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Form ADV, Part 2A Brochure
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
1585 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
WWW.MORGANSTANLEY.COM/IM
March 24, 2025
This brochure (the “Brochure”) provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Morgan Stanley
Investment Management Inc. (the “Adviser,” “MSIM,” “us” or “we”). If you have any questions about the contents of this
Brochure, please contact us at (212) 761-4000. We will provide you with a new Brochure as necessary based on changes
or new information, at any time, without charge. The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or by any state securities authority.
MSIM is a registered investment adviser. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level or skill or training.
The oral and written communications of an adviser provide you with information with which you can determine to hire or
retain an adviser.
Additional information about MSIM is also available on the SEC’s website at http://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/
Item 2 Material Changes
This Brochure is dated March 24, 2025 and represents our annual updating Brochure. The following is a summary
of material updates made to this Brochure since the annual amendment, dated March 27, 2024:
Item 4 Advisory Business – MSIM updated the description of the advisory services it provides.
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Summary of Risk – MSIM updated investment strategy
descriptions and risk factor disclosures.
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations – MSIM updated the description of its relationship
with affiliates.
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading – MSIM updated
information concerning its affiliates and potential conflicts of interest.
Item 17 Voting Client Securities – MSIM updated the description of its equity proxy voting policies and
procedures.
Appendix A – MSIM updated its fee schedules.
In addition to the material changes listed above, other enhancements have been made throughout this Brochure.
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Item 3 Table of Contents
Item 1 Cover Page ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2 Material Changes ................................................................................................................................................ 2
Item 3 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Item 4 Advisory Business ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5 Fees and Compensation ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Item 6 Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management .............................................................................. 11
Item 7 Types of Clients ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ......................................................................... 13
Item 9 Disciplinary Information ..................................................................................................................................... 56
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ............................................................................................ 57
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading .................................... 61
Item 12 Brokerage Practices .......................................................................................................................................... 69
Item 13 Review of Accounts ........................................................................................................................................... 74
Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation ........................................................................................................ 75
Item 15 Custody ............................................................................................................................................................. 76
Item 16 Investment Discretion ........................................................................................................................................ 77
Item 17 Voting Client Securities ..................................................................................................................................... 78
Item 18 Financial Information ......................................................................................................................................... 81
Appendix A ...................................................................................................................................................................... 82
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Item 4 Advisory Business
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) and its advisory affiliates represent the investment management
division of Morgan Stanley, a publicly held company (“Morgan Stanley”). We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan
Stanley, a corporation whose shares are publicly held and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
“MS”. Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth
management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm’s employees serve
clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals. MSIM is organized as a Delaware
corporation and has been registered with the SEC since 1981.
Overview
For more than 40 years MSIM has provided client-centric investment and risk-management solutions to a wide range of
investors and institutions. Our clients include corporations, pension plans, intermediaries, sovereign wealth funds, central
banks, endowments and foundations, governments, consultant partners, and retail investors worldwide. Investment
strategies span the risk/return spectrum across geographies, investment styles and asset classes, including equity, fixed
income, alternatives and private markets.
More than 20 investment teams are organized under six capabilities: Solutions & Multi-Asset, Real Assets, Active
Fundamental Equity, Private Credit & Equity, Fixed Income and Global Liquidity. MSIM offers its clients the intelligence
and creativity of some of the brightest professionals in the industry, and access to the global resources of Morgan
Stanley. The extensive range of MSIM’s services and products reflects our continuous effort to provide products and
services that help meet the needs of investors worldwide. Depending on the selected product or offering, our investment
teams have the ability to customize solutions for clients, creating tailored approaches in the context of a full-service
platform.
MSIM is dedicated to providing superior client service to investors worldwide. In addition to responding to client inquiries
and providing timely portfolio analytics and commentary, we share knowledge with clients by organizing proprietary
conferences and webcasts, and distributing a wide array of publications and thought leadership papers that highlight our
firm’s intellectual capital. We aim to empower our clients to make more informed investment decisions. The longevity of
many of our client relationships testifies to our commitment to superior investment service and the productive
partnerships we have cultivated throughout our history.
MSIM provides investment advisory services to investment companies registered pursuant to the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”), private investment vehicles and offshore pooled vehicles
sponsored by MSIM and its affiliates and provides sub-advisory services to registered investment companies and other
pooled investment vehicles sponsored by unaffiliated parties who serve as the primary investment adviser (collectively,
“Funds”). MSIM advises separately managed accounts for a wide range of institutional clients. In addition, MSIM provides
investment advice to individual retail investors through various bundled “wrap fee” programs (“Wrap Fee Programs”) and
other platforms sponsored by certain broker-dealers and/or investment advisers, including an affiliate of MSIM. We also
advise clients on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis as to the appropriate allocation of assets among multiple
separate accounts and/or investment companies or other pooled vehicles that we advise (“asset allocation advice”). As
a diversified global financial services firm that engages in a broad spectrum of activities including financial advisory
services, investment management activities, sponsoring and managing private investment funds, and other activities,
you should be aware that there will be occasions when Morgan Stanley encounters potential and actual conflicts of
interest in connection with its investment management services.
Separate Accounts
MSIM provides investment advisory services through separately managed accounts to a variety of institutional clients,
including business organizations, public and private pensions, trusts, foundations, charitable organizations, hospitals,
labor unions, religious organizations, endowment funds, insurance companies, educational institutions, sovereign wealth
funds and other entities (“Institutional Accounts”). The advisory services for these accounts are tailored to each client
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based on its individual investment objectives. Before establishing an Institutional Account, MSIM and the client discuss
the available investment strategies and the client’s investment objectives. Investment in certain securities or types of
securities can be restricted at the request of the client. See Item 8 “Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk
of Loss” for descriptions of the strategies offered for Institutional Accounts.
Wrap Fee and Platform Programs
Our investment advisory services are available through various Wrap Fee Programs sponsored by certain broker-dealers
and/or investment advisers (“Sponsor(s)”), including affiliates of MSIM, to individual investors, including high net worth
and other retail investors. As used herein, the term Sponsor includes overlay managers to the extent a Wrap Fee
Program utilizes an overlay manager.
Investors that participate in these Wrap Fee Programs enter into a single agreement with the applicable Sponsor for our
advisory services, as well as other bundled services. For a single “wrap” fee (which is paid to the Sponsor and the
Sponsor then pays a portion to us) the Sponsors offer our investment advisory services to their separately managed
account clients and are generally, depending on the program, primarily responsible for:
i. Monitoring and evaluating our performance;
ii. Executing client portfolio transactions typically without additional commission charge (except that the client
will be charged an added commission charge if we use a broker other than the Sponsor to execute trades);
iii. Providing custodial services for clients’ assets;
iv. Ensuring adherence to client guidelines, restrictions and/or client instructions; and/or
v. Providing tax management services.
MSIM participates in certain Wrap Fee Programs pursuant to which we provide the Sponsors with a model portfolio that
represents the securities we recommend in accordance with a particular investment strategy (the “Model Portfolio”). In
most instances, we will communicate our recommendations comprising the Model Portfolio, and any changes thereto,
to the Sponsors, who serve as investment advisers to the Wrap Fee Program clients and are responsible for
implementation of any client-specific investment restrictions and for determining the suitability of our investment strategy
for the client. In most instances, unless otherwise agreed, the Sponsor will exercise investment discretion with respect
to securities that are purchased or sold for clients of such Model Portfolio Wrap Fee Programs and will be responsible
for executing trades and seeking best execution for such Wrap Fee Program accounts.
In addition to offering our advisory services through Wrap Fee Programs in the manner described above, certain
separately managed accounts are offered to retail investors through what’s known as “dual contract arrangements” (a
client will pay the Sponsor a fee and will pay us an advisory fee) in which a Sponsor and its client enter into an agreement
with regard to the Sponsor’s overall management of the client’s assets pursuant to which the Sponsor identifies
managers that offer particular strategies or products that the Sponsor believes are suitable for each client. Either the
Sponsor or the client then selects the particular strategy or product and the applicable manager to manage portions of
the client’s portfolio.
In a “dual contract” arrangement, MSIM generally has separate agreements with the Sponsor and each applicable client,
the latter of which outlines the scope and limitations of the advisory relationship between MSIM and the client. In such
arrangements, the Sponsor, who itself has a client relationship with the client, and/or the client are generally responsible
for determining whether a strategy offered by MSIM is suitable and appropriate for the client based on its investment
objectives, risk tolerance and financial situation. Under these arrangements, the client can impose restrictions on
investing in certain securities through the Sponsor or MSIM, if applicable. Wrap Fee Program accounts might not be
managed identically to Institutional Accounts. Purchases that are implemented for Institutional Accounts will not always
be reflected or fully reflected in a Wrap Fee Program account that follows the same or a substantially similar strategy.
For example, certain Wrap Fee Program accounts are constructed and managed with position thresholds and
parameters around new positions and changes to weightings in existing positions. These guidelines are specific to Wrap
Fee Programs and will generally not apply to Institutional Accounts.
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For further discussion on the impacts of restrictions on trading, please refer to “Directed, Restricted or Constrained
Brokerage Arrangements; Wrap Fee Programs” in Item 12 “Brokerage Practices.”
Fund of Funds and Portfolio Solutions
Our fund of funds advisory and portfolio solutions business focuses on the discretionary and, in certain instances, non-
discretionary investment management of accounts across four strategies: (1) hedge funds; (2) private markets (“Private
Markets”); (3) risk premia (“Risk Premia”); and (4) portfolio solutions (“Portfolio Solutions”).
Our fund of funds advisory business consists primarily of identifying investment opportunities and making investments
in diversified portfolios of traditional and non-traditional investment funds. Advisory services of this nature are provided
to funds and separate accounts on a discretionary and nondiscretionary basis. The underlying funds or accounts in which
we invest are referred to throughout as the “Underlying Investment Funds” and the third-party investment managers who
manage the Underlying Investment Funds are referred to as the “Underlying Investment Managers”.
Depending on the investment strategy selected, certain clients invest in Underlying Investment Funds managed by an
Affiliated Adviser (as defined in Item 10) that invest in a broad set of Risk Premia investments, currently expected under
normal market conditions to constitute a diverse set of different strategies or factors, including, without limitation, value,
carry, curve, trend/momentum, mean reversion, volatility, congestion opportunistic, hedge and other similar strategies,
as well as equity specific low-beta, size, value, quality and momentum strategies. The Affiliated Adviser intends to
implement the Risk Premia strategy primarily through total return swaps and intends to gain such exposure through
multiple counterparties. In addition, Risk Premia investments, in certain instances, include futures, listed options and
common stocks.
The Portfolio Solutions business implements discretionary investment advice by integrating traditional and non-traditional
investments through a single portfolio construction, philosophy and approach.
Further Information
For additional information regarding the specific investment strategies we employ please refer to Item 8, “Methods of
Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss.”
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2024, we managed approximately $615,946,099,498 on a discretionary basis and $3,249,928,423
on a non-discretionary basis, totaling $619,196,027,921 of assets under management.
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Item 5 Fees and Compensation
Management Fees
Our fees and minimum initial investments for a client could vary from the applicable schedules, attached as Appendix A,
due to the particular circumstances of the client or as otherwise negotiated with particular clients, including clients in
certain funds and pooled investment vehicles. In certain instances, we provide investment advisory or research services
to clients for negotiated fixed fees based on the value of the services rendered and, from time to time, receive
performance-based fees from clients in accordance with the particular client’s agreement, except in those jurisdictions
that do not allow fees based on performance. Depending upon the account’s investment objectives, strategies and
restrictions, holdings in a client’s account could include real estate investment trusts (“REITS”), investment companies
(including exchange traded funds or “ETFs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other pooled vehicles for which
a separate management fee is charged, including investment companies and other pooled vehicles advised by us or a
related person.
Fees are generally billed quarterly in arrears based on current or quarter-average market values. Certain accounts,
however, are billed quarterly in advance. The timing of fee payments and method of calculation for particular clients can
vary in accordance with client preferences. Typically, our services are terminable by either party upon written notification
in accordance with the applicable contractual notice provision. Upon termination the fees described above (including
performance fees, if any) generally will be prorated to take account of contributions and withdrawals during a quarter
and where MSIM does not manage the account for the entire calendar quarter.
The fees described herein are only the advisory fees charged by us and do not reflect custodial or other fees that could
be applicable to your account. Further discussion of such expenses appears below under “Other Expenses Charged to
Clients/Fee Discounts”.
Separately Managed Accounts
The fees we charge for separate account management services vary based on the particular circumstances of the client
or as otherwise negotiated. Our services are terminable by either party in accordance with the applicable contractual
notice provision. Generally, fees on separately managed accounts (“SMAs”) are billed quarterly in arrears, however, in
some cases they are billed quarterly in advance. The timing of fee payments will vary in accordance with clients’
preferences. In addition to being subject to the fees we charge, the portion of each client account that is invested in a
fund will also bear a proportionate share of the advisory fees and other expenses of the fund; however, such fees and
expenses can be waived and/or rebated at our discretion. In the case of certain SMAs, additional fees are charged by
us for additional reporting or consulting services requested by the client. In certain circumstances, SMAs are invested in
products sponsored or advised by our affiliates that carry product-level management fees and other expenses.
Wrap Fee Programs
The fees described herein do not include information about fees for advisory services we provide through Wrap Fee
Programs, and we would direct the client to the documents specific to their Wrap Fee Program. The terms of each client’s
separately managed account in a Wrap Fee Program are governed by the client’s agreement with the Sponsor and
disclosure document for each Wrap Fee Program. Wrap Fee Program clients are urged to refer to the appropriate
disclosure document and client agreement for more information about the Wrap Fee Program and advisory services.
Similarly, dual-contract clients should refer to their agreement with their program Sponsor, as applicable, the disclosure
document for the applicable program, and the client's agreement with us, which will vary depending on the strategy
selected. The fees for a Wrap Fee Program can result in higher costs than a client would otherwise realize by paying
standard fees and negotiating separate arrangements for trade execution, custodial and consulting services. Our
advisory services are offered through Wrap Fee Programs that are sponsored by an MSIM affiliate, as well as through
unaffiliated Wrap Fee Programs. MSIM and its affiliates will generally earn more compensation for advisory services
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offered through an affiliated Wrap Fee Program than offering the same services through a Wrap Fee Program with an
unaffiliated Sponsor.
Item 12, “Brokerage Practices”, further describes the factors that we consider in selecting or recommending broker-
dealers for client transactions and determining the reasonableness of their compensation.
Multi-Asset Investment Program
MSIM offers a multi-asset investment program that includes asset allocation advice, investment selection, and manager
due diligence and oversight across various asset classes for fees that are negotiated and vary depending on your
particular circumstances. The fee we charge for asset allocation advice is in addition to the fees we and our affiliates
receive as adviser and/or administrator to certain open and closed end registered funds (the “Morgan Stanley Funds”)
and other pooled vehicles in which we could invest your portfolio’s assets. Clients receiving asset allocation services
should refer to their advisory agreement for more information regarding their specific arrangement.
Except as agreed, we generally do not charge advisory fees on separately managed client assets that are invested in
the Morgan Stanley Funds in addition to the advisory fees that we charge to such Morgan Stanley Funds. Generally,
fees billed to a separately managed account client under the client’s investment management contract will be reduced
by the amount of any investment advisory fees (but not other fund level fees) that we receive from the Morgan Stanley
Funds as a result of the client’s investment in the Morgan Stanley Funds. However, in certain instances and/or in
connection with investments by you in certain portfolios, assets invested in such portfolios will be excluded from your
total assets for purposes of calculating your separate account fee. In those instances, you will pay the advisory fee
payable by the applicable Morgan Stanley Fund portfolio, which could be higher than the fee generally payable under
your investment management contract. In certain instances, we include the value of closed-end funds we manage, for
purposes of determining the investment management fee payable to us.
In certain instances, we can choose to waive, reimburse or rebate all or a portion of certain fund level fees or expenses,
including advisory fees or operating expenses, to eligible separately managed account clients or Wrap Fee Program
clients, that have invested in a Morgan Stanley Fund as part of a contractual arrangement with us or our affiliates, such
as an investment management agreement or a Wrap Fee Program arrangement, to the extent that we or the Sponsor
determines, in its discretion, that it is appropriate to allocate separately managed client assets or Wrap Fee Program’s
client’s assets to a designated share class of a Morgan Stanley Fund and waiver, reimbursement or rebate of such fund-
level fees is permissible with respect to investment in such Morgan Stanley Fund. In such instances, fees and expenses
attributable to a client’s separately managed account assets or Wrap Fee Program account assets would still be
assessed.
Hedge Funds and Opportunistic Investments
For advisory services rendered to the funds pursuing a hedge fund or opportunistic investment strategy, we generally
are entitled to a management fee in an amount (on an annualized basis) of up to (i) 1.50% of the net asset value of the
applicable fund or SMA, or (ii) 1.25% of the aggregate capital commitment to the applicable fund or SMA. In the case of
certain funds, the fees we charge could decrease over time upon the occurrence of certain events, as described in the
governing documents of such funds or SMAs. In some cases, we or our affiliates are also entitled to and receive
performance-based fees or allocations which, depending on the particular arrangement, can be up to 10% of the
investor’s net profits, and might be subject to a minimum hurdle rate and/or high water mark. In addition, for certain funds
managed by us or an affiliate, we are generally entitled to carried interest with respect to each investor equal to 10% of
such investor’s profits, subject to satisfaction of an 8% internal rate of return, compounded annually.
Funds pursuing a hedge fund or opportunistic investment strategy generally book fees (and as applicable, incentive
allocation estimates) on a monthly basis or quarterly basis. Clients or investors should refer to the governing documents
for the applicable fund or the investment advisory agreement governing their SMA relationship, for additional information
regarding services and fees associated with the fund or SMA.
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Private Markets
For investment advisory services rendered to the funds pursuing a Private Markets investment strategy, we are generally
entitled to a management fee in an amount (on an annualized basis) of up to 1.75% of either (i) the investor’s aggregate
capital commitments to a fund, (ii) the investor’s attributable share of the aggregate capital commitments made by the
fund to its Underlying Investment Funds (based on the acquisition costs of such investments), (iii) the investor’s
attributable share of the aggregate capital contributions made by the fund to its Underlying Investment Funds (excluding
amounts constituting a return of a capital contribution by such underlying investments) or (iv) on the investor’s aggregate
contributions with respect to Underlying Investment Funds plus the investor’s attributable share of the aggregate
unfunded capital commitments made by the applicable fund to its Underlying Investment Funds. In the case of certain
funds, the fees charged by us could decrease over time upon the occurrence of certain events, as described in the
governing documents of such funds.
For funds that pursue a Private Markets strategy, the management fee will be charged in addition to an investor’s capital
commitment. In most cases, an Affiliated Adviser is also entitled to receive performance-based fees, which vary.
MSIM or its affiliates are generally entitled to carried interest with respect to each investor generally ranging from 5% -
20% of such investor’s profits, subject to satisfaction of an internal rate of return ranging from 6% - 10%, compounded
annually.
Funds pursuing a Private Markets investment strategy generally book fees on a quarterly basis and some of the funds
are required to pay the management fee quarterly in advance. We do not provide refunds for such fees paid in advance.
Clients or investors should refer to the governing documents for the applicable fund for additional information regarding
services and fees associated with the fund.
Risk Premia
For advisory services rendered to clients pursuing risk premia strategies, an Affiliated Adviser is generally entitled to a
management fee in an amount (on an annualized basis) of up to 1.00% of the net asset value of the applicable Fund or
SMA. In the case of certain SMAs, additional fees are charged for additional reporting or consulting services requested
by the Client. Fees from clients pursuing a risk premia investment strategy generally book on a monthly or quarterly
basis.
Other Expenses Charged to Clients/Fee Discounts
MSIM’s fees are exclusive of brokerage commissions, transaction fees, and other related costs and expenses. Such
expenses will be assessed to the client. Clients are responsible for certain charges imposed by custodians, broker-
dealers and other third parties, including but not limited to: fees charged by third-party managers, custodial fees, deferred
sales charges, odd-lot differentials, transfer taxes, withholding fees, country tax or delivery fees, wire transfer and
electronic funds fees, and other fees and taxes on brokerage accounts and securities transactions. Certain MSIM
investment strategies invest in mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded notes and ETFs which charge
shareholders with management fees. These fees are disclosed in the fund’s or ETF’s prospectus or offering
memorandum. For more information about MSIM’s brokerage practices, please refer to Item 12 Brokerage Practices.
Fees and expenses investors in Funds should expect to incur include, but are not limited to, management fees, operating
expenses and performance-based incentive fees or allocation of expenses of Underlying Investment Funds. Operating
expenses typically consist of administration fees, professional fees (i.e., audit and legal fees), and other operating
expenses. With respect to Funds that pursue a private markets fund of funds strategy, the management fee will be in
addition to an investor’s capital commitment. Expenses vary depending on the particular Fund. Accordingly, Fund
investors should refer to each particular Fund’s governing documents for a detailed discussion of the expenses the Fund
and its investors will or could bear.
Depending upon the terms of particular arrangements with clients, we could select or recommend that certain service
providers (including accountants, administrators, lenders, bankers, brokers, agents, attorneys, consultants, and
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investment or commercial banking firms) and/or their affiliates perform services for clients, the cost of which generally
will be borne by the advisory client. These service providers, in some cases, also provide goods or services to or have
business, personal, political, financial or other relationships with us or our affiliates. Such service providers could be
investors in a Fund, our affiliates, sources of investment opportunities or co-investors. These other services and
relationships have the potential to influence us in deciding whether to select or recommend such a service provider to
perform services for clients. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we have discretion when making investment transactions
on behalf of clients that require the use of a broker-dealer, we have a duty to seek “best execution” (i.e., the most
favorable overall price and execution) and select broker-dealers for the execution of transactions accordingly as detailed
in “Best Execution and Brokerage Selection Factors” section of Item 12 “Brokerage Practices”. In certain circumstances,
service providers, or their affiliates charge different rates or have different arrangements for services provided to Morgan
Stanley, us or our affiliates as compared to services provided to the clients, which, from time to time, result in more
favorable rates or arrangements for Morgan Stanley or our affiliates than those payable by our clients. From time to time,
we will be required to decide whether and to what extent costs and expenses are borne by a client, us, allocated among
more than one client, or allocated among one or more clients and us. When expenses apply to more than one client, we
will exercise our reasonable judgment when making allocation determinations.
Clients and investors in Funds advised by us are generally required to bear out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred
in connection with deals that are not ultimately completed. Typically, these expenses include (i) legal, accounting,
advisory, consulting or other third-party expenses in connection with making an investment that is not ultimately
consummated, (ii) all fees (including commitment fees), costs and expenses of lenders, investment banks and other
financing sources in connection with arranging financing for a proposed investment that is not ultimately made, and (iii)
any break-up fees, deposits or down payments of cash or other property which are forfeited in connection with a proposed
investment that is not ultimately made (in each case, to the extent such investment is not ultimately made by another
advisory client).
Subject to applicable law and the relevant governing documents, we enter into arrangements with certain investors that
have the effect of altering or supplementing the terms of such investors’ investments in a Fund, including with respect to
waivers or reductions of the management fee. Except as otherwise agreed, or as required by law, we are not obligated
to inform other investors of the terms of any particular arrangement or to offer another investor equally favorable terms.
In particular, when we negotiate, rebate or waive fees for one investor, we are not required to inform, or offer similar
terms to, other investors, except as agreed with such other investors or as required by applicable law.
The fees and expenses borne by clients and investors will generally reduce returns.
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Item 6 Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
In some cases, we have entered into performance fee arrangements with qualified clients. Such fees are subject to
individualized negotiation with each such client and are disclosed to the client.
Because portfolio managers often manage assets for other investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and/or
other accounts (including accounts of institutional clients and pension plans) with different fee schedules, the portfolio
manager has an incentive to favor higher paying clients or accounts where we or an affiliate receive a performance-
based fee over other accounts. In addition, a conflict exists in situations where we have proprietary investments in certain
accounts, where portfolio managers have personal investments in certain accounts or when certain accounts are
investment options in our employee benefits and/or deferred compensation plans. Although this does not impact
individual compensation, in such instances, the portfolio manager has an incentive to favor these accounts over others.
A conflict of interest also exists with regard to the allocation of investment opportunities across accounts that pay
performance-based fees as opposed to accounts that do not pay performance-based fees.
If, within the same investment team, we manage accounts that establish short exposure to a security, as well as accounts
that maintain long exposure to the same security, and the short exposure causes the market value of the security to fall,
we could be seen as benefitting the accounts with short exposure at the expense of harming the performance of other
accounts that maintain long exposure in the security. The same conflict also exists at the asset class level.
To address these types of conflicts, we have adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to assure that
allocation decisions are not influenced by fee arrangements, favoritism, or other incentives, and that we allocate
investment opportunities in a manner that treats clients fairly and equitably over time. Pursuant to applicable policies,
investment opportunities will be allocated in a manner that we believe to be consistent with our obligations as an
investment adviser. To further manage these types of conflicts, we have implemented Side-by-Side Management
guidelines, which are designed to set out specific requirements regarding the side-by-side management of traditional
investment portfolios (e.g., long-only portfolios) and alternative investment portfolios (e.g., hedge fund portfolios) in order
to manage conflicts of interest, including without limitation, those conflicts associated with: any differences in fee
structures; investments in the alternative investment portfolios by MSIM or its employees; and trading-related conflicts
(including conflicts of interest that could also be raised when MSIM investment teams take conflicting (i.e., opposite
direction) positions in the same or related securities for different accounts). In addition, we have established a Side-by-
Side Management Subcommittee to help ensure that such conflicts are reviewed and managed appropriately. The Side-
by-Side Management Subcommittee meets on a regular basis and is comprised of representatives from business areas
and control functions. The responsibilities and duties of the Side-by-Side Management Subcommittee include, among
other things, establishing and reviewing appropriate reporting to monitor and review investment and related activities.
For more information about how MSIM addresses certain conflicts of interest, please refer to Item 11 “Code of Ethics,
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading.” For additional information on portfolio transactions
and trade allocation, please refer to Item 12 “Brokerage Practices”.
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Item 7 Types of Clients
MSIM provides advice to: corporate entities; corporate pension and profit-sharing plans; individual investors (including
high net worth and other retail investors); intermediaries; insurance companies; state, local and foreign government
entities and pension plans (including foreign pension funds); central banks; sovereign wealth funds; supra-national
organizations; educational institutions; endowments, foundations and charitable institutions; consultant partners; funds
of one; and registered mutual funds, unregistered funds, collective investment trusts, closed-end funds and foreign
regulated funds such as SICAVs and SIFs.
Certain advisory accounts and funds impose minimum investment requirements, which are generally described in the
relevant governing or disclosure documents or, with respect to advisory accounts, in Appendix A. We (or with respect
to funds, the general partner or managing member) generally will have discretion to waive or reduce such minimums for
certain clients or investors. We generally will not, unless required by agreement with a client or investor or by applicable
law, disclose any particular waiver or reduction that is offered to a client or investor, or offer comparable waivers or
reductions, to other clients or investors.
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Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
MSIM offers a variety of investment strategies to address the particular investment objectives of its clients. In pursuing
these strategies, MSIM invests in a wide range of financial instruments and asset classes. The different investment
strategies offered by MSIM are described below along with the material risks associated with different investment
approaches. The lines between different strategies are not always distinct; a particular investment strategy could involve
some of the investment approaches or exhibit some of the risks associated with other strategies. In addition, certain
investment strategies involve a combination of multiple other strategies. MSIM recognizes that no single investment
strategy will ensure rewarding investment results in every political, economic and market environment. Investing in
securities and other financial instruments involves a risk of loss (which can be substantial) that clients should be prepared
to bear.
The investment approaches and material risks described below are not comprehensive. A particular investment strategy
can involve additional investment selection criteria and be subject to additional risks not described below. The principal
investment strategies and associated risks for the Funds are disclosed in the offering documents for such Funds. The
investment strategies and associated risks for Wrap Fee Programs are described in the offering materials provided by
the wrap fee program sponsor. Institutional Account clients should contact their MSIM account manager for additional
information about the specific investment strategies they have selected and the risks associated with those strategies.
MSIM engages in the following significant Equity Investment Strategies:
Emerging Markets Equity
The Global Emerging Markets Equity Strategy is a core strategy with a growth bias that seeks attractive long-term, risk-
adjusted returns by investing in emerging market equities. To achieve its objective, the strategy combines top-down
country allocation with bottom-up stock selection and disciplined risk management. The strategy exists on a global basis
as well as within regional and country specific emerging markets.
The Emerging Markets Leaders Strategy is a benchmark agnostic concentrated strategy of 25-40 stocks that seeks to
invest in companies operating in emerging markets with superior business fundamentals, quality management, strong
brands and the ability to deliver consistent earnings growth and increasing and consistent returns on invested capital.
The team looks to diversify risk with balanced country and thematic exposures.
The China A-Shares Equity Strategy is a concentrated strategy focusing on long-term fundamental investment ideas. It
seeks to invest in high-quality growth compounders at attractive valuations. We look to derive strong long-term returns
from companies that benefit from structural growth, competitive industry advantage and financial strength. The strategy
has strong bottom-up stock selection focus with deep-dive qualitative assessment and rigorous financial analysis.
The Sustainable Global Emerging Markets Strategy seeks to invest in equity securities located in emerging market
countries while integrating the consideration of sustainability risks and opportunities and sustainable development
themes in its investment decision making. The strategy integrates top-down country allocation with bottom-up stock
selection and has a core style with a quality growth bias.
The Passport Overseas Equity Strategy actively selects among developed and emerging countries applying its
investment process to determine a country’s future economic growth and equity return potential. This approach combines
a top-down country process with sector allocation and bottom-up stock selection. The team analyzes the global economic
environment and each country’s fundamentals and actively allocate assets among countries, themes and sectors located
throughout the world (the investment universe is developed markets, including the United States, and emerging markets,
including select frontier markets). Investment decisions can be implemented through sector, industry and stock-specific
allocations within and across markets.
The Next Gen Emerging Markets Strategy seeks long-term capital appreciation through investing in small emerging and
frontier markets, in what the team believes to be the next generation of emerging markets. These markets can offer
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secular growth opportunities in large, overlooked countries with low correlations to global equities. The strategy
integrates top-down macro and thematic allocation with bottom-up stock selection and has a quality growth bias, resulting
in a concentrated portfolio of high quality companies that can benefit from multi-year growth tailwinds.
Counterpoint Global
The Advantage Strategy seeks long-term capital appreciation. To achieve its objective, the investment team emphasizes
a bottom-up stock selection process, seeking attractive investments on an individual company basis. In selecting
securities for investment, the investment team typically invests in companies it believes have strong name recognition
and sustainable competitive advantages with above average business visibility, the ability to deploy capital at high rates
of return, strong balance sheets and an attractive risk/reward profile.
The Growth Strategy seeks long-term capital appreciation. To achieve its objective, the investment team seeks attractive
investments on an individual company basis. In selecting securities for investment, the investment team typically invests
in unique companies it believes have sustainable competitive advantages with above average business visibility, the
ability to deploy capital at high rates of return, strong balance sheets and an attractive risk/reward profile. The strategy
exists across market capitalizations (e.g., Inception, Discovery, Insight, Global Insight and Growth).
