The composition of the
indices changes periodically, usually every six months, and for most indices, each name has an equal weight in the index. A Portfolio may use credit default swaps on credit indices to hedge a portfolio of credit
default swaps or bonds which is less expensive than it would be to enter into many credit default swaps to achieve a similar effect. Credit-default swaps on indices are used for protecting investors owning bonds
against default, and also to speculate on changes in credit quality.
Implied credit
spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swaps on corporate issues or sovereign issues of an emerging market country as of period end are reported on a
schedule at the end of each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments and serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for the credit
derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. For credit
default swaps on asset-based securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values serve as the indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk. Wider credit spreads and
increasing market values, in absolute terms when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or
other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that a Portfolio as a seller of protection could be required to make under a
credit default swap would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. Notional amounts of all credit default swaps outstanding at the end of the period for which a Portfolio is the seller of
protection, if any, are disclosed on a schedule at the end of each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced
obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement, or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swaps entered into by a Portfolio for the same referenced entity or
entities.
Credit default swap
contracts outstanding at the end of the period, if any, are reported on a schedule at the end of each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments.
Equity Swap Agreements: Equity swaps are contracts that are typically entered into for the purpose of investing in a security or index without owning or taking physical
custody of securities. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for the payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of
securities, an index or an index component. To the extent the total return of the security or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, a Portfolio will
receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty.
The counterparty to an
equity swap will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. Equity swaps may be structured in different ways. The counterparty will generally agree to pay a Portfolio the amount, if any, by which
the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in particular stocks (or an index of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In
these cases, a Portfolio may agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the equity swap contract plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased
in value had it been invested in such stocks.
Therefore, the return
to a Portfolio on any equity swap should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Portfolio on the notional amount. In other cases, the counterparty and a
Portfolio may agree to pay to the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different
stocks (or indices of stocks).
A Portfolio will
generally enter into equity swaps only on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Portfolio receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
Payments may be made at the conclusion of an equity swap contract or periodically during its term. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of
loss with respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that a Portfolio is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty to an equity swap defaults, a Portfolio’s risk of loss
consists of the net discounted amount of payments that the Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive, if any. In addition, the value of some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common stock)
may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Equity swap contracts
outstanding at the end of the period, if any, are reported on a schedule at the end of each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements: Interest rate swaps do not involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of
loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of interest payments that a Portfolio is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, a Portfolio’s
risk of loss consists of the net discounted amount of interest payments that the Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive, if any. The use of interest rate swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves
investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.
Interest rate swap
contracts outstanding at the end of the period, if any, are reported on a schedule at the end of each Portfolio’s Portfolio of Investments.
Risks of Entering into Swap Agreements: Risks to a Portfolio of entering into credit default swaps, equity swaps and interest rate swaps, include credit
risk, market risk, counterparty risk, liquidity risk and documentation risk. By entering into swap agreements, a Portfolio may be exposed to risk of potential loss due to unfavorable changes in interest rates, the
price of the underlying security or index, or the underlying referenced asset’s perceived or actual credit, that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform or the possibility that there is no
liquid market for these agreements. There is also the risk that the parties may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the swap agreement. In addition, to the extent that a subadviser does not accurately
analyze and predict the underlying economic factors influencing the value of the swap, a Portfolio may suffer a loss.
Master Agreements: Certain Portfolios that hold derivative instruments and other financial instruments may be a party to ISDA (International Swap and Derivatives Association, Inc.)
Master Agreements or similar agreements (“Master Agreements”) with certain counterparties that govern certain instruments. Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the
parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. Collateral can be in the form of cash or securities as agreed to by a Portfolio and
applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are generally determined based on a Portfolio’s net position with each counterparty. Master Agreements may also include certain provisions that require a
Portfolio to post additional collateral upon the occurrence of certain events, such as when Portfolio’s net assets fall below a specified level. In addition, Master Agreements typically specify certain standard
termination events, such as failure of a party to pay or deliver, credit support defaults and other events of default. Termination events applicable to a Portfolio may also occur upon a decline in the
Portfolio’s net assets below a specified level over a certain period of time. Additional termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in a counterparty’s long-term and
short-term credit ratings below