s total return.
Equity Securities
The Funds may invest in equity securities. Common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, securities convertible into common or preferred stocks and similar securities, together called “equity securities,” are generally volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment. Equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies and the broad equity market indices generally.
Equity securities are securities that represent an ownership interest (or the right to acquire such an interest) in a company and may include common and preferred stocks and securities exercisable for, or convertible into, common or preferred stocks, such as warrants, convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stock, and other equity-like interests in an entity. Equity securities may take the form of stock in a corporation, limited partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies, depositary receipts, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other trusts and other direct or indirect interests in business organizations. Common stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event that an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and other debt securities generally take precedence over holders of preferred stock, whose claims take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
While offering greater potential for long-term growth, equity securities generally are more volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment, particularly debt securities. The value of your investment in a Fund that invests in equity securities may decrease, potentially by a significant amount. A Fund may invest in equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations. Securities of such companies may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies and the broad equity market indices. See the section “Market Capitalizations --Small-Capitalization Companies” below. A Fund’s investments may include securities traded OTC as well as those traded on a securities exchange. Some securities, particularly OTC securities, may be more difficult to sell under some market conditions.
Stocks of companies that a Fund’s adviser or subadviser believes have earnings that will grow faster than the economy as a whole are known as growth stocks. Growth stocks typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other stocks. As a result, the values of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks. If an adviser’s or subadviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s earnings growth is wrong, or if its judgment of how other investors will value the company’s earnings growth is wrong, then the price of that company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that the adviser or subadviser has placed on it.
Stocks of companies that are not expected to experience significant earnings growth, but whose stocks the adviser or subadviser believes are undervalued compared to their true worth, are known as value stocks. These companies may have experienced adverse business developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused their stocks to be out of favor. If the adviser’s or subadviser’s assessment of a company’s prospects is wrong, or if other investors do not eventually recognize the value of the company, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that the adviser or subadviser has placed on it. The Loomis Sayles International Growth Fund generally invests a significant portion of its assets in value stocks.
Many stocks may have both “growth” and “value” characteristics, and for some stocks it may be unclear into which category, if any, the stock should be characterized.
Exchange-Traded Notes
The Funds may invest in exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). ETNs are generally unsecured debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an exchange (e.g., the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”)) during normal trading hours. However, investors can also hold the ETN until maturity. At maturity, the issuer pays to the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, adjusted to reflect the performance of the relevant benchmark or strategy factor(s). ETNs generally do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection. ETNs are subject to credit/counterparty risk, and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, notwithstanding the performance of the underlying market benchmark or strategy. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying benchmark or strategy. When a Fund invests in ETNs it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. These fees and expenses generally reduce the return realized at maturity or upon redemption from an investment in an ETN; therefore, the value of the index underlying the ETN must increase in order for an investor in an ETN to receive at least the principal amount of the investment at maturity or upon redemption. A Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market.
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The market price and return of the ETN may not correspond with that of the underlying benchmark or strategy. As a result, there may be times when an ETN share trades at a premium or discount to its market benchmark or strategy. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETN shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities or other components underlying the market benchmark or strategy that the ETN seeks to track. An ETN that is tied to a specific market benchmark or strategy may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market benchmark or strategy.
The returns of some ETNs may be leveraged. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. ETNs can, at times, be relatively illiquid, and thus they may be difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price. ETNs are also subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will accept, or a court will uphold, how a Fund characterizes and treats ETNs for tax purposes. The tax treatment of income and gains from ETNs is not settled. An adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect a Fund’s ability to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code and to avoid a fund-level tax.
Fixed-Income Securities
Some Funds may invest in fixed-income securities. Fixed-income securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends, or a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to some specified index or market rate. Fixed-income securities include securities issued by federal, state, local and foreign governments and related agencies, and by a wide range of private or corporate issuers. Fixed-income securities include, among others, bonds, debentures, notes, bills and commercial paper. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of a Fund for any particular period. In addition, the prices of fixed-income securities generally vary inversely with changes in interest rates. Prices of fixed-income securities may also be affected by items related to a particular issue or to the debt markets generally. For example, changes to monetary policy by the Federal Reserve or other regulatory actions could expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility, interest rate sensitivity and reduced liquidity, which may impact a Fund’s operations and return potential. The NAV of a Fund’s shares will vary as a result of changes in the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio. As inflation increases, the present value of a Fund’s fixed-income investment typically will decline. Investors’ expectation of future inflation can also adversely affect the current value of portfolio investments, resulting in lower asset values and potential losses.
Investment-Grade Fixed-Income Securities. To be considered investment-grade quality, at least one of the three major rating agencies (Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)) must have rated the security in one of its respective top four rating categories at the time a Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, the Fund’s adviser or subadviser must have determined it to be of comparable quality.
Below Investment-Grade Fixed-Income Securities. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) are rated below investment-grade quality. To be considered below investment-grade quality, none of the three major rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) must have rated the security in one of its respective top four rating categories at the time a Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, the Fund’s adviser or subadviser must have determined it to be of comparable quality.
Below investment-grade fixed-income securities are subject to greater credit/counterparty risk and market/issuer risk than higher-quality fixed-income securities. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the ability of the issuer to make timely principal and interest payments. If a Fund invests in below investment-grade fixed-income securities, a Fund’s achievement of its objective may be more dependent on the adviser’s or the subadviser’s own credit analysis than is the case with funds that invest in higher-quality fixed-income securities. The market for below investment-grade fixed-income securities may be more severely affected than some other financial markets by economic recession or substantial interest rate increases, by changing public perceptions of this market, or by legislation that limits the ability of certain categories of financial institutions to invest in these securities. In addition, the secondary market may be less liquid for below investment-grade fixed-income securities. This lack of liquidity at certain times may affect the values of these securities and may make the evaluation and sale of these securities more difficult. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities may be in poor standing or in default and typically have speculative characteristics. These risks are especially acute for distressed instruments, which are securities of issuers in extremely weak financial condition or perceived to have a deteriorating financial condition that will materially affect their ability to meet their financial obligations. Issuers of such instruments are generally experiencing financial or operating difficulties, have substantial capital needs or negative net worth, face special competitive or product obsolescence problems, or may be involved in various stages of bankruptcy, restructuring, or liquidation. When a Fund makes an investment, the Fund may incur costs, such as transactional or legal expenses, associated with the investment. With respect to investments in distressed instruments, a Fund may be more likely to incur additional expenses, including costs associated with seeking recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
For more information about the ratings services’ descriptions of the various ratings categories, see Appendix A. A Fund may continue to hold fixed-income securities that are downgraded in quality subsequent to their purchase if the Fund’s adviser or subadviser believes it would be advantageous to do so.
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Foreign Investment Companies
Some of the countries in which a Fund may invest may not permit, or may place economic restrictions on, direct investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may only be permitted through foreign government-approved or authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. A Fund may also invest in registered or unregistered closed-end investment companies that invest in foreign securities. Investing through such vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be subject to limitation under the 1940 Act or to special tax rules under the Code. If a Fund invests in investment companies, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses (including operating expenses and the fees of the Fund’s Adviser), but also, indirectly, the similar expenses of the underlying investment companies.
Foreign Securities
The Funds may invest in foreign securities. Foreign securities may include, among other things, securities of issuers organized or headquartered outside the U.S. as well as obligations of supranational entities. The examples described in this section should not be considered a definition of “foreign securities.” In addition to the risks associated with investing in securities generally, such investments present additional risks not typically associated with investments in comparable securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to these risks to a greater extent than those in more developed markets, as described more fully in the section “Emerging Markets.”
Non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may include, among other investments: (a) debt obligations issued or guaranteed by non-U.S. national, provincial, state, municipal or other governments or by their agencies or instrumentalities; (b) debt obligations of supranational entities; (c) debt obligations of the U.S. government issued in non-dollar securities; (d) debt obligations and other fixed-income securities of foreign corporate issuers; (e) non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities of U.S. corporate issuers; and (f) equity securities issued by foreign corporations or other business organizations. In addition to the risks associated with investing in foreign securities generally, such investments present additional risks not typically associated with investments in comparable securities of U.S. issuers.
There may be less information publicly available about a foreign corporate or government issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign corporate issuers are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the United States. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and securities custody costs are often higher than those in the United States, and judgments against foreign entities may be more difficult to obtain and enforce. Investors in foreign countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue shareholder claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons is limited. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of governmental expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments that could affect the value of investments in those countries. Foreign issuers may become subject to sanctions imposed by the U.S. or another country or other governmental or non-governmental organizations, which could result in the immediate freeze of the foreign issuers’ assets or securities and/or make their securities worthless. The imposition of such sanctions, such as sanctions imposed against Russia, Russian entities and Russian individuals in recent years, could impair the market value of the securities of such foreign issuers and limit a Fund’s ability to buy, sell, receive or deliver the securities. Sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, may cause volatility in regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of such Fund. If a Fund’s portfolio is over-weighted in a certain geographic region, any negative development affecting that region will have a greater impact on a Fund than a fund that is not over-weighted in that region. The receipt of interest on foreign government securities may depend on the availability of tax or other revenues to satisfy the issuer’s obligations.
Since most foreign securities are denominated in foreign currencies or traded primarily in securities markets in which settlements are made in foreign currencies, the value of these investments and the net investment income available for distribution to shareholders of a Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations. To the extent a Fund may purchase securities denominated in foreign currencies, a change in the value of any such currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets and the Fund’s income available for distribution. The 2008 global economic crisis has caused many European countries to experience serious fiscal difficulties, including bankruptcy, public budget deficits, recession, sovereign default, restructuring of government debt, credit rating downgrades and an overall weakening of the banking and financial sectors. In addition, some European economies may depend on others for assistance, and the inability of such economies to achieve the reforms or objectives upon which that assistance is conditioned may result in deeper and/or longer financial downturns among the Eurozone nations. Recent events in the Eurozone have called into question the long-term viability of the euro as a shared currency among the Eurozone nations. Moreover, strict fiscal and monetary controls imposed by the European Economic and Monetary Union as well as any other requirements it may impose on member countries may significantly impact such countries and limit them from implementing their own economic policies to some degree. As the result of economic, political, regulatory or other actions taken in response to this crisis, including any discontinuation of the euro as the shared currency among the Eurozone nations or the implementation of capital controls or the restructuring of financial institutions, a Fund’s euro-denominated investments may become difficult to value, a Fund may be unable to dispose of investments or repatriate investment proceeds, a Fund’s ability to operate its strategy in connection with euro-denominated securities may be significantly impaired and the value of the Fund’s euro-denominated investments may decline significantly and unpredictably.
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Global economies and financial markets are interconnected, and conditions in one country, region, or market could adversely impact economic conditions, market conditions, and issuers in other countries, regions, or markets. For example, a member state’s decision to leave the European Economic and Monetary Union and/or the European Union, or any increased uncertainty as to the status of such entities, could have significant adverse effects on global currency and financial markets, and on the values of a Fund’s investments. The European Union faces challenges related to member states seeking to change their relationship with the European Union, exemplified by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2020 (an event commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Brexit has resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. There is still considerable uncertainty remaining in the market regarding the ramifications of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the arrangements that will apply to the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union and other countries following its withdrawal; the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. Moreover, other countries may seek to withdraw from the European Union and/or abandon the euro, the common currency of the European Union. Additionally, certain European countries, as well as China, have developed increasingly strained relationships with the U.S., and if these relations were to worsen, they could adversely affect European and Chinese issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade. Moreover, the national politics of countries in Europe have been unpredictable and subject to influence by disruptive political groups and ideologies, including for example, secessionist movements. The governments of European countries may be subject to change and such countries may experience social and political unrest. The ultimate effects of these events and other socio-political or geopolitical issues are not known but could profoundly affect global economies and markets. Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments.
Furthermore, many emerging and developing market countries have experienced outbreaks of pandemic or contagious diseases from time to time. Because emerging and developing market countries tend to have less established health care systems, the adverse impact of outbreaks may be more severe for these countries. The risks of such outbreaks and resulting social, political, economic and environmental damage cannot be quantified. Such outbreaks can affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general. The impact may be short term or may last for an extended period of time.
Although a Fund’s income may be received or realized in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines after a Fund’s income has been earned in that currency, translated into U.S. dollars and declared as a dividend, but before payment of such dividend, the Fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to pay such dividend. Similarly, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines between the time a Fund incurs expenses or other obligations in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses or obligations are paid, the amount of such currency required to be converted into U.S. dollars in order to pay such expenses in U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount in such currency of such expenses at the time they were incurred. Compliance with foreign tax laws may reduce a Fund’s net income available for distribution to shareholders.
In addition, because the Funds may invest in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time each such Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by a Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of a Fund’s shares by virtue of their transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although each such Fund has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating its NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments that are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. The Funds’ securities may change in price on days on which the U.S. markets are closed and the Funds do not calculate their NAVs or sell or redeem their shares. For more information on how the Funds use fair value pricing, see the section “Net Asset Value.”
Foreign withholding or other taxes imposed on a Fund’s investments in foreign securities will reduce the Fund’s return on those securities. In certain circumstances, a Fund may be able to elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. See the section “Taxes.”
Central Securities Depositories Regulation (“CSDR”)
The European Union uses a relatively new settlement discipline regime pursuant to CSDR for the authorization and supervision of European Union Central Security Depositories. CSDR aims to reduce the number of settlement fails that occur in European Economic Area (“EEA”) central securities depositories (“CSDs”) and address settlement fails where they occur. Under the regime, among other things, EEA CSDs are required to impose cash penalties on participants that cause settlement fails and distribute these to receiving participants. The CSDR requirements apply to transactions in transferable securities (e.g., stocks and bonds), money market instruments, shares of funds and emission allowances that will be settled through an EEA CSD and are admitted to trading or traded on an EEA trading venue or cleared by an EEA central counterparty. Each Adviser has a CSDR policy in place under which, in most cases, any charges (debit and credit) are netted and applied to the relevant accounts. However, for debit charges over $500 USD, each Adviser will typically seek to cause a broker to take responsibility for the charge, although it may not succeed in doing so.
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Canadian Investments
Certain Funds may invest in securities of Canadian issuers to a significant extent. The Canadian and U.S. economies are closely integrated, and U.S. market conditions, including consumer spending, can have a significant impact on the Canadian economy such that an investment in Canadian securities may not have the same diversifying effect as investments in other countries. In addition, Canada is a major producer of commodities, such as forest products, metals, agricultural products and energy-related products like oil, gas and hydroelectricity. As a result, the Canadian economy is very dependent on the demand for, and supply and price of, natural resources and the Canadian market is relatively concentrated in issuers involved in the production and distribution of natural resources. Canada’s economic growth may be significantly affected by fluctuations in currency and global demand for such commodities. Investments in Canadian securities may be in Canadian dollars; see the section “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information.
Depositary Receipts
Some Funds may invest in foreign equity securities by purchasing “depositary receipts.” Depositary receipts are instruments issued by banks that represent an interest in foreign equity securities held by arrangement with the bank. Depositary receipts can be either “sponsored” or “unsponsored.” Sponsored depositary receipts are issued by banks in cooperation with the issuer of the underlying equity securities. Unsponsored depositary receipts are arranged without involvement by the issuer of the underlying equity securities and, therefore, less information about the issuer of the underlying equity securities may be available and the price may be more volatile than in the case of sponsored depositary receipts. American Depositary Receipts are depositary receipts that are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company. European Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts are depositary receipts that are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies and evidence ownership of securities issued by either foreign banks or trust companies; they may evidence ownership of securities issued by a U.S. or foreign company. All depositary receipts, including those denominated in U.S. dollars, will be subject to foreign currency risk. See the section “Foreign Currency Transactions” for more information.
Because some Funds may invest in depositary receipts, changes in foreign economies and political climates are more likely to affect those Funds than a mutual fund that invests exclusively in U.S. companies. In addition, legislation passed in the U.S. could cause securities of a foreign issuer, including American Depositary Receipts, to be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges if the issuer does not allow the U.S. government to inspect or investigate the auditing of its financial information. Although the requirements of this legislation apply to securities of all foreign issuers, the U.S. government has thus far limited its enforcement efforts to securities of Chinese companies. If securities are delisted, a Fund’s ability to transact in such securities will be impaired, and the liquidity and market price of the securities may decline. A Fund may also need to seek other markets in which to transact in such securities, which could increase the Fund’s costs. See the section “Foreign Securities” for more information.
Emerging Markets
Investments in foreign securities may include investments in emerging or developing countries whose economies or securities markets are not yet highly developed. The same or similar risks are seen in investments in companies that are located in developed markets but derive substantial revenues from emerging markets. The risks associated with investing in foreign securities are often heightened for investments in emerging market countries. These heightened risks include (i) greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, war, and less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the small size of the markets for securities of emerging market issuers and the oftentimes low or nonexistent volume of trading, resulting in lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies that may restrict a Fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests or currency transfer or repatriation restrictions; (iv) an economy’s dependence on revenues from particular commodities or on international aid or development assistance; (v) the absence of developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment and private property and/or less developed custodial and deposit systems and delays and disruptions in securities settlement procedures; (vi) risks associated with the imposition of sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, by the U.S. government or the European Union; and (vii) an issuer’s unwillingness or inability to make dividend, principal or interest payments on its securities. A Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging market countries may be constrained by limitations as to daily changes in the prices of listed securities, periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of foreign investors. In certain cases, such limitations may be computed based upon the aggregate trading by or holdings of a Fund, its adviser or subadviser and their affiliates, and their respective clients and other service providers. A Fund may not be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement volume limitations have been reached. These limitations may have a negative impact on a Fund’s performance and may adversely affect the liquidity of a Fund’s investment to the extent that it invests in certain emerging market countries. Moreover, settlement and asset custody practices for transactions in emerging markets may differ from those in developed markets. Such differences may include possible delays in settlement and certain settlement practices, such as delivery of securities prior to receipt of payment, which increases the likelihood of a “failed settlement.” Failed settlements can result in losses. In addition, some emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain emerging market countries’ currencies may not be internationally traded. Certain of these currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. If a Fund does not hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities it owns denominated in currencies that are devalued, the Fund’s NAV will be adversely affected. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have adverse effects on the economies and securities markets of certain of these countries.
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Many Chinese companies to which a Fund seeks investment exposure use a structure known as a variable interest entity (“VIE”) to address Chinese restrictions on direct foreign investment in Chinese companies operating in different sectors. A Fund’s investment exposure to VIEs may pose additional risks because the Fund’s investment is not made directly in the actual Chinese operating company, but rather in a holding company domiciled outside of China (a Holding Company) whose interests in the business of the underlying Chinese operating company (the VIE) are established through contracts rather than through equity ownership. The VIE (which the Fund is restricted from owning under Chinese law) is generally owned by Chinese nationals, and the Holding Company (in which the Fund invests) holds only contractual rights (rather than equity ownership) relating to the VIE, typically including a contractual claim on the VIE’s profits. Shares of the Holding Company, in turn, are traded on exchanges outside of China and are available to non-Chinese investors such as the Fund. The VIE structure is a longstanding practice in China. Historically, such arrangements have not been formally recognized under Chinese law and the Chinese government has never approved these structures; however Chinese regulations regarding the structure are evolving. On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CRSC”) released new rules that permit the use of VIE structures, provided they abide by Chinese laws and register with the CSRC (the “Trial Measures”). The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures require Chinese companies that pursue listings outside of mainland China, including those that do so using the VIE structure, to make a filing with the CSRC. While the Trial Measures do not prohibit the use of VIE structures, this does not serve as a formal endorsement. It remains unclear whether any additional laws, rules or regulations relating to VIE structures will be adopted or, if adopted, what impact they would have on the interests of foreign shareholders. There is a risk that the Chinese government may cease to tolerate VIE structures at any time or impose new restrictions on the structure, in each case either generally or with respect to specific issuers. In such a scenario, the Chinese operating company could be subject to penalties, including revocation of its business and operating license, or the Holding Company could forfeit its interest in the business of the Chinese operating company. Further, in case of dispute (for example, with the Chinese owners of the VIE), the Holding Company’s contractual claims with respect to the VIE may be unenforceable in China, thus limiting the remedies and rights of Holding Company investors such as the Fund. Control over a VIE may also be jeopardized if a natural person who holds the equity interest in the VIE breaches the terms of the contractual arrangements, is subject to legal proceedings, or if any physical instruments or property of the VIE, such as seals, business registration certificates, financial data and licensing arrangements (sometimes referred to as “chops”), are used without authorization. In the event of such an occurrence, a Fund, as a foreign investor, may have little or no legal recourse. Such legal uncertainty may be exploited against the interests of the Holding Company investors, such as the Fund. Further, the Fund will typically have little or no ability to influence the VIE through proxy voting or other means because it is not a VIE owner/shareholder. Foreign companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States, including companies using the VIE structure, could also face delisting or other ramifications for failure to meet the expectations and/or requirements of the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or other U.S. regulators. Any of these risks could reduce the liquidity and value of the Fund’s investments in Holding Companies or render them valueless. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. Investors in foreign countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue shareholder claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons is limited.
In determining whether to invest in securities of foreign issuers, an adviser or subadviser may consider the likely effects of foreign taxes on the net yield available to a Fund and its shareholders. Compliance with foreign tax laws may reduce a Fund’s net income available for distribution to shareholders.
Investing Through Stock Connect
International Growth Fund. In addition to the risks described under “Emerging Markets”, there are risks associated with the Fund’s direct or indirect (through, for example, participation notes or other types of equity-linked notes) investment in shares of mainland China-based companies that trade on Chinese stock exchanges such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“China A-Shares”) through the Shanghai and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect (“Stock Connect”), or that may be available in the future through additional stock connect programs. Stock Connect is a mutual market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) via brokers in Hong Kong. The underdeveloped state of the PRC’s investment and banking system subjects the settlement, clearing, and registration of China A-Shares transactions to heightened risks. Stock Connect can only operate when both China and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if either or both markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Fund may not be able to transact in its China A-Shares, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Because Stock Connect is relatively new, its effects on the market for trading China A-Shares are uncertain. In addition, the trading, settlement, and information technology systems required to operate Stock Connect are relatively new and continuing to evolve. In the event that the relevant systems do not function properly, trading through Stock Connect could be disrupted.
PRC regulations require that, in order to sell its China A-Shares, the Fund must pre-deliver the China A-Shares to a broker. If the China A-Shares are not in the broker’s possession before the market opens on the day of sale, the sell order will be rejected. This requirement could limit the Fund’s ability to dispose of its China A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect in a timely manner. Additionally, Stock Connect is subject to daily quota limitations on purchases of China A-Shares. Once the daily quota is reached, orders to purchase additional China A-Shares through Stock Connect will be rejected. The Fund’s investment in China A-Shares may only be traded through Stock Connect and is not otherwise transferable.
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Stock Connect utilizes an omnibus clearing structure, and the Fund’s Stock Connect securities will be registered in its sub-custodian’s name on the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (“CSDCC”). This may limit the ability of the adviser to effectively manage the Fund, and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of its sub-custodian or to greater risk of expropriation. While the ultimate investors hold a beneficial interest in Stock Connect securities, the mechanisms that beneficial owners may use to enforce their rights are untested. In addition, courts in China have limited experience in applying the concept of beneficial ownership. Investments in China A-Shares through Stock Connect may be available only through a single broker that is an affiliate of the Fund’s sub-custodian which may affect the quality of the execution provided by such broker. Stock Connect restrictions could also limit the ability of the Fund to sell its China A-Shares in a timely manner, or to sell them at all. Stock Connect is subject to regulation by both China and Hong Kong, and regulators in both jurisdictions may suspend Stock Connect trading, which could limit the ability of the Fund to transact in China A-Shares. Further, different fees, costs and taxes are imposed on non-Chinese investors acquiring China A-Shares through Stock Connect, and these fees, costs and taxes may be higher than comparable fees, costs and taxes imposed on owners of other securities providing similar investment exposure.
Supranational Entities
Some Funds may invest in securities issued by supranational entities, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly called the “World Bank”), the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The governmental members of these supranational entities are “stockholders” that typically make capital contributions to support or promote such entities’ economic reconstruction or development activities and may be committed to make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its borrowings. A supranational entity’s lending activities may be limited to a percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no assurance that the constituent governments will be able or willing to honor their commitments to those entities, with the result that the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments. Obligations of a supranational entity that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies, as described in the sections “Foreign Securities” and “Foreign Currency Transactions.”
Foreign Currency Transactions
Some Funds may engage in foreign currency transactions for both hedging and investment purposes. Many foreign securities in a Fund’s portfolio will be denominated in foreign currencies or traded in securities markets in which settlements are made in foreign currencies. Any income on such investments is generally paid to a Fund in foreign currencies. The value of these foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar varies continually, causing changes in the dollar value of a Fund’s portfolio investments (even if the local market price of the investments is unchanged) and changes in the dollar value of a Fund’s income available for distribution to its shareholders. The effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of a Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable.
To protect against a change in the foreign currency exchange rate between the date on which a Fund contracts to purchase or sell a security and the settlement date for the purchase or sale, to gain exposure to one or more foreign currencies or to “lock in” the equivalent of a dividend or interest payment in another currency, a Fund might purchase or sell a foreign currency on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the prevailing spot rate or may enter into futures contracts on an exchange.
If conditions warrant, a Fund may also enter into contracts with banks or broker-dealers to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date (“forward contracts”). See the section “Derivative Instruments.” Forward contracts are subject to many of the same risks as derivatives described in the section “Derivative Instruments.” Forward contracts may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.
In addition, some Funds may buy and write options on foreign currencies in a manner similar to that in which futures or forward contracts on foreign currencies will be utilized. A Fund may use options on foreign currencies to hedge against adverse changes in foreign currency conversion rates. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will reduce the U.S. dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of the portfolio securities, a Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency declines, a Fund will have the right to sell such currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars, thereby offsetting, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio.
Conversely, when a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby increasing the cost of such securities, a Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency. The purchase of such options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to a Fund from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, if currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent desired, a Fund could sustain losses or lesser gains on transactions in foreign currency options that would require the Fund to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in those rates.
A Fund may also write options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. dollar due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, a Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the decline expected by a Fund occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of portfolio securities be offset at least in part by the amount of the premium received. Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option to hedge against a potential increase in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired, a Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency which, if rates move in the
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manner projected by the Fund, will expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge the increased cost up to the amount of the premium. If exchange rates do not move in the expected direction, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss, which may not be fully offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, a Fund also may lose all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements in exchange rates.
The adviser or subadviser may decide not to engage in currency transactions, and there is no assurance that any currency strategy used by a Fund will succeed. In addition, suitable currency transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that a Fund will engage in these transactions when they would be beneficial. The foreign currency transactions in which a Fund may engage involve risks similar to those described in the section “Derivative Instruments.”
A Fund’s use of currency transactions may be limited by tax considerations. Transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency denominated debt and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned and may affect the timing or amount of distributions to shareholders.
Transactions in non-U.S. currencies are also subject to many of the risks of investing in non-U.S. securities described in the section “Foreign Securities.” Because a Fund may invest in foreign securities and foreign currencies, changes in foreign economies and political climates are more likely to affect a Fund than a mutual fund that invests exclusively in U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision of foreign markets, resulting in non-uniform accounting practices and less publicly available information. If a Fund’s portfolio is over-weighted in a certain geographic region, any negative development affecting that region will have a greater impact on a Fund than a fund that is not over-weighted in that region.
Funding Agreements
Some Funds may invest in Guaranteed Investment Contracts (“GICs”) and similar funding agreements. In connection with these investments, a Fund makes cash contributions to a deposit fund of an insurance company’s general account. The insurance company then credits to a Fund on a monthly basis guaranteed interest, which is based on an index. The funding agreements provide that this guaranteed interest will not be less than a certain minimum rate. The purchase price paid for a funding agreement becomes part of the general assets of the insurance company. GICs are considered illiquid securities and will be subject to any limitations on such investments described elsewhere in this Statement, unless there is an active and substantial secondary market for the particular instrument and market quotations are readily available. Generally, funding agreements are not assignable or transferable without the permission of the issuing company, and an active secondary market in some funding agreements does not currently exist. Investments in GICs are subject to the risks associated with fixed-income instruments generally, and are specifically subject to the credit/counterparty risk associated with an investment in the issuing insurance company.
Geopolitical Risk
Occurrence of global events similar to those in recent years, such as war (including Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine), terrorist attacks, natural or environmental disasters, country instability, infectious disease epidemics, such as that caused by the COVID-19 virus, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions, trade disputes and other trade barriers and other governmental trade or market control programs, the potential exit of a country from its respective union and related geopolitical events, may result in market volatility and may have long-lasting impacts on both the U.S. and global financial markets. Events occurring in one region of the world may negatively impact industries and regions that are not otherwise directly impacted by the events. Additionally, those events, as well as other changes in foreign and domestic political and economic conditions, could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. Trade disputes have in the past affected the economies of the United States and its trading partners, as well as companies directly or indirectly affected and financial markets generally. Similar circumstances may arise in the future, and the occurrence of such events and their impact on the Funds are impossible to predict.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions. The United States and many other countries have instituted various economic sanctions against Russian individuals and entities. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions imposed and other punitive actions taken and resulting future market disruptions in Europe and globally cannot be easily predicted, but could be significant and have a severe adverse effect on the global economy, securities markets and commodities markets globally. Other issuers or markets could be similarly affected by past or future geopolitical or other events or conditions. Furthermore, prolonged conflict in the Middle East, and the potential expansion of the conflict in the surrounding areas and the involvement of other nations in such conflict, such as the Houthi movement’s attacks on marine vessels in the Red Sea, could further destabilize the Middle East region and introduce new uncertainties in global markets, including the oil and natural gas markets.
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Adverse developments that affect financial institutions or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, may reduce liquidity in the market generally or have other adverse effects on the economy, a Fund or issuers in which the Funds invest. In addition, issuers in which the Funds invest and the Funds may not be able to identify all potential solvency or stress concerns with respect to a financial institution or to transfer assets from one bank or financial institution to another in a timely manner in the event such bank or financial institution comes under stress or fails. See the section “Financial Services Risk” above for more information.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies. The U.S. government recently altered its approach to international trade policy, resulting in significant impacts on international trade relations, certain tax and immigration policies, and other aspects of the national and international political and financial landscape. The rise in protectionist trade policies, slowing economic growth, changes to some major international trade agreements, risks associated with trade agreements between the U.S. and the European Union, and the risks associated with trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time.
Global trade disruption, significant introductions of trade barriers, and bilateral trade frictions, together with any future downturns in the global economy resulting therefrom, could adversely affect the financial performance of a Fund and its investments. Trade policy may be an ongoing source of instability, potentially resulting in significant currency fluctuations and/or having other adverse effects on international markets, international trade agreements, and/or other existing cross-border cooperation arrangements (whether economic, tax, fiscal, legal, regulatory, or otherwise). To the extent trade disputes escalate globally, there could be additional significant impacts on the sectors or industries in which a Fund invests and financial markets generally, as well as other adverse impacts on a Fund’s overall performance.
Illiquid Securities
Some Funds may invest in illiquid securities, either by acquiring illiquid investments or owning investments that become illiquid because of financial distress or geopolitical events (such as trading halts, sanctions or wars). Illiquid securities generally are those that are not readily resalable. Securities whose disposition is restricted by federal securities laws may be considered illiquid. Securities generally will be considered “illiquid” if a Fund reasonably expects the security cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the security. Investment in illiquid securities involves the risk that a Fund may be unable to sell such a security at the desired time or at the price at which the Fund values the security. Also, a Fund may incur expenses, losses or delays in the process of registering restricted securities prior to resale.
The Funds have implemented a liquidity risk management program pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with Rule 22e-4, the Funds may not acquire any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Funds would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. In the event a Fund’s illiquid investments exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the adviser will seek to bring the Fund’s illiquid investments to or below 15% of the Fund’s net assets within a reasonable time.
Indirect Exposure to Cryptocurrency Risk
Cryptocurrencies are currencies which exist in a digital form and may act as a store of wealth, a medium of exchange or an investment asset. Cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in the United States. There are thousands of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin. Some issuers have begun to accept cryptocurrency for payment of services, use cryptocurrencies as reserve assets or invest in cryptocurrencies, and the Funds may invest in securities of such issuers. The Funds may also invest in securities of issuers which provide cryptocurrency-related services.
Cryptocurrencies are subject to substantial fluctuations in value. Cryptocurrencies are not backed by any government, corporation, or other identified body. Rather, the value of a cryptocurrency is determined by other factors, such as the perceived future prospects or the supply and demand for such cryptocurrency in the global market for the trading of cryptocurrency. Such trading markets are unregulated and may be more exposed to operational or technical issues as well as fraud or manipulation in comparison to established, regulated exchanges for securities, derivatives and traditional currencies. The value of a cryptocurrency may decline precipitously (including to zero) for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, regulatory changes, a loss of confidence in its network or a change in user preference to other cryptocurrencies. An issuer that owns cryptocurrencies may experience custody issues, and may lose its cryptocurrency holdings through theft, hacking, and technical glitches in the applicable blockchain. The Funds may experience losses as a result of the decline in value of its securities of issuers that own or have exposure to cryptocurrencies or which provide cryptocurrency-related services, including banks that provide cryptocurrency-related banking services. If an issuer that owns cryptocurrencies intends to pay a dividend using such holdings or to otherwise make a distribution of such holdings to its stockholders, such dividends or distributions may face regulatory, operational and technical issues.
Factors affecting the further development of cryptocurrencies include, but are not limited to: continued worldwide growth of, or possible cessation of or reversal in, the adoption and use of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets; the developing regulatory environment relating to cryptocurrencies, including the characterization of cryptocurrencies as currencies, commodities, or securities, the tax treatment of cryptocurrencies, and government and quasi-government regulation or restrictions on, or regulation of access to and operation of, cryptocurrency networks and the exchanges on which cryptocurrencies trade, including anti-money laundering regulations and requirements; perceptions regarding the environmental impact of a cryptocurrency; changes in consumer demographics and public preferences; general economic conditions; maintenance and development of open-source software protocols; the availability and
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popularity of other forms or methods of buying and selling goods and services; the use of the networks supporting digital assets, such as those for developing smart contracts and distributed applications; and general risks tied to the use of information technologies, including cyber risks. A hack or failure of one cryptocurrency may lead to a loss in confidence in, and thus decreased usage and/or value of, other cryptocurrencies.
Inflation-Linked and Inflation-Indexed Securities
Some Funds may invest in inflation-linked and -indexed securities. Inflation-linked and -indexed securities are fixed-income securities whose principal values are adjusted periodically according to the rate of inflation. These securities generally have maturities of ten or thirty years and interest is payable semiannually. The principal amount of these securities increases with increases in the price index used as a reference value for the securities. In addition, the amounts payable as coupon interest payments increase when the price index increases because the interest amount is calculated by multiplying the principal amount (as adjusted) by a fixed coupon rate.
Although inflation-linked and -indexed securities protect their holders from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may result in a decline in value. The values of inflation-linked and -indexed securities generally fluctuate in response to changes to real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a rate faster than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of the inflation-linked and -indexed securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of inflation-linked and -indexed securities. If inflation is lower than expected during a period in which a Fund holds inflation-linked and -indexed securities, the Fund may earn less on such securities than on a conventional security. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in inflation-linked and -indexed securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the price index used as a reference for the securities. There can be no assurance that the price index used for an inflation-linked and -indexed security will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Inflation-linked and -indexed securities include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities issued by the U.S. government (see the section “U.S. Government Securities” for additional information), but also may include securities issued by state, local and non-U.S. governments and corporations and supranational entities.
A Fund’s investments in inflation-linked and -indexed securities can cause the Fund to accrue income for U.S. federal income tax purposes without a corresponding receipt of cash; the Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio securities (including when not otherwise advantageous to do so) in order to obtain sufficient cash to meet its distribution requirements for eligibility to be treated as a RIC under the Code.
Initial Public Offerings (“IPO”)
Some Funds may purchase securities of companies that are offered pursuant to an IPO. An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public in the primary market, typically to raise additional capital. The Funds may purchase a “hot” IPO (also known as a “hot issue”), which is an IPO that is oversubscribed and, as a result, is an investment opportunity of limited availability. As a consequence, the price at which these IPO shares open in the secondary market may be significantly higher than the original IPO price. IPO securities tend to involve greater risk due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. There is the possibility of losses resulting from the difference between the issue price and potential diminished value of the stock once traded in the secondary market. A Fund’s investment in IPO securities may have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance and may result in significant capital gains.
Investment Companies
Certain Funds may invest in other investment companies. Investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), are essentially pools of securities. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying securities, but may involve additional expenses at the investment company level, such as investment advisory fees and operating expenses. In some cases, investing in an investment company may involve the payment of a premium over the value of the assets held in that investment company’s portfolio. In other circumstances, the market value of an investment company’s shares may be less than the NAV per share of the investment company. As an investor in another investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, and the Fund’s shareholders will bear such expenses indirectly, in addition to similar fees and expenses of the Fund. The Funds may also be exposed to the risks associated with the underlying investment company’s investments.
Despite the possibility of greater fees and expenses, investment in other investment companies may be attractive nonetheless for several reasons, especially in connection with foreign investments. Because of restrictions on direct investment by U.S. entities in certain countries, investing indirectly in such countries (by purchasing shares of another fund that is permitted to invest in such countries) may be the most practical and efficient way for the Fund to invest in such countries. In other cases, when a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser desires to make only a relatively small investment in a particular country, investing through another fund that holds a diversified portfolio in that country may be more effective than investing directly in issuers in that country. In addition, it may be efficient for the Fund to gain exposure to particular market segments by investing in shares of one or more investment companies.
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Exchange-Traded Funds.