The Permanence Strategy seeks long-term capital appreciation. To achieve its objective, the investment team
emphasizes a bottom-up stock selection process, seeking attractive investments on an individual company basis. In
selecting securities for investment, the investment team typically invests in companies it believes have strong name
recognition and sustainable competitive advantages with above average business visibility, the ability to deploy capital at
high rates of return, strong balance sheets and an attractive risk/reward. The strategy will make long- term investments
in companies that the investment team believes have the most durable long-term competitive advantages. The strategy
could also invest in more moderate growth companies, companies with lower earnings volatility and/or companies with
some cyclicality in their end markets. This strategy exists on a U.S. and global basis (e.g., Permanence and Global
Permanence).
The Global Endurance Strategy seeks long-term capital appreciation. To achieve its objective, the investment team
emphasizes a bottom-up stock selection process, seeking attractive investments on an individual company basis. In
selecting securities for investment, the investment team typically invests in companies it believes have durable
competitive advantages, long-term growth opportunities, valuable business models and strong management teams and
an attractive risk/reward profile.
The Tailwinds Strategy seeks long-term growth. To achieve its objective, the investment team emphasizes a bottom-up
stock selection process seeking attractive investments on an individual company basis. In selecting securities for
investment, the investment team typically invests in companies it believes have competitive advantages and an attractive
risk/reward profile. The strategy will make investments in companies it believes have business strategies that are aligned
with environmental or social trends (Tailwinds) and could benefit from sustainability-related business activities in the
form of enhanced growth rates, profitability, or competitive advantages.
The Vitality Strategy seeks long-term capital appreciation. To achieve its objective, the investment team seeks attractive
investments on an individual company basis. In selecting securities for investment, the investment team typically invests
in healthcare companies it believes are principally engaged in the discovery, development, production, or distribution of
products or services related to advances in healthcare, and it believes have sustainable competitive advantages, strong
research and development and productive new product flow, financial strength, and an attractive risk/reward profile.
The Counterpoint Ventures Strategy seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns primarily through direct
investments in equity (and other securities that are expected to have equity-like returns) of private companies that the
investment team believes are high-quality, emerging-growth private companies likely to achieve a liquidity event, such as
an initial public offering or sale, within three to five years of investment. This strategy invests primarily in private companies
based and operating in North America but can also invest outside of North America.
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Global Opportunity
The Global Opportunity Team strategies seek long-term capital appreciation by investing in high quality companies that
the investment team believes are undervalued at the time of purchase. To achieve its objective, the investment team
seeks companies with sustainable competitive advantages that can be monetized through growth. The investment
process integrates analysis of sustainability with respect to disruptive change, financial strength, environmental and
social externalities and governance (also referred to as ESG). The strategies are available on a Global, Regional and
Customizable basis.
International Equity
The Global Franchise Strategy is a concentrated portfolio of high quality, well managed companies at reasonable prices
located throughout the world. Characterized by sustainable competitive advantages and hard-to-replicate intangible
assets, notably brands, networks, and licenses, these companies have high returns on operating capital which the team
believes can be sustained for the long term. Utilizing fundamental analysis and bottom-up stock selection, the strategy
seeks to generate attractive long-term capital growth. Analysis of potentially financially material ESG risks and
opportunities and active, investment team-led engagement are core parts of the investment process. This strategy is
also available excluding issuers which invest in, or derive income from, tobacco products.
The Global Quality Strategy is a relatively concentrated, portfolio of high quality, well managed companies at reasonable
prices located throughout the world. Characterized by sustainable competitive advantages and hard-to-replicate
intangible assets, notably brands, networks and licenses, these companies have high returns on operating capital which
the team believes can be sustained for the long term. Utilizing fundamental analysis and bottom-up stock selection, the
strategy seeks to generate attractive long-term capital growth. Analysis of potentially financially material ESG risks and
opportunities and active, investment team-led engagement are core parts of the investment process. This strategy is
also available excluding issuers which invest in, or derive income from, tobacco products.
The International Equity Strategy invests primarily in equity securities domiciled outside of the U.S. The strategy invests
in two types of stocks: attractively priced high quality compounders, companies that have the ability to generate high and
sustainable returns on capital employed and value opportunities, companies with attractive valuations with reasonable
and/or improving fundamentals; the mix of the two types of stocks varies over time based on company valuation and
prospects. The International Equity Strategy seeks to provide attractive returns over the long term by providing
reasonable absolute returns in rising markets. This strategy is also available with limited US exposure.
The Global Sustain Strategy is a high quality, global equity portfolio that is strong on engagement, light on carbon and
built on quality. It is a concentrated portfolio of high quality companies at reasonable valuations that can compound over
the long term. Analysis of potentially financially material ESG risks and opportunities and active, investment team-led
engagement are core parts of the investment process. The portfolio has a robust carbon-related exclusions policy and
filtering process as well as restrictions including fossil fuels, alcohol, tobacco and weapons. The Strategy seeks to
provide long-term capital growth. The team also applies ESG criteria that seeks to achieve a greenhouse gas (“GHG”)
emissions intensity for the portfolio that is significantly lower than that of the reference universe (which is defined, only
for the purposes of comparing GHG emissions intensity, as the MSCI AC World Index).
The American Resilience Strategy is a concentrated portfolio of high quality, predominantly U.S. companies featuring
hard-to-replicate intangible assets including brands, networks and licenses. The investment team uses bottom-up
fundamental analysis to invest in high quality companies at reasonable valuations that have sustainably high returns on
operating capital over the long term. Analysis of potentially financially material ESG risks and opportunities and active,
investment team-led engagement are core parts of the investment process. The strategy seeks to generate attractive
long-term returns.
The International Resilience Strategy is a concentrated portfolio of high quality, predominantly non-U.S. companies
featuring hard-to-replicate intangible assets including brands, networks and licenses. The investment team uses bottom-
up fundamental analysis to invest in high quality companies at reasonable valuations that have sustainably high returns
on operating capital over the long term. Analysis of potentially financially material ESG risks and opportunities and active,
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investment team-led engagement are core parts of the investment process. The strategy seeks to generate attractive
long-term returns.
Applied Equity Advisors
The Applied Equity Advisors team is an unconstrained, flexible global core equity manager seeking to drive excess
returns, regardless of style or regional market leadership. The team believes that individual stock and overall portfolio
performance can be maximized by using both: 1) Style Positioning and 2) Stock Selection Engines. Regarding the Style
Positioning engine, they believe the best outcomes are derived from a combination of quantitative output and qualitative
overlay to determine whether the timing is right to bias the portfolio toward or away from a particular style (value, growth,
quality) for any given region. The Stock Selection Engine begins its work once the desired factor positioning is
understood, first looking for the stocks that are most representative of the desired style biases, then performing
comprehensive fundamental research.
The Applied Equity Advisors team believes in alpha generation through a limited number of positions relative to its core
benchmarks. The strategies exist on a Global Concentrated, Global Concentrated ESG-Screened, Global Core and US
Core basis. The Global Concentrated ESG-Screened portfolio is a concentrated portfolio seeking to outperform the MSCI
World benchmark, with a negative screen for certain sectors and focus on a non-binding sustainability analysis.
The Applied Equity Advisors team also manages Enhanced Index strategies that rely fully on the team’s Style Positioning
engine. The strategies seek to achieve performance of the benchmark net of fees. The strategies hold a representative
basket of securities, closely aligned from a sector, style, and capitalization perspective with the underlying benchmark.
The strategy exists on an Enhanced Index Russell 1000 basis.
Global Multi-Asset
The Absolute Return Strategy seeks to achieve absolute returns by investing in a blend of equity and fixed income
securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers. It is a global macro strategy that seeks to identify and exploit inefficiencies
between markets, regions and sectors to deliver returns in excess of a customized financial benchmark. In seeking to
achieve this investment objective, the strategy utilizes a global tactical approach to achieving total return, and to control
risk and volatility.
The Global Tactical Asset Allocation Strategy seeks to achieve total return by investing in a blend of equity and fixed
income securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers. It is a global macro strategy that seeks to identify and exploit
inefficiencies between markets, regions, and sectors to deliver returns in excess of a customized financial benchmark.
In seeking to achieve this investment objective, the strategy utilizes a global tactical approach to achieving total return,
and to control risk and volatility.
The Multi Asset Real Return Strategy seeks total return through capital appreciation and current income. The strategy
seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in a concentrated set of inflation-sensitive assets (“Core
Real Assets”) which are managed tactically in alignment with the MSIM Global Multi-Asset team's macro views. "Core
Real Assets" include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), gold, commodities and commodity equities. The
asset mix is adjusted with the intention of delivering strong performance in higher inflation environments, with flexible
and dynamic exposure management (within prescribed ranges) to mitigate risk during periods of disinflation.
The US Value Strategy seeks capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities within the Russell 1000 Index
universe. The Strategy seeks to identify the most attractive Value stocks in the Russell 1000 Index using a proprietary
multi-factor, systematic framework for stock selection. In addition, the Strategy dynamically manages exposure to Value
stocks based on the Global Multi-Asset team’s assessment of the macroeconomic environment. A global version of the
strategy is also available, in which the team invests in Value stocks globally using a similar proprietary multi-factor,
systematic methodology for stock selection; please note the fee schedule below applies to the US Value equity Strategy;
fee schedules for global Value equity strategies, both standard and customized, are available upon request.
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We engage in the following significant Fixed Income Investment Strategies:
The Fixed Income Strategies combine a top-down assessment of the bond universe with rigorous bottom-up fundamental
and/or quantitative analysis.
The process begins with a top-down value assessment of the bond universe, including a consideration of macroeconomic
conditions, business cycles, and relative valuations. The team seeks first to identify areas where implied market forecasts
are out of line relative to historic trends and second, to identify what the catalyst will be for the market to adjust, and for
the sector to revalue. From these assessments, the team sets the broad overall investment direction. Portfolio managers
subsequently work with our research analysts to implement these ideas across fixed income portfolios, in accordance with
each portfolio’s objectives and guidelines.
Macro Analysis - The team seeks to determine which themes are driving asset prices across rates, countries, and
currencies and to evaluate the investment opportunity set based on a thematic investment thesis. The top-down process
uses a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis to identify and evaluate these investment opportunities.
Asset Allocation - The team identifies the key drivers of fixed income markets and determines the relative attractiveness
of each sector of the fixed income market, together with interest rate and currency positions. The team seeks first to
identify areas where implied market forecasts are out of line relative to historic trends and second, to identify the catalyst
for the market to adjust. Internal debate is a key feature of the team’s investment philosophy, ensuring investment ideas
are tested thoroughly. The team debates relative value across sectors and recommends broad strategy. The team
believes this creates a balanced and complete approach, ensuring that all fixed income asset classes are evaluated.
Crucially, the team examines correlations and risks across fixed income markets. Ultimately, the team aims to identify
the investments with the best risk/reward profile to implement our investment themes.
Research - Research is conducted by dedicated teams specializing in a particular sector of the fixed income market. The
research teams use in-depth fundamental analysis, complemented by quantitative tools, to generate bottom-up
investment ideas and are responsible for security selection.
The teams’ commitment to research is exemplified by the integration of the research and portfolio management teams,
which ensures that the research findings are incorporated in portfolio management activities. The portfolio managers
and research analysts interact daily through informal meetings and regularly scheduled formal meetings throughout the
week. This provides a robust forum for debate, review and implementation of investment ideas. Research analysts
provide support to the portfolio managers, as well as critical input to the investment decision- making process.
Portfolio Construction - Portfolio managers are responsible for implementing the investment strategies. They work to
construct each portfolio in a way that conforms to individual client/strategy guidelines and objectives. The portfolio
managers work with the research analysts to fill the sector buckets with bottom-up security selection ideas. This ensures
that portfolios are both consistently benefiting from the team’s best investment ideas and adhering to client guidelines and
risk/return objectives.
Broad Markets Fixed Income
The Calvert Global Green Bond strategy seeks attractive total returns while supporting positive environmental and social
impact and outcomes by investing in a globally diversified portfolio of multicurrency debt issued by government and non-
government issuers. To help achieve this objective, the strategy combines top-down macroeconomic assessment with
rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis and currency management.
The Core/Core Plus/Intermediate Core Fixed Income Strategy seeks above-average total return over a market cycle of
3-5 years, using a disciplined, research-driven approach to identify attractive value and is index aware. Many mandates
are customized to client’s objectives. The portfolio team strives to balance these risks to shape the portfolio by monitoring
interest rates, inflation, the shape of the yield curve, credit risk, prepayment risk, country risk and currency valuations.
The strategy focuses on U.S. markets.
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The European Fixed Income Opportunities Strategy seeks attractive total returns from income and price appreciation by
investing in a globally diversified portfolio of government, corporation, and nongovernment debt denominated in euro
and non-euro currencies. To achieve this objective, the strategy combines a top-down assessment of macroeconomic
conditions and the corporate bond universe with rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis.
The Global Aggregate Fixed Income Strategy seeks attractive total returns from income and price appreciation by
investing in a globally diversified portfolio of multicurrency debt issued by government and non- government issuers. To
help achieve this objective, the strategy combines a top-down macroeconomic assessment, with rigorous bottom-up
fundamental analysis and active currency management (where appropriate).
The Global Credit Strategy seeks attractive total returns from income and price appreciation by investing in a globally
diversified portfolio of multi-currency debt issued by corporations and nongovernment related issuers. To help achieve
this objective, the strategy combines a top-down macroeconomic assessment to determine optimal beta positioning for
the portfolio with rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis.
The Global Fixed Income Opportunities Strategy seeks attractive total return in any market cycle. The strategy maximizes
the benefits of its global approach across all the sub-asset classes in Fixed Income to ensure “best ideas” are included.
It focuses on absolute and risk-adjusted return over tracking error and benchmark, investing across currency, credit and
interest rate markets. The strategy includes exposures to asset classes such as emerging markets, high yield, ABS/MBS,
and convertibles.
The Global Limited Duration Strategy seeks to offer clients an attractive risk-adjusted return with low volatility. Many
mandates are customized to client’s specific objectives. The strategy focuses on global markets.
The Global Opportunistic Credit Strategy seeks attractive total returns from income and price appreciation by investing
in a globally diversified portfolio of multicurrency debt issued by government issuers. To help achieve this objective, the
strategy combines a top-down macroeconomic assessment, with rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis and active
currency management (where appropriate). The strategy will invest opportunistic in non-government debt.
The Global Sovereign Strategy seeks attractive total returns from income and price appreciation by investing in a globally
diversified portfolio of multicurrency debt issued by government issuers. To help achieve this objective, the strategy
combines a top-down macroeconomic assessment, with rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis and active currency
management (where appropriate).
The Government Bond Strategy seeks to offer clients a high level of income through value-oriented investing in U.S.
government securities.
The Strategic Income Strategy invests in fixed income securities across a spectrum of asset classes including, investment-
grade, emerging markets, high yield, ABS/MBS, and convertibles. The Portfolio’s unconstrained approach provides the
flexibility to allocate across these fixed income sectors and seek the best ideas through bottom-up security selection
globally. It focuses on absolute and risk-adjusted return over tracking error and benchmark, investing across currency,
credit and interest rate markets. The aim is also to construct a portfolio with less sensitivity to interest rate movements
and the potential to capture positive returns across varying interest rate environments.
The Sustainable Fixed Income Opportunities Strategy seeks to provide an attractive rate of return, measured in GBP,
through an active, flexible approach to investing in global fixed income securities. The investment process of the Fund
emphasizes ESG considerations and incorporates active engagement with company management regarding ESG
related issues.
The US Investment Grade Corporate Strategy is a value-oriented fixed income strategy that seeks attractive total returns
from income and price appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of predominantly investment grade debt issued
by corporations and other non-government issuers. To help achieve this objective, the strategy combines a top-down
macroeconomic assessment, to determine optimal beta positioning for the portfolio, with rigorous bottom-up fundamental
analysis.
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The U.S. Long Duration Strategy seeks above-average total return over a market cycle of 3-5 years, using a disciplined,
research-driven approach to identify attractive value and is index aware. Mandates can be customized to client’s specific
objectives.
The U.S. Short & Limited Duration Strategy seeks to offer clients an attractive risk-adjusted return with low volatility.
Many mandates are customized to client’s specific objectives. The strategy focuses on U.S. markets.
Emerging Markets Debt
The Emerging Markets Corporate Debt Strategy is a value-oriented fixed income strategy that seeks to maximize total
return from income and price appreciation by primarily investing across the credit spectrum in the debt securities of
emerging market corporate issuers. Investments are mostly denominated in U.S. currency and include non-U.S. and/or
local currencies. To achieve its objective, the team follows a disciplined investment process that combines top-down
country allocation with bottom-up credit analysis to identify undervalued emerging market corporate debt securities. All
investment recommendations undergo peer review, and final decisions with respect to portfolio construction and market-
risk exposure are made on a team basis.
The Emerging Markets Local Income Strategy is a value-oriented fixed income strategy that seeks high total return from
income and price appreciation by investing in a range of sovereign, quasi- sovereign and corporate debt securities in
emerging markets. Investments are mostly denominated in emerging market and/or non-U.S. currencies. We believe
that emerging markets experiencing positive fundamental change can present attractive investment opportunities for
investors. To help achieve its objective, the strategy combines top-down country allocation with bottom-up security
selection.
High Yield
The Global Convertible Bond Strategy is an active, value-oriented strategy that seeks long-term capital appreciation,
through investment primarily in convertible bonds issued by companies organized or operating in either the developed
or emerging markets which will be denominated in global currencies. To help achieve this objective, the strategy uses a
bottom-up, fundamental research approach, integrated with top-down macro analysis. Specific to convertible bond
analysis, the strategy seeks to keep a neutral delta, typically in a range of 30-50 in normal market environments.
The Global High Yield Strategy is an active, value-oriented fixed income strategy that seeks to maximize total returns
from income and price appreciation by investing in a globally diversified portfolio of debt issued by corporations and non-
government issuers, predominantly with below investment grade credit ratings. To help achieve this objective, the
strategy utilizes a bottom-up credit intensive approach that looks for relative value opportunities, integrated with top-
down macro analysis.
The U.S. High Yield Strategy is an active, value-oriented fixed income strategy that seeks to maximize total returns from
income and price appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of U.S. high yield debt issued by corporations and
non-government issuers, predominantly with below investment grade credit ratings. To help achieve this objective, the
strategy uses a bottom-up, credit-intensive approach that looks for relative value opportunities.
The U.S. Middle Market High Yield Strategy is an active, value-oriented fixed income strategy that seeks to maximize
total returns from income and price appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of U.S. high yield debt issued by
corporations and non-government issuers, predominantly with below investment grade credit ratings. Additionally, the
strategy has a focus on middle market issuers, which is defined as issuers with less than $1 billion of total bonds
outstanding. To help achieve this objective, the strategy uses a bottom-up, credit-intensive approach that looks for
relative value opportunities.
Mortgage and Securitized
The U.S. Mortgage Securities Strategy seeks to provide an attractive rate of return through investments in mortgage
related securities. The strategy maintains an investment-grade average credit quality, and it primarily invests in
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residential mortgage-backed securities issued by government agencies, asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-
backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities issued by private institutions.
The Global Securitized Strategy seeks to provide an attractive rate of return, through investment in a global portfolio
securitized and mortgage debt issued by government agencies and private institutions including, but not limited to,
mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. The strategy applies
a consistent, thematic, targeted bottom-up approach investment process that combines global macro fundamental
analysis, thorough research and an analysis of industry trends to help create a diversified portfolio of the whole spectrum
of the global ABS markets.
Municipals
The Taxable Municipal Strategy is an actively managed, income-oriented approach which seeks to take advantage of
relative value opportunities in the asset class. The Strategy maximizes its opportunity set by utilizing the entire taxable
municipal universe and investing across the yield curve. To help achieve this objective, the strategy uses fundamental
credit research to manage risk and capitalize on market inefficiencies, as well add adding value by maintaining a long-
term perspective and utilizing our significant experience.
Liquidity Separate Account Strategy
The Liquidity Separate Account Strategy seeks preservation of capital, liquidity, and current income as its objective. The
strategy invests in liquid, high quality U.S. dollar-denominated money market eligible instruments of U.S. and foreign
corporations (both financial and nonfinancial) and obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its
agencies and instrumentalities, foreign securities, asset-backed securities, repurchase agreements and local authority
obligations. The investment team utilizes proprietary research to drive a value-oriented, fundamental investment process
that combines bottom-up and top-down analysis.
Alternative Investment Strategy
The core of our investment approach is a research intensive strategy and manager selection process intended to exploit
market inefficiencies and other situations outside the mainstream of conventional investing while minimizing risk.
Investments managed on a discretionary basis are selected opportunistically and managed dynamically from the
complete range of liquid and private market strategies appropriate for each account. The offering documents and/or
governing documents and, in applicable cases, the client’s investment management agreement provide a fuller description
of the types of Underlying Investment Funds in which we cause an account to invest. Our personnel use a wide range
of resources to identify attractive Underlying Investment Funds and promising investment strategies for consideration in
connection with investments by the accounts. Our main sources of information include contacts with industry executives,
established business relationships, and research materials prepared by others.
Hedge Funds Strategy
Our hedge funds investment process consists of (i) investing in funds managed by Underlying Investment Managers
who employ a variety of non-traditional liquid market investment strategies; and (ii) investing in certain investment funds
managed in a traditional style.
These strategies allow Underlying Investment Managers the flexibility to use leverage or short- sale positions to take
advantage of perceived inefficiencies across capital markets and are referred to as “alternative investment strategies”.
“Traditional” investment companies are characterized generally by long only investments and limits on the use of
leverage. Underlying Investment Funds following alternative investment strategies (whether hedged or not) are often
described as “hedge funds”. We, from time to time, also seek to gain investment exposure, on behalf of an account, to
certain Underlying Investment Funds or to adjust market or risk exposure by, among other things, entering into derivative
transactions such as total return swaps, options and futures, and investments in the Risk Premia fund.
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For certain funds that employ a hedge funds investment strategy we manage a portion of such fund’s assets in overlay
strategies related to portable alpha applications of its alternative investments. Portable alpha is the process whereby
alpha (defined as the return in excess of the risk-free rate) is transported onto a traditional asset class return (such as
equities or fixed income) to enhance the return of the monies allocated to the underlying asset class without necessitating
an alteration in the investor’s asset allocation. For example, we could enter into a total return swap (with an external
counterparty) on behalf of the fund for the total return on the S&P 500 Index in exchange for payments of Libor + 50
basis points. The net return to the investor = (hedge funds return + S&P 500) - (Libor + 50 basis points).
In some situations, an Underlying Investment Manager will agree to accept direct investments from our clients or the
clients of our affiliate into an Underlying Investment Fund. We provide investment recommendations and/or portfolio
construction advisory services focusing on such Underlying Investment Funds in arrangements where the clients retain
investment discretion. For these client-direct investments, we do not utilize leverage.
Opportunistic Investments
The hedge fund Opportunistic Investments strategy focuses the allocation of assets to investing in funds managed by
Underlying Investment Managers who employ a variety of non- traditional investment strategies; (ii) direct co-
investments, which are generally minority investments in operating companies, primarily alongside existing Underlying
Investment Managers and (c) secondary market purchases of interests in Underlying Investment Funds or single
companies. Furthermore, a client can invest in privately held companies or publicly traded companies in which, in some
cases, the client invests alongside an Underlying Investment Fund that is typically an Underlying Investment Fund in
which a client has also invested directly.
Risk Premia Strategy
Depending on the investment strategy selected, certain clients invest in Underlying Investment Funds managed by an
Affiliated Adviser that invest in a broad set of Risk Premia Investments, currently expected under normal market conditions
to constitute a diverse set of different strategies or factors, including, without
limitation value, carry, curve,
trend/momentum, mean reversion, volatility, congestion opportunistic, hedge and other similar strategies, as well as
equity specific low-beta, size, value, quality and momentum strategies.
A risk budgeting layer is implemented to adjust the Risk Premia strategy’s portfolio based on the Affiliated Adviser’s
fundamental understanding of the premia. The Affiliated Adviser intends to implement the Risk Premia strategy primarily
through total return swaps, and intends to gain such exposure through multiple counterparties. It is expected that these
total return swaps will be based on custom risk premia indices, each with a published methodology containing the index-
specific rulebook regarding construction.
The Risk Premia strategy also, in certain instances, buys and sells futures, listed options and common stocks. The
Affiliated Adviser will generally invest in Risk Premia Investments directly, but can also invest indirectly, through
Underlying Investment Funds who invest in Risk Premia strategies.
Risk Premia Investments seek to generate returns through particular investments in the broader securities markets that
are designed to give exposure to independent risk factors, such as price momentum, size risk, commodity carry risk,
and currency carry risk. These strategies call for investments in securities possessing one or more attributes that have
historically been associated with, or are otherwise believed to offer, attractive investor returns as a result of their exposure
to a particular risk factor.
Private Markets
Our Private Markets strategies consist of the Private Markets Solutions business, which invests in: (i) primary
commitments to Underlying Investment Funds; (ii) co-investments, and the Private Markets secondary business,
primarily alongside our existing primary Underlying Investment Managers; and (iii) secondary market purchases of
existing private markets Underlying Investment Funds and other private markets assets. Our Private Markets strategies,
in some cases, make investments in other Underlying Investment Funds (both on a primary or secondary basis) or Co-
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Investments, such as illiquid private assets sourced from other alternative investment vehicles and/or publicly traded
securities of private markets businesses or funds (“Other Investments”).
The Private Markets investment process generally consists of making primary or secondary commitments to and co-
investing alongside private markets funds managed by Underlying Investment Funds who employ a variety of non-
traditional private markets investment strategies, including buyouts, growth capital, venture capital, distressed
companies, special situations, mezzanine, real assets, emerging markets and other categories. A client’s investment
strategy can focus on one of the aforementioned strategies or can include a mix of strategies. Certain clients can opt to
include as a part of their investment strategy a focus on investments in Underlying Investment Funds or Co-investments
that are expected to have positive social and/or environmental impact.
include
financial return and strive
Sustainable Investing Strategies and ESG Integration
MSIM’s investment teams incorporate the assessment of material ESG risks and opportunities into investment
decision−making processes, as appropriate, and according to investment teams’ particular investment strategies.
Incorporation of such ESG risks and opportunities can occur at various stages of the investment lifecycle including due
diligence and research, valuation, asset selection, portfolio construction, and ongoing engagement and investment
monitoring. Certain investment teams deploy a variety of analytical and portfolio construction approaches that extend
beyond ESG considerations, as appropriate. Those can
the use of exclusionary screens (e.g.,
sector/norms−based/sovereign/environmental/social controversies, etc.) and inclusionary screens (e.g., minimum
sustainability standards, intentional tilts toward sustainability factors, and/or threshold allocations to certain thematic
labeled/certified securities), as well as pure-play impact investing strategies that seek to achieve measurable positive
social and/or environmental objectives alongside market-rate
for portfolio-wide
transformational targets.
The specific approaches to incorporating ESG considerations vary considerably across the broad investment strategies
summarized above and could also be different among products within any single strategy. The approach to ESG and
sustainable investing depends on multiple factors including, but not limited to, the objectives of the product, asset class
and investment time horizon, as well as the specific research and portfolio construction, philosophy and process used
by that team. Some investment strategies do not incorporate ESG considerations where it is not currently feasible or
appropriate to do so as determined by the respective investment team, including, but not limited to, passive investment
strategies, certain asset allocation strategies, or where requested by clients. Clients and investors should consult their
product description, offering documentation, investment guidelines or other product-specific information, or should
otherwise confer with their contact at MSIM, in order to understand the specific nature of how ESG considerations are
incorporated into each particular investment strategy that MSIM manages for them.
Risk Considerations
All investing and trading activities risk the loss of capital. Although we will attempt to moderate these risks, no assurance
can be given that the investment activities of an account or fund we advise will achieve the investment objectives of such
account or fund or avoid losses. Direct and indirect investing in securities involves risk of loss that you should be prepared
to bear.
Set forth below are some of the material risk factors that are often associated with the types of investment strategies
and techniques and types of securities relevant to many of our clients. The information included in this Brochure does
not include every potential risk associated with an investment strategy, technique or type of security applicable to a
particular client account. An account or fund could be exposed to one or many of the following risks directly or through
an Underlying Investment Fund. Clients are urged to ask questions regarding risks applicable to a particular strategy or
investment product, read all product-specific risk disclosures and consult with their own legal, tax and financial advisors
to determine whether a particular investment strategy or type of security is suitable for their account in light of their specific
circumstances, investment objectives and financial situation.
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Risk Considerations Associated with Investing - In General. The following is a non-exhaustive description of risks
associated with investments generally and/or could apply to one or more type of security or investment technique.
General Economic, Geopolitical, and Market Risks. The success of our investment strategies, processes,
and methods of analysis, as well as any account’s activities, can be affected by general economic, geopolitical,
and market conditions, such as inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation),
interest rates (or changes in interest rates), availability of credit, market or financial system instability or
uncertainty, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, health emergencies (such as epidemics and
pandemics), terrorism, global demand for particular products or resources, natural disasters and extreme
weather events, supply chain disruptions, cybersecurity events, terrorism, social and political discord, war
(including regional armed conflict), debt crises and downgrades, regulatory events, governmental or quasi-
governmental actions, changes in laws, and national and international political circumstances.
These factors create uncertainty, and can ultimately result in, among other things: increased volatility in the
financial markets for securities, derivatives, loans, credit and currency; a decrease in the reliability of market
prices and difficulty in valuing assets, greater fluctuations in spreads on debt investments and currency
exchange rates; increased risk of default (by both government and private obligors and issuers); further social,
economic, and political instability; nationalization of private enterprise; greater governmental involvement in the
economy or in social factors that impact the economy; changes to governmental regulation and supervision of
the securities, loan, derivatives and currency markets and market participants, and decreased or revised
monitoring of such markets by governments or self-regulatory organizations and reduced enforcement of
regulations; limitations on the activities of investors in such markets; controls or restrictions on foreign investment,
capital controls and limitations on repatriation of invested capital; the significant loss of liquidity and the inability
to purchase, sell and otherwise fund investments or settle transactions (including, but not limited to, a market
freeze); unavailability of currency hedging techniques; substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of
inflation, which can last many years and have substantial negative effects on credit and securities markets as
well as the economy as a whole; recessions; and difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments. These
conditions can adversely affect the level and volatility of prices and liquidity of an account’s investments.
Unexpected volatility or lack of liquidity could impair an account’s profitability or result in losses.
The interconnectivity between global economies and markets increases the likelihood that events or conditions
in one region, sector, industry, market or with respect to one company will adversely impact markets or issuers
in other countries or regions. However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets might be
diminishing, which would impact such economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the United States, have adopted more protectionist trade policies. Slowing global
economic growth, the rise in protectionist trade policies, changes to some major international trade agreements,
risks associated with the trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the risks
associated with trade negotiations between the United States and China, could affect the economies of many
nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the current strength of the
U.S. dollar could decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain
issuers and/or industries.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine, in the Middle East, or in
eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States. Although these types of
events have occurred and could also occur in the future, it is difficult to predict when similar events or conditions
affecting the U.S. or global financial markets and economies might occur, the effects of such events or
conditions, potential retaliations in response to sanctions or similar actions and the duration or ultimate impact
of those events. Any such events or conditions could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk
profile of client portfolios and the liquidity of an account’s investments, even for clients without direct exposure
to the specific geographies, markets, countries or persons involved in an armed conflict or subject to sanctions.
