UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
Investment Company Act file number: 811-08606
Deutsche DWS Asset Allocation Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
875 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022-6225
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 454-4500
Diane Kenneally
100 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02110
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Date of fiscal year end: | 8/31 |
Date of reporting period: | 8/31/2023 |
ITEM 1. | REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS |
(a) |
Contents
NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE
NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
2 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000088053-23-000726/g533918img3b12944a3.jpg)
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000088053-23-000726/g533918img0d06ad4c4.jpg)
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 3 |
4 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 5 |
6 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 7 |
8 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 9 |
Class A | 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year |
Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 | |||
Unadjusted for Sales Charge | 14.32% | 6.83% | 5.67% |
Adjusted for the Maximum Sales Charge (max 5.75% load) | 7.75% | 5.57% | 5.04% |
S&P 500® Index† | 15.94% | 11.12% | 12.81% |
Class C | 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year |
Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 | |||
Unadjusted for Sales Charge | 13.56% | 6.03% | 4.87% |
Adjusted for the Maximum Sales Charge (max 1.00% CDSC) | 13.56% | 6.03% | 4.87% |
S&P 500® Index† | 15.94% | 11.12% | 12.81% |
Class S | 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year |
Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 | |||
No Sales Charges | 14.64% | 7.10% | 5.93% |
S&P 500® Index† | 15.94% | 11.12% | 12.81% |
Institutional Class | Life of Class* |
Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/23 | |
No Sales Charges | 9.25% |
S&P 500® Index† | 16.16% |
10 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000088053-23-000726/g533918img9dba49365.jpg)
* | Institutional Class shares commenced operations on December 1, 2022. |
† | S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries. |
Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class | |
Net Asset Value | ||||
8/31/23 | $14.56 | $14.29 | $14.62 | $14.62 |
12/1/22 (commencement of operations of Institutional Class) | $— | $— | $— | $13.62 |
8/31/22 | $12.93 | $12.68 | $12.98 | $— |
Distribution Information as of 8/31/23 | ||||
Income Dividends, Twelve Months | $.20 | $.10 | $.24 | $.24 * |
* | For the period from December 1, 2022 (commencement of operations of Institutional Class) through August 31, 2023. |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 11 |
Asset Allocation (As a % of Investment Portfolio excluding Securities Lending Collateral) | 8/31/23 | 8/31/22 |
Common Stocks | 86% | 87% |
Cash Equivalents | 10% | 10% |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 4% | 3% |
100% | 100% |
Sector Diversification (As a % of Common Stocks and Exchange-Traded Funds) | 8/31/23 | 8/31/22 |
Information Technology | 23% | 26% |
Health Care | 18% | 18% |
Financials | 13% | 12% |
Communication Services | 11% | 11% |
Industrials | 9% | 7% |
Consumer Discretionary | 7% | 9% |
Consumer Staples | 7% | 4% |
Energy | 6% | 5% |
Utilities | 2% | 4% |
Materials | 2% | — |
Real Estate | 2% | 4% |
100% | 100% |
12 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Ten Largest Equity Holdings at August 31, 2023 (28.1% of Net Assets) | |
1Microsoft Corp. | 5.8% |
Develops, manufactures, licenses, sells and supports software products | |
2Apple, Inc. | 5.8% |
Designs, manufactures and markets personal computers and related computing and mobile-communication devices | |
3Alphabet, Inc. | 4.4% |
Holding company with subsidiaries that provide Web-based search, maps, hardware products and various software applications | |
4Amazon.com, Inc. | 2.2% |
Online retailer offering a wide range of products | |
5Meta Platforms, Inc. | 2.1% |
Operator of social networking web site | |
6JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 1.8% |
Provider of global financial services | |
7Eli Lilly & Co. | 1.6% |
Producer of pharmaceuticals | |
8Johnson & Johnson | 1.6% |
Provider of health care products | |
9Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. | 1.6% |
Holding company of insurance business and a variety of other businesses | |
10UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 1.2% |
Operator of organized health systems |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 13 |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Common Stocks 86.1% | |||
Communication Services 10.2% | |||
Diversified Telecommunication Services 1.1% | |||
AT&T, Inc. | 22,539 | 333,352 | |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 13,444 | 470,271 | |
803,623 | |||
Entertainment 2.0% | |||
Electronic Arts, Inc. | 695 | 83,386 | |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.* | 515 | 43,533 | |
Netflix, Inc.* | 1,562 | 677,408 | |
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.* | 377 | 53,609 | |
Walt Disney Co.* | 7,054 | 590,279 | |
Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.* | 4,289 | 56,358 | |
1,504,573 | |||
Interactive Media & Services 6.4% | |||
Alphabet, Inc. “A” * | 12,304 | 1,675,436 | |
Alphabet, Inc. “C” * | 11,314 | 1,553,978 | |
Match Group, Inc.* | 1,205 | 56,478 | |
Meta Platforms, Inc. “A” * | 5,149 | 1,523,537 | |
4,809,429 | |||
Media 0.4% | |||
Charter Communications, Inc. “A” * | 154 | 67,470 | |
Comcast Corp. “A” | 4,712 | 220,333 | |
Paramount Global “B” (a) | 1,420 | 21,428 | |
309,231 | |||
Wireless Telecommunication Services 0.3% | |||
T-Mobile U.S., Inc.* | 1,375 | 187,344 | |
Consumer Discretionary 6.2% | |||
Automobile Components 0.5% | |||
Aptiv PLC* | 2,768 | 280,814 | |
BorgWarner, Inc. | 2,559 | 104,279 | |
385,093 | |||
Broadline Retail 2.2% | |||
Amazon.com, Inc.* | 12,088 | 1,668,265 | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.9% | |||
Booking Holdings, Inc.* | 70 | 217,352 | |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.* | 43 | 82,846 |
14 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 340 | 52,873 | |
Domino’s Pizza, Inc. | 110 | 42,614 | |
Expedia Group, Inc.* | 400 | 43,356 | |
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. | 590 | 87,704 | |
Marriott International, Inc. “A” | 521 | 106,029 | |
McDonald’s Corp. | 1,446 | 406,543 | |
MGM Resorts International* | 800 | 35,184 | |
Starbucks Corp. | 2,748 | 267,765 | |
Yum! Brands, Inc. | 627 | 81,121 | |
1,423,387 | |||
Specialty Retail 1.4% | |||
AutoZone, Inc.* | 36 | 91,128 | |
Home Depot, Inc. | 1,319 | 435,666 | |
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. | 629 | 144,972 | |
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.* | 102 | 95,849 | |
Ross Stores, Inc. | 750 | 91,357 | |
TJX Companies, Inc. | 800 | 73,984 | |
Tractor Supply Co. | 200 | 43,700 | |
Ulta Beauty, Inc.* | 120 | 49,804 | |
1,026,460 | |||
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods 0.2% | |||
NIKE, Inc. “B” | 1,250 | 127,137 | |
Consumer Staples 6.1% | |||
Beverages 2.2% | |||
Brown-Forman Corp. “B” | 600 | 39,678 | |
Coca-Cola Co. | 10,084 | 603,326 | |
Constellation Brands, Inc. “A” | 420 | 109,435 | |
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. | 2,391 | 80,457 | |
Molson Coors Beverage Co. “B” | 715 | 45,396 | |
Monster Beverage Corp.* | 1,773 | 101,788 | |
PepsiCo, Inc. | 3,596 | 639,800 | |
1,619,880 | |||
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail 1.8% | |||