Some of the Funds may invest in shares of ETFs. An ETF is an investment company that is generally registered under the 1940 Act that holds a portfolio of securities designed to track the performance of a particular index and may be actively managed. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which can be bought and redeemed from the issuing fund by all shareholders at a price based on NAV, shares of an ETF may be purchased or redeemed directly from the ETF solely by Authorized Participants (“APs”) and only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (often 10,000 or more) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market in lots of any size at any time during the trading day. The Funds will typically buy and redeem shares of ETFs on the secondary market. ETFs sometimes also refer to entities that are not registered under the 1940 Act that invest directly in commodities or other assets (e.g., gold bullion). Investments in ETFs involve certain inherent risks generally associated with investments in a broadly-based portfolio of securities, including risks that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of each unit of the ETF or other instrument. In addition, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index because of the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or number of stocks held. ETFs are also subject to additional risks, including, among others, the risk that the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade above or below its NAV, the risk that an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained, the risk that trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted, and the risk that the ETF’s shares may be delisted from the listing exchange. ETFs may have a limited number of financial institutions that act as APs and to the extent that those APs exit the business, or are unable to or choose not to process creation and/or redemption orders for creation units and no other AP steps forward to create and redeem ETF shares, the ETF’s shares may be more likely to trade at a premium or discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts or delisting.
Limitations on Investments in Other Investment Companies.
Investments in other investment companies, including ETFs, are typically subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act limitations currently provide, in part, that, unless an exception applies, a Fund may not purchase shares of an investment company if such a purchase would cause the Fund (a) to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company; (b) to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the aggregate in the investment company; or (c) to have more than 10% of its total assets invested in the aggregate in all investment companies. Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act permits the Funds to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions, including that the Funds must enter into investment agreements with other investment companies in certain circumstances. These restrictions could affect a Fund’s ability to redeem its investments in other investment companies, make such investments less attractive, cause the Fund to incur losses, realize taxable gains distributable to shareholders, incur greater or unexpected expenses, or experience other adverse consequences.
Market Capitalizations
Some Funds may invest in companies with small, medium or large market capitalizations. Large capitalization companies are generally large companies that have been in existence for a number of years and are well established in their market. Middle market capitalization companies are generally medium-sized companies that are not as established as large capitalization companies, may be more volatile and are subject to many of the same risks as smaller capitalization companies.
Small Capitalization Companies
Some Funds may invest in companies with relatively small market capitalizations. Such investments may involve greater risk than is usually associated with more established companies. These companies often have sales and earnings growth rates that exceed those of companies with larger market capitalizations. Such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation. However, companies with smaller market capitalization often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may be dependent upon a relatively small management group. These securities may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements in price than securities of companies with larger market capitalization or market averages in general. To the extent that the Fund invests in companies with relatively small market capitalizations, the value of its stock portfolio may fluctuate more widely than broad market averages.
Master Limited Partnerships
Certain Funds may invest in MLPs, which are limited partnerships the ownership units of which are publicly traded. MLPs may be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as described in the section “Taxes” herein. MLPs often own or own interests in properties or businesses that are related to oil and gas industries, including pipelines, although MLPs may invest in other types of investments, including credit-related investments. The energy industries can be significantly affected by fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of energy fuels, energy conservation, exploration and production spending, the success of exploration projects, tax and other government regulations, weather or meteorological events, world events and economic conditions. The energy industries also may be affected by fluctuations in energy prices, energy conservation, exploration and production spending, government regulations, weather, world events and economic conditions. Generally, an MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more managing general partners. Limited partners (like a Fund when it invests in an MLP) are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. Certain Funds also may invest in companies that serve (or the affiliates of which serve) as the general partner of an MLP.
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Investments in MLPs are generally subject to many of the risks that apply to partnerships. For example, holders of the units of MLPs will generally have limited control and limited voting rights on matters affecting the partnership. There may be fewer corporate protections afforded to investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation. Conflicts of interest may exist among unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of an MLP, including those arising from incentive distribution payments. The general partner of an MLP may have limited call rights that may require the Fund to sell its units of such MLP at a time or price that is not advantageous, which may lower the Fund’s return or result in a loss. A Fund may also be required to repay to an MLP distributions that are incorrectly distributed to the Fund, and in certain circumstances holders of MLP units may be responsible for the obligations of the MLP. In addition, should an MLP fail to meet the current legal requirements for treatment as a partnership, or if there are changes to the tax law, an MLP could be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In that case, the MLP would be obligated to pay tax at the entity level, and distributions to the Fund would be taxed as ordinary dividend income. This could result in a significant reduction in the income to the Fund from an investment in an MLP. MLPs that concentrate in a particular industry or region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. MLPs holding credit-related investments are subject to interest rate risk and the risk of default on payment obligations by debt issuers. Investments held by MLPs may be illiquid and are subject to equity risk. MLP units may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and they may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than securities of larger or more broadly based companies.
Certain Funds’ investments in MLPs can bear on or be limited by a Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC.
Certain Funds may also hold investments in limited liability companies that have many of the same characteristics and are subject to many of the same risks as MLPs.
Money Market Instruments
Some Funds may invest in money market instruments. Money market instruments are high-quality, short-term securities. A Fund’s money market investments at the time of purchase (other than U.S. government securities (defined below) and repurchase agreements relating thereto) generally will be rated at the time of purchase in the two highest short-term rating categories as rated by a major credit agency or, if unrated, will be of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser or Subadviser. a Fund may invest in instruments of lesser quality and do not have any minimum credit quality restriction. Money market instruments maturing in less than one year may yield less than obligations of comparable quality having longer maturities.
Although changes in interest rates can change the market value of a security, the Funds expect those changes to be minimal with respect to these securities, which may be purchased by the Fund for defensive purposes. A Fund’s money market investments may be issued by U.S. banks, foreign banks (including their U.S. branches) or foreign branches and subsidiaries of U.S. banks. Obligations of foreign banks may be subject to foreign economic, political and legal risks. Such risks include foreign economic and political developments, foreign governmental restrictions that may adversely affect payment of principal and interest on the obligations, foreign withholding or other taxes on interest income, difficulties in obtaining and enforcing a judgment against a foreign obligor, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage) and the expropriation or nationalization of assets or deposits. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks are not necessarily subject to the same or similar regulatory requirements that apply to domestic banks. For instance, such branches and banks may not be subject to the types of requirements imposed on domestic banks with respect to mandatory reserves, loan limitations, examinations, accounting, auditing, recordkeeping and the public availability of information. Obligations of such branches or banks will be purchased only when the Adviser or Subadviser believes the risks are minimal.
A Fund may invest in U.S. government securities that include all securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities (“U.S. government securities”). Some U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. U.S. government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are considered riskier than those that are. See the section “U.S. Government Securities” for additional information.
Although the Funds may invest in money market instruments, they are not money market funds and therefore are not subject to the portfolio quality, maturity and NAV requirements applicable to money market funds. A Fund will not seek to maintain a stable NAV. The Funds also will not be required to comply with the rating restrictions applicable to money market funds, and will not necessarily sell an investment in cases where a security’s rating has been downgraded.
Considerations of liquidity, safety and preservation of capital may preclude a Fund from investing in money market instruments paying the highest available yield at a particular time. In addition, a Fund’s ability to trade money market securities may be constrained by the collateral requirements related to the Fund’s other investments. As a result, the Fund may need to buy or sell money market instruments at inopportune times. In addition, even though money market instruments generally are considered to be high-quality and a low-risk investment, issuers of money market and money market-type instruments have in the past experienced financial difficulties, leading in some cases to rating downgrades and decreases in the value of their securities, and similar circumstances may occur in the future. For example, during the market volatility caused by the COVID-19 outbreak beginning in March 2020, many money market instruments that were thought to be highly liquid became illiquid and lost value. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, took extraordinary actions with respect to the financial markets generally and money market instruments in particular. While these actions stabilized the markets for these instruments, there can be no assurances that governments and central banks will take such actions in response to similar market volatility in the future, or that any actions, if taken, would be effective. If a Fund’s money market instruments become illiquid, the Fund may be unable to satisfy certain of its obligations or may only be able to do so by selling other securities at prices or times that may be disadvantageous to do so.
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Changes in government regulations may adversely affect the value of a security held by the Fund. The SEC has adopted amendments to money market fund regulation that permit a money market fund to impose discretionary liquidity fees, increase the fund’s daily and weekly liquid asset minimum requirements and eliminate the ability of the fund to temporarily suspend redemptions due to declines in such fund’s weekly liquid assets, among other changes. These changes may result in reduced yields for money market funds, including funds that may invest in other money market funds. The SEC or other regulators may adopt additional money market fund reforms, which may impact the structure and operation or performance of the Fund.
Mortgage-Related Securities
Each Fund may invest in mortgage-related securities, such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) certificates, which differ from traditional debt/fixed-income securities. Among the major differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans generally may be prepaid at any time. As a result, if a Fund purchases these assets at a premium, a faster-than-expected prepayment rate will tend to reduce yield to maturity, and a slower-than-expected prepayment rate may have the opposite effect of increasing yield to maturity. If a Fund purchases mortgage-related securities at a discount, faster-than-expected prepayments will tend to increase, and slower-than-expected prepayments will tend to reduce, yield to maturity. Prepayments, and resulting amounts available for reinvestment by a Fund, are likely to be greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates. Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased at a premium may result in a loss of principal if the premium has not been fully amortized at the time of prepayment. Although these securities will decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates generally, they are likely to appreciate less than other fixed-income securities when interest rates decline because of the risk of prepayments. In addition, an increase in interest rates would increase the inherent volatility of a Fund by increasing the average life of the Fund’s portfolio securities.
The value of some mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities in which a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of a Fund’s adviser or subadviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by mortgage pools that contain “subprime” or “Alt-A” loans (loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories, less documentation or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans), but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic downturn, high unemployment, a general slowdown in the real estate market, a drop in the market prices of real estate, or an increase in interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments by holders of adjustable-rate mortgages. For example, ongoing developments in the residential and commercial mortgage markets may have additional consequences for the market for mortgage-backed securities. During periods of deteriorating economic conditions, such as recessions or periods of rising unemployment, delinquencies and losses generally increase, sometimes drastically, with respect to securitizations involving mortgage loans. Many subprime mortgage pools have become distressed during the periods of economic distress and may trade at significant discounts to their face value during such periods. The effects of and responses to pandemics and epidemics may result in increased delinquencies and losses and may have other, potentially unanticipated, adverse effects on such investments and the markets for those investments.
Securities issued by the GNMA and the FNMA and similar issuers also may be exposed to risks described in the section “U.S. Government Securities.” A Fund also may gain exposure to mortgage-related securities through entering into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments related to this asset class. For example, a Fund may enter into credit default swaps on CMBX, which are indices made up of tranches of commercial mortgage-backed securities, each with different credit ratings. Utilizing CMBX, one can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of such securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying mortgage-backed securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to mortgage-related securities are subject to the risks associated with mortgage-related securities generally, as well as the risks of derivatives transactions. See the section “Derivative Instruments.”
Mortgage Dollar Rolls
The Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls. A dollar roll involves the sale of a security by a Fund and its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price, and may be considered a form of borrowing for some purposes. A dollar roll involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. A Fund may be required to purchase securities at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since the counterparty in the transaction is required to deliver a similar, but not identical, security to a Fund, the security that the Fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. There is no assurance that a Fund’s use of the cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
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Municipal Obligations
Some Funds may purchase municipal obligations. The term “municipal obligations” generally is understood to include debt obligations issued by municipalities to obtain funds for various public purposes, the income from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, if the proceeds from private activity bonds are used for the construction, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, the interest paid on such bonds may be excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, although current U.S. federal income tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of these issues. A Fund’s distributions of any interest it earns on municipal obligations will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
The two principal classifications of municipal obligations are “general obligation” and “revenue” bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable 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, but not from the general taxing power. Private activity bonds are revenue bonds that are issued by municipalities and other public authorities to finance development of industrial or other facilities for use by private enterprise. The private enterprise (and/or any guarantor) pays the principal and interest on the bond; the user does not pledge its faith, credit and taxing power for repayment. The credit and quality of private activity bonds are usually tied to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Sizable investments in these obligations could involve an increased risk to the Funds should any of the related facilities experience financial difficulties. Private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds and do not generally carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality. There are, of course, variations in the security of municipal obligations, both within a particular classification and between classifications.
Municipal securities include debt obligations issued by governmental entities to obtain funds for various public purposes, such as the construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding obligations, the payment of general operating expenses, and the extension of loans to other public institutions and facilities. Other types of municipal securities include short-term general obligation notes, tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, project notes, tax-exempt commercial paper, construction loan notes and other forms of short-term tax-exempt loans. Such instruments are issued with a short-term maturity in anticipation of the receipt of tax funds, the proceeds of bond placements or other revenues. An issuer’s obligations under its municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the federal bankruptcy code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon the enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on and principal of its municipal securities may be materially adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.
Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, especially those relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. In addition, changes in the financial condition of an individual municipal issuer can affect the overall municipal market. Additionally, because some municipal obligations may be secured or guaranteed by banks and other institutions, the risk associated with investments in such municipal securities could increase if the banking or financial sector suffers an economic downturn and/or if the credit ratings of the institutions issuing the guarantee are downgraded or at risk of being downgraded by a national rating organization. If such events occur, the value of the security could decrease or the value could be lost entirely, and it may be difficult or impossible to sell the security at the time and the price that normally prevails in the market.
Municipal bonds, which generally have maturities of more than one year when issued, are designed to meet longer-term capital needs. Some longer-term municipal bonds allow an investor to “put” or sell the security at a specified time and price to the issuer or other “put provider.” If a put provider fails to honor its commitment to purchase the security, a Fund may have to treat the security’s final maturity as its effective maturity, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.
A Fund that invests in the municipal bond market is subject to certain risks. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of a Fund may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of its Adviser or Subadviser. Recent events have demonstrated that the lack of disclosure rules in this area can make it difficult for investors to obtain reliable information on the obligations underlying municipal bonds. The secondary market for municipal bonds, particularly the lower-rated bonds, also tends to be less well developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to sell its bonds at attractive prices. Reduced liquidity in the secondary market for municipal bonds may have an adverse impact on the market price of such bonds and on a Fund’s ability to sell such bonds in response to changes or anticipated changes in economic conditions or to meet the Fund’s cash needs. Reduced liquidity may also make it more difficult to obtain market quotations based on actual trades for purposes of valuing a Fund’s portfolio. The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal, state and local governments. Local and national market forces–such as declines in real estate prices and general business activity–may result in decreasing tax bases, fluctuations in interest rates, and increasing construction costs, all of which could reduce the ability of certain issuers of municipal bonds to repay their obligations. Certain issuers of municipal bonds have also been unable to obtain additional financing through, or must pay higher interest rates on, new issues, which may reduce revenues available for issuers of municipal bonds to pay existing obligations. The recent economic downturn and budgetary constraints have made
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municipal bonds more susceptible to downgrade, default and bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, a Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. In addition, difficulties in the municipal bond markets could result in increased liquidity risk, volatility risk and credit/counterparty risk, and a decrease in the number of municipal bond investment opportunities. The perceived increased likelihood of default among issuers of municipal bonds has resulted in reduced liquidity, increased price volatility and credit downgrades of issuers of municipal bonds. Adverse developments in the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of all or a substantial portion of a Fund’s holdings in municipal bonds.
The value of municipal bonds may also be affected by uncertainties involving the taxation of municipal bonds or the rights of municipal bond holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal bonds are introduced before Congress from time to time. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipal issuers to levy taxes. These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal bond market as a whole, certain specific sectors of the market, or the credit rating of particular securities.
National Security / Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) Regulation Risk
Certain investments by a Fund that involve a business connected with or related to national security (including, without limitation, critical technology, critical infrastructure, or sensitive data) may be subject to review and approval by CFIUS and/or non-U.S. national security/investment clearance regulators. In the event that CFIUS or another regulator reviews one or more of a Fund’s proposed or existing investments, it is possible that CFIUS or another regulator will seek to impose limitations on or prohibit one or more of the Fund’s investments or unwind a transaction. Such limitations or restrictions may prevent a Fund from pursuing certain investments, cause delays with respect to consummating such investments, or require the Fund to consummate an investment on terms that are less advantageous than would be the case absent such restrictions. Where a Fund is required to unwind a transaction, in addition to incurring additional legal, administrative, and other costs, the Fund may have to dispose of the investment at a price that is less than it would have received had the Fund exited at a different time or under different circumstances. Any of these outcomes could adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Original Issue Discount (“OID”) Securities
Some Funds may invest in OID securities. OID securities are securities that have OID as defined in section 1273 of the Code and that generate OID inclusions in the holder’s taxable income under section 1272 of the Code. Generally, OID is the excess of a security’s stated redemption price at maturity over the issue price. OID securities generally include any securities issued with a term exceeding one year at a discount to redemption price, including but not limited to pay-in-kind securities and zero-coupon securities. In general, for tax purposes, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in a Fund’s income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. In order to satisfy a requirement for qualification for treatment as a RIC under the Code, a Fund must distribute each year at least 90% of its net investment income, including the OID accrued on OID securities. Because a Fund will not, on a current basis, receive cash payments from the issuer of an OID security in respect of accrued OID, in some years a Fund may have to distribute cash obtained from other sources in order to satisfy its distribution requirements for eligibility to be treated as a RIC under the Code and to eliminate tax at the fund level. Such cash might be obtained from selling other portfolio holdings of a Fund. In some circumstances, such sales might be necessary in order to satisfy cash distribution requirements even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for a Fund to sell such securities at such time.
Pay-in-Kind Securities
Some Funds may invest in pay-in-kind securities, which are securities that pay dividends or interest in the form of additional securities of the issuer, rather than in cash. These securities are usually issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on various factors, such as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of pay-in-kind securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than are other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. The Funds would be required to distribute the income on these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund would not receive the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, such Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to its shareholders.
Preferred Stock
Some Funds may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock pays dividends at a specified rate and generally has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the issuer’s assets, but is junior to the debt securities of the issuer in those same respects. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, dividends on preferred stock are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors. Shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Under normal circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights.
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Private Placements
Some Funds may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements. While private placements may offer opportunities for investment that are not otherwise available on the open market, these securities may be subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for these securities, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Fund could find it more difficult or impossible to sell the securities when its Adviser or Subadviser believes that it is advisable to do so, or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if the securities were more widely held. At times, it also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of the securities for purposes of computing a Fund’s NAV.
The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for illiquid investments such as private placements. Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell the illiquid securities promptly at an acceptable price. The Funds may have to bear the extra expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting the registration. In addition, market quotations are typically less readily available (if available at all) for these securities. The judgment of a Fund’s Adviser or Subadviser may at times play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of unrestricted securities.
The Funds may be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act when reselling privately issued securities to the public. As such, the Fund may be liable to purchasers of the securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of the registration statement, is materially inaccurate or misleading.
Privatizations
Some Funds may participate in privatizations. In a number of countries around the world, governments have undertaken to sell to investors interests in enterprises that the governments have historically owned or controlled. These transactions are known as “privatizations” and may in some cases represent opportunities for significant capital appreciation. In some cases, the ability of U.S. investors, such as the Funds, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, and the terms of participation for U.S. investors may be less advantageous than those for local investors. Also, there is no assurance that privatized enterprises will be successful, or that an investment in such an enterprise will retain its value or appreciate in value.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
The Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs involve certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general (such as possible declines in the value of real estate, lack of availability of mortgage funds or extended vacancies of property). The U.S. residential and commercial real estate markets may, in the future, experience and have, in the past, experienced a decline in value, with certain regions experiencing significant losses in property values. Exposure to such real estate, including through REITs, may adversely affect Fund performance. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended and changes in interest rates. REITs, whose underlying assets are concentrated in properties used by a particular industry, such as health care, are also subject to risks associated with such industry. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, risks of default by borrowers, and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Code, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.
REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks, including prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. If the REIT invests in adjustable rate mortgage loans the interest rates on which are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates. This causes the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than more widely held securities.
The Fund’s investment in a REIT may result in the Fund’s making distributions that constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, distributions by the Fund from REITs will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction or, generally, for treatment as qualified dividend income.
Real Estate Securities
Certain Funds may invest in securities of companies in the real estate industry, including REITs and issuers similar to REITs formed under the laws of non-U.S. countries. Therefore, certain Funds are subject to the special risks associated with the real estate market and the real estate industry in general. Companies in the real estate industry are considered to be those that (i) have principal activity involving the development, ownership, construction, management or sale of real estate; (ii) have significant real estate holdings, such as hospitality companies, supermarkets and mining, lumber and paper companies; and/or (iii) provide products or services related to the real estate industry, such as financial institutions that make and/or service mortgage loans and manufacturers or distributors of building supplies. Securities of companies in the real estate industry are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes,
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interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer (as well as the creditworthiness of and defaults by underlying borrowers and tenants). Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under applicable laws (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act, environmental, tax and hazardous waste laws).
Certain other Funds may also have significant exposure to the real estate industry from time to time.
Regulation S Securities
Subject to certain conditions, a Fund may purchase securities issued pursuant to Regulation S of the Securities Act (“Regulation S Securities”). Regulation S Securities are subject to restrictions on sales to U.S. persons. Therefore, when a Fund sells Regulation S Securities that it has purchased, the market for such securities will generally be limited to non-U.S. investors.
Repurchase Agreements
A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, by which the Fund purchases a security and obtains a simultaneous commitment from the seller (a bank or, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, a recognized securities dealer) to repurchase the security at an agreed-upon price and date (usually seven days or less from the date of original purchase). The resale price is in excess of the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. Repurchase agreements are economically similar to collateralized loans by a Fund. Such transactions afford a Fund the opportunity to earn a return on temporarily available cash at relatively low market/issuer risk. The Funds do not have percentage limitations on how much of their total assets may be invested in repurchase agreements. The Funds typically use repurchase agreements for cash management purposes, and may also invest in them for investment and temporary defensive purposes. A Fund may invest in a repurchase agreement that does not produce a positive return to the Fund if the Adviser or Subadviser believes it is appropriate to do so under the circumstances (for example, to help protect the Fund’s uninvested cash against the risk of loss during periods of market turmoil). While the underlying security may be a bill, certificate of indebtedness, note or bond issued by an agency, authority or instrumentality of the U.S. government, the obligation of the seller is not guaranteed by the U.S. government and there is a risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the underlying security. In such event, a Fund would attempt to exercise rights with respect to the underlying security, including possible disposition in the market. However, a Fund may be subject to various delays and risks of loss, including (i) possible declines in the value of the underlying security during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto, (ii) possible reduced levels of income and lack of access to income during this period, and (iii) inability to enforce rights and the expenses involved in the attempted enforcement, for example, against a counterparty undergoing financial distress. See also the “Credit/Counterparty Risk” and “Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives” sections. The SEC recently finalized rules that will require certain transactions involving U.S. Treasuries, including repurchase agreements, to be centrally cleared. Historically, such transactions have not been required to be cleared and voluntary clearing of such transactions has generally been limited. Compliance with these rules is expected to be required by mid-2027. Although the impact of these rules on each Fund is difficult to predict, they may reduce the availability or increase the costs of such transactions, or otherwise make it more difficult for a Fund to execute certain investment strategies, and may adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Other Borrowings
Certain Funds may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement a Fund transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another person, such as a financial institution, broker or dealer, in return for cash, and agrees that on a stipulated date in the future the Fund will repurchase the portfolio instrument by remitting the original consideration plus interest at an agreed-upon rate. The ability to use reverse repurchase agreements may enable, but does not ensure the ability of, a Fund to avoid selling portfolio instruments at a time when a sale may be deemed to be disadvantageous. Pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, a Fund has the option to treat all reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions as “derivatives transactions,” or to include all such transactions in the Fund’s asset coverage ratio for borrowings. The SEC recently finalized rules that will require certain transactions involving U.S. Treasuries, including reverse repurchase agreements, to be centrally cleared. Historically, such transactions have not been required to be cleared and voluntary clearing of such transactions has generally been limited. Compliance with these rules is expected to be required by mid-2027. Although the impact of these rules on Funds is difficult to predict, they may reduce the availability or increase the costs of such transactions, or otherwise make it more difficult for a Fund to execute certain investment strategies, and may adversely affect a Fund’s performance.
Dollar Rolls
Dollar rolls are a special type of reverse repurchase agreement in which the portfolio instrument transferred by a Fund is a mortgage-related security. A Fund gives up the cash flows during the transaction period but has use of the cash proceeds.
Rule 144A Securities and Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper
Some Funds may invest in Rule 144A securities and/or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper. Rule 144A securities are privately offered securities that can be resold only to certain qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. A Fund may also purchase commercial paper issued under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or similar debt obligations.
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Commercial paper is generally considered to be short-term unsecured debt of corporations. Like all fixed-income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial paper prices will decline and vice versa. However, the short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to volatility than many other fixed-income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws, and generally is sold to investors who agree that they are purchasing the paper for investment and not with a view to public distribution. Any resale by the purchaser must be in an exempt transaction. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is normally resold to other investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or dealers who make a market in Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper, thus providing liquidity.
Investing in Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the level of a Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities. A Fund’s adviser or subadviser, in accordance with the Fund’s liquidity risk management program, will determine whether securities purchased under Rule 144A and/or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper are illiquid. A Fund’s adviser or subadviser will also monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities and/or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper and, if as a result of changes in market, trading, and investment-specific considerations, the adviser or subadviser determines that such securities are no longer liquid, the adviser will review a Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities to determine what, if any, action is required to assure that such Fund complies with its restrictions on investment in illiquid securities. Some Funds may also invest in securities that are purchased in other private placements. See the section “Private Placements” for more information.
Securities Lending
The Funds may lend a portion of their portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, financial institutions or other borrowers under contracts calling for the deposit by the borrower with the Funds’ custodian of collateral equal to at least the market value of the securities loaned, marked to market on a daily basis. If a Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and the Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral, which may include shares of a money market fund subject to any investment restrictions listed in this Statement. These fees or interest are income to each Fund, although a Fund often must share a portion of the income with the securities lending agent and/or the borrower. A Fund will continue to benefit from interest or dividends on the securities loaned (although the payment characteristics may change) and may also earn a return from the collateral, which may include shares of a money market fund subject to any investment restrictions listed in this Statement. Under some securities lending arrangements, a Fund may receive a set fee for keeping its securities available for lending. Any voting rights, or rights to consent, relating to securities loaned, pass to the borrower. However, if a material event (as determined by the adviser or subadviser) affecting the investment occurs, a Fund may seek to recall the securities so that the securities may be voted by the Fund, although the adviser or subadviser may not know of such event in time to recall the securities or may be unable to recall the securities in time to vote them. The Funds pay various fees in connection with such loans, including fees to the party arranging the loans, shipping fees and custodian and placement fees approved by the Board or persons acting pursuant to the direction of the Board.
Securities loans must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some credit/counterparty risk to the Funds if the borrower or the party (if any) guaranteeing the loan should default on its obligation and the Funds are delayed in or prevented from recovering or applying the collateral. In addition, any investment of cash collateral is generally at the sole risk of the Funds. Regulations require certain bank-regulated counterparties and certain of their affiliates to include in certain financial contracts, including many securities lending agreements, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as the Funds, to terminate such agreements, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the counterparty and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. It is possible that these new requirements, as well as potential additional government regulation and other developments in the market, could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to terminate existing securities lending agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements in the event the counterparty or its affiliate becomes subject to a resolution or insolvency proceeding. Any income or gains and losses from investing and reinvesting any cash collateral delivered by a borrower pursuant to a loan generally are at the Fund’s risk, and to the extent any such losses reduce the amount of cash below the amount required to be returned to the borrower upon the termination of any loan, the Fund may be required by the securities lending agent to pay or cause to be paid to such borrower an amount equal to such shortfall in cash, possibly requiring it to liquidate other portfolio securities to satisfy its obligations. The Funds did not have any securities lending activity during their most recently completed fiscal year.
Short Sales
Some Funds may enter into short sales of securities. To sell a security short, a Fund must borrow that security from a lender, such as a prime broker, and deliver it to the short sale counterparty. If a Fund is unable to borrow the security it wishes to sell short at an advantageous time or price, the Fund’s ability to pursue its short sale strategy may be adversely affected. When closing out a short position, a Fund will have to purchase the security it originally sold short. A Fund will realize a profit from closing out a short position if the price of the security sold short has declined since the short position was opened; a Fund will realize a loss from closing out a short position if the value of the shorted security has risen since the short position was opened. Because there is no upper limit on the price to which a security can rise, short selling exposes a Fund to potentially unlimited losses if it does not hold the security sold short.
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While short sales can be used to further a Fund’s investment objective, under certain market conditions, they can increase the volatility of the Fund and decrease the liquidity of the Fund. Under adverse market conditions, a Fund may have difficulty purchasing the securities required to meet its short sale delivery obligations, and may have to sell portfolio securities at a disadvantageous time or price to raise the funds necessary to meet its short sale obligations. If a request to return the borrowed securities occurs at a time when other short sellers of those same securities are receiving similar requests, a “short squeeze” can occur, and a Fund may be forced to replace the borrowed securities with purchases on the open market at a disadvantageous time, potentially at a cost that significantly exceeds the original short sale proceeds originally received in selling the securities short. It is possible that the value of a Fund’s long positions will decrease at the same time that the value of its short positions increases, which could increase losses to the Fund.
Ordinarily, a Fund will incur a fee or pay a premium to borrow securities, may also be required to pay interest and other charges, and will have to repay the lender any dividends or interest that accrue on the security while the loan is outstanding. The amount of the premium, dividends, interest and other expenses a Fund pays in connection with the short sale will decrease the amount of any gain from a short sale and increase the amount of any loss.
Short sales may protect a Fund against the risk of losses in the value of its portfolio securities because any unrealized losses with respect to such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. However, any potential gains in such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are offset will depend on the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount a Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where the Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the conversion premium.
Short sale transactions involve certain risks. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time a Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss, and if the price declines during this period, the Fund will realize a short-term capital gain. Any realized short-term capital gain will be decreased, and any incurred loss increased, by the amount of transaction costs and any premium, dividend or interest which a Fund may have to pay in connection with such short sale. The prime broker(s) through which the Fund enters into short sale transactions has broad discretion to establish margin requirements for a Fund’s short positions, and may change such margin requirements at any time. Certain provisions of the Code may limit the degree to which a Fund is able to enter into short sales. There is no limitation on the amount of each Fund’s assets that, in the aggregate, may be deposited as collateral for the obligation to replace securities borrowed to effect short sales and allocated to segregated accounts in connection with short sales. A Fund is subject to credit/counterparty risk in connection with short sale transactions entered into through a prime broker. To the extent that a Fund uses a single prime broker, this risk will be magnified. If a Fund’s prime broker becomes insolvent or otherwise fails to perform its obligations, a Fund may not be able to recover amounts owed to it in connection with its short positions, or may experience a significant delay and/or incur significant costs in recovering such amounts.
Additionally, the SEC has adopted new rules requiring the filing of monthly confidential reports with the SEC regarding equity short sales and related activity. Under the new rules, the SEC will publicly disclose aggregated short position information on a monthly basis. In addition, other non-U.S. jurisdictions where the Fund may trade have adopted reporting requirements.
In addition, the SEC and EU and UK regulators have imposed certain restrictions on short sales of certain securities, including short positions on such securities acquired through derivatives. If the SEC or regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions were to adopt additional restrictions regarding short sales and/or short positions, they could restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in such investments in certain circumstances, and the Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result.
Short-Term Trading
The Funds may, consistent with their investment objectives, engage in portfolio trading in anticipation of, or in response to, changing economic or market conditions and trends. These policies may result in higher turnover rates in a Fund’s portfolio, which may produce higher transaction costs and the realization of taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which generally are taxed to individuals as ordinary income). Portfolio turnover considerations will not limit an Adviser’s or Subadviser’s investment discretion in managing a Fund’s assets. Each Fund anticipates that its portfolio turnover rate will vary significantly from time to time depending on the volatility of economic and market conditions.
Step-Coupon Securities
The Funds may invest in step-coupon securities. Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest. The coupon rate is low for an initial period and then increases to a higher coupon rate thereafter. Market values of these types of securities generally fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than conventional interest-paying securities of comparable term and quality. Under many market conditions, investments in such securities may be illiquid, making it difficult for a Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.
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“Stripped” Securities
The Funds may invest in stripped securities, which are usually structured with two or more classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution on a pool of U.S. government or foreign government securities or mortgage assets. In some cases, 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). Stripped securities commonly have greater market volatility than other types of fixed-income securities. In the case of stripped mortgage securities, if the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its investments in IOs. Stripped securities may be illiquid. Stripped securities may be considered derivative instruments. See the section “Derivative Instruments.”
Synthetic Securities
Strategic Alpha Fund. The Fund may invest in synthetic securities. Incidental to other transactions in fixed-income securities and/or for investment purposes, the Fund also may combine options on securities with cash, cash equivalent investments or other fixed-income securities in order to create “synthetic” securities which approximate desired risk and return profiles. This may be done where a “non-synthetic” security having the desired risk/return profile either is unavailable (e.g., short-term securities of certain non-U.S. governments) or possesses undesirable characteristics (e.g., interest payments on the security would be subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes). The Fund also may purchase forward non-U.S. exchange contracts in conjunction with U.S. dollar-denominated securities in order to create a synthetic non-U.S. currency denominated security which approximates desired risk and return characteristics where the non-synthetic securities either are not available in non-U.S. markets or possess undesirable characteristics. The use of synthetic bonds and other synthetic securities may involve risks different from, or potentially greater than, risks associated with direct investments in securities and other assets. Synthetic securities may increase other Fund risks, including market risk, liquidity risk, and credit/counterparty risk, and their value may or may not correlate with the value of the relevant underlying asset.
Tax-Exempt Securities
Some Funds may invest in tax-exempt securities (“Tax-Exempt Securities”), which are debt securities the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority believed by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be reliable), exempt from U.S. federal income tax. Tax-Exempt Securities include debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and their political subdivisions (for example, counties, cities, towns, villages and school districts) and authorities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. Other public purposes for which certain Tax-Exempt Securities may be issued include the refunding of outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for federal operating expenses or obtaining funds to lend to public or private institutions for the construction of facilities such as educational, hospital and housing facilities. In addition, certain types of private activity bonds have been or may be issued by public authorities or on behalf of state or local governmental units to finance privately operated housing facilities, sports facilities, convention or trade facilities, air or water pollution control facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas, electricity or sewage or solid waste disposal. Such obligations are included within the term “Tax-Exempt Securities” if the interest paid thereon is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority believed by a Fund’s portfolio manager to be reliable), exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. The Funds do not expect to qualify to pass through to shareholders the tax-exempt character of interest paid on Tax-Exempt Securities.
Funds that invest in certain tax-exempt bonds or certain private activity bonds may not be a desirable investment for “substantial users” of facilities financed by such obligations or bonds or for “related persons” of substantial users. You should contact your financial adviser or attorney for more information if you think you may be a “substantial user” or a “related person” of a substantial user.
There are variations in the quality of Tax-Exempt Securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications, depending on numerous factors (see Appendix A).
The two principal classifications of tax-exempt bonds are general obligation bonds and limited obligation (or revenue) bonds. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from the issuer’s general unrestricted revenues and not from any particular fund or source. The characteristics and method of enforcement of general obligation bonds vary according to the law applicable to the particular issuer, and payment may be dependent upon an appropriation by the issuer’s legislative body. 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 such as the user of the facility. Tax-exempt private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds and generally are not payable from the unrestricted revenues of the issuer. The credit and quality of such bonds are usually directly related to the credit standing of the corporate user of the facilities. Principal and interest on such bonds are the responsibilities of the corporate user (and any guarantor).
The yields on Tax-Exempt Securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the Tax-Exempt Securities market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. Further, information about the financial condition of an issuer of tax-exempt bonds may not be as extensive as that made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the Tax-Exempt Securities which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, Tax-Exempt Securities with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different yields while Tax-Exempt Securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same
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yield. Subsequent to its purchase by a Fund, an issue of Tax-Exempt Securities or other investments may cease to be rated or the rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the Fund. Neither event will require the elimination of an investment from a Fund’s portfolio, but the Adviser will consider such an event as part of its normal, ongoing review of all the Fund’s portfolio securities.
Tax-Exempt Securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the federal Bankruptcy Code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by Congress or the state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. 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 Tax-Exempt Securities may be materially affected or that their obligations may be found to be invalid and unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for tax-exempt bonds or certain segments thereof, or materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of a Fund’s Tax-Exempt Securities in the same manner.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the U.S. federal income tax exemption for interest on debt obligations issued by states and their political subdivisions. In this regard, for bonds issued after December 31, 2017, the tax-advantaged treatment previously available to “tax credit bonds” and “advance refunding bonds” is no longer available. Further similar proposals may well be introduced in the future. If such a proposal were enacted, the availability of Tax-Exempt Securities for investment by a Fund and the value of such Fund’s portfolios could be materially affected, in which event such Fund would reevaluate its investment objectives and policies and consider changes in their structure or dissolution.
All debt securities, including tax-exempt bonds, are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, for any given change in the level of interest rates, prices for longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices for shorter maturity issues.
Trust Preferred Securities
Strategic Alpha Fund. The Fund may also purchase trust preferred securities, which have characteristics of both subordinated debt and preferred stock. Trust preferred securities are issued by a special purpose trust subsidiary backed by subordinated debt of a corporate parent. These securities generally have a final stated maturity date and a fixed schedule for periodic payments. In addition, these securities have provisions that afford preference over common and preferred stock upon liquidation, although the securities are subordinated to other, more senior debt securities of the same issuer. The issuers of these securities often have the right to defer interest payments for a period of time.
Holders of trust preferred securities have limited voting rights to control the activities of the trust, and no voting rights with respect to the parent company. The market value of trust preferred securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust preferred securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act or otherwise subject to restrictions on resale. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of trust preferred securities and the ability of holders, such as a Fund, to sell their holdings. If the parent company defaults on interest payments to the trust, the trust will not be able to make dividend payments to holders of its securities.
U.S. Government Securities
The Funds may invest in some or all of the following U.S. government securities:

