April 30, 2024
Touchstone Strategic Trust
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Class A |
Class C |
Class Y |
Institutional Class |
| Touchstone International Value Fund (formerly, Touchstone International Equity Fund) |
SWRLX |
SWFCX |
SIIEX |
TOIIX |
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Class A |
Class C |
Class Y |
Institutional Class |
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| Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
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| Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is less) |
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| Wire Redemption Fee |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
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| Management Fees |
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| Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fees |
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| Other Expenses |
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| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE) |
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| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(1) |
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| Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(2) |
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| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(1)(2) |
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(1)
(2)
(3)
3
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Class A |
Class C |
Class Y |
Institutional Class |
Class C |
| 1 Year |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| 3 Years |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| 5 Years |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| 10 Years |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
The Fund’s share price will fluctuate. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund and the Fund could also return less than other investments. Investments in the Fund are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) or any other federal government agency. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal. You can find more information about the Fund’s investments and risks under the “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” section of the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is subject to the principal risks summarized below.
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1 Year |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Touchstone International Value Fund - Class A |
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| Return Before Taxes |
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| Return After Taxes on Distributions |
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| Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares |
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| Touchstone International Value Fund - Class C |
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| Return Before Taxes |
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| Touchstone International Value Fund - Class Y |
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| Return Before Taxes(1) |
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| Touchstone International Value Fund - Institutional Class |
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| Return Before Taxes(2) |
% |
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| MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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| MSCI All Country World Ex USA Index(3) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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% |
(1)
(2)
6
(3)
The Fund’s Management
Investment Adviser
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.
| Sub-Adviser |
Portfolio Manager |
Investment Experience with the Fund |
Primary Title with Sub-Adviser |
| LSV Asset Management* |
Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D. |
Since April 2024 |
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Partner and Portfolio Manager |
| Menno Vermeulen, CFA |
Since April 2024 |
Partner and Portfolio Manager | |
| Puneet Mansharamani, CFA |
Since April 2024 |
Partner and Portfolio Manager | |
| Greg Sleight |
Since April 2024 |
Partner and Portfolio Manager | |
| Guy Lakonishok, CFA |
Since April 2024 |
Partner and Portfolio Manager |
* Effective April 30, 2024 LSV Asset Management (“LSV”) replaced Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. (“Fort Washington”) as the Fund's subadviser.
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
Minimum Investment Requirements
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Classes A, C, and Y | |
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Initial Investment |
Additional Investment |
| Regular Account |
$2,500 |
$50 |
| Retirement Account or Custodial Account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act |
$1,000 |
$50 |
| Investments through the Automatic Investment Plan |
$100 |
$50 |
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Institutional Class | |
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Initial Investment |
Additional Investment |
| Regular Account |
$500,000 |
$50 |
Fund shares may be purchased and sold on days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Existing Class A, Class C and Institutional Class shareholders may purchase shares directly through Touchstone Funds via the transfer agent, BNY Mellon, or through their financial intermediary. Class Y shares are available only through financial institutions and financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities. Shares may be purchased or sold by writing to Touchstone Securities at P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in IRAs and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via the Internet. If your shares are held by a processing organization or financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures. For more information about buying and selling shares, see the “Investing with Touchstone” section of the Fund’s prospectus or call 1.800.543.0407.
Tax Information
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains except when shares are held through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Withdrawals from a tax-advantaged account, however, may be taxable.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
If you purchase shares in the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Principal Investment Strategies and Risks
This prospectus applies to the Touchstone International Value Fund (the “International Value Fund”) (the “Fund”).
How Do The Fund Implements Its Investment Goals?
The Fund’s investment goal and strategies are described above in the “Principal Investment Strategies” summary sections.
International Value Fund. In selecting securities for the Fund, LSV Asset Management, the Fund’s sub-adviser (“LSV”), focuses on companies whose securities, in accordance with the sub-adviser’s proprietary quantitative investment methodology described below, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement.
LSV uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. Any investment decisions are generally made based on whether a buy or sell signal is received from the quantitative investment model. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as the price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). The investment model selects stocks to buy from the higher-ranked stocks and selects stocks to sell from those whose rankings have decreased, subject to overall risk controls.
Can a Fund Depart From its Principal Investment Strategies?
General. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, the Fund may invest in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices. These permitted investments and strategies are described in detail in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
The Fund’s investment goal is non-fundamental, and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified in writing at least 60 days before any change takes effect.
The investments and strategies described throughout this prospectus are those that the Funds use under normal circumstances. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, each Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, repurchase agreements, and short-term obligations (i.e., fixed and variable rate securities and high quality debt securities of corporate and government issuers) that would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s goals. This defensive investing may increase a Fund’s taxable income, and when a Fund is invested defensively, it may not achieve its investment goal. A Fund will do so only if the Fund’s sub-adviser believes that the risk of loss in using the Fund’s normal strategies and investments outweighs the opportunity for gains. Of course, there can be no guarantee that any Fund will achieve its investment goal.
80% Investment Policy. The Fund has adopted a policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its “assets” in certain types of investments suggested by its name (the “80% Policy”). For purposes of this 80% Policy, the term “assets” means net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes. A Fund must comply with its 80% Policy at the time the Fund invests its assets. Accordingly, when the Fund no longer meets the 80% requirement as a result of circumstances beyond its control, such as changes in the value of portfolio holdings, it would not have to sell its holdings but would have to make any new investments in such a way as to comply with the Fund’s 80% Policy. The 80% Policy is a nonfundamental investment policy that may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days' prior written notice to the Fund's shareholders.
Change in Market Capitalization. The Fund may specify in its principal investment strategy a market capitalization range for acquiring portfolio securities. If a security that is within the range for the Fund at the time of purchase later falls outside the range, which is most likely to happen because of market fluctuation, the Fund may continue to hold the security if, in the sub-adviser’s judgment, the security remains otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment goal and strategies. However, this change in market capitalization could affect the Fund’s flexibility in making new investments.
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), the rules thereunder and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend their portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and financial institutions under guidelines adopted by the Board, including a requirement that the Fund must receive collateral equal to no less than 100% of the market value of the securities loaned. The risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In determining whether to lend securities, the Adviser will consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower. More information on securities lending is available in the SAI.
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ReFlow Liquidity Program. The Fund may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing net redemptions of their shares. Pursuant to the program, ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) provides participating mutual funds with a source of cash to meet net shareholder redemptions by standing ready each business day to purchase Fund shares up to the value of the net shares redeemed by other shareholders that are to settle the next business day. Following purchases of Fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the Fund experiences net sales, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow, or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. While ReFlow holds Fund shares, it will have the same rights and privileges with respect to those shares as any other shareholder. In the event the Fund uses the ReFlow service, the Fund will pay a fee to ReFlow each time ReFlow purchases Fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined through an automated daily auction among participating mutual funds. ReFlow’s purchases of Fund shares through the liquidity program are made on an investment-blind basis without regard to the Fund’s objective, policies or anticipated performance. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Fund’s participation in ReFlow is not a part of its principal investment strategy.
What are the Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund?
The following is a list of principal risks that may apply to your investment in a Fund. Further information about investment risks is available in the Fund’s SAI:
Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies, such as mobile devices and “cloud”-based service offerings and the dependence on the Internet and computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Funds’ service providers are susceptible to operational and information or cyber security risks that could result in losses to a Fund and its shareholders. Cyber security breaches are either intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a Fund or Fund service provider to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. Intentional cyber security incidents include: unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices (such as through “hacking” activity or “phishing”); infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cyber-attacks can also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the service providers’ systems or websites rendering them unavailable to intended users or via “ransomware” that renders the systems inoperable until appropriate actions are taken. In addition, unintentional incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information (possibly resulting in the violation of applicable privacy laws).
A cyber security breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs, any of which could have a substantial impact on the Fund. For example, in a denial of service, Fund shareholders could lose access to their electronic accounts indefinitely, and employees of the Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or the Funds’ other service providers may not be able to access electronic systems to perform critical duties for the Funds, such as trading, NAV calculation, shareholder accounting, or fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions. Cyber security incidents could cause a Fund, the Adviser, a Sub-Adviser, or other service provider to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, compliance costs associated with corrective measures, litigation costs, or financial loss. They may also result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws. In addition, such incidents could affect issuers in which a Fund invests, thereby causing the Fund’s investments to lose value.
Cyber-events have the potential to materially affect the Fund’s, the Adviser and the sub-adviser’s relationships with accounts, shareholders, clients, customers, employees, products, and service providers. The Fund has established risk management systems reasonably designed to seek to reduce the risks associated with cyber-events. There is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to prevent or mitigate the impact of any or all cyber-events.
The Fund is exposed to operational risk arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Funds’ service providers, counterparties, or other third parties, failed or inadequate processes, and technology or system failures.
The Adviser, Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates have established risk management systems that seek to reduce cybersecurity and operational risks, and business continuity plans in the event of a cybersecurity breach or operational failure. However, there are inherent limitations in such plans, including that certain risks have not been identified, and there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially since none of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or their affiliates controls the cybersecurity or operations systems of the Fund’s third party service providers (including the Fund’s custodian), or those of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests.
In addition, other disruptive events, including (but not limited to) natural disasters and public health crises, may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to conduct business, in particular if the Fund’s employees or the employees of its service providers are unable or unwilling to perform their responsibilities as a result of any such event. Even if the Fund’s employees and the employees of its service providers are able to work remotely, those remote work arrangements could result in the Fund’s business operations being less efficient than under normal circumstances, could lead to delays in its processing of transactions, and could increase the risk of cyber-events.
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Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in certain sectors historically have resulted, and may in the future result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. These events have included, but are not limited to: bankruptcies, corporate restructurings, and other similar events; governmental efforts to limit short selling and high frequency trading; measures to address U.S. federal and state budget deficits; social, political, and economic instability in Europe; economic stimulus by the Japanese central bank; dramatic changes in energy prices and currency exchange rates; and China’s economic slowdown. Interconnected global economies and financial markets increase the possibility that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. Both domestic and foreign equity markets have experienced increased volatility and turmoil, with issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage, and credit markets particularly affected. Financial institutions could suffer losses as interest rates rise or economic conditions deteriorate. In addition, relatively high market volatility and reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect many issuers worldwide.
Government Actions. Actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve (“Fed”) or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, such as interventions in currency markets, could cause high volatility in the equity and fixed-income markets. Reduced liquidity may result in less money being available to purchase raw materials, goods, and services from emerging markets, which may, in turn, bring down the prices of these economic staples. It may also result in emerging-market issuers having more difficulty obtaining financing, which may, in turn, cause a decline in their securities prices.
In March 2022, the Fed began increasing interest rates. It is difficult to accurately predict the pace at which the Fed will increase interest rates any further or begin to decrease interest rates, or the timing, frequency, or magnitude of any such increases or decreases, and the evaluation of macro-economic and other conditions could cause a change in approach in the future. Any further increases generally will cause market interest rates to rise and could cause the value of a Fund’s investments, and the Fund’s NAV, to decline, potentially suddenly and significantly. As a result, the Fund may experience high redemptions and, as a result, increased portfolio turnover, which could increase the costs that the Fund incurs and may negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
In addition, if the Fed increases the target Fed funds rate, any such rate increases, among other factors, could cause markets to experience continuing high volatility. A significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the market for equity securities. These events and the possible resulting market volatility may have an adverse effect on the Fund.