Costco Wholesale Corp. | 815 | 447,663 | |
Dollar General Corp. | 475 | 65,788 | |
Dollar Tree, Inc.* | 400 | 48,944 | |
Kroger Co. | 1,860 | 86,285 | |
Sysco Corp. | 1,351 | 94,097 | |
Target Corp. | 1,200 | 151,860 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 15 |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. | 2,070 | 52,392 | |
Walmart, Inc. | 2,594 | 421,810 | |
1,368,839 | |||
Household Products 1.4% | |||
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | 502 | 48,579 | |
Clorox Co. | 269 | 42,085 | |
Colgate-Palmolive Co. | 1,720 | 126,368 | |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | 695 | 89,537 | |
Procter & Gamble Co. | 4,792 | 739,597 | |
1,046,166 | |||
Personal Care Products 0.1% | |||
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. “A” | 716 | 114,940 | |
Tobacco 0.6% | |||
Altria Group, Inc. | 3,283 | 145,174 | |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | 2,898 | 278,382 | |
423,556 | |||
Energy 1.5% | |||
Energy Equipment & Services | |||
Baker Hughes Co. | 6,934 | 250,941 | |
Halliburton Co. | 6,693 | 258,484 | |
Schlumberger NV | 10,597 | 624,799 | |
1,134,224 | |||
Financials 11.7% | |||
Banks 4.4% | |||
Bank of America Corp. | 25,265 | 724,348 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | 7,306 | 301,665 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 9,081 | 1,328,823 | |
M&T Bank Corp. | 318 | 39,766 | |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 781 | 94,290 | |
Truist Financial Corp. | 2,875 | 87,831 | |
U.S. Bancorp | 3,040 | 111,051 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 13,153 | 543,087 | |
3,230,861 | |||
Consumer Finance 0.1% | |||
American Express Co. | 500 | 78,995 | |
Financial Services 4.0% | |||
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. “B” * | 3,211 | 1,156,602 |
16 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. | 1,185 | 66,194 | |
Fiserv, Inc.* | 1,147 | 139,234 | |
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.* | 96 | 26,086 | |
Global Payments, Inc. | 439 | 55,617 | |
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. | 180 | 28,221 | |
Mastercard, Inc. “A” | 1,550 | 639,592 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc.* | 2,333 | 145,836 | |
Visa, Inc. “A” | 3,000 | 737,040 | |
2,994,422 | |||
Insurance 3.2% | |||
Aflac, Inc. | 1,805 | 134,599 | |
Allstate Corp. | 831 | 89,590 | |
American International Group, Inc. | 2,432 | 142,321 | |
Aon PLC “A” | 636 | 212,036 | |
Arch Capital Group Ltd.* | 757 | 58,183 | |
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | 632 | 145,663 | |
Assurant, Inc. | 171 | 23,825 | |
Brown & Brown, Inc. | 675 | 50,018 | |
Chubb Ltd. | 1,307 | 262,537 | |
Cincinnati Financial Corp. | 465 | 49,192 | |
Everest Group Ltd. | 120 | 43,282 | |
Globe Life, Inc. | 264 | 29,455 | |
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | 1,027 | 73,759 | |
Lincoln National Corp. | 504 | 12,933 | |
Loews Corp. | 580 | 36,012 | |
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. | 1,490 | 290,535 | |
MetLife, Inc. | 2,086 | 132,127 | |
Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 707 | 54,941 | |
Progressive Corp. | 1,781 | 237,710 | |
Prudential Financial, Inc. | 1,127 | 106,693 | |
Travelers Companies, Inc. | 713 | 114,957 | |
W.R. Berkley Corp. | 605 | 37,425 | |
Willis Towers Watson PLC | 329 | 68,024 | |
2,405,817 | |||
Health Care 16.3% | |||
Biotechnology 3.1% | |||
AbbVie, Inc. | 5,466 | 803,283 | |
Amgen, Inc. | 1,677 | 429,882 | |
Biogen, Inc.* | 460 | 122,986 | |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 3,961 | 302,937 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 17 |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Incyte Corp.* | 573 | 36,976 | |
Moderna, Inc.* | 1,052 | 118,950 | |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.* | 333 | 275,221 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.* | 736 | 256,378 | |
2,346,613 | |||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 4.1% | |||
Abbott Laboratories | 5,172 | 532,199 | |
Align Technology, Inc.* | 237 | 87,723 | |
Baxter International, Inc. | 1,546 | 62,768 | |
Becton Dickinson & Co. | 1,039 | 290,349 | |
Boston Scientific Corp.* | 4,409 | 237,821 | |
DENTSPLY SIRONA, Inc. | 800 | 29,672 | |
Dexcom, Inc.* | 1,140 | 115,117 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.* | 1,842 | 140,858 | |
GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc. | 1,238 | 87,217 | |
Hologic, Inc.* | 761 | 56,877 | |
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.* | 237 | 121,204 | |
Insulet Corp.* | 70 | 13,420 | |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.* | 1,056 | 330,190 | |
Medtronic PLC | 4,046 | 329,749 | |
ResMed, Inc. | 472 | 75,326 | |
STERIS PLC | 285 | 65,433 | |
Stryker Corp. | 1,007 | 285,535 | |
Teleflex, Inc. | 120 | 25,529 | |
The Cooper Companies, Inc. | 145 | 53,649 | |
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | 919 | 109,471 | |
3,050,107 | |||
Health Care Providers & Services 2.5% | |||
Centene Corp.* | 1,173 | 72,316 | |
Cigna Group | 728 | 201,117 | |
CVS Health Corp. | 2,973 | 193,750 | |
Elevance Health, Inc. | 511 | 225,867 | |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 384 | 106,483 | |
Humana, Inc. | 255 | 117,716 | |
McKesson Corp. | 137 | 56,488 | |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | 1,940 | 924,565 | |
1,898,302 |
18 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Life Sciences Tools & Services 0.6% | |||
Danaher Corp. | 650 | 172,250 | |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 435 | 242,338 | |
414,588 | |||
Pharmaceuticals 6.0% | |||
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 6,079 | 374,770 | |
Catalent, Inc.* | 529 | 26,434 | |
Eli Lilly & Co. | 2,198 | 1,218,132 | |
Johnson & Johnson | 7,462 | 1,206,456 | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 7,069 | 770,380 | |
Organon & Co. | 746 | 16,382 | |
Pfizer, Inc. | 15,720 | 556,174 | |
Viatris, Inc. | 3,288 | 35,346 | |
Zoetis, Inc. | 1,324 | 252,235 | |
4,456,309 | |||
Industrials 8.0% | |||
Aerospace & Defense 3.1% | |||
Axon Enterprise, Inc.* | 125 | 26,614 | |
Boeing Co.* | 2,102 | 470,911 | |
General Dynamics Corp. | 950 | 215,308 | |
Howmet Aerospace, Inc. | 1,318 | 65,202 | |
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. | 150 | 33,048 | |
L3Harris Technologies, Inc. | 679 | 120,923 | |
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 921 | 412,930 | |
Northrop Grumman Corp. | 547 | 236,900 | |
RTX Corp. | 5,604 | 482,168 | |
Textron, Inc. | 718 | 55,796 | |
TransDigm Group, Inc.* | 185 | 167,212 | |
2,287,012 | |||
Electrical Equipment 1.3% | |||
AMETEK, Inc. | 997 | 159,031 | |
Eaton Corp. PLC | 1,537 | 354,079 | |
Emerson Electric Co. | 2,285 | 224,501 | |
Generac Holdings, Inc.* | 353 | 41,940 | |
Rockwell Automation, Inc. | 512 | 159,785 | |
939,336 | |||
Ground Transportation 1.1% | |||
CSX Corp. | 6,869 | 207,444 | |
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | 154 | 28,934 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 19 |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Norfolk Southern Corp. | 749 | 153,552 | |
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | 170 | 72,653 | |
Union Pacific Corp. | 1,670 | 368,352 | |
830,935 | |||
Industrial Conglomerates 0.8% | |||
3M Co. | 1,052 | 112,217 | |
General Electric Co. | 1,986 | 227,318 | |
Honeywell International, Inc. | 1,374 | 258,229 | |
597,764 | |||
Machinery 1.2% | |||
Caterpillar, Inc. | 568 | 159,682 | |
Cummins, Inc. | 100 | 23,004 | |
Deere & Co. | 488 | 200,539 | |
Dover Corp. | 450 | 66,735 | |
Fortive Corp. | 900 | 70,965 | |
IDEX Corp. | 200 | 45,280 | |
Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | 495 | 122,438 | |
