UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
811-23158
Investment Company Act file number
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, Delaware 19711
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Donald J. Puglisi, Managing Trustee
850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, Delaware 19711
(Name and address of agent for service)
(302) 738-6680
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2017
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Annual Report
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
Table of Contents
Allocation of Portfolio Assets | 1 |
Financial Statements: | |
Schedule of Investments | 2 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 4 |
Statement of Operations | 5 |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | 6 |
Statement of Cash Flows | 7 |
Financial Highlights | 8 |
Notes to Financial Statements | 9 |
Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm | 13 |
Additional Information (Unaudited) | 14 |
Trustee and Officers (Unaudited) | 15 |
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Allocation of Portfolio Assets
December 31, 2017 (Expressed as Percentages of Total Investments)
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2017
| Maturity | | Par | | | Amortized | | | | |
Security Description | Date | | Value | | | Cost | | | Fair Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury Securities - 4.26%* | | | | | | | | | | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 02/15/2018 | | $ | 41,312,000 | | | $ | 41,274,779 | | | $ | 41,249,619 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 02/15/2018 | | | 53,563,000 | | | | 53,514,741 | | | | 53,485,923 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 05/15/2018 | | | 94,172,000 | | | | 93,908,338 | | | | 93,693,418 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 05/15/2018 | | | 703,000 | | | | 701,032 | | | | 699,236 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 08/15/2018 | | | 10,971,000 | | | | 10,917,467 | | | | 10,863,660 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 08/15/2018 | | | 83,904,000 | | | | 83,523,657 | | | | 83,063,618 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 11/15/2018 | | | 39,765,000 | | | | 39,482,612 | | | | 39,172,223 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 11/15/2018 | | | 55,110,000 | | | | 54,730,635 | | | | 54,285,885 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 02/15/2019 | | | 34,269,000 | | | | 33,948,495 | | | | 33,568,781 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 02/15/2019 | | | 60,606,000 | | | | 60,041,744 | | | | 59,390,304 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 05/15/2019 | | | 85,827,000 | | | | 84,505,038 | | | | 83,683,127 | |
Stripped United States Treasury Notes | 05/15/2019 | | | 9,048,000 | | | | 8,935,047 | | | | 8,825,790 | |
Total U.S. Treasury Securities | | | | | | | | 565,483,585 | | | | 561,981,584 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Purchase Contract - 95.74%* | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Purchase Contract for American Depository Shares of Alibaba Group Holdings Limited | | | | | | | | 5,400,894,000 | | | | 12,629,760,000 | |
Total Forward Purchase Contract | | | | | | | | 5,400,894,000 | | | | 12,629,760,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments - 100.00%* | | | | | | | $ | 5,966,377,585 | | | $ | 13,191,741,584 | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities - 0.00%* ^ | | | | | | | | | | | | 275 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.00%* | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 13,191,741,859 | |
Footnotes
* | Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets. |
^ | Percentage is more than 0.00% but less than 0.01%. |
See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Schedule of Investments, continued
December 31, 2017
The detail of outstanding Forward Agreement is as follows as of December 31, 2017
| | | | Trust Shares | | | | |
| | | | Subject to | | | | |
Description | | Counterparty | | Exchange | | | Fair Value | |
Forward Purchase Agreement (with noted counterparty) is linked to the fair value of the American Depository Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (Alibaba) in the 20 trading day observation period before the Settlement Date of June 1, 2019, subject to maximum and minimum exchange rates of 1.3040 and 1.1097 shares, respectively. The agreement is non-income producing and involves the use of significant unobservable inputs in the determination of its fair value. | | West Raptor Holdings, LLC. (cost $5,400,894,000)-Acquired 06/01/2016 | | 66,000,000 | | $ | 12,629,760,000 | |
| | | | | | $ | 12,629,760,000 | |
See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2017
Assets: | | | |
Investments in U.S. Treasury Securities, at Fair Value (Cost $565,483,585) | | $ | 561,981,584 | |
Investment in Forward Purchase Contract, at Fair Value (Cost $5,400,894,000) | | | 12,629,760,000 | |