| U.S. Treasury Bills — Direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury that are issued in maturities of one year or less. No interest is paid on Treasury bills; instead, they are issued at a discount and repaid at full face value when they mature. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

| U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds — Direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury issued in maturities that vary between one and thirty years, with interest normally payable every six (6) months. These obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

| U.S. Treasury Floating Rate Notes — Treasury Floating Rate Notes are relatively new instruments authorized by amendments to the U.S. Treasury’s marketable securities auction rules. As with other floating rate securities, at certain intervals the interest payment on a Treasury Floating Rate Note will increase when the applicable index increases, and will decrease when the applicable index decreases. Treasury Floating Rate Notes are a relatively new type of financial instrument. As such, there is no significant trading history of these securities, and there can be no assurance that a liquid market in these securities will develop. Lack of a liquid market may impose the risk of higher transaction costs and the possibility that a Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so.

| Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) — Fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The interest rate on TIPS is fixed at issuance, but over the life of the bond this interest may be paid on an increasing or decreasing principal value that has been adjusted for inflation. Although repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed, the market value of TIPS is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate.

| “Ginnie Maes” — Debt securities issued by a mortgage banker or other mortgagee that represent an interest in a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or the Rural Housing Service or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. The GNMA guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest when such payments are due, whether or not these amounts are

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| collected by the issuer of these certificates on the underlying mortgages. It is generally understood that a guarantee by GNMA is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Mortgages included in single family or multi-family residential mortgage pools backing an issue of Ginnie Maes have a maximum maturity of 30 years. Scheduled payments of principal and interest are made to the registered holders of Ginnie Maes (such as the Funds) each month. Unscheduled prepayments may be made by homeowners, or as a result of a default. Prepayments are passed through to the registered holder (such as the Funds, which reinvest any prepayments) of Ginnie Maes along with regular monthly payments of principal and interest.

| “Fannie Maes” — The FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders that purchases residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers, including state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage banks. Fannie Maes are pass-through securities issued by FNMA that are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA, but these obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

| “Freddie Macs” — The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) is a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government. Freddie Macs are participation certificates issued by FHLMC that represent an interest in residential mortgages from FHLMC’s National Portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but these obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

U.S. government securities generally do not involve the credit/counterparty risks associated with investments in other types of fixed-income securities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities generally are lower than the yields available from corporate fixed-income securities. Like other debt securities, however, the values of U.S. government securities change as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in a Fund’s NAV. Because the magnitude of these fluctuations generally will be greater at times when a Fund’s average maturity is longer, under certain market conditions a Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities. Securities such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the relevant entity (e.g., FNMA or FHLMC) but have not been backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Instead, they have been supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations. An event affecting the guaranteeing entity could adversely affect the payment of principal or interest or both on the security, and therefore, these types of securities should be considered to be riskier than U.S. government securities. From time to time, uncertainty regarding the status of negotiations in the U.S. government to increase the statutory debt ceiling could: increase the risk that the U.S. government may default on payments on certain U.S. government securities; cause the credit rating of the U.S. government to be downgraded or increase volatility in both stock and bond markets; result in higher interest rates; reduce prices of U.S. Treasury securities; and/or increase the costs of certain kinds of debt. If a U.S. government-sponsored entity is negatively impacted by legislative or regulatory action, is unable to meet its obligations, or its creditworthiness declines, the performance of a Fund that holds securities of the entity may be adversely impacted.
The downgrade in the long-term U.S. credit rating by all three major rating agencies has introduced greater uncertainty about the ability of the U.S. to repay its obligations. Further credit rating downgrades or a U.S. credit default may result in increased volatility or liquidity risk, higher interest rates and lower prices for U.S. government securities and increased costs for all kinds of debt. The value of the Funds’ shares may be adversely affected by rating agency downgrades of the U.S. government’s credit rating given that the Funds may invest in U.S. government securities.
In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. The companies remain in conservatorship, and the effect that this conservatorship will have on the companies’ debt and equity securities is unclear. Although the U.S. government has provided financial support to FNMA and FHLMC in the past, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored enterprises in the future. In addition, any such government support may benefit the holders of only certain classes of an issuer’s securities.
Under the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s “Single Security Initiative,” FNMA and FHLMC have entered into a joint initiative to develop a common securitization platform for the issuance of Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities (“UMBS”), which would generally align the characteristics of FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities. In June 2019 FNMA and FHLMC started to issue UMBS in place of their current offerings of TBA-eligible mortgage-backed securities. The long-term effects of the issuance of UMBS on the market for mortgage-backed securities are still uncertain.
The values of TIPS generally fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in the value of TIPS. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of TIPS. If inflation is lower than expected during the period a Fund holds TIPS, the Fund may earn less on the TIPS than on a conventional bond. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in TIPS may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bonds’ inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index for TIPS will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.
See the section “Mortgage-Related Securities” for additional information on these securities.
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Variable and Floating Rate Instruments
Certain Funds may purchase variable and floating rate instruments (which may include bank loans, which are discussed in the section “Bank Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments” above). These instruments may include variable amount master demand notes, which are unsecured demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. These instruments may also include leveraged inverse floating rate debt instruments, or “inverse floaters.” The interest rate of an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest on a security or interest to which it is related. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest, and is subject to many of the same risks as derivatives. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Certain of these investments may be illiquid. The absence of an active secondary market with respect to these investments could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a variable or floating rate note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligation or during periods that the Fund is not entitled to exercise its demand rights, and the Fund could, for these or other reasons, suffer a loss with respect to such instruments.
Many variable and floating rate instruments use or may use a floating rate based on SOFR. See “Benchmark Reference Rates Risk” section for more information.
When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Securities
To reduce the risk of changes in interest rates and securities prices, the Funds may purchase securities on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis, which means delivery and payment take place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable with respect to such purchases are fixed when a Fund enters into the commitment, but a Fund does not make payment until it receives delivery from the counterparty. An Adviser or Subadviser will commit to purchase such securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Adviser or Subadviser may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.
Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis are subject to changes in value, generally changing in the same way, (i.e., appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates rise), based upon the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Securities so purchased may expose a Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis when an Adviser or Subadviser is fully or almost fully invested may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of a Fund’s net assets. In addition, there is a risk that securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may not be delivered and that the purchaser of securities sold by a Fund on a forward commitment basis will not honor its purchase obligation. In such cases, a Fund may incur a loss.
Zero-Coupon Securities
Some Funds may invest in zero-coupon securities. Zero-coupon securities are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest either for the entire life of the obligation or for an initial period after the issuance of the obligations; the holder generally is entitled to receive the par value of the security at maturity. These securities are issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero-coupon securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than are other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. A Fund’s investment in zero-coupon securities will require the Fund to accrue income without a corresponding receipt of cash; the Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio securities (including when not otherwise advantageous to do so) in order to obtain sufficient cash to meet its distribution requirements for treatment as a RIC under the Code.
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TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
Each Fund has the flexibility to respond promptly to changes in market and economic conditions. In the interest of preserving shareholders’ capital, the adviser and subadviser(s) of each Fund may employ a temporary defensive strategy if they determine such a strategy to be warranted. Pursuant to such a defensive strategy, a Fund temporarily may hold cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and/or invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, high-quality debt securities or money market instruments of U.S. or foreign issuers. It is impossible to predict whether, when or for how long a Fund will employ temporary defensive strategies. The use of temporary defensive strategies may prevent a Fund from achieving its goal.
In addition, pending investment of proceeds from new sales of Fund shares or to meet ordinary daily cash needs, a Fund may temporarily hold cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and may invest any portion of its assets in money market or other short-term high-quality debt instruments.
In the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where a Fund maintains its cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that the Fund would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all, and the Fund may incur losses. Any such event could adversely affect the business, liquidity, financial position and performance of the Fund.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
A Fund’s portfolio turnover rate for a fiscal year is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year, in each case excluding securities having maturity dates at acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by each Fund, thereby decreasing each Fund’s total return. High portfolio turnover also may give rise to additional taxable income for each Fund’s shareholders, including through the realization of short-term capital gains, which are typically taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates, and therefore can result in higher taxes for shareholders that hold their shares in taxable accounts. It is impossible to predict with certainty whether future portfolio turnover rates will be higher or lower than those experienced during past periods. Each Fund anticipates that its portfolio turnover rate will vary from time to time depending on the volatility of economic and market and other conditions.
The rate of portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor when each Fund’s adviser or subadviser believes that portfolio changes are appropriate.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
The Board has adopted policies to limit the disclosure of confidential portfolio holdings information and to ensure equal access to such information, except in certain circumstances as approved by the Board. These policies are summarized below. Generally, portfolio holdings information will not be disclosed until it is first posted on the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com. Generally, full portfolio holdings information will not be posted until it is aged for at least 30 calendar days. However, an officer of the Funds, after consultation with a Fund’s adviser and subadviser, as appropriate, can approve a shorter or longer period if such officer determines that the different period is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. Notwithstanding the above, the top ten holdings of a Fund as of any month-end may be posted to a Fund’s website prior to the approved aging period if the adviser or subadviser of the Fund has consented to the posting in advance. A list of the top 10 holdings of the Loomis Sayles Funds will generally be posted on a monthly basis within 7 business days after month-end (10 business days after quarter-end for Harris Funds). Any holdings information that is released must clearly indicate the date of the information, and must state that due to active management, the Funds may or may not still invest in the securities listed. Portfolio characteristics, such as industry/sector breakdown, current yield, quality breakdown, duration, average price-earnings ratio and other similar information may be provided on a current basis. However, portfolio characteristics do not include references to specific portfolio holdings.
Other Permitted Disclosure. There are circumstances where disclosure of portfolio holdings to third parties is necessary in connection with services provided to the Funds or is otherwise in the best interests of the Funds. An officer of the Funds may permit such disclosure, but only if: (i) the recipient of the information has entered into a written confidentiality agreement with the Funds, their principal underwriter or an affiliate of the Funds’ principal underwriter relating to such information, including a duty not to trade on the non-public information (or the recipient is otherwise subject to duties of confidentiality and not to trade); (ii) there is a legitimate business purpose for releasing the holdings disclosure; and (iii) the release of the holdings disclosure is necessary in connection with services provided to the Funds or is otherwise in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. In addition, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed to an affiliate of a Fund’s investment adviser if such affiliate requires the information for regulatory, oversight or other legitimate business purposes. Such release will be made in accordance with (i) through (iii) above.
As of the date of this Statement, the only entities that receive information pursuant to this exception are:
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Entity | Fund(s) | Type | Frequency | Purpose
ACA Group (formerly Global Trading Analytics) | Certain Funds | Transactions | Quarterly | Trade cost analysis
Bloomberg | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Attribution analysis and portfolio analytics; pricing vendor services and risk management
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Proxy voting recordkeeping services
CAPIS | Certain Funds | Transactions | Daily | Trade cost analysis
Charles River Systems, Inc. | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Trade order management services
Confluence Technologies, Inc. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Quarterly, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain functions related to quarterly Form N-PORT filings and production of shareholder reports
Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP | Certain Funds | Holdings in India-based issuers | Quarterly | Performing certain duties for compliance with the India Income-Tax Act
Dinkum Management Consultants Co., Ltd | Certain Funds | Holdings in Taiwan- based issuers | Annually | Performing certain duties for compliance with Taiwan’s tax laws
Donnelley Financial Solutions | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Quarterly, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain functions related to the production of the Funds’ financial statements, quarterly Form N-PORT filings and other related items
Ernst & Young LLP | All Funds | Foreign equity holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain functions related to the production of the Funds’ federal income and excise tax returns
FactSet | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Performing attribution analysis and portfolio analytics
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (“FIS”) XSPrisa | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Corporate action services
FundApps | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Regulatory reporting services
Gresham Technologies plc | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Certain electronic reconciliations of portfolio holdings of the Funds
Harris | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Fund Sub-Advisor
ICE Data Services | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Performing functions related to the liquidity classification of investments, and facilitating reporting to Natixis as disclosed previously in this section
Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS) | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Proxy voting administration and research

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Entity | Fund(s) | Type | Frequency | Purpose
Intersystems | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Database management
JP Morgan Chase & Co. | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Providing Private Credit Pricing Services
KPMG LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain duties related to tax compliance services
KPMG Global Services Private Limited | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain duties related to tax compliance services
Lipper | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Monthly | Industry wide services
Loomis Sayles | Certain Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Fund Advisor/Sub-Advisor
Natixis Advisors, LLC | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Fund Advisor and/or Administrator
NIM-os, LLC | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Hosting of Portfolio Accounting and Trade Order Management and Compliance Systems, Corporate Actions, Trade Settlements, Pricing, Reconciliations
NIM-os EU | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Risk Analysis
OnCorps, Inc. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Quarterly, or more frequently as needed | Performing certain functions related to quarterly N-PORT filings and production of shareholder reports
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Annually, or more frequently as needed | Funds’ independent public accountant
Qontigo | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Compliance testing related to the Funds’ use of derivatives
Ropes & Gray LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Funds’ outside counsel
Stradley Ronan Stevens & Young, LLP | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | As needed | Counsel to the independent Trustees
State Street Bank & Trust Co. | All Funds | Full portfolio holdings | Daily | Funds’ custodian, fund accounting agent, and sub-administrator

These entities may in turn disclose portfolio holdings information to their affiliates and third parties. Although each Trust may enter into written confidentiality agreements, in other circumstances, the obligation to keep information confidential may be based on common law, professional or statutory duties of confidentiality. Common law, professional or statutory duties of confidentiality, including the duty not to trade on the information, may not be as clearly delineated and may be more difficult to enforce than contractual duties. Each Fund’s Board exercises oversight of the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by, among other things, receiving and reviewing reports from each Fund’s chief compliance officer regarding any material issues concerning the Fund’s disclosure of portfolio holdings as well as periodic reports on the persons receiving portfolio holdings information as described above. Notwithstanding the above, there is no assurance that the Funds’ policies on the sharing of portfolio holdings information will protect the Funds from the potential misuse of holdings by individuals or firms in possession of that information.
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Other registered investment companies that are advised or sub-advised by a Fund’s adviser or subadviser may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither the adviser or subadviser nor the Board of each Trust exercises control over such policies or disclosure. In addition, separate account clients of the adviser or subadviser have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to each Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policies. Some of the funds that are advised or sub-advised by the adviser or subadviser and some of the separate accounts managed by the adviser or subadviser may have investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar or identical to the Funds’, and therefore potentially substantially similar, and in certain cases nearly identical, portfolio holdings as certain Funds. As a result, it is possible that other market participants may be able to use such information for their own benefit, which could negatively impact the Funds’ execution of purchase and sale transactions and, as a result, Fund performance.
In addition, any disclosures of portfolio holdings information by a Fund or its adviser or subadviser must be consistent with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, the Fund’s and the adviser or subadviser’s fiduciary duty to shareholders, and the Fund’s code of ethics. Each Fund’s policies expressly prohibit the sharing of portfolio holdings information if the Fund, itsadviser, subadviser, or any other affiliated party receives compensation or other consideration in connection with such arrangement. The term “compensation or other consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in a Fund or in other funds or accounts managed by Fund’s adviser or subadviser and/or by any affiliated person of the adviser and/or subadviser, but shall not include the provision of “seed capital” by the adviser or subadviser or its affiliates.
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS
Each Trust is governed by the Board, which is responsible for generally overseeing the conduct of Fund business and for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Trustees of the Board (the “Trustees”) meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Funds’ activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Funds and review the Funds’ performance.
Trustees and Officers
The table below provides certain information regarding the Trustees and officers of the Trusts. For the purposes of this table and for purposes of this Statement, the term “Independent Trustee” means those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the relevant Trust. In certain circumstances, Trustees are also required to have no direct or indirect financial interest in the approval of a matter being voted on in order to be considered “independent” for the purposes of the requisite approval. For purposes of this Statement, the term “Interested Trustee” means those Trustees who are “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the relevant Trust.
The following table provides information about the members of the Board, including information about their principal occupations during the past five years, information about other directorships held at public companies, and a summary of the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as such. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons below is 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197.
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Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s), Length of Time Served and Term of Office 1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen 2 and Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | Experience, Qualifications, Attributes, Skills for Board Membership
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Edmond J. English (1953) | Trustee since 2013 Contract Review Committee Member | Executive Chairman of Bob’s Discount Furniture (retail) | 36 Director, Burlington Stores, Inc. (retail); Director, Rue La La, Inc. (e-commerce retail) | Significant experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations (including retail companies and a bank); executive experience (including at a retail company)
Richard A. Goglia (1951) | Trustee since 2015 Chairperson of the Audit Committee | Retired | 36 Director, Ardian Access LLC (investment management/private markets industry) | Significant experience on the Board and executive experience (including his role as Vice President and treasurer of a defense company and experience at a financial services company)
Martin T. Meehan (1956) | Trustee since 2012 Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Contract Review Committee Member | President, University of Massachusetts | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations; experience as President of the University of Massachusetts; government experience (including as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives);academic experience
Maureen B. Mitchell (1951) | Trustee since 2017 Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee | Retired | 36 Director, Sterling Bancorp (bank) | Significant experience on the Board; financial services industry and executive experience (including role as President of global sales and marketing at a financial services company)
James P. Palermo (1955) | Trustee since 2016 Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member | Founding Partner, Breton Capital Management, LLC (private equity); formerly, Partner, STEP Partners, LLC (private equity) | 36 Director, Candidly (chemicals and biofuels) | Significant experience on the Board; financial services industry and executive experience (including roles as Chief Executive Officer of client management and asset servicing for a banking and financial services company)

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Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s), Length of Time Served and Term of Office 1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen 2 and Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | Experience, Qualifications, Attributes, Skills for Board Membership
Erik R. Sirri (1958) | Chairperson of the Board since 2021 Trustee since 2009 Ex Officio Member of the Audit Committee, Contract Review Committee and Governance Committee | Retired; formerly, Professor of Finance at Babson College | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; experience as Director of the Division of Trading and Markets at the SEC; academic experience; training as an economist
Kirk A. Sykes (1958) | Trustee since 2019 Contract Review Committee Member and Governance Committee Member | Managing Director of Accordia Partners, LLC (real estate development); President of Primary Corporation (real estate development); Managing Principal of Merrick Capital Partners (infrastructure finance) | 36 Advisor/Risk Management Committee, Eastern Bank (bank); Director, Apartment Investment and Management Company (real estate investment trust) | Significant experience on the Board and significant experience on the boards of other business organizations (including real estate companies and banks)
Cynthia L. Walker (1956) | Trustee since 2005 Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member | Executive Consultant for Finance & Administration, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine; formerly, Deputy Dean for Finance and Administration, Yale University School of Medicine | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; executive experience in a variety of academic organizations (including roles as dean for finance and administration)
INTERESTED TRUSTEES
Kevin P. Charleston 3 (1965) One Financial Center Boston, MA 02111 | Trustee since 2015 President and Chief Executive Officer of Loomis Sayles Funds I since 2015 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L. P. | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; continuing service as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Loomis Sayles

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Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s), Length of Time Served and Term of Office 1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen 2 and Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years | Experience, Qualifications, Attributes, Skills for Board Membership
David L. Giunta 4 (1965) | Trustee since 2011 President and Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Funds Trust I, Executive Vice President of Loomis Sayles Funds I and President of Loomis Sayles Funds II since 2008; Chief Executive Officer of Loomis Sayles Funds II since 2015 | President and Chief Executive Officer, Natixis Advisors, and Natixis Distribution, LLC | 36 None | Significant experience on the Board; experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Advisors, and Natixis Distribution, LLC
Marina Gross 5 (1976) | Trustee since 2024 | Executive Vice President - Head of Solutions, US, Natixis Investment Managers | 36 None | Experience as Executive Vice President - Head of Solutions, US, Natixis Investment Managers

1 | Each Trustee serves until retirement, resignation, or removal from the Board. The current retirement age is 75. The position of Chairperson of the Board is appointed for a three-year term.

2 | The Trustees of the Trusts serve as Trustees of a fund complex that includes all series of the Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV and Gateway Trust, (collectively, the “Natixis Funds Trusts”), Loomis Sayles Funds I and Loomis Sayles Funds II (collectively, the “Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts”), and Natixis ETF Trust and Natixis ETF Trust II (collectively, the “Natixis ETF Trusts”) (collectively, the “Fund Complex”).

3 | Mr. Charleston is deemed an “interested person” of the Trusts because he holds the following positions with an affiliated person of the Trusts: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

4 | Mr. Giunta is deemed an “interested person” of the Trusts because he holds the following positions with an affiliated person of the Trusts: President and Chief Executive Officer, Natixis Advisors, LLC and Natixis Distribution, LLC.

5 | Ms. Gross is deemed an “interested person” of the Trusts because she holds the following position with an affiliated person of the Trusts: Executive Vice President and Head of Solutions, US, Natixis Investment Managers.

Name and Year of Birth | Position(s) Held with the Trust(s) | Term of Office 1 and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years 2
OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
Matthew J. Block (1981) | Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | Since 2022 | Senior Vice President, Natixis Advisors and Natixis Distribution, LLC; formerly, Vice President, Natixis Advisors, LLC and Natixis Distribution, LLC; Assistant Treasurer of the Fund Complex
Susan McWhan Tobin (1963) | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer | Since 2022 Since 2025 | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Natixis Advisors, LLC and Natixis Distribution, LLC; formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Natixis Investment Managers (March 2019 - May 2022)

1 | Each officer of the Trusts serves for an indefinite term in accordance with the Trusts’ current by-laws until the date his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, retires, is removed or becomes disqualified.

2 | Each person listed above, except as noted, holds the same position(s) with the Fund Complex. Previous positions during the past five years with Natixis Distribution, LLC, Natixis Advisors or Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. are omitted, if not materially different from an officer’s current position with such entity.

Qualifications of Trustees
The preceding tables provide an overview of the considerations that led the Board to conclude that each individual serving as a Trustee of the Trusts should so serve. The current members of the Board have joined the Board at different points in time. Generally, no one factor was determinative in the original selection of an individual to join the Board. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s knowledge in matters relating to the mutual fund industry; (ii) any experience possessed by the individual as a director or senior officer of other public companies; (iii) the individual’s educational background; (iv) the individual’s reputation for high ethical standards and personal and professional integrity; (v) any
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specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the individual, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (vi) the individual’s perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the individual’s ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board; (vii) the individual’s ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee for purposes of applicable regulations; and (viii) such other factors as the Board determined to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other transitions. Each Trustee’s professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that an individual should serve on the Board are summarized in the tables above.
Leadership and Structure of the Board
The Board is led by the Chairperson of the Board, who is an Independent Trustee. The Board currently consists of twelve Trustees, nine of whom are Independent Trustees. The Trustees have delegated significant oversight authority to the three standing committees of the Trusts, the Audit Committee, the Contract Review Committee and the Governance Committee, each of which consists solely of Independent Trustees. These committees meet separately and at times jointly, with the joint meetings intended to educate and involve all Independent Trustees in significant committee-level topics. As well as handling matters directly, the committees raise matters to the Board for consideration. In addition to the oversight performed by the committees and the Board, the Chairperson of the Board and the chairpersons of each committee interact frequently with management regarding topics to be considered at Board and committee meetings as well as items arising between meetings. At least once a year the Governance Committee reviews the Board’s governance practices and procedures and recommends appropriate changes to the full Board. The Board believes its leadership structure is appropriate and effective in that it allows for oversight at the committee or board level, as the case may be, while facilitating communications among the Trustees and between the Board and Fund management.
The Contract Review Committee of the Trusts consists solely of Trustees who are not employees, officers or directors of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates and considers matters relating to advisory, subadvisory and distribution arrangements and potential conflicts of interest between a Fund’s Adviser and the Trusts. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, this committee held five meetings.
The Governance Committee of the Trusts consists solely of Trustees who are not employees, officers or directors of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates and considers matters relating to candidates for membership on the Board and Trustee compensation. The Governance Committee makes nominations for Independent Trustee membership on the Board when necessary and considers recommendations from shareholders of the Funds that are submitted in accordance with the procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Pursuant to those procedures, shareholders must submit a recommendation for nomination in a signed writing addressed to the attention of the Board, c/o Secretary of the Funds, Natixis Advisors, LLC, 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197. This written communication must (i) be signed by the shareholder, (ii) include the name and address of the shareholder, (iii) identify the Fund(s) to which the communication relates, and (iv) identify the account number, class and number of shares held by the shareholder as of a recent date or the intermediary through which the shares are held. The recommendation must be received in a timely manner (and in any event no later than the date specified for receipt of shareholder proposals in any applicable proxy statement with respect to a Fund). A recommendation for Trustee nomination shall be kept on file and considered by the Board for six (6) months from the date of receipt, after which the recommendation shall be considered stale and discarded. The recommendation must contain sufficient background information concerning the Trustee candidate to enable a proper judgment to be made as to the candidate’s qualifications. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, this committee held four meetings.
The Governance Committee has not established specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by an individual to be recommended for nomination as an Independent Trustee. The Governance Committee, however, believes that the Board as a whole should reflect a diversity of viewpoints, and will generally consider each nominee’s professional experience, education, financial expertise, gender, ethnicity, age and other individual qualities and attributes. Such considerations will vary based on the Board’s existing composition. The Governance Committee has adopted a diversity policy pursuant to which the committee, through its nomination and evaluation process, will seek to maintain a well-rounded and diverse Board that is composed of individuals who can fairly represent the interests and concerns of Fund shareholders. The Governance Committee conducts an annual self-assessment and will consider the effectiveness of its diversity policy as part of this process. In evaluating candidates for a position on the Board, the Governance Committee may consider a variety of factors, including (i) the nominee’s reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards; (ii) the nominee’s educational and professional accomplishments; (iii) the nominee’s demonstrated business acumen, including, but not limited to, knowledge of the mutual fund industry and/or any experience possessed by the nominee as a director or senior officer of a financial services company or a public company; (iv) the nominee’s ability to exercise sound judgment in matters related to the objectives of the Funds; (v) the nominee’s willingness to contribute positively to the decision-making process of the Board and to bring an independent point of view; (vi) the nominee’s commitment and ability to devote the necessary time and energy to be an effective Independent Trustee; (vii) the nominee’s ability to understand the sometimes conflicting interests of various constituencies of the Funds and to act in the interests of all shareholders; (viii) the absence of conflicts of interests that would impair his or her ability to represent all shareholders and to fulfill director fiduciary responsibilities; (ix) the nominee’s ability to be collegial and compatible with current members of the Board and management of the Funds; (x) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the nominee, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (xi) the nominee’s ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee for purposes of applicable regulations; and (xii) such other factors as the Governance Committee may request in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other transitions.
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The Audit Committee of the Trusts consists solely of Independent Trustees and considers matters relating to the scope and results of the Trusts’ audits and serves as a forum in which the independent registered public accounting firm can raise any issues or problems identified in an audit with the Board. The Audit Committee also reviews and monitors compliance with stated investment objectives and policies, SEC regulations as well as operational issues relating to the transfer agent, administrator, sub-administrator and custodian. In addition, the Audit Committee implements procedures for receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by a Fund regarding its accounting, internal accounting controls and the confidential, anonymous submission by officers of a Fund or employees of certain service providers of concerns related to such matters. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, this committee held four meetings.
The current membership of each committee is as follows:

Audit Committee | Contract Review Committee | Governance Committee
Richard A. Goglia – Chairperson | Maureen B. Mitchell – Chairperson | Martin T. Meehan – Chairperson
James P. Palermo | Edmond J. English | James P. Palermo
Cynthia L. Walker | Martin T. Meehan | Kirk A. Sykes
| Kirk A. Sykes | Cynthia L. Walker

As Chairperson of the Board, Mr. Sirri is an ex officio member of each committee.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight of the Funds
The Board’s role is one of oversight of the practices and processes of the Funds and their service providers, rather than active management of the Trusts, including in matters relating to risk management. The Board seeks to understand the key risks facing the Funds, including those involving conflicts of interest; how Fund management identifies and monitors these risks on an ongoing basis; how Fund management develops and implements controls to mitigate these risks; and how Fund management tests the effectiveness of those controls. The Board cannot foresee, know, or guard against all risks, nor are the Trustees guarantors against risk.
Periodically, Fund officers provide the full Board with an overview of the enterprise risk assessment program in place at Natixis Advisors and the Distributor, which serve as the administrator of and principal underwriter to the Funds, respectively. Fund officers on a quarterly and annual basis also provide the Board (or one of its standing committees) with written and oral reports on regulatory and compliance matters, operational and service provider matters, organizational developments, product proposals, Fund and internal audit results, and insurance and fidelity bond coverage, along with a discussion of the risks and controls associated with these matters, and periodically make presentations to management on risk issues and industry best practices. Fund service providers, including subadviser transfer agents and the custodian, periodically provide Fund management and/or the Board with information about their risk assessment programs and/or the risks arising out of their activities. The scope and frequency of these reports vary. Fund officers also communicate with the Trustees between meetings regarding material exceptions and other items germane to the Board’s risk oversight function.
Pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, the Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who is responsible for administering the Funds’ compliance program, including monitoring and enforcing compliance by the Funds and their service providers with the federal securities laws. The CCO has an active role in daily Fund operations and maintains a working relationship with all relevant advisory, compliance, operations and administration personnel for the Funds’ service providers. On at least a quarterly basis, the CCO reports to the Independent Trustees on significant compliance program developments, including material compliance matters, and on an annual basis, the CCO provides the full Board with a written report that summarizes his review and assessment of the adequacy of the compliance programs of the Funds and their service providers. The CCO also periodically communicates with the Audit Committee members between its scheduled meetings.
Fund Securities Owned by the Trustees
As of December 31, 2025, the Trustees had the following ownership in the Funds and in all funds in the Fund Complex:

Dollar Range of Fund Shares 1 | Edmond J. English 2 | Richard A. Goglia 2 | Martin T. Meehan 2 | Maureen B. Mitchell | James P. Palermo 2 | Erik R. Sirri 2 | Peter J. Smail | Kirk A. Sykes 2 | Cynthia L. Walker 2
Independent Trustees
High Income Fund | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A
International Growth Fund | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | C | A
Investment Grade Bond Fund | E | E | A | A | A | A | A | A | A
Natixis Oakmark Fund | A | E | A | E | A | A | E | A | A
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | E | A | A | C | A | A | A | A | A
Strategic Alpha Fund | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A
Strategic Income Fund | E | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | E
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | A | A | E | A | E | A | A | A | E
Aggregate Dollar Range of Fund Shares in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | D | E

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1 | A. None B. $1 – $10,000 C. $10,001 – $50,000 D. $50,001 – $100,000 E. over $100,000

2 | Amounts include economic value of notional investments held through the deferred compensation plan.

Dollar Range of Fund Shares* | Kevin P. Charleston | David L. Giunta | Marina Gross
Interested Trustees |  |  |
High Income Fund | A | A | A
International Growth Fund | A | A | A
Investment Grade Bond Fund | A | B | B
Natixis Oakmark Fund | A | A | A
Natixis Oakmark International Fund | A | A | A
Strategic Alpha Fund | E | A | A
Strategic Income Fund | A | A | A
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | A | A | A
Aggregate Dollar Range of Fund Shares in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee | E | E | E

* | A. None B. $1 - $10,000 C. $10,001 - $50,000 D. $50,001 - $100,000 E. over $100,000

As of December 31, 2025, none of the Independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities of a Fund’s adviser, the Distributor, or of a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with an adviser or the Distributor.
Trustee Fees
The Trusts pays no compensation to its officers or to Trustees who are employees, officers or directors of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor, or their affiliates.
The Chairperson of the Board receives a retainer fee at the annual rate of $410,000. The Chairperson does not receive any meeting attendance fees for Board meetings or committee meetings that he attends. Each Trustee who is not an employee, officer or director of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates (other than the Chairperson) receives, in the aggregate, a retainer fee at the annual rate of $235,000. Each Trustee who is not an employee, officer or director of Natixis Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates also receives a meeting attendance fee of $10,000 for each meeting of the Board that he or she attends in person and $5,000 for each meeting of the Board that he or she attends telephonically. In addition, the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and the Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee, each receives an additional retainer fee at an annual rate of $30,000. The Chairperson of the Governance Committee receives an additional retainer fee at an annual rate of $20,000. Each Contract Review Committee and Audit Committee member is compensated $6,000 for each committee meeting that he or she attends in person and $3,000 for each committee meeting that he or she attends telephonically. Each Governance Committee member is compensated $2,500 for each committee meeting that he or she attends. These fees are allocated among the funds in the Fund Complex based on a formula that takes into account, among other factors, the relative net assets of each mutual fund portfolio. Trustees are reimbursed for travel expenses in connection with attendance at meetings.
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During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the Trustees received the amounts set forth in the following table for serving as Trustees of the Trusts and of the Fund Complex. The table also sets forth, as applicable, pension or retirement benefits accrued as part of fund expenses, as well as estimated annual retirement benefits:
Compensation Table
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2025

| Aggregate Compensation from Natixis Funds Trust I 1 | Aggregate Compensation from Natixis Funds Trust II 1 | Aggregate Compensation from Loomis Sayles Funds II 1 | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses | Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement | Total Compensation from the Fund Complex 2
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Edmond J. English | $47,711 | $22,059 | $149,524 | $0 | $0 | $310,000
Richard A. Goglia | $52,340 | $24,137 | $164,324 | $0 | $0 | $340,000
Martin T. Meehan | $52,340 | $24,137 | $164,324 | $0 | $0 | $340,000
Maureen B. Mitchell | $52,340 | $24,137 | $164,324 | $0 | $0 | $340,000
James P. Palermo | $49,254 | $22,751 | $154,457 | $0 | $0 | $320,000
Erik R. Sirri | $64,820 | $19,707 | $234,188 | $0 | $0 | $410,000
Peter J. Smail | $47,711 | $22,059 | $149,524 | $0 | $0 | $310,000
Kirk A. Sykes | $49,254 | $22,751 | $154,457 | $0 | $0 | $320,000
Cynthia L. Walker | $49,254 | $22,751 | $154,457 | $0 | $0 | $320,000
INTERESTED TRUSTEES
Kevin P. Charleston | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0
David L. Giunta | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0
Marina Gross | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0

1 | Amounts include payments deferred by Trustees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, with respect to the Trusts. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued for Natixis Funds Trust I as of December 31, 2025 for the Trustees is as follows: English $134,962, Goglia $186,892, Meehan $246,446, Palermo $449,565, Sirri $225,830, Sykes $18,672, and Walker $981,886. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued for Natixis Funds Trust II as of December 31, 2025 for the Trustees is as follows: English $239,054, Goglia $230,023, Meehan $298,998, Palermo $343,310, Sirri $319,510, Sykes $10,016 and Walker $1,030,325. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued for Loomis Sayles Funds II as of December 31, 2025 for the Trustees is as follows: English $418,173, Goglia $475,850, Meehan $735,163, Palermo $1,186,135, Sirri $695,706, Sykes $52,809 and Walker $2,807,187.

2 | Total Compensation represents amounts paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 to a Trustee for serving on the board of eight (8) trusts with a total of thirty-six (36) funds as of December 31, 2025.

