UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-03174
Touchstone Tax-Free Trust |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
303 Broadway, Suite 1100 |
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203 |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) |
|
Jill T. McGruder |
303 Broadway, Suite 1100 |
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 800-638-8194
Date of fiscal year end: June 30
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2014
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
December 31, 2014
(Unaudited)
Semi-Annual Report
Touchstone Tax-Free Trust
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund

Table of Contents
| Page |
Tabular Presentation of Portfolios of Investments | 3 |
Portfolio Investments: | |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | 4 |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund | 6 |
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund | 9 |
Notes to Portfolios of Investments | 11 |
Portfolio Composition | 12 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities | 13 - 14 |
Statements of Operations | 15 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | 16 - 17 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity | 18 - 19 |
Financial Highlights | 20 - 22 |
Notes to Financial Statements | 23 - 32 |
Other Items | 33 - 38 |
Privacy Protection Policy | 39 |
This report identifies the Funds' investments on December 31, 2014. These holdings are subject to change. Not all investments in each Fund performed the same, nor is there any guarantee that these investments will perform as well in the future. Market forecasts provided in this report may not occur.
Tabular Presentation of Portfolios of Investments (Unaudited)
December 31, 2014
The tables below provide each Fund’s investments by credit quality and security type. We hope it will be useful to shareholders as it summarizes key information about each Fund’s investments.
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | | | | |
Credit Quality* (% of Investment Securities) | | | | |
AAA/Aaa | | | 4.6 | % |
AA/Aa | | | 52.9 | |
A/A | | | 38.5 | |
BBB/Baa | | | 4.0 | |
Total | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Portfolio Allocation | | | (% of Net Assets) | |
Fixed Rate Revenue and | | | | |
General Obligation Bonds | | | 99.0 | % |
Other Assets/Liabilities (net) | | | 1.0 | |
Total | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | | |
Credit Quality (% of Investment Securities) | | | | |
A-1/P-1/MIG1/SP1-+ | | | 95.9 | % |
FW1** | | | 4.1 | |
Total | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Portfolio Allocation | | | (% of Net Assets) | |
Variable Rate Demand Notes | | | 91.5 | % |
Fixed Rate Revenue and | | | | |
General Obligation Bonds | | | 8.4 | |
Other Assets/Liabilities (net) | | | 0.1 | |
Total | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | | |
Credit Quality (% of Investment Securities) | | | | |
A-1/P-1/MIG1/SP1-+ | | | 94.4 | % |
FW1** | | | 5.6 | |
Total | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
Portfolio Allocation | | | (% of Net Assets) | |
Variable Rate Demand Notes | | | 85.8 | % |
Fixed Rate Revenue and | | | | |
General Obligation Bonds | | | 13.8 | |
Other Assets/Liabilities (net) | | | 0.4 | |
Total | | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
* Credit quality may be rated by Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. If all three agencies rate the bond, the middle or common rating is used; if two of the agencies rate the bond, the lower rating is used; if one agency rates the bond, that rating is used, if none of the agencies rate the bond, the bond will be classified as not-rated.
** Equivalent to Standard & Poor's and Moody's highest short-term ratings of A-1 and P-1, respectively, based upon independent research conducted by Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund – December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Principal | | | | | Interest | | | Maturity | | Market | |
Amount | | | | | Rate | | | Date | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds — 99.0% | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 865,000 | | | Fairfield Co OH LTGO Ser 2005 Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | % | | 06/01/15 | | $ | 882,550 | |
| 90,000 | | | Warren OH Wtr Wks Rev | | | 5.500 | | | 11/01/15 | | | 92,362 | |
| 130,000 | | | Buckeye Valley OH LSD UTGO Ser A | | | 6.850 | | | 12/01/15 | | | 136,282 | |
| 415,000 | | | Columbus-Polaris OH Hsg Corp. Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 7.400 | | | 01/01/16 | | | 439,069 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Univ of Cincinnati OH Recpts Ser A Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 4.750 | | | 06/01/16 | | | 1,061,950 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Richland Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Medcentral Health Sys Oblig) | | | 5.125 | | | 11/15/16 | | | 1,629,030 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Little Miami OH LSD (Sch Impt) UTGO Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/16 | | | 1,085,420 | |
| 400,000 | | | Cleveland OH LTGO Ser A Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 10/01/17 | | | 414,520 | |
| 830,000 | | | Columbus OH CSD (Sch Facs Constr & Impt) UTGO Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/17 | | | 932,298 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Swr Sys Rev Impt (Greater Cincinnati Met) Ser A | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/17 | | | 1,119,650 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Kings OH LSD (Sch Impt) UTGO Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/17 | | | 1,123,250 | |
| 500,000 | | | New Albany OH Cmnty Auth Ser C | | | 5.000 | | | 10/01/24 | | | 581,300 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | Canal Winchester OH LSD UTGO | | | 4.750 | | | 12/01/24 | | | 2,172,120 | |
| 1,040,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hosp Rev Impt (The Childrens Hosp Proj.) Ser C | | | 5.000 | | | 05/01/25 | | | 1,055,735 | |
| 1,090,000 | | | Fairborn OH CSD (Sch Impt) UTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/26 | | | 1,156,763 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Lakewood OH CSD (Sch Impt) UTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/26 | | | 1,123,250 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac (Univ Dayton) | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/26 | | | 1,621,980 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | OH St Hosp Fac Rev (Cleveland Clinic Hlth) Ser B | | | 5.125 | | | 01/01/28 | | | 2,245,660 | |
| 375,000 | | | Univ of Akron OH (Ref ) Ser 2014 A | | | 5.000 | | | 01/01/28 | | | 435,938 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac Comm (Xavier Univ) Ser C | | | 5.750 | | | 05/01/28 | | | 1,149,980 | |
| 1,185,000 | | | Delaware OH LTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/28 | | | 1,271,031 | |
| 860,000 | | | Licking Heights OH LSD UTGO | | | 6.400 | | | 12/01/28 | | | 1,167,588 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Reynoldsburg OH CSD (Sch Facs Constr & Impt) UTGO | | | 5.250 | | | 12/01/28 | | | 1,674,120 | |
| 650,000 | | | Greene Co OH Hosp Fac Rev (Kettering Health Network) | | | 5.125 | | | 04/01/29 | | | 714,851 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Montgomery Co OH Rev (Catholic Hlth Initiatives) Ser B | | | 5.250 | | | 05/01/29 | | | 1,169,470 | |
| 345,000 | | | Univ of Toledo OH Ser B | | | 5.000 | | | 06/01/29 | | | 386,621 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | OH St Air Quality Dev Auth (Poll Control Firstenenergy) | | | 2.250 | | | 08/01/29 | | | 1,015,160 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Cleveland OH Income Tax Rev (Sub Lien Brdgs & Roadways) Ser B | | | 5.000 | | | 10/01/29 | | | 1,100,640 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hosp Rev Impt (Nationwide Childrens Hosp) | | | 4.750 | | | 11/01/29 | | | 1,076,680 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Columbus OH CSD (Sch Facs Constr & Impt) UTGO | | | 4.500 | | | 12/01/29 | | | 1,110,800 | |
| 895,000 | | | Milton Union OH Exempted Village SD (Sch Impt) | | | 4.875 | | | 12/01/29 | | | 973,724 | |
| 320,000 | | | Brookfield OH LSD (Sch Facs Impt) UTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 01/15/30 | | | 348,400 | |
| 500,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (UC Hlth) | | | 5.000 | | | 02/01/30 | | | 569,505 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Student Rev (Stratford Heights Proj) | | | 5.000 | | | 06/01/30 | | | 1,087,080 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Green OH Cmnty Learning Ctr | | | 4.000 | | | 12/01/30 | | | 1,064,800 | |
| 500,000 | | | Butler Co OH Hosp Facs (Kettering Health Network Oblig) | | | 5.250 | | | 04/01/31 | | | 553,630 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Wright OH St Univ (Gen Recpts) Ser A | | | 5.000 | | | 05/01/31 | | | 1,109,450 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Cincinnati OH CSD (Sch Impt) LTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 06/01/31 | | | 1,695,675 | |
| 750,000 | | | Middleburg Heights OH Hosp Rev (Facs Southwest Gen) | | | 5.125 | | | 08/01/31 | | | 845,325 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Mount Healthy OH CSD (Sch Impt) UTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/31 | | | 1,095,770 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Kent OH St Univ Rev (Gen Recpts) Ser A | | | 4.500 | | | 05/01/32 | | | 1,089,640 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Hlthcare Facs (Christ Hosp Proj) | | | 5.250 | | | 06/01/32 | | | 1,129,920 | |
| 1,300,000 | | | Cincinnati OH Wtr Sys Rev Ser B | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/32 | | | 1,433,432 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Cuyahoga Co OH COP (Convention Hotel Proj) | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/32 | | | 1,143,390 | |
| 1,060,000 | | | OH St EDR (Enterprise Bd Fd) Ser 7 | | | 4.750 | | | 12/01/32 | | | 1,177,194 | |
| 500,000 | | | OH St Univ Ser A | | | 4.000 | | | 12/01/32 | | | 537,665 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Toledo OH CSD (Sch Facs Impt) UTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/32 | | | 1,157,760 | |
| 250,000 | | | Warren Co OH Hlth Care Facsr (Ref & Impt Otterbein Homes) | | | 5.000 | | | 07/01/33 | | | 279,833 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | Cincinnati OH EDR (U Square The Loop Proj.) | | | 5.000 | | | 11/01/33 | | | 2,242,320 | |
| 250,000 | | | Lakewood OH CSD (Sch Facs Impt) UTGO Ser A | | | 5.000 | | | 11/01/33 | | | 287,240 | |
| 525,000 | | | OH St Univ Ser A | | | 4.000 | | | 12/01/33 | | | 562,238 | |
| 625,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Cincinnati Childrens Hosp) Ser S | | | 5.000 | | | 05/15/34 | | | 721,350 | |
| 250,000 | | | Warren Co OH Hlth Care Facsr (Ref & Impt Otterbein Homes) | | | 5.000 | | | 07/01/34 | | | 278,765 | |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)
Principal | | | | | Interest | | | Maturity | | Market | |
Amount | | | | | Rate | | | Date | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds — 99.0% (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 500,000 | | | Cuyahoga Co OH Sales Tax Rev Ser 2014 | | | 5.000 | % | | 12/01/34 | | $ | 586,985 | |
| 500,000 | | | Three Rivers OH LSD (Ref ) UTGO Ser 2014 | | | 5.000 | | | 12/01/34 | | | 576,315 | |
| | | | Total Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds | | | | | | | | $ | 53,693,474 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Total Investment Securities —99.0% | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | (Cost $49,536,315) | | | | | | | | $ | 53,693,474 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 1.0% | | | | | | | | | 553,173 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Net Assets — 100.0% | | | | | | | | $ | 54,246,647 | |
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation inputs at Reporting Date: |
Description | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Municipal Bonds | | $ | — | | | $ | 53,693,474 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 53,693,474 | |
See accompanying Notes to Portfolios of Investments and Notes to Financial Statements.
Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund – December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Principal | | | | | Interest | | | Maturity | | | |
Amount | | | | | Rate | | | Date | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Variable Rate Demand Notes(A) — 91.5% | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 3,875,000 | | | OH St (Infra Impt) UTGO Ser B | | | 0.040 | % | | 08/01/17 | | $ | 3,875,000 | |
| 4,500,000 | | | DE Co OH Port Auth Eco (Columbus Zoological Pk) Ser 2006 (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.050 | | | 08/01/18 | | | 4,500,000 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | OH St Air Quality Dev Auth (Ref Poll Firstenergy Gen) Ser 5 (LOC: Bank of Nova Scotia Trust) | | | 0.040 | | | 10/01/18 | | | 2,000,000 | |
| 2,805,000 | | | OH St Wtr Dev Auth Poll Cont (Ref Firstenergy Gen) (LOC: Bank of Nova Scotia Trust) | | | 0.040 | | | 10/01/18 | | | 2,805,000 | |
| 1,005,000 | | | Coshocton Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Adj Mem Hosp Proj) Ser 1999 (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.060 | | | 03/01/19 | | | 1,005,000 | |
| 3,800,000 | | | OH St (Infra Impt) UTGO Ser B | | | 0.020 | | | 08/01/21 | | | 3,800,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hosp Rev (Ref & Impt U S Hlth Corp) Ser 1996 A (LOC: Northern Trust Co) | | | 0.040 | | | 12/01/21 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 2,955,000 | | | OH St Univ (The) | | | 0.030 | | | 12/01/21 | | | 2,955,000 | |
| 1,635,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH EDR (Samuel W Bell Home Proj) (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 04/01/22 | | | 1,635,000 | |
| 1,490,000 | | | Jackson Co MS Port Fac Rev (Adj Ref Chevron USA Inc Proj) | | | 0.010 | | | 06/01/23 | | | 1,490,000 | |
| 2,210,000 | | | Columbiana Co OH Rev (East Liverpool Area) Ser Y (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.050 | | | 10/01/23 | | | 2,210,000 | |
| 2,090,000 | | | Port Gtr Cincinnati OH Dev Auth Rev (Cincinnati Zoo) (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.250 | | | 11/01/23 | | | 2,090,000 | |
| 700,000 | | | Cleveland OH Arpt Sys Rev Ser D (LOC: Bank of America NA) | | | 0.060 | | | 01/01/24 | | | 700,000 | |
| 1,900,000 | | | Butler Co OH Hlthcare Facs Rev (Colonial Sr Svcs Inc Proj) (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 07/01/24 | | | 1,900,000 | |
| 1,210,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hosp Rev (Ref Nationwide Hosp) Ser C (SPA: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 11/01/25 | | | 1,210,000 | |
| 3,000,000 | | | OH St Wtr Dev Auth Rev (Multi Modal Wtr Dev Timken) Ser 2014 (LOC: Northern Trust Company) | | | 0.040 | | | 11/01/25 | | | 3,000,000 | |
| 390,000 | | | Port Gtr Cincinnati OH Dev Auth Rev (Cincinnati Zoo Proj) (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.250 | | | 11/01/25 | | | 390,000 | |
| 400,000 | | | OH St Air Quality Dev Auth (Ohio VY Elec Corp Proj) Ser 2009 B (LOC: Bank of Nova Scotia) | | | 0.040 | | | 02/01/26 | | | 400,000 | |
| 3,000,000 | | | OH St Air Quality Dev Auth Rev (OH Valley Elec Corp) Ser A (LOC: Bank of Nova Scotia) | | | 0.050 | | | 02/01/26 | | | 3,000,000 | |
| 4,600,000 | | | OH St Air Quality Dev Auth Rev (OH Valley Elec Corp) Ser C (LOC: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ) | | | 0.050 | | | 02/01/26 | | | 4,600,000 | |
| 4,980,000 | | | Columbus OH (San Swr) UTGO Ser 1 | | | 0.040 | | | 12/01/26 | | | 4,980,000 | |
| 785,000 | | | Stark Co OH Port Auth Hlthcare Facs Rev (Canton Sch) (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.120 | | | 02/01/27 | | | 785,000 | |
| 1,800,000 | | | OH St Univ (The) | | | 0.040 | | | 12/01/27 | | | 1,800,000 | |
| 6,545,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH EDR (St Xavier H.S. Proj) (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 04/01/28 | | | 6,545,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | VT St Edl & Hlth Bldg (Brattleboro Mem Hosp Proj) Ser 2008 A (LOC: TD Banknorth NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 10/01/28 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 5,600,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hosp Rev (Sub Doctors Ohiohealth) Ser B (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 12/01/28 | | | 5,600,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | OH St Univ Ser 2009 B | | | 0.020 | | | 12/01/28 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 900,000 | | | Blue Ash OH EDR (Ursuline Academy Proj) (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 06/01/31 | | | 900,000 | |
| 1,500,000 | | | Allen Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Catholic Healthcare) Ser 2008 A (LOC: Bank of America NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 10/01/31 | | | 1,500,002 | |
| 7,800,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edu Fac Rev (Case Western Reserve University Proj) Ser A (SPA: Wells Fargo Bank NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 10/01/31 | | | 7,800,000 | |
| 5,500,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac Commis (Higher Edl John Carroll) Ser 2002 A (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 11/15/31 | | | 5,500,000 | |
| 2,100,000 | | | Columbus OH Swr Rev Ser 2008 B | | | 0.040 | | | 06/01/32 | | | 2,100,000 | |
| 1,200,000 | | | Alliance OH Hosp Rev (Alliance Obligated Group) Ser 2008 (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 12/01/32 | | | 1,200,000 | |
| 1,470,000 | | | Cambridge OH Hosp Facs Rev (Southeastern Ohio Regl Med) (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.050 | | | 12/01/32 | | | 1,470,000 | |
| 5,500,000 | | | Cleveland OH Wtrwks Rev Ser Q (LOC: Bank of NY Mellon) | | | 0.040 | | | 01/01/33 | | | 5,500,000 | |
| 1,610,000 | | | Cleveland-Cuyahoga Co OH Por (Carnegie/96Th Resh Bldg Proj) Ser 2003 (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 01/01/33 | | | 1,610,000 | |
| 3,030,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Hlthcare Fac (Children's Home Cincinnati) (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 03/01/33 | | | 3,030,000 | |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)
Principal | | | | | Interest | | | Maturity | | | |
Amount | | | | | Rate | | | Date | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Variable Rate Demand Notes(A) — 91.5% (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 4,500,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hosp Rev (Nationwide Hosp) Ser D (SPA: Bank of NY Mellon) | | | 0.030 | % | | 11/01/33 | | $ | 4,500,000 | |
| 1,730,000 | | | Columbus OH Regl Arpt Auth Rev (Cap Fdg OASBO Pg) Ser A (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 03/01/34 | | | 1,730,000 | |
| 2,980,000 | | | NY Ser 2004 (LOC: BNY Mellon) | | | 0.020 | | | 03/01/34 | | | 2,980,000 | |
| 6,310,000 | | | Allen Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Catholic Healthcare) Ser C (LOC: Union Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 06/01/34 | | | 6,310,000 | |
| 1,900,000 | | | OH St HFA Mtge Reven (Amt Residential Mtg) Ser 2003 C (SPA: FHLB) | | | 0.030 | | | 09/01/34 | | | 1,900,000 | |
| 3,435,000 | | | VT St Edl & Hlth Bldg (North Country Hosp Proj) Ser 2007 A (LOC: TD Banknorth NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 10/01/34 | | | 3,435,000 | |
| 1,781,000 | | | Hamilton OH MFH Rev (Affordable Housing) Ser B (LOC: FHLB) | | | 0.160 | | | 01/01/35 | | | 1,781,000 | |
| 2,655,000 | | | Butler Co OH Capital Funding (CCAO Low Cost Cap) Ser A (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 06/01/35 | | | 2,655,000 | |
| 1,700,000 | | | OH St Univ (The) Ser B (LIQ: Wells Fargo Bank NA) | | | 0.020 | | | 06/01/35 | | | 1,700,000 | |
| 600,000 | | | Columbus OH Regl Arpt Auth Cap (OASBO Expaned Asset Sr Ser) (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 07/01/35 | | | 600,000 | |
| 600,000 | | | East Baton Rouge Parish LA IDB (Exxonmobil Proj) Ser 2010 A | | | 0.010 | | | 08/01/35 | | | 600,000 | |
| 1,400,000 | | | MS St Business Fin Co (Chevron USA Inc) Ser 2010 L | | | 0.030 | | | 11/01/35 | | | 1,400,000 | |
| 1,900,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hlth Care Fac (Ohio Presbyterian) Ser A (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 07/01/36 | | | 1,900,000 | |
| 4,500,000 | | | OH St HFA Rsdl Mtge (Amt Mtg Bkd Secs Pg) Ser 2006 N (SPA: State Street B&T Co) | | | 0.050 | | | 09/01/36 | | | 4,500,000 | |
| 500,000 | | | Cleveland-Cuyahoga Co OH Por (Carnegie/89Th Garage Proj) Ser 2007 (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank) | | | 0.060 | | | 01/01/37 | | | 500,000 | |
| 300,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Childrens Hosp Med Ctr) Ser 2007 M (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.060 | | | 05/15/37 | | | 300,000 | |
| 2,750,000 | | | Montgomery Co OH Mf Hsg Rev (Cambridge Commons Apts) Ser A (LOC: FHLB) | | | 0.080 | | | 05/01/38 | | | 2,750,000 | |
| 2,000,000 | | | OH St HFA Mtge Reven (Amt Residential Mtg Bkd) Ser E (SPA: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 09/01/38 | | | 2,000,000 | |
| 4,800,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac Comm (Hosp Cleveland Clinic Hlth Sys) (LIQ: Bank of NY Mellon Trust) (LIQ: Wells Fargo NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 01/01/39 | | | 4,800,000 | |
| 2,800,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac Commis Hosp (Cleveland Clinic Hlth Sys) (LIQ: Bank of NY Mellon Trust) | | | 0.020 | | | 01/01/39 | | | 2,800,000 | |
| 1,200,000 | | | Montgomery Co OH Rev (Miami VY Hosp) Ser 2011 C (SPA: Wells Fargo Bank NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 11/15/39 | | | 1,200,000 | |
| 6,500,000 | | | Montgomery Co OH Rev (Miami VY Hosp) Ser B (SPA: Barclays Bank PLC) | | | 0.010 | | | 11/15/39 | | | 6,500,000 | |
| 700,000 | | | Centerville OH Hlthcare Rev (Bethany Lutheran Vlg Proj) Ser B (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 11/01/40 | | | 700,000 | |
| 1,400,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hosp Rev (Impt Nationwide Hosp Proj) Ser B | | | 0.040 | | | 11/01/40 | | | 1,400,000 | |
| | | | Total Variable Rate Demand Notes | | | | | | | | $ | 155,826,002 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds — 8.4% | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Cleveland Department of Public Utilities Division of Water Ser P | | | 5.000 | | | 01/01/15 | | | 1,000,065 | |
| 250,000 | | | OH St Hosp Fac Rev (Cleveland Clinic Hlth) Ser 2009 B | | | 3.250 | | | 01/01/15 | | | 250,010 | |
| 525,000 | | | OH St Hosp Fac Rev (Cleveland Clinic Hlth) Ser B | | | 5.000 | | | 01/01/15 | | | 525,034 | |
| 4,200,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac Commis (Univ Hosp Hlth Sys) Ser 2009 A Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 6.750 | | | 01/15/15 | | | 4,210,441 | |
| 100,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac Commis (Univ Hosp Hlth Sys) Ser 2009 A Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 7.000 | | | 01/15/15 | | | 100,255 | |
| 125,000 | | | Columbus OH LTGO Ser 2012 B | | | 5.000 | | | 02/15/15 | | | 125,733 | |
| 200,000 | | | OH St Turnpike Commission Ser 1998 A | | | 5.500 | | | 02/15/15 | | | 201,285 | |
| 2,500,000 | | | North Royalton OH (BANS Muni Bldg Construction & Impt) LTGO | | | 1.000 | | | 04/08/15 | | | 2,504,297 | |
| 811,000 | | | Maple Heights OH CSD (BANS) LTGO | | | 1.250 | | | 04/09/15 | | | 812,624 | |
| 100,000 | | | Centerville OH CSD (Sch Impt) UTGO Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 4.000 | | | 06/01/15 | | | 101,513 | |
| 270,000 | | | OH St Univ Ser A Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 06/01/15 | | | 275,228 | |
| 1,455,000 | | | Euclid OH (BANS Various Purpose) Special Tax | | | 1.125 | | | 06/11/15 | | | 1,458,151 | |
| 1,415,000 | | | Kirtland OH (BANS Various Purpose) LTGO | | | 1.000 | | | 06/30/15 | | | 1,419,163 | |
| 1,200,000 | | | Williams Co OH (BANS Bldg Impt) LTGO Ser 2014 | | | 1.250 | | | 07/29/15 | | | 1,205,815 | |
| | | | Total Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds | | | | | | | | $ | 14,189,614 | |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)
| | | | | Value | |
| | | | Total Investment Securities —99.9% | | | | |
| | | | (Cost $170,015,616) | | $ | 170,015,616 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.1% | | | 250,630 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | Net Assets — 100.0% | | $ | 170,266,246 | |
| (A) | Demand Feature - Maturities shown are the final maturities, not the date on which principal could be recovered through the demand feature. |
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation inputs at Reporting Date: |
Description | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Municipal Bonds | | $ | — | | | $ | 170,015,616 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 170,015,616 | |
See accompanying Notes to Portfolios of Investments and Notes to Financial Statements.
Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund – December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Principal | | | | | Interest | | | Maturity | | | |
Amount | | | | | Rate | | | Date | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Variable Rate Demand Notes(A) — 85.8% | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 700,000 | | | DE Co OH Port Auth Eco (Columbus Zoological Pk) Ser 2006 (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.050 | % | | 08/01/18 | | $ | 700,000 | |
| 175,000 | | | Franklin Co OH IDR (Ohio Girl Scout Council Proj) (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.430 | | | 09/01/18 | | | 175,000 | |
| 1,050,000 | | | Summit Co OH IDR (S A Comunale Inc. Proj) (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.120 | | | 06/01/19 | | | 1,050,000 | |
| 750,000 | | | Lawrenceburg IN PCR (Ind Mich Pwr Co) (LOC: Bank of Nova Scotia) | | | 0.050 | | | 10/01/19 | | | 750,000 | |
| 275,000 | | | S.W. IL Dev Auth (Deli Star Ventures Proj) (LOC: BMO Harris Bank NA) | | | 0.410 | | | 07/01/21 | | | 275,000 | |
| 600,000 | | | East Baton Rouge Parish LA (Ref Exxon Proj) Ser 1993 PCR | | | 0.010 | | | 03/01/22 | | | 600,000 | |
| 1,175,000 | | | IA St Fin Auth Small Busines Rev (Terrace Ctr Assoc L.P.) (LOC: Wells Fargo Bank NA) | | | 0.140 | | | 03/01/22 | | | 1,175,000 | |
| 600,000 | | | Hamilton Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Beechwood Home Proj) (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.060 | | | 07/01/22 | | | 600,000 | |
| 700,000 | | | Irvine CA Impt Bond Act 1915 (Adj Assmt Dist No 94-13) Special Assessment (LOC: State Street B&T Co) | | | 0.010 | | | 09/02/22 | | | 700,000 | |
| 1,200,000 | | | Pima Co AZ IDA (Tucscon Elec) (LOC: BNY Mellon Trust) | | | 0.060 | | | 12/01/22 | | | 1,200,000 | |
| 770,000 | | | Milwaukee WI Redev Auth (Fred Usinger Inc Proj) (LOC: M&I Marshall & Ilsley) | | | 0.240 | | | 12/01/23 | | | 770,000 | |
| 1,300,000 | | | Cuyahoga Co OH Arpt Fac (Corporate Wings Proj) (LOC: Privatebank & Trust) | | | 0.240 | | | 04/01/25 | | | 1,300,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Saint Charles Co MO IDA (Patriot Machine Inc Proj) (LOC: U.S. Bank NA) | | | 0.170 | | | 06/01/27 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 1,060,000 | | | Lexington-Fayette KY Urban Cnty (Eastland Parkway) (LOC: Traditional Bank, Inc.) | | | 0.190 | | | 09/01/27 | | | 1,060,000 | |
| 500,000 | | | Lexington-Fayette KY Urban Cnty (Liberty Ridge) (LOC: Traditional Bank Inc) | | | 0.290 | | | 12/01/27 | | | 500,000 | |
| 770,000 | | | Hendersonville TN IDB (Windsor Park Proj) (LIQ: FNMA) | | | 0.060 | | | 02/15/28 | | | 770,000 | |
| 500,000 | | | MS St Business Fin Corp. (Chevron USA Inc Proj) Ser 2007 C | | | 0.010 | | | 12/01/30 | | | 500,000 | |
| 500,000 | | | MS St Business Fin Corp. (Chevron USA Inc Proj) Ser 2009 D | | | 0.010 | | | 12/01/30 | | | 500,000 | |
| 1,200,000 | | | Allen Co OH Hosp Facs Rev (Catholic Healthcare) Ser 2008 A (LOC: Bank of America NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 10/01/31 | | | 1,199,999 | |
| 800,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edu Fac Comm Rev (Case Western Reserve University Proj) Ser 2002 A Conv 10/1/03 (SPA: Wells Fargo Bank NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 10/01/31 | | | 800,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Met Transprtn Auth NY Dedicate Ref Ser A-1 (LOC: Royal Bank of Canada) | | | 0.020 | | | 11/01/31 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 755,000 | | | Crawfordsville IN MF hsg Rev (Autumn Woods Phase II) Ser B (LOC: FHLB) | | | 0.220 | | | 01/01/33 | | | 755,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | VT St Edl & Hlth Bldg Fin Agy (North Country Hosp Proj) Ser A (LOC: TD Banknorth NA) | | | 0.010 | | | 10/01/34 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 800,000 | | | OH St Univ Ser 2010 E | | | 0.020 | | | 06/01/35 | | | 800,000 | |
| 200,000 | | | East Baton Rouge Parish LA IDB (Exxonmobil Proj) Ser 2010 A | | | 0.010 | | | 08/01/35 | | | 200,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | New York NY UTGO Ser I6 (LOC: BNY Mellon Trust) | | | 0.020 | | | 04/01/36 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 600,000 | | | Franklin Co OH Hlth Care Fac Ser 2006 A (LOC: PNC Bank NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 07/01/36 | | | 600,000 | |
| 1,050,000 | | | Palm Beach Co FL Rev (Henry Morrison Flagler Proj) (LOC: Northern Trust Co) | | | 0.050 | | | 11/01/36 | | | 1,050,000 | |
| 700,000 | | | Sarasota Co FL Public Hosp District (Ref Sarasota Mem Hosp) Ser 2008 A (LOC: Northern Trust Co) | | | 0.010 | | | 07/01/37 | | | 700,000 | |
| 500,000 | | | CO St Edl & Cultural Fac Auth (Natl Jewish Fed D 4) (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 05/01/38 | | | 500,000 | |
| 510,000 | | | CO St Edl & Cultural Fac Auth (Natl Jewish Fedn Bd Pg D 6) (LOC: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 09/01/38 | | | 510,000 | |
| 925,000 | | | MA St Dev Fin Agy Rev (Seven Hills Fndtn) Ser A (LOC: TD Banknorth NA) | | | 0.030 | | | 09/01/38 | | | 925,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | IL St Fin Auth Rev (Lake Forest College Proj) (LOC: Northern Trust Co) | | | 0.050 | | | 10/01/38 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| 600,000 | | | OH St Hgr Edl Fac Comm Rev (Hosp Cleveland Clinic Hlth Sys) (LIQ: Wells Fargo Bank NA) Ser 2013 | | | 0.010 | | | 01/01/39 | | | 600,000 | |
| 550,000 | | | NY St Dorm Auth Rev (FFT Senior Cmntys Inc) (LOC: HSBC Bank USA NA) | | | 0.040 | | | 07/01/39 | | | 550,000 | |
| 1,000,000 | | | Montgomery Co OH Rev (Miami Valley Hosp) Ser 2014 C (SPA: Barclays Bank PLC) | | | 0.010 | | | 11/15/45 | | | 1,000,000 | |
| | | | Total Variable Rate Demand Notes | | | | | | | | $ | 27,814,999 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds — 13.8% | | | | | | | | | | |
| 140,000 | | | Atlanta GA Arpt Passenger Fac (Sub Lien Gen) Ser J Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 01/01/15 | | | 140,009 | |
| 120,000 | | | Chicago IL (Proj & Ref ) UTGO | | | 5.500 | | | 01/01/15 | | | 120,008 | |
| 250,000 | | | Indianapolis Local Public Imp Ser I (Arpt Auth Proj) | | | 5.000 | | | 01/01/15 | | | 250,016 | |
| 100,000 | | | Crow Wing Co (Cap Impt) UTGO Ser A Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 02/01/15 | | | 100,400 | |
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund (Unaudited) (Continued)
Principal | | | | | Interest | | | Maturity | | | |
Amount | | | | | Rate | | | Date | | Value | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds — 13.8% (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 100,000 | | | KY St Infrastructure Aut (Wastewtr & Drinking Wtr) Ser A | | | 5.000 | % | | 02/01/15 | | $ | 100,400 | |
| 175,000 | | | Randolph Twp NJ Sch Dist UTGO Ser 2005 Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 4.000 | | | 02/01/15 | | | 175,542 | |
| 150,000 | | | Woodbridge Twp NJ (Gen Impt) UTGO Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 4.100 | | | 02/01/15 | | | 150,485 | |
| 100,000 | | | Allen TX Indep Sch Dist UTGO | | | 5.000 | | | 02/15/15 | | | 100,581 | |
| 100,000 | | | Highland Park TX Indep Sch Dis UTGO Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 02/15/15 | | | 100,581 | |
| 100,000 | | | Williamson Co TX (Road) UTGO Ser 2007 Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 02/15/15 | | | 100,572 | |
| 235,000 | | | CO St Dept of Corrs (Colo St Penitentiary Proj) Ser B | | | 5.000 | | | 03/01/15 | | | 236,833 | |
| 250,000 | | | Florence-Darlington SC Commiss (Ser A) Ser 2005 Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 03/01/15 | | | 251,936 | |
| 350,000 | | | NJ St Econ Dev Auth (Sch Facs Constr) Ser L Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 03/01/15 | | | 352,653 | |
| 185,000 | | | NY NY UTGO Ser 2005 J Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 03/01/15 | | | 186,403 | |
| 415,000 | | | TX St (Unrefunded Transptrn Commn Mob) UTGO Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 04/01/15 | | | 419,847 | |
| 100,000 | | | TX St (Unrefunded Transptrn Commn Mob) UTGO Ser 2005 Pre-refunded @ $100 | | | 5.000 | | | 04/01/15 | | | 101,154 | |
| 500,000 | | | Springboro OH (BANS) LTGO | | | 1.000 | | | 04/02/15 | | | 500,806 | |
| 500,000 | | | North Royalton OH (BANS Muni Bldg Construction) LTGO | | | 1.000 | | | 04/08/15 | | | 500,859 | |
| 300,000 | | | Euclid OH (BANS Various Purpose) Special Tax | | | 1.125 | | | 06/11/15 | | | 300,650 | |
| 300,000 | | | Williams Co OH (BANS Bldg Impt) LTGO Ser 2014 | | | 1.250 | | | 07/29/15 | | | 301,454 | |
| | | | Total Fixed Rate Revenue and General Obligation Bonds | | | | | | | | $ | 4,491,189 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Total Investment Securities —99.6% | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | (Cost $32,306,188) | | | | | | | | | 32,306,188 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.4% | | | | | | | | | 123,928 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Net Assets — 100.0% | | | | | | | | $ | 32,430,116 | |
| (A) | Demand Feature - Maturities shown are the final maturities, not the date on which principal could be recovered through the demand feature. |
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation Inputs at Reporting Date: |
Description | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Municipal Bonds | | $ | — | | | $ | 32,306,188 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 32,306,188 | |
See accompanying Notes to Portfolios of Investments and Notes to Financial Statements.
Notes to Portfolios of Investments
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
Floating and variable rate demand notes (“put bonds”) earn interest at a coupon rate which fluctuates at specified intervals, usually daily, monthly or semi-annually. The maturity dates shown in the Portfolios of Investments are the final maturity dates. The interest rates shown in the Portfolios of Investments are the coupon rates in effect at December 31, 2014.
Put bonds may be redeemed at the discretion of the holder on specified dates prior to maturity. Mandatory put bonds are automatically redeemed at a specified put date unless action is taken by the holder to prevent redemption.
Bonds denoted as pre-refunded are anticipated to be redeemed prior to their scheduled maturity. The dates indicated in the Portfolios of Investments are the stipulated pre-refunded dates.
