THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
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Pre-Effective Amendment No. |
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Post-Effective Amendment No. |
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
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Amendment No. |
Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans. |
Check box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan. |
Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto. |
Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act. |
Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act. |
when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c), or as follows: |
when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c), or as follows: |
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486. |
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486. |
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486. |
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486. |
This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement]. |
This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: . |
This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: . |
This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: . |
Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”)). |
Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act). |
Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act). |
A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form). |
Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act). |
Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). |
☐ | If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. |
New Registrant (registered or regulated under the 1940 Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing). |
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Sales Load(2) |
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Proceeds to the Fund |
Current NAV |
Current NAV |
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Amount invested at NAV |
(1) |
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (“MSIM”) and an indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, acts as principal underwriter for the Fund’s Shares and serves in that capacity on a reasonable best efforts basis, subject to various conditions. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific amount or number of shares. Class S Shares, Class D Shares and Class I Shares are continuously offered at a price per Share equal to the NAV per share for such class. The NAV of each class within the Fund varies, primarily because each class has different class-specific expenses such as distribution and servicing fees. Generally, the stated minimum investment by an investor in the Fund is $25,000 with respect to Class S Shares, Class D Shares and Class I Shares. The stated minimum additional investment in the Fund is $10,000. The Fund may, in its sole discretion, accept investments below these minimums for certain investors as described under “Purchasing Shares.” Investors subscribing through a given broker/dealer or registered investment adviser may have shares aggregated to meet these minimums, so long as initial investments are not less than $25,000 and incremental contributions are not less than $10,000. Financial intermediaries may impose higher minimums. |
(2) | No upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S Shares, Class D Shares or Class I Shares; however, if you buy Class S Shares or Class D Shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that financial intermediaries limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class D Shares and Class S Shares. Financial intermediaries will not charge such fees on Class I Shares. Your financial intermediary may impose additional charges when you purchase Shares of the Fund. Please consult your financial intermediary for additional information. |
• | The Fund has limited operating history. |
• | Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, and it is not anticipated that a secondary market for Shares will develop. Shares are subject to limitations on transferability, and liquidity will be provided only through limited repurchase offers. Although the Fund may offer to repurchase Shares from time to time, Shares will not be redeemable at an investor’s option nor will they be exchangeable for shares of any other fund. As a result, an investor may not be able to sell or otherwise liquidate his or her Shares. The Adviser currently intends to recommend that, in normal market circumstances, the Fund conducts repurchase offers of no more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets each quarter. |
• | An investment in the Fund may not be suitable for investors who may need the money they invested in a specified timeframe. |
• | Shares are subject to substantial restrictions on transferability and resale and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under the Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”). |
• | The amount of distributions that the Fund may pay, if any, is uncertain. |
• | The Fund may pay distributions in significant part from sources that may not be available in the future and that are unrelated to the Fund’s performance, such as the sale of assets, borrowings, return of capital, offering proceeds or from temporary waivers or expense reimbursements borne by the Adviser or its affiliates that may be subject to reimbursement to the Adviser or its affiliates. |
• |
Portfolio Fund interests are expected to be illiquid, their marketability may be restricted and the realization of investments from them may take considerable time and/or be costly. |
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Some of the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests may have only limited operating histories. |
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A Shareholder in the Fund will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the Portfolio Funds, in addition to its proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund. |
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Less information may be available with respect to the Portfolio Funds and underlying private company investments. |
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The valuations of Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests may be based on imperfect information and is subject to inherent uncertainties. |
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Due to investments in Portfolio Funds, the Fund may enter into unfunded commitments representing a significant portion of its assets. |
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The Fund |
The Fund is a recently organized Delaware statutory trust that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with limited operating history. The Fund sells its common shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) only to eligible investors that are “qualified clients” as defined in Rule 205-3 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). |
The Fund has received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that permits the Fund to offer multiple classes of shares. The Fund offers three separate classes of Shares designated as Class S, Class D and Class I Shares. Each class of Shares is subject to different fees and expenses. The Fund may offer additional classes of Shares in the future. |
The business operations of the Fund are managed and supervised under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Fund’s Declaration of Trust. The Board is comprised of three trustees, a majority of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund (“Independent Trustees”). The Board has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund. |
The Investment Adviser |
Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP, an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser” and together with its affiliates, “Morgan Stanley”). The Adviser is part of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions (“Private Equity Solutions”), which is part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (“MSIM”) within MSIM’s Private Credit and Equity (“PC&E”) division. The Adviser is an affiliate of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley is a premier global financial services firm with leading positions in corporate finance, investment management, brokerage, securities research and capital markets. Morgan Stanley has one of the largest global asset management organizations of any full-service securities firm, with total assets under management and supervision as of March 31, 2025 of U.S. $1.6 trillion for a large and diversified group of corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. |
Investment Objective and Strategy |
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide long-term capital appreciation through a highly curated portfolio of primarily private assets actively managed by third-party managers (“Financial Sponsors”). |
The Fund’s exposure to private assets is focused primarily on private equity and, to a lesser extent, private credit and other private strategies. The Adviser intends to utilize a variety of investment techniques to obtain exposure to private assets, including (i) investments in private funds (“Partnership Interests”) managed by Financial Sponsors via secondary purchases executed by the Adviser (“Secondary Partnership Interests”) or, to a lesser extent, on a primary basis through commitments to recently established private funds (“Primary Partnership Interests”) and (ii) investments in private operating companies or private assets, typically alongside lead Financial Sponsors (“Asset-Specific Transactions”), often (but not exclusively) via co-investment situations (“Co-Investments”) or GP-led secondary or continuation fund opportunities (“GP-Led Secondaries”). |
To manage portfolio liquidity, the Fund may also have exposure to privately placed debt securities and other yield-oriented investments, including without limitation 144A securities, syndicated and other floating rate senior secured loans issued in private placements by U.S. and foreign corporations, partnerships and other business entities, privately placed bank loans, restricted securities, and other securities and instruments issued in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (“Private Credit Investments”). The Fund may invest in Private Credit Investments indirectly through investment vehicles, including but not limited to affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs. |
To manage the liquidity of its investment portfolio, the Fund also invests a portion of its assets in a portfolio of short-term debt securities, affiliated and unaffiliated money market securities, cash and/or cash equivalents (“Liquid Assets”). The Fund may invest in one or more money market funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates (affiliated money market funds). The Adviser has agreed to waive the Advisory Fee (as defined below) on net assets of the Fund that are invested in unaffiliated money market funds and to waive and/or reimburse expenses in an amount sufficient to offset the respective net advisory fees the Adviser collects from affiliated money market funds on the Fund’s investment in such money market funds. To enhance the Fund’s liquidity, particularly in times of possible net outflows through the repurchase of Shares by periodic tender offers to Shareholders, the Fund may sell certain of its assets. During normal market conditions, it is generally not expected that the Fund will hold more than 20% of its net assets in Liquid Assets for extended periods of time. For temporary defensive purposes, liquidity management or in connection with implementing changes in the asset allocation, the Fund may hold a substantially higher amount of Liquid Assets and other liquid investments. However, as the private assets in which the Fund invests are generally illiquid, the Fund may not be able to take a defensive position. |
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in private assets. For purposes of this policy, private assets include Partnership Interests, Asset-Specific Transactions and Private Credit Investments. The Fund intends to count the value of any money market funds, cash, other cash equivalents or U.S. Treasury securities with remaining maturities of one year or less that cover unfunded commitments to invest equity in Portfolio Funds or special purpose vehicles controlled by unaffiliated general partners that will acquire a private asset, in each case that the Fund reasonably expects to be called in the future as qualifying private assets for purposes of its 80% policy. |
The Fund makes investments directly or indirectly through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”). The Fund may form a Subsidiary in order to pursue its investment objective and strategies in a potentially tax-efficient manner, to maintain compliance with the requirements to qualify as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) or for the purpose of facilitating its use of permitted borrowings. Except as otherwise provided, references to the Fund’s investments, risks or borrowings also will refer to any Subsidiary’s investments, risks or borrowings. |
There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved or that the Fund’s investment program will be successful. |
See “INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGY” for additional details. |
Leverage |
The Fund may use leverage to seek to achieve its investment objective or for liquidity (i.e., to finance the repurchase of Shares and/or bridge the financing of Fund investments pending the acceptance of funds from investor subscriptions). The Fund is permitted to borrow money or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Fund intends to establish a credit line to borrow money for a range of purposes, including to provide liquidity for capital calls by Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments, to satisfy tender requests, to manage timing issues in connection with the inflows of additional capital and to otherwise satisfy Fund obligations, or for investment purposes. There is no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to timely repay any borrowings under such credit line, which may result in the Fund incurring leverage on its portfolio investments from time to time. The Fund’s use of leverage may increase or decrease from time to time in its discretion and the Fund may, in the future, determine not to use leverage. See “Risks—The Fund may be subject to leverage risk.” |
Principal Risk Factors |
Investment in the Fund is suitable only for those persons who, either alone or together with their duly designated representative, have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that they are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of their proposed investment, who can afford to bear the economic risk of their |
investment, who are able to withstand a total loss of their investment and who have no need for liquidity in their investment and no need to dispose of their Shares to satisfy current financial needs and contingencies or existing or contemplated undertakings or indebtedness. Investors should consult with their own financial, legal, investment and tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. |
The following are certain principal risk factors that relate to the operations and terms of the Fund. These considerations, which do not purport to be a complete description of any of the particular risks referred to or a complete list of all risks involved in an investment in the Fund, should be carefully evaluated before determining whether to invest in the Fund. The Fund’s investment program is speculative and entails substantial risks. The following risks may be directly applicable to the Fund or may be indirectly applicable through the Fund’s investments in Portfolio Funds or Subsidiaries. In considering participation in the Fund, prospective investors should be aware of certain principal risk factors, including the following: |