Health Crises. A widespread health crisis such as a global pandemic could cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, which may lead to less liquidity in certain instruments, industries, sectors or the markets generally, and may ultimately affect Fund performance. For example, the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has resulted and may continue to result in significant disruptions to global business activity and market volatility due to disruptions in market access, resource availability, facilities operations, imposition of tariffs, export controls and supply chain disruption, among others. While many countries have lifted some or all restrictions related to COVID-19 and the United States ended the public health emergency and national emergency declarations relating to COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023, the continued impact of COVID-19 and related variants is uncertain. The impact of a health crisis and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future could affect the global economy in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. A health crisis may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. Any such impact could adversely affect the Fund’s performance, resulting in losses to your investment.
Foreign Market Disruptions. Uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of European Union (EU) countries and the viability of the EU have disrupted and may in the future disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the global securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) left the EU, commonly referred to as “Brexit,” the UK ceased to be a member of the EU, and the UK and EU entered into a Trade and Cooperation Agreement. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has resulted in volatility in European and global markets. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s future ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. This uncertainty may affect other countries in the EU and elsewhere, cause volatility within the EU, or trigger prolonged economic downturns in certain countries within the EU. See “Foreign Securities Risk” for additional risks associated with investments in foreign securities.
Political Turmoil and Military Events. Political turmoil within the United States and abroad may also impact the Fund. Although the U.S. government has honored its credit obligations, it remains possible that the United States could default on its obligations. While it is impossible to predict the consequences of such an unprecedented event, it is likely that a default by the United States would be highly disruptive to the U.S. and global securities markets and could significantly impair the value of the Fund’s investments. Similarly, political events within the United States at times have resulted, and may in the future result, in a shutdown of government services, which could negatively affect the U.S. economy, decrease the value of many Fund investments, and increase uncertainty in or impair the operation of the U.S. or other securities markets. In recent years, the U.S. renegotiated many of its global trade relationships and has imposed or threatened to impose significant import tariffs. These actions could lead to price volatility and overall declines in U.S. and global investment markets.
Political and military events, including in North Korea, Venezuela, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, and other areas of the Middle East, and nationalist unrest in Europe and South America, also may cause market disruptions. As a result of continued political tensions and armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine commencing in February of 2022, the extent and ultimate result of which are
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unknown at this time, the United States and the EU, along with the regulatory bodies of a number of countries, have imposed economic sanctions on certain Russian corporate entities and individuals, and certain sectors of Russia’s economy, which may result in, among other things, the continued devaluation of Russian currency, a downgrade in the country’s credit rating, and/or a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian securities, property or interests. These sanctions could also result in the immediate freeze of Russian securities and/or funds invested in prohibited assets, impairing the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities and/or assets. These sanctions or the threat of additional sanctions could also result in Russia taking counter measures or retaliatory actions, which may further impair the value and liquidity of Russian securities. The United States and other nations or international organizations may also impose additional economic sanctions or take other actions that may adversely affect Russia exposed issuers and companies in various sectors of the Russian economy. Any or all of these potential results could lead Russia’s economy into a recession. Economic sanctions and other actions against Russian institutions, companies, and individuals resulting from the ongoing conflict may also have a substantial negative impact on other economies and securities markets both regionally and globally, as well as on companies with operations in the conflict region, the extent to which is unknown at this time. The United States and the EU have also imposed similar sanctions on Belarus for its support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Additional sanctions may be imposed on Belarus and other countries that support Russia. Any such sanctions could present substantially similar risks as those resulting from the sanctions imposed on Russia, including substantial negative impacts on the regional and global economies and securities markets.
Inflation/Deflation. In addition, there is a risk that the prices of goods and services in the United States and many foreign economies may decline over time, known as deflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on stock prices and creditworthiness and may make defaults on debt more likely. If a country’s economy slips into a deflationary pattern, it could last for a prolonged period and may be difficult to reverse. Further, there is a risk that the present value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future, known as inflation. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy, and a Fund’s investments may be affected, which may reduce a Fund’s performance. Further, inflation may lead to the rise in interest rates, which may negatively affect the value of debt instruments held by the Fund, resulting in a negative impact on a Fund’s performance. Generally, securities issued in emerging markets are subject to a greater risk of inflationary or deflationary forces, and more developed markets are better able to use monetary policy to normalize markets.
Equity Securities Risk: A Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments, or as a result of irregular and/or unexpected trading activity among retail investors. The prices of securities issued by these companies may decline in response to such developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the Funds’ shares. These factors contribute to price volatility. In addition, common stocks represent a share of ownership in a company, and rank after bonds and preferred stock in their claim on the company’s assets in the event of liquidation.
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Large-Cap Risk: A Fund is subject to the risk that stocks of larger companies may underperform relative to those of small- and mid-sized companies. Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
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Mid-Cap Risk: A Fund is subject to the risk that medium capitalization stocks may underperform other types of stocks or the equity markets as a whole. Stocks of mid-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, and may be dependent upon a particular niche of the market.
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Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock represents an equity interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions allowing the stock to be called or redeemed prior to its maturity, both of which can have a negative impact on the stock’s price when interest rates decline.
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Small-Cap Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that small capitalization stocks may underperform other types of stocks or the equity markets as a whole. Stocks of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Small companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, or may be dependent upon a small or inexperienced management group. In addition, small-cap stocks typically are traded in lower volume, and their issuers typically are subject to greater degrees of changes in their earnings and prospects.
Foreign Securities Risk: Investing in foreign securities poses additional risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers, while such events may not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may happen separately from, or in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. There is a risk that issuers of foreign securities may not be subject to accounting standards or governmental supervision comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject and that less public information about their operations may exist. There is risk associated with the clearance and settlement procedures in non-U.S. markets, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions and may cause
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delays. To the extent that the securities held by the Fund trade on foreign exchanges or in foreign markets that may be closed when the U.S. market is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of the securities held by the Fund and their last quoted price or the securities’ quote from the closed foreign market. Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets and offer less protection to investors. Over-the-counter securities may also be less liquid than exchange-traded securities. Investments in securities of foreign issuers may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. In addition, it may be more difficult and costly for the Fund to seek recovery from an issuer located outside the United States in the event of a default on a portfolio security or an issuer’s insolvency proceeding. To the extent a Fund focuses its investments in a single country or only a few countries in a particular geographic region, economic, political, regulatory or other conditions affecting such country or region may have a greater impact on Fund performance relative to a more geographically diversified fund.
While a Fund’s net assets are valued in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are: (1) it may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa; (2) complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including U.S. dollars, and their exchange rates; (3) government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces; (4) there may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis; (5) available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and (6) the inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.
Political events in foreign countries may cause market disruptions. Uncertainties surrounding the sovereign debt of a number of European Union (“EU”) countries and the viability of the EU have disrupted and may in the future disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If one or more countries leave the EU or the EU dissolves, the global securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) left the EU, commonly referred to as “Brexit,” the UK ceased to be a member of the EU, and the UK and EU entered into a Trade and Cooperation Agreement. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. There remains significant market uncertainty regarding Brexit’s ramifications, and the range and potential implications of possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes are difficult to predict. This uncertainty may affect other countries in the EU and elsewhere, and may cause volatility within the EU, triggering prolonged economic downturns in certain European countries.
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Depositary Receipts Risk: Foreign receipts, which include American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer. The risks of depositary receipts include many risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, such as individual country risk and liquidity risk. Unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by a depositary bank without the participation or consent of the issuer, involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply, and the issuing bank will recover shareholder distribution costs from movement of share prices and payment of dividends. Additionally, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act “HFCAA” could cause securities of foreign companies, including ADRs, to be delisted from U.S. stock exchanges if the companies do not allow the U.S. government to oversee the auditing of their financial information. Although the requirements of the HFCAA apply to securities of all foreign issuers, the SEC has thus far limited its enforcement efforts to securities of Chinese companies. If securities are delisted, a Fund’s ability to transact in such securities will be impaired, and the liquidity and market price of the securities may decline. The Fund may also need to seek other markets in which to transact in such securities, which could increase the Fund’s costs.
•
Emerging Markets Risk: Investments in the securities of issuers based in countries with emerging-market economies are subject to greater levels of risk and uncertainty than investments in more-developed foreign markets. This is as a result of the fact that emerging-market securities may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political, and other risks greater than, or in addition to, the risks of investing in developed foreign countries. These risks include: (i) high currency exchange-rate fluctuations; (ii) increased risk of default (including both government and private issuers); (iii) greater social, economic, and political uncertainty and instability (including the risk of war); (iv) more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; (v) less governmental supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; (vi) controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on a fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (vii) unavailability of currency hedging techniques in certain emerging-market countries; (viii) the fact that companies in emerging-market countries may be newly organized, smaller, and less seasoned; (ix) the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting requirements or standards, which may result in the unavailability of material information about issuers; (x) different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions; (xi) difficulties in obtaining and/or enforcing legal judgments against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, in foreign jurisdictions; and (xii) significantly smaller market capitalizations of emerging-market issuers. In addition, shareholders of emerging market issuers, such as the Fund, often have limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging
12
markets. Finally, the risks associated with investments in emerging markets often are significant, and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and company to company.
Quantitative Strategy Risk: The sub-adviser uses proprietary statistical analyses and models to construct the Fund’s portfolio. A securities portfolio selected using these proprietary models can perform differently than the market as a whole as a result of the correlation factors used in the analysis to construct the models, the weight placed on each factor, and changes in the factors’ historical trends. As a result, the Fund may be more or less exposed to a risk factor than its individual holdings. Quantitative models are subject to technical issues, including programming and data inaccuracies, are based on assumptions, and rely on data that is subject to limitations (e.g., inaccuracies, staleness), any of which could adversely affect their effectiveness or predictive value. Quantitative models may not accurately predict future market movements or characteristics due to the fact that market performance can be affected by non-quantitative factors that are not easily integrated into quantitative analysis, among other factors.
Management Risk: In managing a Fund’s portfolio, the Adviser may engage one or more sub-advisers to make investment decisions on a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Adviser may be unable to identify and retain sub- advisers who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisers. The value of your investment may decrease if the sub-adviser incorrectly judges the attractiveness, value, or market trends affecting a particular security, issuer, industry, or sector.
Value Investing Risk: Value investing presents the risk that the Fund’s security holdings may never reach their full market value because the market fails to recognize what the portfolio managers consider the true business value or because the portfolio managers have misjudged those values. In addition, value investing may fall out of favor and underperform growth or other styles of investing during given certain periods.
Where Can I Find Information About the Funds’ Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies?