Portfolio Abbreviations:
BANS – Bond Anticipation Notes
CCAO – County Commissioner's Association of Ohio
COP – Certificates of Participation
CSD – City School District
EDR – Economic Development Revenue
FHLB – Federal Home Loan Bank
FNMA – Federal National Mortgage Association
HFA – Housing Finance Authority/Agency
IDA – Industrial Development Authority/Agency
IDB – Industrial Development Board
IDR – Industrial Development Revenue
LIQ – Liquidity Facility
LOC – Letter of Credit
LSD – Local School District
LTGO – Limited Tax General Obligation
MFH – Multi-Family Housing
OASBO – Ohio Association of School Business Officials
PCR – Pollution Control Revenue
PLC - Public Limited Company
SD – School District
SPA – Stand-by Purchase Agreement
UTGO – Unlimited Tax General Obligation
Portfolio Composition
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
As of December 31, 2014, the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund and the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund were invested exclusively in debt obligations issued by the State of Ohio and its political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities and by other issuers, the interest from which is exempt from Ohio personal income tax. As of December 31, 2014, 32.3% of the portfolio securities of the Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund were invested in the State of Ohio, 8.5% in the State of New York, 5.4% in the State of Indiana, 5.4% in the State of Florida, 5.1% in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 4.3% in the State of Illinois, 3.9% in the State of Colorado, 3.7% in the State of Arizona, 3.6% in the State of Iowa, 3.1% in the State of Missouri, 3.1% in the State of Vermont, 3.1% in the State of Mississippi, 2.9% in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2.5% in the State of Texas, 2.5% in the State of Louisiana, 2.4% in the State of Tennessee, 2.4% in the State of Wisconsin, 2.2% in the State of California, 2.1% in the State of New Jersey, 0.8% in the State of South Carolina, 0.4% in the State of Georgia, and 0.3% in the State of Minnesota.
The Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund and the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund are each non-diversified Funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Thus, the Funds may invest in fewer issuers than those of a diversified fund. As of December 31, 2014, there were no investments of 10% or greater in any one issuer held by either Fund.
The Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund and the Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund each invest in municipal securities maturing in 397 days or less and having a short-term rating in one of the top two ratings categories by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (or by one such organization if a security is rated by only that organization) or, if unrated, are determined by the Funds’ advisor, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, to be of comparable quality.
The percentage of investments for each Fund as of December 31, 2014 classified by security type, was as follows:
| | Ohio Tax-Free | | | Ohio Tax-Free | | | Tax-Free | |
| | Bond | | | Money Market | | | Money Market | |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
General Obligations | | | 27.9 | % | | | 3.6 | % | | | 4.7 | % |
Prerefunded/Escrowed to Maturity | | | 11.0 | % | | | 2.8 | % | | | 6.5 | % |
Variable Rate Demand Notes | | | 0.0 | % | | | 91.7 | % | | | 86.1 | % |
Certificate of Participation | | | 0.0 | % | | | 0.0 | % | | | 0.7 | % |
Special Tax | | | 0.0 | % | | | 0.9 | % | | | 0.9 | % |
Fixed Rate Revenue Bonds | | | 61.1 | % | | | 1.0 | % | | | 1.1 | % |
Total Investments | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % | | | 100.0 | % |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
| | Touchstone | | | Touchstone | | | Touchstone | |
| | Ohio | | | Ohio | | | Tax-Free | |
| | Tax-Free | | | Tax-Free | | | Money | |
| | Bond | | | Money Market | | | Market | |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments securities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
At amortized cost or at original cost for Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | | $ | 49,536,315 | | | $ | 170,015,616 | | | $ | 32,306,188 | |
Investments, at market value | | | 53,693,474 | | | | 170,015,616 | | | | 32,306,188 | |
Cash | | | 84,281 | | | | 80,948 | | | | 90,501 | |
Interest receivable | | | 362,246 | | | | 240,589 | | | | 65,261 | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | | | 231,366 | | | | 10,809 | | | | — | |
Receivable from Investment Advisor | | | — | | | | 1,337 | | | | 9,681 | |
Prepaid expenses | | | 5,814 | | | | 11,522 | | | | 6,483 | |
Total Assets | | | 54,377,181 | | | | 170,360,821 | | | | 32,478,114 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends payable | | | 44,799 | | | | 926 | | | | — | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | | 14,380 | | | | 58,222 | | | | 8,677 | |
Payable to Investment Advisor | | | 22,915 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Payable to other affiliates | | | 12,292 | | | | 430 | | | | 4,786 | |
Payable to Trustees | | | 6,147 | | | | 6,147 | | | | 6,147 | |
Payable for professional services | | | 9,377 | | | | 9,820 | | | | 10,016 | |
Payable for reports to shareholders | | | 7,733 | | | | 6,728 | | | | 7,462 | |
Payable to Transfer Agent | | | 7,631 | | | | 9,360 | | | | 7,662 | |
Other accrued expenses and liabilities | | | 5,260 | | | | 2,942 | | | | 3,248 | |
Total Liabilities | | | 130,534 | | | | 94,575 | | | | 47,998 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 54,246,647 | | | $ | 170,266,246 | | | $ | 32,430,116 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets consist of: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 50,117,151 | | | $ | 170,269,683 | | | $ | 32,433,499 | |
Accumulated net investment income (loss) | | | (23,060 | ) | | | (326 | ) | | | 1 | |
Accumulated net realized losses on investments | | | (4,603 | ) | | | (3,111 | ) | | | (3,384 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | | | 4,157,159 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net Assets | | $ | 54,246,647 | | | $ | 170,266,246 | | | $ | 32,430,116 | |
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited) (Continued)
| | Touchstone | | | Touchstone | | | Touchstone | |
| | Ohio | | | Ohio | | | Tax-Free | |
| | Tax-Free | | | Tax-Free | | | Money | |
| | Bond | | | Money Market | | | Market | |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Pricing of Class A Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets applicable to Class A shares | | $ | 47,137,429 | | | $ | 66,065,155 | | | $ | 8,121,897 | |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) | | | 3,967,166 | | | | 66,060,873 | | | | 8,126,749 | |
Net asset value price per share* | | $ | 11.88 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | |
Maximum offering price per share | | $ | 12.47 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pricing of Class C Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets applicable to Class C shares | | $ | 7,109,218 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) | | | 597,515 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net asset value, offering price per share** | | $ | 11.90 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pricing of Class S Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets applicable to Class S shares | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 24,308,219 | |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) | | | — | | | | — | | | | 24,317,075 | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1.00 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pricing of Institutional Class Shares | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets applicable to Institutional Class shares | | $ | — | | | $ | 104,201,091 | | | $ | — | |
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) | | | — | | | | 104,195,827 | | | | — | |
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share | | $ | — | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | — | |
* There is no sales load on subscriptions of $1 million or more. Redemptions that were part of $1 million subscriptions may be subject to a contingent deferred sales load if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase.
** Redemption price per share varies by length of time shares are held.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Statements of Operations
For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
| | Touchstone | | | Touchstone | | | Touchstone | |
| | Ohio | | | Ohio | | | Tax-Free | |
| | Tax-Free | | | Tax-Free | | | Money | |
| | Bond | | | Money Market | | | Market | |
| | Fund | | | Fund | | | Fund | |
Investment Income | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 1,096,987 | | | $ | 86,471 | | | $ | 26,129 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment advisory fees | | | 134,447 | | | | 393,925 | | | | 84,677 | |
Administration fees | | | 42,992 | | | | 131,017 | | | | 27,076 | |
Compliance fees and expenses | | | 854 | | | | 854 | | | | 854 | |
Custody fees | | | 1,448 | | | | 4,170 | | | | 2,957 | |
Professional fees | | | 12,114 | | | | 17,934 | | | | 11,791 | |
Transfer Agent fees, Class A | | | 7,785 | | | | 9,619 | | | | 1,914 | |
Transfer Agent fees, Class C | | | 1,741 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Transfer Agent fees, Class S | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,844 | |
Transfer Agent fees, Institutional Class | | | — | | | | 18 | | | | — | |
Registration fees, Class A | | | 3,891 | | | | 7,162 | | | | 5,703 | |
Registration fees, Class C | | | 2,407 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Registration fees, Class S | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,340 | |
Registration fees, Institutional Class | | | — | | | | 2,489 | | | | — | |
Reports to Shareholders, Class A | | | 3,242 | | | | 3,916 | | | | 2,546 | |
Reports to Shareholders, Class C | | | 2,659 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Reports to Shareholders, Class S | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,650 | |
Reports to Shareholders, Institutional Class | | | — | | | | 2,490 | | | | — | |
Distribution expenses, Class A | | | 58,202 | | | | 79,085 | | | | 13,113 | |
Distribution and shareholder servicing expenses, Class C | | | 36,084 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Distribution and shareholder servicing expenses, Class S | | | — | | | | — | | | | 40,915 | |
Trustee fees | | | 6,099 | | | | 6,099 | | | | 6,099 | |
Other expenses | | | 10,488 | | | | 7,987 | | | | 4,625 | |
Total Expenses | | | 324,453 | | | | 666,765 | | | | 217,104 | |
Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Advisor and/or Affiliates(A) | | | (68,828 | ) | | | (588,486 | ) | | | (192,660 | ) |
Net Expenses | | | 255,625 | | | | 78,279 | | | | 24,444 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Investment Income | | | 841,362 | | | | 8,192 | | | | 1,685 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Realized and Unrealized Gains on Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gains on investments | | | 35,042 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | 495,208 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gains on Investments | | | 530,250 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | | $ | 1,371,612 | | | $ | 8,192 | | | $ | 1,685 | |
(A)See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | Touchstone | |
| | Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | |
| | For the | | | | |
| | Six Months | | | | |
| | Ended | | | For the | |
| | December 31, | | | Year | |
| | 2014 | | | Ended | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | June 30, 2014 | |
From Operations | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 841,362 | | | $ | 1,695,688 | |
Net realized gains on investments | | | 35,042 | | | | 98,641 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | 495,208 | | | | 1,289,582 | |
Change in Net Assets from Operations | | | 1,371,612 | | | | 3,083,911 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Distributions to Shareholders from: | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income, Class A | | | (750,847 | ) | | | (1,515,111 | ) |
Net investment income, Class C | | | (89,472 | ) | | | (178,576 | ) |
Net investment income, Class S | | | — | | | | — | |
Net investment income, Institutional Class | | | — | | | | — | |
Net realized gains, Class A | | | — | | | | (132,491 | ) |
Net realized gains, Class C | | | — | | | | (19,648 | ) |
Total Distributions | | | (840,319 | ) | | | (1,845,826 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Increase (Decrease) from Share Transactions (A) | | | 1,443,672 | | | | (2,747,110 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | | | 1,974,965 | | | | (1,509,025 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 52,271,682 | | | | 53,780,707 | |
End of period | | $ | 54,246,647 | | | $ | 52,271,682 | |
Accumulated Net Investment Income (Loss) | | $ | (23,060 | ) | | $ | (24,103 | ) |
(A) For details on share transactions by class, see Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity on pages 18-19.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Continued)
Touchstone | | | Touchstone | |
Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | Tax-Free Money Market Fund | |
For the | | | | | | For the | | | | |
Six Months | | | | | | Six Months | | | | |
Ended | | | For the | | | Ended | | | For the | |
December 31, | | | Year | | | December 31, | | | Year | |
2014 | | | Ended | | | 2014 | | | Ended | |
(Unaudited) | | | June 30, 2014 | | | (Unaudited) | | | June 30, 2014 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
$ | 8,192 | | | $ | 17,562 | | | $ | 1,685 | | | $ | 4,259 | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| 8,192 | | | | 17,562 | | | | 1,685 | | | | 4,259 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (3,136 | ) | | | (7,075 | ) | | | (515 | ) | | | (1,306 | ) |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| — | | | | — | | | | (1,169 | ) | | | (2,953 | ) |
| (5,031 | ) | | | (10,486 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| (8,167 | ) | | | (17,561 | ) | | | (1,684 | ) | | | (4,259 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14,180,729 | | | | (10,038,585 | ) | | | (3,404,508 | ) | | | (3,798,414 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14,180,754 | | | | (10,038,584 | ) | | | (3,404,507 | ) | | | (3,798,414 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 156,085,492 | | | | 166,124,076 | | | | 35,834,623 | | | | 39,633,037 | |
$ | 170,266,246 | | | $ | 156,085,492 | | | $ | 32,430,116 | | | $ | 35,834,623 | |
$ | (326 | ) | | $ | (351 | ) | | $ | 1 | | | $ | — | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity
| | Touchstone | |
| | Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | |
| | For the Six Months | | | | |
| | Ended | | | For the Year | |
| | December 31, 2014 | | | Ended | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | June 30, 2014 | |
| | Shares | | | Dollars | | | Shares | | | Dollars | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | 238,752 | | | $ | 2,817,201 | | | | 295,046 | | | $ | 3,403,775 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 43,457 | | | | 514,017 | | | | 103,168 | | | | 1,185,918 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | | (134,904 | ) | | | (1,592,933 | ) | | | (659,240 | ) | | | (7,522,933 | ) |
Change from Class A Share Transactions | | | 147,305 | | | | 1,738,285 | | | | (261,026 | ) | | | (2,933,240 | ) |
Class C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | 34,858 | | | | 412,379 | | | | 88,833 | | | | 1,030,070 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 5,373 | | | | 63,631 | | | | 11,584 | | | | 133,392 | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | | (65,190 | ) | | | (770,623 | ) | | | (85,592 | ) | | | (977,332 | ) |
Change from Class C Share Transactions | | | (24,959 | ) | | | (294,613 | ) | | | 14,825 | | | | 186,130 | |
Class S | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Change from Class S Share Transactions | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Institutional Class | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Cost of shares redeemed | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Change from Institutional Class Share Transactions | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Change from Share Transactions | | | 122,346 | | | $ | 1,443,672 | | | | (246,201 | ) | | $ | (2,747,110 | ) |
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)
Touchstone | | | Touchstone | |
Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | Tax-Free Money Market Fund | |
For the Six Months | | | | | | For the Six Months | | | | |
Ended | | | For the Year | | | Ended | | | For the Year | |
December 31, 2014 | | | Ended | | | December 31, 2014 | | | Ended | |
(Unaudited) | | | June 30, 2014 | | | (Unaudited) | | | June 30, 2014 | |
Shares | | | Dollars | | | Shares | | | Dollars | | | Shares | | | Dollars | | | Shares | | | Dollars | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 34,571,113 | | | $ | 34,571,113 | | | | 92,647,241 | | | $ | 92,647,241 | | | | 745,123 | | | $ | 745,123 | | | | 2,926,726 | | | $ | 2,926,726 | |
| 3,131 | | | | 3,131 | | | | 7,061 | | | | 7,061 | | | | 512 | | | | 512 | | | | 1,305 | | | | 1,305 | |
| (33,089,232 | ) | | | (33,089,232 | ) | | | (108,415,868 | ) | | | (108,415,868 | ) | | | (5,580,835 | ) | | | (5,580,835 | ) | | | (3,240,666 | ) | | | (3,240,666 | ) |
| 1,485,012 | | | | 1,485,012 | | | | (15,761,566 | ) | | | (15,761,566 | ) | | | (4,835,200 | ) | | | (4,835,200 | ) | | | (312,635 | ) | | | (312,635 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 24,807,586 | | | | 24,807,586 | | | | 52,623,013 | | | | 52,623,013 | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,152 | | | | 1,152 | | | | 2,913 | | | | 2,913 | |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (23,378,046 | ) | | | (23,378,046 | ) | | | (56,111,705 | ) | | | (56,111,705 | ) |
| — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,430,692 | | | | 1,430,692 | | | | (3,485,779 | ) | | | (3,485,779 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 168,773,348 | | | | 168,773,348 | | | | 172,238,589 | | | | 172,238,589 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| 19 | | | | 19 | | | | 34 | | | | 34 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| (156,077,650 | ) | | | (156,077,650 | ) | | | (166,515,642 | ) | | | (166,515,642 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| 12,695,717 | | | | 12,695,717 | | | | 5,722,981 | | | | 5,722,981 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| 14,180,729 | | | $ | 14,180,729 | | | | (10,038,585 | ) | | $ | (10,038,585 | ) | | | (3,404,508 | ) | | $ | (3,404,508 | ) | | | (3,798,414 | ) | | $ | (3,798,414 | ) |
Financial Highlights
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund — Class A |
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period |
| | Six Months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ended | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | | Year Ended June 30, | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 11.76 | | | $ | 11.47 | | | $ | 11.90 | | | $ | 11.36 | | | $ | 11.55 | | | $ | 11.22 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | 0.19 | | | | 0.39 | | | | 0.39 | | | | 0.41 | | | | 0.42 | | | | 0.42 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | | | 0.12 | | | | 0.33 | | | | (0.36 | ) | | | 0.55 | | | | (0.10 | ) | | | 0.33 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.31 | | | | 0.72 | | | | 0.03 | | | | 0.96 | | | | 0.32 | | | | 0.75 | |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (0.19 | ) | | | (0.39 | ) | | | (0.39 | ) | | | (0.41 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) |
Realized capital gains | | | — | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.09 | ) | | | — | |
Total distributions | | | (0.19 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.46 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) | | | (0.51 | ) | | | (0.42 | ) |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 11.88 | | | $ | 11.76 | | | $ | 11.47 | | | $ | 11.90 | | | $ | 11.36 | | | $ | 11.55 | |
Total return(A) | | | 2.68 | %(B) | | | 6.41 | % | | | 0.13 | % | | | 8.60 | % | | | 2.85 | % | | | 6.77 | % |
Ratios and supplemental data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000's) | | $ | 47,137 | | | $ | 44,939 | | | $ | 46,803 | | | $ | 50,946 | | | $ | 47,991 | | | $ | 53,947 | |
Ratio to average net assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 0.85 | %(C) | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.85 | % | | | 0.85 | % |
Gross expenses | | | 1.09 | %(C) | | | 1.10 | % | | | 1.09 | % | | | 1.12 | % | | | 1.15 | % | | | 1.15 | % |
Net investment income | | | 3.23 | %(C) | | | 3.42 | % | | | 3.25 | % | | | 3.51 | % | | | 3.67 | % | | | 3.66 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 9 | %(B) | | | 25 | % | | | 24 | % | | | 33 | % | | | 26 | % | | | 33 | % |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund — Class C |
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period |
| | Six Months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ended | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | | Year Ended June 30, | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 11.78 | | | $ | 11.48 | | | $ | 11.92 | | | $ | 11.37 | | | $ | 11.57 | | | $ | 11.23 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | 0.15 | | | | 0.31 | | | | 0.30 | | | | 0.32 | | | | 0.34 | | | | 0.34 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | | | 0.12 | | | | 0.34 | | | | (0.37 | ) | | | 0.56 | | | | (0.11 | ) | | | 0.34 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.65 | | | | (0.07 | ) | | | 0.88 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 0.68 | |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) |
Realized capital gains | | | — | | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | (0.09 | ) | | | — | |
Total distributions | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (0.37 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.43 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 11.90 | | | $ | 11.78 | | | $ | 11.48 | | | $ | 11.92 | | | $ | 11.37 | | | $ | 11.57 | |
Total return(A) | | | 2.29 | %(B) | | | 5.70 | % | | | (0.70 | %) | | | 7.87 | % | | | 1.99 | % | | | 6.06 | % |
Ratios and supplemental data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000's) | | $ | 7,109 | | | $ | 7,333 | | | $ | 6,978 | | | $ | 6,797 | | | $ | 6,169 | | | $ | 6,459 | |
Ratio to average net assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 1.60 | %(C) | | | 1.60 | % | | | 1.60 | % | | | 1.60 | % | | | 1.60 | % | | | 1.60 | % |
Gross expenses | | | 1.96 | %(C) | | | 2.01 | % | | | 1.99 | % | | | 2.07 | % | | | 2.06 | % | | | 1.96 | % |
Net investment income | | | 2.48 | %(C) | | | 2.67 | % | | | 2.50 | % | | | 2.76 | % | | | 2.92 | % | | | 2.91 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 9 | %(B) | | | 25 | % | | | 24 | % | | | 33 | % | | | 26 | % | | | 33 | % |
(A) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Financial Highlights (Continued) |
|
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund — Class A |
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period |
| | Six Months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ended | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | | Year Ended June 30, | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) |
Net realized gains (losses) on investments | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | — | (A) |
Total from investment operations | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) |
Realized capital gains | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (— | )(A) | | | — | |
Total distributions | | | (— | ) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Total return | | | 0.01 | %(B) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.04 | % |
Ratios and supplemental data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000's) | | $ | 66,065 | | | $ | 64,580 | | | $ | 80,342 | | | $ | 76,086 | | | $ | 76,640 | | | $ | 105,251 | |
Ratio to average net assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 0.10 | %(C) | | | 0.14 | % | | | 0.24 | % | | | 0.29 | % | | | 0.40 | % | | | 0.62 | %(D) |
Gross expenses | | | 1.00 | %(C) | | | 0.99 | % | | | 0.98 | % | | | 1.00 | % | | | 1.01 | % | | | 0.99 | % |
Net investment income | | | 0.01 | %(C) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.00 | %(A) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.04 | % |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund — Institutional Class |
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period |
| | Six Months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ended | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | | Year Ended June 30, | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | 0.002 | |
Net realized gains (losses) on investments | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | — | (A) |
Total from investment operations | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | 0.002 | |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (0.002 | ) |
Realized capital gains | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (— | )(A) | | | — | |
Total distributions | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (0.002 | ) |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Total return | | | 0.01 | %(B) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.15 | % |
Ratios and supplemental data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000's) | | $ | 104,201 | | | $ | 91,505 | | | $ | 85,782 | | | $ | 96,994 | | | $ | 118,765 | | | $ | 148,626 | |
Ratio to average net assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 0.10 | %(C) | | | 0.14 | % | | | 0.24 | % | | | 0.28 | % | | | 0.40 | % | | | 0.51 | %(E) |
Gross expenses | | | 0.70 | %(C) | | | 0.69 | % | | | 0.71 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 0.72 | % | | | 0.71 | % |
Net investment income | | | 0.01 | %(C) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.16 | % |
(A) Amount rounds to less than $0.0005 per share or 0.005%.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.
(D) Absent money market insurance, the ratio of net expenses to average net assets would have been 0.61% for the year ended June 30, 2010.
(E) Absent money market insurance, the ratio of net expenses to average net assets would have been 0.50% for the year ended June 30, 2010.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Financial Highlights (Continued) |
|
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund — Class A |
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period |
| | Six Months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ended | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | | Year Ended June 30, | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) |
Net realized gains (losses) on investments | | | — | | | | — | | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | — | (A) |
Total from investment operations | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Total return | | | 0.01 | %(B) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.03 | % |
Ratios and supplemental data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000's) | | $ | 8,122 | | | $ | 12,957 | | | $ | 13,270 | | | $ | 14,864 | | | $ | 16,366 | | | $ | 17,405 | |
Ratio to average net assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 0.15 | %(C) | | | 0.18 | % | | | 0.30 | % | | | 0.33 | % | | | 0.52 | % | | | 0.77 | %(D) |
Gross expenses | | | 1.26 | %(C) | | | 1.19 | % | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.24 | % | | | 1.18 | % | | | 1.22 | % |
Net investment income | | | 0.01 | %(C) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.04 | % |
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund — Class S |
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period |
| | Six Months | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ended | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | | Year Ended June 30, | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) |
Net realized gains (losses) on investments | | | — | | | | — | | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | — | (A) |
Total from investment operations | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) | | | — | (A) |
Distributions from: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) | | | (— | )(A) |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | | | $ | 1.000 | |
Total return | | | 0.01 | %(B) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % |
Ratios and supplemental data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000's) | | $ | 24,308 | | | $ | 22,878 | | | $ | 26,363 | | | $ | 24,920 | | | $ | 30,943 | | | $ | 34,777 | |
Ratio to average net assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net expenses | | | 0.14 | %(C) | | | 0.18 | % | | | 0.30 | % | | | 0.33 | % | | | 0.52 | % | | | 0.79 | %(E) |
Gross expenses | | | 1.29 | %(C) | | | 1.25 | % | | | 1.27 | % | | | 1.30 | % | | | 1.26 | % | | | 1.50 | % |
Net investment income | | | 0.01 | %(C) | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 0.01 | % |
(A) Amount rounds to less than $0.0005 per share.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.
(D) Absent money market insurance, the ratio of net expenses to average net assets would have been 0.76% for the year ended June 30, 2010.