The Fund Complex does not provide pension or retirement benefits to the Trustees, but has adopted a deferred payment arrangement under which each Trustee may elect not to receive fees from the Funds on a current basis but to receive in a subsequent period an amount equal to the value that such fees would have been if they had been invested in a Fund or another fund in the Fund Complex selected by the Trustee on the normal payment date for such fees.
Management Ownership
As of record of April 1, 2026, the officers and Trustees of the Trusts collectively owned less than 1% of the then outstanding shares of each of the Funds.
As of April 1, 2026, the Loomis Sayles’ Employees’ Profit Sharing Plan (the “Profit Sharing Plan”) owned the following percentage of the outstanding Class A shares of the indicated Funds: 1.31% of the Class A shares of the Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund.
The Trustee of the Pension Plan and Profit Sharing Plan is Charles Schwab Trust Company. The Pension Plan’s Advisory Committee, which is composed of the same individuals listed below as Trustees of the Profit Sharing Plan, has the sole voting and investment power with respect to the Pension Plan’s shares. The Trustees of the Profit Sharing Plan are Greg O’Hara, Tom Fahey, Justin Teman, Susan Sieker, Michael Giles, Rich Bruder, Elaine Stokes, Debbie Lewis, Carol Embree and Nicole Pytlak. Except for Carol Embree and Elaine Stokes, each member of the Advisory Committee is an officer and employee of Loomis Sayles. Plan participants are entitled to exercise investment and voting power over shares owned of record by the Profit Sharing Plan. Shares not voted by participants are voted in the same proportion as the shares voted by the voting participants. The address for the Profit Sharing Plan and the Pension Plan is One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111.
Code of Ethics
The Trusts, the advisers and subadvisers, and the Distributor each have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit the personnel of these entities to invest in securities, including securities that the Funds may purchase or hold. The codes of ethics are on public file with and are available from the SEC.
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Proxy Voting Policies
The Board has adopted the Proxy Voting Policy and Guidelines (the “Procedures”) for the voting of proxies for securities held by the Funds. Under the Procedures, decisions regarding the voting of proxies are to be made solely in the interest of the Funds and their shareholders. The adviser or subadviser shall exercise its fiduciary responsibilities to vote proxies with respect to each Fund’s investments that are managed by that adviser or subadviser in a prudent manner in accordance with the Procedures and the proxy voting policies of the adviser or subadviser. Because each adviser and subadviser manages its portfolio independently from the other, the different Funds and/or different sleeves of the same Fund may vote differently on the same matter. The adviser or subadviser is responsible for maintaining certain records and reporting to the Audit Committee of the Trusts in connection with the voting of proxies. The adviser or subadviser shall make available to each Fund, or Natixis Advisors, the Funds’ administrator, the records and information maintained by the adviser or subadviser under the Procedures.
Natixis Advisors. Generally, proxy voting responsibility and authority are delegated to a Fund’s subadviser. In situations where Natixis Advisors retains proxy voting authority it follows the following guidelines. Natixis Advisors endeavors to do so in accordance with the best economic interest of its clients. Natixis Advisors endeavors to resolve any conflicts of interest exclusively in the best economic interest of the clients. In order to minimize conflicts of interest, Natixis Advisors has contracted with Broadridge/Glass Lewis, an independent third party service provider, to vote Natixis Advisors’ client proxies. Natixis Advisors has a fiduciary responsibility to exercise proxy voting authority, when such authority is granted to it. Glass Lewis may maintain records, provide reports, develop models and research, and vote proxies in accordance with instructions and guidelines provided or approved by Natixis Advisors. These instructions and guidelines shall be consistent with the Proxy Voting Policy of Natixis Advisors, which generally votes “for” proposals that, in the judgment of Natixis Advisors, would serve to enhance shareholder value, and votes “against” proposals that, in the judgment of Natixis Advisors, would impair shareholder value. These instructions and guidelines from Glass Lewis direct Broadridge to vote “for” or “against” specific types of routine proposals, while generally reserving other non-routine proposals for Natixis Advisors to decide on a case-by-case basis. With respect to proposals to be decided by Natixis Advisors on a case-by-case basis, a designated member of the portfolio management team of Natixis Advisors has the responsibility to determine how the proxies should be voted and for directing the proxy voting agent, through other operational personnel of Natixis Advisors, to vote accordingly.
Natixis Advisors reviews its proxy voting policy on a periodic basis, usually annually. Additionally, on a periodic basis, Natixis Advisors reviews reports produced by Broadridge that summarize voting activity. Furthermore, an internal team of Natixis Advisors, which team is composed of legal, compliance, portfolio management, and operational personnel, also conducts periodic reviews of proxy voting activity and issues, if any, that may arise. Finally, compliance conducts a random sampling review of proxy ballots to ascertain whether votes are cast in compliance with Natixis Advisors’ proxy voting policy. Upon request, clients may obtain a full and complete copy of the Natixis Advisors proxy voting policy and a record of how their securities were voted.
Harris Associates. Harris Associates (“Harris”) believes that proxy voting rights are valuable portfolio assets and an important part of the investment process, and Harris exercises voting responsibilities as a fiduciary solely with the goal of serving the best interests of Harris’ clients in their capacity as shareholders of a company. In determining the vote on any proposal, the Proxy Voting Committee will consider the proposal’s expected impact on shareholder value and will not consider any benefit to Harris, its employees, its affiliates or any other person, other than benefits to the owners of the securities to be voted, as shareholders.
Harris considers the reputation, experience and competence of a company’s management when it evaluates the merits of investing in a particular company, and invests in companies in which Harris believes management goals and shareholder goals are aligned. When this happens, by definition, voting with management is generally the same as voting to maximize the expected value of Harris’ investment. Accordingly, on most issues, Harris casts votes in accordance with management’s recommendations. This does not mean that Harris Associates does not care about corporate governance. Rather, it is confirmation that Harris’ process of investing with shareholder aligned management is working. Proxy voting is not always black and white, however, and reasonable people can disagree over some matters of business judgment. When Harris believes that management’s position on a particular issue is not in the best interests of its clients, Harris will vote contrary to management’s recommendation.
The proxy voting guidelines below summarize Harris’ position on various issues of concern to investors and give a general indication of how proxies on portfolio securities will be voted on proposals dealing with particular issues. Harris will generally vote proxies in accordance with these guidelines, except as otherwise determined by the Proxy Voting Committee or agreed between Harris and its client. Harris’ voting guidelines generally address issues related to boards of directors, auditors, equity based compensation plans, and shareholder rights.

● | With respect to a company’s board of directors, Harris believes that boards should have a majority of independent directors and that audit, compensation and nominating committees should generally consist solely of independent directors, and it will usually vote in favor of proposals that ensure such independence.

● | With respect to auditors, Harris believes that the relationship between an issuer and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit engagement, although it may include certain closely related activities such as financial statement preparation and tax-related services that do not raise any appearance of impaired independence.

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● | With respect to equity based compensation plans, Harris believes that appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans approved by shareholders can be an effective way to align the interests of long-term shareholders and the interests of management, employees and directors. However, Harris is opposed to plans if they have historically been used to provide participants with excessive awards or have inherently objectionable structural features.

● | With respect to corporate structure and shareholder rights, Harris generally believes that all shareholders of an issuer should have an equal voice and that barriers which limit the ability of shareholders to effect change and to realize full value are not desirable.

● | With respect to “social responsibility” issues, Harris believes that matters related to a company’s day-to-day business operations are primarily the responsibility of management. Harris is focused on maximizing long-term shareholder value and will usually vote against shareholder proposals requesting that a company disclose or amend certain business practices unless Harris believes the proposal would have a substantial positive economic impact on the company.

Harris may determine not to vote a Fund’s proxy if it has concluded that the costs of or disadvantages resulting from voting outweigh the economic benefits of voting. For example, in some non-U.S. jurisdictions, sales of securities voted may be prohibited for some period of time, usually between the record and meeting dates (“share blocking”), and Harris may determine that the loss of investment flexibility resulting from share blocking outweighs the benefit to be gained by voting.
The Proxy Voting Committee, in consultation with Harris’ Legal and Compliance Departments, is responsible for monitoring and resolving possible material conflicts of interest with respect to proxy voting. A conflict of interest may exist, for example, when: (i) proxy votes regarding non-routine matters are solicited by an issuer who has an institutional separate account relationship with Harris, or Harris is actively soliciting business from the issuer; (ii) when Harris is aware that a proponent of a proxy proposal has a business relationship with Harris or Harris is actively soliciting such business (e.g., an employee group for which Harris manages money); (iii) when Harris is aware that it has business relationships with participants in proxy contests, corporate directors or director candidates; or (iv) when Harris is aware that a Harris employee has a personal interest in the outcome of a particular matter before shareholders (e.g., a Harris executive has an immediate family member who serves as a director of a company).
Harris is committed to resolving any such conflicts in its clients’ collective best interest, and accordingly, will vote pursuant to the Guidelines set forth in the Proxy Voting Policy when conflicts of interest arise. However, if Harris believes that voting in accordance with a Guideline is not in the best interest of clients under the particular facts and circumstances presented, or if the proposal is not addressed by the Guidelines, then Harris will vote in accordance with the guidance of an independent third party voting service, Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”). If ISS has not provided guidance with respect to the proposal or if Harris believes the recommendation of ISS is not in the best interests of clients, then the Proxy Voting Committee will refer the matter to (1) the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Harris Investment Trust for a determination of how shares held in the Oakmark Funds will be voted, and (2) the Proxy Voting Conflicts Committee consisting of Harris’ General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and Chief Financial Officer for a determination of how shares held in all other client accounts will be voted. Each of those committees will keep a written record of the basis for its decision.
Loomis Sayles. Under the Procedures, the responsibility for voting proxies generally is delegated to Loomis Sayles, the investment adviser. Decisions regarding the voting of proxies shall be made solely in the interest of each Fund and its shareholders. The Adviser shall exercise its fiduciary responsibilities to vote proxies with respect to each Fund’s investments that are managed by the Adviser in a prudent manner in accordance with the Procedures and the proxy voting policies of the Adviser. Proposals that, in the opinion of the Adviser, are in the best interests of shareholders are generally voted “for” and proposals that, in the judgment of the Adviser, are not in the best interests of shareholders are generally voted “against.” The Procedures, as implemented by the Loomis Sayles Proxy Committee (the “Proxy Committee”), are intended to support good corporate governance, including those corporate practices that address environmental and social issues (ESG Matters), in all cases with the objective of protecting the Fund’s interests and maximizing its shareholders’ value. The Adviser is responsible for maintaining certain records and reporting to the Audit Committee of the Trusts in connection with the voting of proxies. Upon request for reasonable periodic review as well as annual reporting to the SEC, the Adviser shall make available to each Fund, or Natixis Advisors, each Fund’s administrator, the records and information maintained by the Adviser under the Procedures.
Loomis Sayles uses the services of third parties (each a “Proxy Voting Service” and collectively the “Proxy Voting Services”), to provide research, analysis and voting recommendations and to administer the process of voting proxies for those clients for which Loomis Sayles has voting authority. Each of Loomis Sayles’ Proxy Voting Services provides vote recommendations and/or analysis to Loomis Sayles based on the Proxy Voting Services‘ own research. Loomis Sayles will generally follow its express policy with input from the Proxy Voting Service unless Loomis Sayles’ Proxy Committee determines that the client’s best interests are served by voting otherwise. All issues presented for shareholder vote are subject to the oversight of the Proxy Committee. All non-routine issues will generally be considered directly by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the equity analyst following the company and/or the portfolio manager of the fund holding the security, and will be voted in the best investment interests of the fund. All routine issues will be voted according to Loomis Sayles‘ policy approved by the Proxy Committee unless special factors require that they be considered by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the equity analyst following the company and/or the portfolio manager of the fund holding the security. Loomis Sayles’ Proxy Committee has established these routine policies in what it believes are the best investment interests of Loomis Sayles’ clients.
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The specific responsibilities of the Proxy Committee include the following: (1) the development, authorization, implementation and updating of the Loomis Sayles‘ Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Procedures”), including an annual review of the Procedures, existing voting guidelines, and the proxy voting process in general; (2) oversight of the proxy voting process, including oversight of the vote on proposals according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines, directing the vote on proposals where there is reason not to vote according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines or where proposals require special consideration, consultation with the portfolio managers and analysts for the fund holding the security when necessary or appropriate, and periodically sampling or engaging an outside party to sample proxy votes to ensure they comply with the Procedures and are cast in accordance with the clients’ best interests; and (3) engagement and oversight of third-party vendors, including determining and periodically reassessing whether a Proxy Voting Service has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues, providing ongoing oversight of the Proxy Voting Services to ensure that proxies continue to be voted in the best interests of clients, receiving and reviewing updates from the Proxy Voting Services regarding relevant business changes or changes to the Proxy Voting Services’ conflict policies and procedures, and in the event that the Proxy Committee becomes aware that a Proxy Voting Service’s recommendation was based on a material factual error: investigating the error, considering the nature of the error and the related recommendation, and determining whether the Proxy Voting Service has taken reasonable steps to reduce the likelihood of similar errors in the future.
Loomis Sayles has established policies and procedures to ensure that proxies are voted in its clients’ best interest and are not affected by any possible conflicts of interest. First, except in certain limited instances, Loomis Sayles votes in accordance with its pre-determined policies set forth in the Procedures. Second, where these Procedures allow for discretion, Loomis Sayles will generally consider the recommendations of the Proxy Voting Services in making its voting decisions. However, if the Proxy Committee determines that the Proxy Voting Services’ recommendation is not in the best interest of its clients, then the Proxy Committee may use its discretion to vote against the Proxy Voting Services’ recommendation, but only after taking the following steps: (1) conducting a review for any material conflict of interest Loomis Sayles may have, and (2) if any material conflict is found to exist, excluding anyone at Loomis Sayles who is subject to that conflict of interest from participating in the voting decision in any way. However, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Proxy Committee after full prior disclosure of any conflict, that person may provide information, opinions or recommendations on any proposal to the Proxy Committee. In such event, prior to directing any vote, the Proxy Committee will make reasonable efforts to obtain and consider information, opinions, or recommendations from or about the opposing position on any proposal.
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies related to their respective portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge through the Funds’ website, im.natixis.com, and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
Natixis Advisors, formed in 1995, is a limited liability company owned by Natixis Investment Managers, LLC, the holding company for the North American asset management business of Natixis Investment Managers (“Natixis IMNA”).
Harris Associates is a limited partnership whose sole general partner is Harris Associates, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis IM-NA.
Loomis Sayles is a limited partnership whose sole general partner, Loomis, Sayles & Company, Inc., is indirectly owned by Natixis IM-NA.
Natixis IM-NA is part of Natixis Investment Managers, an international asset management group based in Paris, France, that is in turn owned by Natixis, a French investment banking and financial services firm. Natixis is wholly owned by BPCE, France’s second largest retail banking group. BPCE is owned by banks comprising two autonomous and complementary retail banking networks consisting of the Caisse d’Epargne regional savings banks and the Banque Populaire regional cooperative banks. The registered address of Natixis is 7 promenade Germaine Sablon, 75013 Paris, France. The registered address of BPCE is 7 promenade Germaine Sablon, 75013 Paris, France.
The 7 principal subsidiary or affiliated asset management firms of Natixis IM-NA collectively had over $716.1 billion in assets under management or administration as of December 31, 2025.
Advisory and Subadvisory Agreements
Each Fund’s advisory agreement with Natixis Advisors (or with Loomis Sayles in the case of High Income Fund, International Growth Fund, Investment Grade Bond Fund, Strategic Alpha Fund and Strategic Income Fund) provides that the adviser will furnish or pay the expenses of the applicable Fund for office space, facilities and equipment, services of executive and other personnel of the Trusts and certain administrative services. The adviser may delegate certain administrative services to its affiliates. The adviser is responsible for obtaining and evaluating such economic, statistical and financial data and information and performing such additional research as is necessary to manage each Fund’s assets in accordance with its investment objectives and policies.
Each Fund pays all expenses not borne by its adviser or subadviser(s) including, but not limited to, the charges and expenses of the Funds’ custodian and transfer agent, independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel for the Funds, legal counsel for the Trusts’ Independent Trustees, 12b-1 fees, all brokerage commissions and transfer taxes in connection with portfolio transactions, all taxes and filing fees, the fees and expenses for registration or qualification of its shares under federal and state securities laws, all expenses of
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shareholders’ and Trustees’ meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports to shareholders and the compensation of Trustees who are not directors, officers or employees of the Funds’ adviser, subadviser(s) or their affiliates, other than affiliated registered investment companies. Certain expenses may be allocated differently among a Fund’s Class A, Class C shares, and Admin class shares, on the one hand, and Class N and Class Y shares on the other hand. See “Description of the Trusts” and “Ownership of Fund Shares.”
Except as noted below, each advisory agreement and, where applicable, each subadvisory agreement, provides that it will continue in effect for two years from its date of execution and thereafter from year to year if its continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Board of the relevant Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Natixis Advisors and the Trusts have received an exemptive order from the SEC (the “Order”), which permits Natixis Advisors, subject to approval by the Board but without shareholder approval, to hire or terminate, and to modify any existing or future subadvisory agreement with, subadvisers that are not affiliated with Natixis Advisors as well as subadvisers that are indirect or direct wholly-owned subsidiaries of Natixis Advisors or of another company that, indirectly or directly, wholly owns Natixis Advisors. Before any Fund can begin to rely on the exemptions described above, a majority of the shareholders of the Fund must approve the Fund’s ability to rely on the Order. If a new subadviser is hired for a Fund, shareholders will receive information about the new subadviser within 90 days of the change.
Each advisory and subadvisory agreement may be terminated without penalty by vote of the Board of the relevant Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice, or by a Fund’s adviser upon 90 days’ written notice. Each advisory agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). Each subadvisory agreement also may be terminated by the subadviser upon 90 days’ notice and automatically terminates upon termination of the related advisory agreement.
Each advisory and subadvisory agreement provides that the adviser or subadviser shall not be subject to any liability in connection with the performance of its services thereunder in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties. Natixis Advisors, with respect to all Funds except High Income Fund, International Growth Fund, Investment Grade Bond Fund, Strategic Alpha Fund and Strategic Income Fund, oversees the portfolio management services provided to the Funds by each of the subadvisers and provides certain administrative services. Subject to the review of the Board, Natixis Advisors monitors each subadviser to assure that the subadviser is managing a Fund’s assets consistently with the Fund’s investment objective and restrictions and applicable laws and guidelines, including, but not limited to, compliance with the diversification requirements set forth in the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code.
In addition, Natixis Advisors also provides subadvised Funds with administrative services which include, among other things, day-to-day administration of matters related to a Fund’s existence, maintenance of its records, preparation of reports and assistance in the preparation of a Fund’s registration statement under federal and state laws. In addition, Natixis Advisors does not determine what investments will be purchased or sold for any Fund. Because each subadviser manages its portfolio independently from the others, the same security may be held in two or more different Funds (or sleeves of U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund) or may be acquired for one Fund (or sleeves of U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund) at a time when the subadviser of another Fund (or sleeve) deems it appropriate to dispose of the security from that other Fund (or sleeve) or otherwise take a short position in or related to that security. Similarly, under some market conditions, one or more of the subadvisers may believe that temporary, defensive investments in short-term instruments or cash are appropriate when another subadviser or subadvisers believe continued exposure to the broader securities is appropriate. Because each subadviser directs the trading for its sleeve(s) of U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund, and does not aggregate its transactions with those of the other subadvisers, the Fund or Portfolio may incur higher brokerage costs than would be the case if a single adviser or subadviser were managing the entire Fund. Natixis Advisors will provide, or cause the Funds’ custodian to provide, information to each subadviser regarding the composition of assets of each applicable Fund and the assets to be invested and reinvested by the subadviser.
Natixis Advisors may terminate any subadvisory agreement without shareholder approval. In such case, Natixis Advisors will either enter into an agreement with another subadviser to manage the Fund (or sleeves of U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund) or allocate the sleeve’s assets among the other sleeves of the Fund.
Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans
Under a separate agreement with each Fund, the Distributor serves as the principal distributor of each class of shares of the Funds. The Distributor’s principal business address is 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197. Under these agreements (the “Distribution Agreements”), the Distributor conducts a continuous offering and is not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. The Distributor bears the cost of making information about the Funds available through advertising and other means, printing and mailing Prospectuses to persons other than shareholders and providing compensation to underwriters, broker-dealers and sales personnel. Each Fund pays the cost of registering and qualifying its shares under state and federal securities laws and distributing Prospectuses to existing shareholders.
The Distributor is compensated under each agreement through receipt of the sales charges on Class A shares described below under “Net Asset Value” and is paid by the Funds the service and distribution fees described in the Prospectus. The Distributor may, at its discretion, reallow the entire sales charge imposed on the sale of Class A and Class C shares of a Fund to investment dealers from time to time. The SEC is of the view that dealers receiving all or substantially all of the sales charge may be deemed underwriters of a Fund’s shares.
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Each Fund has adopted Rule 12b-1 plans (the “Plans”) for its Class A, Class C and Admin Class shares. Class N and Class Y shares have no such plans. The Plans, among other things, permit the applicable class of shares to pay the Distributor monthly fees out of its net assets. These fees consist of a service fee and a distribution fee. Certain Distributor fees that are paid by a distributor to securities dealers are known as “trail commissions.” Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, each Plan was approved by the shareholders of each Fund, and (together with the related Distribution Agreement) by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the relevant Trust. (Note that not all Funds offer Class N or Admin Class shares.)
Under the Plans, each Fund pays the Distributor a monthly service fee at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of each Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the Class A and Class C shares, as applicable. In the case of Class C shares, the Distributor retains the first year’s service fee of 0.25% assessed against such shares. For Class A and, after the first year, for Class C shares, the Distributor may pay up to the entire amount of this fee to securities dealers who are dealers of record with respect to each Fund’s shares, on a monthly (or quarterly) basis, unless other arrangements are made between the Distributor and the securities dealer, for providing personal services to investors in shares of each Fund and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. This service fee will accrue to securities dealers of record immediately with respect to reinvested income dividends and capital gain distributions of each Fund’s Class A shares.
The service fees on Class A shares may be paid only to reimburse the Distributor for expenses of providing personal services to investors, including, but not limited to, (i) expenses (including overhead expenses) of the Distributor for providing personal services to investors in connection with the maintenance of shareholder accounts and (ii) payments made by the Distributor to any securities dealer or other organization (including, but not limited to, any affiliate of the Distributor) with which the Distributor has entered into a written agreement for this purpose, for providing personal services to investors and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts, which payments to any such organization may be in amounts in excess of the cost incurred by such organization in connection therewith. Under these Plans, intermediaries providing shareholder servicing and/or account maintenance services for the benefit of retirement plan recordkeeping investors and/or “no transaction fee” or wrap program investors may be eligible to receive Admin Class share payments.
Each Fund’s Class C shares also pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average net assets of the respective Fund’s Class C shares. The Distributor retains the 0.75% distribution fee assessed against Class C shares during the first year of investment. After the first year for Class C shares, the Distributor may pay up to the entire amount of this fee to securities dealers who are dealers of record with respect to each Fund’s shares, as distribution fees in connection with the sale of the Fund’s shares on a quarterly basis, unless other arrangements are made between the Distributor and the securities dealer. As stated in the Prospectus, investors will not be permitted to purchase $1,000,000 or more of Class C shares as a single investment per account.
Each Plan may be terminated by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant class of shares of the relevant Fund. Each Plan may be amended by vote of the relevant Trustees, including a majority of the relevant Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. Any change in any Plan that would materially increase the fees payable thereunder by the relevant class of shares of the relevant Fund requires approval by a vote of the holders of a majority of such shares outstanding. The Trusts’ Trustees review quarterly a written report of such costs and the purposes for which such costs have been incurred. For so long as a Plan is in effect, selection and nomination of those Trustees who are Independent Trustees of the relevant Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such Trustees.
Under the Plans, each Fund with Admin Class shares pays the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Fund’s Admin Class shares, as compensation for services provided by the Distributor in connection with the marketing or sale of Admin Class shares or for payments made by the Distributor to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries as commissions, asset-based sales charges or other compensation with respect to the sale of Admin Class shares, or for providing personal services to investors and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
Fees paid by Class A, Class C and Admin Class shares of any Fund may indirectly support sales and servicing efforts relating to shares of the other series of the Natixis Funds Trusts or the Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts. In reporting its expenses to the Trustees, the Distributor itemizes expenses that relate to the distribution and/or servicing of a single fund’s shares, and allocates other expenses among the relevant funds based on their relative net assets or relative sales. Expenses allocated to each Fund are further allocated among its classes of shares annually based on the relative sales of each class, except for any expenses that relate only to the sale or servicing of a single class.
The Distributor has entered into selling agreements with investment dealers, including affiliates of the Distributor, for the sale of the Funds’ shares. As described in more detail below, the Distributor, Natixis Advisors, and their affiliates may, at their expense, pay additional amounts to dealers who have selling agreements with the Distributor. Class Y shares of the Funds may be offered by registered representatives of certain affiliates who are also employees of Natixis IM-NA and may receive compensation from the Funds’ adviser or subadviser with respect to sales of Class Y shares. (Note that certain Funds do not currently offer Admin Class shares.)
The Distribution Agreement for any Fund may be terminated at any time on 60 days’ written notice without payment of any penalty by the Distributor or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant Fund or by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees.
The Distribution Agreements and the Plans will continue in effect for successive one-year periods, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved (i) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the entire Board cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding securities of a Fund (or the relevant class, in the case of the Plans).
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With the exception of the Distributor, its affiliated companies and those Trustees that are not Independent Trustees, no interested person of the Trusts or any Trustee of the Trusts had any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or any related agreement. Benefits to the Funds and their shareholders resulting from the Plans are believed to include (1) enhanced shareholder service, (2) asset retention and (3) enhanced portfolio management opportunities and bargaining position with third party service providers and economies of scale arising from having asset levels higher than they would be if the Plans were not in place.
The Distributor controls the word “Natixis” in the names of the Natixis Funds Trusts and if it should cease to be the principal distributor of such Funds’ shares, the Trusts may be required to change their names and delete these words or letters. The Distributor also acts as principal distributor for Loomis Sayles Funds I and Gateway Trust. The address of the Distributor is 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197.
The portion of the various fees and expenses for Funds offering Class A, Class C, shares that are paid (reallowed) to securities dealers are shown below:
Class A
For Class A shares of the following Funds, the service fee is payable only to reimburse the Distributor for amounts it pays in connection with providing personal services to investors and/or maintaining shareholder accounts.

Cumulative Investment | Maximum Sales Charge Paid by Investors (% of offering price) | Maximum Reallowance or Commission (% of offering price) | Maximum First Year Service Fee (% of net investment) | Maximum First Year Compensation (% of offering price)
International Growth Fund, Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund |  |  |  |
Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 5.00% | 0.25% | 5.25%
$50,000 - $99,999 | 4.50% | 4.00% | 0.25% | 4.25%
$100,000 - $249,999 | 3.50% | 3.00% | 0.25% | 3.25%
$250,000 - $499,999 | 2.50% | 2.15% | 0.25% | 2.40%
$500,000 - $999,999 | 2.00% | 1.70% | 0.25% | 1.95%
Investments of $1 million or more 1,2
Up to $2,999,999 | None | 1.00% | 0.25% | 1.25%
$3,000,000 to $4,999,999 | None | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00%
Excess over $5,000,000 | None | 0.50% | 0.25% | 0.75%
Investments with no Sales Charge 3 | None | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.25%

1 | Commissions are based on cumulative investments over the life of the account with no adjustment for redemptions, transfers or market declines. For example, if a shareholder has accumulated investments in excess of $5 million and subsequently redeems all or a portion of the account(s), purchases following the redemption will generate a dealer commission of 0.50%.

2 | A securities dealer may elect, at the time of the investment, to waive their commission on investments of $1,000,000 or more. In such cases, investments will be processed as “Investment with no Sales Charge” as described above. No CDSC will be applied to these investments.

3 | Refers to any investments made by investors not subject to a sales charge as described in the Prospectus for Class A shares of the Funds in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated.”

Cumulative Investment | Maximum Sales Charge Paid by Investors (% of offering price) | Maximum Reallowance or Commission (% of offering price) | Maximum First Year Service Fee (% of net investment) | Maximum First Year Compensation (% of offering price)
High Income Fund, Investment Grade Bond Fund, Strategic Alpha Fund and Strategic Income Fund |  |  |  |
Less than $100,000 | 4.25% | 3.75% | 0.25% | 4.00%
$100,000 - $249,999 | 3.50% | 3.00% | 0.25% | 3.25%
$250,000 - $499,999 | 2.50% | 2.15% | 0.25% | 2.40%
$500,000 - $999,999 | 2.00% | 1.70% | 0.25% | 1.95%
Investments of $1 million or more 1,2
Up to $2,999,999 million | None | 1.00% | 0.25% | 1.25%
$3,000,000 to $4,999,999 | None | 0.75% | 0.25% | 1.00%
Excess over $5,000,000 | None | 0.50% | 0.25% | 0.75%

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Cumulative Investment | Maximum Sales Charge Paid by Investors (% of offering price) | Maximum Reallowance or Commission (% of offering price) | Maximum First Year Service Fee (% of net investment) | Maximum First Year Compensation (% of offering price)
Investments with no Sales Charge 3 | None | 0.00% | 0.25% | 0.25%

1 | Commissions are based on cumulative investments over the life of the account with no adjustment for redemptions, transfers or market declines. For example, if a shareholder has accumulated investments in excess of $5 million and subsequently redeems all or a portion of the account(s), purchases following the redemption will generate a dealer commission of 0.50%.

2 | A securities dealer may elect, at the time of the investment, to waive their commission on investments of $1,000,000 or more. In such cases, investments will be processed as “Investment with no Sales Charge” as described above. No CDSC will be applied to these investments.

3 | Refers to any investments made by investors not subject to a sales charge as described in the Prospectus for Class A shares of the Funds in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated.”

Class C
Class C service fees are payable regardless of the amount of the Distributor’s related expenses.

Investment | Maximum Front–End Sales Charge Paid by Investors (% of offering price) | Maximum Reallowance or Commission (% of offering price) | Maximum First Year Service Fee (% of net investment) | Maximum First Year Compensation (% of offering price)
All amounts for Class C | None | 1.00% | 0.00% | 1.00%

All Funds
As described in the Prospectus, each purchase or sale of shares is effected at the NAV next determined after an order is received, less any applicable sales charge. The sales charge is allocated between the investment dealer and the Distributor, as indicated in the tables above. The Distributor receives the contingent deferred sales charge (the “CDSC”). Proceeds from the CDSC on Class A and Class C shares are paid to the Distributor and are used by the Distributor to defray the expenses for services the Distributor provides to the Trusts. The Distributor may, at its discretion, pay (reallow) the entire sales charge imposed on the sale of Class A shares to investment dealers from time to time.
For new amounts invested at NAV by an eligible governmental authority, the Distributor may, at its expense, pay investment dealers a commission of 0.025% of the average daily net assets of an account at the end of each calendar quarter for up to one year. These commissions are not payable if the purchase represents the reinvestment of redemption proceeds from any other Natixis Fund or if the account is registered in street name.
The Funds may pay fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other services, including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, shareholder or participant reporting or shareholder or participant recordkeeping (“recordkeeping and processing-related services”) associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. These fees are paid directly or indirectly by the Funds (with the exception of Class N shares, which do not bear such expenses) in light of the fact that other costs may be avoided by the Funds where the intermediary, not the Funds’ service providers, provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The intermediary may impose other account or service charges directly on account holders or participants. In addition, depending on the arrangements, the Funds’ advisers and/or Distributor or their affiliates may, out of their own resources, compensate such financial intermediaries or their agents directly or indirectly for such recordkeeping and processing-related services; such payments will not be made with respect to Class N shares. The services provided and related payments vary from firm to firm. Under these programs, the Distributor may enter into administrative services agreements with intermediaries pursuant to which intermediaries will provide sub-transfer agency services, sub-administrative services and other services with respect to the Funds. These services may include, but are not limited to, shareholder record set-up and maintenance, account statement preparation and mailing, transaction processing and settlement and account level tax reporting. The Distributor is reimbursed by the Funds for all or a portion of any fees paid to intermediaries by the Distributor on behalf of the Funds. In certain cases, a recipient of 12b-1 distribution payments, shareholder servicing payments or revenue sharing payments may rebate some or all of such amounts to its clients or plan participants, or use such amounts to defray client or plan expenses. For more information, investors should contact their financial representatives or plan administrator.
Additional Payments
The Distributor, Natixis Advisors and their affiliates may, out of their own resources, make additional payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds (with the exception of Class N shares for which such additional payments are not made). Such payments and compensation are in addition to any fees paid or reimbursed by the Funds. These payments may include: (i) full reallowance of the sales charge of Class A shares, (ii) additional compensation with respect to the sale and/or servicing of Class A, Class
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C, Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares, (iii) payments based upon various factors, as described below, and (iv) financial assistance programs to firms who sell or arrange for the sale of Fund shares including, but not limited to, remuneration for: the firm’s internal sales contests and incentive programs, marketing and sales fees, expenses related to advertising or promotional activity and events, and shareholder recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency or miscellaneous administrative services. From its own profits and resources, the Distributor may, from time to time, make payments to qualified wholesalers, registered financial institutions and third-party marketers for marketing support services and/or retention of assets (with the exception of Class N shares for which such additional payments are not made). Among others, an affiliate of the Advisor has agreed to pay an annual fee for marketing support services to Equitable Advisors, LLC (formerly known as AXA Advisors, LLC). In addition to marketing and/or financial support payments described above, payment for travel, lodging and related expenses may be provided for attendance at Fund seminars and conferences, e.g., due diligence meetings held for training and educational purposes. The Distributor intends that the payment of these concessions and any other compensation offered will conform with state and federal laws and the rules of any self-regulatory organization, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The participation of such firms in financial assistance programs is at the discretion of the firm and the Distributor. The payments described in (iii) above may be based on sales and/or the amount of assets a financial intermediary’s clients have invested in the Funds. The actual payment rates to a financial intermediary will depend upon how the particular arrangement is structured (e.g., solely asset-based fees, solely sales-based fees or a combination of both) and other factors such as the length of time assets have remained invested in the Funds, redemption rates and the willingness of the financial intermediary to provide access to its representatives for educational and marketing purposes. The payments to financial intermediaries described in this section and elsewhere in this Statement, which may be significant to the financial intermediaries, may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or sell shares of a particular Fund or shares class over other mutual funds or share classes. Additionally, these payments may result in the Funds’ inclusion on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs. Investors should contact their financial representative for details about the payment the financial intermediaries may receive.
From time to time, the Funds’ service providers, or any of their affiliates, may also pay non-cash compensation to the sales representatives of financial intermediaries in the form of (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; and/or (iii) sponsorship support of regional events of intermediaries.
Dealers may charge their customers a processing fee or service fee in connection with the purchase or redemption of fund shares. The amount and applicability of such a fee is determined and disclosed to its customers by its individual dealer. Processing or service fees typically are fixed, nominal dollar amounts and are in addition to the sales and other charges described in the Funds’ Prospectus and this Statement. Customers will be provided with specific information about any processing or service fees charged by their dealer.
The commissions and sales charges for the periods shown below were allocated as follows:

| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/25
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I† |  |  |
Total commissions on sales of Class A shares | $213,152 | $192,583 | $220,739
Amount reallowed to other securities dealers | $185,518 | $167,244 | $191,432
Amount retained by Distributor | $27,634 | $25,339 | $29,307
Total CDSCs on redemptions of Classes A and C shares | $7,431 | $14,188 | $7,631
Amount retained by Distributor* | $7,431 | $14,188 | $7,631
NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II‡ |  |  |
Total commissions on sales of Class A shares | $303,491 | $386,625 | $230,516
Amount reallowed to other securities dealers | $263,881 | $335,381 | $201,004
Amount retained by Distributor | $39,610 | $51,244 | $29,512
Total CDSCs on redemptions of Classes A and C shares | $15,903 | $4,995 | $29,047
Amount retained by Distributor** | $15,903 | $4,995 | $29,047
LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II‡ |  |  |
Total commissions on sales of Class A shares | $392,608 | $491,813 | $388,961
Amount reallowed to other securities dealers | $340,154 | $427,940 | $338,584
Amount retained by Distributor | $52,454 | $63,873 | $50,377
Total CDSCs on redemptions of Classes A and C shares | $34,832 | $20,233 | $31,134
Amount retained by Distributor*** | $34,832 | $20,233 | $31,134

* | See the section “Other Arrangements” for information about amounts received by the Distributor from Natixis Funds Trust I’s investment advisers and subadvisers or the Funds directly for providing certain administrative services relating to Natixis Funds Trust I.

** | See the section “Other Arrangements” for information about amounts received by the Distributor from Natixis Funds Trust II’s investment advisers and subadvisers or the Funds directly for providing certain administrative services relating to Natixis Funds Trust II.

*** | See the section “Other Arrangements” for information about amounts received by the Distributor from Loomis Sayles Funds II’s investment advisers and subadvisers or the Funds directly for providing certain administrative services relating to Loomis Sayles Funds II.

† | Information is provided for the Funds in this Statement as listed on the cover page.

‡ | Information is only provided for the Funds in this Statement as listed on the cover page.