Risks of Investing in Private Assets |
Risks of Private Assets Co-Investments and GP-Led Secondaries. The investments in private asset funds managed by various unaffiliated asset managers (“Portfolio Funds”) and special purpose vehicles that the Fund invests in hold securities issued primarily by private companies. Operating results for private companies in a specified period may be difficult to determine. Such investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. |
Less information may be available with respect to private company investments and such investments offer limited liquidity |
investments in private companies generally are in restricted securities that are not traded in public markets and subject to substantial holding periods. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to realize the value of such investments in a timely manner. |
Private assets are subject to general market risks |
Access to private asset opportunities is limited. |
In addition, certain provisions of the 1940 Act prohibit a fund registered under the 1940 Act from engaging in transactions with its adviser and its affiliates; however, unregistered funds also managed by the adviser are not prohibited from the same transactions. The 1940 Act also imposes significant limits on a fund’s ability to enter into certain negotiated co-investments with affiliates of the fund unless such investments are not prohibited by Section 17(d) of the 1940 Act or interpretations of Section 17(d) as expressed in SEC no-action letters or other available guidance or the fund receives an order from the SEC permitting the fund to engage in such co-investments. The SEC granted the Adviser an exemptive order that will allow the Fund to engage in investments alongside affiliates in private placement securities that involve the negotiation of certain terms of the private placement securities to be purchased (in addition to price-related terms) subject to certain conditions that may limit or restrict the Fund’s ability to participate in such negotiated investments or participate in such negotiated investments to a lesser extent (the “Co-Investment Order”). An inability to receive the desired allocation to potential investments may affect Fund’s ability to achieve the desired investment returns. |
Under the terms of the Co-Investment Order, a “required majority” (as defined in the Co-Investment Order) of the Fund’s independent trustees must be able to reach certain conclusions in connection with investments alongside affiliates in private placement securities that involve the negotiation of certain terms of the private placement securities to be purchased (in addition to price-related terms), including that (1) the terms of the proposed transaction are reasonable and fair to the Fund and its shareholders and do not involve overreaching of the Fund or its shareholders on the part of any person concerned and (2) the transaction is consistent with the interests of the shareholders |
and the Fund’s then-current objectives and strategies. The Co-Investment Order is subject to certain terms and conditions so there can be no assurance that the Fund will be permitted to invest in aggregated transactions alongside certain of the Fund’s affiliates other than in the circumstances currently permitted by regulatory guidance and the Co-Investment Order. The Adviser’s investment allocation policies and procedures can be revised by the Adviser at any time without notice to, or consent from, the shareholders. |
The Fund is subject to the risks of its Portfolio Funds. |
Portfolio Fund interests are ordinarily valued based upon valuations provided by the manager or general partner of a Portfolio Fund (a “Portfolio Fund Manager”), which may be received on a delayed basis. Certain securities in which the Portfolio Funds invest may not have a readily ascertainable market price and are fair valued by the Portfolio Fund Managers. The Adviser reviews and performs due diligence on the valuation procedures used by each Portfolio Fund Manager and monitors performance information provided by the Portfolio Funds. However, neither the Adviser nor the Board is able to confirm the accuracy of valuations provided by Portfolio Fund Managers. |
The Fund pays asset-based fees, and, in most cases, is subject to performance-based fees in respect of its interests in Portfolio Funds. Such fees and performance-based compensation are in addition to the Advisory Fee and Incentive Fee. In addition, performance-based fees charged by Portfolio Fund Managers may create incentives for the Portfolio Fund Managers to make risky investments, and may be payable by the Fund to a Portfolio Fund Manager based on a Portfolio Fund’s positive returns even if the Fund’s overall returns are negative. Moreover, a Shareholder in the Fund will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the Portfolio Funds, in addition to its proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund. |
The Fund is subject to risks associated with Portfolio Funds with less established sponsors. |
The Fund is subject to the risks associated with its Portfolio Funds ’ underlying investments. |
The Fund may have limited Secondary opportunities partner-led (“GP”) transactions (such as continuation funds, tender offers, strip sales, and spin-outs). Moreover, there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to purchase interests at attractive discounts to net asset value, or at all. The overall performance of the Fund will depend in large part on the acquisition price paid by the Fund for its Secondary Partnership Interests, the structure of such acquisitions and the overall success of the Portfolio Fund. |
There is significant competition for Secondary Partnership Interests. No assurance can be given that the Fund will be able to identify Secondary Partnership Interests that satisfy the Fund’s investment objective or, if the Fund is successful in identifying such Secondary Partnership Interests, that the Fund will be permitted to invest, or invest in the amounts desired, in such Secondary Partnership Interests. |
The valuations of Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests may be based on imperfect information and is subject to inherent uncertainties. There is no established market for secondary private asset partnership interests or for the privately-held portfolio companies of private asset sponsors, and there are not likely to be any comparable companies for which public market valuations exist. In addition, under limited circumstances, the Adviser may not have access to all material information relevant to a valuation analysis. For example, sponsors are not generally obligated to update any valuations in connection with a transfer of interests on a secondary basis, and such valuations may not be indicative of current or ultimate realizable values. As a result, the valuation of Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests may be based on imperfect information and is subject to inherent uncertainties. The Fund’s carrying value of a Primary Partnership Interest or Secondary Partnership Interest in a |
Portfolio Fund or Co-Investment therefore may not accurately reflect the amount the Fund could realize upon disposition of the asset and, in the case of a Secondary Partnership Interest, is not expected to reflect the Fund’s cost to purchase the asset if it is acquired at a discount to the net asset value reported by the Portfolio Fund or its Portfolio Fund Manager. |
Regulatory changes may adversely affect private asset funds |
The regulatory environment for private investment funds is evolving, and changes in the regulation of private investment funds may adversely affect the value of investments held by the Fund and the ability of the Fund to effectively employ its investment and trading strategies. Increased scrutiny and newly proposed legislation applicable to private investment funds and their sponsors may also impose significant administrative burdens on the Adviser and may divert time and attention from portfolio management activities. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Fund (due to its investments in Portfolio Funds) could be substantial and adverse. In addition, the securities and futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations and margin requirements. The regulation of derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. |