(E) Absent money market insurance, the ratio of net expenses to average net assets would have been 0.78% for the year ended June 30, 2010.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)
1. Organization
The Touchstone Tax-Free Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust was established as a Massachusetts business trust pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated April 13, 1981. The Trust consists of the following three funds (individually, a “Fund”, and collectively, the “Funds”):
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund (“Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund”)
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund (“Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund”)
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund (“Tax-Free Money Market Fund”)
The Tax-Free Money Market Fund is an open-end, diversified, management investment company. Each of the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund and the Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund is each an open-end, non-diversified, management investment company.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of each Fund. The Funds are registered to offer the following classes of shares: Class A shares, Class C shares, Class S shares and Institutional Class shares. Currently, each Fund offers Class A shares while Class C, Class S and Institutional Class shares are offered only by Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund, Tax-Free Money Market Fund and Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund, respectively. The assets of each Fund are segregated, and a shareholder’s interest is limited to the Fund in which shares are held. The Funds’ prospectus provides a description of each Fund’s investment goals, policies, and strategies along with information on the classes of shares currently being offered.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of the Funds’ significant accounting policies:
Security valuation and fair value measurements— Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) define fair value as the price the Funds would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. All investments in securities are recorded at their estimated fair value. The Funds define the term “market value”, as used throughout this report, as the estimated fair value. The Funds use various methods to measure fair value of their portfolio securities on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP fair value measurement standards require disclosure of a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
• | Level 1 – | quoted prices in active markets for identical securities |
| | |
• | Level 2 – | other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
| | |
• | Level 3 – | significant unobservable inputs (including a Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, money market instruments are valued using amortized cost, in accordance with rules under the 1940 Act. Generally, amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security, but since the value is not obtained from a quoted price in an active market, such securities are reflected as Level 2.
The aggregate value by input level, as of December 31, 2014, for each Fund’s investments, as well as a reconciliation of assets for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value, if applicable, is included in the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments, which also includes a breakdown of the Fund’s investments
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
by portfolio allocation. The Funds did not hold any Level 3 categorized securities during the six months ended December 31, 2014.
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an investment’s assigned level within the hierarchy. All transfers in and out of the levels are recognized at the value at the end of the period. During the six months ended December 31, 2014, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 for the Funds.
Investments held by the Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund and Tax-Free Money Market Fund are valued under the amortized cost method which approximates current market value in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Under this method, investments are valued at cost when purchased and thereafter, a constant proportionate accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums are recorded until the maturity of the security.
Debt securities held by the Funds are valued at their most recent evaluated bid by an independent pricing service or at their last broker-quoted bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities. Independent pricing services use information provided by market makers or estimates of market values through accepted market modeling conventions. Inputs to the models may include prepayment speeds, pricing spread, yield, trade information, dealer quotes, market color, cash flow models, the securities’ terms and conditions, among others, and are generally categorized in Level 2. Money market instruments and other debt securities with a remaining maturity of less than 60 days are valued at amortized cost, provided such amount approximates market value and are categorized in Level 2. While this method provides consistency in valuation (and may only be used if it approximates market value), it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price that would be received if the Fund sold the investment.
The Funds may use fair value pricing under the following circumstances, among others:
| • | If the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring before the Funds’ pricing time but after the close of the primary markets on which the security is traded. |
| • | If the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closes early or if trading in a particular portfolio security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Funds’ net asset value (“NAV”) calculation. |
| • | If a security is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading. |
| • | If the validity of market quotations is not reliable. |
Securities held by the Funds that do not have readily available market quotations, significant observable inputs, or securities for which the available market quotations are not reliable, are priced at their estimated fair value using procedures approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees and are generally categorized in Level 3.
When-issued or delayed delivery transactions— Each Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities for a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place beyond the customary settlement period. When delayed delivery purchases are outstanding, the Fund will set aside liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining NAV. The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a delayed delivery transaction after it is entered into, and may sell when-issued securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain or loss. When the Fund has sold a security on a delayed delivery basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains and losses with respect to the security.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
Share valuation— The NAV per share of each class of shares of each Fund is calculated daily by dividing the total value of a Fund’s assets attributable to that class, less liabilities attributable to that class, by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The maximum offering price per share of each class of shares of the Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund and the Tax-Free Money Market Fund is equal to the NAV per share. The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares of the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund is equal to the NAV per share plus a sales load equal to 4.99% of the NAV (or 4.75% of the offering price). There is no sales load on purchases of $1 million or more of Class A shares of the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund. The maximum offering price per share of Class C shares of the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund is equal to the NAV per share.
The redemption price per share of each class of shares of the Funds is generally equal to the NAV per share. However, Class A redemptions that were part of a no load $1 million subscription may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase for the Ohio Tax Free Bond Fund. Additionally, purchases of Class C shares of the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund are subject to a CDSC of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase.
Investment income—Interest income from securities is recorded on the basis of interest accrued, premium amortized and discount accreted. Market discounts, original issue discount (“OID”) and market premiums on debt securities are accreted/amortized to interest income over the life of the security with a corresponding adjustment in the cost basis of that security.
Distributions to shareholders— Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its income and capital gains. Each Fund declares distributions from net investment income on a daily basis and distributes as a dividend to shareholders on a monthly basis. Each Fund makes distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually, net of applicable capital loss carryforwards. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations.
Allocations— Investment income earned, realized capital gains and losses, and unrealized appreciation and depreciation for a Fund are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon its proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund. Class-specific expenses are charged directly to the class incurring the expense. Common expenses, which are not attributable to a specific class, are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon their proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund. Expenses not directly billed to a Fund are allocated proportionally among all the Funds in the Trust, and if applicable, Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and Touchstone Funds Group Trust (collectively with the Trust, “Touchstone Fund Complex”), daily in relation to net assets of each Fund or another reasonable measure.
Security transactions— Security transactions are reflected for financial reporting purposes as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of portfolio securities are calculated using the identified cost basis.
Estimates— The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
3. Investment Transactions
Investment transactions (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) were as follows for the six months ended December 31, 2014:
| | Ohio Tax-Free | |
| | Bond Fund | |
Purchases of investment securities | | $ | 6,057,254 | |
Proceeds from sales and maturities | | $ | 4,841,201 | |
There were no purchases or proceeds from sales and maturities of U.S. Government securities by the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund for the six months ended December 31, 2014.
4. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Related Parties
Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”),Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the “Underwriter” and “Distributor”), or BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the Sub-Administrator and Transfer Agent to the Funds. Such officers receive no compensation from the Trust. The Advisor and the Underwriter are each wholly-owned, indirect subsidiaries of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. (“Western & Southern”).
On behalf of the Funds, the Advisor pays each Independent Trustee a quarterly retainer plus additional retainers to the Lead Independent Trustee and the chairs of each standing committee. Interested Trustees do not receive compensation from the Funds. Each Independent Trustee also receives compensation for each board meeting and committee meeting attended. Each standing committee chair receives additional compensation for each committee meeting that he or she oversees. The Advisor is reimbursed by the Funds for the Independent Trustees’ compensation and out-of-pocket expenses relating to their services. The Funds accrued Trustee - related expenses of $18,297 for the six months ended December 31, 2014.
Management & Expense Limitation Agreements
The Advisor provides general investment supervisory services for the Funds, under terms of an advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays the Advisor a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on average daily net assets of each Fund as shown in the table below.
0.50% of the first $100 million |
0.45% of the next $100 million |
0.40% of the next $100 million |
0.375% of such assets in excess of $300 million |
The Advisor has entered into investment sub-advisory agreements with Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. (the “Sub-Advisor”), an affiliate of the Advisor. The Sub-Advisor is a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of Western & Southern. The Advisor, not the Funds, pays sub-advisory fees to the Sub-Advisor.
The Advisor entered into an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) to contractually limit operating expenses of the Funds, excluding: dividend and interest expenses on short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with GAAP; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses”, if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business. The maximum operating expense limit in any year with respect to the Funds is based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Funds. The Advisor has agreed to separately waive class-level expenses, advisory fees, administration fees, and to reimburse expenses in order to maintain the following expense limitations for the Funds:
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | Institutional | |
| | Class A | | | Class C | | | Class S | | | Class | |
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | | | 0.85 | % | | | 1.60 | % | | | — | | | | — | |
Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | 0.75 | % | | | — | | | | — | | | | 0.50 | % |
Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | 0.89 | % | | | — | | | | 0.90 | % | | | — | |
These expense limitations will remain in effect for all Funds through at least October 29, 2015.
For the Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund and Tax-Free Money Market Fund, in addition to the above expense caps, the Advisor and/or Distributor have voluntarily agreed to temporarily waive all or a portion of their fees, to the extent necessary to maintain each Fund’s yield. There is no guarantee that the Advisor and/or Distributor will continue to waive such fees in the future.
During the six months ended December 31, 2014, the Advisor or its affiliates waived investment advisory fees and administration fees or reimbursed expenses, including 12b-1 fees, of the Funds as follows:
| | | | | | | | Other | | | | |
| | Investment | | | | | | Operating | | | | |
| | Advisory | | | Administration | | | Expenses | | | | |
Fund | | Fees Waived | | | Fees Waived | | | Reimbursed | | | Total | |
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 68,828 | | | $ | 68,828 | |
Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | 17,965 | | | | 131,017 | | | | 439,504 | | | | 588,486 | |
Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | — | | | | — | | | | 192,660 | | | | 192,660 | |
Under the terms of the Expense Limitation Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to recover, subject to approval by the Funds’ Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the year in which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Funds. No recoupment will occur unless a Fund’s operating expenses are below the expense limitation amount in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement.
As of December 31, 2014, the Advisor may seek recoupment of previously waived fees and reimbursed expenses as follows:
| | Expiration | | | Expiration | | | Expiration | | | | |
| | June 30, | | | June 30, | | | June 30, | | | | |
Fund | | 2016 | | | 2017 | | | 2018 | | | Total | |
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,535 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,535 | |
Ohio Tax Free Money Market Fund | | | 285,217 | | | | 319,360 | | | | 153,112 | | | | 757,689 | |
Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | 93,066 | | | | 6,384 | | | | 6,215 | | | | 105,665 | |
The Advisor did not recoup any amounts it previously waived or reimbursed during the six months ended December 31, 2014.
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
The Advisor entered into an Administration Agreement with the Trust, whereby the Advisor is responsible for: supplying executive and regulatory compliance services; supervising the preparation of tax returns; coordinating the preparation of reports to shareholders and reports to, and filings with, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and state securities authorities, as well as materials for meetings of the Board; calculating the daily NAV per share; and maintaining the financial books and records of each Fund.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
For its services through December 31, 2014, the Advisor’s annual administrative fee was:
0.20% on the first $6 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets;
0.16% of the next $4 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and
0.12% of the aggregate average daily net assets of all such assets in excess of $10 billion.
The fee was computed and allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding Touchstone Institutional Money Market Fund, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, and Touchstone Variable Series Trust) on the basis of relative daily net assets.
Beginning January 1, 2015, the Advisor’s annual administrative fee is:
0.145% on the first $20 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets;
0.11% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets;
0.09% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and
0.07% on the aggregate average daily net assets over $40 billion.
The fee is computed and allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust) on the basis of relative daily net assets.
The Advisor has engaged BNY Mellon as the Sub-Administrator to the Trust. BNY Mellon provides administrative and accounting services to the Trust and is compensated directly by the Advisor, not the Trust.
TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT
Under the terms of the Transfer Agent Agreement between the Trust and BNY Mellon, BNY Mellon maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of each Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent, and performs other shareholder service functions. For these services, BNY Mellon receives a monthly fee per shareholder account from each Fund. In addition, each Fund pays BNY Mellon out-of-pocket expenses incurred by BNY Mellon, including, but not limited to, postage and supplies.
The Funds may reimburse the Advisor for fees paid to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions, for sub-transfer agency, sub-administration and other services provided to investors whose shares of record are held in omnibus, other group accounts, retirement plans or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. These fees may vary based on, for example, the nature of services provided, but generally range up to 0.15% of the assets of the class serviced or maintained by the intermediary or up to $22 per sub-account maintained by the intermediary. Prior to December 1, 2014, Funds reimbursed the Advisor up to $17 per sub-account maintained by the intermediary.
