the other party of the total return
generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index or an index component. To the extent the total return of the security or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest
rate obligation, a Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.
The counterparty to an
equity swap will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. Equity swaps may be structured in different ways. The counterparty will generally agree to pay a Portfolio the amount, if any, by which
the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in particular stocks (or an index of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In
these cases, a Portfolio may agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the equity swap contract plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased
in value had it been invested in such stocks.
Therefore, the return to a
Portfolio on any equity swap should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Portfolio on the notional amount. In other cases, the counterparty and a
Portfolio may agree to pay to the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different
stocks (or indices of stocks).
A Portfolio will generally
enter into equity swaps only on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Portfolio receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Payments may
be made at the conclusion of an equity swap contract or periodically during its term. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with
respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that a Portfolio is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty to an equity swap defaults, a Portfolio’s risk of loss consists
of the net discounted amount of payments that the Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive, if any. In addition, the value of some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common stock) may also
be sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Equity swap contracts
outstanding at the end of the period, if any, are reported on a schedule at the end of each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements: Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Portfolio with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest with
respect to the notional amount of principal. Since interest rate swaps are individually negotiated, a Portfolio expects to achieve an acceptable degree of correlation between their respective portfolio investments and
their interest rate positions. A Portfolio will enter into interest rate swaps only on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Portfolios receiving or paying, as the case may be,
only the net amount of the two payments.
A cross-currency swap is
an interest rate swap agreement where the two instruments are denominated in two different currencies. Each agreement comprises both long and short exposures based on the reference legs of the swap.
Interest rate swaps do not
involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of interest payments that a Portfolio is
contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, a Portfolio’s risk of loss consists of the net discounted amount of interest payments that the Portfolio is contractually
entitled to receive, if any. The use of interest rate swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities
transactions.
Interest rate swap
contracts outstanding at the end of the period, if any, are reported on a schedule at the end of each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments.
Risks of Entering into Swap Agreements: Risks to a Portfolio of entering into credit default swaps, equity swaps and interest rate swaps, include credit risk, market risk, counterparty risk, liquidity risk and documentation risk.
By entering into swap agreements, a Portfolio may be exposed to risk of potential loss due to unfavorable changes in interest rates, the price of the underlying security or index, or the underlying referenced
asset’s perceived or actual credit, that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform or the possibility that there is no liquid market for these agreements. There is also the risk that the parties
may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the swap agreement. In addition, to the extent that a subadviser does not accurately analyze and predict the underlying economic factors influencing the value of
the swap, a Portfolio may suffer a loss.
Master Agreements: Certain Portfolios that hold derivative instruments and other financial instruments may be a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements or
similar agreements (“Master Agreements”) with certain counterparties that govern such instruments. Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general
obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. Collateral can be in the form of cash or securities as agreed to by a Portfolio and applicable counterparty.
Collateral requirements are generally determined based on a Portfolio’s net position with each counterparty. Master Agreements may also include certain provisions that require a Portfolio to post additional
collateral upon the occurrence of certain events, such as when the Portfolio’s net assets fall below a specified level. In addition, Master Agreements typically specify certain standard termination events, such
as failure of a party to pay or deliver, credit support defaults and other events of default. Termination events applicable to a Portfolio may also occur upon a decline the Portfolio’s net assets below a
specified level over a certain period of time. Additional termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in a counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified
level, or upon a decline in the ratings of a counterparty’s credit support pro-