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 230 | 95,887 | |
Pentair PLC | 504 | 35,411 | |
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. | 479 | 53,897 | |
Xylem, Inc. | 500 | 51,770 | |
925,608 | |||
Passenger Airlines 0.5% | |||
Alaska Air Group, Inc.* | 965 | 40,501 | |
American Airlines Group, Inc.* | 5,584 | 82,252 | |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. | 2,765 | 118,563 | |
Southwest Airlines Co. | 1,928 | 60,925 | |
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.* | 1,593 | 79,348 | |
381,589 | |||
Information Technology 20.7% | |||
Communications Equipment 1.8% | |||
Arista Networks, Inc.* | 1,038 | 202,649 | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 15,981 | 916,510 | |
F5, Inc.* | 207 | 33,878 | |
Juniper Networks, Inc. | 1,558 | 45,369 | |
Motorola Solutions, Inc. | 537 | 152,277 | |
1,350,683 |
20 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
IT Services 1.3% | |||
Accenture PLC “A” | 1,375 | 445,184 | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc.* | 400 | 42,036 | |
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. “A” | 1,047 | 74,976 | |
EPAM Systems, Inc.* | 141 | 36,517 | |
Gartner, Inc.* | 194 | 67,838 | |
International Business Machines Corp. | 2,002 | 293,953 | |
VeriSign, Inc.* | 225 | 46,753 | |
1,007,257 | |||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 2.7% | |||
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.* | 898 | 94,937 | |
Analog Devices, Inc. | 276 | 50,171 | |
Applied Materials, Inc. | 707 | 108,001 | |
Broadcom, Inc. | 327 | 301,785 | |
Intel Corp. | 2,052 | 72,107 | |
KLA Corp. | 149 | 74,779 | |
Lam Research Corp. | 136 | 95,526 | |
Microchip Technology, Inc. | 521 | 42,639 | |
Micron Technology, Inc. | 891 | 62,317 | |
NVIDIA Corp. | 1,691 | 834,593 | |
NXP Semiconductors NV | 258 | 53,076 | |
ON Semiconductor Corp.* | 403 | 39,679 | |
QUALCOMM, Inc. | 911 | 104,337 | |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 520 | 87,391 | |
2,021,338 | |||
Software 9.1% | |||
Adobe, Inc.* | 816 | 456,421 | |
ANSYS, Inc.* | 167 | 53,251 | |
Autodesk, Inc.* | 409 | 90,774 | |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.* | 493 | 118,537 | |
Fortinet, Inc.* | 1,222 | 73,577 | |
Intuit, Inc. | 514 | 278,490 | |
Microsoft Corp. | 13,298 | 4,358,553 | |
Oracle Corp. | 2,785 | 335,286 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.* | 300 | 72,990 | |
Roper Technologies, Inc. | 189 | 94,322 | |
Salesforce, Inc.* | 2,184 | 483,669 | |
ServiceNow, Inc.* | 363 | 213,745 | |
Synopsys, Inc.* | 318 | 145,927 | |
6,775,542 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 21 |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 5.8% | |||
Apple, Inc. | 23,169 | 4,352,760 | |
Materials 1.7% | |||
Chemicals 1.2% | |||
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | 453 | 133,857 | |
Albemarle Corp. | 427 | 84,849 | |
Corteva, Inc. | 1,861 | 93,999 | |
Dow, Inc. | 662 | 36,119 | |
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. | 1,000 | 76,890 | |
Ecolab, Inc. | 618 | 113,595 | |
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. | 600 | 42,270 | |
Linde PLC | 475 | 183,844 | |
PPG Industries, Inc. | 496 | 70,313 | |
Sherwin-Williams Co. | 127 | 34,508 | |
The Mosaic Co. | 800 | 31,080 | |
901,324 | |||
Metals & Mining 0.5% | |||
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. | 6,300 | 251,433 | |
Newmont Corp. | 3,026 | 119,285 | |
370,718 | |||
Real Estate 1.6% | |||
Hotel & Resort REITs 0.1% | |||
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | 2,000 | 31,580 | |
Retail REITs 0.2% | |||
Realty Income Corp. | 1,502 | 84,172 | |
Simon Property Group, Inc. | 825 | 93,630 | |
177,802 | |||
Specialized REITs 1.3% | |||
American Tower Corp. | 1,192 | 216,133 | |
Crown Castle, Inc. | 1,136 | 114,168 | |
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | 760 | 100,107 | |
Equinix, Inc. | 236 | 184,406 | |
Extra Space Storage, Inc. | 312 | 40,148 | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. | 685 | 43,525 | |
Public Storage | 362 | 100,050 | |
SBA Communications Corp. | 249 | 55,908 |
22 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
VICI Properties, Inc. | 2,257 | 69,606 | |
Weyerhaeuser Co. | 1,678 | 54,954 | |
979,005 | |||
Utilities 2.1% | |||
Electric Utilities 2.0% | |||
Alliant Energy Corp. | 641 | 32,159 | |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | 1,305 | 102,312 | |
Constellation Energy Corp. | 853 | 88,848 | |
Duke Energy Corp. | 1,948 | 172,982 | |
Edison International | 961 | 66,165 | |
Entergy Corp. | 507 | 48,292 | |
Evergy, Inc. | 577 | 31,718 | |
Eversource Energy | 878 | 56,034 | |
Exelon Corp. | 2,500 | 100,300 | |
FirstEnergy Corp. | 1,451 | 52,338 | |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | 4,979 | 332,597 | |
NRG Energy, Inc. | 602 | 22,605 | |
PG&E Corp.* | 3,500 | 57,050 | |
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. | 250 | 19,317 | |
PPL Corp. | 1,878 | 46,800 | |
Southern Co. | 2,709 | 183,481 | |
Xcel Energy, Inc. | 1,323 | 75,583 | |
1,488,581 | |||
Gas Utilities 0.1% | |||
Atmos Energy Corp. | 571 | 66,207 | |
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers 0.0% | |||
AES Corp. | 2,369 | 42,476 | |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $60,927,771) | 64,355,678 | ||
Exchange-Traded Funds 3.6% | |||
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (Cost $2,125,343) | 30,000 | 2,667,600 | |
Securities Lending Collateral 0.0% | |||
DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio “DWS Government Cash Institutional Shares” , 5.27% (b) (c) (Cost $21,995) | 21,995 | 21,995 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 23 |
Shares | Value ($) | ||
Cash Equivalents 10.3% | |||
DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, 5.35% (b) (Cost $7,659,274) | 7,659,274 | 7,659,274 |
% of Net Assets | Value ($) | ||
Total Investment Portfolio (Cost $70,734,383) | 100.0 | 74,704,547 | |
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net | 0.0 | 17,345 | |
Net Assets | 100.0 | 74,721,892 |
Value ($) at 8/31/2022 | Pur- chases Cost ($) | Sales Proceeds ($) | Net Real- ized Gain/ (Loss) ($) | Net Change in Unreal- ized Appreci- ation (Depreci- ation) ($) | Income ($) | Capital Gain Distri- butions ($) | Number of Shares at 8/31/2023 | Value ($) at 8/31/2023 |
Securities Lending Collateral 0.0% | ||||||||
DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio “DWS Government Cash Institutional Shares” , 5.27% (b) (c) | ||||||||
— | 21,995 (d) | — | — | — | 0 | — | 21,995 | 21,995 |
Cash Equivalents 10.3% | ||||||||
DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, 5.35% (b) | ||||||||
6,900,694 | 29,139,775 | 28,381,195 | — | — | 328,984 | — | 7,659,274 | 7,659,274 |
6,900,694 | 29,161,770 | 28,381,195 | — | — | 328,984 | — | 7,681,269 | 7,681,269 |
* | Non-income producing security. |
(a) | All or a portion of these securities were on loan. In addition, “Other Assets and Liabilities, Net” may include pending sales that are also on loan. The value of securities loaned at August 31, 2023 amounted to $21,413, which is 0.0% of net assets. |
(b) | Affiliated fund managed by DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end. |
(c) | Represents cash collateral held in connection with securities lending. Income earned by the Fund is net of borrower rebates. |
(d) | Represents the net increase (purchase cost) or decrease (sales proceeds) in the amount invested in cash collateral for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
REIT: Real Estate Investment Trust |
SPDR: Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt |
24 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Assets | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total |