A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures for disclosing portfolio securities to any person is available in the SAI and can also be found on the Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
13
THE FUNDS’ MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (“Touchstone Advisors” or the “Adviser”)
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Touchstone Advisors has been a registered investment adviser since 1994. As of March 31, 2024, Touchstone Advisors had approximately $28.9 billion in assets under management. As the Funds’ investment adviser, Touchstone Advisors reviews, supervises, and administers the Funds’ investment programs and also ensures compliance with the Funds’ investment policies and guidelines.
Touchstone Advisors is responsible for selecting each Fund’s sub-adviser(s), subject to approval by the Board. Touchstone Advisors selects a sub-adviser that has shown good investment performance in its areas of expertise. Touchstone Advisors considers various factors in evaluating a sub-adviser, including:
•
Level of knowledge and skill;
•
Performance as compared to its peers or benchmark;
•
Consistency of performance over 5 years or more;
•
Level of compliance with investment rules and strategies;
•
Employees, facilities and financial strength; and
•
Quality of service.
Touchstone Advisors will also continually monitor each sub-adviser’s performance through various analyses and through in-person, telephone, and written consultations with a sub-adviser. Touchstone Advisors discusses its expectations for performance with each sub-adviser and provides evaluations and recommendations to the Board of Trustees, including whether or not a sub-adviser’s contract should be renewed, modified, or terminated.
The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) or Touchstone Advisors, under certain conditions, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisers, enter into new sub-advisory agreements, or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval. The Funds must still obtain shareholder approval of any sub-advisory agreement with a sub-adviser affiliated with the Trust or Touchstone Advisors other than by reason of serving as a sub-adviser to one or more Touchstone Funds. Shareholders of a Fund will be notified of any changes to its sub-adviser.
Two or more sub-advisers may manage a Fund, from time to time, with each managing a portion of the Fund’s assets. If a Fund has more than one sub-adviser, Touchstone Advisors allocates how much of a Fund’s assets are managed by each sub-adviser. Touchstone Advisors may change these allocations from time to time, often based upon the results of its evaluations of the sub-advisers.
Touchstone Advisors is also responsible for running all of the operations of the Funds, except those that are subcontracted to a sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, sub-administrative agent or other parties. For its services, Touchstone Advisors is entitled to receive an investment advisory fee from each Fund at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Annual Fee Rate below is the fee paid to Touchstone Advisors by each Fund, net of any advisory fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. Touchstone Advisors pays sub-advisory fees to each sub-adviser from its advisory fee.
| Fund |
Net Annual Fee Rate |
| International Value Fund |
0.65 % |
Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval. A discussion of the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s advisory and sub-advisory agreement will be found in the Fund’s December 31, 2023 semi-annual report.
Additional Information
The Trustees of the Trust oversee generally the operations of each Fund and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Funds’ investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants and distributor, who provide services to each Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any such individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.
14
This prospectus provides information concerning the Trust and the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of a Fund. The Funds may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or a Fund and its shareholders, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any such individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.
Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers
Listed below are the sub-adviser and the portfolio managers that have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund. A brief biographical description of the portfolio managers are also provided. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ investments in the Fund or Funds that they manage, a description of his compensation structure, and information regarding other accounts that they manage.
LSV Asset Management (“LSV”), located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606, serves as sub-adviser to the International Value Fund. As sub-adviser, LSV makes investment decisions for the Fund and also ensures compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines. LSV’s is a partnership between LSV's management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, LSV had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The following individuals are jointly and primarily response for the management of the Touchstone International Value Fund.
International Value Fund
Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., is a portfolio manager of the International Value Fund and co-founded LSV in 1994. Dr. Lakonishok is Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Partner at LSV. He has more than 46 years of investment and research experience. Dr. Lakonishok was, until 2004, the William G. Karnes Professor of Finance at the College of Commerce & Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before that, he held staff and visiting professorships at Tel Aviv University, Cornell University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of British Columbia. Dr. Lakonishok received a B.A. in Economics and Statistics from Tel Aviv University in 1970 and an M.B.A. from that university in 1972. He earned an M.S. in Business Administration in 1974 and a Ph.D. in Business Administration in 1976 from Cornell University.
Menno Vermeulen, CFA, is a portfolio manager of the International Value Fund and joined LSV in 1995. Mr. Vermeulen is a Partner at LSV. He has more than 31 years of investment and research experience. Mr. Vermeulen has developed and written the software for LSV's quantitative models and portfolio management system. He leads LSV's quantitative and implementation team, which is responsible for the day-to-day data management, portfolio implementation and ongoing enhancement of LSV's models and systems. Mr. Vermeulen is also involved in the research process at LSV. Mr. Vermeulen holds a Master’s degree in Econometrics from Erasmus University at Rotterdam.
Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, is a portfolio manager of the International Value Fund and joined LSV in 2006. Mr. Mansharamani is a Partner at LSV. He has more than 25 years of investment experience. Mr. Mansharamani is part of LSV's quantitative and implementation team, which is responsible for the day-to-day data management, portfolio implementation and ongoing enhancement of LSV's models and systems. Mr. Mansharamani earned a B.S. in Engineering from Delhi University, Delhi College of Engineering in 1995 and an M.S. in Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, Case School of Engineering (2001).
Greg Sleight is a portfolio manager of the International Value Fund and joined LSV in 2006. Mr. Sleight is a Partner at LSV. He has more than 18 years of investment experience. Mr. Sleight is part of LSV's quantitative and implementation team, which is responsible for the day-to-day data management, portfolio implementation and ongoing enhancement of LSV's models and systems. Mr. Sleight received a B.S. in Material Science & Engineering from the University of Illinois in 2000 and an M.B.A. in Econometrics, Economics & Analytic Finance from the University of Chicago in 2006.
Guy Lakonishok, CFA, is a portfolio manager of the International Value Fund and joined LSV in 2009. Mr. Lakonishok is a Partner at LSV. He has more than 22 years of investment experience. Mr. Lakonishok is part of LSV's quantitative and implementation team, which is responsible for the day-to-day data management, portfolio implementation and ongoing enhancement of LSV's models and systems. Mr. Lakonishok received a B.S. in Applied Science with a Major in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 2000. Mr. Lakonishok also received an M.B.A from the University of Chicago - Booth School of Business in 2009, graduating with honors with a dual concentration in Analytical Finance and Accounting.
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CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
Share Class Offerings. Each class of shares has different sales charges and distribution fees. The amount of sales charges and distribution fees you pay will depend on which class of shares you decide to purchase. In addition, certain intermediaries may provide different sales charge discounts and waivers. The sales charge variations and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
Class A Shares
The offering price of Class A shares of each Fund is equal to its net asset value (“NAV”) plus a front-end sales charge that you pay when you buy your shares. The front-end sales charge is generally deducted from the amount of your investment. Class A shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets allocable to Class A shares.
Class A Sales Charge. The following tables show the amount of front-end sales charge you will pay on purchases of Class A shares for the Touchstone equity funds and the Touchstone fixed income funds based on the total amount of your investment in the Touchstone Fund Complex. All funds managed by the Adviser are part of the “Touchstone Fund Complex.”
For these purposes, the Touchstone International Value Fund is a “Touchstone equity fund”.
Applicable to Touchstone equity fund(s):
| Amount of Your Investment |
Sales Charge as% of Offering Price |
Sales Charge as% of Net Amount Invested |
Dealer Reallowance as% of Offering Price |
| Under $25,000 |
5.00 % |
5.26 % |
4.50 % |
| $25,000 but less than $50,000 |
4.50 % |
4.71 % |
4.25 % |
| $50,000 but less than $100,000 |
4.00 % |
4.17 % |
3.75 % |
| $100,000 but less than $250,000 |
3.00 % |
3.09 % |
2.75 % |
| $250,000 but less than $1 million |
2.00 % |
2.04 % |
1.75 % |
| $1 million or more |
0.00 % |
0.00 % |
None* |
*
Distributor may pay a Finder's Fee (as defined in the Funds' SAI) on qualifying assets to dealers who initiate purchases of Class A shares of the Touchstone equity funds of $1,000,000 or more. However if shares are redeemed prior to 12 months after the date of purchase they may be subject to a CDSC of up to 1.00%.
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge.* There is no front-end sales charge if you invest $1 million or more in any share class of the Touchstone equity funds. Additionally, there is no front-end sales charge if you invest $500,000 or more in any share class of the Touchstone fixed income funds. If you redeem shares that were part of the $1 million or $500,000 breakpoint purchase within one year of that purchase, you may pay a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% or 0.50%, respectively, on the shares redeemed if a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the “Distributor” or “Touchstone Securities”) to the broker-dealer on the account. There is no front-end sales charge on exchanges between Funds with the same load schedule or from a higher load schedule to a lower load schedule. In addition, there is no front-end sales charge on the following purchases:
•
Purchases by registered representatives or other employees** (and their immediate family members***) of financial intermediaries having selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
•
Purchases in accounts as to which a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary charges an asset management fee economically comparable to a sales charge, provided the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary has a selling agreement with Touchstone Securities.
•
Purchases by a trust department of any financial intermediary serving in a fiduciary capacity as trustee to any trust over which it has discretionary trading authority.
•
Purchases through a financial intermediary that has agreements with Touchstone Securities, or whose programs are available through financial intermediaries that have agreements with Touchstone Securities relating to mutual fund supermarket programs, fee-based wrap or asset allocation programs.
•
Purchases by an employee benefit plan having more than 25 eligible employees or a minimum of $250,000 in plan assets. This waiver applies to any investing employee benefit plan meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and whose transactions are executed through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to use the Touchstone Funds in connection with the plan’s accounts. The term “employee benefit plan” applies to qualified pension, profit-sharing, or other employee benefit plans.
16
•
Purchases by an employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third party administrator that has entered into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
•
Reinvestment of redemption proceeds from Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund if the reinvestment occurs within 90 days of redemption.
*
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
**
The term “employee” is deemed to include current and retired employees.
***
Immediate family members are defined as the parents, mother-in-law or father-in-law, spouse, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, niece or nephew and children of a registered representative or employee, and any other individual to whom the registered representative or employee provides material support.
Touchstone Securities has agreed to waive the Class A sales charge for clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to their customers. As of the date of this Prospectus, this arrangement applies to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through platforms at the following intermediaries:
•
Merrill Lynch
•
RBC
•
JP Morgan Securities
•
Morgan Stanley
•
Raymond James
•
Ameriprise Financial
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus. You should ask your financial intermediary if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals. The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund programs may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the funds and investors may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program. Investors should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.
You must notify your financial intermediary (or Touchstone Securities for purchases made directly from the Funds) at the time of purchase that you believe you qualify for a sales charge waiver, in addition to providing appropriate proof of your eligibility. Failure to provide such notification and proof may result in you not receiving the sales charge waiver to which you are otherwise entitled. For direct purchases through Touchstone Securities, you may apply for a waiver by marking the appropriate section on the investment application and completing the “Special Account Options” form. You can obtain the application and form by calling Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. Purchases at NAV may be made for investment only, and the shares may not be resold except through redemption by or on behalf of the Fund. At the option of the Fund, the front-end sales charge may be included on future purchases.
Reduced Class A Sales Charge. You may also purchase Class A shares of a Fund at the reduced sales charges shown in the table above through the Rights of Accumulation Program or by signing a Letter of Intent. The following purchasers (“Qualified Purchasers”) may qualify for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
•
an individual, an individual’s spouse, or an individual’s children under the age of 21; or
•
a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is involved.