Recent and future U.S. presidential and congressional elections, as well as recent elections, create uncertainty with respect to legal, tax and regulatory regimes in which the Fund and its investments, as well as the Adviser and their affiliates, will operate, and the current regulatory environment in the United States may be impacted by future legislative developments that may adversely affect the private assets industry, including regulatory measures for the U.S. financial services industry, increases in tax rates and/or other changes to tax policies. Any significant changes in, among other things, economic policy (including with respect to interest rates or foreign trade), the regulation of the asset management industry, tax law, immigration policy and/or government entitlement programs could have a material adverse impact on the Fund and its investments, and the uncertainty of future legislation could adversely impact the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objectives. |
The Portfolio Funds are subject to risks regarding regulatory approvals. |
In-kind distributions from Portfolio Funds may not be liquidin-kind distributions of securities from Portfolio Funds. There can be no assurance that securities distributed in kind by Portfolio Funds to the Fund will be readily marketable or saleable. The Fund may be required to, or the Adviser, in its sole investment discretion, may determine to hold such securities for an indefinite period. Timing of sales is subject to position size considerations, market liquidity, and other factors considered in the sole investment discretion of the Adviser. The Fund may incur additional expense in connection with any disposition of such securities. |
There are additional risks associated with Co-Investments Co-Investment opportunities, or that any specific Co-Investment offered to the Fund would be appropriate or attractive to the Fund in the Adviser’s judgment. Many entities compete with the Fund in pursuing Co-Investments. Furthermore, many competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on the Fund. As a result of this competition and regulatory restrictions, the Fund may not be able to pursue attractive Co-Investment opportunities from time to time. In addition, the Fund’s ability to dispose of Co-Investments may be more limited than the Fund’s ability to dispose of Secondary Partnership Interests or Primary Partnership Interests. |
The Fund ’ s investments in private assets may be subject to risks associated with a lead investor. |
The Fund will be subject to additional risks associated with different investments, including its investments in Liquid Assets. For information about those risks, see “Other Investment Risks” and “Other Risks” under the “Risks” section starting on page 44 of the Prospectus. |
Risks of Investing in Private Credit Investments. |
Private Credit Investments are subject to credit risk. |
General Risks of Investing in the Fund |
The Fund and the Portfolio Funds are subject to general investment risks |
Accordingly, an investment in the Fund should only be considered by persons for whom a speculative, illiquid, and long-term investment is an appropriate component of a larger investment program and who can afford a loss of their entire investment. Past performance of investment entities associated with the Adviser provides no assurance of future success. |
The Fund and the Portfolio Funds are subject to risks associated with the use of financial projections. |
The Fund will rely on third-party sponsors. |
The Fund and the Portfolio Funds are subject to risks associated with market and economic downturns and movements non-U.S. jurisdictions in which its investments operate, including factors affecting interest rates, the availability of credit, credit defaults, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, changes in applicable laws and regulations (including laws relating to taxation of the Fund’s investments), trade barriers, currency exchange controls, continued technology disruption, tax reform or other significant policy changes as well as national and international political, environmental, and socioeconomic circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts, security operations or public health considerations) in respect of the countries in which the Fund may invest. These factors may affect the level and volatility of securities prices and the liquidity of the Portfolio Funds, which could impair the Fund’s profitability or result in losses. In addition, general fluctuations in the market prices of securities and interest rates may affect the Fund’s investment opportunities and the value of the Fund’s investments and reduce the ability of the Fund to make new investments. |
The Fund is subject to inflation risk. |
The Fund has limited operating history non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with limited operating history. While members of the Adviser who will be active in managing the Fund’s investments have substantial experience in private assets, the Fund has limited historical financial statements and other meaningful operating or financial data on which potential investors may evaluate the Fund and its performance. |
The Fund is subject to conflicts of interest non-public information which would negatively affect the Adviser’s ability to transact in securities for the Fund. See “Potential Conflicts of Interest” below. |
The Board may change the Fund ’ s investment objective and certain strategies without Shareholder approval |
The Fund is actively managed and subject to management risk Co-Investments and other portfolio investments representing various strategies, geographic regions, asset classes and sectors may vary significantly over time based on the Adviser’s analysis and judgment. It is possible that the Fund will focus on an investment that performs poorly or underperforms other investments under various market conditions. |
The Fund ’ s performance depends on the Adviser and key personnel |
The Adviser ’ s due diligence process may entail evaluation of important and complex issues and may require outside consultants. Co-Investment opportunity in which the Adviser is considering an investment. There can be no assurance that the due diligence investigations undertaken by the Adviser will reveal or highlight all relevant facts (including fraud) that may be necessary or helpful in evaluating a particular investment opportunity, or that the Adviser’s due diligence will result in an investment being successful. In the event of fraud by any Portfolio Fund or Co-Investment vehicle or any of its general partners, managers or affiliates, the Fund may suffer a partial or total loss of capital invested in that investment. There can be no assurance that any such losses will be offset by gains (if any) realized on the Fund’s other investments. An additional concern is the possibility of material misrepresentation or omission on the part of the investment or the seller. Such inaccuracy or incompleteness may adversely affect the value of that investment. The Fund will rely upon the accuracy and completeness of representations made by Portfolio Funds or Co-Investment vehicles and/or their current or former owners in the due diligence process to the extent the Fund deems reasonable when it makes its investments, but cannot guarantee such accuracy or completeness. |
Investments in the Fund are primarily illiquid. closed-end fund, should be considered illiquid. The Shares are appropriate only for investors who are comfortable with investment in less liquid or illiquid portfolio investments within an illiquid fund. Unlike open-end funds (commonly known as mutual funds), which generally permit redemptions on a daily basis, the Shares will not be redeemable at a Shareholder’s option. Unlike stocks of listed closed-end funds, the Shares are not listed, and are not expected to be listed, for trading on any securities exchange, and the Fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for the Shares in the foreseeable future. |
