credit quality. The Fund’s high yield securities may have fixed or
variable principal payments and all types of interest rate and
dividend payment and reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable
rate, contingent, deferred, payment in kind and auction rate
features. The sleeve may invest in securities with a broad range of
maturities.
The Fund’s high yield sleeve is managed following a rigorous
investment process that emphasizes both quality and value. The
research driven approach includes both a top-down review of
macroeconomic factors and intensive, bottom-up scrutiny of
individual securities. We consider both broad economic and issuer
specific factors in selecting securities for the high yield sleeve.
In assessing the appropriate maturity and duration for the Fund’s
high yield sleeve and the credit quality parameters and weighting
objectives for each sector and industry in this portion of the
Fund’s portfolio, we consider a variety of factors that are
expected to influence the economic environment and the dynamics of
the high yield market. These factors include fundamental economic
indicators, such as interest rate trends, the rates of economic
growth and inflation, the performance of equity markets,
commodities prices, Federal Reserve monetary policy and the
relative value of the U.S. dollar compared to other currencies.
Once we determine the preferable portfolio characteristics, we
conduct further evaluation to determine capacity and inventory
levels in each targeted industry. We also identify any
circumstances that may lead to improved business conditions, thus
increasing the attractiveness of a particular industry. We select
individual securities based upon the terms of the securities (such
as yields compared to U.S. Treasuries or comparable issues),
liquidity and rating, sector and issuer diversification. We also
employ due diligence and fundamental research to assess an issuer’s
credit quality, taking into account financial condition and
profitability, future capital needs, potential for change in
rating, industry outlook, the competitive environment and
management ability.
The analysis of issuers may include, among other things, historic
and current financial conditions, current and anticipated cash flow
and borrowing requirements, value of assets in relation to
historical costs, strength of management, responsiveness to
business conditions, credit standing, the company’s leverage versus
industry norms and current and anticipated results of operations.
While we consider as one factor in our credit analysis the ratings
assigned by the rating services, we perform our own independent
credit analysis of issuers.
In making decisions for the high yield sleeve, we rely on the
knowledge, experience and judgment of our team who have access to a
wide variety of research. We apply a strict sell discipline, which
is as important as purchase criteria in determining the performance
of this portion of this portfolio. We routinely meet to review
profitability outlooks and discuss any deteriorating business
fundamentals, as well as consider changes in equity valuations and
market perceptions before selling securities.
We regularly review the investments of the portfolio and may sell a
portfolio holding when it has achieved its valuation target, there
is deterioration in the underlying fundamental of the business, or
we have identified a more attractive investment opportunity.
Material Changes During the Fiscal Year: As of the date of this report, there have been
no material changes made to the high yield sleeve of the Fund
during this fiscal year.
Option Strategy. The Fund also
employs an option strategy in an attempt to generate gains from the
premiums on call options written by it on selected U.S. and
non-U.S.-based securities indices, on exchange-traded funds
providing returns based on certain indices, countries, or market
sectors, and, to a lesser extent, on futures contracts and
individual securities. The Fund may write covered call options or
secured put options on individual securities and/or indexes. The
Fund may also purchase call or put options.
The Fund may write call options with an aggregate net notional
amount of up to 50% of the value of the equity sleeve’s total
assets. The extent of the Fund’s use of written call options will
vary over time based, in part, on our assessment of market
conditions, pricing of options, related risks, and other factors.
The Fund will limit option writing to an aggregate net notional
amount less than the value of the Fund’s equity securities in order
to allow the Fund potentially to benefit from capital gains on its
equity sleeve. The aggregate net notional amount of the open option
positions sold by the Fund will never exceed the market value of
the Fund’s equity investments. For these purposes, the Fund treats
options on indices as being written on securities having an
aggregate value equal to the face or notional amount of the index
subject to the option. At any time we may limit, or temporarily
suspend, the option strategy.
We will attempt to maintain for the Fund written call option
positions on equity indices whose price movements, taken in the
aggregate, correlate to some degree with the price movements of
some or all of the equity securities held in the Fund’s equity
sleeve. The Fund may write index call options that are “European
style” options, meaning that the options may be exercised only on
the expiration date of the option. The Fund also may write index
call options that are “American style” options, meaning that the
options may be exercised at any point up to and including the
expiration date. The Fund expects to use primarily listed/
exchange-traded options contracts and may also use unlisted (or
“over-the-counter”) options.