The following accounts (“Qualified Accounts”) held in any Touchstone Fund Complex may be grouped together to qualify for the reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
•
Individual accounts
•
Joint tenant with rights of survivorship accounts
•
Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act (“UGTMA”) Accounts
•
Trust accounts
•
Estate accounts
•
Guardian/Conservator accounts
•
Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), including Traditional, Roth, Simplified Employee Pension Plans (“SEP”) and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE”)
17
•
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (“Education IRAs”)
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
Rights of Accumulation Program. Under the Rights of Accumulation Program, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by aggregating all of your investments in the Touchstone Fund Complex held in Qualified Accounts. You or your dealer must notify Touchstone Securities at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your qualification. If your shares are held directly in a Touchstone Fund or through a dealer, you may combine the historical cost or current NAV (whichever is higher) of your existing shares of any Touchstone Fund with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. Historical cost is the price you actually paid for the shares you own, plus your reinvested dividends and capital gains. If you are using historical cost to qualify for a reduced sales charge, you should retain any records to substantiate your historical costs since the Fund, its transfer agent or your broker-dealer may not maintain this information.
If your shares are held through a financial intermediary, you may combine the current NAV of your existing shares of any Touchstone Fund with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge. You or your financial intermediary must notify Touchstone at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide copies of account statements dated within three months of your current purchase verifying your qualification. Upon receipt of the above referenced supporting documentation, Touchstone Securities will calculate the combined value of all of the Qualified Purchaser’s Qualified Accounts to determine if the current purchase is eligible for a reduced sales charge. Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with purchases for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
Letter of Intent. If you plan to invest at least $25,000 in Class A shares of Touchstone equity funds sold with a front-end sales charge or $50,000 in Class A shares of Touchstone fixed income funds sold with a front-end sales charge (excluding any reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions) during the next 13 months you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by completing a Letter of Intent. A Letter of Intent indicates your intent to purchase at least $25,000 in Class A shares of any Touchstone equity fund sold with a front-end sales charge or at least $50,000 in Class A shares of any Touchstone fixed income fund sold with a front-end sales charge over the next 13 months in exchange for a reduced sales charge indicated on the above chart. The minimum initial investment under a Letter of Intent is $10,000. You are not obligated to purchase additional shares if you complete a Letter of Intent. If you do not buy enough shares to qualify for the projected level of sales charge by the end of the 13-month period (or when you sell your shares, if earlier), then your sales charge will be recalculated to reflect your actual purchase level. During the term of the Letter of Intent, shares representing 5% of your intended purchase will be held in escrow. If you do not purchase enough shares during the 13-month period to qualify for the projected reduced sales charge, the additional sales charge will be deducted from your escrow account. If you have purchased Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund sold with a front-end sales charge within 90 days prior to signing a Letter of Intent, they may be included as part of your intended purchase, however, previous purchase transactions will not be recalculated with the proposed new breakpoint. You must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your purchases within the past 90 days.
Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
Other Information. Information about sales charges and breakpoints is also available in a clear and prominent format on the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You can access this information by selecting the “Resources” link and then the “Sales Charges and Breakpoints” link under the heading “Regulatory.” For more information about qualifying for a reduced or waived sales charge, contact your financial adviser or contact Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407.
Class C Shares
Class C shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Funds. Class C shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee. A CDSC of 1.00% will be charged on Class C shares redeemed within 1 year after you purchased them. In most cases it is more advantageous to purchase Class A shares for amounts of $1 million or more. Therefore, a request to purchase Class C shares for $1 million or more will be considered as a purchase request for Class
18
A shares or declined. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
Effective June 30, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), Class C shares of each Fund automatically convert into Class A shares of the same Fund after they have been held for eight (8) years. The conversion is not considered a taxable event for federal income tax purposes. These automatic conversions are executed without any sales charge (including CDSCs), redemption or transaction fee, or other charge. After such a conversion takes place, the shares will be subject to all features, rights and expenses of Class A shares. If you hold Class C shares through certain financial intermediaries, such as an omnibus account or group retirement recordkeeping platform, your intermediary may not be able to track the amount of time you held your Class C shares purchased before June 30, 2020. In that case, Class C shares held prior to June 30, 2020 would convert to Class A shares eight (8) years after the Effective Date of this policy. In addition, Class C shares held through certain financial intermediaries may convert to Class A shares of the same Fund in a shorter time frame than shares purchased directly from the Fund. Please contact your financial intermediary for further information about its Class C shares to Class A shares conversion policy.
Class Y Shares
Class Y shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Funds. Class Y shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC. In addition, Class Y shares may be purchased through certain mutual fund programs sponsored by qualified intermediaries, such as broker-dealers and investment advisers. In each case, the intermediary has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to include the Touchstone Funds in their program where the intermediary provides investors participating in their program with additional services, including advisory, asset allocation, recordkeeping or other services. You should ask your financial institution if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals. The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund programs may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the funds and investors may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program. If you purchase Class Y shares through a broker acting solely as an agent on behalf of its customers, that broker may charge you a commission. Such commissions, if any, are not charged by the Touchstone Funds and are not reflected in the fee tables or expense examples in this prospectus. Investors should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.
Institutional Class Shares
Institutional Class shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Funds. Institutional Class shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC.
19
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plans. Each Fund offering Class A shares and Class C shares has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans allow each Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. Under the Class A plan, the Funds pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class C plan, the Funds pay an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class C shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee). Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment and over time may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries. Touchstone Securities, the Trust’s principal underwriter, at its expense (from a designated percentage of its income) currently provides additional compensation to certain dealers. Touchstone Securities pursues a focused distribution strategy with a limited number of dealers who have sold shares of the Touchstone Funds. Touchstone Securities reviews and makes changes to the focused distribution strategy on a periodic basis. These payments are generally based on a pro rata share of a dealer’s sales or assets. Touchstone Securities may also provide compensation in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for employees, seminars for the public, advertising and other dealer-sponsored programs. Touchstone Advisors, at its own expense, may also provide additional compensation to certain broker dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers for certain services including distribution, administrative, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency and/or shareholder servicing activities. These additional cash payments to a financial intermediary are payments over and above sales commissions or reallowances, distribution fees or servicing fees (including networking, administration and sub-transfer agency fees). These additional cash payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary bears certain costs in connection with providing shareholder services to Fund shareholders. Touchstone Advisors may also reimburse Touchstone Securities for making these payments.
Touchstone Advisors and its affiliates may also pay cash compensation in the form of finders’ fees or referral fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of shares sold. The amount and value of additional cash payments vary for each financial intermediary. The additional cash payment arrangement between a particular financial intermediary and Touchstone Advisors or its affiliates may provide for increased rates of compensation as the dollar value of the Fund’s shares or particular class of shares sold or invested through such financial intermediary increases. The availability of these additional cash payments, the varying fee structure within a particular additional cash payment arrangement and the basis for and manner in which a financial intermediary compensates its sales representatives may create a financial incentive for a particular financial intermediary and its sales representatives to recommend a Fund’s shares over the shares of other mutual funds based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should consult with your financial adviser and review carefully any disclosure by the financial firm as to compensation received by your financial adviser. Although the Funds may use financial firms that sell the Funds’ shares to effect portfolio transactions for the Funds, the Funds and Touchstone Advisors will not consider the sale of a Fund’s shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions. For more information on payment arrangements, please see the section entitled “Touchstone Securities” in the SAI.
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INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE
Choosing the Appropriate Investments to Match Your Goals. Investing well requires a plan. We recommend that you meet with your financial adviser to plan a strategy that will best meet your financial goals.
Purchasing Your Shares
Please read this prospectus carefully and then determine how much you want to invest.
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Classes A and C shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities”) or through your financial intermediary.
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Class Y shares are available through certain financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities.
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Institutional Class shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial intermediary.
In order to open an account you must complete an investment application. You can obtain an investment application from Touchstone Securities, your financial adviser or other financial intermediary, or by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Subject to the restrictions on new accounts described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Buying and Selling Fund Shares,” you may purchase shares of the Fund directly from Touchstone Securities or through your financial intermediary.
You may purchase shares in the Fund on a day when the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading (“Business Day”). Currently, the NYSE is normally open for trading every weekday except: (1) in the event of an emergency, or (2) for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For more information about how to purchase shares, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.
Investor Alert: Each Touchstone Fund reserves the right to restrict or reject any purchase request, including exchanges from other Touchstone Funds, which it regards as disruptive to efficient portfolio management. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because of the timing of the investment or because of a history of excessive trading by the investor. (See “Market Timing Policy” in this prospectus.) Touchstone Securities may change applicable initial and additional investment minimums at any time.
Opening an Account
Important Information About Procedures for Opening an Account. Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth, government identification number and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. If we do not receive these required pieces of information, there will be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk. If we are unable to immediately verify your identity, the Fund may restrict further investment until your identity is verified. However, if we are unable to completely verify your identity through our verification process, the Fund reserves the right to close your account without notice and return your investment to you at the price determined at the end of business (typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices), on the day that your account is closed. If we close your account because we are unable to completely verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of your principal investment.
Investing in the Funds
By mail or through your financial adviser
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Please make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to the Touchstone Funds. We do not accept third party checks for initial investments.
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Send your check with the completed investment application by regular mail to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 534467 Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Attention: 534467 500 Ross Street, 154-0520 Pittsburgh, PA 15262.
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Your application will be processed subject to your check clearing. If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
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You may also open an account through your financial adviser.
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By wire or Automated Clearing House (“ACH”)
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You may open an account by purchasing shares by wire or ACH transfer. Call Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 for wire or ACH instructions.
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Touchstone Securities will not process wire or ACH purchases until it receives a completed investment application.
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There is no charge imposed by the Funds to make a wire or ACH purchase. Your bank, financial intermediary or processing organization may charge a fee to send a wire or ACH purchase to Touchstone Securities.
Through your financial intermediary
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You may invest in certain share classes by establishing an account through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
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Your financial intermediary will act as the shareholder of record of your shares.
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Financial intermediaries may set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements, may impose other restrictions or may charge you fees for their services.
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Financial intermediaries may designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds’ behalf.
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Your financial intermediaries may receive compensation from the Funds, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors or their affiliates.
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Before investing in the Funds through your financial intermediary, you should read any materials provided by your financial intermediary together with this prospectus.
By exchange. Touchstone Funds may be exchanged pursuant to the exchange rules outlined below:
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Class A shares may be exchanged into Class A shares of any other Touchstone Fund at NAV, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Class C shares may be exchanged into Class C shares of any other Touchstone Fund, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Class Y shares of a Fund are exchangeable for Class Y shares of any other Touchstone Fund, as long as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met. Class Y shares may be available through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through “processing organizations” (e.g., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers. Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Institutional Class shares of the Funds are exchangeable for Institutional Class shares of any other Touchstone Fund as long as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
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Class A, C, and Y shareholders who are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares, Class C shares, and Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state, and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary. Please see the SAI for more information under “Choosing a Class of Shares”.