There can be no assurance that the Fund will conduct repurchase offers in a particular period. |
It is possible that the Fund may be unable to repurchase all of the Shares that a Shareholder tenders due to the illiquidity of the Fund’s investments or if the Shareholders request the Fund to repurchase more Shares than the Fund is then offering to repurchase. In addition, substantial requests for the Fund to repurchase Shares could require the Fund to liquidate certain of its investments more rapidly than otherwise desirable in order to raise cash to fund the repurchases and achieve a market position appropriately reflecting a smaller asset base. This could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares. |
There will be a substantial period of time between the date as of which Shareholders must submit a request to have their Shares repurchased and the date they can expect to receive payment for their Shares from the Fund. Shareholders whose Shares are accepted for repurchase bear the risk that the Fund’s net asset value may fluctuate significantly between the time that they submit their repurchase requests and the date as of which such Shares are valued for purposes of such repurchase. Shareholders will have to decide whether to request that the Fund repurchase their Shares without the benefit of having current information regarding the value of Shares on a date proximate to the date on which Shares are valued by the Fund for purposes of effecting such repurchases. See “Repurchase of Shares.” |
The Fund may repurchase Shares through distributions in-kind. |
In the event that the Fund makes such a distribution of securities, there can be no assurance that any Shareholder would be able to readily dispose of such securities or dispose of them at the value determined by the Adviser. |
The Fund will have access to confidential information. |
Shares are not freely transferable. |
The Fund is classified as non-diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act.“non-diversified” investment company for purposes of the 1940 Act, which means it is not subject to percentage limitations under the 1940 Act on assets that may be invested in the securities of any one issuer. Having a larger percentage of assets in a smaller number of issuers makes a non-diversified fund, like the Fund, more susceptible to the risk that one single event or occurrence can have a significant adverse impact upon the Fund. However, the Fund is subject to the diversification requirements applicable to regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). |
The Fund ’ s investments may be difficult to value. |
A substantial portion of the Fund’s assets consists of Portfolio Funds and Co-Investments for which there are no readily available market quotations. The information available in the marketplace for such companies, their securities and the status of their |
businesses and financial conditions is often extremely limited, outdated and difficult to confirm. Such securities are valued by the Adviser, as valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, at fair value based on input from the sponsor or general partner of such investment as determined pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board. |
The value at which the Fund’s investments were purchased or can be liquidated may differ, sometimes significantly, from the valuations assigned by the Fund. In addition, the timing of liquidations may also affect the values obtained on liquidation. The Fund will invest a significant amount of its assets in private assets for which no public market exists. There can be no guarantee that the Fund’s investments could ultimately be realized at the Fund’s valuation of such investments. |
The Fund’s net asset value is a critical component in several operational matters including computation of the Advisory Fee, the Incentive Fee and the Distribution and Servicing Fee, and determination of the price at which the Shares will be offered and at which a repurchase offer will be made. Consequently, variance in the valuation of the Fund’s investments will impact, positively or negatively, the fees and expenses Shareholders will pay, the price a Shareholder will receive in connection with a repurchase offer and the number of Shares an investor will receive upon investing in the Fund. |
The Fund cannot guarantee the amount or frequency of distributions. year-to-year |
Additional subscriptions will dilute the voting interest of existing Shareholders. |
The Fund and certain service providers may have access to Shareholders ’ personal information. |
with the Fund and/or the Adviser. Such information may be stored, modified, processed or used in any other way, subject to applicable laws, by the Adviser and by the Fund’s other service providers and their agents, delegates, sub-delegates and certain third parties in any country in which such person conducts business. Subject to applicable law, Shareholders may have rights in respect of their personal data, including a right to access and rectification of their personal data and may in some circumstances have a right to object to the processing of their personal data. |
The Adviser and its affiliates manage funds and accounts with similar strategies and objectives to the Fund. |
Distributor |
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., an affiliate of the Fund and the Adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSIM and an indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, acts as distributor for the Shares (the “Distributor”) pursuant to a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) and serves in that capacity on a best efforts basis, subject to certain conditions. |
The Distributor may retain additional selling agents or other financial intermediaries to place Shares in the Fund. Such selling agents or other financial intermediaries may impose terms and conditions on Shareholder accounts and investments in the Fund that are in addition to the terms and conditions set forth in this Prospectus. No upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S Shares, Class D Shares or Class I Shares, however, if a Shareholder buys Class S Shares or Class D Shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge Shareholders transaction or other fees in such amount as they may determine. Financial intermediaries will not charge such fees on Class I Shares. Investors should consult their financial intermediaries for additional information. |
Share Classes; Minimum Investments |
The Fund has received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Fund to offer multiple classes of shares. The Fund offers three separate classes of Shares designated as Class S, Class D and Class I Shares. Each class of Shares has differing characteristics, particularly in terms of the sales charges that Shareholders in that class may bear, and the Distribution and Servicing Fee (as defined herein) that each class may be charged. The Fund may offer additional classes of Shares in the future. |
The minimum initial investment in the Fund by any investor is $25,000 with respect to Class S Shares, Class D Shares and Class I Shares. The minimum additional investment in the Fund by any investor is $10,000, except for additional purchases pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan. Financial intermediaries may impose higher minimums. |
The minimum initial and additional investment amounts may be waived for investments by current or retired officers and Trustees of the Fund and other funds managed by the Adviser, as well as their family members; current or retired officers, directors, and employees of the Adviser and certain participating affiliated companies of the Adviser; the immediate family members of any such officer, director, or employee (including parents, spouses, children, fathers/mothers-in-law, daughters/sons-in-law, |
Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, and it is not anticipated that a secondary market for Shares will develop. Shares are subject to limitations on transferability, and liquidity will be provided only through limited repurchase offers. |
Eligible Investors |
Although the Shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), each prospective investor in the Fund will be required to certify that it is a “qualified client” within the meaning of Rule 205-3 under the Advisers Act. |
In general, Shares are being offered to investors that are U.S. persons for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Fund may also offer Shares to persons that are not U.S. persons for U.S. federal income tax purposes subject to appropriate diligence by the Adviser and in compliance with applicable law. The qualifications required to invest in the Fund are in subscription documents that must be completed by each prospective investor. |
Each prospective investor in the Fund should obtain the advice of his, her or its own legal, accounting, tax and other advisers in reviewing documents pertaining to an investment in the Fund, including, but not limited to, this Prospectus, the SAI and the Declaration of Trust before deciding to invest in the Fund. |
Initial Capitalization & Tender Offer |
Prior to the public offering of the Shares, Morgan Stanley AIP Funding Inc. (“AIP Funding”), an affiliate of the Adviser, purchased $150 million of Shares (the “Initial Capitalization”). Following the Initial Capitalization, AIP Funding owned 100% of the outstanding Class I Shares. The Fund has invested and will continue to invest the proceeds from the Initial Capitalization in a portfolio of private assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and guidelines as described in this prospectus. |
Prior to the date investors’ funds were released from escrow in connection with the initial closing and issuance of Shares to investors in this offering (the “Initial Closing”), the Board authorized the commencement of a cash tender offer for up to 100% of the Fund’s outstanding Shares at a price per share equal to or below the net asset value per Share as of the termination date of the tender offer (the “Initial Tender Offer”), at the discretion of the Board. |
The Fund used proceeds from the Initial Closing to purchase Shares tendered in the Initial Tender Offer promptly after the Initial Tender Offer terminated. As of the date of this Prospectus, AIP Funding tendered the majority of its Shares in the Initial Tender Offer. Because Shares were tendered at a price below NAV in the Initial Tender Offer, the Fund realized a corresponding appreciation in its NAV per Share that accrued to the benefit of Shareholders who participated in the Initial Closing. |
Purchasing Shares |
Shares are generally offered for purchase as of the first business day of each calendar month at the NAV per Share on that date. Fractions of Shares are issued to one one-hundredth of a Share. |
Although no upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S Shares, Class D Shares or Class I Shares, if you buy Class S Shares or Class D Shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that financial intermediaries limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class D Shares and Class S Shares. |
Subscriptions are generally subject to the receipt of cleared funds on or prior to the acceptance date set by the Fund and notified to prospective investors. An investor who misses the acceptance date will have the effectiveness of his, her or its investment in the Fund delayed until the following month. Investors whose subscriptions are delayed until the following month may revoke the delayed subscription prior to the next month’s acceptance date. |
Pending any closing, funds received from prospective investors will be placed in an account with State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). On the date of any closing, the balance in the account with respect to each investor whose investment is accepted will be invested in the Fund on behalf of such investor. Any interest earned with respect to such account will be paid to the Fund and allocated pro rata among investors. Prospective investors whose subscriptions to purchase Shares are accepted by the Fund will become shareholders by being admitted as Shareholders. |
A prospective investor must submit a completed subscription document on or prior to the acceptance date set by the Fund and notified to prospective investors. An existing Shareholder generally may subscribe for additional Shares by completing an additional subscription agreement by the acceptance date and funding such amount by the deadline. The Fund reserves the right to accept or reject, in its sole discretion, any request to purchase Shares at any time. The Fund also reserves the right to suspend or terminate offerings of Shares at any time. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any amount received in advance of a purchase ultimately rejected by the Fund will be returned promptly to the prospective investor without the deduction of any fees or expenses. Prospective investors whose purchases are rejected by the Fund will receive a pro rata share of any interest earned on the amounts placed in escrow prior to acceptance, if applicable. |
Prospective investors who purchase Shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those financial intermediaries through which they purchase Shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein. Prospective investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read this Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary. |
Distributions |
The Fund intends to make distributions in one or more payments on an annual basis in aggregate amounts representing substantially all of the Fund’s “investment company taxable income” (including realized short-term capital gains), if any, earned during the year. Distributions may also include net capital gains, if any. |
Because the Fund intends to qualify annually as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Subchapter M of the Code (a “RIC”), the Fund intends to distribute at least 90% of its annual net taxable income to its Shareholders. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay distributions to Shareholders at any particular rate. Each year, a statement on U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 1099-DIV identifying the amount and character (e.g., as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or long-term capital gain) of the Fund’s distributions will be reported to Shareholders by their financial intermediary. See “Taxes; RIC Status” below and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” |
The Fund cannot guarantee that it will make distributions. The Fund may finance its cash distributions to Shareholders from any sources of funds available to the Fund, including offering proceeds, borrowings, net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets (including fund investments), non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets (including fund investments), dividends or other distributions paid to the Fund on account of preferred and common equity investments by the Fund in Portfolio Funds and/or Co-Investments and expense reimbursements from the Adviser. The Fund has not established limits on the amount of funds the Fund may use from available sources to make distributions. The repayment of any amounts owed to the Adviser or its affiliates will reduce future distributions to which you would otherwise be entitled. |
Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
The Fund operates under a dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”) administered by the Transfer Agent. Pursuant to the DRIP, the Fund’s income, dividends, capital gains or other distributions, net of any applicable U.S. federal withholding tax, are reinvested in the same class of Shares of the Fund. |