Total Investments | | | 13,191,741,584 | |
Cash | | | 275 | |
Total Assets | | | 13,191,741,859 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 13,191,741,859 | |
Net Assets Consist of: | | | | |
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust Securities (“Trust Securities”), | | | | |
No Par Value; 66,000,000 Trust Securities Issued and Outstanding | | $ | 5,957,971,408 | |
Accumulated Net Investment Income | | | 8,406,452 | |
Net Unrealized Appreciation on Investments | | | 7,225,363,999 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 13,191,741,859 | |
Net Asset Value per Trust Security | | $ | 199.87 | |
See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
For the year ended December 31, 2017
| | For the year ended December 31, 2017 | |
Investment Income | | | |
Interest Income | | $ | 5,867,127 | |
Total Investment Income | | | 5,867,127 | |
| | | | |
Net Investment Income | | | 5,867,127 | |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments | | | 5,717,881,922 | |
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 5,723,749,049 | |
See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
| | For the year ended December 31, 2017 | | | For the period from June 10, 2016 (1) through December 31, 2016 | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations: | | | | | | |
Total Net Investment Income | | $ | 5,867,127 | | | $ | 4,090,533 | |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments | | | 5,717,881,922 | | | | 1,507,482,077 | |
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | | 5,723,749,049 | | | | 1,511,572,610 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Distributions Paid to Trust Security Holders: | | | | | | | | |
Net Investment Income | | | (1,328,250 | ) | | | (222,958 | ) |
Return of Capital to Trust Security Holders | | | (378,171,750 | ) | | | (180,042,842 | ) |
Change in Net Assets from Distributions Paid to Trust Security Holders | | | (379,500,000 | ) | | | (180,265,800 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Transactions: | | | | | | | | |
Gross Proceeds from the Sale of Trust Securities | | | — | | | | 6,598,686,000 | |
Selling Commissions | | | — | | | | (82,500,000 | ) |
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Transactions | | | — | | | | 6,516,186,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Increase in Net Assets | | | 5,344,249,049 | | | | 7,847,492,810 | |
Net Assets, Beginning of Period | | | 7,847,492,810 | | | | — | |
Net Assets, End of Period (Including $8,406,452 and $3,867,575 in Undistributed Net Investment Income, respectively) | | $ | 13,191,741,859 | | | $ | 7,847,492,810 | |
(1) Commencement of operations.
See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
For the year ended December 31, 2017
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | | | |
Maturity of U.S. Treasury Securities | | $ | 379,500,000 | |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | | | 379,500,000 | |
| | | | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | | | | |
Distributions to Trust Security Holders | | | (379,500,000 | ) |
Net Cash Used by Financing Activities | | | (379,500,000 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Increase in Cash | | | — | |
Cash - Beginning of Period | | | 275 | |
Cash - End of Period | | $ | 275 | |
| | | | |
Reconciliation of Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations to | | | | |
Net Cash Provided in Operating Activities: | | | | |
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 5,723,749,049 | |
Net Investment Income | | | (5,867,127 | ) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments | | | (5,717,881,922 | ) |
Maturity of U.S. Treasury Securities | | | 379,500,000 | |
Net Cash Provided in Operating Activities | | $ | 379,500,000 | |
See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
| | For the year ended December 31, 2017 | | | For the period from June 10, 2016(1) through December 31, 2016 | |
Per Share Operating Performance: | | | | | | |
Beginning Net Asset Value | | $ | 118.90 | | | $ | 100.00 | |
Selling Commissions | | | — | | | | (1.25 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Beginning Net Asset Value, Net of Selling Commission | | | 118.90 | | | | 98.75 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Income From Investment Operations: | | | | | | | | |
Net Investment Income | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.06 | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments | | | 86.67 | | | | 22.82 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Gain from Investment Operations | | | 86.72 | | | | 22.88 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Distributions to Trust Security Holders | | | | | | | | |
Net Investment Income | | | (0.02 | ) | | | 0.00 | (2) |
Return of Capital to Trust Security Holders | | | (5.73 | ) | | | (2.73 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Distributions | | | (5.75 | ) | | | (2.73 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Ending Net Asset Value | | $ | 199.87 | | | $ | 118.90 | |