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OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
Administrative Services
Natixis Advisors, 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197, performs certain accounting and administrative services for the Funds, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement dated January 3, 2005, as amended from time to time (the “Administrative Agreement”). Under the Administrative Agreement, Natixis Advisors provides the following services to the Funds: (i) personnel that perform bookkeeping, accounting, internal auditing and financial reporting functions and clerical functions relating to the Funds, (ii) services required in connection with the preparation of registration statements and Prospectus, registration of shares in various states, shareholder reports and notices, proxy solicitation material furnished to shareholders of the Funds or regulatory authorities and reports and questionnaires for SEC compliance, (iii) the various registrations and filings required by various regulatory authorities and (iv) consultation and legal advice on Fund-related matters.
For these services, Natixis Advisors received the following fees from the Funds for the last three fiscal years:

| Fiscal Year Ended
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/24 | 12/31/205
| Fee | Fee | Fee
High Income Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $26,568 | $19,746 | $31,722
International Growth Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $13,245 | $16,890 | $13,206
Investment Grade Bond Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $3,956,030 | $5,649,771 | $6,854,033
Natixis Oakmark Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $207,874 | $363,520 | $457,502
Natixis Oakmark International Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $177,532 | $159,695 | $124,039
Strategic Alpha Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $341,981 | $253,433 | $352,840
Strategic Income Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $1,400,053 | $1,245,536 | $1,139,538
U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund |  |  |
Administrative Fees | $390,705 | $466,367 | $518,173

Support Services. Pursuant to an intercompany agreement between Natixis Advisors and Loomis Sayles (for High Income Fund, International Growth Fund, Investment Grade Bond Fund, Strategic Alpha Fund and Strategic Income Fund), Natixis Advisors provides various marketing, relationship management and other support services to the Funds and Loomis Sayles. With respect to these contractual arrangements, Loomis Sayles, and not the Funds, pays Natixis Advisors for such services.
Custodial Arrangements. State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street Bank”), One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, MA 02114, serves as the custodian for the Trusts. As such, State Street Bank holds in safekeeping certificated securities and cash belonging to each Fund and, in such capacity, is the registered owner of securities in book-entry form belonging to each Fund. Upon instruction, State Street Bank receives and delivers cash and securities of each Fund in connection with Fund transactions and collects all dividends and other distributions made with respect to Fund portfolio securities. State Street Bank also maintains certain accounts and records of the Trusts and calculates the total NAV, total net income and NAV per share of each Fund on a daily basis.
Transfer Agency Services. Pursuant to a contract between the Trusts, on behalf of each Fund, and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (“SS&C GIDS” or the “Transfer Agent”), whose principal business address is 30 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 400, Braintree, MA 02184, SS&C GIDS acts as shareholder servicing and transfer agent and dividend paying agent for the Funds and is responsible for services in connection with the establishment, maintenance and recording of shareholder accounts, including all related tax and other reporting requirements and the implementation of investment and redemption arrangements offered in connection with the sale of the Funds’ shares.
From time to time, the Funds, directly or indirectly through arrangements with an adviser and its affiliates or the Transfer Agent, may pay amounts to third parties that provide recordkeeping and other administrative services relating to a Fund to persons who beneficially own interests in the Fund, such as shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. See the section “Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans.”
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Transfer Agency Expenses. Natixis Advisors has given a binding contractual undertaking to the High Income Fund, International Growth Fund, Natixis Oakmark Fund, Natixis Oakmark International Fund and U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through April 30, 2027 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Board. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, Natixis Advisors reimbursed the High Income Fund $1,421, International Growth Fund $1,141, Natixis Oakmark Fund $1,927, Natixis Oakmark International Fund $1,098 and U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund $1,057 for transfer agency expenses related to Class N shares.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Trusts’ independent registered public accounting firm is PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at 101 Seaport Blvd., Boston, MA 02210. The independent registered public accounting firm conducts an annual audit of each Fund’s financial statements, assists in the review of federal and state income tax returns and consults with the Trusts as to matters of accounting and federal and state income taxation. The financial highlights in the Funds’ Prospectus audited financial statements and accompanying notes contained in the Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, the Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR, and the Loomis Sayles Funds II Form N-CSR, each for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and incorporated by reference into this Statement and have been included in reliance on the Trusts’ independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
Counsel to the Funds. Ropes & Gray LLP, located at Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199, serves as counsel to the Funds.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Portfolio Managers’ Management of Other Accounts
As of December 31, 2025, the portfolio manager(s) of the Funds managed other accounts in addition to managing one or more of the Funds. The following table provides information on the other accounts managed by each portfolio manager:

| Registered Investment Companies | Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | Other Accounts
| Other Accounts Managed | Advisory fee is based on performance | Other Accounts Managed | Advisory fee is based on performance | Other Accounts Managed | Advisory fee is based on performance
Name of Portfolio Manager (Firm) | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets | # of Accts | Total Assets
Matthew J. Eagan (Loomis Sayles) | 17 | $19.7 billion | 0 | $0 | 35 | $13.6 billion | 0 | $0 | 100 | $31.8 billion | 3 | $346.5 million
Robert F. Bierig (Harris Associates) | 4 | $49.4 billion | 0 | $0 | 9 | $4.8 billion | 0 | $0 | 462 | $4.2 billion | 0 | $0
Aziz V. Hamzaogullari (Loomis Sayles) | 17 | $32.4 billion | 0 | $0 | 21 | $21.2 billion | 3 | $555.6 million | 157 | $42.9 billion | 1 | $375.1 million
David Herro (Harris Associates) | 10 | $20.6 billion | 0 | $0 | 29 | $10.5 billion | 2 | $109.6 million | 14 | $1.3 billion | 1 | $301.4 million
Brian P. Kennedy (Loomis Sayles) | 13 | $18.6 billion | 0 | $0 | 17 | $12.7 billion | 0 | $0 | 104 | $31.7 billion | 3 | $346.5 million
Anthony P. Coniaris (Harris Associates) | 8 | $19.3 billion | 0 | $0 | 31 | $10.3 billion | 0 | $0 | 367 | $3.5 billion | 0 | $0
Eric Liu (Harris Associates) | 8 | $19.3 billion | 0 | $0 | 27 | $10.1 billion | 2 | $109.6 million | 11 | $1.1 billion | 1 | $301.4 million
Michael Nicolas (Harris Associates) | 4 | $47.4 billion | 0 | $0 | 6 | $4.7 billion | 0 | $0 | 83 | $1.2 billion | 0 | $0
William C. Nygren (Harris Associates) | 4 | $49.4 billion | 0 | $0 | 5 | $4.6 billion | 0 | $0 | 83 | $1.2 billion | 0 | $0
Peter S. Sheehan (Loomis Sayles) | 5 | $1.2 billion | 0 | $0 | 21 | $1.5 billion | 0 | $0 | 32 | $5.5 billion | 3 | $346.5 million
Eric Williams (Loomis Sayles) | 4 | $1.1 billion | 0 | $0 | 21 | $1.5 billion | 0 | $0 | 28 | $5.4 billion | 3 | $346.5 million

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Material Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest may arise in the allocation of investment opportunities and the allocation of aggregated orders among the Funds and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers. A portfolio manager potentially could give favorable treatment to some accounts for a variety of reasons, including favoring larger accounts, accounts that pay higher fees, accounts that pay performance-based fees, accounts of affiliated companies and accounts in which the portfolio manager has an interest. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions among a Fund and a portfolio manager’s other accounts, the portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to a Fund. Although such favorable treatment could lead to more favorable investment opportunities or allocations for some accounts and may appear to create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time and resources, each adviser and subadviser strives to ensure that portfolio managers endeavor to exercise their discretion in a manner that is equitable to all interested persons. Furthermore, each adviser and subadviser makes investment decisions for all accounts (including institutional accounts, mutual funds, hedge funds and affiliated accounts) based on each account’s investment objectives, investment guidelines and restrictions, the availability of other comparable investment opportunities and each adviser and subadviser’s desire to treat all accounts fairly and equitably over time. Each of the advisers and subadvisers has adopted policies and procedures to mitigate the potential effects of these conflicts as well as other types of conflicts of interests. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation where a conflict arises or that the advisers or subadviser will treat all accounts identically. For more information on how each of the advisers and subadvisers allocate investment opportunities between the Funds and their other clients, see the section “Allocation of Investment Opportunity Among Funds and Other Accounts Managed by Advisers and Subadvisers; Cross Relationships of Officers and Trustees” in this Statement. Conflicts of interest also arise to the extent a portfolio manager short sells a stock or otherwise takes a short position in one client account but holds that stock long in other accounts, including the Funds, or sells a stock for some accounts while buying the stock for others, and through the use of “soft dollar arrangements,” which are discussed in the section “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage” below.
Portfolio Managers’ Compensation
The following describes the structure of, and the method used to determine, the compensation of each of the above-listed portfolio managers as of December 31, 2025:
Harris Associates. Each of the portfolio managers of the Harris Associates-subadvised Funds/sleeves are compensated solely by Harris Associates, a subadviser. Compensation for each of the portfolio managers is based on Harris Associates’ assessment of the individual’s long-term contribution to the investment success of Harris Associates. Each portfolio manager receives a base salary and participates in a discretionary bonus pool. In addition, most of the portfolio managers also participate in a long-term compensation plan that provides current compensation to certain key employees of the adviser and deferred compensation to both current and former key employees. The compensation plan consists of bonus units awarded to participants that vest and are paid out over a period of time.
The determination of the amount of each portfolio manager’s base salary and discretionary bonus participation and, where applicable, participation in the long-term compensation plan is based on a variety of qualitative and quantitative factors. The factor given the most significant weight is the subjective assessment of the individual’s contribution to the overall investment results of Harris Associates’ U.S. or international investment group, whether as a portfolio manager, a research analyst, or both.
The quantitative factors considered in evaluating the contribution of a portfolio manager include the performance of the portfolios managed by that individual relative to benchmarks, peers and other portfolio managers, as well as the assets under management in the accounts managed by the portfolio manager. The portfolio managers’ compensation is not based solely on an evaluation of the performance of the funds or the amount of fund assets. Performance is measured in a number of ways, including by accounts and by strategy, and is compared to one or more of the following benchmarks, but not limited to: S&P 500® Index, Russell 1000® Value Index, Bloomberg U.S. Aggregated Bond, 60/40 S&P/Bloomberg (60% S&P 500® Index and 40% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index), MSCI World Index, MSCI World ex USA Index (Net), MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index (Net) and Harris Associates’ approved lists of stocks, depending on whether the portfolio manager manages accounts in the particular strategy to which these benchmarks would be applicable. Performance is measured over short and long term periods, including one year, three years, five years, ten years, and since a fund’s inception or since a portfolio manager has been managing a fund, as applicable. Performance is measured on a pre-tax and after-tax basis to the extent such information is available.
If a portfolio manager also serves as a research analyst, then his or her compensation is also based on the contribution made to Harris Associates in that role. The specific quantitative and qualitative factors considered in evaluating a research analyst’s contributions include, among other things, new investment ideas, the performance of investment ideas covered by the analyst during the current year as well as over longer-term periods, the portfolio impact of the analyst’s investment ideas, other contributions to the research process and an assessment of the quality of analytical work. If a portfolio manager also serves as a research analyst, then such manager may participate in a long-term compensation plan that may provide future compensation upon vesting after a multi-year period. The plan consists of an award, based on a quantitative evaluation of the performance of the investment ideas covered by the analyst over the same multi-year period. In addition, an individual’s other contributions to Harris Associates, such as a role in investment thought leadership and management of the firm, are taken into account in the overall compensation process.
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Loomis Sayles
The following describes the structure of, and the method used to determine, the compensation of each of the above-listed portfolio managers as of December 31, 2025:
International Growth Fund’s and U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund’s Portfolio Manager Compensation. Loomis Sayles believes portfolio manager compensation should be driven primarily by the delivery of consistent and superior long-term performance for its clients. Mr. Hamzaogullari’s compensation has four components: a competitive base salary, an annual incentive bonus driven by investment performance, participation in a long-term incentive plan (with an annual and a post-retirement payout), and a revenue sharing bonus if certain revenue thresholds and performance hurdles are met. Maximum variable compensation potential is a multiple of base salary and reflects performance achievements relative to peers with similar disciplines. The performance review considers the asset class, manager experience, and maturity of the product. The incentive compensation is based on trailing strategy performance and is weighted at one third for the three-year period, one third for the five-year period and one third for the ten-year period. He also receives performance-based compensation as portfolio manager for a private investment fund. The firm’s senior management reviews the components annually.
In addition, Mr. Hamzaogullari participates in the Loomis Sayles profit sharing plan, in which Loomis Sayles makes a contribution to the retirement plan of each employee based on a percentage of base salary (up to a maximum amount). He may also participate in the Loomis Sayles deferred compensation plan which requires all employees to defer 50% of their annual bonus if in excess of a certain dollar amount, except for those employees who will be age 61 or older on the date the bonus is awarded. These amounts are deferred over a two-year period with 50% being paid out one year from the bonus anniversary date and the second 50% being paid out two years from the bonus anniversary date. These deferrals are deposited into an investment account on the employee’s behalf, but the employee must be with Loomis Sayles on the vesting dates in order to receive the deferred bonus.
Fixed Income Portfolio Manager Compensation. Loomis Sayles believes that portfolio manager compensation should be driven primarily by the delivery of consistent and superior long-term performance for its clients. Although portfolio manager compensation is not directly tied to assets under management, a portfolio manager’s base salary and/or bonus potential may reflect the amount of assets for which the manager is responsible relative to other portfolio managers. The annual bonus is incentive-based and generally represents a significant multiple of base salary. The bonus is based on three factors: investment performance, profit growth of the firm, and personal conduct. Investment performance is the primary component of the annual bonus and generally represents at least 60% of the total for fixed-income managers. The other factors are used to determine the remainder of the annual incentive bonus, subject to the discretion of the firm’s Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) and senior management. The firm’s CIO and senior management evaluate these other factors annually.
The investment performance component of the annual incentive bonus depends primarily on investment performance against benchmark and/or against peers within similar disciplines. The score is based upon the product’s institutional composite performance; however, adjustments may be made if there is significant dispersion among the returns of the composite and accounts not included in the composite. For most products, the product investment score compares the product’s rolling three year performance over the past nine quarters (a five year view) against both a benchmark and a peer group established by the CIO. The scoring rewards both the aggregate excess performance of the product against a benchmark and the product’s relative rank within a peer group. In addition, for fixed-income products, the performance score rewards for the consistency of that outperformance and is enhanced if over the past five years it has kept its rolling three-year performance ahead of its benchmark. Portfolio managers working on several product teams receive a final score based on the relative revenue weight of each product.
Portfolio managers may also participate in the three segments of the long-term incentive program. The amount of the awards for each segment are dependent upon role, industry experience, team and firm profitability, and/or investment performance.
General
The core elements of the Loomis Sayles compensation plan include a base salary, an annual incentive bonus, and, for senior investor and leadership roles, a long-term incentive bonus. The base salary is a fixed amount based on a combination of factors, including industry experience, firm experience, job performance and market considerations. The annual incentive bonus and long term incentive bonus is driven by a variety of factors depending upon the specific role. Factors include investment performance, individual performance, team and firm profitability, role, and industry experience. Both the annual and long term bonus have a deferral component. Loomis Sayles has developed and implemented three long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) segments to attract and retain investment talent.
For the senior-most investment roles, a LTIP provides annual grants relative to the role, and includes a post retirement payment feature to incentivize effective succession management. Participation is contingent upon signing an award agreement, which includes a non-compete covenant. The second and third LTIP are constructed to create mid- term alignment for key positions, including a two year deferral feature. The second plan is role based, and the third is team based which is more specifically dependent upon team profitability and/or investment performance.
In addition, Loomis Sayles also offers a profit sharing plan for all employees and a defined benefit plan for employees who joined the firm prior to May 3, 2003. The profit sharing contribution to the retirement plan of each employee is based on a percentage of base salary (up to a maximum amount). The defined benefit plan is based on years of service and base compensation (up to a maximum amount).
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Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Fund Shares
The following table sets forth the dollar range*of equity securities of the Funds beneficially owned by each portfolio manager as of December 31, 2025:

Name of Portfolio Manager | Fund(s) Managed | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Invested
Matthew J. Eagan (Loomis Sayles) | High Income Fund Investment Grade Bond Fund Strategic Alpha Fund Strategic Income Fund | E C E A
Aziz V. Hamzaogullari (Loomis Sayles) | International Growth Fund U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | G G
David G. Herro (Harris Associates) | Natixis Oakmark International Fund | A
Robert F. Bierig (Harris Associates) | Natixis Oakmark Fund U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | A A
Brian P. Kennedy (Loomis Sayles) | High Income Fund Investment Grade Bond Fund Strategic Alpha Fund Strategic Income Fund | D E D A
Eric Liu (Harris Associates) | Natixis Oakmark International Fund | A
Michael Nicolas (Harris Associates) | Natixis Oakmark Fund U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | A A
William C. Nygren (Harris Associates) | Natixis Oakmark Fund U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund | A A
Peter S. Sheehan (Loomis Sayles) | High Income Fund | A
Anthony P. Coniaris (Harris Associates) | Natixis Oakmark International Fund | A
Eric Williams | Loomis Sayles High Income Fund | C