Shareholders automatically participate in the DRIP, unless and until an election is made to withdraw from the DRIP on behalf of such participating Shareholder. A Shareholder who does not wish to have distributions automatically reinvested may terminate participation in the DRIP at any time by written instructions to that effect to the Transfer Agent. Shareholders who elect not to participate in the DRIP will receive all distributions in cash paid to the Shareholder of record (or, if the Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee). Such written instructions must be received by the Transfer Agent 30 days prior to the record date of the distribution or the Shareholder will receive such distribution in Shares through the DRIP. Under the DRIP, the Fund’s distributions to Shareholders are reinvested in full and fractional Shares. |
No Redemption; Restrictions on Transfer |
No Shareholder has the right to require the Fund to redeem Shares. With very limited exceptions, Shares are not transferable, and liquidity for investments in Shares may be provided only through periodic offers by the Fund to repurchase Shares from Shareholders. See “Repurchase of Shares.” |
Repurchase of Shares |
To provide a limited degree of liquidity to Shareholders, at the sole discretion of the Board, the Fund may from time to time offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by Shareholders. |
The Adviser anticipates recommending to the Board that, under normal market circumstances, the Fund conducts repurchase offers of no more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets on a quarterly basis. The Adviser currently expects to recommend to the Board that the Fund conducts its first repurchase offer following the second full quarter of Fund operations after the Initial Closing (or such earlier or later date as the Board may determine). |
Any repurchases of Shares will be made at such times and on such terms as may be determined by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion. In determining whether the Fund should offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders of the Fund pursuant to repurchase requests, the Board may consider, among other things, the recommendation of the Adviser as well as a variety of other operational, business and economic factors. The Fund may repurchase less than the full amount that Shareholders request to be repurchased. |
Under certain circumstances, the Fund may offer to repurchase Shares at a discount to their prevailing net asset value. The Board may under certain circumstances elect to postpone, suspend or terminate an offer to repurchase Shares. |
A Shareholder who tenders some but not all of its Shares for repurchase will be required to maintain a minimum account balance of $10,000. Such minimum ownership requirement may be waived by the Board, in its sole discretion. If such requirement is not waived by the Board, the Fund may redeem all of the Shareholder’s Shares. To the extent a Shareholder seeks to tender all of the Shares they own and the Fund repurchases less than the full amount of Shares that the Shareholder requests to have repurchased, the Shareholder may maintain a balance of Shares of less than $10,000 following such Share repurchase. |
A 2.00% early repurchase fee (the “Early Repurchase Fee”) may be charged by the Fund with respect to any repurchase of Shares from a Shareholder at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares. Shares tendered for repurchase will be treated as having been repurchased on a “first in-first out” basis. An Early Repurchase Fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund. See “Repurchase of Shares.” |
Fees and Expenses |
On an ongoing basis, the Fund bears its own operating expenses (including, without limitation, its ongoing offering expenses). A more detailed discussion of the Fund’s expenses can be found below under “Advisory Fee,” “Incentive Fee,” “Administrator” and “Distribution and Servicing Fee for Class S and Class D Shares.” |
The Fund bears its organizational and initial offering costs in connection with this offering. The Fund’s initial offering costs, whether borne by the Adviser or the Fund, are being capitalized and amortized over a 12-month period. The Fund’s organizational costs are expensed as incurred. |
Advisory Fee |
In consideration of the advisory services provided by the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser a quarterly advisory fee at an annual rate of 1.25% based on the value of the Fund’s net assets less cash and Cash Equivalents calculated and accrued monthly as of the last business day of each month (the “Advisory Fee”). For purposes of calculating the Advisory Fee, “Cash Equivalents” means any short-term investment securities with maturity periods of 90 days or less, including, for example, bank certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances, digitized fixed or tethered currency assets, Treasury bills, and commercial paper. For the avoidance of doubt, Cash Equivalents do not include investments in money market funds. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its Advisory Fee for twelve (12) months from the Initial Closing. |
For purposes of determining the Advisory Fee payable to the Adviser, the value of the Fund’s net assets less cash and Cash Equivalents will be calculated prior to the inclusion of the Advisory Fee and Incentive Fee, if any, payable to the Adviser or to any purchases or repurchases of Shares of the Fund or any distributions by the Fund. The Advisory Fee is payable in arrears within five (5) business days after the completion of the net asset value computation for the quarter. The Advisory Fee is paid to the Adviser out of the Fund’s assets, and therefore decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. |
The services of all investment professionals and staff of the Adviser, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory and management services, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, are provided and paid for by the Adviser. The Fund bears all other costs and expenses of its operations and transactions as set forth in its Investment Advisory and Management Agreement with the Adviser (the “Investment Advisory and Management Agreement”). |
In addition to the fees and expenses to be paid by the Fund under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, the Adviser and its affiliates are entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ cost of providing the Fund with certain non-advisory services. If persons associated with the Adviser or any of its affiliates, including persons who are officers of the Fund, provide accounting, legal, clerical, compliance or administrative and similar oversight services to the Fund at the request of the Fund, the Fund will reimburse the Adviser and its affiliates for their costs in providing such accounting, legal, clerical, compliance or administrative and similar oversight services to the Fund (which costs may include an allocation of overhead including rent and the allocable portion of the salaries and benefits of the relevant persons and their respective staffs, including travel expenses), using a methodology for determining costs approved by the Board. |
Incentive Fee |
At the end of each calendar quarter, the Adviser will be entitled to receive an Incentive Fee equal to 12.5% of the excess, if any, of (i) the Net Profits (as defined below) of the Fund for the relevant period over (ii) the then balance, if any, of the sum of the Hurdle Amount (as defined below) and the Loss Recovery Account (as defined below). The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its Incentive Fee for twelve (12) months from the Initial Closing. |
Specifically, the Adviser will be entitled to receive an Incentive Fee in an amount equal to: |
• |
First, if the Net Profits for the applicable period exceeds the sum of the Hurdle Amount for that period and the Loss Recovery Account (any such excess, “Excess Profits”), 100% of such Excess Profits until the total amount allocated to the Adviser equals 12.5% of the sum of (x) the Hurdle Amount for that period and (y) any amount allocated to the Adviser pursuant to this clause (any such amount, the “Catch-Up”); and |