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Class A and Class C shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares and/or Class C shares for Class Y shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EXCHANGES: Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC in an exchange. However, when you redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, the shares you redeem may be subject to a CDSC, depending on when you originally purchased the exchanged shares. For purposes of computing the CDSC, the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase and will not be affected by any exchange.
Before making an exchange of your Fund shares, you should carefully review the disclosure provided in the prospectus relating to the Fund into which you are exchanging. Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges. You do not have to pay any exchange fee for your exchange, but if you exchange from a Fund with a lower load schedule to a Fund with a higher load schedule you may be charged the load differential.
You may realize a taxable gain if you exchange shares of a Fund for shares of another Fund. See “Distributions and Taxes — Federal Income Tax Information” for more information and the federal income tax consequences of such an exchange.
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Through retirement plans. You may invest in certain Funds through various retirement plans. These include individual retirement plans and employer sponsored retirement plans. Individual Retirement Plans
| Individual Retirement Plans |
Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans |
| •Traditional IRAs |
•Defined benefit plans |
| •SIMPLE IRAs |
•Defined contribution plans (including 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and money purchase plans) |
| •Spousal IRAs | |
| •Roth IRAs |
•457 plans |
| •Education IRAs |
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| •SEP IRAs |
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To determine which type of retirement plan is appropriate for you, please contact your tax adviser.
For further information about any of the plans, agreements, applications and annual fees, contact Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407 or contact your financial intermediary.
Through a processing organization. You may also purchase shares of the Funds through a “processing organization,” (e.g., a mutual fund supermarket) which is a broker-dealer, bank or other financial institution that purchases shares for its customers.
Some of the Touchstone Funds have authorized certain processing organizations (“Authorized Processing Organizations”) to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. Before investing in the Funds through a processing organization, you should read any materials provided by the processing organization together with this prospectus. You should also ask the processing organization if they are authorized by Touchstone Securities to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf. If the processing organization is not authorized, then your purchase order could be rejected which could subject your investment to market risk. When shares are purchased through an Authorized Processing Organization, there may be various differences compared to investing directly with Touchstone Securities. The Authorized Processing Organization may:
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Charge a fee for its services.
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Act as the shareholder of record of the shares.
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Set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements.
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Impose other charges and restrictions.
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Designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds’ behalf. Touchstone Securities considers a purchase or sales order as received when an Authorized Processing Organization, or its authorized designee, receives the order in proper form.
Shares held through an Authorized Processing Organization may be transferred into your name following procedures established by your Authorized Processing Organization and Touchstone Securities. Certain Authorized Processing Organizations may receive compensation from the Funds, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors or their affiliates. It is the responsibility of an Authorized Processing Organization to transmit properly completed orders so that they will be received by Touchstone Securities in a timely manner.
Pricing of Purchases
Purchase orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, or a financial intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices, are processed at that day’s public offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charge). Purchase orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the public offering price determined on the following Business Day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to transmit orders that will be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
Adding to Your Account
By check
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Complete the investment form provided with a recent account statement.
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Make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to Touchstone Funds.
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Write your account number on the check.
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Either mail the check with the investment form to (1) Touchstone Securities; or (2) to your financial intermediary at the address printed on your account statement. Your financial adviser or financial intermediary is responsible for forwarding payment promptly to Touchstone Securities.
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If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or Internet
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You can exchange your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
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You may also exchange your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000.
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In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases. Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:
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Requiring personal identification.
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Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.
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Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.
By wire or ACH
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Contact your bank and ask it to wire or ACH funds to Touchstone Securities. Specify your name and account number when remitting the funds.
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Your bank may charge a fee for handling wire transfers. ACH transactions take 2-3 business days but can be transferred from most banks without a fee.
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If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH instructions on file for your non-retirement individual or joint account you may initiate a purchase transaction through the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
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Purchases in the Funds will be processed at that day’s NAV (or public offering price, if applicable) if Touchstone Securities receives a properly executed wire or ACH by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading.
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Contact Touchstone Securities or your financial intermediary for further instructions.
By exchange
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You may add to your account by exchanging shares from another Touchstone Fund.
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For information about how to exchange shares among the Touchstone Funds, see “Investing in the Funds - By exchange” in this prospectus.
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Exchange transactions can also be initiated for non-retirement individual or joint accounts via the Touchstone Funds’ website TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Purchases with Securities
Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities, including but not limited to, shares of common stock, provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the applicable Fund’s investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to Touchstone Advisors. Transactions of this type are generally a taxable transaction. Shareholders should consult with their particular tax adviser regarding their personal tax situation.
Automatic Investment Options
The various ways that you can automatically invest in the Funds are outlined below. Touchstone Securities does not charge any fees for these services. For further details about these services, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary such as a broker dealer, please contact that firm directly for further details on automatic investment options available for your account.
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Automatic Investment Plan. If you hold your shares directly with the Fund, you can pre-authorize monthly investments in a Fund of $50 or more to be processed electronically from a checking or savings account. You will need to complete the appropriate section in the investment application or special account options to do this. Amounts that are automatically invested in a Fund will not be available for redemption until three business days after the automatic reinvestment.
Reinvestment/Cross Reinvestment. If you hold your shares directly with the Fund, dividends and capital gains can be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them or in another Touchstone Fund within the same class of shares without a fee or sales charge. If you select to reinvest your dividends and capital gains, dividends and capital gains will be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them, unless you indicate otherwise on your investment application. You may also choose to have your dividends or capital gains paid to you in cash if such amounts are greater than $25; lesser amounts will be automatically reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable for federal income tax purposes whether you reinvest such dividends in additional shares of a Fund or choose to receive cash. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash for a non–retirement account and the payment (1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the payable date. In addition, any undeliverable checks from non-retirement accounts will be deposited into an account for potential escheatment to your state of residence. Checks from open non-retirement accounts that are not cashed for six months will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation, which may be higher or lower than the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. Otherwise, no action will be taken regarding undeliverable or uncashed checks.
Direct Deposit Purchase Plan. You may automatically invest Social Security checks, private payroll checks, pension payouts or any other pre-authorized government or private recurring payments in the Touchstone Funds.
Dollar Cost Averaging. Our dollar cost averaging program allows you to diversify your investments by investing the same amount on a regular basis. You can set up periodic automatic exchanges of at least $50 from one Touchstone Fund to any other. The applicable sales charge, if any, will be assessed.
Selling Your Shares
If you elect to receive your redemption proceeds from a non–retirement account in cash, the payment is not cashed for six months and the account remains open, the redemption check will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation, which may be higher or lower than the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. Otherwise, no action will be taken.
Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or Internet
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You can sell your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
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You may also sell your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.
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You may sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet only if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000.
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Shares held in qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via Internet.
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If we receive your sale request by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, typically 4:00 p.m., Eastern time or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading, the sale of your shares will be processed at the next determined NAV on that Business Day. Otherwise it will occur on the next Business Day.
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Interruptions in telephone or Internet service could prevent you from selling your shares when you want to. When you have difficulty making telephone or Internet sales, you should mail to Touchstone Securities (or send by overnight delivery) a written request for the sale of your shares.
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In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone or online that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases as long as Touchstone Securities has followed established procedures to confirm that telephone and/or internet trade instructions are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:
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Requiring personal identification details to validate identity.
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Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Directing wires or ACH payments only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
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Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone or internet.
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Digitally recording instructions received by telephone and/or internet.
Through Touchstone Securities - By mail
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Write to Touchstone Securities, P.O. Box 534467 Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467.
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Indicate the number of shares or dollar amount to be sold.
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Include your name and account number.
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Sign your request exactly as your name appears on your investment application.
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You may be required to have your signature guaranteed. (See “Signature Guarantees” in this prospectus for more information).
Through Touchstone Securities - By wire
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Complete the appropriate information on the investment application.
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If your proceeds are $1,000 or more, you may request that Touchstone Securities wire them to your bank account.
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You may be charged a fee of up to $15 for wiring redemption proceeds. You may also be charged an additional fee by your bank or financial intermediary. Certain institutional shareholders who trade daily are not charged wire redemption fees.
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Your redemption proceeds may be deposited directly into your bank account through an ACH transaction. There is no fee imposed by the Funds for ACH transactions, however, you may be charged a fee by your bank to receive an ACH transaction. Contact Touchstone Securities for more information.
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If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH or wire instructions on file for your non-retirement account you may transact through the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Through Touchstone Securities - Through a systematic withdrawal plan
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You may elect to receive, or send to a third party, withdrawals of $50 or more if your account value is at least $5,000.
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Systematic withdrawals can be made monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually.
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There is no fee for this service.
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There is no minimum account balance required for retirement plans.
Through your financial intermediary
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You may also sell shares by contacting your financial intermediary, which may charge you a fee for this service. Shares held in street name must be sold through your financial intermediary
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Your financial intermediary is responsible for making sure that sale requests are transmitted to Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
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Your financial intermediary may charge you a fee for selling your shares.
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Redemption proceeds will only be sent to your account at the financial intermediary.
Investor Alert: Unless otherwise specified, proceeds will be sent to the record owner at the address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Pricing of Redemptions
Redemption orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, are processed at that day’s NAV. Redemption orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the NAV determined on the following business day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that will be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”)
If you purchase $1 million or more in Touchstone equity fund Class A shares at NAV or $500,000 or more in Touchstone fixed income fund Class A shares at NAV and a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities to a participating broker dealer, a CDSC of up to 1.00% or 0.50%, respectively, may be charged on redemptions made within 1 year of your purchase. Additionally, when an upfront commission is paid to a participating broker dealer on transactions of $1 million or more in Touchstone equity fund Class A shares or $500,000 or more in Touchstone fixed income fund Class A shares, the Fund will withhold any 12b-1 fee for the first 12 months following the purchase date. If you redeem Class C shares within 12 months of your purchase, a CDSC of 1.00% will be charged.
The CDSC will not apply to redemptions of shares you received through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions and may be waived under certain circumstances described below. The CDSC will be assessed on the lesser of your shares’ NAV at the time of redemption or the time of purchase. The CDSC is paid to Touchstone Securities to reimburse expenses incurred in providing distribution-related services to the Funds.
All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to Touchstone Securities. In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time. The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.
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No CDSC is applied if:
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The redemption is due to the death or post-purchase disability of a shareholder. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge.
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Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians’ certificates, etc.
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Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. The CDSC will be waived if the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, and systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan must be based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
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Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by Touchstone Securities directly to plan participants. Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders. The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial intermediary.
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The redemption is for a mandatory withdrawal from a traditional IRA account after reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
The above mentioned CDSC waivers do not apply to Class A share redemptions made within one year of the date of purchase where a Finder’s Fee was paid. The SAI contains further details about the CDSC and the conditions for waiving the CDSC. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Ameriprise Financial, Edward D. Jones & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Raymond James and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated are described in Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.
Signature Guarantees
Some circumstances may require that your request to sell shares be made in writing accompanied by an original Medallion Signature Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps protect you against fraud. You can obtain one from many banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. Each Fund reserves the right to require a signature guarantee for any request related to your account including, but not limited to:
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Proceeds to be paid when information on your account has been changed within the last 30 days (including a change in your name or your address, or the name or address of a payee).