Public Health Emergencies. Many countries have experienced outbreaks of infectious illnesses in recent
decades, including swine flu, avian influenza, SARS and the Coronavirus, and could experience similar
outbreaks in the future. For example, the Coronavirus outbreak resulted in numerous deaths and the imposition
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of both local and more widespread “work from home” and other quarantine measures, border closures and other
travel restrictions, causing social unrest and commercial disruption on a global scale and significant volatility in
financial markets. In addition to the impact on companies and the value of investments, the operations of MSIM
(including those relating to a portfolio) could be impacted adversely by another outbreak of an infectious disease,
including through quarantine measures and travel restrictions imposed on MSIM or service providers’ personnel
located in affected countries, regions or local areas, or any related health issues of such personnel. Any of the
foregoing events could materially and adversely affect MSIM’s ability to source, manage and divest investments
on behalf of a portfolio and pursue a portfolio’s investment objectives and strategies.
Volatility Risk. The prices of commodities contracts and all derivatives, including futures and options, can be
highly volatile. Accounts that trade in commodities contracts and derivatives are subject to the risk that trading
activity in such securities could be dramatically reduced or cease at any time, whether due to general market
turmoil, problems experienced by a single issuer or a market sector or other factors. If trading in particular
securities or classes of securities is impaired, it might be difficult for an account to properly value any of its assets
represented by such securities.
Inadequate Return Risk. No assurance can be given that the returns will be commensurate with the risk of
your investment. You should not commit money to an account unless you have the resources to sustain the loss
of your entire investment. Any losses are borne solely by you and not by us or our affiliates.
Inside Information Risk. From time to time, we could come into possession of material, non-public information
(“MNPI”) concerning an entity in which an account has invested or proposes to invest. Possession of that
information could limit our ability to buy or sell securities of the entity on your behalf. For example, if we come
into possession of information (i) that out of an abundance of caution, MSIM can restrict on the basis of nonpublic
information without first determining that it is material, (ii) that certain types of MNPI might not become public,
and could restrict trading for extended periods of time, and (iii) that MSIM seeks to establish information barriers
among certain affiliates to mitigate this risk, but those barriers might be ineffective.
Principal Investment Activities. Morgan Stanley generally invests directly in private equity and real estate
private equity through other divisions. As a consequence, other than co-investments made by certain accounts
alongside those private equity or private equity real estate fund managers into whose funds an investment team
has invested on a primary basis, not every direct private equity or private equity real estate investment that
meets an account’s investment objectives could be made available to our accounts.
Cyber Security-Related Risk. We are susceptible to cybersecurity-related risks that include, among other
things, unauthorized access attacks; mishandling, loss, theft or misuse of information; computer viruses or
malware; cyberattacks designed to obtain confidential information, destroy data, disrupt or degrade service,
sabotage systems or networks, impede our ability to execute or confirm settlement of transactions or cause
other damage; ransomware; denial of service attacks; data breaches; social engineering attacks; phishing
attacks; and other events. A cyberattack, information or security breach or a technology failure of ours or a third
party could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business or manage our exposure to risk, or result in
disclosure or misuse of personal, confidential or proprietary information and otherwise adversely impact our
results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, as well as cause reputational harm. In addition,
cybersecurity risks can also impact issuers of securities in which we invest on behalf of our clients, which could
cause our clients’ investment in such issuers to lose value.
We are subject to cybersecurity legal, regulatory and disclosure requirements enacted by U.S. federal and state
governments and other non-U.S. jurisdictions. These requirements impose mandatory privacy and data
protection obligations, including providing for individual rights, enhanced governance and accountability
requirements, and significant fines and litigation risk for noncompliance. We have adopted measures designed
to comply with these and related applicable requirements in all relevant jurisdictions.
We benefit from our affiliation with Morgan Stanley which has made and continues to make substantial
investments in cybersecurity and fraud prevention technology. As part of its enterprise risk management
framework, Morgan Stanley has implemented and maintains a program to assess, identify and manage risks
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arising from the cybersecurity threats confronting the Firm (“Cybersecurity Program”). The Cybersecurity
Program helps protect our clients, customers, employees, property, products, services and reputation by seeking
to preserve the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information, enable the secure delivery of financial
services, and protect the business and the safe operation of our technology systems. Morgan Stanley continually
adjusts the Cybersecurity Program to address the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape and comply with
extensive legal and regulatory expectations.
There can be no assurance that our business contingency and security response plans fully mitigate all potential
risks to us and that we or our service providers, if applicable, will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or
other information security breaches in the future.
Business Continuity Risk. Our critical processes and businesses could be disrupted by events including cyber
attacks, failure or loss of access to technology and/or associated data, military conflicts, acts of terror, natural
disasters, severe weather events and infectious disease. We maintain a resilience program designed to provide
for operational resilience and enable it to respond to and recover critical processes and supporting assets in the
event of a disruption impacting our people, technology, facilities and third parties. The key elements of the
resilience program include business continuity and technical recovery planning and testing both internally and
with critical third parties to validate recovery capability in accordance with business requirements. The resilience
program is applied consistently firmwide and is aligned with regulatory requirements. In the occurrence of a
business continuity event at MSIM or a vendor/service provider that does not adequately address all
contingencies, client portfolios could be negatively affected as there might be an inability to process transactions,
calculate net asset values, value client investments, or disruptions to trading in client accounts. A client’s ability
to recover any losses or expenses it incurs as a result of a disruption of business operations could be limited by
the liability, standard of care, and related provisions in its contractual agreements with MSIM and other service
providers.
Data Source Risk. MSIM subscribes to a variety of third-party data sources that are used to evaluate, analyze
and formulate investment decisions. If a third party provides inaccurate data, client accounts could be negatively
affected. While MSIM believes the third-party data sources are reliable, there are no guarantees that data will
be accurate, that errors will be detected, or that erroneous data will be timely updated.
Artificial Intelligence Technology Risk. To the extent MSIM and/or its third-party vendors, clients or
counterparties use or rely on proprietary and/or third-party technology (including artificial intelligence solutions),
such uses are subject to operational risks associated with processing or human errors, systems or technology
failures, cyber attacks, and errors caused by third-party service providers and data sources. Additionally, the
legal and regulatory environment relating to artificial intelligence is uncertain and evolving and future changes,
such as those related to information privacy and data protection, could have an impact on the use of existing or
emerging technologies, and could impact MSIM and/or its third-party vendors, clients or counterparties. It is
possible that future changes in applicable legal and regulatory requirements could increase compliance costs.
Any of these risks could adversely affect MSIM or a client’s account.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
U.S. and non-U.S. governmental agencies and other regulators regularly implement additional regulations and
legislators pass new laws that affect the investments held by MSIM’s clients, the strategies used by MSIM, or
the level of regulation or taxation applying to a portfolio or client (such as regulations related to investments in
derivatives and other transactions). These regulations and laws impact the investment strategies, performance
costs, operations or taxation of MSIM and its clients.
The regulation of the U.S. and non-U.S. securities and futures markets has undergone substantial change over
the past decade and such change could continue. In particular, in light of market turmoil there have been
numerous proposals, including bills that have been introduced in the U.S. Congress, for substantial revisions to
the regulation of financial institutions generally. In addition, regulatory change in the past few years has
significantly altered the regulation of commodity interests and comprehensively regulated the OTC derivatives
markets for the first time in the United States. Further, the practice of short selling has been the subject of
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numerous temporary restrictions, and similar restrictions could be promulgated at any time. Such restrictions
could adversely affect the returns of accounts that utilize short selling. The effect of such regulatory change on
the accounts, while impossible to predict, could be substantial and adverse.
Section 13 of the Bank Holding Company Act (commonly referred to as the “Volcker Rule”), along with
regulations issued by the Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Securities and Exchange
Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(“Implementing Regulations”) generally prohibit “banking entities” (which term includes bank holding companies
and their affiliates and subsidiaries) from investing in, sponsoring, or having certain types of relationships with,
certain private investment funds (referred to in the Implementing Regulations as “covered funds”).
The Volcker Rule and the Implementing Regulations impose a number of restrictions on Morgan Stanley and its
affiliates and subsidiaries that affect us, a covered fund offered by us, the general partner of those funds, and
the limited partners of such funds. For example, to sponsor and invest in certain covered funds, Morgan Stanley
must comply with the Implementing Regulations’ “asset management” exemption to the Volcker Rule’s
prohibition on sponsoring and investing in covered funds. Under this exemption, the investments made by
Morgan Stanley (aggregated with certain affiliate and employee investments) in a covered fund must not exceed
3% of the covered fund’s outstanding ownership interests and Morgan Stanley’s aggregate investment in
covered funds must not exceed 3% of Morgan Stanley’s Tier I capital. In addition, the Volcker Rule and the
Implementing Regulations generally prohibit Morgan Stanley and its affiliates from entering in certain other
transactions (including “covered transactions” as defined in Section 23A of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act, as
amended) with or for the benefit of, covered funds that it sponsors and/or advises. For example, Morgan Stanley
cannot provide loans, hedging transactions with extensions of credit or other credit support to covered funds it
sponsors and/or advises. While we endeavor to minimize the impact on our covered funds and the assets held by
them, Morgan Stanley’s interests in determining what actions to take in complying with the Volcker Rule and the
Implementing Regulations could conflict with our interests and the interests of the private funds, the general
partner and the limited partners of the private funds, all of which could be adversely affected by such actions.
The foregoing is not an exhaustive discussion of the potential risks the Volcker Rule poses for us.
Referendum on the UK’s EU Membership. The United Kingdom (“UK”) left the European Union (“EU”) on
January 31, 2020 (commonly known as “Brexit”). Market uncertainty remains regarding Brexit’s ramifications,
and the range and potential implications of the possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes in
the UK, EU and beyond are not yet fully known. If one or more additional countries leave the EU or the EU
dissolves, the world’s securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted.
Low or high interest rates can magnify the risks associated with rising interest rates. During periods of low
interest rates, a client’s susceptibility to interest rate risk (i.e., the risks associated with changes in interest rates)
could be magnified, its yield and income could be diminished and its performance could be adversely affected
(e.g., during periods of very low or negative interest rates, a client might be unable to maintain positive returns).
Changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, can have unpredictable effects on markets, including
market volatility and reduced liquidity, and could adversely affect a portfolio’s yield, income and performance. In
addition, government actions (such as changes to interest rates) could have unintended economic and market
consequences that adversely affect a client’s investments.
Investments in certain debt securities will be especially subject to the risk that, during certain periods, the liquidity
of particular issuers or industries, or all securities within a particular investment category, could shrink or
disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political events, or adverse
investor perceptions, whether or not accurate. Government and other public debt can be adversely affected by
large and sudden changes in local and global economic conditions that result in increased debt levels. Although
high levels of government and other public debt do not necessarily indicate or cause economic problems, high
levels of debt could create certain systemic risks if sound debt management practices are not implemented. A
high debt level could increase market pressures to meet an issuer’s funding needs, which can increase
borrowing costs and cause a government or public or municipal entity to issue additional debt, thereby increasing
the risk of refinancing. A high debt level also raises concerns that the issuer could be unable or unwilling to repay
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the principal or interest on its debt, which can adversely impact instruments held by the clients that rely on such
payments. Governmental and quasi-governmental responses to certain economic or other conditions could lead
to increasing government and other public debt, particularly when such responses are unprecedented, which
heighten these risks. Unsustainable debt levels can lead to declines in the value of currency and can prevent a
government from implementing effective counter-cyclical fiscal policy during economic downturns, can generate
or contribute to an economic downturn or cause other adverse economic or market developments, such as
increases in inflation or volatility. Increasing government and other public debt could adversely affect issuers,
obligors, guarantors or instruments across a variety of asset classes.
Recently proposed rules by the SEC related to investment advisers, to the extent adopted substantially as proposed,
could impose significant burdens, requirements, and expenses on MSIM and the funds and accounts that we
manage. The SEC and other US regulators might also adopt additional rules in the future that could have an
impact on us and client portfolios.
Risk Considerations Associated with Equity Securities–In General. In general, prices of equity securities are more
volatile than those of fixed income securities. U.S. and foreign stock markets, and equity securities of individual issuers,
have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and it is possible that they will do so again in the future.
The prices of equity securities fluctuate, sometimes rapidly or widely, in response to activities specific to the issuer of
the security as well as factors unrelated to the fundamental condition of the issuer, including general market, economic,
political and public health conditions. During periods when equity securities experience heightened volatility, such as
during periods of market, economic or financial uncertainty or distress, investments in equity securities are subject to
heightened risks. The value of equity securities and related instruments can decline in response to perceived or actual
adverse changes in the economy, economic outlook or financial markets; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest
rate, currency, and commodity price fluctuations; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer and
sector-specific considerations; unexpected trading activity among retail investors; and other factors. Market conditions
can affect certain types of equity securities to a greater extent than other types of equity securities. If the stock market
declines in value, the value of a client portfolio’s equity securities will also likely decline. Although prices can rebound,
there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.
Risk Considerations Associated with Fixed Income Securities–In General. Fixed income securities are subject to
the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations (i.e., credit risk) and are subject
to price volatility resulting from, among other things, interest rate sensitivity (i.e., interest rate risk), market perception of
the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (i.e., market risk). A client could face heightened level of
interest rate risk in times of monetary policy change and/or uncertainty, such as when the Federal Reserve Board adjusts
its quantitative easing program and/or changes rates. A changing interest rate environment increases certain risks,
including the potential for periods of volatility, increased redemptions, shortened durations (i.e., prepayment risk) and
extended durations (i.e., extension risk). Clients might or might not be limited as to the maturities (when a debt security
provides its final payment) or durations (measure of interest rate sensitivity) of the securities in which they invest.
Securities with longer durations are likely to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, generally making them more
volatile than securities with shorter durations. Lower-rated fixed income securities have greater volatility because there
is less certainty that principal and interest payments will be made as scheduled. In addition, an account might or might
not invest in securities that are rated below investment grade, commonly known as “junk bonds,” and have speculative
risk characteristics. Changes in economic conditions or other circumstances typically have a greater effect on the ability
of issuers of lower rated investments to make principal and interest payments than they do on issuers of higher rated
investments. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a lower rated investment can
lose significant value before a default occurs. Lower rated investments typically are subject to greater price volatility and
illiquidity than higher rated investments. An account might be subject to certain liquidity risks that can result from, among
other things, the lack of an active market and the reduced number and capacity of traditional market participants to make
a market in fixed income securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer or guarantor of a security, or counterparty to a
transaction, will be unable or unwilling or perceived to be unable or unwilling to make interest payments and/or
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repay the principal on its debt or otherwise honor its obligation, including the risk of default. In such instances,
an account’s value could decline and an investor could lose money. If an issuer’s, guarantor’s or counterparty’s
financial condition worsens, the credit quality of the issuer, guarantor or counterparty can deteriorate. Credit
ratings might not be an accurate assessment of financial condition, liquidity or credit risk. Although credit ratings
might not accurately reflect the true credit risk of an instrument, a change in the credit rating of an instrument or
an issuer, guarantor or counterparty, or the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of an instrument or
issuer, guarantor or counterparty can have a rapid, adverse effect on the instrument’s value and liquidity and
make it more difficult for an account to sell at an advantageous price or time.
increases certain
risks,
including
the potential
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the decline in the value of a fixed income security resulting from
changes in the general level of interest rates. A wide variety of market and economic factors can cause interest
rates to rise or fall, including central bank monetary policy, rising inflation, disinflation or deflation, and changes
in general economic conditions. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed income
securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income
securities go up but the yield or income from new issuances of fixed income securities generally decreases.
Securities with longer durations will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than securities with
shorter durations. Fluctuations in interest rates can also affect the liquidity of and income generated by fixed
income instruments. Certain accounts invest in variable and floating rate loans and other variable and floating
rate securities. Although these instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than fixed
rate instruments, the value of variable and floating rate loans and other securities can decline if their interest
rates do not rise as quickly, or as much, as general interest rates. An account could face a heightened level of
interest rate risk in times of monetary policy change and/or uncertainty, such as when the Federal Reserve
Board adjusts a quantitative easing program and/or changes rates. Changing interest rates can have
unpredictable effects on the markets and can detract from investment performance. A changing interest rate
for periods of market volatility,
environment
increased redemptions, shortened durations (i.e., prepayment risk) and extended durations (i.e., extension risk).
Monetary policies, and market interest rates, are subject to change at any time and potentially frequently based
on a variety of market and economic conditions. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which the Federal
Reserve Board will change interest rates, or the timing, frequency or magnitude of such changes.
Inflation Risk. Certain investments are subject to inflation risk, which is the risk that the value of assets or
income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money (i.e., as inflation
increases, the values of assets can decline). Inflation rates can change frequently and significantly as a result
of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy and changes in economic
policies, and a client’s investments might not keep pace with inflation, which can result in losses to investors.
Fixed income securities with longer maturities will therefore be more volatile than other fixed income securities
with shorter maturities.
Duration Risk. Duration measures the expected life of a fixed-income security, which can determine its
sensitivity to changes in the general level of interest rates. Securities with longer durations tend to be more
sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations. A portfolio with a longer dollar-weighted
average duration can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a shorter
dollar-weighted average duration. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security’s coupon payments
in addition to the amount of time until the security matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will
its duration.
Benchmark Reference Rates Risk. Many debt securities, derivatives, and other financial instruments utilize
benchmark or reference rates for variable interest rate calculations, including the Euro Interbank Offer Rate,
Sterling Overnight Index Average Rate, and the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (each a “Reference Rate”).
Instruments in which an account invests could pay interest at floating rates based on such Reference Rates or
be subject to interest caps or floors based on such Reference Rates. The issuers of instruments in which an
account invests could also obtain financing at floating rates based on such Reference Rates. The elimination of
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a Reference Rate or any other changes to or reforms of the determination or supervision of Reference Rates
could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any instruments or payments linked to those
Reference Rates.
For example, some Reference Rates, as well as other types of rates and indices, are described as “benchmarks”
and have been the subject of ongoing national and international regulatory reform, including under the European
Union regulation on indices used as benchmarks in financial instruments and financial contracts. As a result, the
manner of administration of benchmarks has changed and might further change in the future, with the result that
relevant benchmarks could perform differently than in the past, the use of benchmarks that are not compliant
with the new standards by certain supervised entities could be restricted, and certain benchmarks could be
eliminated entirely. Such changes could cause increased market volatility and disruptions in liquidity for
instruments that rely on or are impacted by such benchmarks. Additionally, there could be other consequences
which cannot be predicted.
Additional Risk Considerations Associated with Particular Markets, Security Types, Investment Techniques and
Strategies. The following provides information on risks associated with different types of securities and investment
techniques that could be used by accounts and pooled investment vehicles we advise. Additional information is available
upon request. Investors in pooled investment vehicles and funds-of-funds should review the prospectuses, offering
memoranda and constituent documents for additional information relating to the risk associated with investments in those
pooled investment vehicles and funds-of-funds, respectively.
Absolute Return Strategy Risk. An “absolute return” investment approach is generally benchmarked to an
index of cash instruments and seeks to achieve returns that are largely independent of broad movements in
stocks and bonds. Unlike client portfolios managed in equity strategies, client portfolios managed in an absolute
return strategy should not be expected to benefit from general equity market returns. Different from fixed income
funds, client portfolios managed in an absolute return strategy might not generate current income and should
not be expected to experience price appreciation as interest rates decline. Although the investment adviser
seeks to maximize absolute return, client portfolios managed in an absolute return strategy might not generate
positive returns.
Active Management Risk. The success of a client’s account that is actively managed depends upon the
investment skills and analytical abilities of the portfolio manager to develop and effectively implement strategies
that achieve the client’s investment objective. Subjective decisions made by the portfolio manager can cause a
client portfolio to incur losses or to miss profit opportunities on which it might have otherwise capitalized.
Allocation and Position Limits Risk. A client account’s performance depends upon how its assets are
allocated and reallocated, and an investor could lose money as a result of these allocation decisions and related
constraints. MSIM could be subject, by applicable regulation or issuer limitations, to restrictions on the
percentage of an issuer that can be held. For purposes of calculating positions, MSIM normally aggregates its
positions with those of its affiliates. In such situations, MSIM might be limited in its ability to purchase further
securities for its clients, even if the applicable position limits are not exceeded by positions MSIM has purchased
on behalf of its clients. In addition, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and the exchanges
on which commodity interests (futures, options on futures and swaps) are traded can impose limitations
governing the maximum number of positions on the same side of the market and involving the same underlying
instrument held by a single investor or group of related investors, whether acting alone or in concert with others
(regardless of whether such contracts are held on the same or different exchanges or held or written in one or
more accounts or through one or more brokers). When a portfolio manager trades for multiple accounts, the
commodity interest positions of all such accounts will generally be required to be aggregated for purposes of
determining compliance with position limits, position reporting and position “accountability” rules imposed by the
CFTC or the various exchanges. Swaps positions in physical commodity swaps that are “economically
equivalent” to futures and options on futures held by an account and similar accounts could also in the future be
included in determining compliance with federal position rules, and the exchanges can impose their own rules
covering these and other types of swaps. These trading and position limits, and any aggregation requirement,
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could materially limit the commodity interest positions the portfolio manager takes for an account and could
cause the portfolio manager to close out an account’s positions earlier than it might otherwise choose to do so.
Bank Loan Risk. Bank loans are subject to the risk of default in the payment of interest or principal on a loan,
which will result in a reduction of income to the account, a reduction in the value of the loan, and a potential
decrease in the account’s balance. The risk of default on loans will increase in the event of an economic
downturn or a substantial increase in interest rates. Bank loans are subject to the risk that the cash flow of the
borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, are insufficient to meet scheduled payments. In addition,
bank loans could be subject to additional risks including subordination to other creditors, no collateral or limited
rights in collateral, lack of a regular trading market, extended settlement periods, liquidity risks, prepayment
risks, potentially less protection under the federal securities laws and lack of publicly available information.
However, because bank loans reside higher in the capital structure than high yield bonds, default losses have
been historically lower in the bank loan market. Bank loans that are rated below investment grade share the same
risks of other below investment grade securities.
Bank Obligation Risk. The activities of U.S. banks, including Morgan Stanley, and most foreign banks, are
subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in
interpretation and enforcement of current laws, could affect the manner of operations and profitability of domestic
and foreign banks. In addition, banks, including Morgan Stanley, could be particularly susceptible to certain
economic factors.
Buy-Out Transaction Risk. Certain accounts can invest directly or indirectly through investment funds, in
leveraged buyouts that by their nature require companies to undertake a high ratio of leverage to available
income. Leveraged investments are inherently more sensitive to declines in revenues and to increases in
expenses.
Call Risk. Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that an issuer exercises its right to redeem a fixed
income security earlier than expected (a call). Issuers can call outstanding securities prior to their maturity for a
number of reasons (e.g., declining interest rates, changes in credit spreads and improvements in the issuer’s
credit quality). If an issuer calls a security that a client holds, the client might not recoup the full amount of its
initial investment or not realize the full anticipated earnings from the investment, and could be forced to reinvest
in lower-yielding securities, securities with greater credit risks, or securities with other, less favorable features.
China Risk. Investments in securities of Chinese issuers, including A shares, involve risks associated with
investments in foreign markets as well as special considerations not typically associated with investments in the
U.S. securities markets. For example, the Chinese government has historically exercised substantial control
over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership and
actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on
economic conditions in China. In addition, the Chinese government has taken actions that influenced the prices
at which certain goods can be sold, encouraged companies to invest or concentrate in particular industries,
induced mergers between companies in certain industries and induced private companies to publicly offer their
securities. Investments in China involve risk of a total loss due to government action or inaction or other adverse
circumstances. Additionally, the Chinese economy is export-driven and highly reliant on trade. Adverse changes
to the economic conditions, trading policies and taxation of imports of its primary trading partners, such as the
United States, Japan and South Korea, would adversely impact the Chinese economy and an account’s
investments. Moreover, a slowdown in other significant economies of the world, such as the United States,
the European Union and certain Asian countries, could adversely affect economic growth or the value of
investments in China. An economic downturn in China would adversely impact an account’s investments. In
addition, certain securities are, or could in the future, become restricted, and/or sanctioned by the U.S.
government or other governments and an account could be forced to sell or unable to purchase or sell such
restricted securities and incur a loss as a result.
Recent developments in relations between the U.S., other trading partners and China have heightened concerns
of increased tariffs and restrictions on trade between the two countries. An increase in tariffs or trade restrictions
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(and threats thereof) could lead to a significant reduction in international trade, which could have a negative
impact on China’s export industry, Chinese issuers, the liquidity or price of direct or indirect investments in China.
These and other developments, including government actions, could result in significant illiquidity risk or forced
disposition for Chinese investments. The Chinese securities markets are emerging markets characterized by a
relatively small number of equity issues and relatively low trading volume, resulting in decreased liquidity, greater
price volatility (caused by, among other things, military, diplomatic, or trade conflicts), and potentially fewer
investment opportunities. An account’s investments in Chinese securities are also subject to additional risks
associated with differing regulatory and audit requirements across the Chinese and U.S. securities markets.
Events in any one country within Asia can impact other countries in the region as a whole. For example, the
actual or potential escalation of hostility between China and Taiwan would likely have a significant adverse
impact on the value or liquidity of investments in China. In addition, ongoing political tension between the
People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region could have impacts on the
economy of Hong Kong, and these impacts remain uncertain.
Collateralized Loan Obligations (“CLOs”) Risk. Structured finance securities such as CLOs entail a variety
of unique risks. The performance of a CLO is affected by a variety of factors, including its priority in the capital
structure of the issuer thereof, the availability of any credit enhancement, the level and timing of payments and
recoveries on and the characteristics of the underlying receivables, loans or other assets that are being
securitized, remoteness of those assets from the originator or transferor, the adequacy of and ability to realize
upon any related collateral and the capability of the servicer of the securitized assets. The value of CLOs can be
difficult to determine and generally will fluctuate with, among other things, the financial condition of the obligors
or issuers of the underlying portfolio of assets of the related CLO, general economic conditions, the condition of
certain financial markets, political events, developments or trends in any particular industry and changes in
prevailing interest rates. CLOs are also subject to, among others, operational, credit, liquidity, legal, regulatory,
tax, risk retention and interest rate risks.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) Risk. CMOs are comprised of various tranches, the expected
cash flows on which have varying degrees of predictability as compared with the underlying mortgage assets.
Generally, the less predictable the cash flow, the higher the yield and the greater the risk. In addition, if the
collateral securing CMOs or any third-party guarantees are insufficient to make payments, an account could
sustain a loss.
Commodities Risk. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market
movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, such as weather, embargoes, tariffs,
health, and political, international and regulatory developments. Economic and other events (whether real or
perceived) can reduce the demand for commodities, which could reduce market prices and cause the value of
a client portfolio to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Exposure to
commodities and commodities markets can subject a client portfolio to greater volatility than investments in
traditional securities. There might be no active trading market for certain commodities investments, which could
impair the ability to sell or to realize the full value of such investments in the event of the need to liquidate such
investments. In addition, adverse market conditions can impair the liquidity of actively traded commodities
investments. Certain types of commodities instruments (such as total return swaps and commodity-linked notes)
are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the instrument will not perform or will be unable to perform in
accordance with the terms of the instrument.
Concentration Risk. A strategy that concentrates its investments in a particular sector of the market (such as
the utilities or financial services sectors) or a specific geographic area (such as a country or state) could be
impacted by events that adversely affect that sector or area, and the value of a portfolio using such a strategy
might fluctuate more than a less concentrated portfolio.
Contingent Convertible Bonds (“CoCos”) Risk. CoCos are issued primarily by non-U.S. financial companies
and have complex features and unique risk considerations that differentiate them from traditional convertible,
preferred or debt securities. Depending upon the terms of the particular issue, upon the occurrence of certain
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triggering events the securities could be mandatorily converted into common equity of the issuer (at either a
predetermined fixed rate or variable rate), or the principal of the securities could be temporarily or permanently
written down. As a result, investors in CoCos could lose all or part of their principal investment. The triggering
events will be described in the offering documents for each particular issue. However, they generally include the
issuer failing to maintain a minimum capital ratio—a subjective determination by a regulator—that triggers the
conversion or the write-down; and/or there could be other circumstances adverse to the issuer. In addition,
market value will be affected by many unpredictable factors, including but not limited to: the market value of the
issuer’s common equity, the issuer’s creditworthiness and capital ratios, any indication that the securities are
trending toward a trigger event, supply and demand for the securities, and events that affect the issuer or the
financial markets generally. There might be no active secondary market for the securities, and there is no
guarantee that one will develop. Payment of interest or dividends could be at the sole discretion of the issuer,
including prior to the occurrence of any trigger event. In most cases, the issuer is under no obligation to accrue
or pay skipped payments (i.e., payments could be noncumulative). Thus, the dividend or interest payments can
be deferred or cancelled at the issuer’s discretion or upon the occurrence of certain events. The issuer could
have the right to substitute or vary the terms of the securities in certain instances. The issuer could also have
the right, but not the obligation, to redeem all or part of the securities in its sole discretion upon the occurrence
of certain events.
Control Position Risk. Certain accounts can directly, or indirectly through investment funds, take control
positions in companies. The exercise of control over a company imposes additional risks of liability for
environmental damage, product defects, failure to supervise and other types of related liability. If such liabilities
were to arise, such accounts and investment funds would likely suffer a loss, which could be complete, on their
investments.
Convertible and Other Hybrid Securities Risk. Convertible and other hybrid securities (including preferred
and convertible instruments) generally possess certain characteristics of both equity and debt securities. In
addition to risks associated with investing in income securities, such as interest rate and credit risks, hybrid
securities can be subject to issuer-specific and market risks generally applicable to equity securities. Convertible
securities might also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus
subject to equity investing and market risks. A convertible security converted at an inopportune time could
decrease a client’s return.
Corporate Debt Risk. Corporate debt securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal
and interest payments on the obligation and can also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest
rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. When
interest rates rise, the value of corporate debt securities can be expected to decline. Debt securities with longer
maturities tend to be more sensitive to interest rate movements than those with shorter maturities. Company
defaults can impact the level of returns generated by corporate debt securities. An unexpected default can
reduce income and the capital value of a corporate debt security. Furthermore, market expectations regarding
economic conditions and the likely number of corporate defaults could impact the value of corporate debt
securities.
Counterparty Risk. A financial institution or other counterparty with whom an investor does business (such as
trading or securities lending), or that underwrites, distributes or guarantees any investments or contracts that an
investor owns or is otherwise exposed to, might decline in financial condition and become unable to honor its
commitments. This could cause the value of an investor’s portfolio to decline or could delay the return or delivery
of collateral or other assets to the investor. Although there can be no assurance that an investor will be able to
do so, the investor might be able to reduce or eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by
assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or another
creditworthy party. The investor could have limited ability to eliminate its exposure under a credit default swap if
the credit of the referenced entity or underlying asset has declined.
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Crypto Asset Risk. Crypto assets (also referred to as “cryptocurrencies,” “virtual currencies,” “coins,” “tokens,”
and “digital currencies”) are assets issued and/or transferred using distributed ledger technology. Crypto assets
constitute an emerging asset class with a limited history. From time to time, certain of MSIM’s clients will obtain
indirect exposure to crypto assets through funds, futures, and other investment products. The value of these
products is often intended to reflect the value of one or more crypto assets, and the risks of investing in these
products are similar to the risks of investing in crypto assets generally (discussed further below), as well as the
risks specific to investing in the applicable investment product (e.g., if an investment is made through a private
fund, the risks of investing in a private fund will apply).
Crypto assets facilitate decentralized, peer-to-peer financial exchange and value storage that is used like money,
without the oversight of a central authority or banks. The value of crypto assets is not backed by any government,
corporation, or other identified body. Similar to fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies are susceptible to theft, loss and
destruction.