Total Return | | | 72.94 | % | | | 23.17 | % |
| | | | | | | | |
Supplemental Data and Ratios: | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets, End of Period | | $ | 13,191,741,859 | | | $ | 7,847,492,810 | |
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (3) | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | %(4) |
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets | | | 0.05 | % | | | 0.07 | %(4) |
Portfolio Turnover Rate(5)(6) | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % |
(1) | Commencement of operations. |
(2) | Number is greater than 0.00 but less than 0.01. |
(3) | The Trust is not responsible for any expenses related to its ongoing operations. See Note 3 for additional information. |
(4) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
(5) | Lower of Purchases or Maturities (excluding short-term investments) divided by the average portfolio assets during the period. |
See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended December 31, 2017
The Mandatory Exchangeable Trust (“Trust”) was established on May 20, 2016 and is registered as a non-diversified, closed-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”). The Trust commenced operations on June 10, 2016. In June 2016, the Trust sold Mandatory Exchangeable Trust Securities (“Trust Securities”) to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Trust Securities have not been registered for offering under the Act. The Trust used the net offering proceeds to purchase a portfolio comprised of U.S. Treasury Securities and to pay the purchase price for a forward purchase contract (the “Contract”) for shares of American Depository Shares (“ADSs”) of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (“Alibaba”), with an existing ADS holder of Alibaba, West Raptor Holdings, LLC (the “Shareholder”), an indirect subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp., a company incorporated under the laws of Japan. Under the terms of the Contract, at the Shareholder’s discretion, the Trust will exchange each Trust Security for either (i) a certain number of ADSs of Alibaba, or (ii) cash equal to the value of the Alibaba ADSs on the Exchange Date, June 1, 2019. The Trust will thereafter terminate.
The Trust has entered into an Administration Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association (the “Administrator”) to provide administrative services to the Trust.
| 2. | Significant Accounting Policies |
A. Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements of the Trust have been prepared on an accrual basis in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP).
B. Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, recognition of distribution income and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
C. Investment Valuation
The Trust will use the following valuation methods to determine either current market value for investments for which market quotations are available, or if not available, the fair value, as determined in good faith pursuant to such policies and procedures approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“Board of Trustees”) from time to time. The valuation of the portfolio securities of the Trust currently includes the following processes:
| (i) | the U.S. Treasury Securities held by the Trust will be valued at the mean between the last current bid and asked prices or, if quotations are not available, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees, |
| (ii) | short-term investments having an original maturity of 60 days or less will be valued at cost with accrued interest or discount earned included in interest receivable, and |
| (iii) | the Contract is valued by an independent valuation firm with expertise in valuing this type of Contract, using an income approach, in the form of a discounted cash flow analysis in conjunction with a Monte Carlo model that simulated potential future payouts under the Contract. The valuation is reviewed and approved by the Managing Trustee and is determined to be valued in good faith by the Board of Trustees. |
D. Security Transactions and Investment Income
U.S. Treasury Securities (“Securities”) transactions are accounted for as of the date the securities are purchased and sold (trade date). Interest income is recorded as earned and includes accrual of discount. Amortized cost valuation represents cost, adjusted for a proportional increase or decrease in value due to the discount or premium until maturity.
E. Forward Purchase Contract
On June 10, 2016, the Trust entered into the Contract, which is a derivative instrument, with the Shareholder and paid to the Shareholder $5,400,894,000 in connection therewith. Pursuant to this Contract, the Shareholder is obligated to deliver to the Trust a specified number of Alibaba ADSs on June 1, 2019 (the “Exchange Date”) so as to permit the holders of the Trust Securities to exchange on the Exchange Date each of their shares of Trust Securities.