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Proceeds are being sent to an address other than the address of record.
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Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred from unlike registrations such as a joint account to an individual’s account.
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Sending proceeds via wire or ACH when bank instructions have been added or changed within 30 days of your redemption request.
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Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred between accounts with different account registrations.
Market Timing Policy
Market timing or excessive trading in accounts that you own or control may disrupt portfolio investment strategies, may increase brokerage and administrative costs, and may negatively impact investment returns for all shareholders, including long- term shareholders who do not generate these costs. The Funds will take reasonable steps to discourage excessive short-term trading and will not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by shareholders. The Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies and procedures with respect to market timing of the Funds by shareholders. The Funds will monitor selected trades on a daily basis in an effort to deter excessive short-term trading. If a Fund has reason to believe that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading, the Fund may ask the shareholder to stop such activities, or restrict or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholder’s accounts. While a Fund cannot assure the prevention of all excessive trading and market timing, by making these judgments the Fund believes it is acting in a manner that is in the best interests of its shareholders. However, because the Funds cannot prevent all market timing, shareholders may be subject to the risks described above.
Generally, a shareholder may be considered a market timer if he or she has (i) requested an exchange or redemption out of any of the Touchstone Funds within 2 weeks of an earlier purchase or exchange request into any Touchstone Fund, or (ii) made more than 2 “round-trip” exchanges within a rolling 90 day period. A “round-trip” exchange occurs when a shareholder exchanges from one Touchstone Fund to another Touchstone Fund and back to the original Touchstone Fund. If a shareholder exceeds these limits, the Funds may restrict or
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suspend that shareholder’s exchange privileges and subsequent exchange requests during the suspension will not be processed. The Funds may also restrict or refuse to process purchases by the shareholder. These exchange limits and excessive trading policies generally do not apply to systematic purchases and redemptions.
Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Funds for their customers through which transactions are placed. If a Fund identifies excessive trading in such an account, the Fund may instruct the intermediary to restrict the investor responsible for the excessive trading from further trading in the Fund. In accordance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds have entered into information sharing agreements with certain financial intermediaries. Under these agreements, a financial intermediary is obligated to: (1) enforce during the term of the agreement, the Funds’ market-timing policy; (2) furnish the Funds, upon their request, with information regarding customer trading activities in shares of the Funds; and (3) enforce the Funds’ market-timing policy with respect to customers identified by the Funds as having engaged in market timing. When information regarding transactions in the Funds’ shares is requested by a Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Funds have an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Funds, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Funds on behalf of other persons.
The Funds apply these policies and procedures uniformly to all shareholders believed to be engaged in market timing or excessive trading. The Funds have no arrangements to permit any investor to trade frequently in shares of the Funds, nor will they enter into any such arrangements in the future.
Householding Policy (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities)
Each Fund you invest in will send one copy of its prospectus and shareholder reports to households containing multiple shareholders with the same last name. This process, known as “householding”, reduces costs and provides a convenience to shareholders. If you share the same last name and address with another shareholder and you prefer to receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, call Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 and we will begin separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request. If you or others in your household invest in the Funds through a financial intermediary, you may receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, regardless of whether or not you have consented to householding on your investment application.
In addition, eDelivery is available for statements, confirms, prospectuses and shareholder reports for shareholders holding accounts directly with Touchstone Securities, please contact Shareholder Services at 1.800.534.0407 for more information. If you hold your account through a Broker Dealer or Financial Intermediary please contact them directly to inquire about eDelivery opportunities.
Receiving Sale Proceeds
Touchstone Securities will forward the proceeds of your sale to you (or to your financial intermediary) within 7 days (normally within 3 business days) after receipt of a proper request. Under normal conditions, each Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests through the use of the Fund’s holdings of cash or cash equivalents, lines of credit, an interfund loan (as discussed in the SAI) or by selling other Fund assets. A redemption-in-kind may be used under certain circumstances and is discussed below in more detail.
Proceeds Sent to Financial Intermediaries or Authorized Processing Organization or Financial Institutions. Proceeds that are sent to your Authorized Processing Organization or financial intermediary will not usually be reinvested for you unless you provide specific instructions to do so. Therefore, the financial adviser, Authorized Processing Organization or financial institution may benefit from the use of your money.
Fund Shares Purchased by Check (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities). We may delay the processing and payment of redemption proceeds for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may take up to 15 days. If you believe you may need your money sooner, you should purchase shares by bank wire.
Reinstatement Privilege (Classes A and C shares only). You may, within 90 days of redemption, including redemption proceeds reinvested from an unaffiliated money market fund, reinvest all or part of your sale proceeds by sending a written request and a check to Touchstone Securities. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of Class A shares and the sales load that you incurred on the initial purchase is less than the sales charge for the Fund in which you are reinvesting, you will incur a sales charge representing the difference. Reinvestment will be at the NAV next calculated after Touchstone Securities receives your request. If the reinvestment proceeds were from the sale of your Class C shares, you can reinvest those proceeds into Class C shares of any Touchstone Fund. If you paid a CDSC on the reinstated amount, that CDSC will be reimbursed to you upon reinvestment. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares is treated as the sale of the shares of one Fund and the purchase of the shares of the other Fund. As a result, the exchange may result in a tax consequence if you have a capital gain or loss in the Fund shares you are selling.
28
Low Account Balances (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities). If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market changes), Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you. This involuntary sale does not apply to retirement accounts or custodian accounts under the UGTMA. Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares are about to be sold and you will have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.
Delay of Payment. It is possible that the payment of your sale proceeds could be postponed or your right to sell your shares could be suspended during certain circumstances. These circumstances can occur:
•
When the NYSE is closed on days other than customary weekends and holidays;
•
When trading on the NYSE is restricted; or
•
During any other time when the SEC, by order, permits.
Redemption in-Kind. Under certain circumstances (such as a market emergency), when the Board of Trustees deems it appropriate, a Fund may make payment for shares redeemed in portfolio securities of the Fund taken at current value in order to meet redemption requests. Shareholders may incur transaction and brokerage costs when they sell these portfolio securities. Until such time as the shareholder sells the securities they receive in-kind, the securities are subject to market risk. Redemptions in- kind are taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash. The Funds may also process as a redemption in-kind certain Fund shares redeemed by ReFlow or other large institutional investors.
Pricing of Fund Shares
Each Fund’s share price (also called “NAV”) and public offering price (NAV plus a sales charge, if applicable) is determined as of the close of regular trading (typically 4:00 p.m., Eastern time or at such other time that the NYSE establishes official closing prices) every day the NYSE is open. Each Fund calculates its NAV per share for each class, generally using market prices, by dividing the total value of its net assets by the number of shares outstanding.
The Funds’ equity investments are valued based on market value or, if no market value is available, based on fair value as determined by the Adviser, which has been designated by the Board as the valuation designee for the Funds pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. The Adviser as the valuation designee may use pricing services to determine market value for investments. Some specific pricing strategies follow:
•
All short-term dollar-denominated investments that mature in 60 days or less may be valued on the basis of amortized cost which the Adviser as the valuation designee has determined as fair value.
•
Securities mainly traded on a U.S. exchange are valued at the last sale price on that exchange or, if no sales occurred during the day, at the last quoted bid price.
Any foreign securities held by a Fund will be priced as follows:
•
All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currency values will be converted into U.S. dollar values.
•
Securities mainly traded on a non-U.S. exchange are generally valued according to the preceding closing values on that exchange. However, if an event that may change the value of a security occurs after the time that the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange was determined, but before the close of regular trading on the NYSE, the security may be priced based on fair value. This may cause the value of the security on the books of the Fund to be significantly different from the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange and may affect the calculation of the NAV.
•
Because portfolio securities that are primarily listed on a non-U.S. exchange may trade on weekends or other days when a Fund does not price its shares, a Fund’s NAV may change on days when shareholders will not be able to buy or sell shares.
Securities held by a Fund that do not have readily available market quotations are priced at their fair value using procedures established by the Adviser and adopted by the Board. Any debt securities held by a Fund for which market quotations are not readily available are generally priced at their most recent bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities. The Funds may use fair value pricing under the following circumstances, among others:
•
If the validity of market quotations is deemed to be not reliable.
•
If the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets on which the security is traded.
•
If a security is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading.
•
If the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closes early or if trading in a particular portfolio security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation.
The use of fair value pricing has the effect of valuing a security based upon the price a Fund might reasonably expect to receive if it sold that security but does not guarantee that the security can be sold at the fair value price. The Funds have established fair value policies and procedures that delegate fair value responsibilities to the Adviser, as the Fund's valuation designee. These policies and procedures outline
29
the fair value method for the Adviser. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available. With respect to any portion of a Fund’s assets that is invested in other mutual funds, that portion of the Fund’s NAV is calculated based on the NAV of that mutual fund. The prospectus for the other mutual fund explains the circumstances and effects of fair value pricing for that mutual fund.
30
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment income and capital gains. Dividends, if any, of net investment income are declared and paid annually. If you own shares on a Fund’s distribution record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
Each Fund makes distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own shares on a Fund’s distribution record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
You will receive income dividends and distributions of capital gains in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. Cash payments will only be made for amounts equal to or exceeding $25; for amounts less than $25, the dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested in the paying Fund and class. To elect cash payments, you must notify the Funds in writing or by phone prior to the date of distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after we receive your notice. To cancel your election, simply send written notice to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 534467, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Attention: 534467 500 Ross Street, 154-0520 Pittsburgh, PA 15262, or call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407. If you hold your shares through a financial institution, you must contact the institution to elect cash payment. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and the payment (1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of payment.
A Fund’s dividends and other distributions are taxable to shareholders (other than retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors) whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. A dividend or distribution paid by a Fund has the effect of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend or distribution. A dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares by an investor would, therefore, represent, in substance, a return of capital to the shareholder with respect to such shares even though it would be subject to federal income taxes.
For most shareholders, a statement will be sent to you within 45 days after the end of each year detailing the federal income tax status of your distributions. Please see “Federal Income Tax Information” below for more information on the federal income tax consequences of dividends and other distributions made by a Fund.
Federal Income Tax Information
The tax information in this prospectus is provided only for general information purposes for U.S. taxpayers and should not be considered as tax advice or relied on by a shareholder or prospective investor.
General. The Funds intend to qualify annually to be treated as regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under Subchapter M of Chapter 1, Subtitle A of the Code. As such, the Funds will not be subject to federal income taxes on the earnings they distribute to shareholders provided they satisfy certain requirements and restrictions of the Code, one of which is to distribute to a Fund’s shareholders substantially all of the Fund’s net investment income and net short-term capital gains each year. If for any taxable year a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC: (1) it will be subject to tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and thus will be subject to federal income tax at the corporate tax rate; and (2) distributions from its earnings and profits (as determined under federal income tax principles) will be taxable as ordinary dividend income and generally eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for “qualified dividend income” treatment for non-corporate shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying for RIC treatment.