The value of investments in crypto assets is subject to fluctuations in the value of the crypto assets, which have
been and could in the future be highly volatile. The value of crypto assets is determined by the supply and
demand for crypto assets in the global market for the trading of crypto assets, which consists primarily of
transactions on electronic exchanges. The price of a crypto asset could drop precipitously for a variety of
reasons, including, but not limited to, regulatory changes, a crisis of confidence, flaw or operational issue in the
crypto asset’s network or a change in user preference to competing crypto assets. A client’s exposure to crypto
assets could result in substantial losses to such client.Crypto assets trade on exchanges, which are largely
unregulated and, therefore, are more exposed to fraud, market manipulation, failure and other risks than
established, regulated exchanges for securities, derivatives and other currencies, and crypto assets might not
be widely accepted as a medium of exchange. In addition, these platforms (which can serve as a pricing source
for the valuation of crypto asset exposure) could be viewed as operating out of compliance with applicable laws
and regulations and could be subject to enforcement action by authorities. There could also be uncertainty on
the application of laws and regulations to such platforms. Crypto asset platforms have in the past, and could in
the future, cease operating temporarily or even permanently, resulting in the potential loss of users’ crypto assets
or other market disruptions.
Crypto asset platforms can be subject to cybersecurity and anti-money laundering requirements (among other
requirements) but do not protect customers or their markets to the same extent, and in the same ways, that
regulated securities exchanges or futures exchanges are required to do so. The prices of crypto assets on
trading platforms could be subject to larger and more frequent sudden increases and declines than assets traded
on traditional exchanges. In addition, crypto asset platforms are also particularly subject to the risk of
cybersecurity threats and have been breached and/or hacked, resulting in the theft and/or loss of crypto assets.
A cyber or other security breach or a business failure of a crypto asset platform or custodian could affect the
price of a particular crypto asset or crypto assets generally. Risk also exist with respect to malicious actors or
previously unknown vulnerabilities, which could adversely affect the value of crypto assets.
Factors affecting the further development of crypto assets include, but are not limited to: continued worldwide
growth or possible cessation or reversal in the adoption and use of crypto assets and other digital assets;
government and quasi-government regulation or restrictions on or regulation of access to and operation of digital
asset networks; changes in consumer demographics and public preferences; maintenance and development of
open-source software protocol; availability and popularity of other forms or methods of buying and selling goods
and services; the use of the networks supporting digital assets, such as those for developing smart contracts
and distributed applications; general economic conditions and the regulatory environment relating to digital
assets; tax treatment of investments in crypto assets; negative consumer or public perception; and general risks
tied to the use of information technologies, including cyber risks.
Currently, there is relatively limited use of crypto assets in the retail and commercial marketplace, which
contributes to price volatility. A lack of expansion by crypto assets into retail and commercial markets, or a
contraction of such use, could result in increased volatility or a reduction in the value of crypto assets, either of
which could adversely impact a client’s investment in crypto assets. In addition, to the extent market participants
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develop a preference for one crypto asset over another, the value of the less preferred crypto asset would likely
be adversely affected. Crypto assets are a new technological innovation with a limited history; they are highly
speculative assets and future regulatory actions or policies could limit, perhaps to a materially adverse extent,
the value of a client’s indirect investment in crypto assets and the ability to exchange a crypto asset or utilize it
as a medium of exchange.
Currency Risk. In general, the value of investments in, or denominated in, foreign currencies increases when
the U.S. dollar is weak (i.e., is losing value relative to foreign currencies) or when foreign currencies are strong
(i.e., are gaining value relative to the U.S. dollar). When foreign currencies are weak or the U.S. dollar is strong,
such investments generally will decrease in value. The value of foreign currencies as measured in U.S. dollars
can be unpredictably affected by changes in foreign currency rates and exchange control regulations, application
of foreign tax laws (including withholding tax), governmental administration of economic or monetary policies (in
the U.S. or abroad), intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks,
and relations between nations. A devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority will
have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. Currency markets
generally are not as regulated as securities markets and currency transactions are subject to settlement,
custodial and other operational risks. Exposure to foreign currencies through derivative instruments will also be
subject to the Derivatives Risks described below
Derivatives Risk Generally. Certain accounts can use derivative instruments for a variety of purposes,
including hedging, risk management, portfolio management or to earn income. A derivative is a financial
instrument whose value is based, in part, on the value of an underlying asset, interest rate, index or financial
instrument (“reference instrument” or “underlying asset”). In this context, derivatives include but are not limited
to: futures, forwards, options, participatory notes, warrants, and other similar instruments that are normally
valued based upon another or related asset. The use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse
movements in the price or value of the reference instrument, including due to failure of the counterparty or tax
or regulatory constraints. Prevailing interest rates and volatility levels, among other things, also affect the value
of derivative instruments. A derivative instrument often has risks similar to its underlying asset and can have
additional risks, including imperfect correlation between the value of the derivative and the underlying asset,
risks of default by the counterparty to certain transactions, magnification of losses incurred due to changes in
the market value of the securities, instruments, indices or interest rates to which the derivative instrument relates,
risks that the transactions might not be liquid and risks arising from margin requirements. The use of derivatives
involves risks that are different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with other portfolio
investments. Derivatives can involve the use of highly specialized instruments that require investment
techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with other portfolio investments.
Certain derivative transactions give rise to a form of leverage, which magnifies the portfolio’s exposure to the
underlying asset. Leverage associated with derivative transactions could cause an account to liquidate portfolio
positions when it might not be advantageous to do so or could cause an account’s value to be more volatile than
might have been the case absent such leverage. Derivatives risk could be more significant when derivatives
are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a
position or security held by a client portfolio. Derivatives for hedging purposes might not reduce risk if they are
not sufficiently correlated to the position being hedged. A decision as to whether, when and how to use
derivatives involves the exercise of specialized skill and judgment, and a transaction could be unsuccessful in
whole or in part because of market behavior or unexpected events. Derivative instruments can be difficult to
value, can be illiquid, and can be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the
underlying instrument. If a derivative counterparty is unable to honor its commitments, the value of a client
portfolio could decline and/or the portfolio could experience delays in the return of collateral or other assets held
by the counterparty. The loss on derivative transactions can substantially exceed the initial investment. Certain
strategies use derivatives extensively. Derivative investments also involve the risks relating to the reference
instrument. Although certain strategies seek to use derivatives to further a client’s investment objectives, there
is no assurance that the use of derivatives will achieve this result.
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Futures. A futures contract is a standardized, exchange-traded agreement to buy or sell a specific quantity of an
underlying asset, reference rate or index at a specific price at a specific future time. While the value of a futures
contract tends to increase or decrease in tandem with the value of the underlying instrument, differences
between the futures market and the market for the underlying asset can result in an imperfect correlation.
Depending on the terms of the particular contract, futures contracts are settled through either physical delivery
of the underlying instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement
date. A decision as to whether, when and how to use futures contracts involves the exercise of skill and judgment
and even a well-conceived futures transaction could be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected
events. In addition to the derivatives risks discussed above, the prices of futures contracts can be highly volatile,
using futures contracts can lower total return, and the potential loss from futures contracts can exceed an
account’s initial investment in such contracts. No assurance can be given that a liquid market will exist for any
particular futures contract at any particular time. There is also the risk of loss by an account of margin deposits
in the event of bankruptcy of a broker with which an account has open positions in the futures contract.
Options. Certain client portfolios employ an options strategy. If an account buys an option, it buys a legal contract
giving it the right to buy or sell a specific amount of the underlying instrument, foreign currency or contract, such
as a swap agreement or futures contract, on the underlying instrument or foreign currency at an agreed-upon
price typically in exchange for a premium paid by the account. If an account sells an option, it sells to another
person the right to buy from or sell to an account a specific amount of the underlying instrument, swap, foreign
currency, or futures contract on the underlying instrument or foreign currency at an agreed-upon price during a
period of time or on a specific date typically in exchange for a premium received by a client. The use of options
by accounts can entail additional risks. When options are purchased OTC, the buyer bears the risk that the
counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract.
Options can also be illiquid and a holder could have difficulty closing out its position. A decision as to whether,
when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well-conceived option
transaction could be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. The prices of options can
be highly volatile and the use of options can lower total returns.
Certain options strategies seek to take advantage of a general excess of option price-implied volatilities for a
specified stock or index over the stock or index’s subsequent realized volatility. This market observation is often
attributed to the unknown risk to which an option seller is exposed to in comparison to the fixed risk to which an
option buyer is exposed. There can be no assurance that this imbalance will apply in the future over specific
periods or generally. It is possible that the imbalance could decrease or be eliminated by actions of investors
that employ strategies seeking to take advantage of the imbalance, which would have an adverse effect on the
client portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective. Further, directional movements of the underlying index
or stock can overwhelm the volatility differential for any given option resulting in a loss, regardless of the volatility
relationship during that specific option’s term. Call spread and put spread selling strategies employed by certain
strategies are based on a specified index or on exchange-traded funds that replicate the performance of certain
indexes. If the index or an ETF appreciates or depreciates sufficiently over the period to offset the net premium
received, the client portfolio will incur a net loss. The amount of potential loss in the event of a sharp market
movement is subject to a cap defined by the difference in strike prices between written and purchased call and
put options. The value of the specified exchange-traded fund is subject to change as the values of the component
securities fluctuate. Also, it might not exactly match the performance of the specified index.
Investments in foreign currency options can substantially change an account’s exposure to currency exchange
rates and could result in losses if currencies do not perform as expected. There is a risk that such transactions
could reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the currency should move in the direction
opposite to the position taken. The value of a foreign currency option is dependent upon the value of the
underlying foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar or other applicable foreign currency. The price of the option
could vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies and has no relationship to the investment merits
of a foreign security. Options on foreign currencies are affected by all of those factors that influence foreign
exchange rates and foreign investment generally. Unanticipated changes in currency prices can result in losses
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to a client and poorer overall performance for the client than if it had not entered into such contracts. Options on
foreign currencies are traded primarily in the OTC market but can also be traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges.
Foreign currency options contracts can be used for hedging purposes or non-hedging purposes in pursuing a
client’s investment objective, such as when MSIM anticipates that particular non-U.S. currencies will appreciate
or depreciate in value, even though securities denominated in those currencies are not then held in the client’s
investment portfolio. Investing in foreign currencies for purposes of gaining from projected changes in exchange
rates, as opposed to only hedging currency risks applicable to an account holding, further increases the
account’s exposure to foreign securities losses. There is no assurance that MSIM’s use of currency derivatives
will benefit the related accounts or that they will be, or can be, used at appropriate times.
Swaps. A client could enter into OTC swap contracts or cleared swap transactions. An OTC swap contract is an
agreement between two parties pursuant to which the parties exchange payments at specified dates on the
basis of a specified notional amount, with the payments calculated by reference to specified securities, indices,
reference rates, currencies or other instruments. Typically swap agreements provide that when the period
payment dates for both parties are the same, the payments are made on a net basis (i.e., the two payment
streams are netted out, with only the net amount paid by one party to the other). A party’s obligations or rights
under a swap contract entered into on a net basis will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or
received under the agreement, based on the relative values of the positions held by each party. Cleared swap
transactions can help reduce counterparty credit risk. In a cleared swap, the ultimate counterparty is a
clearinghouse rather than a swap dealer, bank or other financial institution. OTC swap agreements are not
entered into or traded on exchanges and often there is no central clearing or guaranty function for swaps. These
OTC swaps are often subject to credit risk or the risk of default or non-performance by the counterparty. Certain
swaps have begun trading on exchanges called swap execution facilities. Exchange trading is expected to
increase liquidity of swaps trading. Both OTC and cleared swaps could result in losses if interest rates, foreign
currency exchange rates or other factors are not correctly anticipated by a client or if the reference index, security
or investments do not perform as expected. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
and related regulatory developments require the clearing and exchange trading of certain standardized swap
transactions. Mandatory exchange-trading and clearing is occurring on a phased-in basis.
The client’s use of swaps could include those based on the credit of an underlying security, commonly referred
to as “credit default swaps.” Where a client is the buyer of a credit default swap contract, it would typically be
entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation from the counterparty to
the contract only in the event of a default or similar event by a third-party on the debt obligation. If no default
occurs, the client would have paid to the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract
and received no benefit from the contract. When a client is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it typically
receives the stream of payments but is obligated to pay an amount equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value
of a referenced debt obligation upon the default or similar event of the issuer of the referenced debt obligation.
Total Return Swaps. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to
another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which can include, but
is not limited to, a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in
return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying
assets. Total return swaps can be used to obtain long or short exposure to a security or market without owning
or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. A client could incur a theoretically
unlimited loss on short exposures. In comparison, a client can incur losses on long exposures, but such losses
are limited by the fact that the underlying security’s price cannot fall below zero. Based on the strategy and
depending on the then-current positioning, an account could experience losses as a result of both its long and
short exposures to value and anti-value stocks at the same time. Total return swaps can effectively add leverage
to a client’s account because, in addition to its total net assets, the account would be subject to investment
exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Total return swaps are subject to the risk that a counterparty will
default on its payment obligations to a client thereunder, and conversely, that a client will not be able to meet its
obligation to the counterparty.
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Differing Classes of Securities Risk. Different classes of securities have different rights as creditor if the issuer
files for bankruptcy or reorganization. For example, bondholders’ rights generally are more favorable than
shareholders’ rights in a bankruptcy or reorganization. In some circumstances, the interests of clients that invest
in a company might not be aligned with the interests of other clients that invest in a different loan investment or
security issued by the same company, which could create conflicts of interest. The interests of clients investing
in different parts of the capital structure of a company are particularly likely to conflict in the case of financial
distress of the company, such as enforcement of credit rights or bankruptcy proceedings. This can result in a
loss or substantial dilution of one client’s investment, while another client receives a full or partial recovery on
its investment. For these reasons, MSIM might take certain actions on behalf of one client that are adverse to
others.
Dividend Strategy Risk. Clients invested in strategies designed to invest in dividend paying securities are
subject to certain risks. These include issuers which have historically paid dividends reducing or ceasing to pay
dividends in the future, which could additionally negatively impact the price of the security. In times of economic
stress, a large number of issuers could reduce or eliminate dividends, impacting the ability of MSIM to execute
its desired strategy.
General ESG Risk. Strategies that seek to incorporate financially material ESG factors could lose value or
otherwise underperform for a variety of reasons. ESG considerations tend to prioritize the longer-term prospects
of issuers, which are not necessarily predictive of short-term fluctuations in security prices or overall market
dynamics in the shorter term. Incorporation of ESG factors into the investment process can cause an investment
strategy to underweight or exclude certain sectors, industries or geographies relative to benchmarks or
competitors, which can result in underperformance during periods when those sectors, industries or geographies
are being more broadly favored by the overall market. Assessment of ESG factors is subjective by nature, and
there is no assurance that an investment team will correctly or consistently identify the financially material ESG
attributes of individual investments. Furthermore, MSIM is dependent on the quality and completeness of ESG-
related information and data obtained through voluntary reporting by issuers, as well as on analysis provided by
third parties, including from MSIM affiliates, in seeking to incorporate financially material ESG factors into the
selection process for investments. The risk associated with this dependency is especially pronounced for
markets, geographies and asset classes where the quality and extent of available information and reporting are
lower. All of the risks described above are present both where MSIM integrates ESG factors into its research
process for individual security selection and where it applies formal exclusionary screens as part of its investment
process.
ESG Focused Strategy Risks. MSIM manages certain accounts and strategies for which, in addition to
incorporating financially material ESG factors into the investment process, MSIM adopts an explicit emphasis
on ESG and/or sustainability attributes of the portfolio. This type of strategy tends to augment the risks
associated with incorporated ESG investing and can expose client accounts to additional risks over and above
the General ESG Risk described above. In certain situations, environmental and social factors can outweigh
financial considerations. For example, MSIM could choose to make an investment that has a lower expected
financial return when compared to other possible investments due to ESG considerations, such as where the
investment has the potential to have a greater environmental and/or social impact. In addition, MSIM could reject
an opportunity to increase the financial return of an existing investment in order to preserve the environmental
and/or social impact of such investment. Further, MSIM could refrain from disposing of an underperforming
investment for a period of time in order to minimize the negative environmental and/or social impact of such
disposition. As a result of the foregoing, these portfolios or accounts are subject to the risk that they achieve
lower returns than if MSIM did not adopt an explicit focus on ESG and/or sustainability considerations, including
the environmental and/or social impact of investments and investment-related decisions. Clients should also be
aware that their perception of the ESG attributes, or the social and environmental impact, of their investment
portfolio could differ from MSIM’s or a third party’s assessment of how that portfolio adheres to ESG principles.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs have many of the same risks as direct investments in common stocks or bonds and
their market value is expected to rise and fall as the value of the underlying securities or index rises and falls. As
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MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
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a shareholder in an ETF, a portfolio would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses while continuing to pay
its own investment management fees and other expenses. As a result, the account or the fund and its
shareholders will, in effect, be absorbing duplicate levels of fees. There can be a lack of liquidity in certain ETFs
which can lead to a large difference between the bid-ask prices (increasing the costs of buying or selling the
ETF). A lack of liquidity also could cause an ETF to trade at a large premium or discount to its net asset value.
Additionally, an ETF might suspend issuing new shares, which could result in an adverse difference between
the ETF’s publicly available share price and the actual value of its underlying investment holdings. At times when
underlying holdings are traded less frequently, or not at all, an ETF’s returns also could diverge from the
benchmark it is designed to track. In addition, certain ETFs in which an account could invest are leveraged.
While leveraged ETFs can offer the potential for greater return, the potential for loss and the speed at which
losses can be realized also are greater. Leveraged ETFs can deviate substantially from the performance of their
underlying benchmark over longer periods of time, particularly in volatile periods.
ETN Risk. An exchange-traded note (ETN) is a debt obligation and its payments of interest or principal are
linked to the performance of a referenced investment (typically an index). ETNs are subject to the performance
of their issuer and can lose all or a portion of their entire value if the issuer fails or its credit rating changes. An
ETN that is tied to a specific index might not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and
weighting of the components of that index. ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by the referenced
investment and the cost of owning an ETN could exceed the cost of investing directly in the referenced
investment. The market trading price of an ETN can be more volatile than the referenced investment it is
designed to track. ETNs can often be purchased at prices that exceed net asset value and be sold at prices
below such value. A client account might not be able to liquidate ETN holdings at the time and price desired,
which could impact performance.
Exchange-Listed Equities via Stock Connect Program Risk. The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect
program and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (“Stock Connect”) allow non-Chinese investors
(such as accounts or pooled investment vehicles) to purchase certain listed equities via brokers in Hong Kong.
Although Stock Connect allows non-Chinese investors to trade Chinese equities without a license, purchases of
securities through Stock Connect are subject to daily market-wide quota limitations, which could prevent an
investor from purchasing Stock Connect securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so. An investor
cannot purchase and sell the same security on the same trading day, which could restrict an investor’s ability to
invest in China A-shares through Stock Connect and to enter into or exit trades where it is advantageous to do
so on the same trading day. Because Stock Connect trades are routed through Hong Kong brokers and the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange, these limitations could prevent an investor from purchasing Stock Connect
securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so. Stock Connect is affected by trading holidays in either
China or Hong Kong, and there are trading days in China when Stock Connect investors will not be able to trade.
As a result, prices of securities purchased through Stock Connect could fluctuate at times when an investor is
unable to add to or exit its position. Only certain China A-shares are eligible to be accessed through Stock
Connect. Such securities could lose their eligibility at any time, in which case they could be sold but could no
longer be purchased through Stock Connect. Because Stock Connect is relatively new, its effects on the market
for trading China A-shares are uncertain. In addition, the trading, settlement and IT systems required to operate
Stock Connect are relatively new and continuing to evolve. In the event that the relevant systems do not function
properly, trading through Stock Connect could be disrupted.
Stock Connect is subject to regulation by both Hong Kong and China. There can be no assurance that further
regulations will not affect the availability of securities in the program, the frequency of redemptions or other
limitations. For defaults by Hong Kong brokers occurring on or after January 1, 2020, the Hong Kong Investor
Compensation Fund will cover losses incurred by investors with a cap of HK$500,000 per investor for securities
traded on a stock market operated by the Shanghai Stock Exchange and/or Shenzhen Stock Exchange and in
respect of which an order for sale or purchase is permitted to be routed through the northbound link of the Stock
Connect. In China, Stock Connect securities are held on behalf of ultimate investors by the Hong Kong Securities
Clearing Company Limited (“HKSCC”) as nominee. The investor could therefore depend on HKSCC’s ability or
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willingness as record-holder of Stock Connect securities to enforce the investor’s shareholder rights. While
Chinese regulators have affirmed that the ultimate investors hold a beneficial interest in Stock Connect
securities, the law surrounding such rights is in its early stages and the mechanisms that beneficial owners could
use to enforce their rights are untested and therefore pose uncertain risks. Further, courts in China have limited
experience in applying the concept of beneficial ownership and the law surrounding beneficial ownership will
continue to evolve as they do so. Accordingly, there is a risk that as the law is tested and developed, an investor’s
ability to enforce its ownership rights could be negatively impacted. An investor could not be able to participate
in corporate actions affecting Stock Connect securities due to time constraints or for other operational reasons.
The investor will not be able to attend shareholders’ meetings. Stock Connect trades are settled in RMB, the
Chinese currency, and investors must have timely access to a reliable supply of RMB in Hong Kong, which
cannot be guaranteed.
Stock Connect trades are either subject to certain pre-trade requirements or must be placed in special
segregated accounts that allow brokers to comply with these pre-trade requirements by confirming that the
selling shareholder has sufficient Stock Connect securities to complete the sale. If an investor does not utilize a
special segregated account, it will not be able to sell the shares on any trading day where it fails to comply with
the pre-trade checks. In addition, these pre- trade requirements could, as a practical matter, limit the number of
brokers that an investor could use to execute trades. While an investor could use special segregated accounts
in lieu of the pre-trade check, some market participants have yet to fully implement IT systems necessary to
complete trades involving securities in such accounts in a timely manner. Market practice with respect to special
segregated accounts is continuing to evolve. Investments via Stock Connect are subject to regulation by Chinese
authorities. Chinese law could require aggregation of an investor’s holdings of Stock Connect securities with
securities of other clients of the Adviser for purposes of disclosing positions held in the market, acquiescing to
trading halts that could be imposed until regulatory filings are completed or complying with China’s short-term
trading rules.
Since the inception of Stock Connect, foreign investors investing in China A-shares through Stock Connect have
been temporarily exempt from Chinese corporate income tax and value-added tax on the gains on disposal of
such China A- shares. Dividends are subject to Chinese corporate income tax on a withholding basis at 10%
unless reduced under a double tax treaty with China upon application to and obtaining approval from the
competent tax authority. Additionally, uncertainties in permanent Chinese tax rules governing taxation of income
and gains from investments in Stock Connect China A-shares could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the
investor. The risks related to investments in China A shares through Stock Connect are heightened to the extent
that the investor invests in China A shares listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board on the
Shanghai stock exchange (“STAR market”) and/or the ChiNext market of the Shenzhen stock exchange
(“ChiNext market”). Listed companies on the STAR market and ChiNext market are usually of an emerging
nature with smaller operating scale. They are subject to higher fluctuation in stock prices and liquidity. China A
shares listed on ChiNext market and STAR market could be overvalued and such exceptionally high valuation
could not be sustainable. Further, stock prices could be more susceptible to manipulation due to fewer circulating
shares. It could be more common and faster for companies listed on the STAR market and ChiNext market to
delist. In particular, ChiNext market and STAR market have stricter criteria for delisting compared to other
boards. Investments through the ChiNext market and/or STAR market could result in significant losses for the
investor.
Foreign and Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in foreign markets entail special risks such as currency,
political (including geopolitical), economic and market risks and heightened risks, that can result in losses to an
account. There also could be greater market volatility, less reliable financial information, less stringent investor
protections and disclosure standards, higher transaction and custody costs, decreased market liquidity and less
government and exchange regulation associated with investments in foreign markets. In addition, investments
in certain foreign markets that have historically been considered stable could become more volatile and subject
to increased risk due to developments and changing conditions in such markets. Moreover, the interconnectivity
of global economies and financial markets has increased the probability that adverse developments and
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conditions in one country or region will affect the stability of economies and financial markets in other countries
or regions. Certain foreign markets rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable
to diplomatic developments (including regional and global, military or other conflicts), the imposition of economic
sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals,
changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers (including tariffs) and other protectionist or retaliatory
measures. Investments in foreign markets could also be adversely affected by governmental interventions or
other actions such as the imposition of capital controls, tariffs, sanctions, nationalization of companies or
industries, expropriation of assets, the imposition of punitive taxes or threatened or active armed conflict. The
governments of certain countries could prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their
capital markets or in certain sectors or industries. Also, as a result of economic sanctions, we could be forced
to sell or otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, which could result in losses to clients
and increased transaction costs. In addition, a foreign government could limit or cause delay in the convertibility
or repatriation of its currency which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments
denominated in that currency. Certain foreign investments might become less liquid and decline in value in
response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions or become illiquid after purchase by an
investor, particularly during periods of market, economic, political and social turmoil. When an investor holds
illiquid investments, its portfolio could be harder to value.
The risks of investing in emerging market countries are greater than risks associated with investments in foreign
developed countries. Emerging market or developing countries are be more likely to experience political turmoil
or rapid changes in economic conditions than more developed countries, and the financial condition of issuers
in emerging market or developing countries can be more precarious than in other countries. Certain emerging
market countries are subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting
and record keeping and therefore, material information related to an investment might not be available or reliable.
Such emerging market countries could also subject an account to greater risk associated with the custody of its
securities than developed markets, which can adversely affect an investment. In addition, investments in
emerging market or developing countries could be subject to expropriation, nationalization and confiscation of
assets and property. An account is limited in its ability to exercise its legal rights or enforce a counterparty’s legal
obligations in certain jurisdictions outside of the United States, in particular, in emerging markets countries.
In addition, investments in foreign issuers could be denominated in foreign currencies and therefore, to the
extent unhedged, the value of those investments will fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates. To the extent
hedged by the use of foreign currency forward exchange contracts, the precise matching of the foreign currency
forward exchange contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible
because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market
movements in the value of those securities between the date on which the contract is entered into and the date
it matures. There is additional risk that such transactions could reduce or preclude the opportunity for gain if the
value of the currency should move in the direction opposite to the position taken and that foreign currency
forward exchange contracts create exposure to currencies in which an account’s securities are not denominated.
The use of foreign currency forward exchange contracts involves the risk of loss from the insolvency or
bankruptcy of the counterparty to the contract or the failure of the counterparty to make payments or otherwise
comply with the terms of the contract. As discussed above, economic sanctions could be, and have been,
imposed against certain countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Economic sanctions
and other similar governmental actions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate an account’s
ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities, and thus could make an account’s investments in
such securities less liquid or more difficult to value. Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign
markets differ significantly from those in the United States. Pursuant to regulatory changes effective in May
2024, many U.S., Canadian, and Mexican securities transitioned to a “T+1” (trade date plus one day) settlement
cycle, while securities trading in most other markets typically have longer settlement cycles. As a result, there
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can be potential operational, settlement and other risks associated with differences in settlement cycles between
markets.
Economic sanctions or other similar measures could be, and have been, imposed against certain countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals. Investments in foreign securities are subject to economic
sanctions and trade laws in the United States and other jurisdictions. These laws and related governmental
actions, including counter-sanctions and other retaliatory measures, can, from time to time, prevent or prohibit
an investor from investing in certain foreign securities. In addition, economic sanctions could prohibit an investor
from transacting with particular countries, organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals by banning them
from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, restricting their ability to settle securities
transactions, and freezing their assets. The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among
other things, cause a decline in the value of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located
in or economically linked to the sanctioned country, downgrades in the credit ratings of the sanctioned country
or companies located in or economically linked to the sanctioned country, devaluation of the sanctioned country’s
currency, and increased market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world.
Economic sanctions or other similar measures could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate an
investor’s ability to purchase or sell securities, negatively impact the value or liquidity of a portfolio of
investments, significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, force an investor to sell or
otherwise dispose of investments at inopportune times or prices, or impair our ability to meet a client’s investment
objective or invest in accordance with a client’s investment strategy. These conditions could be in place for a
substantial period of time and enacted with limited advanced notice.
Foreign Money Market Securities Risks. Investing in money market securities of foreign issuers involves some
risks additional to those involved in investing in comparable US money market securities, including higher cost
of investing and the possibility of adverse political, economic or other developments affecting the issuers of
these securities.
Growth Investing Risk. Growth investing attempts to identify companies that will experience rapid earnings
growth relative to value or other types of stocks. Growth stocks could trade at higher multiples of current earnings
compared to other types of stock or styles of investing (e.g., value), leading to inflated prices and thus potentially
greater declines in value. The performance of growth strategies could be better or worse than the performance
of equity strategies that focus on value stocks or that have a broader investment style.
Hedge Correlation Risk. Certain strategies seek to maintain substantially offsetting exposures and follow a
generally market-neutral approach. Hedging instruments utilized for these strategies might not maintain the
intended correlation to the investment being hedged or otherwise fail to achieve their intended purpose. Failure
of the hedge instruments to track a client portfolio’s investments could result in the client portfolio having
substantial residual exposure to market risk.
Hedging Strategy Risks. Certain client accounts, portfolios, and pooled investment vehicles could, but are not
required, to engage in transactions designed to reduce the risk or to protect the value of their investments,
including securities and currency hedging transactions. These hedging strategies could involve a variety of
derivative transactions, including transactions in forward, swap and option contracts or other financial
instruments with similar characteristics, including, without
limitation, forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency and interest rate swaps, options and short sales (collectively “Hedging Instruments”). Certain
risks associated with Hedging Instruments are further detailed under “Derivative Risks.” Hedging against a
decline in the value of a portfolio position does not eliminate fluctuations in the values of portfolio positions or
prevent losses if the values of those positions decline, but establishes other positions designed to gain from
those same developments, thus offsetting the decline in the portfolio positions’ value. While these transactions
can reduce the risks associated with an investment, the transactions themselves entail risks that are different
from and possibly greater than, the risks associated with other portfolio investments. The use of Hedging
Instruments could require investment techniques and risks analyses different from those associated with other
portfolio investments. The risks posed by these transactions include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk,
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market risk, the risk that these complex instruments and techniques will not be successfully evaluated, monitored
or priced, the risk that counterparties will default on their obligations, liquidity risk and leverage risk. Changes in
liquidity can result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. Thus, while the
accounts might benefit from the use of Hedging Instruments, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities
prices or currency exchange rates could result in a poorer overall performance for the accounts than if they had
not used such Hedging Instruments.
High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) Risk. An account’s investments in high yield securities, investments
typically rated below investment grade and comparable unrated investments, have speculative characteristics
which expose such investments to a substantial degree of credit and default risks associated with their issuers.
Some high yield securities are issued by companies that are restructuring, are smaller and less creditworthy or
are more highly leveraged or indebted than other companies, and therefore they typically have more difficulty
making scheduled payments of principal and interest than issuers of higher rated investments. High yield
securities are also subject to greater price volatility, including sudden and substantial decreases in price, and
less liquidity than higher rated securities. High yield securities are particularly sensitive to adverse economic,
market, industry or issuer-specific developments, which can result in an increased incidence of default. A
default could cause certain accounts to incur additional expenses to seek recovery or to negotiate new terms
with the defaulting issuer.