At December 31, 2017, the Contract had the following value:
| | | | | | | | | | Net | |
| | | | Cost of | | | Contract | | | Unrealized | |
Forward Contract | | Trade Date | | Contract | | | Fair Value | | | Appreciation | |
Counterparty – West Raptor Holdings, LLC | | 06/01/2019 | | $ | 5,400,894,000 | | | $ | 12,629,760,000 | | | $ | 7,228,866,000 | |
The fair value of the Contract is included in Investment in Forward Purchase Contract, at fair value in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The net change in unrealized appreciation on investments in the Statement of Operations is included in the net unrealized appreciation on investments in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Shareholder’s obligation under the Contract is collateralized by Alibaba ADSs which are being held in the custody of the Trust’s Custodian, U.S. Bank National Association. At December 31, 2017, the Custodian held 86,064,000 shares of Alibaba ADS with an aggregate value of $14,840,015,520.
F. Indemnifications
The Managing Trustee on behalf of the Trust enters into certain contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Trust has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
The Shareholder has taken on the responsibility to pay all fees and expenses relating to the offering and operation of the Trust including, but not limited to, organizational costs, offering costs, trustee fees, and administration fees. The Trust is not responsible for any fees associated with the Trust’s ongoing operations. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Shareholder paid fees and expenses totaling $258,394 on behalf of the Trust.
Trust Securities holders are entitled to receive distributions from the maturity of U.S. Treasury Securities of $1.4375 per quarter (except for the first distribution on September 1, 2016 of $1.2938), payable quarterly which commenced September 1, 2016. Distributions to the Trusts holders for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $379,500,000.
The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for Federal or State income tax purposes; accordingly, no provision is required for such taxes. Specifically, the Trust is a grantor trust under the U.S. federal and State income tax laws and as such, Trust Securities holders will be treated as if each holder owns directly its proportionate share of the assets held by the Trust.
The Trust complies with the authoritative guidance for uncertainty in income taxes. This guidance requires the Trust to determine whether a tax position of the Trust is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including the resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Trust reviewed and evaluated tax positions in its major jurisdictions and determined whether or not there are uncertain tax positions that require financial statement recognition. The Trust has determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions are required to be recorded for any of the Trust’s open tax years. The Trust is additionally not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next 12 months. As a result, no income tax liability or expense has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements.
As of December 31, 2017, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments, based on cost for Federal income tax purposes, aggregated to $7,228,866,000 and $3,502,001, respectively. The aggregate cost of investments for Federal income tax purposes was $5,966,377,585 at December 31, 2017.
| 6. | Fair Value Measurements |
Under generally accepted accounting principles for fair value measurements, a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the assumptions, referred to as inputs, is used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
| Level 1: | Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities. |
| Level 2: | Valuations that are based on other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment spreads, credit risk, etc.) |
| Level 3: | Valuations based on significant unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. |
In cases where the inputs used to measure fair value fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level disclosed is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2017:
| | | | | Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017 Using | |
Description | | Fair Value at December 31, 2017 | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | | | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | | | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | |
Other | | | | | | | | | | | | |
U.S. Treasury | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities | | $ | 561,981,584 | | | $ | 561,981,584 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Total Other | | | 561,981,584 | | | | 561,981,584 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Derivative Instruments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Purchase | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contract | | | 12,629,760,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12,629,760,000 | |
Total Derivative | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Instruments | | | 12,629,760,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12,629,760,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 13,191,741,584 | | | $ | 561,981,584 | | | $ | — | | | | 12,629,760,0000 | |
For the year ended December 31, 2017, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
| | Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) for Investments for the year ended December 31, 2017 | |
Fair Value Beginning Balance | | $ | 6,911,520,000 | |
Increase in Unrealized Gains Included in Net Increase in Net Assets Applicable to Trust Security Holders | | | 5,718,240,000 | |
Net Purchases, Issuances and Settlements | | | — | |
Transfers Out of Level 3 | | | — | |
Fair Value Ending Balance | | $ | 12,629,760,000 | |
All of the unrealized gains are included in the Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The following table is a summary of quantitative information about significant unobservable valuation inputs for Level 3 fair value measurement for investments held as of December 31, 2017.