Common Stocks (a) | $64,355,678 | $— | $— | $64,355,678 |
Exchange-Traded Funds | 2,667,600 | — | — | 2,667,600 |
Short-Term Investments (a) | 7,681,269 | — | — | 7,681,269 |
Total | $74,704,547 | $— | $— | $74,704,547 |
(a) | See Investment Portfolio for additional detailed categorizations. |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 25 |
Assets | |
Investments in non-affiliated securities, at value (cost $63,053,114) — including $21,413 of securities loaned | $67,023,278 |
Investment in DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio (cost $21,995)* | 21,995 |
Investment in DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund (cost $7,659,274) | 7,659,274 |
Cash | 599 |
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 1,450 |
Dividends receivable | 103,182 |
Interest receivable | 36,447 |
Other assets | 21,717 |
Total assets | 74,867,942 |
Liabilities | |
Payable upon return of securities loaned | 21,995 |
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 2,909 |
Accrued Trustees' fees | 1,200 |
Other accrued expenses and payables | 119,946 |
Total liabilities | 146,050 |
Net assets, at value | $74,721,892 |
Net Assets Consist of | |
Distributable earnings (loss) | (1,007,986 ) |
Paid-in capital | 75,729,878 |
Net assets, at value | $74,721,892 |
26 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Net Asset Value | |
Class A | |
Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($29,746,531 ÷ 2,042,530 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $14.56 |
Maximum offering price per share (100 ÷ 94.25 of $14.56) | $15.45 |
Class C | |
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($581,340 ÷ 40,686 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $14.29 |
Class S | |
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share ($44,310,832 ÷ 3,029,884 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $14.62 |
Institutional Class | |
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share ($83,189 ÷ 5,689 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $14.62 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 27 |
Investment Income | |
Income: | |
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $184) | $1,142,081 |
Income distributions — DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund | 328,984 |
Total income | 1,471,065 |
Expenses: | |
Management fee | 195,193 |
Administration fee | 70,094 |
Services to shareholders | 140,150 |
Distribution and service fees | 76,412 |
Custodian fee | 7,717 |
Audit fee | 46,180 |
Legal fees | 29,143 |
Tax fees | 7,880 |
Reports to shareholders | 35,883 |
Registration fees | 58,939 |
Trustees' fees and expenses | 4,732 |
Other | 11,937 |
Total expenses before expense reductions | 684,260 |
Expense reductions | (257,910 ) |
Total expenses after expense reductions | 426,350 |
Net investment income | 1,044,715 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | |
Net realized gain (loss) from investments | (3,234,243 ) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 12,065,282 |
Net gain (loss) | 8,831,039 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $9,875,754 |
28 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Years Ended August 31, | ||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | 2023 | 2022 |
Operations: | ||
Net investment income | $1,044,715 | $704,434 |
Net realized gain (loss) | (3,234,243 ) | (1,743,988 ) |
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 12,065,282 | (9,914,781 ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 9,875,754 | (10,954,335 ) |
Distributions to shareholders: | ||
Class A | (442,784 ) | (9,443,677 ) |
Class C | (4,830 ) | (228,655 ) |
Class S | (747,259 ) | (13,274,465 ) |
Institutional Class* | (173 ) | — |
Total distributions | (1,195,046 ) | (22,946,797 ) |
Fund share transactions: | ||
Proceeds from shares sold | 1,456,278 | 1,923,058 |
Reinvestment of distributions | 1,170,456 | 22,466,339 |
Payments for shares redeemed | (9,020,817 ) | (9,598,966 ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | (6,394,083 ) | 14,790,431 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets | 2,286,625 | (19,110,701 ) |
Net assets at beginning of period | 72,435,267 | 91,545,968 |
Net assets at end of period | $74,721,892 | $72,435,267 |
* | For the period from December 1, 2022 (commencement of operations of Institutional Class) through August 31, 2023. |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 29 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund — Class A | |||||
Years Ended August 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
Selected Per Share Data | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $12.93 | $19.81 | $16.02 | $15.64 | $15.88 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||
Net investment incomea | .17 | .11 | .14 | .18 | .34 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.66 | (1.91 ) | 3.96 | 1.43 | (.29 ) |
Total from investment operations | 1.83 | (1.80 ) | 4.10 | 1.61 | .05 |
Less distributions from: | |||||
Net investment income | (.20 ) | — | (.31 ) | (1.18 ) | (.29 ) |
Net realized gains | — | (5.08 ) | — | (.05 ) | — |
Total distributions | (.20 ) | (5.08 ) | (.31 ) | (1.23 ) | (.29 ) |
Net asset value, end of period | $14.56 | $12.93 | $19.81 | $16.02 | $15.64 |
Total Return (%)b,c | 14.32 | (12.92 ) | 25.86 d | 10.44 d | .56 d |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | |||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 30 | 30 | 37 | 32 | 33 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.07 | 1.02 | .81 e | .86 e | .87 e |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .73 | .73 | .76 e | .71 e | .69 e |
Ratio of net investment income (%) | 1.30 | .71 | .78 | 1.19 | 2.24 |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 42 | 38 | 136 | 63 | 93 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
d | Total return would have been lower if the Advisor had not reduced some Underlying DWS Funds’ expenses. |
e | The Fund invested in other funds and indirectly bore its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the Underlying Funds in which the Fund was invested. This ratio does not include these indirect fees and expenses. |
30 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund — Class C | |||||
Years Ended August 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
Selected Per Share Data | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $12.68 | $19.65 | $15.90 | $15.52 | $15.75 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||
Net investment income (loss)a | .07 | (.01 ) | (.01 ) | .07 | .23 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.64 | (1.88 ) | 3.93 | 1.40 | (.28 ) |
Total from investment operations | 1.71 | (1.89 ) | 3.92 | 1.47 | (.05 ) |
Less distributions from: | |||||
Net investment income | (.10 ) | — | (.17 ) | (1.04 ) | (.18 ) |
Net realized gains | — | (5.08 ) | — | (.05 ) | — |
Total distributions | (.10 ) | (5.08 ) | (.17 ) | (1.09 ) | (.18 ) |
Net asset value, end of period | $14.29 | $12.68 | $19.65 | $15.90 | $15.52 |
Total Return (%)b,c | 13.56 | (13.60 ) | 24.84 d | 9.57 d | (.15 )d |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | |||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.96 | 1.91 | 1.65 e | 1.69 e | 1.65 e |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.48 | 1.48 | 1.58 e | 1.46 e | 1.44 e |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .55 | (.04 ) | (.07 ) | .44 | 1.53 |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 42 | 38 | 136 | 63 | 93 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
d | Total return would have been lower if the Advisor had not reduced some Underlying DWS Funds’ expenses. |