Income Risk. A portfolio’s ability to generate income will depend on the yield available on the securities held by
the portfolio. In the case of equity securities, changes in the dividend policies of companies held by a client
portfolio could make it difficult for the portfolio to generate a predictable level of income. The use of dividend-
capture strategies to generate income will generally expose a client portfolio to higher portfolio turnover,
increased trading costs and the potential for capital loss or gain, particularly in the event of significant short-term
price movements of stocks subject to dividend capture trading.
Inflation-Linked Security Risk. Inflation-linked debt securities are subject to the effects of changes in market
interest rates caused by factors other than inflation (real interest rates). In general, the price of an inflation-linked
security tends to decrease when real interest rates increase and can increase when real interest rates decrease.
Interest payments on inflation-linked securities can vary widely and will fluctuate as the principal and interest are
adjusted for inflation. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked debt security will likely be
considered taxable ordinary income, even though the portfolio will not receive the principal until maturity. There
can be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices
of goods and services. A portfolio’s investments in inflation-linked securities could lose value in the event that
the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation index.
Issuer Diversification Risk. A Fund or strategy could be “non-diversified,” which means it invests a greater
percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer than a fund that is “diversified.” Non-diversified Funds
and strategies focus their investments in a small number of issuers, making them more susceptible to risks
affecting such issuers than a more diversified fund might be.
Lending Portfolio Securities Risk. Certain clients are permitted to lend their securities to brokers, dealers and
other financial institutions needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions. The client continues to
be entitled to payments in amounts equal to the interest, dividends or other distributions payable in respect of the
loaned securities, which affords the client an opportunity to earn interest on the amount of the loan and on the
loaned securities’ collateral. In connection with any such transaction, the client will receive collateral consisting
of liquid, unencumbered assets, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable letters of credit that will be maintained
at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. The client
might experience loss if the institution with which the client has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches
its agreement with the client.
Loans of securities involve a risk that the borrower fails to return the securities or to maintain the proper amount
of collateral, which could result in losses. There can be risks of delay and costs involved in recovery of securities
or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. These delays and
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costs could be greater for foreign securities. However, loans will be made only to borrowers deemed to be
creditworthy and when the income that can be earned from such securities loans justifies the attendant risk. The
account also bears the risk that the reinvestment of collateral will result in a principal loss. Finally, there is the
risk that the price of the securities will increase while they are on loan and the collateral will not be adequate to
cover their value. The account might also experience loss if the institution with which the account has engaged
in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the account.
Leverage Risk. Certain accounts, such as pooled investment vehicles, are permitted to borrow money (and/or
establish a line of credit) to provide for opportunistic asset allocation, facilitate payments on withdrawal and to
remain fully invested in anticipation of future contributions. Additionally, these accounts can enter into various
derivatives (such as options, futures and swaps) that have implicit or internal leverage in that the notional value
of the derivative instrument is much larger than the cash needed to establish and maintain the derivative
instrument. Although leverage will increase the account’s investment return if the investment purchased with
borrowed funds earns a greater return than the interest expense the pooled investment vehicle pays for the use
of those funds, the use of leverage will decrease the return on the pooled investment vehicle if the pooled
investment vehicle fails to earn as much on its investment purchased with borrowed funds as it pays for the use
of those funds. Leverage and borrowing can cause the value of a client portfolio to be more volatile than if it had
not been leveraged, as certain types of leverage exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value
of securities in a client portfolio. The use of leverage will in this way magnify the volatility of changes in the value
of an investment in the pooled investment vehicle, especially in times of a “credit crunch” or during general
market turmoil. An account might be required to segregate liquid assets or otherwise cover the obligation created
by a transaction that gives rise to leverage. To satisfy the account’s obligations or to meet segregation
requirements, an account could be forced to liquidate portfolio positions when it is not advantageous to do so.
Leverage and borrowing can lead to additional costs to clients, including interest and fees. Losses on leveraged
transactions can substantially exceed the initial investment.
Line of Credit. Certain accounts could obtain a line of credit for bridge purposes to facilitate their investment
activities. Should an account obtain such a line of credit, it could be required to pledge all of its assets as collateral
and could also be required to pay commitment fees and non-use fees, even if such line of credit is never used.
The risks associated with such a line of credit include interest expense risk, and, in the unlikely event that the
value of the collateral pledged to secure such a line of credit were to decline significantly, the pooled investment
vehicle could be forced to liquidate its assets to satisfy its repayment obligations under such line of credit.
Liquidity Risk. A client portfolio is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker or
trading partner, large position size, market conditions, or legal restrictions impair its ability to sell particular
investments or to sell them at advantageous market prices. Consequently, the client portfolio might have to
accept a lower price to sell an investment or continue to hold it or keep the position open, sell other investments
to raise cash or abandon an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the portfolio’s
performance. These effects can be exacerbated during times of financial or political stress.
Loans Risks. Investments in loans are subject to the risks generally associated with other debt obligations (such
as credit and interest rate risk and risks of lower rated investments). Loans are also subject to additional risks,
including subordination to other creditors, no collateral or limited rights in collateral, increased liquidity risks and
lack of publicly available information. Loans are subject to the risk of default in the payment of interest or
principal, which will result in a reduction of income or other losses to an account. Loans are traded in a private,
unregulated inter-dealer or inter-bank resale market and are generally subject to contractual restrictions that
must be satisfied before a loan can be bought or sold. These restrictions can impede the client portfolio’s ability
to buy or sell loans (thus affecting their liquidity) and negatively impact the transaction price. It also can take
longer than seven days for transactions in loans to settle. Due to the possibility of an extended loan settlement
process, an investor that holds loan might hold cash, sell investments or temporarily borrow from banks or other
lenders to meet short-term liquidity needs, such as to satisfy redemption requests from fund shareholders The
types of covenants included in loan agreements generally vary depending on market conditions, the
creditworthiness of the issuer, the nature of the collateral securing the loan and possibly other factors. Loans
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with fewer covenants that restrict activities of the borrower can provide the borrower with more flexibility to take
actions that could be detrimental to the loan holders and provide fewer investor protections in the event of such
actions or if covenants are breached. The client portfolio could experience relatively greater realized or
unrealized losses or delays and expense in enforcing its rights with respect to loans with fewer restrictive
covenants. Loans to entities located outside of the U.S. can have substantially different lender protections and
covenants as compared to loans to U.S. entities and generally involve greater and additional risks. An investor
that holds loans might have difficulties and incur expense enforcing its rights with respect to loans and non-U.S.
loans could be subject to bankruptcy laws that are materially different than in the U.S. Loans can be structured
such that they are not securities under securities laws, and in the event of fraud or misrepresentation by a
borrower, lenders might not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Loans
are also subject to risks associated with other types of income investments, including credit risk and risks of
lower rated investments. In addition, bank loans are subject to the risk of default in the payment of interest or
principal on a loan. The risk of default on loans will increase in the event of an economic downturn or a
substantial increase in interest rates. Because some loans rank lower in priority of payment to other loans and
other obligations, such loans present a greater degree of investment risk and can exhibit greater price volatility.
Maturity Risk. Interest rate risk will generally affect the price of a fixed income security more if the security has
a longer maturity. Fixed income securities with longer maturities will therefore be more volatile than other fixed
income securities with shorter maturities. Conversely, fixed income securities with shorter maturities will be less
volatile but generally provide lower returns than fixed income securities with longer maturities. The average
maturity of a client portfolio’s investments will affect the volatility of the portfolio’s rate of return.
Mezzanine Loans. Certain loans could be in a junior or subordinate position to senior financing either because
the loans are a second lien on the asset or are secured by a direct or indirect lien on the equity of the owner of
the underlying asset (i.e., mezzanine debt). In certain circumstances, in order to protect its investment, an MSIM
client could decide to repay all or a portion of the senior indebtedness relating to the particular loan or to cure
defaults with respect to such senior indebtedness. Mezzanine investments are also expected to be a highly
illiquid investment. In a bankruptcy of a borrower, those loans that are not secured by a lien on the underlying
asset would have a priority no greater than other general creditors of the borrower. In addition to repayment risks,
these subordinate positions might be “soft,” meaning subject to restrictions on enforcement rights prior to maturity
or foreclosure of the senior position. These restrictions could adversely affect the MSIM client’s rights to realize
upon or control the underlying assets.
Model and Quantitative Risk. Some strategies can include the use of various proprietary or third-party
quantitative or investment models. There could be deficiencies in the design or operation of these models,
including as a result of shortcomings or failures of processes, people or systems. Investments selected using
models could perform differently than expected as a result of the factors used in the models, the weight placed
on each factor, changes from the factors’ historical trends, and technical issues in the construction and
implementation of the models (including, for example, data problems and/or software issues). Moreover, the
effectiveness of a model can diminish over time, including as a result of changes in the market and/or changes
in the behavior of other market participants. A model’s return mapping is based on historical data regarding
particular asset classes. Certain strategies can be dynamic and unpredictable, and a model used to estimate
asset allocation might not yield an accurate estimate of the then current allocation. Operation of a model could
result in negative performance, including returns that deviate materially from historical performance, both actual
and pro-forma. Additionally, commonality of holdings across quantitative money managers can amplify losses.
There is no guarantee that the use of these models will result in effective investment decisions for clients. In the
case of third-party models, such techniques have not been independently tested or validated, and there can be
no assurance that these techniques will achieve the desired results. If these techniques have errors or are flawed
or incomplete and such issues are not identified, such models could have an adverse effect on client investment
performance.
Money Market Funds Risk. An investment in a money market fund is neither insured nor guaranteed by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. Money market funds could
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lose money. Although many money market funds classified as government funds (i.e., money market funds that
invest 99.5% of total assets in cash and/or securities backed by the U.S. government) and retail funds (i.e.,
money market funds open to natural person investors only) seek to maintain a stable $1.00 per share, they
cannot guarantee they will do so. The price of other money market funds will fluctuate and when an account sells
shares, they could be worth more or less than originally paid. Some money market funds impose, or are permitted
to impose, a fee upon sale or temporarily suspend sales if liquidity falls below required minimums. During
suspensions, shares would not be available for withdrawals. Moreover, in some circumstances, money market
funds could cease operations when the value of a fund drops below $1.00 per share. In that event, the fund’s
holdings could be liquidated and distributed to the fund’s shareholders. This liquidation process can be prolonged
in nature and last for months. During this time, these funds would not be available for withdrawal.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities represent
interests in “pools” of commercial or residential mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or
receivables. The purchase of mortgage- and asset-backed securities issued by non-government entities can
entail greater risk than such securities that are issued or guaranteed by a government entity. Mortgage- and
asset-backed securities issued by non-government entities might offer higher yields than those issued by
government entities but can be subject to greater volatility than government issues and can also be subject to
greater credit risk and the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or other assets. Investments in mortgage-
and asset-backed securities are subject to both extension risk, where borrowers pay off their debt obligations
more slowly in times of rising interest rates, and prepayment risk, where borrowers pay off their debt obligations
sooner than expected in times of declining interest rates. Movements in interest rates (both increases and
decreases) can quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain types of mortgage- and asset-backed
securities. Although certain mortgage- and asset-backed securities are guaranteed as to timely payment of
interest and principal by a government entity, the market price for such securities is not guaranteed and will
fluctuate. Asset-backed securities are subject to the risk that various federal and state consumer laws and other
legal and economic factors could result in the collateral backing the securities being insufficient to support
payment on the securities. In addition, an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages and assets held
by a pool or mortgages or other assets could adversely affect the value of a mortgage- or asset-backed security
and could result in losses to the account. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage
pools that include subprime mortgages. Leverage can cause an account to be more volatile than if an account
had not been leveraged. The risks associated with mortgage- and asset-backed securities typically become
elevated during periods of distressed economic, market, health and labor conditions. In particular, increased
levels of unemployment, delays and delinquencies in payments of loan, mortgage, and rent obligations, and
uncertainty regarding the effects and extent of government intervention with respect to debt payments and other
economic matters can adversely affect investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities.
Municipal Securities Risk. The income of municipal securities is generally exempt from federal income tax at
the time of issuance, however, a client could purchase municipal securities that pay interest that is subject to
the federal alternative minimum tax, and municipal securities on which the interest payments are taxable. These
securities typically are “general obligation” or “revenue” bonds, notes or commercial paper including participation
in lease obligations and installment purchase contracts of municipalities. General obligation bonds are secured
by the issuer’s full faith and credit as well as its taxing power for payment of principal or interest. Thus, these
bonds can be vulnerable to limits on a government’s power or ability to raise revenue or increase taxes and its
ability to maintain a fiscally sound budget. The timely payments could also be influenced by any unfunded
pension liabilities or other post-employee benefit plan liabilities. These bonds could also depend on legislative
appropriation and/or funding or other support from other governmental bodies in order to make payments.
Revenue bonds, however, are generally payable from a specific revenue source, and therefore involve the risk
that the tax or other revenues so derived will not be sufficient to meet interest and or principal payment
obligations. These obligations could have fixed, variable or floating rates. As a result, these bonds historically
have been subject to a greater risk of default than general obligation bonds because investors can look only to
the revenue generated by the project or other revenue source backing the project, rather than to the general
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taxing authority of the state or local government issuer of the obligations. Municipal securities involve the risk
that an issuer calls securities for redemption, which could force the account to reinvest the proceeds at a lower
rate of interest. The amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than for
corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of municipal bonds could depend more
on the analytical abilities of the investment adviser than stock or corporate bond investments. The secondary
market for municipal bonds also tends to be less well-developed and less liquid than many other securities
markets, which can limit a client portfolio’s ability to sell its municipal bonds at attractive prices. The differences
between the price at which a bond can be purchased and the price at which it can be sold could widen during
periods of market distress. Less liquid bonds can become more difficult to value and be subject to erratic price
movements. The increased presence of nontraditional participants (such as proprietary trading desks of
investment banks and hedge funds) or the absence of traditional participants (such as individuals, insurance
companies, banks and life insurance companies) in the municipal markets could lead to greater volatility in the
markets because non-traditional participants might trade more frequently or in greater volume.
Option Strategy Risk. Certain client portfolios can employ an option strategy that seeks to take advantage of a
general excess of option price-implied volatilities for a specified stock or index over the stock or index’s
subsequent realized volatility. This market observation is often attributed to the unknown risk to which an option
seller is exposed to in comparison to the fixed risk to which an option buyer is exposed. There can be no
assurance that this imbalance will apply in the future over specific periods or generally. It is possible that the
imbalance could decrease or be eliminated by actions of investors that employ strategies seeking to take
advantage of the imbalance, which would have an adverse effect on the client portfolio’s ability to achieve its
investment objective. Further, directional movements of the underlying index or stock could overwhelm the
volatility differential for any given option resulting in a loss, regardless of the volatility relationship during that
specific option’s term. Call spread and put spread selling strategies employed by certain strategies are based
on a specified index or on exchange-traded funds that replicate the performance of certain indexes. If the index
or an ETF appreciates or depreciates sufficiently over the period to offset the net premium received, the client
portfolio will incur a net loss. The amount of potential loss in the event of a sharp market movement is subject
to a cap defined by the difference in strike prices between written and purchased call and put options. The value
of the specified exchange-traded fund is subject to change as the values of the component securities fluctuate.
Also, it might not exactly match the performance of the specified index.
Pooled Investment Vehicles Risk. Pooled investment vehicles include open- and closed-end investment
companies, ETFs, and private funds. Pooled investment vehicles are subject to the risks of investing in the
underlying securities or other investments. Shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs can trade at
a premium or discount to net asset value and are subject to secondary market trading risks. In addition, except
as otherwise noted in this Form ADV Part 2A, the client portfolio will bear a pro rata portion of the operating
expenses of a pooled investment vehicle in which it invests.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The annual portfolio turnover rate of certain strategies or investment funds can exceed
100%. High turnover rates could generate more capital gains and involve greater expenses (which would reduce
return) than a trading strategy with a lower turnover rate. Capital gains distributions will be made to investors
even if offsetting capital loss carry forwards do not exist.
Preferred Stock Risk. Although preferred stocks represent an ownership interest in an issuer, preferred stocks
generally do not have voting rights or have limited voting rights and have economic characteristics similar to
fixed-income securities. Preferred stocks are subject to issuer-specific risks generally applicable to equity
securities and credit and interest rate risks generally applicable to fixed-income securities. The value of preferred
stock generally declines when interest rates rise and can react more significantly than bonds and other debt
instruments to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects.
Private Equity Real Assets Risks (Generally)
Real Estate Market Conditions Risk. Some of the Underlying Investment Funds’ real estate investment strategies
could be based, in part, upon the premise that real estate businesses and assets will become available for
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purchase by such Underlying Investment Fund at prices that the investment manager of the Underlying
Investment Fund considers more favorable. Further, the strategy of certain Underlying Investment Funds for its
real estate investments could rely, in part, upon the continuation of existing market conditions (including, for
example, supply and demand characteristics) or, in some circumstances, a recovery or improvement in market
conditions over the projected holding period for the real estate investments. No assurance can be given that real
estate investments can be acquired or disposed of at favorable prices or that the market for such investments
will remain stable or, as applicable, recover or improve, since this will depend upon events and factors outside
the control of the managers of the Underlying Investment Funds.
Acquisition and Development Risk. Acquisitions entail risks that investments might not perform in accordance
with expectations and that anticipated costs of improvements to bring an acquired property up to the necessary
standard for the market position intended for that property could exceed budgeted amounts, as well as general
investment risks associated with any new real estate investment. Certain Underlying Investment Funds might
not be successful in identifying suitable real estate properties or other assets that meet their investment criteria
or in consummating acquisitions or investments on satisfactory terms.
Effecting Operating Improvements Risk. In some cases, the success of an Underlying Investment Fund’s real
estate investment strategy will depend, in part, on the ability of such Underlying Investment Fund to restructure
and effect improvements in the operations of a portfolio company or its properties. The activity of identifying and
implementing restructuring programs and operating improvements at portfolio companies entails a high degree
of uncertainty. There can be no assurance that such Underlying Investment Fund will be able to successfully
identify and implement such restructuring programs and improvements.
Commercial/Business Risk. It is anticipated that certain of our private equity real estate fund of funds will make
investments in some Underlying Investment Funds that have a limited operating history, a manager with limited
private equity real estate fund management experience, or both. Such investments have inherently greater risk
than more established private equity real estate funds. Accordingly, the growth of these Underlying Investment
Funds could require significant time and effort resulting in a longer investment horizon than can be expected
with lower risk investment alternatives. Such investments can experience failure or substantial declines in value
at any stage. There is no assurance that such investments by the accounts will be successful.
Ability of Underlying Investment Funds to Finance, Consummate and Dispose of Investment Risk. The
Underlying Investment Funds’ ability to generate attractive investment returns for their investors can be
adversely affected to the extent the Underlying Investment Funds are unable to obtain favorable financing terms
for their real estate investments and can also affect certain of our accounts’ and the Underlying Investment
Funds’ ability to exit the investment. Certain marketplace events could have an adverse impact on the availability
of credit to businesses generally and could lead to an overall weakening of the global economies. Certain
economic downturns could adversely affect the financial resources of corporate borrowers in which the
Underlying Investment Funds have invested, in addition to the resources of operating partners and investment
projects in which the Underlying Investment Funds participate, and result in the inability of such borrowers,
partners and projects to make principal and interest payments on outstanding debt when due. In the event of
such defaults, the Underlying Investment Funds could suffer a partial or total loss of capital invested in such
companies, which could, in turn, have an adverse effect on the Underlying Investment Funds’ and of the
accounts’ returns. Such marketplace events also could restrict the ability of the Underlying Investment Funds to
sell or liquidate real estate investments at favorable times or for favorable prices.
Privately Placed and Restricted Securities Risks. An account’s investments could include privately placed
securities, which are subject to resale restrictions. It is likely that such securities will not be listed on a stock
exchange or traded in the OTC market. These securities will have the effect of increasing the level of an account’s
illiquidity to the extent the account is unable to sell or transfer these securities due to restrictions on transfers or
on the ability to find buyers interested in purchasing the securities. The illiquidity of the market, as well as the lack
of publicly available information regarding these securities, can also adversely affect the ability to arrive at a fair
value for certain securities at certain times and could make it difficult for the account to sell certain securities (or to
sell such securities at the prices at which they are currently held). Furthermore, companies whose securities are
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not publicly traded are often not subject to the same or comparable disclosure and other investor protection
requirements that might be applicable if their securities were publicly traded and/or listed on a stock exchange.
An account could be obligated to pay all or part of the legal and/or other fees incurred in negotiating the purchase
and or sale of a private placement security. When registration is required to sell a security, an account could be
obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses, and a considerable period might elapse between the
decision to sell and the time the account is permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement.
If adverse market conditions developed during this period, an account might obtain a less favorable price than
the price that prevailed when the account decided to sell.
Real Estate Risk. Real estate investments are subject to risks associated with owning real estate, including
declines in real estate values, increases in property taxes, fluctuations in interest rates, limited availability of
mortgage financing, decreases in revenues from underlying real estate assets, declines in occupancy rates,
changes in government regulations affecting zoning, land use, and rents, environmental liabilities, and risks
related to the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry could
also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws, among others.
REITs, Real Estate Operating Companies (“REOCs”) and Foreign Real Estate Company Risks. Investing
in REITs, REOCs and foreign real estate companies exposes investors to the risks of owning real estate directly,
as well as to risks that relate specifically to the way in which REITs, REOCs and foreign real estate companies
are organized and operated. In addition, investments in REITs and similar non-U.S. entities could involve
duplication of management fees and certain other expenses. REITs are also subject to certain provisions under
federal tax law and the failure of a company to qualify as a REIT could have adverse consequences for a portfolio.
In addition, foreign real estate companies could be subject to the laws, rules and regulations governing those
entities and their failure to comply with those laws, rules and regulations could negatively impact the performance
of those entities. Operating REITs and foreign real estate companies requires specialized management skills,
and an account indirectly bears management expenses along with the direct expenses of an account. Changes
in underlying real estate values can have an exaggerated effect to the extent that investments of an individual
REIT or foreign real estate company are concentrated in particular regions or property types and changes in
underlying real estate values can have an exaggerated effect to the extent that investments are concentrated in
particular geographic regions or property types. Funds are generally not eligible for a deduction from dividends
received from REITs that is available to individuals who invest directly in REITs.
Repurchase Agreements Risk. Repurchase agreements are subject to risks associated with the possibility of
default by the seller at a time when the collateral has declined in value, or insolvency of the seller, which could
affect an account’s right to control the collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial
institution, an account will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of an account’s right to
liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon
a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, an account could suffer a loss.
Repurchase agreements involving obligations other than U.S. government securities could be subject to special
risks.
Residual Interest Bonds Risk. An investment in a residual interest bond exposes a portfolio to leverage and
greater risk than an investment in a fixed-rate municipal bond. Residual interest bonds are issued by a trust (the
“trust”) that holds municipal obligations and the value of residual interest bonds is derived from the value of such
obligations. The trust also issues floating-rate notes to third parties that can be senior to the residual interest
bonds. Residual interest bonds make interest payments to holders of the residual interest that bear an inverse
relationship to both the interest rate paid on the floating-rate notes and short-term interest rates, normally
decreasing when short-term rates increase. The value and market for residual interest bonds are volatile and
such bonds could have limited liquidity. As required by applicable accounting standards, a Fund that holds these
bonds records interest expense as a liability with respect to floating-rate notes and also records offsetting interest
income in an amount equal to this expense.
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Reverse Repurchase Agreements Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements involve a sale of a security to a
bank or securities dealer and a simultaneous agreement to repurchase the security for a fixed price (reflecting a
market rate of interest) on a specific date. These transactions involve a risk that the other party to a reverse
repurchase agreement will be unable or unwilling to complete the transaction as scheduled, which could result in
losses to an investment portfolio. Furthermore, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risks that (i) the
interest income earned in the investment of the proceeds will be less than the interest expense, (ii) the market
value of the securities retained in lieu of sale by an account could decline below the price of the securities an
account has sold but is obligated to repurchase, (iii) the market value of the securities sold will decline below the
price at which an account is required to repurchase them and (iv) the securities will not be returned to an account.
Reverse repurchase transactions are a form of leverage that can also increase the volatility of investment
portfolios.
Sector and Geographic Risk. A client portfolio could invest significantly in one or more sectors or geographic
regions. As such, the value of the client portfolio could be affected by events that adversely affect such sectors
or geographic regions and fluctuate more than that of a portfolio that invests more broadly.
Short Sale Risk. In a short sale transaction, an account sells a security that it owns or has the right to acquire at
no added cost (i.e., “against the box”) or does not own (but has borrowed) in anticipation of a decline in the
market value of that security. To deliver the securities to the buyer, an account arranges through a lender (e.g.,
a broker) to borrow the security and, in so doing, the account becomes obligated to replace the security borrowed
at its market price at the time of replacement. An account could have to pay a premium to borrow the security
and must pay any dividends or interest payable on the security until it is replaced. An account’s obligation to
replace the security borrowed in connection with a short sale will be secured by collateral deposited with the
lender that consists of cash or other liquid securities. Short sales by an account involve certain risks and special
considerations. If we incorrectly predict that the price of a borrowed security will decline, an account will have
to replace the security with a security with a greater value than the amount received from the sale, thus, resulting
in a loss. Losses from short sales differ from losses that could be incurred from a purchase of a security in that
losses from short sales are potentially unlimited because the price of the borrowed security could rise indefinitely,
whereas losses from purchases can equal only the total amount invested. Purchasing a security to close out the
short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. Short selling
also involves the risks of: increased leverage, and its accompanying potential for losses; the potential inability
to reacquire a security in a timely manner, or at an acceptable price; the possibility of the lender terminating the
loan at any time, forcing an account to close the transaction under unfavorable circumstances; the additional
costs that can be incurred; and the potential loss of investment flexibility caused by an account’s obligation to
provide collateral to the lender and set aside assets to cover the open position.
Small- and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk. Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies can
involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities issued by small-
and mid-cap companies could be less liquid, and such companies could have more limited markets, financial
resources and product lines, and could lack the depth of management of larger companies. Small- and mid-
capitalization companies are generally subject to greater price fluctuations, less liquidity, higher transaction costs
and higher investment risk than larger, more established companies. Such companies often have limited product
lines, markets or financial resources, are dependent on a limited management group, and lack substantial capital
reserves or an established performance record. There is generally less publicly available information about such
companies than for larger, more established companies. Stocks of these companies frequently have lower
trading volumes, making them more volatile and potentially more difficult to value.
Social Media Risk. The dissemination of negative or inaccurate information via social media about issuers in
which an account invests could harm their business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations,
which could adversely affect the account and, due to reputational considerations, influence MSIM’s decision as
to whether to remain invested in such issuers.
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Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”). A portfolio could invest in stock, warrants, rights and
other securities of special purpose acquisition companies which typically are publicly traded companies that
raise investment capital for the purpose of acquiring or merging with an existing company that is identified
subsequent to the SPAC’s initial public offering (“IPO”). Typically, the acquisition target is an existing privately
held company that wants to trade publicly, which it accomplishes through a combination with a SPAC rather
than by conducting a traditional initial public offering (“IPO”). SPACs and similar entities are blank check
companies and do not have any operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions. The
long-term value of a SPAC’s securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the SPAC’s management to
identify a merger target and complete an attractive acquisition. Some SPACs pursue acquisitions only within
certain sectors, industries or regions, which can increase the time horizon for an acquisition as well as other risks
associated with these investments, including price volatility. Conversely, other SPACs can invest without such
limitations, in which case management could have limited experience or knowledge of the market sector or
region in which the transaction is contemplated. In addition, certain securities issued by a SPAC, particularly in
private placements conducted by the SPAC after its IPO, could be classified as illiquid and/or be subject to
restrictions on resale, which restrictions might be imposed for at least a year or possibly a more extended time,
and could potentially be traded only in the over-the-counter market.
Until an acquisition or merger is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets, less a portion retained to cover
expenses, in U.S. government securities, money market securities and cash and does not typically pay dividends
in respect of its common stock. To the extent a SPAC is invested in these securities or cash, this could impact
the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. SPAC shareholders might not approve any proposed
acquisition or merger, or an acquisition or merger, once effected, could prove unsuccessful. If an acquisition or
merger that meets the requirements of the SPAC is not completed within a pre-established period of time
(typically, two years), the funds invested in the SPAC plus any interest paid on such funds while held in trust
(less any permitted expenses and any losses experienced by the SPAC) are returned to its shareholders. As a
result, an account investing in a SPAC could be subject to opportunity costs to the extent that alternative
investments would have produced higher returns. Any warrants or other rights with respect to a SPAC held by
a client could expire worthless or could be repurchased or retired by the SPAC at an unfavorable price.
In connection with a proposed acquisition, a SPAC could raise additional funds in order to fund the acquisition,
post-acquisition working capital, redemptions or some combination of those purposes. This additional
fundraising might be in the form of a private placement of a class of equity securities or debt. The debt could be
secured by the assets of the SPAC or the operating company existing after the acquisition or it could be
unsecured. The debt could also be investment grade debt or below investment grade debt.
A client could invest in stock, warrants, rights and other securities of SPACs or similar special purpose entities
in a private placement transaction or as part of a public offering. If the client purchases securities in the SPAC’s
IPO, typically it will receive publicly-traded securities called “units” that include one share of common stock and
one right or warrant (or partial right or warrant) conveying the right to purchase additional shares of common
stock. At a specified time, the rights and warrants can be separated from the common stock at the election of
the holder, after which each security typically is freely tradeable. An investment in the IPO securities of a SPAC
could be diluted by additional, later offerings of securities by the SPAC or by other investors exercising existing
rights to purchase securities of the SPAC. If a client invests in equity securities issued in a private placement
after the IPO, those shares will not be publicly tradable unless and until there is a registration statement filed by
the SPAC and approved by the SEC or if an exemption from registration is available, which exemptions typically
become available at least a year after the date of the business combination. Equity investments in the SPAC
made in connection with a proposed business combination will be diluted by the acquisition itself and further
fundraising by the ongoing operating business.
If there is no market for the shares of the SPAC or only a thinly traded market for shares or interests in the SPAC
develops, a client might not be able to sell its interest in a SPAC or it might only be able to sell its interest at a
price below what the client believes is the SPAC interest's value. If not subject to a restriction on resale, a client
can sell its investments in a SPAC at any time, including before, at or after the time of an acquisition or merger.
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Generally, SPACs provide the opportunity for common shareholders who hold publicly traded shares to have
some or all of their shares redeemed by the SPAC at or around the time of a proposed acquisition or merger.
However, there is often a limit to the number of shares that can be redeemed in connection with a business
combination. If a client holds shares of publicly traded SPAC stock, this means that a client might not be able to
redeem those shares prior to an acquisition and could have to hold those shares until after the completion of the
acquisition. If a client purchases shares in a private placement, those shares will not be redeemable in
connection with a transaction. In addition, a client could elect not to participate in a proposed SPAC transaction
or could be required to divest its interests in the SPAC due to regulatory or other considerations.
