obtain for a security if it were to dispose of that security as of the time of pricing (for instance, in a forced or distressed sale). The prices used by the Fund may differ from the value that would be realized if the securities were sold.
Under certain circumstances, the per share NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares may be different from the per share NAV of another class of shares as a result of the different daily expense accruals applicable to each class of shares.
(b) Fair Value Hierarchy U.S. GAAP describes fair value as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy, separately for each major category of assets and liabilities, that segregates fair value measurements into levels (Level 1, 2 or 3). The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:
• Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets or exchanges for identical assets and liabilities.
• Level 2 — Significant other observable inputs, which may include, but are not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market corroborated inputs.
• Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, which may include assumptions made by the Valuation Designee that are used in determining the fair value of investments.
In accordance with the requirements of U.S. GAAP, the amounts of transfers into and out of Level 3, if material, are disclosed in the Notes to Schedule of Investments for the Fund.
For fair valuations using significant unobservable inputs, U.S. GAAP requires a reconciliation of the beginning to ending balances for reported fair values that presents changes attributable to realized gain (loss), unrealized appreciation (depreciation), purchases and sales, accrued discounts (premiums), and transfers into and out of the Level 3 category during the period. The end of period value is used for the transfers between Levels of the Fund's assets and liabilities. Additionally, U.S. GAAP requires quantitative information regarding the significant unobservable inputs used in the determination of fair value of assets or liabilities categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. In accordance with the requirements of U.S. GAAP, a fair value hierarchy, and if material, a Level 3 reconciliation and details of significant unobservable inputs, have been included in the Notes to Schedule of Investments for the Fund.
(c) Valuation Techniques and the Fair Value Hierarchy
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 trading assets and trading liabilities, at fair value The valuation methods (or “techniques”) and significant inputs used in determining the fair values of portfolio securities or other assets and liabilities categorized as Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Common stocks, ETFs, exchange-traded notes and financial derivative instruments, such as futures contracts, rights and warrants, or options on futures that are traded on a national securities exchange, are stated at the last reported sale or settlement price on the day of valuation. To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
Investments in registered open-end investment companies (other than ETFs) will be valued based upon the NAVs of such investments and are categorized as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Investments in unregistered open-end investment companies will be calculated based upon the NAVs of such investments and are considered Level 1 provided that the NAVs are observable, calculated daily and are the value at which both purchases and sales will be conducted.
Fixed income securities including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes, U.S. government agencies, U.S. treasury obligations, sovereign issues, bank loans, convertible preferred securities, non-U.S. bonds and short-term debt instruments (such as commercial paper, time deposits and certificates of deposit) are normally valued on the basis of quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or Pricing Sources that use broker-dealer quotations, reported trades or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models. The Pricing Sources’ internal models use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar assets. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Discounted Cash Flow model is based on future cash flows generated by the investment and may be normalized based on expected investment performance. Future cash flows are discounted to present value using an appropriate rate of return, typically calibrated to the initial transaction date and adjusted based on Capital Asset Pricing Model and/or other market-based inputs. Significant changes in the unobservable inputs would result in direct and proportional changes in the fair value of the security. These securities are categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Securities may be valued based on purchase prices of privately negotiated transactions. Significant changes in the unobservable inputs would result in direct and proportional changes in the fair value of the security. These securities are categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Short-term debt instruments (such as commercial paper, time deposits and certificates of deposit) having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, so long as the amortized cost value of such short-term debt instruments is approximately the same as the fair value of the instrument as determined without the use of amortized cost valuation. These securities are categorized as Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the source of the base price.
When a fair valuation method is applied by PIMCO that uses significant unobservable inputs, investments will be priced by a method that the Valuation Designee believes reflects fair value and are categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
3. FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS
The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and distribute all of its income and net realized gains, if applicable, to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision for Federal income taxes has been made.