*A. None
B. $1 - $10,000
C. $10,001 - $50,000
D. $50,001 - $100,000
E. $100,001 - $500,000
F. $500,001 - $1,000,000
G. over $1,000,000
There are various reasons why a portfolio manager may not own shares of the Fund(s) he or she manages. One reason is that a Fund’s investment objectives and strategies may not match those of the portfolio manager’s personal investment objective. Another explanation is that, with respect to the U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund, the Fund is multi-sleeved and a portfolio manager may manage only one sleeve; the other sleeves are managed by different investment advisers using different investment styles. In addition, portfolio managers may invest in other funds or pooled investment vehicles or separate accounts managed by the portfolio manager in a similar style to the Fund managed by such portfolio manager. Administrative reasons (such as facilitating compliance with an adviser’s or subadviser’s code of ethics) also may explain why a portfolio manager has chosen not to invest in the Funds.
Allocation of Investment Opportunity Among Funds and Other Accounts Managed by Advisers and Subadvisers; Cross Relationships of Officers and Trustees
Harris Associates. Certain officers and employees of Harris Associates have responsibility for portfolio management of other advisory accounts and clients (including other registered investment companies and accounts of affiliates of Harris Associates) that may invest in securities in which its subadvised Funds may invest. Where Harris Associates determines that an investment purchase or sale opportunity is appropriate and desirable for more than one advisory account, purchase and sale orders may be executed separately or may be combined and, to the extent practicable, allocated by Harris Associates to the participating accounts. In situations in which advisory accounts have competing interests in a limited investment opportunity, Harris Associates will allocate investment opportunities based on numerous considerations, including cash availability and/or liquidity requirements, the time competing accounts have had funds available for investment or have had investments available for sale, investment objectives and restrictions, an account’s participation in other opportunities, tax considerations and relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities. It is Harris Associates’
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policy to allocate, to the extent practicable, investment opportunities to each client over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis relative to its other clients. Harris believes that the ability of the subadvised Funds to participate in larger aggregated transactions will in some cases produce better executions for these Funds. However, in some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price and amount of a security available to these Funds or the price at which a security may be sold.
Loomis Sayles. Loomis Sayles has organized its business into two investment groups: the Fixed-Income Group and the Equity Group. The Fixed-Income Group and The Equity Group make investment decisions for the Funds managed by Loomis Sayles. The groups make investment decisions independently of one another. These groups also have responsibility for the management of other client portfolios. The other investment companies and clients served by Loomis Sayles’ investment platforms sometimes invest in securities in which the Funds (or sleeves thereof) advised or subadvised by Loomis Sayles also invest. If one of these Funds and such other clients advised or subadvised by the same investment group of Loomis Sayles desire to buy or sell the same portfolio securities at or about the same time, the respective group allocates purchases and sales, to the extent practicable, on a pro rata basis in proportion to the amount desired to be purchased or sold for each Fund or client advised or subadvised by that investment group. It is recognized that in some cases the practices described in this paragraph could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities which each of the Funds purchases or sells. In other cases, however, it is believed that these practices may benefit the relevant Fund. The goal of Loomis Sayles’ policies and procedures is to act in good faith and to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner over time, regardless of their strategy or fee arrangements. These policies include those addressing the fair allocation of investment opportunities across client accounts.
Description of the Multi-Adviser Approach of U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund
Natixis Advisors believes that the multi-adviser approach to equity investing offers diversification and a different investment opportunity than funds managed by a single adviser using a single style. Natixis Advisors believes that assigning portfolio management responsibility for a fund to two subadvisers, whose management styles have resulted in records of success, may increase the likelihood that the fund may produce superior results for its shareholders, with less variability of return and less risk of persistent under-performance than a fund managed by a single adviser. Of course, there is no assurance that a fund will in fact achieve superior or less variable results over any period of time.
On a daily basis, capital activity will be allocated equally by Natixis Advisors among the sleeves of the Fund. However, Natixis Advisors may, subject to review of Board of the Trusts, allocate net investment capital differently between the subadvisers. This action may be necessary if, for example, a subadviser determines that it desires no additional investment capital. Similarly, because each sleeve of the Fund will perform differently from the other sleeve depending upon the investments it holds and changing market conditions, one sleeve may be larger or smaller at various times than the other sleeve. Each subadviser manages its sleeve of the Fund’s assets in accordance with its distinct investment style and strategy.
The Board has adopted asset allocation guidelines for the Fund to ensure that no sleeve of the Fund becomes too large or too small relative to the other sleeves of the Fund due to performance, market conditions or other factors. Natixis Advisors will generally monitor the asset allocation of the Fund’s sleeves on a monthly basis and when any one sleeve rises above or falls below the measures stated in the guidelines, action will generally be taken to reallocate cash flow away or towards a specific sleeve. Natixis Advisors may, subject to the review of the Board of the Trusts, allocate net investment capital differently among any of the subadvisers.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
All Funds
In placing orders for the purchase and sale of equity securities, each Fund’s adviser or subadviser selects only brokers that it believes are financially responsible, will provide efficient and effective services in executing, clearing and settling an order and will charge commission rates that, when combined with the quality of the foregoing services, will produce the best price and execution for the transaction. This does not necessarily mean that the lowest available brokerage commission, if any, will be paid. However, the commissions charged are believed to be competitive with generally prevailing rates. Each Fund’s adviser or subadviser will use its best efforts to obtain information as to the general level of commission rates being charged by the brokerage community from time to time and will evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions, if any, paid on transactions by reference to such data. See the section entitled “Commission and Other Factors in Broker or Dealer Selection” below. Each Fund’s adviser or subadviser may place orders for the Funds which, combined with orders for the advisers’/subadvisers’ other clients, may impact the price of the relevant security. This could cause the Funds to obtain a worse price on the transaction than would otherwise be the case if the orders were placed in smaller amounts or spread out over a longer period of time.
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best possible execution of orders, each Fund’s adviser or subadviser may allocate brokerage transactions to affiliated brokers. Any such transactions will comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. In order for the affiliated broker to effect portfolio transactions for the Funds, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees and other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period. Furthermore, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, has adopted procedures that are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standard.
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Transactions on stock, option, and futures exchanges involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. In the case of securities traded in the OTC market, there is generally no stated commission but the price usually includes an undisclosed commission or mark-up.
Harris Associates. Harris is responsible for selecting brokers and dealers for the execution of security transactions for each Fund it subadvises. Harris seeks to place purchase and sale orders in a manner that is fair and reasonable to a Fund. The primary consideration in placing all portfolio transactions is Harris’ ability to obtain “best execution” of such orders. Best execution means the combination of the most favorable execution and net price available under the circumstances. In determining best execution Harris takes into account a number of relevant factors including, among other things, the overall direct net economic result to a Fund (involving both price paid or received and any commissions and other costs paid), the efficiency with which the transaction is effected, the ability to effect the transaction in the desired price range with a minimum market impact, the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker, the ability of the broker to commit resources to the execution of the trade, and the value of the brokerage or research products or services provided. Such factors are weighed by Harris in determining the overall reasonableness of the brokerage commission. In selecting brokers for portfolio transactions, Harris takes into account its past experiences in determining those brokers who are likely to help achieve best execution.
There are many instances when, in Harris’ judgment, more than one broker can offer comparable execution services. In selecting among such brokers, consideration may be given to those brokers that supply research and brokerage products and services that are deemed to qualify as eligible research and brokerage products and services under the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Eligible research products and services may include, among other things, research reports, discussions with research analysts and corporate executives, seminars or conferences, financial and economic publications that are not targeted to a wide audience, software that provides analysis of securities portfolios, market research, including pre-and post-trade analytics, and market data. Eligible brokerage products and services may include services and products that (i) are used to effect securities transactions; (ii) perform services incidental to securities transactions; or (iii) are required by an applicable SRO or SEC rule(s). The research and brokerage products or services provided to Harris by a particular broker may include both (a) products and services created by such broker and (b) products and services created by a third party. The provision of research and brokerage products and services is often referred to as “soft dollar arrangements.” Such arrangements may cause a Fund to pay a commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount another broker would have charged for effecting that transaction, if Harris determines that an arrangement qualifies for the safe harbor provided by Section 28(e).
Harris is the principal source of information and advice to each Fund it subadvises, and the research and other services provided by brokers to Harris are considered to be in addition to the information and advice provided by Harris to the Funds. Harris believes that it is important for Harris, in performing its responsibilities to a Fund, to continue to receive and evaluate the broad spectrum of economic and financial information that many brokers have customarily furnished in connection with brokerage transactions, and that in compensating brokers for their services, it is in the interest of a Fund to take into account the value of the information received for use in advising the fund. Other clients of Harris, including those clients who are restricted from participating in soft dollar arrangements, may benefit from the research and other services obtained from brokers through whom a Fund effects securities transactions, and that not all such research and services may be used by Harris for a Fund. Likewise, a Fund may benefit from research and other services obtained from brokers through whom other clients of Harris effected securities transactions.
If Harris receives an eligible research or brokerage product or service that it also utilizes for non-eligible research or brokerage purposes, Harris will make a good faith determination as to the cost of such “mixed-use item” between the eligible and non-eligible purposes and use soft dollars to pay for that portion of the cost relating to its eligible purpose.
Harris may also participate in client commission arrangements, commission sharing arrangements and step-out transactions to receive eligible research and brokerage products and services. In “client commission arrangements” or “commission sharing arrangements,” Harris may effect transactions, subject to best execution, through a broker and request that the broker allocate a portion of the commission or commission credits to a segregated “research pool(s)” maintained by the broker. Harris may then direct such broker to pay for various products and services that are eligible under the safe harbor of Section 28(e). Participating in client commission arrangements or commission sharing arrangements may enable Harris to (1) strengthen its key brokerage relationships; (2) consolidate payments for research and brokerage products and services; and (3) continue to receive a variety of high quality research and brokerage products and services while facilitating best execution in the trading process.
In a step-out transaction, Harris directs a trade to a broker with instructions that the broker execute the transaction, but “step-out” all or portion of the transaction or commission in favor of another broker that provides eligible research and brokerage products or services. The second broker may clear and/or settle the transaction and receive commissions for the stepped-in portion. Harris only enters into step-out transactions if it will not hinder best execution.
In addition to trading with client commission arrangement brokers as discussed above, Harris effects trades with full service and introducing brokers, electronic communication networks, alternative trading systems, and other execution services. The reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund in relation to transaction and research services received is evaluated by the staff of Harris on an ongoing basis.
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When Harris believes it desirable, appropriate and feasible to purchase or sell the same security for a number of client accounts at the same time, Harris may aggregate its clients’ orders (“Aggregated Orders”), including orders on behalf of a Fund, in a way that seeks to obtain more favorable executions, in terms of the price at which the security is purchased or sold, the costs of the execution of the orders, and the efficiency of the processing of the transactions. Each account that participates in an Aggregated Order will participate at the average share price.
The trade allocation process takes place on as timely a basis as possible, i.e., as a client order is completed in full, or, in the case of a partially executed Aggregated Order, at the market’s close when the average price can be calculated. The trader will aggregate trade orders of different portfolio managers if the trader believes the Aggregated Order would provide each client with an opportunity to achieve a more favorable execution.
In the case of an Aggregated Order that has not been completely filled, Harris uses an automated application that determines an average execution price and then allocates securities among the accounts participating in the order. Institutional accounts, including the Funds, are generally allocated in proportion to the size of the order placed for each account (i.e., pro rata).
Although Harris believes that the ability to aggregate orders for client accounts will in general benefit its clients as a whole over time, in any particular instance, such aggregation may result in a less favorable price or execution for a particular client than might have been obtained if the transaction had been effected on an unaggregated basis.
Loomis Sayles
Fixed Income Securities
In placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities, Loomis Sayles selects only brokers dealers that it believes are financially responsible, will provide efficient and effective services in executing, clearing and settling an order and will charge spreads, when combined with the quality of the foregoing services, will produce the best price and execution for the transaction. Fixed-income securities are generally purchased from the issuer or a primary market maker acting as principal on a net basis with no brokerage commission paid by a Fund.
Equity Securities
In placing orders for the purchase and sale of equity securities for a Fund, Loomis Sayles selects only brokers that it believes are financially responsible, will provide efficient and effective services in executing, clearing and settling an order and will charge commission rates that, when combined with the quality of the foregoing services, will produce the best price and execution for the transaction. This does not necessarily mean that the lowest available brokerage commission, if any, will be paid. However, the commissions charged are believed to be competitive with generally prevailing rates. See the section titled “Commission and Other Factors in Broker or Dealer Selection” below. Loomis Sayles may place orders for a Fund which, combined with orders for its other clients, may impact the price of the relevant security. This could cause a Fund to obtain a worse price on the transaction than would otherwise be the case if the orders were placed in smaller amounts or spread out over a longer period of time.
Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best possible execution of orders, Loomis Sayles may allocate brokerage transactions to affiliated brokers. Any such transactions will comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. In order for the affiliated broker to effect portfolio transactions for a Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees and other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period. Furthermore, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, has adopted procedures that are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standard.
As discussed in more detail below, Loomis Sayles’ receipt of brokerage and research products may sometimes be a factor in Loomis Sayles’ selection of a broker or dealer to execute transactions for a Fund, subject to Loomis Sayles’ duty to seek best execution of the transactions. Such brokerage and research services may be paid for with Loomis Sayles’ own assets or may, in connection with transactions in securities effected for client accounts for which Loomis Sayles exercises investment discretion, be paid for with client commissions (the latter, sometimes referred to as “soft dollars”).
Generally, Loomis Sayles seeks to obtain quality executions at favorable security prices and at competitive commission rates, where applicable, through brokers and dealers who, in Loomis Sayles’ opinion, can provide the best overall net results for its clients. Transactions in equity securities are frequently executed through a primary market maker, but may also be executed on an Electronic Communication Network (“ECN”), Alternative Trading System (“ATS”), or other execution systems that in Loomis Sayles’ opinion can provide the best overall net results for its clients. Equity securities may also be purchased from underwriters at prices which include underwriting fees.
Transactions on stock, option, and futures exchanges involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. In the case of securities traded in the OTC market, OTC transactions incorporate any commission within the bid/ask spread.
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Commissions and Other Factors in Broker or Dealer Selection
Loomis Sayles uses its best efforts to obtain information as to the general level of commission rates being charged by the brokerage community from time to time and to evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid on client portfolio transactions by reference to such data. In making this evaluation, factors affecting liquidity and execution of the order, as well as the amount of the capital commitment by the broker or dealer, are taken into account. Other relevant factors may include, without limitation: (a) the execution capabilities of the brokers and/or dealers, (b) research and other products or services (as described in the section “Soft Dollars” below) provided by such brokers and/or dealers which are expected to enhance Loomis Sayles’ general portfolio management capabilities, (c) the size of the transaction, (d) the difficulty of execution, (e) the operations facilities of the brokers and/or dealers involved, (f) the risk in positioning a block of securities, (g) fair dealing and (h) the quality of the overall brokerage and research services provided by the broker-dealer.
Soft Dollars
First and foremost, Loomis Sayles recognizes that it has a fiduciary duty to seek best execution of its clients’ transactions. Brokerage trading activity is an essential factor in accessing Wall Street and third-party firm research, and Loomis Sayles acquires research and research services with the commission charged on its equity clients’ transactions (i.e., soft dollars). In connection with Loomis Sayles’ use of soft dollars, a client’s account may pay a broker-dealer an amount of commission for effecting a transaction for the client’s account in excess of the amount of commission it or another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Loomis Sayles determines in good faith that the amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research products or services provided by the broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or Loomis Sayles’ overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts as to which Loomis Sayles exercises investment discretion.
For purposes of this soft dollars discussion, the term “commission” includes commissions paid to brokers in connection with transactions effected on an agency basis. Loomis Sayles does not generate “soft dollars” on fixed-income transactions. Furthermore, Loomis Sayles has unbundled its equity commissions to separate the execution and research components of a commission. Loomis Sayles’ traders are diligent in ensuring that the firm’s average cost per share is appropriate, in consideration of the number and types of securities being purchased and sold and the various services rendered by broker-dealers, and well within recognized industry ranges of $.005-$.04 per share.
Loomis Sayles will only acquire research and brokerage products and services with soft dollars if they qualify as eligible products and services under the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Eligible research services and products that may be acquired by Loomis Sayles are those products and services that may provide advice, analysis or reports that will aid Loomis Sayles in carrying out its investment decision-making responsibilities. Eligible research must reflect the expression of reasoning or knowledge (having inherently intangible and non-physical attributes) and may include the following research items: traditional research reports; discussions with research analysts and corporate executives; seminars or conferences; financial and economic publications that are not targeted to a wide public audience; software that provides analysis of securities portfolios; market research including pre-trade and post-trade analytics; and market data. Eligible brokerage services and products that may be acquired by Loomis Sayles are those services or products that (i) are required to effect securities transactions; (ii) perform functions incidental to securities transactions; or (iii) are services that are required by an applicable self-regulatory organization or SEC rule(s). The brokerage and research products or services provided to Loomis Sayles by a particular broker-dealer may include (a) products and services created by such broker-dealer, (b) products and services created by other broker-dealers, and (c) products and services created by a third party. All soft dollar services are reviewed and approved by Loomis Sayles’ Chief Compliance Officer.
If Loomis Sayles receives a particular product or service that both aids it in carrying out its investment decision-making responsibilities (i.e., a “research use”) and provides non-research related uses, Loomis Sayles will make a good faith determination as to the allocation of the cost of such “mixed-use item” between the research and non-research uses and will only use soft dollars to pay for the portion of the cost relating to its research use. As of the date of this Statement, there are no mixed-use services being provided to Loomis Sayles.
The research services purchased with a Fund’s commissions are not necessarily for the exclusive benefit of the particular Fund, but rather for the benefit of the funds/clients in the same product (e.g., Large Cap Growth). The soft dollar commissions of an account in one product are not used for the benefit of a product managed by a different investment team. Soft dollars that are generated in a given quarter/year that are not used to acquire research in that quarter/year may be carried over to the following quarter/year to be used at a later time.
With very limited exception, all of Loomis Sayles’ clients generate soft dollars. However, some clients do not generate soft dollar commissions, such as Managed Account Program clients, clients with directed brokerage or zero commission arrangements (which may limit or prevent Loomis Sayles from using such clients’ commissions to pay for research and research services), and clients that prohibit soft dollars, and those clients may still benefit from the research provided to Loomis Sayles in connection with the soft dollar transactions placed for other clients. As a result, certain clients may have more of their commissions directed for research and research services than others.
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Loomis Sayles’ use of soft dollars to acquire brokerage and research products and services benefits Loomis Sayles by allowing it to obtain such products and services without having to purchase them with its own assets. Loomis Sayles does not, however, pay for market data with soft dollars, but rather it pays for such data in hard dollars from its own P&L. In addition, as a result of guidance from UK Financial Conduct Authority, Loomis Sayles pays broker-dealers a “Corporate Access” arrangement fee in hard dollars in connection with the Corporate Access meetings attended by investment team members who manage equity accounts of clients organized in the United Kingdom.
However, conflicts may arise between a Fund’s interest in paying the lowest commission rates available and Loomis Sayles’ interest in receiving brokerage and research products and services from particular brokers and dealers without having to purchase such products and services with Loomis Sayles’ own assets.
Client Commission Arrangements
Loomis Sayles has entered into several client commission arrangements (“CCAs”) (also known as commission sharing arrangements) with some of its key broker-dealer relationships. In a CCA, subject to best execution, Loomis Sayles will allocate a higher portion of its clients’ equity trading with broker-dealers who have agreed to unbundle their commission rates in order to enable Loomis Sayles to separately negotiate rates for execution and research and research services. The execution rates Loomis Sayles has negotiated with such firms vary depending on the type of orders Loomis Sayles executes with the CCAs.
Pursuant to the CCAs Loomis Sayles has with these broker-dealers, each firm will pool the research commissions accumulated during a calendar quarter and then, at the direction of Loomis Sayles, pay various broker-dealers and third-party services from this pool for the research and research services such firms have provided to Loomis Sayles.
These CCAs are deemed to be soft dollar arrangements, and Loomis Sayles and each CCA intends to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, as well as the Commission Guidance Regarding Client Commission Practices under Section 28(e).
Throughout the quarter, the Loomis Sayles’ equity portfolio managers, research analysts and strategists assess a value on the research they have received, which can include without limitation: research and other services, idea generation, models, expert consultants, political and economic analysts, technical analysts, discussions with research analysts and corporate executives, seminars and conferences. Loomis Sayles uses a software system from a third party vendor, CommciseBuy (“Commcise”), that provides integrated commission management and research valuation functionality. Commcise is used to: track the Research that is provided to and consumed by Loomis Sayles’ investment professionals, assess the quality and value of said Research, reconcile the soft dollars generated, track consumption relative to budgets, instruct our CCAs on the payments to our Research providers, and provide an audit trail of Loomis Sayles’ research consumption.
The CCAs enable Loomis Sayles to strengthen its relationships with its key broker-dealers, and limit the broker-dealers with whom it trades to those with whom it has FIX Connectivity, while still maintaining the research relationships with broker-dealers that provide Loomis Sayles with research and research services. In addition, the ability to unbundle the execution and research components of commissions enables Loomis Sayles to provide greater transparency to its clients in their commission reports.
In addition to trading with the CCA broker-dealers discussed above, Loomis Sayles continues to trade with full service broker-dealers, and ECNs, and ATSs and other electronic systems.
General
Subject to procedures adopted by the Board of each Trust, the Funds’ brokerage transactions may be executed by brokers that are affiliated with Natixis IM-NA or the Funds’ advisers or subadvisers. Any such transactions will comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, or other applicable restrictions as permitted by the SEC pursuant to exemptive relief or otherwise.
Under the 1940 Act, persons affiliated with each Trust are prohibited from dealing with each Trust’s Funds as a principal in the purchase and sale of securities. Since transactions in the OTC market usually involve transactions with dealers acting as principals for their own accounts, affiliated persons of the Trusts may not serve as the Funds’ dealer in connection with such transactions. However, the Trusts have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC permitting sleeves of the certain funds to enter into principal transactions with affiliates of the subadvisers to other sleeves of the same fund (but not affiliates of the subadviser to such sleeve or of Natixis Advisors and its affiliates).
To the extent permitted by applicable law, and in all instances subject to the foregoing policy of best execution, an adviser or subadviser may allocate brokerage transactions to broker-dealers (including affiliates of the Distributor) that have entered into arrangements in which the broker-dealer allocates a portion of the commissions paid by a Fund toward the reduction of that Fund’s expenses.
It is expected that the portfolio transactions in fixed-income securities will generally be with issuers or dealers on a net basis without a stated commission. Securities firms may receive brokerage commissions on transactions involving options, futures and options on futures and the purchase and sale of underlying securities upon exercise of options. The brokerage commissions associated with buying and selling options may be proportionately higher than those associated with general securities transactions.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUSTS
The Declarations of Trust of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II and Loomis Sayles Funds II permit each Trust’s Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of each series. Each share of each Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in such Fund with each other share of that Fund and is entitled to a proportionate interest in the dividends and distributions from that Fund. The Declarations of Trust further permit each Trust’s Board to divide the shares of each series into any number of separate classes, each having such rights and preferences relative to other classes of the same series as each Trust’s Board may determine. When you invest in a Fund, you acquire freely transferable shares of beneficial interest that entitle you to receive dividends as determined by each Trust’s Board and to cast a vote for each share you own at shareholder meetings. The shares of each Fund do not have any preemptive rights. Upon termination of any Fund, whether pursuant to liquidation of the relevant Trust or otherwise, shareholders of each class of that Fund are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets attributable to that class of shares of that Fund available for distribution to shareholders. Each Declaration of Trust also permits the Board to charge shareholders directly for custodial, transfer agency, servicing and other expenses.
The shares of all the Funds (except as noted in this Statement and in each of the Fund’s Prospectus) are divided into four classes: Class A, Class C, Class N and Class Y. The Investment Grade Bond Fund and Strategic Income Fund also offer Admin Class shares. Each Fund offers such classes of shares as set forth in such Fund’s Prospectus. As disclosed in the Prospectus, not every Fund offers each class of shares. The share classes each have different eligibility and minimum investment requirements, which are disclosed in the relevant Prospectus. All expenses of each Fund (including advisory fees but excluding specific expenses such as transfer agency fees (“Other Expenses”)) are borne by its Class A, Class C, Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares, as applicable, on a pro rata basis, except for 12b-1 fees, which are borne only by Class A, Class C and Admin Class shares and may be charged at a separate rate to each such class. Other Expenses (with the exception of Transfer Agent expenses) are borne by such classes on a pro rata basis. Transfer Agent expenses of Class A, Class C and Class Y shares are borne on a pro rata basis. Class N transfer agent expenses are borne directly by that class. The multiple class structure could be terminated should certain IRS rulings or SEC regulatory positions be rescinded or modified.
The assets received by each class of a Fund for the issue or sale of its shares and all income, earnings, profits, losses and proceeds therefrom, subject only to the rights of creditors, are allocated to, and constitute the underlying assets of, that class of the Fund. The underlying assets of each class of a Fund are segregated and are charged with the expenses with respect to that class of the Fund and with a share of the general expenses of the relevant Fund and Trust. Any general expenses of a Trust that are not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular class of a Fund are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. While the expenses of each Trust are allocated to the separate books of account of each Fund, certain expenses may be legally chargeable against the assets of all of the Funds in a Trust.
Each Declaration of Trust also permits the Trusts’ Board, without shareholder approval, to subdivide any Fund or series or class of shares into various sub-series or sub-classes with such dividend preferences and other rights as the Trustees may designate. Each Trust’s Board may also, without shareholder approval (except to the extent such approval is required by law), establish one or more additional series or classes or merge two or more existing series or classes. Shareholders’ investments in such an additional or merged series would be evidenced by a separate series of shares (i.e., a new “fund”).
Each Declaration of Trust provides for the perpetual existence of the Trusts. Each Trust, however, may be terminated at any time by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each series of the Trust. In addition, a Fund may be terminated at any time by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of such Fund. Similarly, any class of shares within a Fund may be terminated by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of such class. Each Declaration of Trust further provides that the Board may also without shareholder approval terminate the relevant Trust or Fund upon written notice to its shareholders.
VOTING RIGHTS
Shareholders of all Funds are entitled to one vote for each full share held (with fractional votes for each fractional share held) and may vote (to the extent provided therein) on the election of Trustees and the termination of a Trust and on other matters submitted to the vote of shareholders.
All classes of shares of each Fund have identical voting rights, except that each class of shares has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to that class, and has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class. On any matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares of a Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in each Trust’s by-laws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or class of shares, except (i) when required by the 1940 Act, or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more series or class of shares materially differently, shares shall be voted by individual series or class and (ii) when the matter affects only the interest of one or more series or classes, only shareholders of such series or class shall be entitled to vote thereon. Consistent with the current position of the SEC, shareholders of all series and classes vote together, irrespective of series or class, on the election of Trustees and the selection of the Trusts’ independent registered public accounting firm, but shareholders of each series vote separately on most other matters requiring shareholder approval, such as certain changes in investment policies of that series or the approval of the investment advisory and subadvisory agreement relating to that series, and shareholders of each class within a series vote separately as to the Rule 12b-1 plan (if any) relating to that class.
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There will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees except that, in accordance with the 1940 Act, (i) a Trust will hold a shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees at such time as less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders, and (ii) if there is a vacancy on the Board, such vacancy may be filled only by a vote of the shareholders unless, after filling such vacancy by other means, at least two-thirds of the Trustees holding office shall have been elected by the shareholders. In addition, Trustees may be removed from office by a written consent signed by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares and filed with a Trust’s custodian or by a vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares at a meeting duly called for that purpose.
Upon written request by a minimum of ten holders of shares having held their shares for a minimum of six months and having a NAV of at least $25,000 or constituting at least 1% of the outstanding shares, whichever is less, stating that such shareholders wish to communicate with the other shareholders for the purpose of obtaining the signatures necessary to demand a meeting to consider removal of a Trustee, the Trusts have undertaken to provide a list of shareholders or to disseminate appropriate materials (at the expense of the requesting shareholders).
Except as set forth above, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees. Shareholder voting rights are not cumulative.
The affirmative vote of a majority of shares of the Trusts voted (assuming a quorum is present in person or by proxy) is required to amend a Declaration of Trust if such amendment (1) affects the power of shareholders to vote, (2) amends the section of the Declaration of Trust governing amendments, (3) is one for which a vote is required by law or by the Trusts’ registration statement or (4) is submitted to the shareholders by the Trustees. If one or more new series of a Trust is established and designated by the Trustees, the shareholders having beneficial interests in the other funds shall not be entitled to vote on matters exclusively affecting such new series, such matters including, without limitation, the adoption of or any change in the investment objectives, policies or restrictions of the new series and the approval of the investment advisory contracts of the new series. Similarly, the shareholders of the new series shall not be entitled to vote on any such matters as they affect the other funds.
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of a Trust. However, the Declarations of Trust disclaim shareholder liability for acts or obligations of a Trust and require that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by a Trust or the Trustees. The Declarations of Trust provide for indemnification out of each Fund’s property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund by reason of owning shares of such Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is considered remote since it is limited to circumstances in which the disclaimer is inoperative and a Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations.
The Declarations of Trust further provide that the relevant Board will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. However, nothing in the Declarations of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to which the Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. The by-laws of each Trust provide for indemnification by the Trust of Trustees and officers of the Trust, except with respect to any matter as to which any such person did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interests of the Trust. Such persons may not be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders to whom he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Each Trust offers only its own Funds’ shares for sale, but it is possible that a Trust might become liable for any misstatements in a prospectus that relate to another Trust. The Trustees of each Trust have considered this possible liability and approved the use of the combined prospectus for Funds of the Trusts.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
The procedures for purchasing shares of the Funds are summarized in the Prospectus. All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to Natixis Funds or the Funds’ custodian bank.
At the discretion of the Distributor, bank trust departments or trust companies may also be eligible for investment in Class Y shares at a reduced minimum, subject to certain conditions including a requirement to meet the minimum investment balance within a specified time period. Please contact the Distributor at 800-225-5478 for more information.
REDEMPTIONS
The procedures for redemption of shares of a Fund are summarized in its Prospectus.
A shareholder automatically receives access to the ability to redeem shares by telephone following the completion of a Fund application, which is available at im.natixis.com or from your investment dealer. When selecting the service, a shareholder may have the withdrawal proceeds sent to his or her bank, in which case the shareholder must designate a bank account on his or her application to which the redemption proceeds should be sent as well as provide a check marked “VOID” and/or a deposit slip that includes the routing number of
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his or her bank. Any change in the bank account so designated or addition of a new bank account may be made by furnishing to SS&C GIDS or your investment dealer a completed Service Options Form, which may require a medallion signature guarantee or a Signature Validation Program Stamp. Telephone redemptions by ACH or wire may only be made if the designated bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System or has a correspondent bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System. If the account is with a savings bank, it must have only one correspondent bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System. The Funds, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and State Street Bank (the Funds’ custodian) are not responsible for the authenticity of withdrawal instructions received by telephone, although they will apply established verification procedures. SS&C GIDS, as agreed to with the Funds, will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that your telephone instructions are genuine, and if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Such verification procedures include, but are not limited to, requiring a form of personal identification prior to acting on an investor’s telephone instructions and recording an investor’s instructions.
The redemption price will be the NAV per share (less any applicable CDSC) next determined after the redemption request and any necessary special documentation is received by the Transfer Agent or your investment dealer in proper form. Payment normally will be made by the Funds within seven days thereafter. Shares purchased by check or through ACH may not be available immediately for redemption to the extent the check or ACH transaction has not cleared. The Funds may withhold redemption proceeds for ten days when redemptions are made within ten calendar days of purchase by check or through ACH.
The CDSC may be waived on redemptions made from IRA accounts due to attainment of age 59 1/2 for IRA shareholders who established accounts prior to January 3, 1995. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions made from IRA accounts due to death, disability, return of excess contribution, required minimum distributions (waivers apply only to amounts necessary to meet the required minimum amount based on assets held within the Funds), certain withdrawals pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, not to exceed 10% annually of the value of the account, and redemptions made from the account to pay custodial fees. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions within one year following the death of (i) the sole shareholder of an individual account, (ii) a joint tenant where the surviving joint tenant is the deceased’s spouse or (iii) the beneficiary of a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, Uniform Transfer to Minors Act or other custodial account. If the account is transferred to an account registered in the name of the deceased’s estate, the CDSC will be waived on any redemption occurring within one year of death. If the account is transferred to a new registration and then a redemption is requested, the applicable CDSC will be charged. However, if an account is transferred to a new registration solely as an operational processing step to facilitate the distribution request from the deceased shareholder’s (or the estate’s) account, the CDSC will be waived. If shares are not redeemed within one year of the death, they will remain subject to the applicable CDSC when redeemed from the transferee’s account.
The CDSC may be waived on redemptions made from 403(b)(7) custodial accounts due to attainment of age 59 1/2 for shareholders who established custodial accounts prior to January 3, 1995. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions made from 403(b)(7) custodial accounts due to death or disability.
The CDSC also may be waived on redemptions necessary to pay plan participants or beneficiaries from certain retirement plans under Section 401 of the Code, including profit sharing plans, money purchase plans, 401(k) and custodial accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Code. Distributions necessary to pay plan participants and beneficiaries include payment made due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement as defined in the plan document, loans from the plan and hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, required minimum distributions (waivers only apply to amounts necessary to meet the required minimum amount), certain withdrawals pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, not to exceed 10% annually of the value of your account, and redemptions made from qualified retirement accounts or Section 403(b)(7) custodial accounts necessary to pay custodial fees.
A CDSC will apply in the event of plan level transfers, including transfers due to changes in investment where assets are transferred outside of Natixis Funds, including IRA and 403(b)(7) participant-directed transfers of assets to other custodians (except for the reasons given above) or qualified transfers of assets due to trustee-directed movement of plan assets due to merger, acquisition or addition of additional funds to the plan.
Each Fund will normally redeem shares for cash; however, each Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in kind, if Natixis Advisors determines it to be advisable and in the interest of the remaining shareholders of a Fund. The redemptions in kind will generally, but not necessarily, result in a pro rata distribution of each security held in a Fund’s portfolio. If portfolio securities are distributed in lieu of cash, the shareholder will normally incur brokerage commissions upon subsequent disposition of any such securities. However, the Funds have elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, pursuant to which each Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash for any shareholder during any 90-day period up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the total NAV of each Fund at the beginning of such period.
The Funds do not currently impose any redemption charge other than the CDSC imposed by the Funds’ distributor, as described in the Prospectus. The Board reserves the right to impose additional charges at any time. A redemption constitutes a sale of shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes on which the investor may realize a long- or short-term capital gain or loss. See the section “Taxes” in this Statement.
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The Funds reserve the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests if a Fund receives notice of a dispute between registered owners or of the death of a registered owner or a Fund suspects a fraudulent act. If a Fund refuses a transaction request because it receives notice of a dispute, the transaction will be processed at the NAV next determined after the Fund receives notice that the dispute has been settled or a court order has been entered adjudicating the dispute. If a Fund determines that its suspicion of fraud or belief that a dispute existed was mistaken, the transaction will be processed as of the NAV next determined after the transaction request was first received in good order.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
Open Accounts
A shareholder’s investment is automatically credited to an open account maintained for the shareholder by SS&C GIDS. Following each additional investment or redemption from the account initiated by an investor (with the exception of systematic investment plans), a shareholder will receive a confirmation statement disclosing the current balance of shares owned and the details of recent transactions in the account. After the close of each calendar year, the Funds will send each shareholder a statement providing account information that may include U.S. federal income tax information on dividends and distributions paid to the shareholder during the year. This Statement should be retained as a permanent record.
The open account system provides for full and fractional shares expressed to three decimal places and, by making the issuance and delivery of stock certificates unnecessary, eliminates problems of handling and safekeeping, and the cost and inconvenience of replacing lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed certificates. Certificates will not be issued or honored for any class of shares.
The costs of maintaining the open account system are paid by the Funds and no direct charges are made to shareholders. Although the Funds have no present intention of making such direct charges to shareholders, they each reserve the right to do so. Shareholders will receive prior notice before any such charges are made.
Minimum Balance Policy
The Funds’ minimum balance policy is described in the Prospectus.
Automatic Investment Plans
Subject to each Fund’s investor eligibility requirements, investors may automatically invest in additional shares of a Fund on a monthly basis under the Investment Builder Program by authorizing the Fund to draw from an investor’s bank account. A Service Options Form must be completed to open an automatic investment plan and may be obtained by calling the Funds at 800-225-5478 or your investment dealer or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
This program is voluntary and may be terminated at any time by SS&C GIDS upon notice to existing plan participants. The Investment Builder Program plan may be discontinued at any time by the investor by written notice to SS&C GIDS, which must be received at least five business days prior to any payment date. The plan may be discontinued by State Street Bank at any time without prior notice if any check is not paid upon presentation; or by written notice to the shareholder at least thirty days prior to any payment date. The Funds are under no obligation to notify shareholders as to the nonpayment of any check.
Retirement Plans and Other Plans Offering Tax Benefits (Class A and Class C Shares)
U.S. federal income tax laws provide for a variety of retirement plans offering tax benefits. These plans may be funded with shares of the Funds or with certain other investments. The plans include H.R. 10 (Keogh) plans for self-employed individuals and partnerships, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), corporate pension trust and profit sharing plans, including 401(k) plans, and retirement plans for public school systems and certain tax-exempt organizations.
The minimum initial investment available to retirement plans and other plans offering tax benefits is referred to in the Prospectus. For these plans, initial investments in a Fund for Class A and Class C shares must be at least $1,000 for IRAs and Keogh plans. There is no initial or subsequent investment minimum for SIMPLE IRAs using the Natixis Funds’ prototype documents. Income dividends and capital gain distributions must be reinvested (unless the investor is over age 59 1/2 or disabled). These types of accounts may be subject to fees. Plan documents and further information can be obtained from the Distributor.
Certain retirement plans may also be eligible to purchase Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares. See the Prospectus for details.
Systematic Withdrawal Plans
An investor owning a Fund’s shares having a value of $10,000 or more at the current public offering price may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (a “SWP”) providing for periodic payments of a fixed or variable amount. An investor may terminate the SWP at any time. A form for use in establishing an SWP is available from SS&C GIDS, your financial representative or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com. Withdrawals may be paid to a person other than the shareholder if a Medallion signature guarantee is provided. Please consult your investment dealer or the Funds.
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A shareholder under an SWP may elect to receive payments monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually for a fixed amount of not less than $50 or a variable amount based on (1) the market value of a stated number of shares, (2) a specified percentage of the account’s market value.
In the case of shares subject to a CDSC, the amount or percentage you specify may not, on an annualized basis, exceed 10% of the value, as of the time you make the election, of your account with a Fund with respect to which you are electing the SWP. Withdrawals of shares of a Fund under the SWP will be treated as redemptions of shares purchased through the reinvestment of Fund distributions, or, to the extent, such shares purchased through the reinvestment of distribution in your account are insufficient to cover SWP payments, as redemptions from the earliest purchased shares of such Fund in your account. No CDSC applies to redemptions pursuant to the SWP.
Since withdrawal payments represent proceeds from the liquidation of shares, withdrawals may reduce and possibly exhaust the value of the account, particularly in the event of a decline in NAV. Accordingly, a shareholder should consider whether an SWP and the specified amounts to be withdrawn are appropriate under the circumstances. The Funds and the Distributor make no recommendations or representations in this regard. It may be appropriate for a shareholder to consult a tax adviser before establishing an SWP. See the sections “Redemptions” and “Taxes” in this Statement for certain information as to U.S. federal income taxes.
It may be disadvantageous for a shareholder to purchase on a regular basis additional Fund shares with a sales charge while redeeming shares under an SWP. Accordingly, the Funds and the Distributor do not recommend additional investments in Class A shares by a shareholder who has an SWP in effect and who would be subject to a sales load on such additional investments. Natixis Funds may modify or terminate this program at any time.
Because of statutory restrictions, an SWP may not be available to pension or profit-sharing plans and IRA plans that have UMB Bank N.A. as trustee. Different documentation may be required.
Dividend Diversification Program
You may also establish a Dividend Diversification Program, which allows you to have all dividends and any other distributions for Class A, Class C, Class N, Class Y and Admin Class shares automatically invested in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund, subject to the investor eligibility requirements of that other Fund and to state securities law requirements. Shares will be purchased based upon the selected Fund’s NAV (without a sales charge or CDSC) determined as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the ex-dividend date for each dividend and distribution. A dividend diversification account must be registered to the same shareholder as the distributing Fund account and, if a new account in the purchased Fund is being established, the purchased Fund’s minimum investment requirements must be met. Before establishing a Dividend Diversification Program into any other Natixis Fund, you must obtain and carefully read a copy of that Fund’s Prospectus.
Exchanging or Converting Shares
A Fund’s policies for exchanging or converting shares are described in its Prospectus. Before requesting an exchange into any other Natixis Fund, please read its Prospectus carefully. Subject to the applicable rules of the SEC, the Board reserves the right to modify the exchange privilege at any time. Except as otherwise permitted by SEC rule, shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ advance notice of any material change to the exchange privilege.
For purposes of determining the date on which Class C shares convert into Class A shares, a Class C share purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions (a “Distributed Share”) will be considered to have been purchased on the purchase date (or deemed purchase date) of the Class C share through which such Distributed Share was issued. In addition, any Class C shares for which the Transfer Agent cannot determine a holding period (commonly known as “Free Shares”) may, depending upon system settings, convert to Class A shares even if such Class C Free Shares have been held for less than ten years. Free Shares typically arise with respect to reinvested dividends not associated with purchased shares and with respect to shares from a Fund that liquidated prior to implementation of the Class C to Class A conversion policy. Automatic conversions of Class C shares to Class A shares will generally be processed monthly on or about the 10th day of the month.
Merrill Lynch Client Accounts Only
A shareholder currently holding Class A or C shares of a Fund in a fee-based advisory program (“Advisory Program”) account or currently holding Class A or C shares in a brokerage account but wishing to transfer into an Advisory Program account may convert such shares to Class Y shares of the Fund within the Advisory Program at any time. Such conversions will be on the basis of the relative net asset values per share, without requiring any investment minimum to be met and without the imposition of any redemption fee or other charge. If a CDSC is applicable to such Class A or C shares, then the conversion may not occur until after the shareholder has held the shares for an 18 month period (Class A shares) or 12 month period (Class C shares), except that a CDSC applicable to Class A or C shares converted to Class Y shares through a fee-based individual retirement account on the Merrill Lynch platform will be waived and Merrill Lynch will remit the portion of the payment to be made to the Distributor equal to the number of months remaining on the CDSC period divided by the total number of months of the CDSC period.
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Automatic Exchange Plan
As described in the Prospectus, a shareholder may establish an Automatic Exchange Plan under which shares of a Fund are automatically exchanged each month for shares of the same class of one or more of the other Funds. Registration on all accounts must be identical. The fund minimum of the new fund must be met in connection with each investment. Exchanges may be processed on any day of the month (or the first business day thereafter if the exchange date is not a business day) until the account is exhausted or until SS&C GIDS is notified in writing to terminate the plan. Exchanges may be made in amounts of $50 or more. The Service Options Form may be used to establish an Automatic Exchange Plan and is available from SS&C GIDS, your financial representative or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com.
Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares
As stated in the Prospectus, each Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason. When a purchase or exchange order is rejected, a Fund or the Distributor will send notice to the prospective investor or the investor’s financial intermediary promptly after receipt of the rejected order.
Broker Trading Privileges
The Distributor may, from time to time, enter into agreements with one or more brokers or other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares until the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time on each day that the NYSE is open for trading); such purchase and redemption orders will be deemed to have been received by a Fund when the authorized broker or intermediary accepts such orders; and such orders will be priced using that Fund’s NAV next computed after the orders are placed with and accepted by such brokers or intermediaries. Any purchase and redemption orders received by a broker or intermediary under these agreements will be transmitted daily to a Fund no later than the time specified in such agreement; but, in any event, no later than market open, Eastern Time, following the day that such purchase or redemption orders are received by the broker or intermediary.
T ranscript Requests
Transcripts of account transactions will be provided, free of charge, at the shareholder’s request.
Self-Servicing Your Account with Natixis Funds Personal Access Line® (All Classes Except Class N) and Website
Natixis Funds’ shareholders may access account information, including share balances and recent account activity, online by visiting our website at im.natixis.com. Transactions may also be processed online for certain accounts (restrictions may apply). Such transactions include purchases, redemptions and exchanges, and shareholders are automatically eligible for these features. Natixis Funds has taken measures to ensure the security of shareholder accounts, including the encryption of data and the use of personal identification numbers (PINs). In addition, you may restrict these privileges from your account by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478, or writing to us at P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579. More information regarding these features may be found on our website at im.natixis.com.
NET ASSET VALUE
The method for determining the public offering price and NAV per share is summarized in the Prospectus.
The total NAV of each class of shares of a Fund (the excess of the assets of such Fund attributable to such class over the liabilities attributable to such class) is determined at the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day that the NYSE is open for trading. Each Fund will not price its shares on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are readily available, as outlined in the Funds’ policies and procedures, are valued at market value. A Fund may use a third-party pricing service to obtain market quotations and other valuation information, such as evaluated bids. Generally, Fund securities and other investments are valued as follows:

● | Equity securities (including shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs), exchange-traded notes, rights, and warrants — listed equity securities are valued at the last sale price quoted on the exchange where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market and NASDAQ Capital Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), or if lacking an NOCP, at the most recent bid quotations on the applicable NASDAQ Market. Unlisted equity securities (except unlisted preferred equity securities discussed below) are valued at the last sale price quoted in the market where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by a third-party pricing service. If there is no sale price or closing bid quotation available, unlisted equity securities will be valued using evaluated bids furnished by a third-party pricing service, if available. In some foreign markets, an official close price and a last sale price may be available from the foreign exchange or market. In those cases, the official close price is used. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund’s fair value policies described below. If a right is not traded on any exchange, its value is based on the market value of the underlying security, less the cost to subscribe to the underlying security (e.g., to exercise the right), adjusted for the subscription ratio. If a warrant is not traded on any exchange, a price is obtained from a broker-dealer.

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● | Debt Securities and unlisted preferred equity securities — evaluated bids furnished to a Fund by a third-party pricing service using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

● | Equity-Linked Notes — valued using broker-dealer bid prices.

● | Senior Loans — bid prices supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

● | Bilateral Swaps — bilateral credit default swaps are valued based on mid prices (between the bid and ask prices) supplied by a third-party pricing service. Bilateral interest rate swaps and bilateral standardized commodity and equity index total return swaps are valued based on prices supplied by a third-party pricing service. If prices from a third-party pricing service are not available, prices from a broker-dealer may be used.

● | Centrally Cleared Swaps – settlement prices of the clearing house on which the contracts were traded or prices obtained from broker-dealers.

● | Options — domestic exchange-traded index and single name equity options contracts (including options on ETFs) are valued at the mean of the National Best Bid and Offer quotations as determined by the Options Price Reporting Authority. Foreign exchange-traded single name equity options contracts are valued at the most recent settlement price. Options contracts on foreign indices are priced at the most recent settlement price. Options on futures contracts are valued using the current settlement price on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Other exchange-traded options are valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. OTC currency options and swaptions are valued at mid prices (between the bid and ask prices) supplied by a third-party pricing service, if available. Other OTC option contracts (including currency options and swaptions not priced through a third-party pricing service) are valued based on prices obtained from broker-dealers. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies described below.

● | Futures — most recent settlement price on the exchange on which the valuation designee believes that, over time, they are traded most extensively. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Funds’ fair value policies described below.

● | Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — interpolated rates determined based on information provided by a third-party pricing service.

● | Mutual Funds - net asset value.