An investment in a SPAC is subject to the risks that any proposed acquisition or merger does not obtain the
requisite approval of SPAC shareholders, requires governmental or other approvals that it fails to obtain or that
an acquisition or merger, once effected, could prove unsuccessful and lose value. In addition, among other
conflicts of interest, the economic interests of the management, directors, officers and related parties of a SPAC
can differ from the economic interests of public shareholders, which could lead to conflicts as they evaluate,
negotiate and recommend business combination transactions to shareholders. For example, because the
sponsor, directors and officers of a SPAC could directly or indirectly own interests in a SPAC, the sponsor,
directors and officers could have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an
appropriate business with which to effectuate a business combination. This risk can become more acute as the
deadline for the completion of a business combination nears or in the event that attractive acquisition or merger
targets become scarce. In addition, the requirement that a SPAC complete a business combination within a
prescribed time frame could give potential target businesses leverage over the SPAC in negotiating a business
combination and could limit the time the SPAC has in which to conduct due diligence on potential business
combination targets, which could undermine the SPAC’s ability to complete a business combination on terms
that would produce value for its shareholders.
An investment in a SPAC is also subject to the risk that a significant portion of the funds raised by the SPAC
could be expended during the search for a target acquisition or merger. The value of investments in SPACs can
be highly volatile and can depreciate over time.
In addition, investments in SPACs can be subject to the same risks as investing in any initial public offering,
including the risks associated with companies that have little operating history as public companies, including
unseasoned trading, small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. In
addition, the market for IPO issuers can be volatile, and share prices of newly public companies have fluctuated
significantly over short periods of time. Although some IPOs produce high returns, such returns are not typical
and might not be sustainable.
Special Situations Investment Risks. Certain of the companies in whose securities an account invests could
be involved in (or are the target of) acquisition attempts or tender offers, in transition, out of favor, financially
leveraged or troubled, or potentially troubled, and could be or have recently been involved in major strategic
actions, restructurings, bankruptcy, reorganization or liquidation. These characteristics of these companies can
cause their securities to be particularly risky, although they also can offer the potential for high returns.
Additionally, these types of transactions present the risk that the transaction could be unsuccessful, take
considerable time or result in a distribution of cash or a new security, the value of which is less than the purchase
price. These companies’ securities could be considered speculative, and the ability of the companies to pay their
debts on schedule could be affected by adverse interest rate movements, changes in the general economic
climate, economic factors affecting a particular industry or specific developments within the companies. An
investment by an account in any instrument is subject to no minimum credit standard and a significant portion
of the obligations and preferred stock in which an account could invest might be less than investment grade
(commonly referred to as junk bonds), which can result in greater risks experienced by the account, as
applicable, than it would if investing in higher rated instruments.
Stripped Securities Risk. Stripped Securities (“Strips”) are usually structured with classes that receive different
proportions of the interest and principal distributions from an underlying asset or pool of underlying assets.
Classes can receive only interest distributions (interest-only “IO”) or only principal (principal-only “PO”). Strips
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are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates because this can increase or decrease prepayments of
principal. A rapid or unexpected increase in prepayments can significantly depress the value of IO Strips, while
a rapid or unexpected decrease can have the same effect on PO Strips.
Structured Management Risk. MSIM can use rules-based, proprietary investment techniques and analyses in
making investment decisions. These strategies seek to take advantage of certain quantitative and/or behavioral
market characteristics identified by MSIM, utilizing rules-based country, sector and commodity weighting
processes, structured allocation methodologies and disciplined rebalancing models. These investment
strategies have not been independently tested or validated, and there can be no assurance they will achieve the
desired results.
Tax-Managed Investing Risk. Investment strategies that seek to enhance after-tax performance might be
unable to fully realize strategic gains or harvest losses due to various factors. Market conditions could limit the
ability to generate tax losses. A tax-managed strategy could cause a client portfolio to hold a security in order to
achieve more favorable tax treatment or to sell a security in order to create tax losses. A tax loss realized by a
U.S. investor after selling a security will be negated if the investor purchases the security within thirty days.
Although MSIM avoids “wash sales” whenever possible and temporarily restricts securities it has sold at a loss
to prevent them, a wash sale can occur inadvertently because of trading by a client in portfolios not managed
by MSIM. A wash sale can also be triggered by MSIM when it has sold a security for loss harvesting and shortly
thereafter the firm is directed by the client to invest a substantial amount of cash resulting in a repurchase of the
security.
Tax Risk. The tax treatment of investments held in a client portfolio could be adversely affected by future tax
legislation, Treasury Regulations and/or guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service regarding the
character, timing, and/or amount of taxable income or gains attributable to an account. Income from tax-exempt
municipal obligations could be declared taxable because of unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse
interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service or non-compliant conduct of a bond issuer.
Tax-Straddle Risk. Investment strategies that utilize off-setting positions on a security or a portfolio of securities
must adhere to specific rules and provisions under the Internal Revenue Code in order to avoid negative tax
consequences. These provisions apply to an investor’s entire investment portfolio including accounts not
managed by MSIM. While MSIM seeks to avoid “tax straddles”, an investor’s ability to realize tax benefits (e.g.,
defer gains, deduct interest, convert short term gains into long term gains) could be negated by transactions and
holdings of which MSIM is not aware.
Tracking Error Risk. Tracking error risk refers to the risk that the performance of a client portfolio does not
match or correlate to that of the index it attempts to track, either on a daily or aggregate basis. Factors such as
fees and trading expenses, client-imposed restrictions, imperfect correlation between the portfolio’s investments
and the index, changes to the composition of the index, regulatory policies, high portfolio turnover and the use
of leverage all contribute to tracking error. Tracking error risk can cause the performance of a client portfolio to
be less or more than expected.
Underlying Investment Funds Risk. Certain of the Underlying Investment Funds are not registered as
investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Investors in
such Underlying Investment Funds do not have the benefit of the protections afforded by the 1940 Act to
investors in registered investment companies. In addition, the investment managers of Underlying Investment
Funds that are not registered as investment companies under the 1940 Act might not be registered as investment
advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”). Although we periodically receive
information from each Underlying Investment Fund regarding its investment performance and investment
strategy, we might have little or no means of independently verifying this information. An Underlying Investment
Fund could use proprietary investment strategies that are not fully disclosed to us, which could involve risks
under some market conditions that are not anticipated by us. Underlying Investment Managers could change
their investment strategies (i.e., could experience style drift) at any time. In addition, we have no direct control
over any Underlying Investment Funds’ investment management, brokerage, custodial arrangements or
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operations and must rely on the experience and competency of the Investment Manager in these areas. The
performance of our accounts investing in Underlying Investment Funds depends on our success in selecting
Underlying Investment Funds for investment and the allocation and reallocation of assets among those
Underlying Investment Funds.
The Underlying Investment Funds typically do not maintain their securities and other assets in the custody of a
bank or a member of a securities exchange, as is generally required of registered investment companies. It is
anticipated that the Underlying Investment Funds in which clients invest generally will maintain custody of their
assets with brokerage firms that do not separately segregate such customer assets as is required in the case of
registered investment companies. Under the provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, as
amended, the bankruptcy of any such brokerage firm could have a greater adverse effect on the funds than
would be the case if custody of assets were maintained in accordance with the requirements applicable to
registered investment companies. There is also a risk that an Investment Manager could convert assets
committed or paid to it by investors for its own use or that a custodian could convert assets committed to it by
an Underlying Investment Manager to its own use.
Each Underlying Investment Manager can receive any incentive-based fees to which it is entitled irrespective of
the performance of the other Underlying Investment Funds and a fund generally. As a result, an Investment
Manager with positive performance could receive compensation from the fund, in the form of the asset-based
fees, incentive-based fees and other expenses payable by you as an investor in the relevant Investment Fund,
even if the fund’s overall returns are negative. The investment decisions of the Underlying Investment Funds are
made by the Underlying Investment Managers independently of each other so that, at any particular time, one
Investment Fund could be purchasing shares in an issuer that at the same time are being sold by another
Investment Fund. Transactions of this sort could result in an account directly or indirectly incurring certain
transaction costs without accomplishing any net investment result, which could result in the pursuit of
opposing investment strategies or result in performance that correlates more closely with broader market
performances. Because an account can make additional investments in or redemptions from Underlying
Investment Funds only at certain times according to limitations set out in the governing documents of each such
fund, an account from time to time could have to invest some of its assets temporarily in money market securities
or money market funds, among other similar types of investments.
Underlying Investment Funds might permit or require that redemptions of interests be made in kind. Upon its
redemption of all or a portion of its interest in an Underlying Investment Fund, an account could receive securities
that are illiquid or difficult to value. In such a case, we would seek to cause the account to dispose of these
securities in a manner that is in the best interest of the account. An account might not be able to withdraw from
an Underlying Investment Fund except at certain designated times (if at all), limiting our ability to redeem assets
from an Underlying Investment Fund based on performance or for other reasons. By investing in the Underlying
Investment Funds indirectly through the accounts, you bear asset- based fees and performance-based fees or
allocations at the Underlying Investment Fund level, in addition to those payable to us in our capacity as
investment adviser to your account. Similarly, you bear a proportionate share of the other operating expenses
of (i) the Underlying Investment Funds in which your account is invested; and (ii) of the accounts themselves. If
you meet the conditions imposed by the Underlying Investment Managers, you could invest directly with such
Underlying Investment Managers.
Unrated Fixed Income Securities. Unrated securities (which are not rated by a rating agency) could be less
liquid than comparable, rated securities and involve the risk that purchasers might not accurately evaluate the
security’s comparative credit rating. To the extent that a pooled investment vehicle or investor’s account invests
in unrated securities, success in achieving the investment objective of such vehicle or account could depend more
heavily on the investment manager’s analysis of the creditworthiness of the issuer than if the vehicle or account
invested exclusively in rated securities.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. With respect to U.S. government securities that are not backed by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. Government, there is the risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial
support to such U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do
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so by law. For example, a U.S. government-sponsored entity, such as Federal National Mortgage Association
or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, although chartered or sponsored by an Act of Congress, could
issue securities that are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and, therefore, are not backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States. U.S. Treasury securities generally have a lower return than other
obligations because of their higher credit quality and market liquidity. U.S. government securities are also
subject to interest rate risks and can exhibit price fluctuations resulting from increases or decreases in interest
rates.
Variable Interest Entities. An account could gain economic exposure to certain operating companies in China
through legal structures known as variable interest entities (“VIEs”). From time to time, an account’s investments
in U.S.-listed shell companies relying on VIE structures to consolidate China-based operations could be
significant. In a VIE structure, a China-based operating company (“Operating Company”) typically establishes
an offshore shell company (“Shell Company”) in another jurisdiction, such as the Cayman Islands, which then
enters into service and other contracts with the Operating Company and issues shares on a foreign exchange,
like the New York Stock Exchange or Hong Kong Exchange. Investors in VIE structures hold stock in the Shell
Company rather than directly in the Operating Company and the Shell Company might not own stock or other
equity in the Operating Company. Thus, VIE structures and these contractual arrangements are not equivalent
to equity ownership in the Operating Company, which presents additional risks. Certain Chinese companies
have used VIEs to facilitate foreign investment because of Chinese governmental prohibitions or restrictions on
non-Chinese ownership (e.g., by U.S. persons and entities) of companies in certain industries in China. Through
a VIE arrangement, the Operating Companies indirectly raise capital from non-Chinese investors (such as a
Fund) without distributing ownership of the Operating Companies to such non-Chinese investors.
Investments in VIEs are subject to unique risks in addition to those generally associated with investments in
China. For example, breaches of the contractual arrangements, changes in Chinese law or regulation with
respect to enforceability or permissibility of these arrangements or failure of these contracts to function as
intended would likely adversely affect an investment through a VIE structure. In addition, VIE structures are also
subject to the risk of inconsistent and unpredictable application of Chinese law and regulations, that the Shell
Company could be limited in its ability to control, or could lose control over, the Operating Company and that the
equity owners of the Operating Company might have interests conflicting with those of the Shell Company’s
investors. There is also uncertainty related to the Chinese taxation of VIEs and the Chinese tax authorities could
take positions that result in increased tax liabilities. Thus, investors face risks and uncertainty about future
actions or intervention by the government of China or other similar developments (such as changes in
regulations, laws and judicial decisions or interpretations), which could occur at any time and without notice and
which could suddenly and significantly affect VIE structures, the Operating Companies and the enforceability of
the Shell Company’s contractual arrangements with the Operating Company. If any of these or similar risks
materialize, the value and liquidity of an account’s investments in the Shell Company could be significantly
adversely affected and an account could incur significant losses with no recourse available.
Although the China Securities Regulatory Commission published that it does not object the use of VIE structures
for Operating Companies to raise capital from non-Chinese investors, there is no guarantee that the Chinese
government or another Chinese regulator will not determine that these arrangements are inconsistent with
Chinese laws or regulations or otherwise interfere with the operation of or disallow VIE structures or that this
published position will remain unchanged. Intervention by the Chinese government with respect to VIE structures
could materially adversely affect the Operating Company’s performance, the enforceability of the Shell
Company’s contractual arrangements with the Operating Company and the value of the Shell Company’s
shares. Further, if the Chinese government or other regulatory or judicial authority determines that the
agreements establishing the VIE structure do not comply with Chinese law and regulations, including those
related to prohibitions on foreign ownership, the Operating Company could be subject to penalties, revocation
of business and operating licenses or forfeiture of ownership interests. The Shell Company’s ability to exert any
control over the Operating Company could also be jeopardized if certain legal formalities are not observed in
connection with the agreements, if the agreements are breached or if the agreements are otherwise determined
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not to be enforceable. If any of the foregoing or similar developments were to occur, the market value and
liquidity of the associated investments would fall, causing substantial investment losses for an account with no
recourse available.
Variable Rate Demand Notes (“VRDNs”) Risks. VRDNs are subject to a variety of risks, including but not limited
to: (1) Renewal Risk: The risk of the inability to obtain an appropriate liquidity bank facility at an acceptable price
to replace a facility upon termination or expiration of the contract period; (2) Liquidity Risk: The risk that in the
event of a failed remarketing, the bank that has agreed to provide the letter of credit fails to honor its obligation
to support the VRDNs; and (3) Default Risk: VRDNs typically are not secured by the assets of the issuer or the
bank but are subject to the letter of credit provider honoring its obligations.
Venture Capital Investment Risks. Certain accounts will directly, or indirectly through Underlying Investment
Funds, make venture capital investments. Such investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk
that can result in substantial losses. The most significant risks are the risks associated with investments in: (i)
companies in an early stage of development or with little or no operating history; (ii) companies operating at a
loss or with substantial fluctuations in operating results from period to period; and (iii) companies with the need
for substantial additional capital to support or to achieve a competitive position. Investments in emerging growth
companies involve substantial risks, as these companies often experience unexpected problems in the areas of
product development, manufacturing, marketing, financing and general management, which, in some cases,
cannot be adequately solved. In addition, such companies typically have obtained capital in the form of debt
and/or equity to expand rapidly, reorganize operations, acquire other businesses or develop new products and
markets. These activities by definition involve a significant amount of change in a company and could give rise
to significant problems in sales, manufacturing and general management of these activities.
In addition, these companies could (a) be operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating results,
(b) require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their
competitive position, (c) rely on the services of a limited number of key individuals, and the loss of any could
significantly adversely affect a company’s performance, (d) face intense competition, including competition from
companies with greater financial resources, more extensive development, manufacturing, marketing and other
capabilities, and a larger number of qualified management and technical personnel, and (e) otherwise have a
weak financial condition or be experiencing financial difficulties that could result in insolvency, liquidation,
dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of the relevant company.
When-Issued and Forward Commitment Risk. Securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment
basis are subject to the risk that when delivered they will be worth less than the agreed upon payment price.
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Item 9 Disciplinary Information
On December 22, 2015, we settled charges by the SEC relating to prearranged trades by a former portfolio
manager/trader. The settlement covers the period from late 2011 through early 2012, during which time the SEC found
that a former MSIM portfolio manager/trader engaged in six pairs of unlawful prearranged sales and buybacks of fixed
income securities with a trader at an unaffiliated broker-dealer, which resulted in the undisclosed favorable treatment of
certain MSIM advisory clients over others. The MSIM portfolio manager/trader was terminated by MSIM in May 2014.
Without admitting or denying the findings, we consented to the entry of an administrative cease and desist order finding
violations of Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, Sections 203(e)(6), 206(2) and 206(4) of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-7 thereunder, and aiding and abetting violations of Section 17(a)(2) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940. We were censured and also agreed to pay a civil money penalty in the amount
of $8,000,000 to the SEC.
We also agreed to distribute a sum total payment in the amount of $857,534 to compensate certain pooled investment
vehicles and separately managed accounts, and to certify, in writing, compliance with the distribution of funds, which
certification was supported by written evidence of compliance and exhibits.
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Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a corporation whose shares are publicly held and traded on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MS”. Morgan Stanley is a financial holding company under the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. As a result, we are part of a large global financial services and banking
group and you could have relationships with our affiliates beyond your relationship with us. In addition, we participate in
Wrap Fee Programs in which our affiliate is the Sponsor. These relationships can cause conflicts of interest.
The business activities of Morgan Stanley can give rise to occasions when MSIM, as investment adviser or sub-adviser,
will have the opportunity to pursue or participate in a legal action against Morgan Stanley or its clients; in that event,
MSIM could decide in its discretion to pursue or forgo participation in such legal action in whole or in part due to the
other activities of Morgan Stanley.
Broker-Dealer Affiliates
We are the parent company of Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. (“MSDI”), a broker-dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the “34 Act”) and a member firm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). MSDI
is the principal underwriter and distributor of certain Morgan Stanley Funds. In addition, we are affiliated with Eaton
Vance Distributors, Inc. (“EVD”), a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a FINRA member firm. EVD is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and is the principal underwriter and distributor of certain Eaton Vance Funds.
Certain of our management persons are registered representatives of MSDI and/or EVD.
We are also affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS & Co.”) and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“MSSB”),
each a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a FINRA member firm. In addition, we are affiliated with other
intermediaries, foreign broker-dealers and financial services companies, including, among others, Morgan Stanley Bank
National Association, Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC, Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc., Morgan Stanley
Senior Funding Inc., Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, and Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia (hereinafter, together with
affiliated broker-dealers registered under the 34 Act, collectively referred to as “Affiliated Broker-Dealers”).
When permitted by applicable law and subject to the considerations set forth in Item 12 “Brokerage Practices”, we utilize
Affiliated Broker-Dealers to effect portfolio securities, currency exchange, futures and other transactions for our managed
accounts. The “Participation or Interest in Client Transactions” subsection in Item 11, “Code of Ethics, Participation or
Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading”, describes in greater detail the manner in which we utilize Affiliated
Broker-Dealers to effect client transactions and the conflicts of interest that can arise. We pay placement fees to affiliated
U.S. and non-U.S. broker-dealers.
MSDI serves as distributor, placement agent and/or underwriter for certain registered and unregistered funds for which
we act as investment adviser and in certain instances, we receive distribution fees from the funds pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act or placement agent fees. Where applicable, MSDI pays such fees, in whole or in part, to
MSSB and to any other selected dealer, including any other Affiliated Broker-Dealer, with whom MSDI has entered into a
selected dealer or placement agent agreement. In addition, any sales charges derived from the purchase or redemption
of an investment company managed by us are paid directly to MSSB, or to any of those other selected dealers, including
any other Affiliated Broker-Dealer, from which such dealer pays its sales representatives and other costs of distribution.
Commodity Trading Advisor/Commodity Pool Operator Registration
We are registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a commodity trading advisor and a
commodity pool operator. We are also a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”). The NFA and CFTC each
administer a comparable regulatory system covering futures contracts, swaps and various other financial instruments in
which certain clients and pooled vehicles can invest.
Certain of our management persons are registered with the NFA as our Associated Persons.
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Material Arrangements or Relationships with Affiliates
Investment Adviser Affiliates
We are part of a group of investment advisers within the Morgan Stanley Investment Management business, including:
(1) Mesa West Capital, LLC; (2) Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company; (3) Morgan Stanley Investment
Management Limited; (4) Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP; (5) Morgan Stanley Infrastructure, Inc.; (6) Morgan Stanley Private
Equity Asia, Inc.; (7) MS Capital Partners Adviser, Inc.; (8) Morgan Stanley Real Estate Advisor, Inc.; (9) MSREF Real
Estate Advisor, Inc.; (10) MSRESS III Manager, LLC; (11) Eaton Vance Management; (12) Calvert Research and
Management; (13) Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC; (14) Atlanta Capital Management Company, LLC; (15) Boston
Management and Research; (16) Eaton Vance Advisers International Ltd.; (17) Morgan Stanley Eaton Vance CLO
Manager LLC; and (18) Morgan Stanley Eaton Vance CLO CM LLC (the “Affiliated Advisers”).
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited, Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, MSIM Fund Management
(Ireland) Limited, and Morgan Stanley Investment Management (Australia) Pty Limited (together, the “Participating
Affiliates”) indirectly provide investment advice or research to certain of our accounts. Certain personnel employed by
the Participating Affiliates indirectly provide investment advice to certain of our accounts in specialties in which they have
particular expertise. The Participating Affiliates are subject to our supervision in respect of their provision of services to
us and our accounts.
From time to time and with prior client consent, we delegate some or all of our responsibilities, duties and authority under
an investment management agreement to one or more of the Affiliated Advisers to the extent permitted by applicable law.
The Affiliated Advisers, in certain instances, likewise delegate some or all of their responsibilities, duties and authority to
us.
MSIM has entered into arrangements with affiliates to provide and receive certain services such as accounting, finance,
human resources, information technology and legal. In additional situations, certain employees of MSIM have been dual-
hatted as employees and/or officers of its affiliates, including certain Affiliated Advisers, EVD and MSDI. While MSIM
operates a global compliance program covering all Affiliated Advisers, in certain instances, there are specific adviser
policies that only apply to a particular Affiliated Adviser and, therefore, the MSIM Chief Compliance Officer and the
respective Chief Compliance Officers of the Affiliated Advisers (collectively the “CCOs”) have instituted a framework to
monitor compliance by such dual-hatted employees with applicable requirements. The CCOs receive reporting and
meet regularly to discuss matters affecting these employees and as relevant, the CCOs are required to promptly report
to other CCOs certain events such as material violations of policies and procedures, violations of a code of ethics, and
client complaints to the extent such matters have not been escalated through global compliance monitoring.
The Affiliated Advisers serve as subadviser to certain MSIM products, including the Funds, and MSIM serves as
subadviser to certain of the Affiliated Advisers. Under certain such arrangements, MSIM will pay compensation to, or
receive compensation from, the Affiliated Advisers.
Investment strategies and products of MSIM and its affiliates are cross-marketed. MSIM works closely with its affiliates
to jointly market advisory services and strategic investment strategies to institutional investors and high-net-worth
individuals and refers clients to its affiliates when appropriate. These shared marketing efforts and sales referrals will in
certain cases result in intercompany transfers, referral payments, and cost-sharing payments between MSIM and its
affiliates.
Investment Companies and Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
MSIM serves as investment adviser to the Morgan Stanley Funds, a U.S. mutual fund complex comprised of several
stand-alone mutual funds, as well as the following series Funds: Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (“MSIF”), Morgan
Stanley Institutional Fund Trust (“MSIF Trust”), Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc. (“VIF”), Morgan Stanley
Variable Investment Series (“VIS”) and the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds, each an open-end investment
company registered under the 1940 Act. VIF and VIS can offer their shares only to insurance companies for separate
accounts that they establish to fund variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts, and to other entities under
qualified pension and retirement plans. MSIM has an arrangement with Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds
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(mutual funds we advise) pursuant to which un-invested free cash balances in certain client accounts are automatically
invested in shares of the portfolios of the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds at the end of each day. Prior to
initiating this “sweep” mechanism for a particular client, we disclose the fact that we receive a fee in our capacity as
adviser and administrator for the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds. Assets invested in the Morgan Stanley
Institutional Liquidity Funds through the “sweep” mechanism will be reduced, to the extent allowed by applicable law, in
determining both the fee charged by us for managing the client’s account and in determining our fee as adviser and
administrator for the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds. MSIM is also the investment adviser to the Morgan
Stanley ETF Trust, an investment company registered under the 1940 Act.
MSIM is the investment adviser and administrator to the following closed-end investment companies registered under
the 1940 Act:
Morgan Stanley China A Share Fund, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund, Inc.
Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.
In addition, we or our affiliate serve as the administrator for certain of the Morgan Stanley Funds and serve as co-transfer
agent for the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds.
MSIM and certain of its affiliates also act as a sub-adviser to registered investment companies which are not sponsored
by us in addition to serving as adviser or a sub-adviser to offshore funds, group trusts, limited partnerships and limited
liability companies, among others, that are sponsored by our affiliates.
In certain instances, we (or our related persons) act as general partner or special limited partner of a limited partnership
or managing member or special member of a limited liability company to which we serve as adviser or sub-adviser and
in which our clients have been solicited to invest. In some cases, the general partner of a limited partnership is entitled
to receive an incentive allocation from a partnership.
Along with Morgan Stanley, we have established procedures intended to identify and mitigate conflicts of interest related
to business activities on a worldwide basis. A conflict management officer for each business unit and/or region acts as
a focal point to identify and address conflicts of interest in their business area. When appropriate, there is an escalation
process to senior management within the business unit, and ultimately if necessary to firm management or the firm’s
franchise committees, for potentially significant conflicts that cannot be resolved by the conflict management officers or
that otherwise require senior management review.
Banking Affiliates
As mentioned above, we are a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. We are also affiliated with Morgan Stanley
Bank, N.A., an insured depository institution headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, which has businesses concentrated
in institutional lending and securities-based lending for clients of its affiliated broker-dealers. In addition, we are affiliated
with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., a U.S. insured depository institution and a federally chartered national
association whose activities are subject to regulation and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
MSIM is also affiliated with Eaton Vance Trust Company, a limited purpose non-depository trust company, organized and
operating under the laws of Maine, which serves as trustee to common trust funds and collective investment trusts.
Electronic Communication Networks and Alternative Trading Systems
Our affiliates have ownership interests in and/or Board seats on electronic communication networks (“ECNs”) or other
alternative trading systems (“ATSs”). In certain instances our affiliates could be deemed to control one or more of such
ECNs or ATSs based on the level of such ownership interests and whether such affiliates are represented on the Board
of such ECNs or ATSs. Consistent with our fiduciary obligation to seek best execution, we, from time to time, directly or
indirectly, effect client trades through ECNs or other ATSs in which our affiliates have or could acquire an interest or Board
seat. These affiliates might receive an indirect economic benefit based upon their ownership in the ECNs or other ATSs.
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We will, directly or indirectly, execute through an ECN or other ATS in which an affiliate has an interest only in situations
where we or the broker dealer through whom we are accessing the ECN or ATS reasonably believes such transaction
will be in the best interest of our clients and the requirements of applicable law have been satisfied. Our affiliates own
over 5% of the outstanding voting securities and/or have a member on the Board of certain trading systems (or their
parent companies), including (i) Copeland Markets LLC, (ii) MEMX Holdings LLC, (iii) OTCderiv Limited, (iv) Creditderiv
Limited, (v) Fenics Markets Xchange, LLC, (vi) FXglobalclear, (vii) EOS Precious Metals Limited, (viii) Yensai.com Co.,
Ltd, and (ix) Octaura Holdings LLC.
Our affiliates could acquire interests in and/or take Board seats on other ECNs or other ATSs (or increase ownership in
the ATSs listed above) in the future.
Our affiliates receive cash credits from certain ECNs and ATSs for certain orders that provide liquidity to their books. In
certain circumstances, such ECNs and ATSs also charge explicit fees for orders that extract liquidity from their books.
From time to time, the amount of credits that our affiliates receive from one or more ECN or ATS exceed the amount that
is charged. Under these limited circumstances, such payments would constitute payment for order flow.
Miscellaneous
MSIM outsources certain operations functions to State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”). State Street
provides a full range of investment operations outsourcing services including trade settlement, portfolio administration,
reporting and reconciliation services. The agreement with State Street demonstrates our continued commitment to
delivering best-in-class service to our clients, while allowing us to concentrate on our core competency, institutional investment
management.
For more information about how MSIM addresses certain conflicts of interest, please refer to Item 11 “Code of Ethics,
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading” below. For more information about conflicts of
interest related to portfolio transactions and trade allocations, please refer to Item 12 “Brokerage Practices”.
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Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading
Code of Ethics
MSIM has adopted the MSIM Code of Ethics and Personal Trading Policy (the “Code of Ethics”) pursuant to Rule 204A-
1 under the Advisers Act. Each of our employees is required to acknowledge the Code of Ethics at the inception of his/her
employment and annually thereafter. The Code of Ethics is designed to make certain that all acts, practices and courses
of business engaged in by our employees are conducted in accordance with the highest possible standards and to
prevent abuse, or even the appearance of abuse, by employees with respect to their personal trading and other business
activities.
Additionally, all MSIM employees are subject to firm-wide policies and procedures found in the Morgan Stanley Code of
Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”) that sets forth, among other things, restrictions regarding confidential and proprietary
information, information barriers, information security, privacy and data protection, private investments, outside business
interests and personal trading. All Morgan Stanley employees, including MSIM employees, are required to acknowledge
that they have read, understand, are in compliance with and agree to abide by the Code of Conduct’s terms as a condition
of continued employment.
The Code of Ethics requires all employees to pre-clear trades for covered securities, as defined under the Code of
Ethics, in a personal securities account. A pre-clearance request generally will be denied if there is an open order for a
client in the same security. The Code of Ethics also imposes holding periods and reporting requirements for covered
securities, which includes affiliated and sub-advised U.S. mutual funds. Our employees and their immediate family are
prohibited from acquiring any security in an initial public offering or any other public underwriting. Investments in private
placements or an employee’s participation in an outside business activity must be pre-approved by Compliance and the
employee’s manager. Certain of our employees who, in connection with job functions, make or participate in making
recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities or who have real-time knowledge of such
recommendations, are held to more stringent standards when placing trades in personal securities accounts. Violations
of the Code of Ethics are subject to sanction, including reprimand, restricting trading privileges, reducing employees’
discretionary bonus, if any, potential reversal of a trade made in violation of the Code of Ethics or other applicable
policies, suspension or termination of employment.
We will provide you with a copy of the Code of Ethics upon request.
Investment Restrictions Arising from Possession of Material Non-Public Information
MSIM is not permitted to use material non-public information (“MNPI”) in effecting purchases and sales in public securities
transactions. In the ordinary course of our operations, we obtain access to MNPI. At times, the acquisition of MNPI
prohibits us from rendering investment advice to clients regarding the securities of an issuer of which we have MNPI,
and thereby limits the universe of securities that we can purchase or sell. Similarly, where we decline access to or
otherwise do not receive or share MNPI regarding an issuer, we would base our investment decisions with respect to
assets of such issuer solely on public information, thereby limiting the amount of information available to us in connection
with such investment decisions. The occurrence of either situation could disadvantage some client accounts if we are
unable to make an intended purchase or sale, or if we decline information that might have benefited our management.
For additional discussion related to MNPI, please see “Services to Issuers Activities” and “Investment Banking Activities”
in this Item.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
The following sections address our trading activities, the various conflicts of interest that can arise, and how such conflicts
have been addressed.
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Morgan Stanley Securities
MSIM will generally prohibit transactions in securities, including equity and debt, issued by Morgan Stanley and certain
of its affiliates.
Broker-Dealer Affiliations
MSIM does not act as principal or broker in connection with client transactions. We do, however, in the exercise of our
discretion under an investment management agreement with a client, in certain instances, effect transactions in
securities or other instruments for clients through Affiliated Broker-Dealers, including where such Affiliated Broker-Dealer
acts as a principal in connection with the client transaction where there is a material financial interest, which perform all
of the activities set forth below.