e | The Fund invested in other funds and indirectly bore its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the Underlying Funds in which the Fund was invested. This ratio does not include these indirect fees and expenses. |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 31 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund — Class S | |||||
Years Ended August 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
Selected Per Share Data | |||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $12.98 | $19.83 | $16.03 | $15.66 | $15.90 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||
Net investment incomea | .21 | .15 | .18 | .22 | .38 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.67 | (1.92 ) | 3.97 | 1.43 | (.29 ) |
Total from investment operations | 1.88 | (1.77 ) | 4.15 | 1.65 | .09 |
Less distributions from: | |||||
Net investment income | (.24 ) | — | (.35 ) | (1.23 ) | (.33 ) |
Net realized gains | — | (5.08 ) | — | (.05 ) | — |
Total distributions | (.24 ) | (5.08 ) | (.35 ) | (1.28 ) | (.33 ) |
Net asset value, end of period | $14.62 | $12.98 | $19.83 | $16.03 | $15.66 |
Total Return (%)b | 14.64 | (12.73 ) | 26.23 c | 10.66 c | .82 c |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | |||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 44 | 42 | 53 | 46 | 46 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | .85 | .80 | .58 d | .63 d | .65 d |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .48 | .48 | .53 d | .46 d | .44 d |
Ratio of net investment income (%) | 1.56 | .96 | 1.01 | 1.44 | 2.50 |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 42 | 38 | 136 | 63 | 93 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
c | Total return would have been lower if the Advisor had not reduced some Underlying DWS Funds’ expenses. |
d | The Fund invested in other funds and indirectly bore its proportionate share of fees and expenses incurred by the Underlying Funds in which the Fund was invested. This ratio does not include these indirect fees and expenses. |
32 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund — Institutional Class | |
Period Ended | |
8/31/23a | |
Selected Per Share Data | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | $13.62 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |
Net investment incomeb | .18 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 1.06 |
Total from investment operations | 1.24 |
Less distributions from: | |
Net investment income | (.24 ) |
Net asset value, end of period | $14.62 |
Total Return (%)c | 9.25 * |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | |
Net assets, end of period ($ thousands) | 83 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | .77 ** |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .48 ** |
Ratio of net investment income (%) | 1.65 ** |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 42 d |
a | For the period from December 1, 2022 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2023. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
d | Represents the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate for the year ended August 31, 2023. |
* | Not annualized |
** | Annualized |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 33 |
34 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 35 |
36 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Capital loss carryforwards | $(4,006,000 ) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | $2,997,292 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 37 |
Years Ended August 31, | ||
2023 | 2022 | |
Distributions from ordinary income* | $1,195,046 | $960,828 |
Distributions from long-term capital gains | $— | $21,985,969 |
* | For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are considered ordinary income distributions. |
38 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Class A | .73% |
Class C | 1.48% |
Class S | .48% |
Institutional Class | .48% |
Class A | $98,285 |
Class C | 2,828 |
Class S | 156,732 |
Institutional Class | 65 |
$257,910 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 39 |
Services to Shareholders | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at August 31, 2023 |
Class A | $21,155 | $3,477 |
Class C | 963 | 157 |
Class S | 59,432 | 9,871 |
Institutional Class | 13 | 5 |
$81,563 | $13,510 |
Sub-Recordkeeping | Total Aggregated |
Class A | $20,226 |
Class C | 680 |
Class S | 11,114 |
Institutional Class | 4 |
$32,024 |
Distribution Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at August 31, 2023 |
Class C | $4,417 | $367 |
40 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Service Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at August 31, 2023 | Annual Rate |
Class A | $70,538 | $12,476 | .24% |
Class C | 1,457 | 330 | .25% |
$71,995 | $12,806 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 41 |
Year Ended August 31, 2023 | Year Ended August 31, 2022 | |||
Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | |
Shares sold | ||||
Class A | 44,405 | $597,807 | 78,190 | $1,162,250 |
Class C | 991 | 13,070 | 2,111 | 32,233 |
Class S | 56,261 | 765,344 | 47,624 | 728,575 |
Institutional Class* | 5,676 | 80,057 | — | — |
$1,456,278 | $1,923,058 | |||
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | ||||
Class A | 32,756 | $432,290 | 605,113 | $9,197,715 |
Class C | 371 | 4,830 | 14,510 | 217,507 |
Class S | 55,379 | 733,163 | 856,373 | 13,051,117 |
Institutional Class* | 13 | 173 | — | — |
$1,170,456 | $22,466,339 | |||
Shares redeemed | ||||
Class A | (320,554 ) | $(4,336,859 ) | (287,512 ) | $(4,267,190 ) |
Class C | (13,960 ) | (179,518 ) | (10,235 ) | (151,897 ) |
Class S | (334,056 ) | (4,504,440 ) | (333,304 ) | (5,179,879 ) |
$(9,020,817 ) | $(9,598,966 ) |
42 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Year Ended August 31, 2023 | Year Ended August 31, 2022 | |||
Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | |
Net increase (decrease) | ||||
Class A | (243,393 ) | $(3,306,762 ) | 395,791 | $6,092,775 |
Class C | (12,598 ) | (161,618 ) | 6,386 | 97,843 |
Class S | (222,416 ) | (3,005,933 ) | 570,693 | 8,599,813 |
Institutional Class* | 5,689 | 80,230 | — | — |
$(6,394,083 ) | $14,790,431 |
* | For the period from December 1, 2022 (commencement of operations of Institutional Class) through August 31, 2023. |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 43 |
44 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0000088053-23-000726/g533918imgc8fe63476.jpg)
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 45 |
46 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 47 |
Actual Fund Return | Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class |
Beginning Account Value 3/1/23 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
Ending Account Value 8/31/23 | $1,111.50 | $1,107.80 | $1,112.60 | $1,112.60 |
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $3.89 | $7.86 | $2.56 | $2.56 |
Hypothetical 5% Fund Return | Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class |
Beginning Account Value 3/1/23 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
Ending Account Value 8/31/23 | $1,021.53 | $1,017.74 | $1,022.79 | $1,022.79 |
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $3.72 | $7.53 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for each share class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184 (the number of days in the most recent six-month period), then divided by 365. |
Annualized Expense Ratios | Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | .73% | 1.48% | .48% | .48% |
48 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 49 |
50 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 51 |
comparable firms for which such data was available.