PLANS OF DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FEE ARRANGEMENTS
The Trust has adopted distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for each class of shares it offers that is subject to 12b-1 distribution fees. The plans allow each Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. The fees charged to the Funds are limited to the actual expenses incurred. Under the Class A plan, each Fund offering Class A shares pays an annual fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class C plan, each Fund offering Class C shares pays an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class C shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee).
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
Under the Class S plan, each Fund offering Class S shares pays an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class S shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee). The Fund currently limits the amount to 0.35% of average daily net assets attributable to such shares.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
The Underwriter is the Funds’ principal underwriter and, as such, acts as exclusive agent for distribution of the Funds’ shares. Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement between the Trust and the Underwriter, the Underwriter earned $5,634 from underwriting and broker commissions on the sale of Class A shares of the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund during the six months ended December 31, 2014. The Underwriter did not collect any CDSC on the redemption of Class C shares of the Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund during the six months ended December 31, 2014.
5. Federal Tax Information
Federal income tax— It is each Fund’s policy to continue to comply with the special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. As provided therein, in any fiscal year in which a Fund so qualifies and distributes at least 90% of its investment company taxable income, the Fund (but not the shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on the income distributed. It is the Fund’s policy to distribute all of its taxable and tax-exempt income and accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made.
In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also each Fund’s intention to declare and pay as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its investment company taxable income (earned during the calendar year) and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ending October 31) plus undistributed amounts from prior years.
The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013 is as follows:
| | Ohio Tax-Free | | | Ohio Tax-Free | |
| | Bond Fund | | | Money Market Fund | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
From tax exempt income | | $ | 1,692,638 | | | $ | 1,868,279 | | | $ | 17,512 | | | $ | 18,996 | |
From ordinary income | | | 1,566 | | | | 1,517 | | | | — | | | | — | |
From long-term capital gains | | | 152,138 | | | | 342,894 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total distributions | | $ | 1,846,342 | | | $ | 2,212,690 | | | $ | 17,512 | | | $ | 18,996 | |
| | Tax-Free | |
| | Money Market Fund | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
From tax exempt income | | $ | 4,260 | | | $ | 4,040 | |
From long-term capital gains | | | — | | | | — | |
Total distributions | | $ | 4,260 | | | $ | 4,040 | |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of June 30, 2014:
| | | | | Ohio Tax-Free | | | | |
| | Ohio Tax-Free | | | Money Market | | | Tax-Free Money | |
| | Bond Fund | | | Fund | | | Market Fund | |
Tax cost of portfolio investments | | $ | 48,374,860 | | | $ | 157,328,604 | | | $ | 36,254,316 | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 3,664,659 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (2,708 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | | 3,661,951 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Accumulated capital and other losses | | | — | | | | (3,111 | ) | | | (3,384 | ) |
Post-October and Qualified Late-Year losses | | | (39,645 | ) | | | — | | | | — | |
Undistributed tax exempt income | | | 17,969 | | | | 419 | | | | — | |
Undistributed capital gains | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Other temporary differences | | | (42,072 | ) | | | (770 | ) | | | — | |
Accumulated earnings (deficit) | | $ | 3,598,203 | | | $ | (3,462 | ) | | $ | (3,384 | ) |
As of June 30, 2014, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes:
| | Short Term | | | No | | | No | | | | |
| | Expiring On* | | | Expiration | | | Expiration | | | | |
Fund | | 2017 | | | Short-Term* | | | Long-Term* | | | Total | |
Ohio Tax-Fee Money Market Fund | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,111 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,111 | |
Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | 670 | | | | 2,714 | | | | — | | | | 3,384 | |
*The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2010. The Act made changes to several tax rules impacting the Funds. The provisions of the Act first became effective for the Funds’ fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 and are applicable to all subsequent fiscal years. Although the Act provides several benefits, including the unlimited carryover of future capital losses, there may be a greater likelihood that all or a portion of each Fund’s pre-enactment capital loss carryovers may expire without being utilized due to the fact that post-enactment capital losses must be utilized before pre-enactment capital loss carryovers may be utilized. Under the Act, new capital losses may now be carried forward indefinitely, and retain the character of the original loss as compared with pre-enactment law, where capital losses could be carried forward for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character of the original loss.
The capital loss carryforwards may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains, if any, prior to distributing such gains to shareholders.
The Funds have analyzed their tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years (tax years ended June 30, 2011 through 2014) and have concluded that no provision for income tax is required in their financial statements.
As of December 31, 2014, the Trust had the following federal tax cost resulting in net appreciation(depreciation) as follows:
| | | | | Gross | | | Gross | | | Net | |
| | Federal Tax | | | Unrealized | | | Unrealized | | | Unrealized | |
Fund | | Cost | | | Appreciation | | | Depreciation | | | Appreciation | |
Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | | $ | 49,536,315 | | | $ | 4,160,704 | | | $ | (3,545 | ) | | $ | 4,157,159 | |
6. Commitments and Contingencies
The Funds indemnify the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
7. Risks Associated with Concentration
Certain Funds invest a high percentage of their assets in specific sectors of the market in order to achieve a potentially greater investment return. As a result, these Funds may be more susceptible to economic, political, and regulatory developments in a particular sector of the market, positive or negative, and may experience increased volatility on the Fund’s NAV and magnified effect on the total return.
8. Risks Associated with Credit
An issuer may be unable to make timely payments of either principal or interest. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value. Credit risk is particularly relevant to those Funds that invest a significant amount of their assets in junk bonds or lower-rated securities.
9. Risks Associated with Interest Rate Changes
As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities a Fund owns will likely decrease. The price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, the price of debt securities falls, and when interest rates fall, the price of debt securities rises. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk. Duration is a measure of the expected life, taking into account any prepayment or call features of the security, that is used to determine the price sensitivity of the security for a given change in interest rates. Specifically, duration is the change in the value of a fixed-income security that will result from a 1% change in interest rates, and generally is stated in years. For example, as a general rule a 1% rise in interest rates means a 1% fall in value for every year of duration. Maturity, on the other hand, is the date on which a fixed-income security becomes due for payment of principal. There may be less governmental intervention in the securities markets in the near future. The negative impact on fixed income securities if interest rates increase as a result could negatively impact a Fund’s NAV.
10. Subsequent Events
Subsequent events occurring after the date of this report have been evaluated for potential impact to this report through the date the financial statements were issued.
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Touchstone Tax-Free Trust held on February 12, 2015, the Board rescinded the plan to close and liquidate the Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund (the “Tax-Free Fund”). In addition, the Board approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between the Tax-Free Fund and General Municipal Market Fund, a comparable money market fund advised by The Dreyfus Corporation pursuant to which the Tax-Free Fund would be reorganized on a tax-free basis with and into General Municipal Market Fund. The Reorganization is subject to shareholder approval and if approved by shareholders is expected to take place on or about June 5, 2015.
Also, at the February 12, 2015, the Board was presented with preliminary information regarding a proposal pursuant to which Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund (the “Ohio Fund”) would be reorganized on a tax-free basis with and into a comparable money market fund advised by a third-party investment manager (“Acquiring Fund”). The Acquiring Fund would have similar investment objectives and expenses to those of the Ohio Fund. The terms of the proposal have not been finalized and remain subject to the satisfaction of various contingencies, such as the negotiation and execution of certain agreements and the approval of the Acquiring Fund’s board, the board of the Acquiring Fund’s sponsor, the Board and Ohio Fund shareholders (“Approvals”). For example, if the parties reach definitive agreements regarding the proposal transaction, it is expected that the Board will be asked to rescind the plan to close and liquidate the Ohio Fund and to approve an agreement and plan of reorganization pursuant to which shareholders of the Ohio Fund would become
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
shareholders of the Acquiring Fund. Shareholders of the Ohio Fund will receive further details regarding the proposal after the Board has considered this matter further. It is expected that any reorganization of the Ohio Fund would take place by the end of the second quarter of 2015, subject to the Approvals being obtained.
There were no other subsequent events that necessitated recognition or disclosure in the Funds’ financial statements.
Other Items (Unaudited)
Proxy Voting Guidelines and Proxy Voting Record
The Sub-Advisor is responsible for exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and held by the Fund. A description of the policies and procedures that the Sub-Advisor uses in fulfilling this responsibility is available as an appendix to the most recent Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling toll free 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone website at www.touchstoneinvestments.com or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how those proxies were voted during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge by calling toll free 1.800.543.0407 or on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
The Trust files a complete listing of portfolio holdings for each Fund as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The complete listing (i) is available on the Commission’s website; (ii) may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; and (iii) will be made available to shareholders upon request by calling 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone website at www.touchstoneinvestments.com. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1.800.SEC.0330.
Schedule of Shareholder Expenses
As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including reinvested dividends or other distributions; and (2) ongoing costs, including investment advisory fees; distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table below for each share class of a Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Six Months Ended December 31, 2014” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the table below for each share class of a Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second line of the table below is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the
Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Expenses | |
| | | | Net Expense | | | Beginning | | | Ending | | | Paid During | |
| | | | Ratio | | | Account | | | Account | | | the Six Months | |
| | | | Annualized | | | Value | | | Value | | | Ended | |
| | | | December 31, | | | July 1, | | | December 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | | | 2014 | | | 2014 | | | 2014 | | | 2014* | |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | Actual | | | 0.85 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,026.80 | | | $ | 4.34 | |
Class A | | Hypothetical | | | 0.85 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,020.92 | | | $ | 4.33 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class C | | Actual | | | 1.60 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,022.90 | | | $ | 8.16 | |
Class C | | Hypothetical | | | 1.60 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,017.14 | | | $ | 8.13 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | Actual | | | 0.10 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,000.10 | | | $ | 0.50 | |
Class A | | Hypothetical | | | 0.10 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,024.70 | | | $ | 0.51 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Class | | Actual | | | 0.10 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,000.10 | | | $ | 0.50 | |
Institutional Class | | Hypothetical | | | 0.10 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,024.70 | | | $ | 0.51 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | Actual | | | 0.15 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,000.10 | | | $ | 0.76 | |
Class A | | Hypothetical | | | 0.15 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,024.45 | | | $ | 0.77 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Class S | | Actual | | | 0.14 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,000.10 | | | $ | 0.71 | |
Class S | | Hypothetical | | | 0.14 | % | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,024.50 | | | $ | 0.71 | |
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect one-half year period).
Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval Disclosure
At a meeting held on November 20, 2014, the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) of the Touchstone Tax-Free Trust (the “Trust”), and by a separate vote, the Independent Trustees of the Trust, approved the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor with respect to each Fund of the Trust, and the continuance of the Sub-Advisory Agreements between the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor with respect to each Fund.
In determining whether to approve the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Advisor furnished information necessary for a majority of the Independent Trustees to make the determination that the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement and each Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the respective Funds and their shareholders. The information provided to the Board included: (1) industry data comparing advisory fees and expense ratios of comparable investment companies; (2) comparative performance information; (3) the Advisor’s and its affiliates’ revenues and costs of providing services to the Funds; and (4) information about the Advisor’s and Sub-Advisor’s personnel. Prior to voting, the Independent Trustees reviewed the proposed continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements with management and experienced independent legal counsel and received materials from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement and each Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Independent Trustees also reviewed the proposed continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement and each Sub-Advisory Agreement with independent legal counsel in private sessions at which no representatives of management were present.
In approving the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement, the Board considered various factors, among them: (1) the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Funds, including the personnel providing such
Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
services; (2) the Advisor’s compensation and profitability; (3) a comparison of fees and performance with other advisers; (4) economies of scale; and (5) the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Board’s analysis of these factors is set forth below. The Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the process.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Advisor Services. The Board considered the level and depth of knowledge of the Advisor, including the professional experience and qualifications of senior personnel. In evaluating the quality of services provided by the Advisor, the Board took into account its familiarity with the Advisor’s senior management through Board meetings, discussions and reports during the preceding year. The Board also took into account the Advisor’s compliance policies and procedures. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Advisor’s role in coordinating the activities of the Funds’ other service providers, was also considered. The Board also considered the Advisor’s relationship with its affiliates and the resources available to them, as well as any potential conflicts of interest.