Foreign denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates supplied by a third-party pricing service. As noted below, Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by a Fund’s adviser in its capacity as “valuation designee.” A Fund may also value securities and other investments at fair value in other circumstances such as when extraordinary events occur after the close of a foreign market but prior to the close of the NYSE. This may include situations relating to a single issuer (such as a declaration of bankruptcy or a delisting of the issuer’s security from the primary market on which it has traded) as well as events affecting the securities markets in general (such as market disruptions or closings and significant fluctuations in U.S. and/or foreign markets). When fair valuing its securities or other investments, each Fund may, among other things, use modeling tools or other processes that may take into account factors such as securities or other market activity and/or significant events that occur after the close of the foreign market and before the time a Fund’s NAV is calculated. Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security, and fair values used to determine a Fund’s NAV may differ from quoted or published prices, or from prices that are used by others, for the same securities. In addition, the use of fair value pricing may not always result in adjustments to the prices of securities held by a Fund. Valuations for securities traded in the OTC market may be based on factors such as market information, transactions for comparable securities, and various relationships between securities or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers. Evaluated prices from a third-party pricing service may require subjective determinations and may be different than actual market prices or prices provided by other pricing services.
Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act addresses valuation practices and the role of the board of directors with respect to the fair value of the investments of a registered investment company. Among other things, Rule 2a-5 permits a fund’s board to designate the fund’s primary investment adviser to perform the fund’s fair value determinations, which are subject to board oversight and certain reporting and other requirements. As of the date of this Statement, the adviser serves as the Fund’s valuation designee for purposes of compliance with Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act.
Trading in some of the portfolio securities or other investments of the Funds takes place in various markets outside the United States on days and at times other than when the NYSE is open for trading. Therefore, the calculation of these Funds’ NAV does not take place at the same time as the prices of many of their portfolio securities or other investments are determined, and the value of these Funds’ portfolios may change on days when these Funds are not open for business and their shares may not be purchased or redeemed.
The per share NAV of a class of each Fund’s shares is computed by dividing the number of shares outstanding into the total NAV attributable to such class. The public offering price of a Class A share of a Fund is the NAV per share plus a sales charge as set forth in each Fund’s Prospectus.
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REDUCED SALES CHARGES
The following special purchase plans are summarized in the Prospectus and are described in greater detail below. Investors should note that in many cases, the financial intermediary, and not the Funds, is responsible for ensuring that the investor receives current discounts.
If you invest in Class A shares through a financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure you obtain the proper “breakpoint” discount. In order to reduce your sales charge, it will be necessary at the time of purchase to inform the Distributor and your financial intermediary, in writing, of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated to meet sales load breakpoints. If the Distributor is not notified that you are eligible for a reduced sales charge, the Distributor will be unable to ensure that the reduction is applied to the investor’s account. You may be required to provide certain records and information, such as account statements, with respect to all of your accounts which hold Fund shares, including accounts with other financial intermediaries, and your family members’ and other related parties’ accounts, in order to verify your eligibility for the reduced sales charge.
Please see Appendix A to the Prospectus for information regarding eligibility for sales load waivers and discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Prospectus or this Statement.
Cumulative Purchase Discount
The Cumulative Purchase Discount privilege is described in the prospectus.
Letter of Intent
A Letter of Intent (a “Letter”), which can be effected at any time, is a privilege available to investors that reduces the sales charge on investments in Class A shares. Ordinarily, reduced sales charges are available for single purchases of Class A shares only when they reach certain breakpoints (e.g., $50,000, $100,000, etc.). By signing a Letter, a shareholder indicates an intention to invest enough money in Class A shares within 13 months to reach a breakpoint. If the shareholder’s intended aggregate purchases of all series and classes of the Trusts and other Natixis Funds over a defined 13-month period will be large enough to qualify for a reduced sales charge, the shareholder may invest the smaller individual amounts at the public offering price calculated using the sales load applicable to the 13-month aggregate investment.
A Letter is a non-binding commitment, the amount of which may be increased, decreased or canceled at any time. The effective date of a Letter is the date it is received in good order by the Transfer Agent.
Purchases made within 90 days of the establishment of the Letter may be used towards meeting the Letter of Intent.
The cumulative purchase discount above, described in the Prospectus, permits the aggregate value at the current public offering price of Class A shares of any accounts with the Trusts held by a shareholder to be added to the dollar amount of the intended investment under a Letter, provided the shareholder lists them on the account application.
The Transfer Agent will hold in escrow shares with a value at the current public offering price of 5% of the aggregate amount of the intended investment. The amount in escrow will be released when the commitment stated in the Letter is completed. If the shareholder does not purchase shares in the amount indicated in the Letter, the shareholder agrees to remit to the Transfer Agent the difference between the sales charge actually paid and that which would have been paid had the Letter not been in effect, and authorizes the Transfer Agent to redeem escrowed shares in the amount necessary to make up the difference in sales charges. Reinvested dividends and distributions are not included in determining whether the Letter has been completed.
Combining Accounts
For purposes of determining the sales charge applicable to a given purchase, a shareholder may elect to combine the purchase and the shareholder’s total investment (calculated at the current public offering price) in all series and classes of the Natixis Funds with the purchases and total investment of the shareholder’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those previously mentioned, single trust estates, individual retirement accounts and sole proprietorships or any other group of individuals acceptable to the Distributor. If the combined value of the purchases and total investments exceeds a sales charge breakpoint as disclosed in the Prospectus, the lower sales charge applies to the entire amount of the purchase, even though some portion of that investment is below the breakpoint to which a reduced sales charge applies.
For certain retirement plans, the Distributor may, in its discretion, combine the purchases and total investment of all qualified participants in the same retirement plan for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge. Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE IRA”) contributions will automatically be linked with those of participants in the same SIMPLE IRA Plan (Class A shares only) using the Natixis Funds prototype documents. Effective May 8, 2026, all share classes will be linked for the purpose of calculating sales charges. SIMPLE IRA accounts may not be linked with any other Natixis Fund account for rights of accumulation.
Purchases and total investments of individuals may not be combined with purchases and total investments of the retirement plan accounts described in the preceding paragraph for the purpose of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge. Only the purchases and total investments in tax-qualified retirement plans or other employee benefit plans in which the shareholder is the sole participant may be combined with individual accounts for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge.
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Eligible Governmental Authorities
There is no sales charge or CDSC related to investments in Class A shares by any state, county or city or any instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof that has determined that a Fund is a legally permissible investment and that is prohibited by applicable investment laws from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the purchase of shares of any registered investment company.
Investment Advisory Accounts
Class A shares of any Fund may be purchased at NAV by registered investment advisers, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts or by clients of registered investment advisers, financial planners or other intermediaries where the registered investment adviser, financial planner or other intermediary receives an advisory, management, or consulting fee for the investment in the Fund. Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent.
Certain Broker-Dealers and Financial Services Organizations
Class A shares of any Fund may also be purchased at NAV through certain broker-dealers or financial services organizations without any transaction fee. Such organizations may also receive compensation paid by Natixis Advisors, or its affiliates out of their own assets (as described in the section “Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans”), or be paid indirectly by the Funds in the form of servicing, distribution or Transfer Agent fees.
Certain Clients of Financial Intermediaries
Class A shares may be offered without front-end sales charges or a CDSC to clients of a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and has been approved by the Distributor to offer Fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee.
Certain Retirement Plans
Class A shares of the Funds may be purchased at NAV for investments by certain retirement plans. The availability of this pricing may depend upon the policies and procedures of your specific intermediary; consult your financial adviser.
“Certain Retirement Plans” as it relates to load waivers, share class eligibility, and account minimums is defined as follows:
Certain Retirement Plans include 401(k), 457, 401(a) (including profit-sharing, money purchase pension plans), 403(b), 403(b)(7), defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Taft Hartley multi-employer plans and retiree health benefit plans. Accounts must be plan level omnibus accounts to qualify.
Certain Retirement Plans do not include individual retirement accounts such as an IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA, SARSEP IRA, and Roth IRA. Any accounts registered in the name of a participant does not qualify.
The reduction or elimination of the sales charges in connection with special purchase plans described above reflects the absence or reduction of expenses associated with such sales.
DISTRIBUTIONS
As described in the Prospectus, it is the policy of each Fund to pay shareholders at least annually according to the schedule specified in each Fund’s Prospectus, as dividends, all or substantially all of its net investment income and to distribute annually (or, in the case of short-term gains, more frequently than annually if determined by the Fund to be in the best interest of shareholders) all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains, if any, after offsetting any capital loss carryforwards. To the extent permitted by law, the Board may adopt a different schedule for making distributions as long as distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, are made at least annually. A Fund’s distribution rate fluctuates over time for various reasons, and there can be no assurance that a Fund’s distributions will not decrease or that a Fund will make any distributions when scheduled. For example, foreign currency losses could potentially reduce or eliminate, and have in the past reduced or eliminated, regularly scheduled distributions for certain Funds.
Ordinary income dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested based upon the NAV determined as of the close of the NYSE on the ex-dividend date for each dividend or distribution. Shareholders, however, may elect to receive their ordinary income dividends or capital gain distributions, or both, in cash. The election may be made at any time by submitting a written request directly to Natixis Funds, contacting Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visiting im.natixis.com to change your distribution option. In order for a change to be in effect for any dividend or distribution, it must be received by Natixis Funds on or before the record date for such dividend or distribution.
If you elect to receive your dividends in cash and the dividend checks sent to you are returned as “undeliverable” to the Funds or remain uncashed for six months, your cash election will automatically be changed and your future dividends will be reinvested. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed dividend or redemption checks.
As required by federal law, U.S. federal tax information regarding Fund distributions will be furnished to each shareholder for each calendar year early in the succeeding year. Funds with significant investments in REITs typically request a 30-day extension to provide such federal tax information to their shareholders.
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TAXES
The following discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in a Fund is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authorities, all as of the date of this Statement. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to an investment in a Fund. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situations and the possible application of foreign, state and local tax laws.
Taxation of the Funds
Each Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify and be eligible to be treated each year as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs under the Code, each Fund must, among other things: (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and (b) net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”); (ii) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each quarter of a Fund’s taxable year (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets consists of cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to no more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest (1) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (2) in the securities of one or more QPTPs; and (iii) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt income, if any, for such year.
In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in (i) above, income derived by a Fund from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived by a Fund from an interest in a QPTP (a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in (i)(a) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes because they meet the passive income requirement under Code section 7704(c)(2). In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a QPTP.
For purposes of the diversification requirements described in (ii) above, outstanding voting securities of an issuer include the equity securities of a QPTP. Also for purposes of the diversification requirements described in (ii) above, identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular Fund investment can depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain under current law, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to identification of the issuer for a particular type of investment may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to satisfy the diversification requirements in (ii) above.
Assuming that it qualifies for treatment as a RIC, a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income or gains distributed to its shareholders in a timely manner in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below). If a Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification or distribution requirements described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax or interest, disposing of certain assets or making additional distributions. If a Fund were ineligible to or did not cure such a failure for any year, or if the Fund otherwise were to fail to qualify as a RIC accorded special tax treatment for such year, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net long-term capital gain, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and may be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, provided in both cases that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of a Fund’s shares (as described below). In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction). If a Fund retains any investment company taxable income, the Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. Each Fund also intends to distribute annually all or substantially all of its net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case, determined with reference to any loss carryforwards). If a Fund retains any net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amounts retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders, who in turn (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S.
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federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on properly filed U.S. federal income tax returns to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If a Fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of a Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Funds are not required to, and there can be no assurance that a Fund will, make this designation if a Fund retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.
In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a RIC may elect to treat any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year, if any, after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) and certain late-year ordinary losses (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion of the taxable year, if any, after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.
Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a Fund’s net investment income. Instead, potentially subject to certain limitations, a Fund may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to subsequent taxable years to offset capital gains, if any, realized during such subsequent taxable years. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether a Fund retains or distributes such gains. If a Fund incurs or has incurred net capital losses, those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration to offset capital gains realized during such subsequent taxable years; any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term.
If a Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (or December 31 of that year if the Fund is eligible to and so elects) plus any such amounts retained from the prior year, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, a Fund’s ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property that would be taken into account after October 31 (or December 31, if the Fund is eligible to and makes the election referred to above) are generally treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Also for purposes of the excise tax, each Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year. Each Fund generally intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.
Taxation of Fund Distributions
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of a Fund’s earnings and profits. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. In general, a Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on the disposition of assets it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on the disposition of investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less. Distributions of net capital gain that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as long-term capital gain includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury have issued final regulations that impose special rules in respect of Capital Gain Dividends received through partnership interests constituting “applicable partnership interests” under Section 1061 of the Code. Distributions of the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as ordinary income. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.
Distributions of investment income properly reported by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Fund’s shares. In general, a dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or the shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company (as defined below). Income derived from investments in fixed-income securities, REITs and derivatives generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. The Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund, and Loomis Sayles High Income Fund do not expect a significant portion of their distributions to qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income.
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In general, distributions of investment income properly reported by a Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income in the hands of a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to such Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by a Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly reported as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. The Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund, and Loomis Sayles High Income Fund do not expect a significant portion of their distributions to be eligible for the dividends received deduction.
In general, properly reported dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of a Fund will qualify for the dividends received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. In general, a dividend received by a Fund will not be treated as an eligible dividend (1) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) or (2) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends received deduction may be disallowed or reduced (1) if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of the Fund or (2) otherwise by application of various provisions of the Code (for instance, the dividends received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock -- generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds).
Any distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by a Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, or (ii) dividend income received by a Fund on securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a loan by the Fund, may not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and may not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.
Distributions by a RIC to its shareholders that the RIC properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, are treated as qualified REIT dividends in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. Non-corporate shareholders are permitted a federal income tax deduction equal to 20% of qualified REIT dividends received by them, subject to certain limitations. Very generally, a “section 199A dividend” is any dividend or portion thereof that is attributable to certain dividends received by the RIC from REITs, to the extent such dividends are properly reported as such by the RIC in a written notice to its shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A RIC is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.
A RIC that receives business interest income may pass through its net business interest income to shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to the interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of Code. A RIC’s total “Section 163(j) Interest Dividends” for a tax year are limited to the excess of the RIC’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. A RIC may, in its discretion, designate all or a portion of ordinary dividends as Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, which would allow the recipient shareholder to treat the designated portion of such dividends as interest income for purposes of determining such shareholder’s interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j). This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j). In general, among other requirements, in order to be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) Interest Dividend as interest income, a shareholder must have held the shares in the Fund on which such dividend is paid for more than 180 days during the 361-day period beginning on the date that is 180 days before the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend.
The Code generally imposes a 3.8% tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by a Fund of net investment income and capital gains as described above, and (ii) any net gain from the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in a Fund.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid for his or her shares). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or in additional shares.
Dividends declared and payable by a Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the Fund during the following January generally will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividends are declared rather than the calendar year in which they are received.
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If a Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits” in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital generally is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.
Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Shares
A sale, exchange or redemption of Fund shares generally will give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held by a shareholder for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed under the Code’s “wash sale” rules if other substantially identical shares are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Upon the redemption or exchange of a Fund’s shares, the Fund or, in the case of shares purchased through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may be required to provide you and the IRS with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the Fund shares you redeemed or exchanged. See the Funds’ Prospectus for more information.
Certain Fixed-Income and Other Instruments
Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that are acquired by a Fund will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in a Fund’s income (and required to be distributed by the Fund) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. In addition, payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income that is required to be distributed and is taxable even though a Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.
Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by a Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having “market discount.” Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Alternatively, a Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund’s income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in a Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.
Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance that are acquired by a Fund may be treated as having OID or, in certain cases, “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price). A Fund will be required to include the OID or acquisition discount in income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which OID or acquisition discount accrues, and thus is included in a Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.
If a Fund holds the foregoing kinds of debt obligations, or other debt obligations subject to special rules under the Code, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or, if necessary, by disposition of portfolio securities including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so. These dispositions may cause a Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) and, in the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger Capital Gain Dividend than if the Fund had not held such obligations.
Investments in Collateralized Loan Obligations
The timing and character of income or gains arising from CLOs can be uncertain depending on the tranche (debt or equity). Equity tranches of CLOs elect to be treated as partnerships or corporations. To the extent a Fund invests in equity tranches that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all or a portion of any income and gains from such entities could constitute non-qualifying income to the Fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. In such cases, a Fund’s investments in such entities could be limited by its intention to qualify as a RIC, and could bear on its ability to so qualify. Income from such entities may be allocated to a Fund on a gross, rather than net, basis, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. To the extent, a Fund invests in equity tranches that are treated as corporations, the CLO could be subject to the PFIC rules depending on where the CLO is organized. See “Passive Foreign Investment Companies” discussion below.
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Securities Purchased at a Premium
Very generally, where a Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity (i.e., a premium), the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if a Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the Fund is permitted to deduct, any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require a Fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortized premium.
Certain Higher-Risk and High Yield Securities
A Fund may invest in lower-quality debt obligations or debt obligations that are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of default, or are in default, present special tax issues for a Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether a Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation and, if so, the amount of market discount the Fund should recognize, when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent a Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and interest. These and other related issues will be addressed by each Fund when as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.
A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations in which a Fund may invest may be treated as a dividend for purposes of the corporate dividends received deduction. In such cases, if the issuer of the high yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction to the extent of the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.
Commodity-Linked Derivatives
A Fund’s use of commodities and commodity-linked derivatives can bear on or be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC. Income and gains from certain commodity-linked derivatives do not constitute qualifying income to a RIC for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above. The tax treatment of certain other commodity-linked derivative instruments in which a Fund might invest, including ETNs and certain structured notes, is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a RIC. If a Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other non-qualifying income, caused the Fund’s non-qualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC unless it were eligible to and did pay a tax at the Fund level on the excess, to “cure” such failure.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
Funds that invest in foreign securities may own shares (or be treated as owning shares) in certain foreign entities that are treated as “passive foreign investment companies” (each a “PFIC”), which could potentially subject such a Fund to U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from a disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may make certain elections to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, a Fund may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in a PFIC “to the market” as though the Fund had sold and repurchased its holdings in the PFIC on the last day of each taxable year of the Fund. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. Each Fund may also in certain cases elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (i.e., make a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include in its income annually its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains, regardless of whether it receives any distributions from the PFIC.
The mark-to-market and QEF elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by a Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require a Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirements, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.
Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, a Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.
Master Limited Partnerships
A Fund’s pursuit of investments in MLPs will potentially be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded a RIC and its shareholders and could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as such. If a Fund does not appropriately limit such investments or if such investments are recharacterized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s status as a RIC may be jeopardized.
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A Fund’s investments in MLPs may result in the Fund recognizing ordinary income and capital gains and/or receiving tax-free return of capital distributions. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, MLPs are generally treated as partnerships. As a partner in the MLPs, a Fund must report its allocable share of the MLPs’ taxable income in computing its taxable income, regardless of the extent (if any) to which the MLPs make cash distributions. The Funds expect that the cash received by a Fund with respect to its MLP investments will generally exceed the taxable income allocated to the Fund with respect to such investments (and this excess generally will not be currently taxable to the Fund but, rather, will result in a reduction of the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in each MLP interest as described in the following paragraph). This is the result of a variety of factors, including significant non-cash deductions, such as depreciation and depletion deductions, available to the MLPs in calculating their taxable income.
A distribution from an MLP is treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the Fund’s tax basis in its MLP interest and as gain from the sale or exchange of the MLP interest to the extent the distribution exceeds the Fund’s tax basis in its MLP interest, which gain is treated as either capital gain or ordinary income depending on a variety of factors. If the Fund distributes a portion or all of such excess cash that is not supported by other income of the Fund, the distribution will be treated as a return of capital to shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Although return of capital distributions are not taxable, such distributions would reduce a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares and therefore may increase a shareholder’s tax liability upon a sale of such shares. The Funds do not intend to make return of capital distributions. Further, a Fund may realize (i) taxable income in excess of economic gain in respect of interests in an MLP, on the disposition of an interests therein, or (ii) taxable income in excess of cash flow with respect to the MLP in a later period (including, for example, in respect of an MLP debt restructuring), and the Fund must take such income into account in determining whether the Fund has satisfied its distribution requirements. The Fund may have to borrow or liquidate securities to satisfy its distribution requirements and to meet its redemption requests, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so. In addition, any gain recognized, either upon the sale of a Fund’s MLP interest or sale by the MLP of property held by it, including in excess of economic gain thereon, treated as so-called “recapture income,” will be treated as ordinary income.
Foreign Taxes
Funds that invest in foreign securities may be liable to foreign governments for taxes relating to income, proceeds and gains received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries, and may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of a Fund’s assets at taxable year end consists of the securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portions of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities that the Fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes paid by the Fund. A shareholder’s ability to claim an offsetting foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund is subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in the shareholder’s not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize on their U.S. federal income tax returns, tax-exempt shareholders and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged arrangements (including those who invest in the Fund through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund. Even if a Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so.
Tax Implications of Certain Fund Investments
Options, Futures, Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements and Hedging Transactions
The tax treatment of certain positions entered into by the Funds, including regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency positions and certain listed non-equity options, will be governed by Section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”). Gains or losses on Section 1256 Contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40” gains or losses) although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character, as described below. Also, any Section 1256 Contracts held by the Funds at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as 60/40 or ordinary gain or loss, as applicable.
A Fund’s investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, options, straddles, contingent payment debt instruments, trust preferred securities, convertible bonds, swap agreements, and options on swaps and foreign currencies, derivatives, as well as any of its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the mark-to-market, constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary or capital, accelerate the recognition of income (without receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by a Fund to avoid taxation, defer losses to the Fund, or cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, thereby affecting whether capital gains and losses are treated as short-term or long-term. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. In certain cases, these tax implications may require a Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirements (to avoid the payment of Fund-level taxes), which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.
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Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid a Fund-level tax.
In general, option premiums received by a Fund are not immediately included in the income of the Fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the Fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If a call option written by a Fund is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the Fund minus (b) the Fund’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, that Fund generally will subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the securities purchased. Gain or loss arising in respect of a termination of a Fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by that Fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a Fund expires unexercised, that Fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.
Certain covered call writing activities of a Fund may trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules contained primarily in Section 1092 of the Code. Very generally, where applicable, Section 1092 requires (i) that losses be deferred on positions deemed to be offsetting positions with respect to “substantially similar or related property,” to the extent of unrealized gain in the latter, and (ii) that the holding period of such a straddle position that has not already been held for the long-term holding period be terminated and begin anew once the position is no longer part of a straddle. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may constitute qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are “in the money” although not “deep in the money” will be suspended during the period that such calls are outstanding. Thus, the straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or to fail to qualify for the dividends-received deduction, as the case may be.
A Fund’s use of certain commodity-linked instruments and commodity-linked structured notes will potentially be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC, and will potentially bear on the Fund’s ability to so qualify. The tax treatment of certain commodity-linked instruments including structured notes in which a Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a RIC. If a Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.
Certain of a Fund’s investments, including but not limited to, derivative instruments, foreign currency denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment and avoid a fund-level tax. If a Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income, including net realized capital gains, and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, if any), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Gain or loss on foreign currency denominated debt securities and on certain other financial instruments, such as forward currency options, futures contracts, forward contracts and currency swaps (and similar instruments, that is attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates occurring between the date of acquisition and the date of settlement or disposition of such securities or instruments may be treated under Section 988 of the Code as ordinary income or loss. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year. Any such net losses generally will reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by a Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.
A Fund may elect out of the application of Section 988 of the Code with respect to the tax treatment of each of its foreign currency forward contracts to the extent that (i) such contract is a capital asset in the hands of the Fund and is not part of a straddle transaction and (ii) the Fund makes an election by the close of the day the contract is entered into to treat the gain or loss attributable to such contract as capital gain or loss.
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The Fund’s forward contracts may qualify as Section 1256 contracts under the Code if the underlying currencies are currencies for which there are futures contracts that are traded on and subject to the rules of a qualified board or exchange. However, a forward currency contract that is a Section 1256 contract would, absent an election out of Section 988 of the Code as described in the preceding paragraph, be subject to Section 988. Accordingly, although such a forward currency contract would be marked-to-market annually like other Section 1256 contracts, the resulting gain or loss would be ordinary. If a Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to forward currency contracts that qualify as Section 1256 contracts, the tax treatment generally applicable to Section 1256 contracts, as described above, would apply to those forward currency contracts: that is, the contracts would be marked-to-market annually and gains and losses with respect to the contracts would be treated as 60/40 gain or loss. If a Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to any of its forward currency contracts that do not qualify as Section 1256 contracts, such contracts would not be marked to market annually and the Fund would recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on the Fund’s holding period therein. A Fund may elect out of Section 988 with respect to all, some or none of its forward currency contracts.
Investments in Other RICs
A Fund’s investments in shares of another mutual fund, ETF or another company that qualifies as a RIC (each, an “underlying RIC”) can cause the Fund to be required to distribute greater amounts of net investment income or net capital gain than the Fund would have distributed had it invested directly in the securities held by the underlying RIC, rather than in shares of the underlying RIC. Further, the amount or timing of distributions from such a Fund qualified for treatment as a particular character (for example, long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the underlying RIC.
If a Fund receives dividends from an underlying RIC, and the underlying RIC reports such dividends as qualified dividend income, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report a portion of its distributions as qualified dividend income, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying RIC.
If a Fund receives dividends from an underlying RIC and the underlying RIC reports such dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report its distributions derived from those dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction as well, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying RIC.
If a Fund were to own 20% or more of the voting interests of an underlying RIC, subject to a safe harbor in respect of certain fund of funds arrangements, the Fund would be required to “look through” the underlying RIC to its holdings and combine the appropriate percentage (as determined pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations) of the underlying RIC’s assets with the Fund’s assets for purposes of satisfying the 25% diversification test described above.
Partnerships and Other Pass-Through Structures
To the extent a Fund invests in entities that are treated as partnerships (other than QPTPs, as defined above), trusts, or other pass-through structures for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all or a portion of any income and gains from such entities could constitute non-qualifying income to the Fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. For example, income that a Fund derives from indirect investments, through such entities, in certain commodity-linked instruments generally will not or may not be considered qualifying income for the purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. In such cases, a Fund’s investments in such entities could be limited by its intention to qualify as a RIC, and could bear on its ability to so qualify. Income from such entities may be allocated to the Fund on a gross, rather than net, basis, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement.
Investments in Exchange-Traded Notes
The timing and character of income or gains arising from exchange-traded notes can be uncertain. An adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to such rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect the Fund’s ability to qualify for treatment as a RIC and to avoid a fund-level tax.
REITs, REMICs and TMPs
A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, such distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.
A Fund may invest directly or indirectly (including through REITs) in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) (including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC generally will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in
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proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, a Fund investing in such interests may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”), as noted below. The Funds do not intend to invest in REITs in which a substantial portion of the assets will consist of residual interests in REMICs.
In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions) and (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income. A shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such inclusions notwithstanding any exemption from such income tax otherwise available under the Code. See also the section “Tax-Exempt Shareholders” below for a discussion of the special tax consequences that may result where a tax-exempt entity invests in a RIC that recognizes excess inclusion income.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders
Income of a RIC that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute UBTI when distributed to a tax-exempt shareholder of the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking effect”, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investments in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Code.
A tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if a Fund recognizes excess inclusion income derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs, as described above, if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund). Furthermore, any investment in residual interests of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if a Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.
In addition, special tax consequences apply when CRTs invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, if a CRT (as defined in Section 664 of the Code) realizes any UBTI for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax is imposed on such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI as a result of investing in a Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income. Rather, if at any time during any taxable year, a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income, then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, each Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT (or other shareholder), and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in a Fund.
Backup Withholding
Each generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish a Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to a Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
Distributions by a Fund to shareholders that are not “U.S. persons” within the meaning of the Code (“Foreign Persons”) properly reported by the Fund as (1) Capital Gain Dividends, (2) interest-related dividends and (3) short-term capital gain dividends, each as defined below and subject to certain conditions described below, generally are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax.
In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions attributable to U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those that would not have been subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual shareholder that is a Foreign Person, in each case to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders. The exceptions to withholding for Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain dividends do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual Foreign Person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the Foreign Person of a trade or business within the United States under special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below. If a Fund invests in a RIC that pays such distributions to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to Foreign Persons. The exception to withholding for interest-related dividends does not apply to distributions to a Foreign Person (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (B) to
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the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the Foreign Person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, and (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the Foreign Person and the Foreign Person is a controlled foreign corporation. The Funds, however, do not intend to report any eligible distributions as interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends, and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for these exemptions from withholding.
In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend. Foreign Persons should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts.
Distributions by the Fund to Foreign Persons other than Capital Gain Dividends, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S. source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) are generally subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).
If a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person has a trade or business in the United States, and Fund dividends received by such holder are effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, the dividends generally will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax. If a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the holder in the United States. More generally, a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person and who or which is a resident in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein, and is urged to consult its tax advisors.
A beneficial holder of Fund shares who is a Foreign Person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on a sale or redemption of shares of a Fund unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale, or redemption and certain other conditions are met or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) apply to the Foreign Person’s sale of shares of the Fund (as described below).
Subject to certain exceptions (for example, for a fund that is a “United States real property holding corporation” as described below), a Fund is generally not required to withhold on the amount of a non-dividend distribution (i.e., a distribution that is not paid out of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits for the applicable taxable year) when paid to a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person.
Special rules would apply if a Fund were a qualified investment entity (“QIE”) because it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition of USRPIs described below. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other trade or business assets. USRPIs generally are defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or, very generally, an entity that has been a USRPHC in the last five years. A Fund that holds, directly or indirectly, significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. Interests in domestically controlled QIEs, including REITs and RICs that are QIEs, not-greater- than-10% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in RICs generally are not USRPIs, but these exceptions do not apply for purposes of determining whether a Fund is a QIE.
If a Fund were a QIE, under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions by the Fund to a shareholder that is a Foreign Person (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its shares) attributable directly or indirectly to (i) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands and (ii) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund would retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the Fund’s shareholders that are Foreign Persons and would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the Foreign Person being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a Foreign Person, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the Foreign Person’s current and past ownership of the Fund.
In addition, if an interest in a Fund were a USRPI, the Fund would be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% shareholder that is a Foreign Person, in which case such Foreign Person generally would also be required to file U.S. tax returns and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.
Shareholders of a Fund that are Foreign Persons also may be subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and -payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.
The Funds generally do not expect that they will be QIEs.
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In order to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, Foreign Persons must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to their non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or substitute form). Foreign Persons should consult their tax advisors concerning the tax consequences of owning shares of the Funds, including the certification and filing requirements imposed on Foreign Persons in order to qualify for exemption from the backup withholding tax rates described above or a reduced rate of withholding provided by treaty.
Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of a Fund by vote or value could be required to report annually their financial interest in the Fund’s foreign financial accounts, if any, on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Shareholders should consult a tax advisor, or if holding shares through an intermediary, their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of at least $2 million in any single taxable year or $4 million in any combination of taxable years for an individual shareholder or at least $10 million in any taxable year or $20 million in any combination of taxable years for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct holders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Certain Additional Reporting and Withholding Requirements
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require a Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, a Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays. The IRS and the Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not apply to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or Capital Gain Dividends a Fund pays. If a payment by a Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends).
Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
Other Tax Matters
Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans and tax-advantaged arrangements. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the suitability of shares of a Fund as an investment through such plans and arrangements and the precise effect of such an investment in their particular tax situations.
Dividends and distributions, and gains from the sale of Fund shares may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to federal, state, local, and where applicable, foreign taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Yield and Total Return
Each Fund may advertise the yield and total return of each class of its shares. Each Fund’s yield and total returns will vary from time to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolio and operating expenses of the relevant Trust allocated to each Fund. These factors, possible differences in the methods used in calculating yield and total returns and the tax-exempt status of distributions should be considered when comparing a Fund’s yield and total returns to yields and total returns published for other investment companies and other investment vehicles. Yield and total returns should also be considered relative to changes in the value of the Fund’s shares and to the relative risks associated with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund. Yield and total returns may be stated with or without giving effect to any expense limitations in effect for a Fund. For those funds that present yield and total returns reflecting an expense limitation, its yield and total return would have been lower if no limitation were in effect. Yield and total returns will generally be higher for Class A, Class Y and Admin Class shares than for Class C shares of the same Fund, because of the higher levels of expenses borne by the Class C shares. Because of its lower operating expenses, Class N shares of each Fund can be expected to achieve a higher yield and total return than the same Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class Y and Admin Class shares.
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Each Fund may also present one or more distribution rates for each class in its sales literature. These rates will be determined by annualizing the class’s distributions from net investment income and net short-term capital gain over a recent 12-month, 3-month or 30-day period and dividing that amount by the maximum offering price or the NAV. If the NAV, rather than the maximum offering price, is used to calculate the distribution rate, the rate will be higher.
At any time in the future, yield and total returns may be higher or lower than past yield or total return, and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.
Investors in the Funds are specifically advised that share prices, expressed as the NAVs per share, will vary just as yield will vary. An investor’s focus on the yield of a Fund to the exclusion of the consideration of the share price of that Fund may result in the investor’s misunderstanding the total return he or she may derive from the Fund.
Benchmark Comparisons
Performance information for a Fund will be included in the Fund’s Prospectus (in the subsection “Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table” within the Fund Summary), along with the performance of an appropriate benchmark index. Because index comparisons are generally calculated as of the end of each month, index performance information under the “Since Inception,” “Life of Fund” or “Life of Class” headings in the Prospectus for Funds with less than ten years of performance history may not be coincident with the inception date of the Fund (or class, as applicable). In such instances, index performance is generally presented from the month-end nearest to the inception date of the Fund (or class, as applicable).
THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION
The Prospectus and this Statement may contain references to third-party copyrights, indexes, and trademarks, each of which is the property of its respective owner. Such owner is not affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers, LLC or any of its related or affiliated companies (collectively “Natixis Affiliates”) and does not sponsor, endorse or participate in the provision of any Natixis Affiliates’ services, funds or other financial products.
The index information contained in the Prospectus and this Statement is derived from third parties and is provided on an “as is” basis. The user of this information assumes the entire risk of use of this information. Each of the third-party entities involved in compiling, computing or creating index information, disclaims all warranties (including, without limitation, any warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, non-infringement, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose) with respect to such information.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements, financial highlights and the reports of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds, included in the Natixis Funds Trust I Form N-CSR, the Natixis Funds Trust II Form N-CSR, and the Loomis Sayles Funds II Form N-CSR, each dated December 31, 2025, are incorporated herein by reference to such reports. The Funds’ shareholder reports are available upon request and without charge. Each Fund will send a single copy of its shareholder report to an address at which more than one shareholder of record with the same last name has indicated that mail is to be delivered. Shareholders may request additional copies of any shareholder report by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by writing to the Funds at: 888 Boylston Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02199-8197 or by visiting the Funds’ website at im.natixis.com. The shareholder reports are also available online at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
The Funds make use of average portfolio credit quality standards to assist institutional investors whose own investment guidelines limit their investments accordingly. In determining a Fund’s overall dollar-weighted average quality, unrated securities are treated as if rated, based on the adviser’s view of their comparability to rated securities. A Fund’s use of average quality criteria is intended to be a guide for those investors whose investment guidelines require that assets be invested according to comparable criteria. Reference to an overall average quality rating for a Fund does not mean that all securities held by the Fund will be rated in that category or higher. A Fund’s investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest category in which the Fund is permitted to invest to securities rated in the highest category (as rated by S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) or, if unrated, determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality). The percentage of a Fund’s assets invested in securities in a particular rating category will vary. Following is a description of S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s, and Fitch ratings applicable to fixed-income securities.
S&P Global Ratings—A brief description of the applicable rating symbols of S&P Global Ratings and their meanings (as published by S&P Global Ratings) follows:
Issue Credit Ratings
An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the credit worthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. We would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings we assign to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices.
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P Global Ratings’ analysis of the following considerations:

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

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

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

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
AAA
An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA
An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.
A
An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.
BBB
An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
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BB, B, CCC, CC, and C
Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.
BB
An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
B
An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
CCC
An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
CC
An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.
C
An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.
D
An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
*Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (–) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
B
A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
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C
A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.
D
A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
SPUR (S&P Underlying Rating)
A SPUR is an opinion about the stand-alone capacity of an obligor to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer or obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. S&P Global Ratings maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.
Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings
An S&P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:

● | Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

● | Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

SP-1
Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2
Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3
Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
D
‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.
Dual Ratings
Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’ or ‘A-1+/A-1’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).
S&P Global Ratings Disclaimers
The analyses, including ratings, of S&P Global Ratings and its affiliates (together, S&P Global Ratings) are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or make any investment decisions. S&P Global Ratings assumes no obligation to update any information following publication. Users of ratings or other analyses should not rely on them in making any investment decision. S&P Global Ratings’ opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security. S&P Global Ratings does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor except where registered as such. While S&P Global Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, it does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. Ratings and other opinions may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time.
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Active Qualifiers
S&P Global Ratings uses the following qualifiers that limit the scope of a rating. The structure of the transaction can require the use of a qualifier such as a ‘p’ qualifier, which indicates the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only. A qualifier appears as a suffix and is part of the rating.
Federal deposit insurance limit: ‘L’ qualifier
Ratings qualified with ‘L’ apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.
Principal: ‘p’ qualifier
This suffix is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms, or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation. The ‘p’ suffix indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only and that the interest is not rated.
Preliminary ratings: ‘prelim’ qualifier
Preliminary ratings, with the ‘prelim’ suffix, may be assigned to obligors or obligations, including financial programs, in the circumstances described below. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt by S&P Global Ratings of appropriate documentation. S&P Global Ratings reserves the right not to issue a final rating. Moreover, if a final rating is issued, it may differ from the preliminary rating.

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions.

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations that will likely be issued upon the obligor’s emergence from bankruptcy or similar reorganization, based on late-stage reorganization plans, documentation, and discussions with the obligor. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligors. These ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the reorganized or post-bankruptcy issuer as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s).

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in S&P Global Ratings’ opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligations of these entities.

● | Preliminary ratings may be assigned when a previously unrated entity is undergoing a well-formulated restructuring, recapitalization, significant financing, or other transformative event, generally at the point that investor or lender commitments are invited. The preliminary rating may be assigned to the entity and to its proposed obligation(s). These preliminary ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the obligor, as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s), assuming successful completion of the transformative event. Should the transformative event not occur, S&P Global Ratings would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.

● | A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.

Termination structures: ‘t’ qualifier
This symbol indicates termination structures that are designed to honor their contracts to full maturity or, should certain events occur, to terminate and cash settle all their contracts before their final maturity date.
Counterparty instrument rating: ‘cir’ qualifier
This symbol indicates a counterparty instrument rating (“CIR”), which is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an issuer in a securitization structure with respect to a specific financial obligation to a counterparty (including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and liquidity facilities). The CIR is determined on an ultimate payment basis; these opinions do not take into account timeliness of payment.
Inactive Qualifiers
Inactive qualifiers are no longer applied or outstanding.
Contingent upon final documentation: ‘*’ inactive qualifier
This symbol indicated that the rating was contingent upon S&P Global Ratings’ receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flows. Discontinued use in August 1998.
Termination of obligation to tender: ‘c’ inactive qualifier
This qualifier was used to provide additional information to investors that the bank may terminate its obligation to purchase tendered bonds if the long-term credit rating of the issuer was lowered to below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer’s bonds were deemed taxable. Discontinued use in January 2001.
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U.S. direct government securities: ‘G’ inactive qualifier
The letter ‘G’ followed the rating symbol when a fund’s portfolio consisted primarily of direct U.S. government securities.
Interest Payment: ‘i’ inactive qualifier
This suffix was used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms, or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation. The ‘i’ suffix indicated that the rating addressed the interest portion of the obligation only. The ‘i’ suffix was always used in conjunction with the ‘p’ suffix, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal. For example, a rated obligation could have been assigned a rating of ‘AAApNRi’ indicating that the principal portion was rated ‘AAA’ and the interest portion of the obligation was not rated.
Public information ratings: ‘pi’ qualifier
This qualifier was used to indicate ratings that were based on an analysis of an issuer’s published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. Such ratings did not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer’s management and therefore could have been based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a ‘pi’ suffix. Discontinued use as of December 2014 and as of August 2015 for Lloyd’s Syndicate Assessments.
Provisional ratings: ‘pr’ inactive qualifier
The letters ‘pr’ indicate that the rating was provisional. A provisional rating assumed the successful completion of a project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements was largely or entirely dependent upon the successful, timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, made no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion.
Quantitative analysis of public information: ‘q’ inactive qualifier
A ‘q’ subscript indicates that the rating is based solely on quantitative analysis of publicly available information. Discontinued use in April 2001.
Extraordinary risks: ‘r’ inactive qualifier
The ‘r’ modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, that are not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an ‘r’ modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation would not exhibit extraordinary non-credit-related risks. S&P Global Ratings discontinued the use of the ‘r’ modifier for most obligations in June 2000 and for the balance of obligations (mainly structured finance transactions) in November 2002.
Local Currency And Foreign Currency Ratings
S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. A foreign currency rating on an issuer can differ from the local currency rating on it when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency versus obligations denominated in a foreign currency.
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable Moody’s rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:
Moody’s Global Rating Scales
Credit Ratings are assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales and are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Moody’s defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default or impairment. The contractual financial obligations addressed by Moody’s ratings are those that call for, without regard to enforceability, the payment of an ascertainable amount, which may vary based upon standard sources of variation (e.g., floating interest rates), by an ascertainable date. Moody’s rating addresses the issuer’s ability to obtain cash sufficient to service the obligation, and its willingness to pay. Moody’s ratings do not address non-standard sources of variation in the amount of the principal obligation (e.g., equity indexed), absent an express statement to the contrary in a press release accompanying an initial rating. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Moody’s issues ratings at the issuer level and instrument level on both the long-term scale and the short-term scale. Typically, ratings are made publicly available although private and unpublished ratings may also be assigned.
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Moody’s differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody’s aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.
Global Long-Term Rating Scale
Aaa
Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa
Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A
Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa
Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba
Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B
Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa
Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca
Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C
Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.*

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

Issuer Ratings
Issuer Ratings are opinions of the ability of entities to honor senior unsecured debt and debt like obligations. As such, Issuer Ratings incorporate any external support that is expected to apply to all current and future issuance of senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts, such as explicit support stemming from a guarantee of all senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts, and/or implicit support for issuers subject to joint default analysis (e.g. banks and government-related issuers). Issuer Ratings do not incorporate support arrangements, such as guarantees, that apply only to specific (but not to all) senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts.
While Issuer Ratings reflect the risk that debt and debt-like claims are not serviced on a timely basis, they do not reflect the risk that a contract or other non-debt obligation will be subjected to commercial disputes. Additionally, while an issuer may have senior unsecured obligations held by both supranational institutions and central banks (e.g., IMF, European Central Bank), as well as other investors, Issuer Ratings reflect only the risks faced by other investors.
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Long-Term and Short-Term Obligation Ratings
Moody’s assigns ratings to long-term and short-term financial obligations. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.
Medium-Term Note Program Ratings
Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to medium-term note (“MTN”) or similar programs and definitive ratings to the individual debt securities issued from them (referred to as drawdowns or notes).
MTN program ratings are intended to reflect the ratings likely to be assigned to drawdowns issued from the program with the specified priority of claim (e.g. senior or subordinated). To capture the contingent nature of a program rating, Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to MTN programs. A provisional rating is denoted by a (P) in front of the rating and is defined elsewhere in this document.
The rating assigned to a drawdown from a rated MTN or bank/deposit note program is definitive in nature, and may differ from the program rating if the drawdown is exposed to additional credit risks besides the issuer’s default, such as links to the defaults of other issuers, or has other structural features that warrant a different rating. In some circumstances, no rating may be assigned to a drawdown.
Moody’s encourages market participants to contact Moody’s Ratings Desks or visit moodys.com directly if they have questions regarding ratings for specific notes issued under a medium-term note program. Unrated notes issued under an MTN program may be assigned an NR (not rated) symbol.
Global Short-Term Rating Scale
P-1
Ratings of Prime-1 reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-2
Ratings of Prime-2 reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.
P-3
Ratings of Prime-3 reflect an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Short-Term Issuer Ratings
N-1
N-1 issuers or issuances represent the strongest likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
N-2
N-2 issuers or issuances represent an above average likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
N-3
N-3 issuers or issuances represent an average likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
N-4
N-4 issuers or issuances represent a below average likelihood of repayment of short-term debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers or issuances.
Fitch Ratings, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable rating symbols of Fitch and their meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:
About Ratings and Rating Scales
Fitch publishes credit ratings that are forward-looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Issuer Default Ratings (“IDRs”) are assigned to corporations, sovereign entities, and financial institutions, such as banks, leasing companies and insurers, and public finance entities (local and regional governments). Issue-level ratings are also assigned and often include an expectation of recovery, which may be notched above or below the issuer-level rating.
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Issue ratings are assigned to secured and unsecured debt securities, loans, preferred stock and other instruments, Structured finance ratings are issue ratings to securities backed by receivables or other financial assets that consider the obligations’ relative vulnerability to default.
Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e., rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation). Please see the section Specific Limitations Relating to Credit Rating Scales for details.
Fitch also publishes other ratings, scores and opinions. For example, Fitch provides specialized ratings of servicers of residential and commercial mortgages, asset managers and funds. In each case, users should refer to the definitions of each individual scale for guidance on the dimensions of risk covered in each assessment.
Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment-grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment-grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment-grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default already occurred.
Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its webpage.
Credit ratings express risk in relative rank order, which is to say they are ordinal measures of credit risk and are not predictive of a specific frequency of default or loss. For information about the historical performance of ratings, please refer to Fitch’s Ratings Transition and Default Studies, which detail the historical default rates. The European Securities and Markets Authority also maintains a central repository of historical default rates.
Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Nonetheless, ratings do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, payments linked to performance of an equity index).
Fitch will use credit rating scales to provide ratings to privately issued obligations or certain note issuance programs, or for private ratings using the same public scale and criteria. Private ratings are not published, and are only provided to the issuer or its agents in the form of a rating letter.
The primary credit rating scales may also be used to provide ratings for a narrower scope, including interest strips and return of principal, or in other forms of opinions, such as Credit Opinions or Rating Assessment Services.
Credit Opinions are either a notch- or category-specific view using the primary rating scale and omit one or more characteristics of a full rating or meet them to a different standard. Credit Opinions will be indicated using a lowercase letter symbol combined with either an ‘*’ (e.g. ‘bbb+*’) or (cat) suffix to denote the opinion status. Credit Opinions will be typically point-in-time but may be monitored if the analytical group believes information will be sufficiently available.
Rating Assessment Services are a notch-specific view using the primary rating scale of how an existing or potential rating may be changed by a given set of hypothetical circumstances. While Credit Opinions and Rating Assessment Services are point-in-time and are not monitored, they may have a directional Watch or Outlook assigned, indicates the relative likelihood of rating transition.
Ratings assigned by Fitch are opinions based on established, approved and published criteria. A variation to criteria may be applied but will be explicitly cited in our rating action commentaries (RACs), which are used to publish credit ratings when established and upon annual or periodic reviews.
Ratings are the collective work product of Fitch, and no individual, or group of individuals, is solely responsible for a rating. Ratings are not facts and, therefore, cannot be described as being “accurate” or “inaccurate.” Users should refer to the definition of each individual rating for guidance on the dimensions of risk covered by the rating.
Issuer Default Ratings
Rated entities in several sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns, insurance companies and some sectors within public finance, are generally assigned IDRs. IDRs are also assigned to certain entities or enterprises in global infrastructure, project finance and public finance. IDRs opine on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default - including by way of a distressed debt exchange (“DDE”) - on financial obligations. The threshold default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts.
In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency’s view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default.
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AAA: Highest Credit Quality.
‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very High Credit Quality.
‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A: High Credit Quality.
‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good Credit Quality.
‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB: Speculative.
‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists that supports the servicing of financial commitments.
B: Highly Speculative.
‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC: Substantial Credit Risk.
Default is a real possibility.
CC: Very High Levels of Credit Risk.
Default of some kind appears probable.
C: Near Default.
A default or default-like process has begun, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include:

● | The issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;

● | The formal announcement by the issuer or their agent of a DDE; and

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

RD: Restricted Default.
‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced:

● | An uncured payment default or DDE on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but

● | Has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure, and

● | Has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:

○ | The selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

○ | The uncured expiry of any applicable original grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation.