Distributions. Your Fund will make distributions to you that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, foreign, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions, other than exempt-interest dividends, are taxable whether you reinvest such distributions in additional shares of the Fund or choose to receive cash. Taxable Fund distributions are taxable to a shareholder even if the distributions are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund prior to the shareholder’s investment and, thus, were included in the price the shareholder paid for the shares. For example, a shareholder who purchases shares on or just before the record date of a Fund distribution will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of the investment back as a taxable distribution. Distributions declared by a Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record during such month and paid by January 31 of the following year are treated for federal income tax purposes as if received by shareholders and paid by the Fund on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.
Ordinary Income. Net investment income, except for qualified dividend income and income designated as tax-exempt, and short-term capital gains that are distributed to you are taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your Fund shares. Certain dividends distributed to non-corporate shareholders and designated by a Fund as “qualified dividend income” are eligible for the long-term capital gains rate, provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.
31
Net Capital Gains. Net capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) distributed to you, if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your Fund shares.
Sale or Exchange of Shares. It is a taxable event for you if you sell shares of a Fund or exchange shares of a Fund for shares of another Touchstone Fund. Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you sell or exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. Any realized gain or loss, generally, will be a capital gain or loss, assuming you held the shares of the Fund as a capital asset. The capital gain will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Sales of shares of a Fund that you have held for twelve months or less will be a short-term capital gain or loss and if held for more than twelve months will constitute a long-term capital gain or loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends, if any, received by the shareholder with respect to such shares, unless the Fund declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis.
Returns of Capital. If a Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.
Backup Withholding. A Fund (or a financial intermediary, such as a broker, through which a shareholder holds Fund shares) may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all distributions and sales proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding.
Medicare Tax. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends and distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
Foreign Taxation. Income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the close of any taxable year consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations, or if a Fund is a qualified fund-of-funds (i.e., a RIC that invests at least 50% of its total assets in other RICs at the close of each quarter of its taxable year), and the Fund meets the distribution requirements described above, such Fund may file an election (the “pass-through election”) with the IRS pursuant to which shareholders of the Fund would be required to (i) include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) their pro rata shares of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund, or in the case of a qualified fund of funds, such taxes paid by an underlying fund that has made the pass-through election, even though not actually received by such shareholders; and (ii) treat such respective pro rata portions as foreign income taxes paid by them. Each Fund making a pass-through election will furnish its shareholders with a written statement providing the amount of foreign taxes paid by the Fund that will “pass-through” for the year, if any.
Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of a Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by a Fund. Various limitations, including a minimum holding period requirement, apply to limit the credit and deduction for foreign taxes for purposes of regular federal income tax and alternative minimum tax.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax as a result of an investment in a Fund. This prospectus does not discuss the U.S. or foreign tax consequences of an investment by a non-U.S. shareholder in a Fund. Accordingly, non-U.S. shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers as to the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of an investment in a Fund.
Statements and Notices. You will receive an annual statement outlining the tax status of your distributions. You may also receive written notices of certain foreign taxes paid by a Fund during the prior taxable year.
Important Tax Reporting Considerations. The Funds are required to report cost basis and holding period information to both the IRS and shareholders for gross proceeds from the sales of Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”). This information is reported on Form 1099-B. The average cost method will be used to determine the cost basis of covered shares unless the shareholder instructs a Fund in writing that the shareholder wants to use another available method for cost basis reporting (for example, First In, First Out (FIFO), Last In, First Out (LIFO), Specific Lot Identification (SLID) or High Cost, First Out (HIFO)). If the shareholder designates SLID as the shareholder’s tax cost basis method, the shareholder will also need to designate a secondary cost basis method (Secondary Method). If a Secondary Method is not provided, a Fund will designate FIFO as the Secondary Method and will use
32
the Secondary Method with respect to systematic withdrawals. If you hold shares of a Fund through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary will be responsible for this reporting and the financial intermediary’s default cost basis method may apply. Please consult your tax adviser for additional information regarding cost basis reporting and your situation.
Redemptions by S corporations of covered shares are required to be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-B. If a shareholder is a corporation and has not instructed the Fund that it is a C corporation in its Account Application or by written instruction, the Fund will treat the shareholder as an S corporation and file a Form 1099-B.
This section is only a summary of some important federal income tax considerations that may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding these considerations is included in the Funds’ SAI. You are urged and advised to consult your own tax adviser regarding the effects of an investment in a Fund on your tax situation, including the application of foreign, state, local and other tax laws to your particular situation.
33
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand each Fund’s financial performance for the past five years, or if shorter, the period of each Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The financial highlights for the Fund, for the years ended June 30, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements and related notes, is included in the Fund's June 30, 2023 annual report.
You can obtain the Funds’ most recent annual report or semi-annual report at no charge by calling 1.800.543.0407 or by downloading a copy from the Touchstone Investments website at: TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources. The annual report has been incorporated by reference into the SAI.
34
| Touchstone International Equity Fund | ||||||||||||||
| Period ended |
Net asset value at beginning of period |
Net investment income (loss) |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments |
Total from investment operations |
Distributions from net investment income |
Distributions from realized capital gains |
Total distributions |
Net asset value at end of period |
Total return(1) |
Net assets at end of period (000's) |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets |
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets |
Portfolio turnover rate |
| Class A | ||||||||||||||
| 06/30/19 |
$18.15 |
$0.20 (2) |
$(0.57) |
$(0.37) |
$(0.26) |
$(1.87) |
$(2.13) |
$15.65 |
(0.78 )% |
$106,870 |
1.30 % |
1.37 % |
1.26 % |
43 % |
| 06/30/20 |
15.65 |
0.08 (2) |
(0.98) |
(0.90) |
(0.19) |
(0.63) |
(0.82) |
13.93 |
(6.28) |
77,744 |
1.29 |
1.40 |
0.57 |
45 |
| 06/30/21 |
13.93 |
0.09 (2) |
4.94 |
5.03 |
(0.08) |
— |
(0.08) |
18.88 |
36.16 |
88,022 |
1.36 |
1.37 |
0.56 |
31 |
| 06/30/22 |
18.88 |
0.18 (2) |
(3.44) |
(3.26) |
(0.08) |
(2.24) |
(2.32) |
13.30 |
(18.87) |
76,671 |
1.36 |
1.40 |
1.08 |
45 (3) |
| 06/30/23 |
13.30 |
0.24 (2) |
1.99 |
2.23 |
(0.21) |
— |
(0.21) |
15.32 |
16.99 |
82,697 |
1.36 |
1.44 |
1.75 |
32 |
| 12/31/23(4) |
15.32 |
0.02 |
0.64 |
0.66 |
(0.21) |
— |
(0.21) |
15.77 |
4.33 (5) |
82,205 |
1.36 (6) |
1.45 (6) |
0.24 (6) |
10 (5) |
| Class C | ||||||||||||||
| 06/30/19 |
$17.12 |
$0.03 (2) |
$(0.54) |
$(0.51) |
$(0.10) |
$(1.87) |
$(1.97) |
$14.64 |
(1.87 )% |
$3,783 |
2.34 % |
2.42 % |
0.21 % |
43 % |
| 06/30/20 |
14.64 |
(0.09)(2) |
(0.93) |
(1.02) |
— |
(0.63) |
(0.63) |
12.99 |
(7.41) |
2,073 |
2.49 |
2.74 |
(0.63) |
45 |
| 06/30/21 |
12.99 |
(0.04)(2) |
4.60 |
4.56 |
(— )(7) |
— |
(— )(7) |
17.55 |
35.14 |
2,115 |
2.15 |
2.90 |
(0.24) |
31 |
| 06/30/22 |
17.55 |
0.07 (2) |
(3.18) |
(3.11) |
(0.02) |
(2.24) |
(2.26) |
12.18 |
(19.45) |
2,399 |
1.99 |
2.71 |
0.45 |
45 (3) |
| 06/30/23 |
12.18 |
0.14 (2) |
1.82 |
1.96 |
(0.17) |
— |
(0.17) |
13.97 |
16.27 |
2,327 |
1.99 |
2.80 |
1.12 |
32 |
| 12/31/23(4) |
13.97 |
(0.10) |
0.66 |
0.56 |
(0.13) |
— |
(0.13) |
14.40 |
4.00 (5) |
2,251 |
1.99 (6) |
2.88 (6) |
(0.39)(6) |
10 (5) |
| Class Y | ||||||||||||||
| 06/30/19 |
$17.93 |
$0.25 (2) |
$(0.57) |
$(0.32) |
$(0.30) |
$(1.87) |
$(2.17) |
$15.44 |
(0.47 )% |
$42,120 |
0.99 % |
1.12 % |
1.57 % |
43 % |
| 06/30/20 |
15.44 |
0.13 (2) |
(0.97) |
(0.84) |
(0.24) |
(0.63) |
(0.87) |
13.73 |
(6.03) |
23,835 |
0.99 |
1.15 |
0.87 |
45 |
| 06/30/21 |
13.73 |
0.15 (2) |
4.88 |
5.03 |
(0.11) |
— |
(0.11) |
18.65 |
36.71 |
27,903 |
0.99 |
1.19 |
0.93 |
31 |
| 06/30/22 |
18.65 |
0.23 (2) |
(3.40) |
(3.17) |
(0.13) |
(2.24) |
(2.37) |
13.11 |
(18.61) |
20,430 |
0.99 |
1.19 |
1.45 |
45 (3) |
| 06/30/23 |
13.11 |
0.29 (2) |
1.97 |
2.26 |
(0.24) |
— |
(0.24) |
15.13 |
17.46 |
25,324 |
0.99 |
1.23 |
2.12 |
32 |
| 12/31/23(4) |
15.13 |
0.04 |
0.65 |
0.69 |
(0.27) |
— |
(0.27) |
15.55 |
4.57 (5) |
27,871 |
0.99 (6) |
1.21 (6) |
0.61 (6) |
10 (5) |
| Institutional Class | ||||||||||||||
| 06/30/19 |
$17.92 |
$0.26 (2) |
$(0.57) |
$(0.31) |
$(0.32) |
$(1.87) |
$(2.19) |
$15.42 |
(0.39 )% |
$2,592 |
0.89 % |
1.38 % |
1.67 % |
43 % |
| 06/30/20 |
15.42 |
0.14 (2) |
(0.95) |
(0.81) |
(0.27) |
(0.63) |
(0.90) |
13.71 |
(5.89) |
14,205 |
0.89 |
1.12 |
0.97 |
45 |
| 06/30/21 |
13.71 |
0.16 (2) |
4.88 |
5.04 |
(0.12) |
— |
(0.12) |
18.63 |
36.83 |
4,315 |
0.89 |
1.06 |
1.03 |
31 |
| 06/30/22 |
18.63 |
0.25 (2) |
(3.40) |
(3.15) |
(0.15) |
(2.24) |
(2.39) |
13.09 |
(18.52) |
3,273 |
0.89 |
1.34 |
1.55 |
45 (3) |
| 06/30/23 |
13.09 |
0.31 (2) |
1.95 |
2.26 |
(0.24) |
— |
(0.24) |
15.11 |
17.54 |
3,830 |
0.89 |
1.23 |
2.22 |
32 |
| 12/31/23(4) |
15.11 |
0.07 |
0.62 |
0.69 |
(0.29) |
— |
(0.29) |
15.51 |
4.54 (5) |
4,004 |
0.89 (6) |
1.32 (6) |
0.71 (6) |
10 (5) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
| (1) |
Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. |
| (2) |
The net investment income per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period. |
| (3) |
Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of securities by the AIG International Dividend Strategy Fund acquired on July 16, 2021. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher. |
| (4) |
Unaudited. |
| (5) |
Not annualized. |
| (6) |
Annualized. |
| (7) |
Less than $0.005 per share. |
35
TOUCHSTONE INVESTMENTS*
DISTRIBUTOR
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
1.800.638.8194
TouchstoneInvestments.com
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
1.800.638.8194
TouchstoneInvestments.com
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
TRANSFER AGENT
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 534467
Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
P.O. Box 534467
Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4467
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
1.800.543.0407
1.800.543.0407
*
A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group
The following are federal trademark registrations and applications owned by either IFS Financial Services, Inc. or Touchstone Advisors, Inc., each a member of Western & Southern Financial Group: Touchstone, Touchstone Funds, Touchstone Investments, the Touchstone Family of Funds and Distinctively Active.