The Board discussed the Advisor’s effectiveness in monitoring the performance of the Sub-Advisor, an affiliate of the Advisor, and the Advisor’s timeliness in responding to performance issues. The Board considered the Advisor’s process for monitoring the Sub-Advisor, which includes an examination of both qualitative and quantitative elements of the Sub-Advisor’s organization, personnel, procedures, investment discipline, infrastructure and performance. The Board considered that the Advisor conducts regular on-site compliance visits with the Sub-Advisor, during which the Advisor examines a wide variety of factors, such as the financial condition of the Sub-Advisor, the quality of the Sub-Advisor’s systems, the effectiveness of the Sub-Advisor’s disaster recovery programs, trade allocation and execution procedures, compliance with the Sub-Advisor’s policies and procedures, results of regulatory examination and any other factors that might affect the quality of services that the Sub-Advisor provides to the Funds. The Board noted that the Advisor’s compliance monitoring processes also include quarterly reviews of compliance reports, and that any issues arising from such reports and the Advisor’s compliance visits to the Sub-Advisor are reported to the Board.
The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to each Fund by the Advisor under the Investment Advisory Agreement.
Advisor’s Compensation and Profitability. The Board took into consideration the financial condition and profitability of the Advisor and its affiliates (including the Sub-Advisor) and the direct and indirect benefits derived by the Advisor and its affiliates from the Advisor’s relationship with the Funds. The information considered by the Board included operating profit margin information for the Advisor’s business as a whole. The Board noted that the Advisor had waived a portion of advisory fees and administrative fees and/or reimbursed expenses in order to limit each Fund’s net operating expenses. The Board also noted that the Advisor pays the Sub-Advisor’s sub-advisory fees out of the advisory fees the Advisor receives from the Funds. The Board reviewed the profitability of the Advisor’s relationship with the Funds both before and after tax expenses, and also considered whether the Advisor has the financial wherewithal to continue to provide services to the Funds, noting the ongoing commitment of the Advisor’s parent company with respect to providing support and resources as needed. The Board considered that the Funds’ distributor, an affiliate of the Advisor, receives Rule 12b-1 distribution fees from the Funds and receives a portion of the sales charges on sales or redemptions of certain classes of shares. The Board also noted that the Advisor derives benefits to its reputation and other benefits from its association with the Funds.
The Board recognized that the Advisor should be entitled to earn a reasonable level of profits in exchange for the level of services it provides to each Fund and the entrepreneurial risk that it assumes as Advisor. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Advisor and its affiliates’ level of profitability, if any, from their relationship with each Fund was reasonable and not excessive.
Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
Expenses and Performance. The Board compared the respective advisory fees and total expense ratios for each of the Funds with various comparative data, including the median and average advisory fees and total expense ratios of each Fund’s respective peer group. The Board also considered, among other data, the Funds’ respective performance results during the six-month, twelve-month, and thirty-six month periods ended June 30, 2014 and noted that the Board reviews on a quarterly basis detailed information about each Fund’s performance results, portfolio composition and investment strategies. The Board also took into account current market conditions and their effect on the Funds’ performance.
The Board also considered the effect of each Fund’s growth and size on its performance and expenses. The Board further noted that the Advisor had waived portions of the fees and/or reimbursed expenses of the Funds in order to reduce the Funds’ respective operating expenses to targeted levels. The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees under the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund were paid by the Advisor out of the advisory fees it receives from the Fund and considered the impact of such sub-advisory fees on the profitability of the Advisor. In reviewing the respective expense ratios and performance of each of the Funds, the Board also took into account the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates.
The Board considered, among other data, the specific factors and related conclusions set forth below with respect to each Fund:
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were above the median and at the median of its peer group, respectively. The Board noted that the Advisor was currently waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees as well as reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Board took into account the impact that the relatively small size of the Fund has upon expenses. The Fund’s performance for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 was in the 3rd quintile for its peer group. The Fund’s performance was in the 1st quintile of its peer group for the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2014, and in the 2nd quintile of its peer group for the thirty-six-month period ended June 30, 2014. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory in relation to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor.
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were above the median and below the median of its peer group, respectively. The Board noted that the Advisor was currently waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees as well as reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Fund performed at its peer group average for the six-, twelve and thirty-six-month periods ended September 30, 2014, placing in the 25th and 50th percentiles of Morningstar-rated money market funds, and below the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Bill 3-month Index for the same periods. The Board noted management’s plans with respect to the Fund. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s overall performance was satisfactory in relation to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor.
Touchstone Tax-Free Money Market Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were above the median and at the median of its peer group, respectively. The Board noted that the Advisor was currently waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees as well as reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Board took into account the impact that the relatively small size of the Fund has upon expenses. The Fund performed at its peer group average for the six-, twelve and thirty-six-month periods ended September 30, 2014, placing in the 25th and 50th percentiles of Morningstar-rated money market funds, and below the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Treasury Bill 3-month Index for the same periods. The Board noted management’s plans with respect to the Fund. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s overall performance was satisfactory in relation to the performance of funds with similar investment
Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the high quality of services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered.
Economies of Scale. The Board considered the effect of each Fund’s current size and potential growth on its performance and expenses. The Board considered the effective advisory fees under the Investment Advisory Agreement as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that might be realized if the assets of each Fund increase. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedule for each Fund contained breakpoints that would reduce the respective advisory fee rate on assets above specified levels as the respective Fund’s assets increase. The Board noted that the current advisory fee for the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund currently reflected such economies of scale. The Board also noted that if a Fund’s assets increased over time, the Fund also might realize other economies of scale if assets increased proportionally more than certain other expenses.
Conclusion. In considering the renewal of the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, did not identify any single factor as controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Trustees evaluated all information available to them on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and their determinations were made separately with respect to each Fund. The Board reached the following conclusions regarding the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement with the Advisor, among others: (a) the Advisor demonstrated that it possesses the capability and resources to perform the duties required of it under the Investment Advisory Agreement; (b) the Advisor maintains an appropriate compliance program; (c) the overall performance of each Fund is satisfactory in relation to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices; and (d) each Fund’s advisory fee is reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered. Based on their conclusions, the Trustees determined with respect to each Fund that continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
In approving the Funds’ Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Board considered various factors with respect to each Fund and its respective Sub-Advisory Agreement, among them: (1) the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund, including the personnel providing such services; (2) the Sub-Advisor’s compensation; (3) a comparison of the sub-advisory fee and performance with other advisers; and (4) the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Board’s analysis of these factors is set forth below. The Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the process.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided; Investment Personnel. The Board considered information provided by the Advisor regarding the services provided by the Sub-Advisor, including information presented periodically throughout the previous year. The Board took into account the affiliation of the Sub-Advisor to the Advisor, noting any potential conflicts of interest. The Board also noted that, on a periodic basis, the Board meets with portfolio managers of the Sub-Advisor to discuss their performance and investment processes and strategies. The Board considered the Sub-Advisor’s level of knowledge and investment style. The Board reviewed the experience and credentials of the investment personnel who are responsible for managing the investment of portfolio securities with respect to the Funds. The Board also noted the Sub-Advisor’s brokerage practices.
Sub-Advisor’s Compensation, Profitability and Economies of Scale. The Board also took into consideration the financial condition of the Sub-Advisor and any indirect benefits derived by the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates from the Sub-Advisor’s relationship with the Funds. In considering the profitability to the Sub-Advisor of its relationship with the Funds, the Board noted the undertaking of the Advisor to maintain expense limitations for the Funds and also noted that the sub-advisory fees under the Sub-Advisory Agreements were paid by the Advisor out of the advisory fees that it receives under the Investment Advisory Agreement. As a consequence, the profitability to the Sub-Advisor of its relationship with a Fund was not a substantial factor in the Board’s deliberations. For similar reasons, the Board did not consider the potential economies of scale in the Sub-Advisor’s
Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
management of the Funds to be a substantial factor in its consideration, although the Board noted that the sub-advisory fee schedule for each Fund contained breakpoints that would reduce the sub-advisory fee rate on assets above specified levels if the Fund’s assets increased.
Sub-Advisory Fees and Fund Performance. The Board considered that each Fund pays an advisory fee to the Advisor and that the Advisor pays a sub-advisory fee to the Sub-Advisor out of the advisory fees it receives from the respective Funds. The Board considered the amount retained by the Advisor and the sub-advisory fees paid to the Sub-Advisor with respect to the various services provided by the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor.
Based upon their review, with respect to each of the Funds, the Trustees concluded that the sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the quality of services received by each respective Fund from the relevant Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered.
As noted above, the Board considered each Fund’s performance during the six-month, twelve-month, and thirty-six month periods ended June 30, 2014 or September 30, 2014, as applicable, as compared to each Fund’s peer group and noted that the Board reviews on a quarterly basis detailed information about each Fund’s performance results, portfolio composition and investment strategies. The Board also noted the Advisor’s expertise and resources in monitoring the performance, investment style and risk-adjusted performance of the Sub-Advisor. The Board also was mindful of the Advisor’s ongoing monitoring of the Sub-Advisor’s performance.
Conclusion. In considering the renewal of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, did not identify any single factor as controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Board reached the following conclusions regarding the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund, among others: (a) the Sub-Advisor is qualified to manage each Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment goals and policies; (b) the Sub-Advisor maintains an appropriate compliance program; (c) the overall performance of each Fund is satisfactory in relation to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices; (d) each Fund’s sub-advisory fee is reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered; and (e) the Sub-Advisor’s investment strategies are appropriate for pursuing the investment goals of each Fund. Based on its conclusions, the Board determined that approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund was in the best interests of the respective Fund and its shareholders.
PRIVACY PROTECTION POLICY
We Respect Your Privacy
Thank you for your decision to invest with us. Touchstone and its affiliates have always placed a high value on the trust and confidence our clients place in us. We believe that confidence must be earned and validated through time. In today’s world, when technology allows the sharing of information at light speeds, trust must be reinforced by our sincere pledge to take the steps necessary to ensure that the information you share with us is treated with respect and confidentiality.
Our Pledge to Our Clients
| • | We collect only the information we need to service your account and administer our business. |
| • | We are committed to keeping your information confidential and we place strict limits and controls on the use and sharing of your information. |
| • | We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of your information. |
We Collect the Following Nonpublic Personal Information About You:
| • | Information we receive from you on or in applications or other forms, correspondence, or conversations, including, but not limited to, your name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income and date of birth; and |
| • | Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others, including, but not limited to, your account number and balance, payment history, parties to transactions, cost basis information, and other financial information. |
Categories of Information We Disclose and Parties to Whom We Disclose
We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our current or former clients to nonaffiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law.
We Place Strict Limits and Controls on the Use and Sharing of Your Information
| • | We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to authorized employees who need the information to administer your business. |
| • | We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to protect this information. |
| • | We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our current or former clients to anyone, except as required or permitted by law or as described in this document. |
| • | We will not sell your personal information to anyone. |
We May Provide Information to Service Your Account
Sometimes it is necessary to provide information about you to various companies such as transfer agents, custodians, broker-dealers and marketing service firms to facilitate the servicing of your account. These organizations have a legitimate business need to see some of your personal information in order for us to provide service to you. We may disclose to these various companies the information that we collect as described above. We require that these companies, including our own subsidiaries and affiliates, strictly maintain the confidentiality of this information and abide by all applicable laws. Companies within our corporate family that may receive this information are financial service providers and insurance companies. We do not permit these associated companies to sell the information for their own purposes, and we never sell our customer information.
This policy is applicable to the following affiliated companies: Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Investment Trust, Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust, Touchstone Securities, Inc.,* and W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.
* Touchstone Securities, Inc. serves as the underwriter to the Touchstone Funds.
A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group®
The Privacy Protection Policy is not part of the Semi-Annual Report.

303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202-4203
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Touchstone Investments
Distributor
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
800.638.8194
www.touchstoneinvestments.com
Investment Advisor
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
Transfer Agent
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
Shareholder Service
800.543.0407
* A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group
TSF-58-TTFT-SAR-1412
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
| (a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period 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.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
| (b) | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the registrant’s 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)(2) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
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) | Touchstone Tax-Free Trust |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Jill T. McGruder |
| Jill T. McGruder, President |
| (principal executive officer) |
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/ Jill T. McGruder |
| Jill T. McGruder, President |
| (principal executive officer) |
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft |
| Terrie A. Wiedenheft, Controller and Treasurer |
| (principal financial officer) |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.