In connection with transactions in which Affiliated Broker-Dealers will act as principal, we will disclose to you that the
trade will be conducted on a principal basis and obtain your consent in accordance with the provisions of and rules under
the Advisers Act and as otherwise or additionally agreed by contract or by other applicable law. We will recommend that
you engage in such a transaction only when we believe that the net price for the security is at least as favorable as could
have been obtained from another established dealer in such security.
Our recommendations to you could involve securities in which our Affiliated Broker-Dealers, or their officers, employees
or other affiliates, have a financial interest. Affiliated Broker-Dealers and their officers, employees and other affiliates,
can purchase or sell for their own accounts securities that we recommend to our clients.
If permitted by your investment objectives and guidelines, applicable law, and our policies and procedures concerning
conflicts of interest, MSIM could recommend that you purchase, or use our discretion to effect a purchase of, securities
during the existence of an underwriting or other public or private offering of such securities involving an Affiliated Broker-
Dealer as a manager, underwriter, initial purchaser, or placement agent. Among other things, we must disclose to you
that the transaction involves an affiliate and obtain your consent to execute transactions with an affiliate on behalf of
your account. Purchases can be from underwriters or placement agents other than an Affiliated Broker-Dealer in
distributions in which an Affiliated Broker-Dealer is a manager and/or member of a syndicate or selling group, as a result
of which an Affiliated Broker-Dealer will likely benefit from the purchase through receipt of a fee or otherwise. In situations
in which you have not permitted, or where it is prohibited by law, rule or regulation, we might be unable to purchase
securities for your account in an initial or other public or private offering of securities involving an Affiliated Broker-Dealer.
With your consent, and subject to the restrictions imposed on such transactions by applicable law, MSIM will effect
portfolio transactions through an Affiliated Broker-Dealer on an agency basis, including transactions in over-the-counter
(“OTC”) securities, where the Affiliated Broker-Dealer will act as agent in connection with the purchase and sale of OTC
securities from market participants and will charge our clients a commission on the transactions. Since these are agency
transactions, there is no mark up or mark down on the price of the security.
MSIM will effect client transactions through an Affiliated Broker-Dealer when, in our judgment, you could obtain best
execution of the transaction. Subject to our duty to seek best execution, we could effect such transactions through an
Affiliated Broker-Dealer even though the total brokerage commission for the transaction is higher than that which might
have been charged by another broker for the same transaction.
Cross and Agency Cross Transactions
From time to time, and where permitted by applicable law and the relevant client agreements, we will effect “agency
cross transactions” in which an Affiliated Broker-Dealer acts as agent for both the buyer and seller in the transaction. We
will only trade with an Affiliated Broker-Dealer on behalf of a client on an agency cross basis when the client has
consented to our effecting such transactions. Any agency cross transaction will be effected in compliance with applicable
law, as well as policies and procedures we have designed to prevent and disclose conflicts of interest. The Affiliated
Broker-Dealer can receive a commission from the seller and the buyer when it executes transactions on an agency cross
basis under certain conditions. In effecting an agency cross transaction, we have potentially conflicting divisions of
loyalties and responsibilities regarding the parties to the transaction.
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From time to time, MSIM effects internal “cross” transactions between client accounts in which one client will purchase
securities held by another client. Such transactions are entered into generally only when we deem the transaction to be
in the best interests of both clients and at a price we have determined by reference to independent market indicators and
which we believe to constitute "best execution" for both parties.
MSIM will not engage in cross-trade transactions for an advisory client whose investment management agreement does
not explicitly permit the account to engage in cross trades and as a result, such clients will generally pay higher
transaction costs and might not receive the most favorable execution than had a cross-trade been effected for a particular
portfolio trade.
While we will seek to ensure that the terms of cross trades are fair and reasonable, and the transactions are executed
in a manner that is in the best interest of the clients involved in the cross trade, clients should be aware that the price of
a security bought or sold through a cross trade, in some cases, will not be as favorable as it might have been had the
trade been executed on the open market. Neither we nor any related party receives any compensation in connection with
such “cross” transactions.
MSIM along with related persons of ours will effect portfolio transactions through an Affiliated Broker-Dealer on behalf
of clients in respect of which we are a “fiduciary” as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended (“ERISA”) only on an agency basis and with prior written approval from an independent fiduciary in
accordance with the terms of exemptions available from the Department of Labor, as well as in accordance with the
restrictions imposed on such transactions by applicable law.
Fixed income instruments typically trade at a bid/ask spread and without an explicit brokerage charge. While there is not
a formal trading expense or commission, clients (including Wrap Fee Program clients) will bear the implicit trading costs
reflected in these spreads.
We are generally permitted to purchase securities on behalf of our ERISA clients from an underwriting or selling syndicate
where an Affiliated Broker-Dealer participates as manager or syndicate member with prior written approval from an
independent fiduciary in accordance with the terms of exemptions available from the Department of Labor
MSIM and the Affiliated Advisers, from time to time, execute client transactions with broker-dealers that do not have their
own clearing facilities and who clear such transactions through an Affiliated Broker-Dealer. In such instances, the
Affiliated Broker-Dealer will receive a clearing fee for these transactions.
Services to Issuers Activities
MSIM and its affiliates provide a variety of services for, and render advice to, various clients, including issuers of
securities that we also recommend for purchase or sale by clients. In the course of providing these services, we and our
affiliates could come into possession of material, nonpublic information which might affect our ability to buy, sell, or hold
a security for a client account. Investment research materials disclose that our related persons might own, and could
effect transactions in, securities of companies mentioned in such materials and also can perform or seek to perform
investment banking services for those companies. In addition, directors, officers and employees of our affiliates could
have Board seats and/or have Board observer rights with private and/or publicly traded companies in which we invest
on behalf of our client accounts. Along with our affiliates, we have adopted policies and procedures and created
information barriers that are reasonably designed to prevent the flow of any material, nonpublic information regarding
these companies between us and our affiliates. Directors, officers and employees of ours could also take Board seats
or have Board observer rights with companies in which we invest on behalf of our clients. Generally, we only do so with
respect to private (not publicly traded) companies. To the extent a director, officer or employee were to take a Board
seat or have Board observer rights in a public company, we (or certain of our investment teams) would be limited and/or
restricted in our ability to trade in the securities of the company to the extent we (or certain of our investment teams)
possessed or were deemed to possess material, nonpublic information regarding the company.
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Morgan Stanley’s Trading and Principal Investing Activities
Morgan Stanley generally conducts its sales and trading businesses, publishes research and analysis, and renders
investment advice without regard for MSIM client accounts and funds, although these activities could have an adverse
impact on the value of one or more of our clients’ investments, or could cause Morgan Stanley to have an interest in one
or more investments that is different from and potentially adverse to that of our clients. Morgan Stanley’s sales and
trading, financing and principal investing businesses will not be required to offer any investment opportunities to our
clients. These businesses can encompass, among other things, principal trading activities as well as principal investing.
Morgan Stanley’s sales and trading, financing and principal investing businesses have acquired or invested in, and in
the future could acquire or invest in, minority and/or majority control positions in equity or debt instruments of diverse
public and/or private companies. Such activities could put Morgan Stanley in a position to exercise contractual, voting
or creditor rights, or management or other control with respect to securities or loans of portfolio investments or other
issuers, and in these instances Morgan Stanley could, in its discretion and subject to applicable law, act to protect its
own interests or interests of clients, and not the interests of MSIM’s clients.
Subject to the limitations of applicable law, an account could purchase from or sell assets to, or make investments in,
companies in which Morgan Stanley has or will acquire an interest, including as an owner, creditor or counterparty.
Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Activities
Morgan Stanley advises clients on a variety of mergers, acquisitions and financing transactions. Morgan Stanley could act
as an advisor to clients that could compete with our clients and with respect to our clients’ investments. In certain instances,
Morgan Stanley gives advice and takes action with respect to its clients or proprietary accounts that can differ from the
advice MSIM provides or involves an action of a different timing or nature than the action taken or advised by MSIM. At
times, Morgan Stanley will give advice and provide recommendations to persons competing with our clients and/or any
of our clients’ investments, contrary to the client’s best interests and/or the best interests of any of its investments.
Morgan Stanley could be engaged in financial advising, whether on the buy-side or sell-side, or in financing or lending
assignments that could result in Morgan Stanley’s determining in its discretion or being required to act exclusively on
behalf of one or more third parties, which could limit our clients’ ability to transact with respect to one or more existing or
potential investments. Morgan Stanley could have relationships with third-party funds, companies or investors who have
invested in or could look to invest in portfolio companies, and there could be conflicts between our clients’ best interests,
on the one hand, and the interests of a Morgan Stanley client or counterparty, on the other hand.
To the extent that Morgan Stanley advises companies in financial restructurings outside of, prior to or after filing for
protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or similar laws in other jurisdictions, our flexibility in making
investments in such restructurings on a client’s behalf, or participating on steering committees and other committees in
connection with existing investments, could be limited.
From time to time, different areas of Morgan Stanley will come into possession of MNPI as a result of providing
investment banking services to issuers of securities. In an effort to prevent the mishandling of MNPI, Morgan Stanley
will, at times, restrict trading of these issuers’ securities by MSIM and our clients during the period such MNPI is held by
Morgan Stanley, which period could be substantial. In instances where trading of an investment is restricted, our clients
might not be able to purchase or sell such investment, in whole or in part, resulting in our clients’ inability to participate
in certain desirable transactions and/or a lack of liquidity concerning our clients’ existing portfolio investments. This
inability to buy or sell an investment could have an adverse effect on our client’s portfolio due to, among other things,
changes in an investment’s value during the period its trading is restricted.
Morgan Stanley could provide investment banking services to competitors of our clients’ portfolio companies, as well as
to private equity and/or private credit funds, and such activities could present Morgan Stanley with a conflict of interest vis-
a-vis a client’s investment and also result in a conflict in respect of the allocation of investment banking resources to
portfolio companies. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Morgan Stanley can provide a broad range of financial
services to companies in which a client invests, including strategic and financial advisory services, interim acquisition
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financing and other lending and underwriting or placement of securities, and Morgan Stanley generally will be paid fees
(that can include warrants or other securities) for such services. Morgan Stanley will not share any of the foregoing interest,
fees and other compensation received by it (including, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts received by us) with our client,
and any advisory fees payable will not be reduced thereby.
Morgan Stanley could be engaged to act as a financial advisor to a company in connection with the sale of such company,
or subsidiaries or divisions thereof, could represent potential buyers of businesses through its mergers and acquisition
activities and could provide lending and other related financing services in connection with such transactions. Morgan
Stanley’s compensation for such activities is usually based upon realized consideration and is usually contingent, in
substantial part, upon the closing of the transaction. Our clients might be precluded from participating in a transaction
with or relating to the company being sold under these circumstances.
We believe that the nature and range of clients to whom our Affiliated Broker-Dealers render investment banking and
other services is such that it would be inadvisable to exclude these companies from a client’s portfolio. Accordingly,
unless you advise us to the contrary, it is likely that your holdings will include the securities of corporations for whom our
Affiliated Broker-Dealers perform investment banking and other services. Moreover, your portfolios could include the
securities of companies in which our Affiliated Broker-Dealers make a market or in which we, our officers and employees
and our Affiliated Broker-Dealers or other related persons and their officers or employees have positions.
To meet applicable regulatory requirements, there are periods when we will not initiate or recommend certain types of
transactions in the securities of companies for which an Affiliated Broker-Dealer is performing investment banking
services. You will not be advised of that fact. In particular, when an Affiliated Broker-Dealer is engaged in an underwriting
or other distribution of securities of a company, we could be prohibited from purchasing or recommending the purchase
of certain securities of that company for our clients. Notwithstanding the circumstances described above, you, on your
own initiative, can direct us to place orders for specific securities transactions in your account. In addition, we generally
will not initiate or recommend transactions in the securities of companies with respect to which our affiliates have
controlling interests or are affiliated.
In addition, in situations where MSIM is required to aggregate its positions with those of other Morgan Stanley business
units for position limit calculations, we might have to refrain from making investments due to the positions held by other
Morgan Stanley business units or their clients. There could be other situations where we refrain from making an
investment or refrain from taking certain actions related to the management of such investment due to, among other
reasons, additional disclosure obligations, regulatory requirements, policies, and reputational risk, or MSIM could limit
purchases or sales of securities in respect of which Morgan Stanley is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution
capacity.
Investment Limits
Various federal, state or foreign laws, rules and regulations, as well as certain corporate charters adopted by issuers in
which we could invest, limit the percentage of an issuer’s securities that can be owned by us and our affiliates. We are
more likely to run into these limitations than investment advisers with fewer assets under management and/or that are
not affiliated with a large financial institution or financial holding company. In certain instances, for purposes of these
ownership limitations, our holdings on behalf of our client accounts will be aggregated with the holdings of our affiliates.
These ownership limitations can be in the form of, among others: (i) a strict prohibition against owning more than a
certain percentage of an issuer’s securities (the “threshold”); (ii) a “poison pill” that would have a material dilutive impact
on our holdings in that issuer should we and our affiliates exceed the threshold; (iii) provisions that would cause us and
our affiliates to be considered "interested stockholders" of an issuer if we and our affiliates exceed the threshold; and (iv)
provisions that could cause us and our affiliates to be considered an “affiliate” or “control person” of the issuer. We will
generally avoid exceeding the threshold in these situations. With respect to situations in which we and our affiliates could
be considered “interested stockholders” (or a similar term), we will generally avoid exceeding the threshold because if
we were considered an interested stockholder, we, along with our affiliates would be prohibited (in some cases absent
Board and/or shareholder approval) from entering into certain transactions or performing certain services (including
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investment banking, financial advisory and securities lending) with or for the issuer. We will also generally avoid
exceeding a threshold in situations in which we might be considered an affiliate of the issuer for the reasons set forth
above, as well as the fact that should we be considered an affiliate of an issuer, our ability to trade in the issuer’s
securities would become limited. For additional information on certain regulatory risks and limitations, including as a result
of the Volcker Rule, please see the “Legal and Regulatory Risks” sub-section in Item 8, “Methods of Analysis, Investment
Strategies and Risk of Loss”.
Investments in Affiliated Investment Funds
We can recommend, buy or sell for a client account, securities in which we or our related persons have a material
financial interest, including because we or our affiliates act as an investment adviser to an investment company that is
recommended to a client. When permitted by applicable law and the investment guidelines applicable to individual client
accounts and considered by us to be in the best interests of a client, we could recommend to you, and invest the assets
of your accounts in various closed-end and open-end investment companies or other pooled investment vehicles for
which we or our affiliates receive compensation for advisory, administrative, or other services. This presents a conflict
of interest, for example, to the extent that a similar security is available from another manager that is a better performer
or available at a lower price.
In certain circumstances, when required by applicable law or by agreement with you, we will waive our investment
management fee with respect to assets invested in pooled investment vehicles to the extent of some or all of the
compensation received by us and our affiliates for services rendered with respect to such pooled investment vehicles. We
do not, in all instances, waive such investment management fees.
Certain limitations are imposed on our ability to invest, on behalf of our clients, in products sponsored or advised by an
affiliated entity, including the Eaton Vance Funds.
Investment Management Activities and Managing Advisory Client Accounts
It is possible that our officers or employees buy or sell the same securities or other instruments that we have purchased
on behalf of or recommended to clients. Moreover, we from time to time will purchase and sell on behalf of or recommend
to clients the purchase or sale of securities in which we or our officers, employees or related persons have a financial
interest. Accordingly, if we or our related persons hold the same security as a client account, then we and our related
persons have a conflict in that we or our related persons could seek to put our own interests ahead of the clients,
however, we are prohibited from doing so because we have a fiduciary duty to our clients. These transactions are subject
to our policies and procedures regarding personal securities trading, as well as to the requirements of the Advisers Act,
the 1940 Act and other applicable laws. Our policies and procedures, the Advisers Act and the 1940 Act require that we
put your interests before our own. To the extent our personnel seek to buy or sell a security at or about the same time
that MSIM is seeking to buy or sell that security for a client account, as discussed in the “Code of Ethics” section above,
a pre-clearance request generally will be denied if there is an open order for a client in the same security.
From time to time, various conflicts of interest arise from the overall advisory, investment and other activities of MSIM,
and our affiliates, and personnel (each, an “Advisory Affiliate” and, collectively, the “Advisory Affiliates”).
The Advisory Affiliates manage long and short portfolios. The simultaneous management of long and short portfolios
creates conflicts of interest in portfolio management and trading in that opposite directional positions could be taken in
client accounts managed by the same investment team, and creates risks such as: (i) the risk that short sale activity could
adversely affect the market value of long positions in one or more portfolios (and vice versa) and (ii) the risks associated
with the trading desk receiving opposing orders in the same security simultaneously. The Advisory Affiliates have
adopted policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to mitigate these conflicts.
In certain circumstances, Advisory Affiliates invest on behalf of themselves in securities and other instruments that would
be appropriate for, held by, or that fall within the investment guidelines of the mutual funds and/or managed accounts
managed by them (collectively, the “Advisory Clients”). At times, the Advisory Affiliates will give advice or take action for
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their own accounts that differs from, conflicts with, or is adverse to advice given or action taken for any of the Advisory
Clients.
From time to time, conflicts also arise due to the fact that certain securities or instruments are held in some Advisory
Clients but not in others, or the Advisory Clients could have different levels of holdings in certain securities or instruments,
and because the Advisory Clients pay different levels of fees to us. In addition, at times an Advisory Affiliate will give
advice or take action with respect to the investments of one or more Advisory Clients that is not given or taken with
respect to other Advisory Clients with similar investment programs, objectives, and strategies. Accordingly, Advisory
Clients with similar strategies will not always hold the same securities or instruments or achieve the same performance.
Advisory Affiliates also advise Advisory Clients with conflicting programs, objectives or strategies.
To the extent we utilize quantitative models or risk management or optimization investment techniques, the decision on
when to initiate a purchase or sale transaction could differ, and be done for different reasons, than the decision made
on the same securities when not utilizing such techniques. This could create conflicts of interest, and it is possible that
one or more client accounts could achieve investment results that are substantially more or less favorable than those
results achieved by other accounts.
Any of the foregoing activities could adversely affect the prices and availability of other securities or instruments held by
or potentially considered for one or more Advisory Clients. Finally, the Advisory Affiliates could have conflicts in allocating
their time and services among their Advisory Clients. We will devote as much time to each of our Advisory Clients as we
deem appropriate to perform our duties in accordance with our respective management agreements.
Different clients of MSIM and its affiliates, including funds advised by us or an affiliate, could invest in (1) different classes
of securities of the same issuer (including, without limitation, different parts of an issuer's capital structure), depending on
their respective clients’ investment objectives and policies and/or (2) the same class of securities of the same issuer while
seeking different investment objectives or executing different investment strategies (such as long-term v. short-term
investment horizons), and we could face conflicts with respect to the interests involved. As a result, we, at times, will seek
to satisfy our fiduciary obligations to certain clients owning one class of securities of a particular issuer by pursuing or
enforcing rights on behalf of those clients with respect to such class of securities, and those activities could have an
adverse effect on another client, which owns a different class of securities of such issuer. For example, if one client holds
debt securities of an issuer and another client holds equity securities of the same issuer, if the issuer experiences financial
or operational challenges, we could seek a liquidation of the issuer on behalf of the client that holds the debt securities,
whereas the client holding the equity securities might benefit from a reorganization of the issuer. Thus, in such situations,
the actions taken on behalf of one client can negatively impact securities held by another client. Alternatively, for
example, if a client owns a security while seeking short-term capital appreciation, MSIM could vote proxies or engage
with the issuer (as applicable) in pursuit of that goal, which could negatively impact a client who holds the same security
but is seeking long-term capital appreciation. We have adopted procedures pursuant to which conflicts of interest,
including those resulting from the receipt of material, nonpublic information about an issuer, are managed by our
employees through information barriers and other practices.
We, or our affiliates, from time to time will pursue acquisitions of assets and businesses and identify an investment
opportunity in connection with its existing businesses or a new line of business without first offering the opportunity to
clients. Such an opportunity could include a business that competes with a client or an investment fund or a co-investment
in which a client has invested or proposes to invest.
From time to time, we could be retained to manage assets on behalf of a client that is a public or private company in
which we have invested or could invest on behalf of our mutual funds and other client accounts.
Valuation of Investments
MSIM performs certain valuation services related to securities and other assets held in client accounts in accordance
with its valuation policies. We will face a conflict with respect to valuations generally because of the effect of such
valuations on MSIM’s fees and other compensation and the performance of a client’s account.
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Investments by Separate Investment Departments
The entities and individuals that provide investment-related services can differ by client, investment function, or business
line (each, an “Investment Department” and collectively, the “Investment Departments”). Nonetheless, Investment
Departments (with certain exceptions) can engage in discussions and share information and resources with another
Investment Department (or a team within the other Investment Department) regarding investment-related matters. The
sharing of information and resources between the Investment Departments is designed to further increase the knowledge
and effectiveness of each Investment Department. However, an investment team’s decisions as to the use of shared
research and participation in discussions with another Investment Department could adversely impact a client. Certain
investment teams within one Investment Department could make investment decisions and execute trades together with
investment teams within other Investment Departments. Other investment teams make investment decisions and
execute trades independently. This could cause the quality and price of execution, and the performance of investments
and accounts, to vary. Internal policies and procedures set forth the guidelines under which securities and securities
trades can be crossed, aggregated, and coordinated between accounts serviced by different Investment Departments.
Internal policies and procedures take into consideration a variety of factors, including the primary market in which such
security trades. If a security or securities trade is ineligible for crossing, aggregation, or other coordinated trading, then
each Investment Department will execute such trades independently of the other.
General Process to Address Conflicts
All of the transactions described above involve conflicts of interest between us or related persons of ours and our clients.
The Advisers Act, the 1940 Act and ERISA impose certain requirements designed to decrease the possibility of conflicts
of interest between an investment adviser and its clients. In some cases, transactions could be permitted subject to
fulfillment of certain conditions. Certain other transactions could be prohibited. In addition, we have instituted policies
and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from arising and, when they do arise, to ensure that we effect
transactions for clients in a manner that is consistent with our fiduciary duty to our clients and in accordance with applicable
law. We seek to ensure that conflicts of interest are appropriately resolved taking into consideration the best interest of the
client.
We have adopted policies and procedures and established controls such as the MSIM Conflicts of Interest and Franchise
Committee designed to require review of transactions in which conflicts of interest could exist, including those described
above, to ensure that applicable policies and legal and regulatory requirements are followed.
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Item 12 Brokerage Practices
Best Execution and Brokerage Selection Factors
When we have the authority to select brokers for client accounts, we select broker-dealers consistent with our duty to
seek “best execution” (i.e., to seek the most favorable overall price and execution quality under the circumstances
existing at the time of the transaction). In seeking best execution, we are not obligated to choose the broker-dealer
offering the lowest available commission rate if, in our reasonable judgment, (i) we believe that the total costs or proceeds
from the transaction might be less favorable than could be obtained elsewhere; (ii) a higher commission is justified by
the products and research services (soft dollar benefits) other than execution provided by the broker-dealer that fall
within the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the 34 Act (“Section 28(e)”) or otherwise is permitted under applicable law,
rules, and regulations of the relevant jurisdictions in which we operate, and under applicable agreements; or (iii) other
considerations, such as the order size, the time required for execution, the depth and breadth of the market for the
security, minimum credit quality requirements to transact business with a particular broker-dealer, or the quality of the
broker-dealer’s back office or other considerations support our decision to use a different broker-dealer.
With certain exceptions, when effecting transactions on behalf of clients, we can select any broker-dealer on our list of
approved broker-dealers. Approved broker-dealers have met criteria as established by our Trading and Research
Governance team (“TRG”). TRG reviews and approves broker-dealers periodically to determine whether broker-dealers
on our approved list continue to meet such criteria. Changes to the approved brokers list are reported quarterly to the
Counterparty Governance Committee (“CGC”), as well as other committees and forums, where relevant.
When selecting an approved broker-dealer (including an affiliate) to execute securities transactions, the trading desk
considers some or all of the following factors:
Best available price;
Reliability, integrity, financial responsibility, and reputation in the industry (which can include a review of financial
information and creditworthiness);
Trade limitation and/or execution capabilities, including block positioning, speed of execution and quality and
responsiveness of its trading desk;
Knowledge of and access to the relevant markets for the securities being traded;
Potential ability to obtain price improvement;
Ability to maintain confidentiality;
Ability to handle non-traditional or complex trades;
Commission and commission-equivalent rates;
Proprietary and third-party research (but only to the extent permissible under applicable law and under applicable
agreements);
Technology infrastructure;
Clearance and settlement capabilities;
Size of the trade relative to other trades in the same instrument;
Ability of the counterparty to commit its capital and its access to liquidity, including product liquidity;
Counterparty restrictions associated with a portfolio, including regulatory trading, documentation requirement, or any
specific clearing broker-dealer requirements;
Client directed execution;
Client specific restrictions;
Assignment fees;
Agent bank considerations (i.e., whether to trade with or away from the administrative agent); and
Such other factors as we determine to be appropriate.
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Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
Subject to our duty to seek best execution, we and certain of our Affiliated Advisers use a portion of the commissions
generated when executing client transactions to acquire brokerage and research services that aid us in fulfilling our
investment decision-making responsibilities in accordance with Section 28(e) and applicable law. This means we can
cause a client to pay commissions (or markups or markdowns) higher than those charged by other broker-dealers in
return for soft dollar benefits (known as paying-up). Commissions paid to broker-dealers providing us brokerage and
research services at times will be higher than those charged by other broker-dealers. We receive a benefit when we use
client commissions to obtain brokerage and research services because we do not have to produce or pay for the
brokerage research services ourselves. Therefore, we have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based
on our interest in receiving brokerage and research services, rather than solely on our clients’ interest in obtaining the
most favorable execution.
We have adopted policies and procedures designed to help us track and evaluate the benefits we receive from brokerage
and research services, as well as to track how much our clients pay above the amount that broker-dealers from which we
receive brokerage and research services would have charged solely for execution of such trades. MSIM and the Affiliated
Advisers utilize a voting system to assist us in making a good faith determination of the value of brokerage and research
services we receive in accordance with Section 28(e) and applicable law. In many cases, these involve subjective
judgments or approximations.
MSIM and the Affiliated Advisers have established a process for budgeting research costs and allocating such costs
across client accounts. Each of our portfolio management (“PM”) teams establishes a research budget at the start of
each calendar year that sets the expected cost to be spent by the team on external research services for the same year.
These research budgets are reviewed and approved by our Research Committee, allocated across all accounts managed
by the PM team in accordance with our policies. We and certain of the Affiliated Advisers have entered into client
commission arrangements (“CCAs”) with executing brokers (“CCA Partners”) and a third-party vendor (“CCA
Aggregator”) that assist us with administration of research payments and commissions. Pursuant to these arrangements,
and under our supervision, the CCA Partners and the CCA Aggregator track execution and research commissions
separately and pool and distribute research credits in accordance with the policies and procedures discussed above to
approved research providers (which include executing brokerage firms or independent research providers (“Approved
Research Providers”)) that provide us with brokerage and research services. The CCA Aggregator also reconciles
research credits from trades with CCA Partners that are payable to Approved Research Providers and provides other
related administrative functions. In addition, from time to time a CCA Partner will provide us and the Affiliated Advisers
with proprietary research it has developed and, upon our instruction, retain research commission credits as compensation
for the provision of such proprietary research services.
Transactions that generate research credits include equity transactions executed on an agency and riskless principal
basis where the executing broker-dealer receives a commission.
Where a product or service has a mixed use, we will make a reasonable allocation of its cost according to its use and
will use client commissions to pay only for the portion of the product or service that assists us in our investment decision-
making process. MSIM and the Affiliated Advisers have an incentive to allocate the costs to uses that assist us in our
investment decision-making process because, in such instances, we pay for such costs with client commissions rather
than our own resources. To the extent we receive “mixed use” products and services, MSIM and the Affiliated Advisers
will allocate the anticipated costs of a mixed use product or service in good faith and maintain records concerning our
allocations in order to mitigate such conflicts.
Client accounts that pay a greater amount of commissions relative to other accounts generally bear a greater share of the
cost of brokerage and research services than such other accounts. We, at times, will use brokerage and research
services obtained with brokerage commissions from some clients for the benefit of other clients whose brokerage
commissions do not pay for such brokerage and research services. Please see “Directed, Restricted or Constrained
Brokerage Arrangements; Wrap Fee Programs” for additional disclosure related to the impact of such arrangements on
the remaining clients. For example, to the extent that a client has such an arrangement, they might benefit from the
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products and research services but not share in the costs of doing so. We also, from time to time, share brokerage and
research services with the Affiliated Advisers, and the clients of the Affiliated Advisers receive the benefits of such
brokerage and research services. These arrangements remain subject to our overall obligation to seek best execution
for our client trading.
MiFID II Affiliated Advisers
Certain of the Affiliated Advisers are subject to the European Union’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II
(“MiFID II” and such Affiliated Advisers, “MiFID II Affiliated Advisers”), which is a European regulation governing conduct
by investment advisers, among others. Under MiFID II, our MiFID II Affiliated Advisers are permitted to receive research
(other than research that qualifies as a “Minor Non-Monetary Benefit” under MiFID II (“MNB”)) without it constituting an
unlawful inducement if they pay for the research directly from their own resources or from research payment accounts
funded by their clients. Our MiFID II Affiliated Advisers engage us as sub-adviser or otherwise delegate to us authority
to manage their client accounts (“MiFID II Accounts”). While we are not directly subject to the provisions of MiFID II, in
accordance with those arrangements, we make a reasonable valuation and allocation of the cost of the research as
between MiFID II Accounts and other accounts that participate in CCAs and will pay for any research we receive with
respect to MiFID II Accounts (other than research that qualifies as a MNB) from our own resources. We and our MiFID
II Affiliated Advisers could separately pay for fixed income research from our own resources. As a result, MiFID II Accounts
at times will pay commission rates that are below the total commission rates paid by other client accounts.
Fixed Income Trading
MSIM and the Affiliated Advisers do not use CCAs or otherwise have arrangements to pay for brokerage and research
services with client commissions in connection with trading fixed income securities. Consistent with long-standing
industry practice in the fixed income markets, however, MSIM and the Affiliated Advisers, subject to applicable law,
receive brokerage and research services and other information, including access to fixed income trading platforms that
dealers provide for no charge to their customers in the ordinary course of business. Fixed income instruments typically
trade at a bid/ask spread and without an explicit brokerage charge. While there is not a formal trading expense or
commission, clients will bear the implicit trading costs reflected in these spreads.
Trade Aggregations
When permitted under applicable law, each PM team generally will aggregate orders of its clients (and, in some cases,
clients managed by other PM teams) for the same securities in a single order so that such orders are executed
simultaneously in order to facilitate best execution and to reduce brokerage costs. We can aggregate client orders with
the orders of clients of the Affiliated Advisers and accounts in which we or our officers, employees or related persons
have a financial interest. However, we effect aggregated orders in a manner designed to ensure that no participating
client is favored over any other client.
In general, accounts that participate in an aggregated order will participate on a pro rata or other objective basis. Pro
rata allocation of securities and other instruments will generally consist of allocation based on the order size of a
participating client account in proportion to the size of the orders placed for other accounts participating in the aggregated
order. However, we, at times and where we deem appropriate, allocate such securities and other instruments using a
method other than pro rata if their supply is limited, based on differing portfolio characteristics among accounts, because
of counterparty preferences or requirements, or to avoid odd lots or small allocations, among other reasons. These
allocations are made in our good faith judgment with a goal of ensuring that fair and equitable allocation will occur over
time. There are times that we are not able to aggregate orders because of applicable law or other considerations when
doing so might otherwise be advantageous in which case a client might face higher costs. Please see “Directed,
Restricted or Constrained Brokerage Arrangements; Wrap Fee Programs” for additional disclosure related to the impact
of such arrangements on the remaining clients. For example, to the extent that a client has such an arrangement, their
account could be excluded from such aggregation unless MSIM maintains trading discretion.