52 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 53 |
Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Trust/ Corporation and Length of Time Served1 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held by Board Member |
Keith R. Fox, CFA (1954) Chairperson since 2017, and Board Member since 1996 | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (a series of private investment funds) (since 1986); Former Chairman, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies; Former Directorships: ICI Mutual Insurance Company; BoxTop Media Inc. (advertising); Sun Capital Advisers Trust (mutual funds); Progressive International Corporation (kitchen goods designer and distributor) | 69 | — |
54 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Trust/ Corporation and Length of Time Served1 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held by Board Member |
John W. Ballantine (1946) Board Member since 1999 | Retired; formerly: Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Management Officer, First Chicago NBD Corporation/The First National Bank of Chicago (1996–1998); Executive Vice President and Head of International Banking (1995–1996); Not-for-Profit Directorships: Window to the World Communications (public media); Life Director of Harris Theater for Music and Dance (Chicago); Life Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Former Directorships: Director and Chairman of the Board, Healthways Inc.2(population well-being and wellness services) (2003–2014); Stockwell Capital Investments PLC (private equity); Enron Corporation; FNB Corporation; Tokheim Corporation; First Oak Brook Bancshares, Inc.; Oak Brook Bank; Portland General Electric2 (utility company) (2003–2021); and Prisma Energy International; Former Not-for-Profit Directorships: Public Radio International; Palm Beach Civic Assn. | 69 | — |
Mary Schmid Daugherty, NACD.DC, PHD, CFA (1958) Board Member or Advisory Board Member since 20233 | Senior Fellow in Applied Finance, Department of Finance, Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas (1987–present); Directorships: The Meritex Company (2017–present); Driessen Water, Inc. (2016–present); and The Hardenbergh Foundation (2021–present); Former Directorships: Mairs & Power Funds Trust (mutual funds) (2010–2022); and Crescent Electric Supply Company (2010–2019) | 214 | — |
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946) Board Member since 1987 | Emeritus Advisory Board and former Executive Fellow, Hoffman Center for Business Ethics, Bentley University; formerly: Partner, Palmer & Dodge (law firm) (1988–1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene’s (retail) (1978–1988); Directorships: Trustee and former Chairman of the Board, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); Former Directorships: ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2007–2015); Sun Capital Advisers Trust (mutual funds) (2007–2012); Investment Company Institute (audit, executive, nominating committees) and Independent Directors Council (governance, executive committees) | 69 | — |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 55 |
Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Trust/ Corporation and Length of Time Served1 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held by Board Member |
Richard J. Herring (1946) Board Member since 1990 | Jacob Safra Professor of International Banking and Professor of Finance, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (1972–present); formerly: Director, The Wharton Financial Institutions Center (1994–2020); Vice Dean and Director, Wharton Undergraduate Division (1995–2000) and Director, The Lauder Institute of International Management Studies (2000–2006); Member FDIC Systemic Risk Advisory Committee (2011–present), member Systemic Risk Council (2012–present) and member of the Advisory Board of the Yale Program on Financial Stability (2013–present); Former Directorships: Co-Chair of the Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee (2003–2015), Executive Director of The Financial Economists Roundtable (2008–2015), Director of The Thai Capital Fund (2007–2013), Director of The Aberdeen Singapore Fund (2007–2018), Director, The Aberdeen Japan Fund (2007–2021) and Nonexecutive Director of Barclays Bank DE (2010–2018) | 69 | — |
Chad D. Perry (1972) Board Member or Advisory Board Member since 20213 | Executive Vice President and General Counsel, RLJ Lodging Trust2 (since 2023); formerly Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.2 (2011–2023); Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, LPL Financial Holdings Inc.2 (2006–2011); Senior Corporate Counsel, EMC Corporation (2005–2006); Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP (1997–2005) | 214 | Director, Great Elm Capital Corp. (business development company) (since 2022) |
Rebecca W. Rimel (1951) Board Member since 1995 | Directorships: Washington College (since July 2023); Formerly: Executive Vice President, The Glenmede Trust Company (investment trust and wealth management) (1983–2004); Board Member, Investor Education (charitable organization) (2004–2005); Former Directorships: Trustee, Executive Committee, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (2001–2007); Director, Viasys Health Care2 (January 2007–June 2007); Trustee, Thomas Jefferson Foundation (charitable organization) (1994–2012); President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (1994–2020) and Senior Advisor (2020–2021), The Pew Charitable Trusts (charitable organization); Director, BioTelemetry Inc.2 (acquired by Royal Philips in 2021) (healthcare) (2009–2021); Director, Becton Dickinson and Company2 (medical technology company) (2012–2022) | 69 | Director, The Bridgespan Group (nonprofit organization) (since October 2020) |
56 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Trust/ Corporation and Length of Time Served1 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held by Board Member |
Catherine Schrand (1964) Board Member since 2021 | Celia Z. Moh Professor of Accounting (2016–present) and Professor of Accounting (1994–present); Directorships: Director, the Jacobs Levy Center, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since 2023); Former positions: Vice Dean, Wharton Doctoral Programs, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (2016–2019) | 69 | — |
William N. Searcy, Jr. (1946) Board Member since 1993 | Private investor since October 2003; formerly: Pension & Savings Trust Officer, Sprint Corporation2 (telecommunications) (November 1989–September 2003); Former Directorships: Trustee, Sun Capital Advisers Trust (mutual funds) (1998–2012) | 69 | — |
Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Trust/Corporation and Length of Time Served6 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years |
Hepsen Uzcan7 (1974) President and Chief Executive Officer, 2017–present | Head of Americas CEO Office, DWS (2023–present), Head of Fund Administration, Head of Product Americas and Head of U.S. Mutual Funds, DWS (2017–present); Assistant Secretary, DWS Distributors, Inc. (2018–present); Vice President, DWS Service Company (2018–present); President, DB Investment Managers, Inc.(2018–present); President and Chief Executive Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2017–present); formerly: Vice President for the Deutsche funds (2016–2017); Assistant Secretary for the DWS funds (2013–2019); Secretary, DWS USA Corporation (2018–2023); Assistant Secretary, DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (2018–2023); Assistant Secretary, DWS Trust Company (2018–2023); Assistant Secretary, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2013–2020); Directorships: Director of DWS Service Company (2018–present); Director of DB Investment Managers, Inc. (2018–present); Director of Episcopalian Charities of New York (2018–present); Interested Director of The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2020–present); Director of ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2020–present); Director of DWS USA Corporation (2023–present); Director of DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (2023–present); and Manager of DBX Advisors LLC. (2023–present) |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 57 |
Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Trust/Corporation and Length of Time Served6 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years |
John Millette8 (1962) Vice President and Secretary, 1999–present | Legal (Associate General Counsel), DWS; Chief Legal Officer, DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (2015–present); Director and Vice President, DWS Trust Company (2016–present); Secretary, DBX ETF Trust (2020–present); Vice President, DBX Advisors LLC (2021–present); Secretary, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2011–present); formerly: Secretary, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (2015–2017); and Assistant Secretary, DBX ETF Trust (2019–2020) |
Ciara Crawford9 (1984) Assistant Secretary, 2019–present | Fund Administration (Specialist), DWS (2015–present); Assistant Secretary, DWS Service Company (2018–present); Assistant Secretary of U.S. Mutual Funds, DWS (2019–present); Assistant Secretary, DWS USA Corporation (2023–present); Assistant Secretary, DBX Advisors, LLC (2023–present); Assistant Secretary, DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (2023–present); Assistant Clerk, DWS Trust Company (2023–present); formerly, Legal Assistant at Accelerated Tax Solutions |
Diane Kenneally8 (1966) Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, 2018–present | Fund Administration Treasurer’s Office (Co-Head since 2018), DWS; Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller, DBX ETF Trust (2019–present); Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2018–present); formerly: Assistant Treasurer for the DWS funds (2007–2018) |
Sheila Cadogan8 (1966) Assistant Treasurer, 2017–present | Fund Administration Treasurer’s Office (Co-Head since 2018), DWS; Director and Vice President, DWS Trust Company (2018–present); Assistant Treasurer, DBX ETF Trust (2019–present); Assistant Treasurer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2018–present) |
Scott D. Hogan8 (1970) Chief Compliance Officer, 2016–present | Anti-Financial Crime & Compliance US (Senior Team Lead), DWS; Chief Compliance Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2016–present) |
Caroline Pearson8 (1962) Chief Legal Officer, 2010–present | Legal (Senior Team Lead), DWS; Assistant Secretary, DBX ETF Trust (2020–present); Chief Legal Officer, DBX Advisors LLC (2020–present); Chief Legal Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2012–present); formerly: Secretary, Deutsche AM Distributors, Inc. (2002–2017); Secretary, Deutsche AM Service Company (2010–2017); and Chief Legal Officer, DBX Strategic Advisors LLC (2020–2021) |
Christian Rijs7 (1980) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2021–present | Senior Team Lead Anti-Financial Crime and Compliance, DWS; AML Officer, DWS Trust Company (2021–present); AML Officer, DBX ETF Trust (2021–present); AML Officer, The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. (2021–present); formerly: DWS UK & Ireland Head of Anti-Financial Crime and MLRO |
1 | The length of time served represents the year in which the Board Member joined the board of one or more DWS funds currently overseen by the Board. |
58 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
2 | A publicly held company with securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
3 | Mr. Perry and Ms. Daugherty are each an Advisory Board Member of Deutsche DWS Asset Allocation Trust, Deutsche DWS Equity 500 Index Portfolio, Deutsche DWS Global/International Fund, Inc., Deutsche DWS Income Trust, Deutsche DWS Institutional Funds, Deutsche DWS International Fund, Inc., Deutsche DWS Investment Trust, Deutsche DWS Investments VIT Funds, Deutsche DWS Money Market Trust, Deutsche DWS Municipal Trust, Deutsche DWS Portfolio Trust, Deutsche DWS Securities Trust, Deutsche DWS Tax Free Trust, Deutsche DWS Variable Series I and Government Cash Management Portfolio. Mr. Perry and Ms. Daugherty are each a Board Member of each other Trust. |
4 | Mr. Perry and Ms. Daugherty each oversees 21 funds in the DWS Fund Complex as a Board Member of various Trusts. Mr. Perry and Ms. Daugherty are each an Advisory Board Member of various Trusts/Corporations comprised of 48 funds in the DWS Fund Complex. |
5 | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor or its affiliates, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Fund. |
6 | The length of time served represents the year in which the officer was first elected in such capacity for one or more DWS funds. |
7 | Address: 875 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. |
8 | Address: 100 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110. |
9 | Address: 5201 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256. |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 59 |
For More Information | The automated telephone system allows you to access personalized account information and obtain information on other DWS funds using either your voice or your telephone keypad. Certain account types within Classes A, C and S also have the ability to purchase, exchange or redeem shares using this system. |
For more information, contact your financial representative. You may also access our automated telephone system or speak with a Shareholder Service representative by calling: (800) 728-3337 | |
Web Site | dws.com View your account transactions and balances, trade shares, monitor your asset allocation, subscribe to fund and account updates by e-mail, and change your address, 24 hours a day. |
Obtain prospectuses and applications, news about DWS funds, insight from DWS economists and investment specialists and access to DWS fund account information. | |
Written Correspondence | DWS PO Box 219151 Kansas City, MO 64121-9151 |
Proxy Voting | The Fund’s policies and procedures for voting proxies for portfolio securities and information about how the Fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are available on our Web site — dws.com/en-us/resources/proxy-voting — or on the SEC’s Web site — sec.gov. To obtain a written copy of the Fund’s policies and procedures without charge, upon request, call us toll free at (800) 728-3337. |
Portfolio Holdings | Following the Fund’s fiscal first and third quarter-end, a complete portfolio holdings listing is posted on dws.com and is available free of charge by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, by calling (800) 728-3337. In addition, the portfolio holdings listing is filed with the SEC on the Fund’s Form N-PORT and will be available on the SEC’s Web site at sec.gov. Additional portfolio holdings for the Fund are also posted on dws.com from time to time. Please see the Fund’s current prospectus for more information. |
Principal Underwriter | If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact: DWS Distributors, Inc. 222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606-5808 (800) 621-1148 |
60 | | | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund |
Investment Management | DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” or the “Advisor” ), which is part of the DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (“DWS Group” ), is the investment advisor for the Fund. DIMA and its predecessors have more than 90 years of experience managing mutual funds and DIMA provides a full range of investment advisory services to both institutional and retail clients. DIMA is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of DWS Group. |
DWS Group is a global organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles. |
Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class | |
Nasdaq Symbol | SUPAX | SUPCX | SPGRX | SNPTX |
CUSIP Number | 25158W 783 | 25158W 817 | 25158W 825 | 25158W 767 |
Fund Number | 482 | 782 | 2082 | 1482 |
DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund | | | 61 |
(b) Not applicable | |
ITEM 2. | CODE OF ETHICS |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.