Type of Asset | | Fair Value as of December 31, 2017 | | Valuation Technique | | Unobservable Input |
Forward Purchase Contract | | $ 12,629,760,000 | | Income Approach Pricing Model | | Volatility of stock price of underlying Assets. Returns of the S&P 500 Index. Contractual terms, as disclosed in offering circular. Risk Free rate of return. |
| 7. | Investment Transactions |
For the year ended December 31, 2017, $379,500,000 in U.S. Treasury Securities matured. The proceeds were used by the Trust to make distributions to the Trust Security Holders. The Trust did not sell any securities during the period ended December 31, 2017.
| 8. | Capital Share Transactions |
For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Trust did not sell any Trust Securities to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act. As of December 31, 2017, there were 66,000,000 Trust Securities issued and outstanding.
The Trust has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available to be issued. No subsequent events or transactions had occurred that would have materially impacted the financial statements as presented.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Trustees and Trust Security Holders of
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Newark, Delaware
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Mandatory Exchangeable Trust (the "Trust"), including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2017, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for the period from June 10, 2016 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the period from June 10, 2016 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust's trustees. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United Statements) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the trustees, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2017, by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Kansas City, Missouri
February 28, 2018
We have served as the auditor of the Trust since 2016.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
December 31, 2017
(Unaudited)
Trustee Compensation
The Trust does not compensate any of its trustees who are interested persons. For the year ended December 31, 2017, no compensation was paid to the Trustees, including special compensation. The Trust’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the trustees and is available on the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov.
Form N-Q
The Trust will file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-Q. The Trust’s Form N-Q and Form N-2 will be available on or before their respective filing dates without charge by visiting the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, you may review and copy the Trust’s Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling (800) SEC-0330.
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
Trustees and Officers (Unaudited)
Name, Address and Date of Birth | | Position(s) | | Term of Office and Length of Time Served | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | | Number of Portfolios in Complex Overseen by Trustee | | Other Directorships Held by Trustee |
Independent Trustees: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Donald J. Puglisi Puglisi & Associates 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204 Newark, DE 19711 Born 1945 | | Managing Trustee | | Duration of Trust, terminate automatically on June 1,2019 Since Inception | | Managing Director, Puglisi & Associates, 1973 to Present | | 1 | | Trustee, FundVantage Trust; Managing Trustee, 2009 Dole Food Common Exchange Security Trust; Managing Trustee, 2010 Swift Mandatory Common Exchange Security Trust, 2017 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust. |
| | | | | | | | | | |
William R. Latham III Department of Economics University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Born 1944 | | Trustee | | Duration of Trust, terminate automatically on June 1, 2019 Since Inception | | Associate Professor of Economics, University of Delaware, 1971 to Present | | 1 | | Trustee, 2009 Dole Food Common Exchange Security Trust; Trustee, 2010 Swift Mandatory Common Exhange Security Trust, 2017 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust. |
| | | | | | | | | | |
James B. O’Neill Department of Economics University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Born 1939 | | Trustee | | Duration of Trust, terminate automatically on June 1, 2019 Since Inception | | Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Delaware, 1971 to Present | | 1 | | Trustee, 2009 Dole Food Common Exchange Security Trust; Trustee, 2010 Swift Mandatory Common Exhange Security Trust, 2017 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust. |
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. The registrant has not made any substantive amendments to its code of ethics during the period covered by this report. The registrant has not granted any waivers from any provisions of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report.
A copy of the registrant’s Code of Ethics is filed herewith.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The registrant’s board of trustees has determined that there is at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. Donald J. Puglisi is the “audit committee financial expert” and is considered to be “independent” as each term is defined in Item 3 of Form N‑CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The registrant has engaged its principal accountant to perform audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services during the past two fiscal years. “Audit services” refer to performing an audit of the registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years. “Audit-related services” refer to the assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit. “Tax services” refer to professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. “Other services” provided by the principal accountant were fees related to the initial organization of the Trust. The Trust was established in FYE 12/31/16. The following table details the aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed for the fiscal year referenced for audit fees, audit related fees, tax fees and other fees by the principal accountant. The Trust is not responsible for any fees and expenses associated with its ongoing operations. A third-party has taken on the responsibility of all fees and expenses related to the Trust’s on-going operations.
| FYE 12/31/2017 | FYE 12/31/2016 |
Audit Fees | $70,000 | $80,000 |
Audit-Related Fees | - | $12,827 |
Tax Fees | - | - |
All Other Fees | - | - |
The audit committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures that require the audit committee to pre‑approve all audit and non‑audit services of the registrant, including services provided to any entity affiliated with the registrant.