36
Appendix A - Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts
As noted in the Funds’ prospectus, the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from a Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (“CDSC”) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify a Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. The sales charge waivers and discounts described in this Appendix A are available only if you purchase shares through the designated intermediary. The information disclosed in this Appendix A is part of, and incorporated in, the Funds’ prospectus.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Ameriprise Financial
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial:
Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial brokerage or account are eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI:
•
Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
•
Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 7-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares or conversion of Class C shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply.
•
Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.
•
Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial adviser and/or the adviser’s spouse, adviser’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), adviser’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).
* * * * * *
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (“Edward Jones”)
The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:
Effective on or after January 1st, 2024, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the mutual fund prospectus or statement of additional information (“SAI”) or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Touchstone Fund Complex, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
Breakpoints
•
Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.
37
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”)
•
The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Touchstone Fund Complex held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge.
•
The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.
•
ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).
Letter of Intent (“LOI”)
•
Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.
•
If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer.
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
•
Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and other accounts in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures.
•
Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met: the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, the sale and purchase are made from a share class that charges a front load and one of the following:
•
The redemption and repurchase occur in the same account.
•
The redemption proceeds are used to process an: IRA contribution, excess contributions, conversion, recharacterizing of contributions, or distribution, and the repurchase is done in an account within the same Edward Jones grouping for ROA.
•
Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.
•
Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
•
The death or disability of the shareholder.
•
Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value.
•
Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
•
Shares redeemed as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
•
Shares redeemed to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones.
•
Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
•
Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement.
38
•
Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimums Balances, as described below.
Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Minimum Purchase Amounts
•
Initial purchase minimum: $250
•
Subsequent purchase minimum: none
Minimum Balances
•
Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:
•
A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform
•
A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform
•
An account with an active systematic investment plan or LOI
Exchanging Share Classes
•
At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder's holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”)
Effective May 1, 2020, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Janney account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at Janney
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
•
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).
•
Class C shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney’s policies and procedures.
Sales charge waivers on Class A and C shares available at Janney
Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
•
Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
•
Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, and/or rights of accumulation
•
Breakpoints as described in the fund’s Prospectus.
•
Rights of accumulation (“ROA”), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial adviser about such assets.
39
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Effective September 29, 2023, if you purchase or hold fund shares through an applicable J.P. Morgan Securities LLC brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), or back-end sales charge, waivers), share class conversion policy and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.
Front-end sales charge waivers on Class A shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
•
Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a CDSC and are exchanged into Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s share class exchange policy.
•
Qualified employer-sponsored defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, other employee benefit plans and trusts used to fund those plans. For purposes of this provision, such plans do not include SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SAR-SEPs or 501(c)(3) accounts.
•
Shares of funds purchased through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Self-Directed Investing accounts.
•
Shares purchased through rights of reinstatement.
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
•
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC or its affiliates and their spouse or financial dependent as defined by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.
Class C to Class A share conversion
•
A shareholder in the fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the same fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is consistent with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC’s policies and procedures.
CDSC waivers on Class A and C shares available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
•
Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
•
Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC: breakpoints, rights of accumulation & letters of intent
•
Breakpoints as described in the prospectus.
•
Rights of Accumulation (“ROA”) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in the fund’s prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Eligible fund family assets not held at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies their financial adviser about such assets.
•
Letters of Intent (“LOI”) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable).
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”)
The following information is provided by Merrill Lynch: Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Purchases or sales of front-end (i.e. Class A) or level-load (i.e., Class C) mutual fund shares through a Merrill platform or account will be eligible only for the following sales load waivers (front-end, contingent deferred, or back-end waivers) and discounts, which differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus. Purchasers will have to buy mutual fund shares directly from the mutual fund company or through another intermediary to be eligible for waivers or discounts not listed below.
It is the client’s responsibility to notify Merrill at the time of purchase or sale of any relationship or other facts that qualify the transaction for a waiver or discount. A Merrill representative may ask for reasonable documentation of such facts and Merrill may condition the granting of a waiver or discount on the timely receipt of such documentation.
40
Additional information on waivers and discounts is available in the Merrill Sales Load Waiver and Discounts Supplement (the “Merrill SLWD Supplement“) and in the Mutual Fund Investing at Merrill pamphlet at ml.com/funds. Clients are encouraged to review these documents and speak with their financial adviser to determine whether a transaction is eligible for a waiver or discount.
Front-end Load Waivers Available at Merrill
•
Shares of mutual funds available for purchase by employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation, and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans provided the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
•
Shares purchased through a Merrill investment advisory program
•
Brokerage class shares exchanged from advisory class shares due to the holdings moving from a Merrill investment advisory program to a Merrill brokerage account
•
Shares purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform
•
Shares purchased through the systematic reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same mutual fund in the same account
•
Shares exchanged from level-load shares to front-end load shares of the same mutual fund in accordance with the description in the Merrill SLWD Supplement
•
Shares purchased by eligible employees of Merrill or its affiliates and their family members who purchase shares in accounts within the employee’s Merrill Household (as defined in the Merrill SLWD Supplement)
•
Shares purchased by eligible persons associated with the fund as defined in this prospectus (e.g. the fund’s officers or trustees)
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of a mutual fund redemption in front-end load shares provided (1) the repurchase is in a mutual fund within the same fund family; (2) the repurchase occurs within 90 calendar days from the redemption trade date, and (3) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill’s account maintenance fees are not eligible for Rights of Reinstatement
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”) Waivers on Front-end, Back-end, and Level Load Shares Available at Merrill
•
Shares sold due to the client’s death or disability (as defined by Internal Revenue Code Section 22I(3))
•
Shares sold pursuant to a systematic withdrawal program subject to Merrill’s maximum systematic withdrawal limits as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement
•
Shares sold due to return of excess contributions from an IRA account
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the investor reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulation
•
Front-end or level-load shares held in commission-based, non-taxable retirement brokerage accounts (e.g. traditional, Roth, rollover, SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans) that are transferred to fee-based accounts or platforms and exchanged for a lower cost share class of the same mutual fund
Front-end Load Discounts Available at Merrill: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
•
Breakpoint discounts, as described in this prospectus, where the sales load is at or below the maximum sales load that Merrill permits to be assessed to a front-end load purchase, as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement
•
Rights of Accumulation (ROA), as described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement, which entitle clients to breakpoint discounts based on the aggregated holdings of mutual fund family assets held in accounts in their Merrill Household
•
Letters of Intent (LOI), which allow for breakpoint discounts on eligible new purchases based on anticipated future eligible purchases within a fund family at Merrill, in accounts within your Merrill Household, as further described in the Merrill SLWD Supplement
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”)
The following information is provided by Morgan Stanley: Unless otherwise noted herein, effective June 1, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s Prospectus or SAI.
41
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
•
Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
•
Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund
•
Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account
•
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge
•
Your financial intermediary, on your behalf, can convert Class S shares of the Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund to Class A shares of the same fund, without a sales charge and on a tax free basis, if they are held in a brokerage account
•
Effective July 1, 2020, shares of the Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund purchased in a Morgan Stanley transactional brokerage account.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Oppenheimer & Co. Inc (“OPCO”)
Effective February 26, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an OPCO platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO
•
Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
•
Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan
•
Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).
•
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of OPCO
•
Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family members
•
Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund’s investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus
CDSC Waivers on A and C Shares available at OPCO
•
Death or disability of the shareholder
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s prospectus
•
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the prospectus
•
Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
•
Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
42
•
Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial adviser about such assets.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services & Raymond James affiliates (“Raymond James”)
Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or SAI.
Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Raymond James
•
Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
•
Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James.
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).
•
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James.
CDSC Waivers on Classes A, B and C shares available at Raymond James
•
Death or disability of the shareholder.
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
•
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
•
Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James.
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.
Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, and/or Rights of Accumulation
•
Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
•
Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the rights of accumulation calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial adviser about such assets.
* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
The following information is provided by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (“Baird”): Effective June 15, 2020, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI.
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Investors A-shares Available at Baird
•
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Fund
•
Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Baird or its affiliate and their family members as designated by Baird
43
•
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from another Touchstone Fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)
•
A shareholder in the Fund’s Investor C Shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Investor A shares of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird
•
Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs
CDSC Waivers on Investor A and C shares Available at Baird
•
Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder
•
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund’s Prospectus
•
Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account
•
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 72 as described in the Fund’s prospectus
•
Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird
•
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations
•
Breakpoints as described in this prospectus
•
Rights of accumulations which entitles shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of Touchstone Fund assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Baird. Eligible Touchstone Fund assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial adviser about such assets
•
Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Touchstone Funds through Baird, over a 13-month period of time
44
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Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
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TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources/Edelivery
TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources/Edelivery
For investors who want more information about the Funds, the following documents are available free upon request:
Appendix A: Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts is a separate document that provides additional information about the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts and is incorporated into this prospectus, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI provides more detailed information about the Funds and is incorporated herein by reference, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
Annual/Semiannual Reports (“Financial Reports”): The Funds’ Financial Reports provide additional information about the Funds’ investments. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected a Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
As of January 1, 2021, paper copies of the Funds’ shareholder reports are no longer sent by mail. Instead, the reports are made available on the Touchstone Funds website (TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources/Fund-Shareholder-Reports), and you will be notified and provided with a link each time a report is posted to the website. You may request to receive paper reports from a Fund or from your financial intermediary, free of charge, at any time. You may also request to receive documents through eDelivery.
You can get free copies of Appendix A, the SAI, the Financial Reports, other information and answers to your questions about the Funds by contacting your financial adviser or by contacting Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407. Appendix A, the SAI and Financial Reports are also available without charge on the Touchstone Investments website at: www.TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources.
Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR database of the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov. For a fee, you may obtain text-only copies of these reports and other information, after paying a duplicating fee, by sending an e-mail request to: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Investment Company Act File No. 811-03651
TSF-54BB-TST-2310
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