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MSIM and the Affiliated Advisers are subject to differing requirements governing aggregation of orders, including
provisions of the 1940 Act that restrict joint transactions and MiFID II that govern the circumstances under which MiFID
II Accounts are permitted to pay for research. As a result, MiFID II Accounts at times will pay commission rates that are
below the total commission rates paid by other client accounts included in the order.
When appropriate, we rotate trades among client accounts in accordance with our policy to treat all accounts fairly and
equitably over time. Trade rotation processes can result in trading for accounts occurring before, after, or simultaneously
with trading for other accounts. Accounts in a rotation could experience market impact costs with respect to certain
transactions relative to other accounts in the rotation. Approved rotation methodologies are in place where appropriate
to provide fair placement and execution to all client accounts over time.
Directed, Restricted or Constrained Brokerage Arrangements; Wrap Fee Programs
Depending on the particular program selected or contractual arrangement, clients can limit our authority to advise
accounts or execute transactions in a number of ways, including by:
requiring that certain securities transactions be authorized by them in advance;
prohibiting or limiting the purchasing of certain securities or industry groups;
seeking to require a designated broker-dealer (“Designated Broker”) to execute all or a portion of their
transactions (“Directed Trades”), which can be structured as “directed brokerage” arrangements; and/or
restricting us from executing transactions through a particular broker-dealer and/or imposing restrictions,
conditions or other constraints on the terms of a trade or broker arrangement to which a particular broker-dealer
might not agree (“Restricted/Constrained Trades”).
In addition, a Wrap Fee Program client is permitted to impose reasonable restrictions on the management of their
account. In most Wrap Fee Programs, the Sponsor or overlay manager is responsible for implementing client restrictions
and guidelines. In those Wrap Fee Programs in which we are responsible for implementing client restrictions and
guidelines, the client is responsible for identifying any security or group of securities which are restricted within the
account. If a client identifies a category of restricted securities without identifying the underlying companies of which the
category is comprised or a source for identifying such underlying companies, we can utilize outside service providers to
identify the universe of companies that will be considered in such category. When a security is required to be sold or is
restricted from being purchased for an account, this could adversely affect the account’s performance and cause it not
to track the performance of the managers’ investment strategies. The change of the classification of a company, the
grouping of an industry or the credit rating of a security could force us to sell securities in a client’s account at an inopportune
time, possibly causing a taxable event to the client. Clients will still be exposed to securities they restrict if they hold in
their account commingled vehicles that invest in such securities.
In certain instances, Wrap Fee Program accounts bear additional costs as compared to our other client accounts. For
example, Wrap Fee Program accounts that hold fixed income instruments will bear the implicit costs of such instruments’
bid/ask spread that are in addition to the “wrap” fee paid to the Sponsor. With respect to certain Wrap Fee Programs,
rather than “wrap” our fees for investment advisory services together with the Sponsor’s fees for brokerage, custody and
other services, we enter into an investment advisory contract directly with the Wrap Fee Program Sponsor’s clients and
receive our investment advisory fee directly from those clients. Because the clients have also entered into an agreement
with the Sponsor to provide for brokerage and other services at a fixed cost or rate, we will typically send the trades to
the Sponsor for the Sponsor to execute but typically also retain the right to execute trades for those clients directly
through other broker-dealers. We also enter into arrangements with certain Wrap Fee Programs where we have
discretion to select broker-dealers to execute trades for accounts. In instances where we are executing the trades directly
for the accounts, if we select a broker-dealer other than the Sponsor to execute a trade, the Wrap Fee Program accounts
typically will bear any execution costs charged by that other broker-dealer in addition to the “wrap” fee paid to the Sponsor.
The restrictions imposed by Designated Broker arrangements and Wrap Fee Programs could cause us to trade the
securities held by these accounts differently from how we trade for client accounts for which we are not so restricted in
the instances where we retain the right to execute. In these cases, Directed Trades, Restricted/Constrained Trades and
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Wrap Fee Program trades are generally not aggregated for execution with transactions in the same securities for other
clients, and we might be unable to obtain the same quality of execution on Directed Trades, Restricted/Constrained Trades,
or Wrap Fee Program trades for a number of reasons, which include, but are not limited to:
A client direction, restriction or constraint will frequently restrict our ability to obtain as favorable a transaction price
or commission rate as we might otherwise be able to obtain on an unconstrained trade;
The account might forego benefits from savings on execution costs that could otherwise be obtained, most notably
commission savings and/or price improvement that derive from aggregating orders for various client accounts;
If a Designated Broker or Wrap Fee Program Sponsor is not on our approved list of brokers, there could be additional
credit and/or settlement risk for such trades;
MSIM will not be obligated to, and in most cases will not, negotiate with a Designated Broker or Wrap Fee Program
Sponsor to obtain commission rates more favorable or otherwise different from those to which the client has agreed;
A Directed Trade, Restricted/Constrained Trade or Wrap Fee Program trade could result in a client account paying
higher or otherwise different commissions than other clients of ours for transactions in the same security; and
MSIM could effect a Directed Trade or a Restricted/Constrained Trade or provide the applicable models,
recommendations or updates to one or more Wrap Fee Program Sponsors after another broker has effected
transactions in the same security for client accounts for which we have discretion to select the broker and trading
venue, which also could negatively affect the prices received by clients that direct, restrict or otherwise constrain
trades or Wrap Fee Program clients.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a client has directed brokerage for its account and maintains that we remain subject
to best execution, if eligible, and we are executing trades on behalf of those clients, we can aggregate those Directed
Trades, or Restricted/Constrained Trades along with trades executed for other client accounts through the broker-dealer
that we believe will offer the best execution for such transaction and, thereafter, in the case of a directed brokerage
arrangement, instruct such executing broker-dealer to “step-out” or allocate a portion of the trades to the client’s
Designated Broker to perform other non-execution portions of the trade.
With respect to Wrap Fee Programs, the terms of each client’s account in a Wrap Fee Program are governed by the
client’s agreement with the Sponsor and the disclosure document for each Wrap Fee Program. Wrap Fee Program
clients are urged to refer to the appropriate disclosure document and client agreement for more information about the
Wrap Fee Program, MSIM’s advisory services and fees. The fees for a Wrap Fee Program could result in higher costs
than a client would otherwise realize by paying our standard advisory fees and negotiating separate arrangements for
trade execution, custodial and consulting services.
Designated Brokers, including those participating in “step-out” arrangements, and broker-dealers executing trades for
our Wrap Fee Program clients generally do not provide us with brokerage and research services other than trade
execution for the client account. As a result, the soft dollar benefits obtained with brokerage commissions from our clients
that do not participate in Designated Brokerage arrangements or Wrap Fee Programs can be used for the benefit of our
clients who do so participate, which could result in such other client accounts bearing a greater share of research costs
than clients participating in Designated Broker arrangements and Wrap Fee Programs. These arrangements remain
subject to our overall obligation to obtain best execution for our client trading.
Account Errors and Error Resolution
MSIM has policies and procedures to help it assess and determine, consistent with applicable standards of care and
client documentation, when a client will be reimbursed in connection with a trading error. Pursuant to these policies, an
error will generally be reimbursable when MSIM has executed a transaction that is an error that, in MSIM’s reasonable
view, resulted from MSIM’s failure to observe the applicable standard of care, subject to materiality and other
considerations. MSIM could determine to treat an error as compensable for a variety of reasons and the payment of any
compensation should not be viewed as a determination of fault or violation of a standard of care.
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Item 13 Review of Accounts
Our portfolio managers generally review accounts on a daily basis. Accounts are reviewed for a number of factors,
including but not limited to, performance, sector and asset allocation, adherence to investment policies and strategies
and specific security ownership, all within the context of client guidelines and objectives.
If MSIM manages your money as a separate account, you are provided reports of transactions as they are effected (if
you request), portfolio valuations and summaries of portfolio changes on a quarterly basis or as otherwise negotiated with
you. Additionally, we will meet with you quarterly, annually or as requested to discuss the performance of your account,
our management of your account, and any other issues of concern to you. We will provide additional reports or information
to you upon request.
With respect to model portfolios offered through Wrap Fee Programs, models are generally reviewed on a daily basis.
With respect to single contract Wrap Account, the portfolio managers generally review accounts on a daily basis.
Investors in private funds are provided such information and reports as provided in the fund’s governing and disclosure
documents. In some cases, MSIM could agree with a particular investor to provide additional reporting or more detailed
or timely reporting. Except as otherwise agreed or required by applicable law, MSIM is not required to inform other
investors of such arrangements or to offer similar reporting to other investors. To comply with the Custody Rule, as
discussed below, investors generally will receive audited financial statements for the private fund within 120 days (or
180 days or longer for certain funds of funds) following the fund’s fiscal year end. Investors can also receive Forms
K-1 and other tax reporting information, as provided in the fund’s governing and disclosure documents.
.
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Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation
MSIM has compensated, and expects to continue to compensate, affiliates and unrelated third parties for client referrals
in accordance with relevant rules under the Advisers Act. The compensation paid to any such entity will typically consist
of a cash payment stated as a percentage of our advisory fee, but also include cash payments determined in other ways.
MSIM is also referred advisory clients by affiliated and unaffiliated parties/consultants that are retained by clients or
prospective clients. While we do not make payments for solicitations or client referrals to these consultants, we make
cash payments to participate in conferences sponsored by such consultants to obtain information about industry trends
and client investment needs. We can also purchase products or services from the consultants and/or their affiliates.
These arrangements could cause referrals to us by these affiliates and other third parties for reasons other than the
client’s best interest.
.
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Item 15 Custody
MSIM is deemed to have “custody” of client assets in a variety of circumstances, and in each case we will comply with
the custody requirements under the Advisers Act. We have custody of client assets any time that we have authority or
ability to obtain possession of client assets. We would thus be deemed to have custody of the assets of the funds for
which we or an affiliate serves as general partner or for which we or an affiliate serves as the managing member or
otherwise has the authority or ability to obtain possession of fund assets. In those cases, the funds generally provide
audited financial statements on an annual basis in accordance with applicable law. Additionally, where MSIM is deemed
to have custody over other advisory client accounts, clients will receive quarterly account statements from the qualified
custodian for such account. Clients should carefully review the account statements received from the qualified custodian
and compare them to statements received from us. If a client elects to retain our affiliate, MSSB, to act as qualified
custodian of its account we will generally be deemed to have "custody" of the funds and securities held in such accounts
as well. We also will be deemed to have "custody" over our client accounts from which we are authorized to deduct fees
or other expenses.
With respect to Wrap Fee Program clients, we could be deemed to have custody of assets if we contract directly with
the Wrap Fee Program clients for services and if an affiliate of MSIM acts as Sponsor of the Wrap Fee Program. In such
cases, the Sponsor or a qualified custodian will send required periodic account statements to the Wrap Fee Program
client.
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Item 16 Investment Discretion
MSIM typically receives discretionary authority to select the securities and other instruments to be bought or sold at the
time we establish an advisory relationship with you by entering into an investment management agreement. In all cases,
however, such discretion is exercised in a manner consistent with your stated investment objectives and guidelines. As
discussed under Item 12, “Brokerage Practices”, in this Brochure, you can impose certain limitations on our use of broker
dealers.
For registered investment companies, our authority to trade securities is limited, in certain circumstances, by certain
federal securities and tax laws that require, among other things, diversification of investments.
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Item 17 Voting Client Securities
Voting Proxies for Equity Securities
We use our best efforts to vote proxies as part of our authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets. We
and our affiliates generally vote proxies for equity securities under the MSIM Equity Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
(the “Policy”) pursuant to authority granted under the applicable investment advisory agreement or, in the absence of
such authority, as authorized by the Board of Directors/Trustees of the Morgan Stanley Funds. We will not vote proxies
unless the investment advisory agreement or Board of Directors/Trustees explicitly authorizes us to vote proxies.
MSIM and its affiliates will vote proxies in a prudent and diligent manner and in the best interests of clients, including
beneficiaries of and participants in a client’s benefit plan(s) for which we manage assets, consistent with the objective of
maximizing long-term investment returns (the “Client Proxy Standard”). In addition to voting proxies at portfolio
companies, MSIM generally engages with the management, and at times also engages with the board, of companies in
which we invest on a range of governance issues. We consider governance to be a window into management and board
quality. MSIM typically engages with companies where we have larger positions and voting issues are financially
material. We believe that MSIM’s engagement process, through private communication with companies, allows us to
understand the governance structures at investee companies and better inform our voting decisions.
The Policy addresses a broad range of issues and provides general voting parameters on proposals that arise most
frequently. However, details of specific proposals vary, and those details affect particular voting decisions, as do factors
specific to a given company. We endeavor to integrate governance and proxy voting policy with investment goals, using
the vote to encourage portfolio companies to enhance long-term shareholder value and to provide a high standard of
transparency such that equity markets can value corporate assets appropriately.
MSIM seeks to follow the Client Proxy Standard for each client. At times, this could result in split votes, for example when
different clients have varying economic interests in the outcome of a particular voting matter (such as a case in which
varied ownership interests in two companies involved in a merger result in different stakes in the outcome). We also split
votes at times based on differing views of portfolio managers.
MSIM could determine to abstain on matters for which disclosure is inadequate. We usually support routine management
proposals except for certain “other business” and “meeting adjournment” proposals.
From time to time, MSIM retains third-party advisers to provide a variety of proxy-related services, including in-depth
research and global issuer analysis(“Research Providers”). While MSIM can review the recommendations of such
Research Providers, MSIM is in no way obligated to follow such recommendations, and votes all proxies based on the
Policy and Client Proxy Standard.
Votes on board nominees can involve balancing a variety of considerations, including those related to board and board
committee independence, term length, whether nominees could be overcommitted, director attendance and diligence,
financial knowledge and experience, executive and director remuneration practices, board diversity, and board
responsiveness. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee if it believes a direct conflict exists
between the interests of the nominee and the public shareholders, including failure to meet fiduciary standards of care
and/or loyalty. We can oppose directors where we conclude that actions of directors are unlawful, unethical or negligent.
We consider opposing individual board members or an entire slate if we believe the board is entrenched and/or dealing
inadequately with performance problems; if we believe the board is acting with insufficient independence between the
board and management; or if we believe the board has not been sufficiently forthcoming with information on key
governance or other material matters.
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MSIM examines a range of issues, including proxy contests and proposals relating to mergers, acquisitions and other
special corporate transactions, on a case-by-case basis in the interests of each client. We support substantial
management/board discretion on capital structure, but within limits that take into consideration articulated uses of capital,
existence of preemptive rights, and certain shareholder protections provided by market rules and practices. We are
generally supportive of reasonable shareholder rights.
MSIM votes on advisory votes on executive pay on a case-by-case basis. We generally support equity compensation
plans if we view potential dilution/cost as reasonable, and if plan provisions sufficiently protect shareholder interests. We
also support appropriately structured bonus and employee stock purchase plans. We support proposals that if
implemented would enhance useful disclosure, but we generally vote against proposals requesting reports that we
believe are duplicative, related to matters not material to the business, or that would impose unnecessary or excessive
costs.
MSIM considers social and environmental shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis, but generally supports
proposals that seek to enhance useful disclosure on matters we believe could be financially material.
Process: An MSIM Proxy Review Committee (the “Committee”) has overall responsibility for the Policy. Because proxy
voting is an investment responsibility and impacts shareholder value, and because of their knowledge of companies and
markets, portfolio managers and other members of investment staff play a key role in proxy voting, and individual
investment teams are responsible for determining decisions on proxy votes with consultation from the Global
Stewardship Team.
The Committee meets at least quarterly and reviews and considers changes to the Policy at least annually. If the Director
of our Global Stewardship Team determines that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the Director can request a
special committee to review, and recommend a course of action with respect to, the conflict(s) in question.
Morgan Stanley Funds or any other investment vehicle sponsored, managed or advised by an MSIM affiliate could
participate in a securities lending program through a third-party provider. The voting rights for shares that are out on loan
are transferred to the borrower and therefore, the lender (i.e., a Morgan Stanley Fund or another investment vehicle
sponsored, managed or advised by an MSIM affiliate) is not entitled to vote the lent shares at the company meeting.
However, in certain circumstances a portfolio manager could seek to recall shares for the purposes of voting. In this
event, the handling of such recall requests would be on a best efforts basis.
Further Information: You can contact your Client Representative or Financial Advisor for information on how to obtain
a copy of the Policy or proxy voting records. In the case of registered investment companies that we advise, the fund’s
proxy voting records filed with the SEC are available (i) without charge by accessing the Mutual Fund Center on our web
site at www.morganstanley.com/funds and (ii) on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
Related, but supplemental, to MSIM’s formal proxy voting policy, MSIM’s investment teams – in particular, those teams
acting for client strategies that are responsive to ESG considerations – have the ability to employ the shareholder rights
and stakeholder influence that MSIM exercises on behalf of its clients to encourage, where relevant, strong ESG
practices with issuers, borrowers and counterparties. MSIM seeks to engage in these types of stewardship and
engagement practices in a manner that is consistent with its role as a responsible long-term investor, its fiduciary
obligations, and any specific client directions.
Voting Consents for Fixed Income Instruments
While loans, bonds and other fixed income or debt investments (“Fixed Income Instruments”) held by MSIM’s clients are
not expected to solicit proxies, a client could, from time to time, own interests in Fixed Income Instruments that grant
other voting rights or solicit consents. Unless otherwise stated under the terms of our agreements with our clients, MSIM
has authority to exercise certain decision-making rights associated with Fixed Income Instruments (“Consents”). In these
cases, we could be called upon to provide or withhold consent to proposed modifications to the terms and covenants of
a Fixed Income Instrument. To the extent that a client grants us authority to act in these circumstances, we will seek to
make consent decisions in a prudent and diligent manner, and in the best interest of the client from which consent is
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sought, subject at all times to each such client’s investment objectives. In some cases, we could determine that refraining
from exercising a consent is appropriate.
Although MSIM aims to exercise Consents in a manner consistent with the best interest of our clients, the details or the
circumstances of a particular Consent could present conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest regarding our decision to
exercise or withhold Consents currently exist and can arise under a wide range of scenarios. For example, we face
conflicts of interest in making a Consent decision as to a loan where Morgan Stanley has a business relationship with or
interests in the obligor, a related sponsor, or another party with an interest in the outcome of a Consent request. In
addition, conflicts exist where one or more clients hold or acquire interests in an obligor that are of a different class than,
are junior or senior to or otherwise have different rights than interests in the same obligor that are held by one or more
other clients or accounts. In these situations, the interests of one or more clients could diverge from those of other clients
or accounts with respect to the voting of proxies or exercise of Consents to the extent the different rights and features of
the interests held by one or more clients or other accounts create an interest in obtaining an outcome that is contrary to
the interests of others. Conflicts also can arise if a senior executive of, or other person connected with, the obligor or
another party with an interest in the outcome of a Consent request has a significant relationship with our personnel or
those of Morgan Stanley.
MSIM also faces conflicts of interest to the extent that we hold Fixed Income Instruments and are called upon to exercise
rights under those Fixed Income Instruments where the outcome of the exercise of such rights could benefit us or an
affiliate or operate to the detriment of other holders of the Fixed Income Instruments. Investors should understand that we
can exercise our rights under any Fixed Income Instruments in which we hold an interest in such a manner as we
determine to be in our best interest (which could be contrary to the interests of other investors in the instrument), except to
the extent limited by the governing documents of the instrument. In some cases, we might determine to exercise (or
withhold) a Consent on behalf of one or more clients while taking the opposite action (or no action) on behalf of one or
more other clients, when we believe that doing so reflects the particular best interest of each party holding such right.
Our portfolio managers are generally responsible for identifying Consent solicitations and for making decisions as to the
exercise of Consents. Morgan Stanley has, and we follow, a variety of policies and procedures intended to assist in
identifying and addressing conflicts. Prior to exercising a consent, a determination is made as to whether there is a
material conflict of interest. Where a conflict of interest is identified that implicates Morgan Stanley generally, we will
generally discuss the conflict with Morgan Stanley’s Global Conflicts Office and seek their assistance in addressing the
conflict.
Once a material conflict is identified, we will take such steps as we believe to be necessary in order to determine how to
exercise the related Consent in good faith and in accordance with our fiduciary duties, which could include, but is not
limited to, consulting internally with investment professionals, risk management professionals, business unit heads, our
compliance and/or legal department, as appropriate under the particular circumstances, exercising the consent in
accordance with instructions from, or following consent of, the client after providing disclosure regarding the conflict, or
taking other actions that we believe appropriate under the circumstance in furtherance of the client’s best interest.
Further Information: You can contact your Client Representative or Financial Advisor for information on how to obtain
a copy of relevant policies and procedures or information regarding how we exercised Consents on your behalf.
FORM ADV, PART 2A BROCHURE
MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
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Item 18 Financial Information
Registered investment advisers are required in this Item to provide you with certain financial information or disclosures
about our financial condition. We are not aware of any financial condition that impairs our ability to meet contractual and
fiduciary commitments to you and have not been the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
FORM ADV, PART 2A BROCHURE
MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
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Appendix A
Fee Schedules
Investment Team
Strategy
Attribute
Schedule
Counterpoint Global
Advantage
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $50 M
0.650% on the next $50 M
0.500% in excess of $100 M
Discovery
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $50 M
0.650% on the next $50 M
0.550% in excess of $100 M
Global Insight
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $100 M
0.650% in excess of $100 M
Growth
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $50 M
0.650% on the next $50 M
0.500% in excess of $100 M
Inception
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
1.000% on the first $50 M
0.900% on the next $50 M
0.850% in excess of $100 M
Insight
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
Asset Based Fee: 1.00% on total assets under
management or Performance Based Fee:
0.80% on all assets plus 10% of alpha over
benchmark per annum, no high water mark
Global Permanence
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $100 M
0.650% in excess of $100 M
Permanence
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $50 M
0.650% on the next $50 M
0.500% in excess of $100 M
Global Endurance
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $100 M
0.650% in excess of $100 M
Vitality
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $50 M
0.650% on the next $50 M
0.550% in excess of $100 M
Tailwinds
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $50 M
0.650% on the next $50 M
0.500% in excess of $100 M
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Investment Team
Strategy
Attribute
Schedule
Global Opportunity
Asia Opportunity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $200 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
Developing Opportunity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $200 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
Established Opportunity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $200 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
Global Change
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $200M
Management Fee
0.850% on the first $200 M
0.800% in excess of $200 M
Global Opportunity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $200M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $200 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
International Opportunity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $200 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
Europe Opportunity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $200 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
International Advantage
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $200 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
Passport Overseas Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $25M
Emerging Markets
Equity
Management Fee
0.650% on the first $100 M
0.600% on the next $100 M
0.550% in excess of $200 M
Passport Global Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $25M
Management Fee
0.650% on the first $100 M
0.600% on the next $100 M
0.550% in excess of $200 M
Sustainable Asia Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.700% on the first $50 M
0.650% in excess of $50 M
China A Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.900% on total assets
Emerging Markets Leaders
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.750% on total assets
Global Emerging Markets Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.800% on the first $100 M
0.750% on the next $100 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
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Investment Team
Strategy
Attribute
Schedule
Sustainable Emerging Markets
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Emerging Markets
Equity (Cont’d)
Management Fee
0.800% on the first $100 M
0.750% on the next $100 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
Emerging Markets ex China
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.800% on the first $100 M
0.750% on the next $100 M
0.700% in excess of $200 M
India Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.900% on total assets
Latin America Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.950% on the first $50 M
0.900% on the next $50 M
0.850% in excess of $100 M
Next Gen Emerging Markets
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
1.200% on total assets
International Equity
American Resilience
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.550% on the first $50 M
0.500% on the next $50 M
0.450% in excess of $100 M up to $200M, flat
on all assets
0.400% in excess of $200 M up to $350M, flat
on all assets
0.350% in excess of $350 M flat on all assets
Global Franchise
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.800% on the first $25 M
0.750% on the next $25 M
0.700% on the next $50 M
0.650% in excess of $100 M
Fee Schedule available for mandates over
$200M
Global Quality
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.800% on the first $25 M
0.750% on the next $25 M
0.700% on the next $50 M
0.650% in excess of $100 M
Fee Schedule available for mandates over
$200M
Global Sustain
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.725% on the first $50 M
0.650% on the next $50 M
0.600% in excess of $100 M up to $200M, flat
on all assets
0.530% in excess of $200 M up to $350M, flat
on all assets
0.500% in excess of $350 M flat on all assets
International Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.800% on the first $25 M
0.600% on the next $25 M
0.500% on the next $25 M
0.400% in excess of $75 M
FORM ADV, PART 2A BROCHURE
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Investment Team
Strategy
Attribute
Schedule
International Resilience
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
International Equity
(Cont’d)
Management Fee
0.700% on the first $50 M
0.500% on the next $25 M
0.400% on balance
Applied Enhanced Index
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $25M
Applied Equity
Advisors
Management Fee
0.250% on the first $25 M
0.230% on the next $25 M
0.200% on the next $50 M
0.180% in excess of $100 M
Negotiable if over $200 M
Applied Global Concentrated Equity Minimum Initial Investment
USD $25M
Management Fee
0.550% on the first $25 M
0.500% on the next $25 M
0.450% on the next $50 M
0.400% in excess of $100 M
Negotiable if over $200 M
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $25M
Applied Global Concentrated ESG-
Screened Equity
Management Fee
0.550% on the first $25 M
0.500% on the next $25 M
0.450% on the next $50 M
0.400% in excess of $100 M
Negotiable if over $200 M
Applied Global Core Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $25M
Management Fee
0.550% on the first $25 M
0.500% on the next $25 M
0.450% on the next $50 M
0.400% in excess of $100 M
Negotiable if over $200 M
Applied US Core Equity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $25M
Management Fee
0.450% on the first $25 M
0.400% on the next $25 M
0.350% on the next $50 M
0.300% in excess of $100 M
Negotiable if over $200 M
Global Multi-Asset
Absolute Return
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.850% on the first $100 M
0.750% on the next $150 M
0.650% on the next $250 M
0.550% in excess of $500 M
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Global Tactical Asset
Allocation
Management Fee
0.750% on the first $100 M
0.650% on the next $150 M
0.550% on the next $250 M
0.450% in excess of $500 M
FORM ADV, PART 2A BROCHURE
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Investment Team
Strategy
Attribute
Schedule
Multi-Asset Real Return (MARRS)
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Global Multi-Asset
(Cont’d)
Management Fee
0.800% on the first $50 M
0.700% on the next $50 M
0.600% on the next $200 M
0.500% thereafter
U.S. Value
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.450% on the first $100 M
0.350% on the next $200 M
0.250% thereafter
Calvert Global Green Bond
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Broad Markets Fixed
Income
Management Fee
0.30% on the first USD $100 M
0.25% in excess of USD $100 M
Core Fixed Income
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $75 M
Management Fee
0.250% on the first USD $100 M
0.200% on the next USD $150 M
0.125% in excess of USD $250 M
Core Plus Fixed Income
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $75M
Management Fee
0.250% on the first USD $50 M
0.200% on the next USD $50 M
0.150% in excess of USD $100 M
Minimum Initial Investment
EUR €50 M
European Fixed Income
Opportunities
Management Fee
0.300% on the first EUR €50 M
0.250% in excess of EUR €50 M
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100 M
Global Aggregate Fixed
Income
Management Fee
0.300% on the first USD $100 M
0.250% in excess of USD $100 M
Global Credit
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.300% on the first USD $50 M
0.300% on the next USD $50 M
0.250% in excess of USD $100 M
Global Fixed Income Opportunities Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100 M
Management Fee
0.350% on the first $100 M
0.300% in excess of $100 M
Global Limited Duration
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.250% on the first USD $50 M
0.150% on the next USD $50 M
0.100% in excess of USD $100 M
Global Opportunistic Credit
Minimum Initial Investment
$100 M
Management Fee
0.350% on the first $100 M
0.300% in excess of $100 M
Global Sovereign
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100 M
Management Fee
0.200% on the first USD $100 M
0.150% in excess of USD $100 M
FORM ADV, PART 2A BROCHURE
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Investment Team
Strategy
Attribute
Schedule
Intermediate Core Fixed Income
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $ 75 M
Broad Markets Fixed
Income (Cont’d)
Management Fee
0.250% on the first USD $ 100 M
0.200% on the next USD $ 150 M
0.125% Thereafter
Strategic Income
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100 M
Management Fee
0.350% on the first USD $100 M
0.300% in excess of USD $100 M
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100 M
Sustainable Fixed Income
Opportunities
Management Fee
0.350% on the first USD $100 M
0.300% in excess of USD $100 M
U.S. Investment Grade Corporate
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.300% on the first USD $50 M
0.250% on the next USD $50 M
0.200% in excess of USD $100 M
U.S. Limited Duration
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.140% on the first USD $150 M
0.120% on the next USD $350 M
0.100% in excess of USD $500 M
U.S. Long Duration
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50M
Management Fee
0.200% on the first USD $50 M
0.150% on the next USD $50 M
0.125% in excess of USD $100 M
U.S. Short Duration
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $100M
Management Fee
0.140% on the first $150 M
0.120% on the next $350 M
0.100% in excess of $500 M
Emerging Markets Corporate Debt Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Emerging
Markets Debt
Management Fee
0.600% on the first USD $50 M
0.550% on the next USD $50 M
0.500% in excess of USD $100 M
Emerging Markets Local Income
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $200 M
Management Fee
0.55% on the first $250 M
0.50% on the next $250 M
0.45% Thereafter
High Yield
EUR €50 M
Global Convertible Bond
Minimum Initial Investment
Management Fee
0.500 % on the first EUR €50 M
0.450 % on the next EUR €50 M
0.400 % in excess of EUR €100 M
Global High Yield
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.500% on the first $100 M
0.450% on the next $100 M
0.400% in excess of $200 M
US Middle Market High Yield
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.50% on the first $50 M
0.45% on the next $50 M
0.40% on the next $100 M
0.35% Thereafter
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Investment Team
Strategy
Attribute
Schedule
High Yield (Cont’d)
U.S. High Yield
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.50% First $50 M
0.45% Next $50 M
0.40% Next $100 M
0.35% Thereafter
Global Securitized
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $75 M
Mortgage &
Securitized
Management Fee
0.35% on the first USD $100 M
0.30% in excess of USD $100 M
U.S. Mortgage
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $50 M
Management Fee
0.150% on the first USD $250 M
0.125% in excess of USD $250 M
Municipals
Taxable Municipal
Minimum Initial Investment
US $50 M
Management Fee
0.30% First $100 M
0.25% Next $100 M
0.22% Next $100 M
0.20% Thereafter
Liquidity
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $150M
Taxable
USD MM - Institutional
Management Fee
0.130% on the first $300 M
0.110% on the next $200 M
0.090% on the next $300 M
0.080% in excess of $800 M
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $150M
Tax-Exempt
USD MM - Institutional
Management Fee
0.130% on the first $300 M
0.110% on the next $200 M
0.090% on the next $300 M
0.080% in excess of $800 M
Ultra-Short Income
Minimum Initial Investment
USD $150M
Management Fee
0.130% on the first $300 M
0.110% on the next $200 M
0.090% on the next $300 M
0.080% in excess of $800 M
FORM ADV, PART 2A BROCHURE
MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
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