There have been no amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report that would require disclosure under Item 2.
A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. | |
ITEM 3. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT |
The fund’s audit committee is comprised solely of trustees who are "independent" (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the "Regulations")). The fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that there are several "audit committee financial experts" (as such term has been defined by the Regulations) serving on the fund’s audit committee including Ms. Catherine Schrand, the chair of the fund’s audit committee. An “audit committee financial expert” is not an “expert” for any purpose, including for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the designation or identification of a person as an “audit committee financial expert” does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification. | |
ITEM 4. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
DWS equity sector strategy Fund
form n-csr disclosure re: AUDIT FEES
The following table shows the amount of fees that Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”), the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, billed to the Fund during the Fund’s last two fiscal years. The Audit Committee approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that EY provided to the Fund.
Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Fund
Fiscal Year Ended August 31, | Audit Fees Billed to Fund | Audit-Related Fees Billed to Fund | Tax Fees Billed to Fund | All Other Fees Billed to Fund |
2023 | $46,180 | $0 | $8,948 | $0 |
2022 | $46,180 | $0 | $7,880 | $0 |
The above “Tax Fees” were billed for professional services rendered for tax preparation.
Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers
The following table shows the amount of fees billed by EY to DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” or the “Adviser”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with DIMA (“Control Affiliate”) that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Fund Service Provider”), for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, during the Fund’s last two fiscal years.
Fiscal Year Ended August 31, | Audit-Related Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers | Tax Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers | All Other Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers |
2023 | $0 | $539,907 | $0 |
2022 | $0 | $32,448 | $0 |
The above “Tax Fees” were billed in connection with tax compliance services and agreed upon procedures.
Non-Audit Services
The following table shows the amount of fees that EY billed during the Fund’s last two fiscal years for non-audit services. The Audit Committee pre-approved all non-audit services that EY provided to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider that related directly to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting. The Audit Committee requested and received information from EY about any non-audit services that EY rendered during the Fund’s last fiscal year to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider. The Committee considered this information in evaluating EY’s independence.
Fiscal Year Ended August 31, | Total Non-Audit Fees Billed to Fund (A) | Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (engagements related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund) (B) | Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (all other engagements) (C) | Total of (A), (B) and (C) |
2023 | $8,948 | $539,907 | $0 | $548,855 |
2022 | $7,880 | $32,448 | $0 | $40,328 |
All other engagement fees were billed for services in connection with agreed upon procedures and tax compliance for DIMA and other related entities.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, each Fund’s Audit Committee must pre approve (i) all services to be performed for a Fund by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and (ii) all non-audit services to be performed by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the DIMA Entities with respect to operations and financial reporting of the Fund, except that the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of each Fund’s Audit Committee may grant the pre-approval for non-audit services described in items (i) and (ii) above for non-prohibited services for engagements of less than $100,000. All such delegated pre approvals shall be presented to each Fund’s Audit Committee no later than the next Audit Committee meeting.
There were no amounts that were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
According to the registrant’s principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, substantially all of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's hours spent on auditing the registrant's financial statements were attributed to work performed by full-time permanent employees of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and (i) and (j) are not applicable.
***
In connection with the audit of the 2022 and 2023 financial statements, the Fund entered into an engagement letter with EY. The terms of the engagement letter required by EY, and agreed to by the Audit Committee, include a provision mandating the use of mediation and arbitration to resolve any controversy or claim between the parties arising out of or relating to the engagement letter or services provided thereunder.
***
Pursuant to PCAOB Rule 3526, EY is required to describe in writing to the Fund’s Audit Committee, on at least an annual basis, all relationships between EY, or any of its affiliates, and the DWS Funds, including the Fund, or persons in financial reporting oversight roles at the DWS Funds that, as of the date of the communication, may reasonably be thought to bear on EY’s independence. Pursuant to PCAOB Rule 3526, EY has reported the matters set forth below that may reasonably be thought to bear on EY’s independence. With respect to each reported matter in the aggregate, EY advised the Audit Committee that, after careful consideration of the facts and circumstances and the applicable independence rules, it concluded that the matters do not and will not impair EY’s ability to exercise objective and impartial judgement in connection with the audits of the financial statements for the Fund and a reasonable investor with knowledge of all relevant facts and circumstances would conclude that EY has been and is capable of exercising objective and impartial judgment on all issues encompassed within EY’s audit engagements. EY also confirmed to the Audit Committee that it can continue to act as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fund.
· | EY advised the Fund’s Audit Committee that various covered persons within EY and EY’s affiliates held investments in, or had other financial relationships with, entities within the DWS Funds “investment company complex” (as defined in Regulation S-X) (the “DWS Funds Complex”). EY informed the Audit Committee that these investments and financial relationships were inconsistent with Rule 2-01(c)(1) of Regulation S-X. EY reported that all breaches have been resolved and that none of the breaches involved any professionals who were part of the audit engagement team for the Fund or in the position to influence the audit engagement team for the Fund. |
ITEM 5. | AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS | |
Not applicable | ||
ITEM 6. | INVESTMENTS | |
Not applicable | ||
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 were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board. The primary function of the Nominating and Governance Committee is to identify and recommend individuals for membership on the Board and oversee the administration of the Board Governance Guidelines. Shareholders may recommend candidates for Board positions by forwarding their correspondence by U.S. mail or courier service to Keith R. Fox, DWS Funds Board Chair, c/o Thomas R. Hiller, Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199-3600. | ||
ITEM 11. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | |
(a) | The Chief Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on the evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report. | |
(b) | There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting. | |
ITEM 12. | Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies | |
Not applicable | ||
ITEM 13. | EXHIBITS | |
(a)(1) | Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CODE ETH. | |
(a)(2) | Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT. | |
(b) | Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT. |
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: | DWS Equity Sector Strategy Fund, a series of Deutsche DWS Asset Allocation Trust |
By: | /s/Hepsen Uzcan Hepsen Uzcan President |
Date: | 10/30/2023 |
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: | /s/Hepsen Uzcan Hepsen Uzcan President |
Date: | 10/30/2023 |
By: | /s/Diane Kenneally Diane Kenneally Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Date: | 10/30/2023 |