D: Default
‘D’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure or that has otherwise ceased business and debt is still outstanding.
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a DDE.
In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.
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Specific Limitations Relevant to Ratings Assigned Using the Primary Credit Rating Scale and Financial Institution Ratings
The following specific limitations relate to issuer default scales, ratings assigned to corporate finance obligations, ratings assigned to public finance obligations, ratings assigned to structured finance transactions, ratings assigned to global infrastructure and project finance transactions, ratings assigned for banks and non-bank financial institutions (Viability Ratings, Government Support Ratings, Shareholder Supporting Ratings, Derivative Counterparty Ratings, Ex-government Support Ratings, as well as historical Support Ratings and Support Rating Floors) and Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings:

● | The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood or failure likelihood over any given time period.

● | The ratings do not opine on the market value of an issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

● | The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of an issuer’s securities or stock.

● | Obligation ratings assigned on the Probability of Default Only scale do not opine on the possible loss severity on such obligation should an issuer (or an obligation with respect to structured finance transactions) default, except in limited circumstances for US public finance obligations where Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code provides reliably superior prospects for ultimate recovery to local government obligations that benefit from a statutory lien on revenues or during the pendency of a bankruptcy proceeding under the Code if there is sufficient visibility on potential recovery prospects.

● | The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as a counterparty to trade credit.

● | The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default or in the case of Viability Ratings (“VRs”) on its relative vulnerability to failure. For the avoidance of doubt, not all defaults will be considered a default for rating purposes. Typically, a default relates to a liability payable to an unaffiliated, outside investor.

● | The ratings do not opine on any quality related to a transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of an issuer and/or of each rated tranche or security.

● | The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of extraordinary support likelihood over any given period.

● | In the case of Government and Shareholder Support Ratings, the ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative likelihood of receiving external extraordinary support.

● | The ratings do not opine on the suitability of any security for investment or any other purposes.

Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers and Obligations
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means a timeframe of up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
F1: Highest Short-Term Credit Quality
Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good Short-Term Credit Quality
Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3: Fair Short-Term Credit Quality
The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B: Speculative Short-Term Credit Quality
Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High Short-Term Default Risk
Default is a real possibility.
RD: Restricted Default
Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.
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D: Default
Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
Rating Actions and Reviews
Assignment (New Rating)*:
A rating has been assigned to a previously unrated issuer or issue.
Publication (Publish)*:
Initial public announcement of a rating on the agency’s website, although not necessarily the first rating assigned. This action denotes when a previously private rating is published. In cases where the publication coincides with a rating change, Fitch will only publish the changed rating. The rating history during the time when the rating was private will not be published.
Affirmations*:
The rating has been reviewed with no change in rating through this action. Ratings affirmations may also include an affirmation of, or change to, an Outlook when an Outlook is used.
Upgrade*:
The rating has been raised in the scale.
Downgrade*:
The rating has been lowered in the scale.
Review- No Action*:
The rating has been reviewed by a credit rating committee with no change in rating or Outlook. As of the review date, the credit rating committee determined that nothing had sufficiently changed to warrant a new rating action. Such review will be published on the agency’s website, but a RAC will not be issued.
Matured*/Paid-In-Full:

● | ‘Matured’ – Denoted as ‘NR’. This action is used when an issue has reached its redemption date and rating coverage is discontinued. This indicates that a previously rated issue has been repaid, but other issues of the same program (rated or unrated) may remain outstanding. For the convenience of investors, Fitch may also include issues relating to a rated issuer or transaction that are not and have not been rated on its section of the web page relating to the respective issuer or transaction. Such issues will also be denoted ‘NR’.

● | ‘Paid-In-Full’ – Denoted as ‘PIF’. This action indicates that an issue has been paid in full. In covered bonds, PIF is only used when all issues of a program have been repaid.

Pre-refunded*:
Assigned to certain long-term U.S. public finance issues after Fitch assesses refunding escrow.
Withdrawn*:
The rating has been withdrawn and the issue or issuer is no longer rated by Fitch.
When a public rating is withdrawn, Fitch will issue a RAC that details the current rating and Outlook or Watch status (if applicable), a statement that the rating is withdrawn and the reason for the withdrawal. A RAC is not required when an issue has been redeemed, matured, repaid or paid in full.
Withdrawals cannot be used to forestall a rating action. Every effort is therefore made to ensure that the rating opinion upon withdrawal reflects an updated view. However, this is not always possible, for example if a rating is withdrawn due to a lack of information. Rating Watches are also resolved prior to or concurrent with withdrawal unless the timing of the event driving the Rating Watch does not support an immediate resolution.
Ratings that have been withdrawn will be indicated by the symbol ‘WD’.
Under Criteria Observation
The rating has been placed Under Criteria Observation (“UCO”) upon the publication of new or revised criteria that is applicable to the rating, where the new or revised criteria has yet to be applied to the rating and where the criteria could result in a rating change when applied but the impact is not yet known. UCO is not a credit review and does not affect the rating level or Outlook/Watch, and does not satisfy the minimum annual review requirement. Placing a rating on UCO signals the beginning of a period during which the new or revised criteria will be applied. Where there is heightened probability of the application of the new or revised criteria resulting in a rating change in a particular direction, a Rating Watch may be assigned in lieu of the UCO to reflect the potential impact of the new or revised criteria. The status of UCO will be resolved after the application of the new or revised criteria, which must be completed within six months from the publication date of the new or revised criteria. UCO is only applicable to private and public international credit ratings. It is not applicable to National Ratings, Non-Credit Scale Ratings, Credit Opinions or Rating Assessment Services. It is not applicable to ratings status Paid in Full, Matured, Withdrawn or Not Rated.
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Criteria Observation Removed
UCO can be addressed and removed by a subsequent rating action such as affirmation, upgrade or downgrade; with these actions, the annual review requirement is also met. Where a rating action has not been taken, a Criteria Observation Removed action may be taken if it has been determined that the rating would not change due to the application of the new criteria. The Criteria Observation Removed action does not satisfy Fitch’s minimum annual credit review requirement.
Recovery Rating Revision
Change to an Issue’s Recovery Rating.
Rating Modifier Actions
Modifiers include Rating Outlooks and Rating Watches.
Outlook Revision:
Outlook revisions (e.g. to Stable from Positive) are used to indicate changes in the likelihood of rating transition. In structured finance transactions, the Outlook may be revised independently of a full review of the underlying rating (Revision Outlook).
Rating Watch On*:
The issue or issuer has been placed on active Rating Watch status.
Rating Watch Maintained*:
The issue or issuer has been reviewed and remains on active Rating Watch status.
Rating Watch Revision*:
Rating Watch status has changed.
Under Review:
Applicable to ratings that may undergo a change in scale not related to changes in fundamental credit quality. Final action will be “Revision Rating.”

* | A Rating Action or Review must be recorded for each rating in a required cycle to be considered compliant with Fitch policy concerning aging of ratings. Not all Rating Actions, Data Actions, or changes in rating modifiers, meet this requirement. Actions or Reviews that can meet this requirement are noted with an *.

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Registration Nos. 002-98326

811-04323

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits.

(a) |  |  | Articles of Incorporation.
| (1) | (i) | Natixis Funds Trust I’s (the “Registrant”) Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 2, 2005 (the “Agreement and Declaration”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(1) to post-effective amendment (“PEA”) No. 62 to the initial registration statement (“Registration Statement”) filed on August 18, 2005.
|  | (ii) | Amendment No. 1 dated June 1, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(1)(ii) to PEA No. 72 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2008.
|  | (iii) | Amendment No. 2 dated September 15, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(1)(iii) to PEA No. 136 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2018.
(b) |  |  | By-Laws.
| (1) |  | The Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws dated September 23, 2008 (the “By-laws”) are incorporated by reference to exhibit (b)(1) to PEA No. 76 to the Registration Statement filed on December 3, 2008.
(c) |  |  | Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders.
| (1) |  | Rights of shareholders are described in Article III, Section 6 of the Agreement and Declaration is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(1) to PEA No. 62 to the Registration Statement filed on August 18, 2005.
(d) |  |  | Investment Advisory Contracts.
| (1) | (i) | Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as Nvest Star Advisers Fund) and Natixis Advisors, LLC (“Natixis Advisors”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(iv) to PEA No. 43 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2001.

|  | (ii) | Addendum dated July 1, 2017 to Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as Nvest Star Advisers Fund) and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(ii) to PEA No. 136 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2018.
|  | (iii) | Addendum dated July 1, 2022 to Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(iii) to PEA No. 158 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2023.
|  | (iv) | Addendum dated July 1, 2023 to Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(iv) to PEA No. 160 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2024.
|  | (v) | Advisory Agreement dated September 1, 2003 between Registrant on behalf of Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Bond Income Fund) and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(viii) to PEA No. 54 to the Registration Statement filed on November 28, 2003.
|  | (vi) | Addendum dated July 1, 2013 to the Advisory Agreement dated September 1, 2003 between Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund, and Loomis Sayles is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(v) to PEA No. 110 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
|  | (vii) | Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between Registrant on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund (formerly known as Nvest Star Small Cap Fund) and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xi) to PEA No. 43 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2001.
|  | (viii) | Addendum dated February 4, 2004 to Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between Registrant on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund (formerly known as Nvest Star Small Cap Fund) and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xi) to PEA No. 57 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2004.
|  | (ix) | Addendum dated July 1, 2021 to Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between Registrant on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(vii) to PEA No. 156 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2022.
|  | (x) | Advisory Agreement dated December 13, 2010 between the Registrant on behalf of Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xiv) to PEA No. 87 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.

|  | (xi) | Addendum dated July 1, 2019 to Advisory Agreement dated December 13, 2010 between the Registrant on behalf of Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(viii) to PEA No. 150 to the Registration Statement filed on April 28, 2020.
|  | (xii) | Advisory Agreement dated March 29, 2019 between the Registrant on behalf of Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund and Mirova US LLC (“Mirova US”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(ix) to PEA No. 146 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2019.
|  | (xiii) | Advisory Agreement dated March 29, 2019 between the Registrant on behalf of Mirova Global Green Bond Fund and Mirova US is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(x) to PEA No. 146 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2019.
|  | (xiv) | Addendum dated July 1, 2021 to Advisory Agreement dated March 29, 2019 between the Registrant on behalf of Mirova Global Green Bond Fund and Mirova is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xii) to PEA No. 156 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2022.
|  | (xv) | Advisory Agreement dated March 29, 2019 between the Registrant on behalf of Mirova International Sustainable Equity Fund and Mirova US is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xi) to PEA No. 146 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2019.
| (2) | (i) | Sub-advisory Agreement dated May 18, 2001 among Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Advisers Fund) (All Cap Growth Segment), Natixis Advisors and Loomis Sayles is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(vii) to PEA No. 45 to the Registration Statement filed on August 1, 2001.
|  | (ii) | Amendment dated February 28, 2014 to Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 18, 2001 among Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (All Cap Growth Segment), Natixis Advisors and Loomis Sayles is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(viii) to PEA No. 107 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2014.
|  | (iii) | Sub-advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 among Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Advisers Fund), Natixis Advisors and Harris Associates L.P. (“Harris Associates”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(vii) to PEA No. 43 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2001.

|  | (iv) | Amendment dated February 28, 2014 to Sub-advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 among Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Advisers Fund), Natixis Advisors and Harris Associates is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xii) to PEA No. 107 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2014.
|  | (v) | Amendment dated July 1, 2023 to Sub-advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 among Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund, Natixis Advisors and Harris Associates is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(v) to PEA No. 160 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2024.
|  | (vi) | Sub-advisory Agreement dated March 1, 2004 among Registrant on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund, Natixis Advisors and Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (“Vaughan Nelson”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(xv) to PEA No. 57 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2004.
|  | (vii) | Amendment dated July 1, 2021 to the Sub-advisory Agreement dated March 1, 2004 among Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund, Natixis Advisors and Vaughan Nelson is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(vi) to PEA No. 156 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2022.
|  | (viii) | Sub-advisory Agreement dated December 13, 2010 among Registrant, on behalf of Natixis Oakmark International Fund, Natixis Advisors and Harris Asscoreociates is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xviii) to PEA No. 87 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
|  | (ix) | Amendment dated July 1, 2019 to the Sub-advisory Agreement dated December 13, 2010 among Registrant, on behalf of Natixis Oakmark International Fund, Natixis Advisors and Harris Associates is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(ix) to PEA No. 148 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2020.
(e) |  |  | Underwriting Contracts.
| (1) |  | Distribution Agreement dated March 3, 2003 between the Registrant on behalf of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Advisers Fund) and Natixis Distribution, LLC (“Natixis Distribution”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(5) to PEA No. 53 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2003.

| (2) |  | Distribution Agreement dated March 3, 2003 between the Registrant on behalf of Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Bond Income Fund) and Natixis Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(10) to PEA No. 53 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2003.
| (3) |  | Distribution Agreement dated March 3, 2003 between the Registrant on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Small Cap Fund) and Natixis Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(12) to PEA No. 53 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2003.
| (4) |  | Distribution Agreement dated December 13, 2010 between the Registrant on behalf of Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(9) to PEA No. 87 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
| (5) |  | Distribution Agreement dated March 31, 2016 between the Registrant on behalf of Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund and Natixis Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(6) to PEA No. 120 to the Registration Statement filed on March 31, 2016.
| (6) |  | Distribution Agreement dated February 28, 2017 between the Registrant on behalf of Mirova Global Green Bond Fund and Natixis Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(7) to PEA No. 130 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2017.
| (7) |  | Distribution Agreement dated December 28, 2018 between the Registrant on behalf of Mirova International Sustainable Equity Fund and Natixis Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(8) to PEA No. 142 to the Registration Statement filed on December 27, 2018.
| (8) |  | Form of Dealer Agreement used by Natixis Distribution is filed herewith.
(f) |  |  | Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts.
|  |  | None.
(g) |  |  | Custodian Agreements.
| (1) |  | Master Custodian Agreement dated September 1, 2005 among the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(1) to PEA No. 63 to the Registration Statement filed on October 31, 2005.

| (2) |  | Amendment No. 1 dated September 15, 2006 to Master Custodian Agreement dated September 1, 2005 between Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(2) to PEA No. 66 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2007.
| (3) |  | Amendment to Master Custody Agreement dated October 14, 2016 by and among the Registrant, on behalf of its series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Natixis ETF Trust and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(3) to PEA No. 127 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2017.
| (4) |  | Amended Appendix A and B dated December 13, 2023 to Master Custody Agreement dated August 25, 2020 by and among the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Natixis ETF Trust, Natixis ETF Trust II and State Street and is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(4) to PEA No. 162 to the Registration Statement filed on April 26, 2024.
(h) |  |  | Other Material Contracts.
| (1) | (i) | Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, and SS&C GIDS, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.) (“SS&C”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1) to PEA No. 63 to the Registration Statement filed on October 31, 2005.
|  | (ii) | Amendment dated October 1, 2008 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, and SS&C is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(iii) to PEA No. 76 to the Registration Statement filed on December 3, 2008.
|  | (iii) | Amendment dated October 1, 2011 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, and SS&C is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(ii) to PEA No. 93 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2012.
|  | (iv) | Amendment dated February 21, 2012 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(iii) to PEA No. 96 to the Registration Statement filed on April 27, 2012.

|  | (v) | Addendum dated September 12, 2014 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and SS&C is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(v) to PEA No. 110 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
|  | (vi) | Amendment dated October 1, 2017 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and SS&C is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(ix) to PEA No. 136 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2018.
|  | (vii) | Amendment dated December 15, 2021 to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Fund I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and SS&C is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(x) to PEA No. 156 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2022.
|  | (viii) | Amendment dated October 1, 2023 to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Fund I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and SS&C is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(viii) to PEA No. 160 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2024.
|  | (vix) | Amendment dated September 23, 2025 to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2025 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Fund I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and SS&C is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(vix) to PEA No. 165 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2026.
| (2) | (i) | Securities Lending Authorization Agreement dated September 1, 2005 between the Registrant, on behalf of its series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(3) to PEA No. 63 to the Registration Statement filed on October 31, 2005.

|  | (ii) | First Amendment dated December 20, 2005 to the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement between the Registrant on behalf of its Series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(i) to PEA No. 73 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2008.
|  | (iii) | Second Amendment dated February 29, 2008 to the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement between the Registrant on behalf of its Series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(ii) to PEA No. 73 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2008.
|  | (iv) | Third Amendment dated January 1, 2011 to Securities Lending Authorization Agreement dated September 1, 2005 between the Registrant on behalf of its Series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(iv) to PEA No. 88 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2011.
| (3) | (i) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated January 31, 2026 between Loomis Sayles and the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(i) to PEA No. 165 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2026.
|  | (ii) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated April 30, 2026 between Mirova US and the Registrant on behalf of Mirova Global Megatrends Fund (formerly, Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund) is filed herewith.
|  | (iii) | Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated April 30, 2026 between Natixis Advisors and the Registrant on behalf of Natixis Oakmark International Fund, Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund (formerly, Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund) is filed herewith.
|  | (iv) | Expense Reimbursement Undertakings of Transfer Agency Expenses for Class N shares for certain accounts dated June 18, 2025, between Natixis Advisors and the Registrant, on behalf of all of its series, is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(iv) to PEA No. 165 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2026.
| (4) | (i) | Administrative Services Agreement dated January 3, 2005 between Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(9) to PEA No. 58 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2005.

|  | (ii) | First Amendment dated November 1, 2005 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(8) to PEA No. 64 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.
|  | (iii) | Second Amendment dated January 1, 2006 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(9) to PEA No. 64 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.
|  | (iv) | Third Amendment dated July 1, 2007 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(9) to PEA No. 70 to the Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2007.
|  | (v) | Fourth Amendment dated September 17, 2007 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(10) to PEA No. 71 to the Registration Statement filed on December 3, 2007.
|  | (vi) | Fifth Amendment dated February 1, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(11) to PEA No. 72 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2008.
|  | (vii) | Sixth Amendment dated February 19, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(11)(ii) to PEA No. 74 to the Registration Statement filed on July 17, 2008.
|  | (viii) | Seventh Amendment dated July 1, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(11)(iii) to PEA No. 75 to the Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2008.
|  | (ix) | Eighth Amendment dated September 29, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(viii) to PEA No. 76 to the Registration Statement filed on December 3, 2008.
|  | (x) | Ninth Amendment dated October 31, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(ix) to PEA No. 76 to the Registration Statement filed on December 3, 2008.
|  | (xi) | Tenth Amendment dated January 9, 2009 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xi) to PEA No. 77 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2009.
|  | (xii) | Eleventh Amendment dated July 27, 2009 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xii) to PEA No. 79 to the Registration Statement filed on November 23, 2009.

|  | (xiii) | Twelfth Amendment dated February 25, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xiii) to PEA No. 82 to the Registration Statement filed on February 25, 2010.
|  | (xiv) | Thirteenth Amendment dated July 1, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xiv) to PEA No. 85 to the Registration Statement filed on September 30, 2010.
|  | (xv) | Fourteenth Amendment dated September 21, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xv) to PEA No. 86 to the Registration Statement filed on November 22, 2010.
|  | (xvi) | Fifteenth Amendment dated December 14, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xvi) to PEA No. 87 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
|  | (xvii) | Sixteenth Amendment dated July 1, 2011 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xvii) to PEA No. 93 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2012.
|  | (xviii) | Seventeenth Amendment dated September 16, 2011 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xviii) to PEA No. 93 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2012.
|  | (xix) | Eighteenth Amendment dated March 28, 2012 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xix) to PEA No. 96 to the Registration Statement filed on April 27, 2012.
|  | (xx) | Nineteenth Amendment dated June 29, 2012 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xx) to PEA No. 98 to the Registration Statement filed on November 29, 2012.
|  | (xxi) | Twentieth Amendment dated November 16, 2012 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xxi) to PEA No. 98 to the Registration Statement filed on November 29, 2012.
|  | (xxii) | Twenty-First Amendment dated September 26, 2013 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xxii) to PEA No. 105 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2014.
|  | (xxiii) | Twenty-Second Amendment dated February 10, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6)(xxiii) to PEA No. 107 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2014.

|  | (xxiv) | Twenty-Third Amendment dated July 1, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxiv) to PEA No. 110 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
|  | (xxv) | Twenty-Fourth Amendment dated July 10, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxv) to PEA No. 110 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
|  | (xxvi) | Twenty-Fifth Amendment dated September 30, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxvi) to PEA No. 110 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
|  | (xxvii) | Twenty-Sixth Amendment dated December 1, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxvii) to PEA No. 110 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
|  | (xxviii) | Twenty-Seventh Amendment dated June 30, 2015 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxviii) to PEA No. 120 to the Registration Statement filed on March 31, 2016.
|  | (xxix) | Twenty-Eighth Amendment dated November 30, 2015 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxix) to PEA No. 120 to the Registration Statement filed on March 31, 2016.
|  | (xxx) | Twenty-Ninth Amendment dated March 31, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxx) to PEA No. 120 to the Registration Statement filed on March 31, 2016.
|  | (xxxi) | Thirtieth Amendment dated October 14, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxxi) to PEA No. 126 to the Registration Statement filed on December 9, 2016.
|  | (xxxii) | Thirty-First Amendment dated November 30, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5)(xxxii) to PEA No. 126 to the Registration Statement filed on December 9, 2016.
|  | (xxxiii) | Thirty-Second Amendment dated February 28, 2017 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xxxiii) to PEA No. 130 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2017.
|  | (xxxiv) | Thirty-Third Amendment dated December 26, 2017 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xxxiv) to PEA No. 136 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2018.

|  | (xxxv) | Thirty-Fourth Amendment dated July 1, 2018 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xxxv) to PEA No. 142 to the Registration Statement filed on December 27, 2018.
|  | (xxxvi) | Thirty-Fifth Amendment dated December 28, 2018 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xxxvi) to PEA No. 142 to the Registration Statement filed on December 27, 2018.
|  | (xxxvii) | Thirty-Sixth Amendment dated July 1, 2019 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xxxvii) to PEA No. 148 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2020.
|  | (xxxviii) | Thirty-Seventh Amendment dated September 11, 2020 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xxxviii) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2020.
|  | (xxxix) | Thirty-Eighth Amendment dated September 29, 2020 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xxxix) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2020.
|  | (xl) | Thirty-Ninth Amendment dated December 15, 2020 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xl) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2020.
|  | (xli) | Fortieth Amendment dated December 15, 2021 to the Administrative Services Agreement is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xli) to PEA No. 156 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2022.
|  | (xlii) | Forty-First Amendment dated June 28, 2023 to the Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Fund II Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust, Natixis ETF Trust II and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xlii) to PEA No. 160 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2024.
|  | (xliii) | Forty-Second Amendment dated December 13, 2023 to the Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust, Natixis ETF Trust II and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(xliii) to PEA No. 160 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2024.

| (5) |  | Reliance Agreement for Exchange Privileges dated September 30, 2017 by and among Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds II and Registrant is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5) to PEA No. 155 filed on April 29, 2021.
| (6) |  | Master Administration Agreement dated May 10, 2018 between the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6) to PEA No. 141 filed on October 5, 2018.
| (7) | (i) | Advisory Administration Agreement dated September 1, 2003 between the Registrant, with respect to Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Bond Income Fund), and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(9) to PEA No. 54 to the Registration Statement filed on November 28, 2003.
|  | (ii) | Amendment dated July 1, 2013 to the Advisory Administration Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Bond Income Fund), and Natixis Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(7)(ii) to PEA No. 108 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2014.
(i) |  |  | Legal Opinion.
| (1) |  | Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Registrant’s Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit 10(i) to PEA No. 34 to the Registration Statement filed on February 14, 1997.
| (2) |  | Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Registrant’s issuance of multiple classes of shares is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 38 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 1998.
| (3) |  | Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Registrant’s Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund is incorporated by reference to PEA No. 38 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 1998.
| (4) |  | Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Registrant’s Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (i)(5) to PEA No. 120 to the Registration Statement filed on March 31, 2016.
| (5) |  | Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Registrant’s Mirova Global Green Bond Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (i)(6) to PEA No. 130 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2017.

| (6) |  | Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Registrant’s Mirova International Sustainable Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (i)(7) to PEA No. 142 to the Registration Statement filed on December 27, 2018.
(j) |  |  | Other Opinions.
| (1) |  | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Mirova Global Megatrends Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Fund is filed herewith.
| (2) |  | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Natixis Oakmark International Fund and Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund is filed herewith.
(k) |  |  | Omitted Financial Statements.
|  |  | Not applicable.
(l) |  |  | Initial Capital Agreements.
|  |  | Not applicable.
(m) |  |  | Rule 12b-1 Plan.
| (1) | (a) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Advisers Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(5)(a) to PEA No. 44 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.
|  | (b) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Advisers Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(5)(c) to PEA No. 44 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.
| (2) | (a) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Bond Income Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(10)(a) to PEA No. 44 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.
|  | (b) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Bond Income Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(10)(c) to PEA No. 44 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.

| (3) | (a) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Small Cap Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(12)(a) to PEA No. 44 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.
|  | (b) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund (formerly known as CDC Nvest Star Small Cap Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(12)(c) to PEA No. 44 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.
| (4) | (a) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Natixis Oakmark International Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(9)(a) to PEA No. 87 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
|  | (b) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Natixis Oakmark International Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(9)(b) to PEA No. 87 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
| (5) | (a) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(6)(a) to PEA No. 120 to the Registration Statement filed on March 31, 2016.
|  | (b) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(6)(b) to PEA No. 138 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2018.
| (6) | (a) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Mirova Global Green Bond Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(7)(a) to PEA No. 130 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2017.
| (7) | (a) | Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Mirova International Sustainable Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(8)(a) to PEA No. 142 to the Registration Statement filed on December 27, 2018.
(n) |  |  | Rule 18f-3 Plan.
| (1) |  | Amended and Restated Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), effective as of September 11, 2025 is incorporated by reference to exhibit (n)(1) to PEA No. 165 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2026.
(o) |  |  | Code of Ethics.
| (1) |  | Code of Ethics of Registrant dated September 14, 2007, as amended December 9, 2025 is filed herewith.

| (2) |  | Code of Ethics dated October 1, 2007, as amended January 2026 for Natixis Advisors and Natixis Distribution is filed herewith.
| (3) |  | Code of Ethics dated January 14, 2000, as amended December 2025 for Loomis Sayles is filed herewith.
| (4) |  | Code of Ethics dated September 30, 2005 as amended October 1, 2025 for Harris Associates is filed herewith.
| (5) |  | Code of Ethics dated May 20, 2008 as amended August 15, 2025 for Vaughan Nelson is incorporated by reference to exhibit (o)(5) to PEA No. 165 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2026.
| (6) |  | Code of Ethics dated December 15, 2022 as amended March 15, 2024 for Mirova US is incorporated by reference to exhibit (o)(6) to PEA No. 164 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2025.
(p) |  |  | Powers of Attorney.
| (1) |  | Power of Attorney for Kevin P. Charleston, Edmond J. English, David L. Giunta, Richard A. Goglia, Marina Gross, Martin T. Meehan, Maureen B. Mitchell, James P. Palermo, Erik R. Sirri, Peter J. Smail, Kirk A. Sykes, and Cynthia L. Walker dated January 02, 2026, and effective January 02, 2026, designating Michael G. Doherty, Matthew J. Block, and Susan McWhan Tobin as attorneys to sign for each Trustee is incorporated by reference to exhibit (p)(1) to PEA No. 165 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2026.

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Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant.

The Registrant is not aware of any person controlled by or under common control with any of its series. As of April 1, 2026, no person owned 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of one or more series of the Registrant and thus may be deemed to “control” the series within the meaning of section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act.

Item 30. Indemnification.

Under Article 5 of the Registrant’s By-laws, any past or present Trustee or officer of the Registrant (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or otherwise involved by reason of his or her being or having been a Covered Person. That provision does not authorize indemnification when it is determined that such Covered Person would otherwise be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. This description is modified in its entirety by the provision of Article 5 of the Registrant’s By-laws incorporated by reference to exhibit (b)(1) to PEA No. 76 to the Registration Statement filed on December 3, 2008.

The Distribution Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement (the “Agreements”) contained herein and in various PEAs and incorporated herein by reference, provide for indemnification. The general effect of these provisions is to indemnify entities contracting with the Registrant against liability and expenses in certain circumstances. This description is modified in its entirety by the provisions of the Agreements as contained in this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any claim, action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such Trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The Registrant and its Trustees, officers and employees are insured, under a policy of insurance maintained by the Registrant in conjunction with Natixis Investment Managers, LLC and its affiliates, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which they are parties by reason of being or having been such Trustees or officers. The policy expressly excludes coverage for any

Trustee or officer for any claim arising out of any fraudulent act or omission, any dishonest act or omission or any criminal act or omission of the Trustee or officer.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.

(a) | Natixis Advisors, a wholly owned subsidiary Natixis Investment Managers, LLC, serves as investment adviser to the Registrant’s Natixis Oakmark International Fund, Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund and Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund. Natixis Advisors was organized in 1995.
| The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of Natixis Advisors during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by Natixis Advisors pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) (SEC File No. 801-48408; IARD/CRD No. 106800).
(b) | Loomis Sayles, adviser of the Registrant’s Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund and subadviser of the Registrant’s Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund, provides investment advice to a number of other registered investment companies and to other organizations and individuals.
| The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of Loomis Sayles during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by Loomis Sayles pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-170; IARD/CRD No. 105377).
(c) | Harris Associates serves as a subadviser to the Registrant’s Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund and Natixis Oakmark International Fund. Harris Associates serves as investment adviser to mutual funds, individuals, trusts, retirement plans, endowments and foundations, and manages several private partnerships, and is a registered commodity trading adviser and commodity pool operator.
| The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of Harris Associates during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by Harris Associates pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-50333; IARD/CRD No. 106960).
(d) | Vaughan Nelson serves as a subadviser to the Registrant’s Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund, provides investment advice to a number of other registered investment companies and to other organizations and individuals.
| The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of

| Vaughan Nelson during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by Vaughan Nelson pursuant to the Advisers Act (File No. 801-51795; IARD/CRD No. 106975).
(e) | Mirova US, serves as investment adviser to the Registrant’s Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund, Mirova International Sustainable Equity Fund, and Mirova Global Green Bond Fund and provides investment advice to a number of other organizations and individuals. The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of Mirova US during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C, and D of Form ADV filed by Mirova US pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC file No. 801-114631; IARD/ CRD no. 300152).

Item 32. Principal Underwriter.

| (a) | Natixis Distribution, LLC, the principal underwriter of the Registrant, also serves as principal underwriter for:

Natixis Funds Trust II

Natixis Funds Trust IV

Loomis Sayles Funds I

Loomis Sayles Funds II

Gateway Trust

Investment Managers Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Credit Income Opportunities Fund

| (b) | The officers of the Registrant’s principal underwriter, Natixis Distribution, LLC, and their addresses are as follows:

Name | Positions and Offices with Principal Underwriter | Positions and Offices with the Registrant
David L. Giunta | President and Chief Executive Officer, Natixis Investment Managers, U.S. | President and Chief Executive Officer
Susan McWhan Tobin | Executive Vice President, General Counsel | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer

Name | Positions and Offices with Principal Underwriter | Positions and Offices with the Registrant
Matthew J. Block | Senior Vice President | Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Warren Besser | Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | None
Molly Gorman | Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Secretary and Clerk | None
Anthony Loureiro | Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer – Broker-Dealer, and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer | None
Marilyn Rosh | Senior Vice President and Controller | None
Sara Kaufman | Vice President and Assistant Controller | None
Marina Gross | Executive Vice President and Head of Natixis Investment Managers Solutions | None
Cate McManus | Senior Vice President and Director of Operations | None
David Vallon | Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer – Advisor | None
Matthew Coldren | Executive Vice President | None
James Cove | Executive Vice President | None
Abhijeet Dalvi | Executive Vice President | None
Kenneth Herold | Executive Vice President | None
Robert Hussey | Executive Vice President | None
Liana Magner | Executive Vice President | None
Susan St. Germain | Executive Vice President | None

Name | Positions and Offices with Principal Underwriter | Positions and Offices with the Registrant
Bonnie Bate | Senior Vice President | None
Graham Brewster | Senior Vice President | None
Mark Cintolo | Senior Vice President | None
Jeff Clough | Senior Vice President | None
James Dolan | Senior Vice President | None
Matthew Doucette | Senior Vice President | None
Tracy F. Duffy | Senior Vice President | None
Dineen Dusablon | Senior Vice President | None
Nick Elward | Senior Vice President | None
Gregory Fecteau | Senior Vice President | None
Matt Garzone | Senior Vice President | None
Alaina Giampapa | Senior Vice President | None
John Janasiewicz | Senior Vice President | None
Jeff Keselman | Senior Vice President | None
Mike Kroupa | Senior Vice President | None
Joseph Labresh | Senior Vice President | None
Karyn Lee | Senior Vice President | None
Robert Lyons | Senior Vice President | None
Neil Martin | Senior Vice President | None
Dianne Masel | Senior Vice President | None
Mark Mason | Senior Vice President | None
Brian O’Mara | Senior Vice President | None
Paige Skilling | Senior Vice President | None

Name | Positions and Offices with Principal Underwriter | Positions and Offices with the Registrant
Meghan Peachey | Senior Vice President | None
Rebecca Poulin | Senior Vice President | None
Jennifer Round | Senior Vice President | None
Steven Schedin | Senior Vice President | None
Manav Sehgal | Senior Vice President | None
Christopher Sharpe | Senior Vice President | None
Jebb Tether | Senior Vice President | None
Jay Wightman | Senior Vice President | None
Michael Yip | Senior Vice President | None
Kevin Finney | Managing Director | None
Pat Fitzsimons | Managing Director | None
Robert Hinckle | Managing Director | None
Christopher Hunter | Managing Director | None
Daniel Lynch | Managing Director | None
Ian MacDuff | Managing Director | None
Kent Mappin | Managing Director | None
Shawn McClain | Managing Director | None
Ryan McNeill | Managing Director | None
Mike Muti | Managing Director | None
Chuck Nanick | Managing Director | None
Bill Slimbaugh | Managing Director | None

The principal business address of all the above persons or entities is 888 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197.

| (c) | Not Applicable.

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.

The following companies, in the aggregate, maintain possession of the documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder:

| (a) | For all series of Registrant:
|  | (i) Natixis Funds Trust I 888 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02199-8197
|  | (ii) Natixis Distribution, LLC 888 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197
|  | (iii) Natixis Advisors, LLC 888 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197 (excluding Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund)
|  | (iv) State Street Bank and Trust Company One Congress Street, Suite 1 Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016
|  | (v) SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. 30 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 400 Braintree, MA 02184
| (b) | For the series of the Registrant managed by Harris Associates: Harris Associates L. P. 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600 Chicago, Illinois 60606
| (c) | For the series of the Registrant managed by Loomis Sayles: Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. One Financial Center Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| (d) | For the series of the Registrant managed by Vaughan Nelson: Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. 600 Travis Street, Suite 3800 Houston, Texas 77002

| (e) | For the series of the Registrant managed by Mirova US: Mirova US, LLC 888 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8197

Item 34. Management Services.

None.

Item 35. Undertakings.

The Registrant undertakes to provide a copy of the annual report of any of its series to any person who receives a prospectus for such series and who requests the annual report.

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 29th day of April, 2026.

| NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I
| By: | /s/ David L. Giunta
|  | David L. Giunta
|  | President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature |  | Title | Date
/s/ David L. Giunta |  |  |
David L. Giunta |  | President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee | April 29, 2026
/s/ Matthew J. Block |  |  |
Matthew J. Block |  | Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | April 29, 2026
Kevin P. Charleston* |  |  |
Kevin P. Charleston |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
Edmond J. English* |  |  |
Edmond J. English |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
Marina Gross* |  |  |
Marina Gross |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
Richard A. Goglia* |  |  |
Richard A. Goglia |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
Martin T. Meehan* |  |  |
Martin T. Meehan |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
Maureen B. Mitchell* |  |  |
Maureen B. Mitchell |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
James P. Palermo* |  |  |
James P. Palermo |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026

Erik R. Sirri* |  |  |
Erik R. Sirri |  | Trustee, Chairperson of the Board | April 29, 2026
Peter J. Smail* |  |  |
Peter J. Smail |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
Kirk A. Sykes* |  |  |
Kirk A. Sykes |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026
Cynthia L. Walker* |  |  |
Cynthia L. Walker |  | Trustee | April 29, 2026

| *By: | /s/ Susan McWhan Tobin
|  | Susan McWhan Tobin
|  | Attorney-In-Fact 1
|  | April 29, 2026

1 | Power of Attorney for Kevin P. Charleston, Edmond J. English, David L. Giunta, Richard A. Goglia, Marina Gross, Martin T. Meehan, Maureen B. Mitchell, James P. Palermo, Erik R. Sirri, Peter J. Smail, Kirk A. Sykes, and Cynthia L. Walker dated January 02, 2026 and effective January 02, 2026, designating Michael G. Doherty, Matthew J. Block and Susan McWhan Tobin as attorneys to sign for each Trustee is incorporated by reference to exhibit (p)(1) to PEA No. 165 to the Registration Statement filed on January 27, 2026.