The percentage of fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP applicable to non-audit services pursuant to waiver of pre-approval requirement were as follows:
| FYE 12/31/2017 | FYE 12/31/2016 |
Audit-Related Fees | - | - |
Tax Fees | - | - |
All Other Fees | - | - |
All of the principal accountant’s hours spent on auditing the registrant’s financial statements were attributed to work performed by full‑time permanent employees of the principal accountant.
The following table indicates the non-audit fees billed or expected to be billed by the registrant’s accountant for services to the registrant and to the registrant’s investment adviser (and any other controlling entity, etc.—not sub-adviser) for the last two years. The audit committee of the board of trustees/directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant's investment adviser is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence and has concluded that the provision of such non-audit services by the accountant has not compromised the accountant’s independence.
Non-Audit Related Fees | FYE 12/31/2017 |
Registrant | None |
Registrant’s Investment Adviser | None |
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable to registrants who are not listed issuers (as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Item 6. Investments.
(a) | Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
MANDATORY EXCHANGEABLE TRUST
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
I. INTRODUCTION
The Mandatory Exchangeable Trust (the “Company”) is the beneficial owner of its portfolio securities. The Company’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), acting on behalf of the Company, has the right and the fiduciary obligation to vote proxies relating to the Company’s portfolio securities in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Board has adopted these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Company (“Policies and Procedures”).
II. FIDUCIARY DUTY
The right to vote proxies with respect to portfolio securities held by the Company is an asset of the Company. The members of the Board (the “Trustees”) act as a fiduciary of the Company and must vote proxies in a manner consistent with the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.
III. PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
A. Annual Review of Proxy Voting Policies. At least annually, the Board shall review the Company’s Policies and Procedures.
B. Annual Review of Proxy Voting Record. At least annually, the Board shall review the record of each proxy voted with respect to portfolio securities held by the Company during the year. With respect to any proxies that present a conflict of interest, the Board shall consider the nature of the conflict of interest and how that conflict was resolved with respect to the voting of the proxy. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” shall be deemed to occur when a Trustee has a financial interest in a matter presented by a proxy to be voted on behalf of the Company, which may compromise the Trustee’s independence of judgment and action in voting the proxy.
C. Resolution of Conflicts of Interest. Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict of interest between the interests of a Trustee and those of the Company, the Board shall resolve such conflict by (1) requesting that the Trustee recuse himself from Board deliberations on how the proxy should be voted, or (2) voting the proxy in accordance with a pre-determined policy relating to the manner of voting various types of proxy proposals.
IV. ANNUAL FILING OF PROXY VOTING RECORD
The Company shall file on Form N-PX by August 31 of each year an annual report of each proxy voted with respect to portfolio securities held by the Company during the twelve-month period ended June 30.
V. PROXY VOTING DISCLOSURES
A. The Company shall include in its Form N-CSR (certified shareholder report) a description of these Policies and Procedures.
B. The Company shall include in its Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders:
| 1. | A statement that a description of these Policies and Procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Company’s toll-free telephone number or through a specified Internet address, and on the SEC website. |
| 2. | A statement that information regarding how the Company voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Company during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Company’s toll-free telephone number (or through a specified Internet address or both) and on the SEC website. |
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable. The Trust has no portfolio managers and does not participate in active trading.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed‑End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Period | (a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased | (b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) | (c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs |
Month #1 07/01/17 – 07/31/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Month #2 08/01/17 – 08/31/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Month #3 09/01/17 – 09/30/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Month #4 10/01/17 – 10/31/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Month #5 11/01/17 – 11/31/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Month #6 12/01/17 – 12/31/17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not Applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) | The Registrant’s Managing Trustee has reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider. |
(b) | There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a) | (1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Filed herewith |
(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c‑1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable.
(b) | Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) Mandatory Exchangeable Trust
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
Donald J. Puglisi, Managing Trustee
Date March 23, 2018
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
Donald J. Puglisi, Managing Trustee
Date March 23, 2018