• |
Second, to the extent there are remaining Excess Profits, 12.5% of such remaining Excess Profits. |
“Net Profits” shall mean the amount by which (i) the sum of (A) the net asset value of the Fund as of the end of such month, (B) the aggregate repurchase price of all shares repurchased by the Fund during such month and (C) the amount of dividends and other distributions paid in respect of the Fund during such month and not reinvested in additional shares through the DRIP exceeds (ii) the sum of (X) the net asset value of the Fund as of the beginning of such month and (Y) the aggregate issue price of shares of the Fund issued during such month (excluding any shares of such class issued in connection with the reinvestment through the DRIP of dividends paid, or other distributions made, by the Fund through the DRIP). |
“Hurdle Amount” means, for any month, that amount that results in a 5% annualized rate of return on the net asset value of the Fund as of the beginning of the month and the aggregate issue price of shares of the Fund issued during such month, taking into account: |
(i) the timing and amount of all distributions accrued or paid (without duplication) on all shares of the Fund minus Fund expenses (excluding Distribution and Servicing Fees); and |
(ii) all issuances of shares of the Fund over the period. |
The ending net asset value of shares of the Fund used in calculating total return will be calculated before giving effect to any allocation/accrual to the Incentive Fee and applicable expenses for the Distribution and Servicing Fees. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the Hurdle Amount for any period will exclude any shares of the Fund repurchased during such period. |
Except as described in Loss Recovery Account below, any amount by which Net Profits falls below the Hurdle Amount will not be carried forward to subsequent periods. |
“Loss Recovery Account” means a memorandum account maintained by the Fund, which will have an initial balance of zero and will be (i) increased upon the close of each calendar month of the Fund by the amount of the net losses of the Fund for the month, before giving effect to any repurchases or distributions for such month, and (ii) decreased (but not below zero) upon the close of each calendar month by the amount of the net profits of the Fund for the month. For purposes of the Loss Recovery Account, the term “net losses” shall mean the amount by which (i) the sum of (A) the net asset value of the Fund as of the beginning of such month and (B) the aggregate issue price of shares of the Fund issued during such month (excluding |
any Shares of such class issued in connection with the reinvestment of dividends paid, or other distributions made, by the Fund through the DRIP) exceeds (ii) the sum of (X) the net asset value of the Fund as of the end of such month, (Y) the aggregate repurchase price of all shares repurchased by the Fund during such month and (Z) the amount of dividends and other distributions paid in respect of the Fund during such month and not reinvested in additional shares through the DRIP. Shareholders will benefit from the Loss Recovery Account in proportion to their holdings of Shares. For purposes of the “net losses” calculation, the net asset value shall include unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and realized income and gains or losses and expenses (including offering and organizational expenses). Incentive Fees are accrued monthly and paid quarterly. For purposes of calculating Incentive Fees, such accruals are not deducted from net asset value. |
For the avoidance of doubt, any change in the net asset value of the Fund directly as a result of subscriptions or repurchases during each measurement period are not included for purposes of the “net profits” or “net losses” calculations. Shareholders of the Fund will benefit from the Loss Recovery Account in proportion to their holdings of Shares, although such benefit may vary depending on when a Shareholder purchases or redeems Shares and the balance in the Loss Recovery Account at such time. |
The Adviser does not return to the Fund amounts paid to it on net profits that the Fund has not yet received in cash if such amounts are not ultimately received by the Fund in cash. If the Fund does not ultimately receive amounts in cash, a loss would be recognized, which would increase the amount of the Loss Recovery Account and reduce future Incentive Fee payments. |
Any Incentive Fee payable by the Fund that relates to an increase in value of the Fund’s investments may be computed and paid on gain or income that is unrealized, and the Adviser is not obligated to reimburse the Fund for any part of an Incentive Fee it previously received. If a Fund investment with an unrealized gain subsequently decreases in value, it is possible that such unrealized gain previously included in the calculation of an Incentive Fee will never become realized. Thus, the Fund could have paid an Incentive Fee on income or gain the Fund never received. |
Distribution and Servicing Fee |
Class S and Class D Shares are subject to an ongoing distribution and shareholder servicing fee (the “Distribution and Servicing Fee”) to compensate financial industry professionals for distribution-related expenses, if applicable, and providing ongoing services in respect of Shareholders who own Class S or Class D Shares of the Fund. Although the Fund is not an open-end investment company, it will comply with the terms of Rule 12b-1 as a condition of the SEC exemptive relief, which permits the Fund to have, among other things, a multi-class structure and distribution and shareholder servicing fees. |
Accordingly, the Fund has adopted a distribution and servicing plan for its Class S Shares and Class D Shares (the “Distribution and Servicing Plan”) and pays the Distribution and Servicing Fee with respect to its Class S and Class D Shares. The Distribution and Servicing Plan operates in a manner consistent with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. |
Class S Shares and Class D Shares pay a Distribution and Servicing Fee to the Distributor at an annual rate of 0.75% and 0.25%, respectively, based on the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to such class. For purposes of determining the Distribution and Servicing Fee, net asset value will be calculated prior to any reduction for any fees and expenses, including, without limitation, the Distribution and Servicing Fee payable. |
Class I Shares are not subject to a Distribution and Servicing Fee. |
The Adviser, or its affiliates, may pay additional compensation out of its own resources (i.e., not Fund assets) to certain selling agents or financial intermediaries in connection with the sale of the Shares. The additional compensation may differ among brokers or dealers in amount or in the method of calculation. Payments of additional compensation may be fixed dollar amounts or, based on the aggregate value of outstanding Shares held by Shareholders introduced by the broker or dealer, or determined in some other manner. The receipt of the additional compensation by a selling broker or dealer may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and its broker or dealer who is recommending the Fund over other potential investments. |
Expense Limitation Agreement |
Pursuant to an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to waive fees that it would otherwise be paid, and/or to assume expenses of the Fund, if required to ensure certain annual operating expenses (excluding the Advisory Fee, Incentive Fee, any Distribution and Servicing Fee, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, borrowing costs, merger or reorganization expenses, shareholder meetings expenses, litigation expenses, expenses associated with the acquisition and disposition of investments (including interest and structuring costs for borrowings and line(s) of credit), valuation service providers and extraordinary expenses, if any; collectively, the “Excluded Expenses”) do not exceed 0.50% per annum (excluding Excluded Expenses) of the Fund’s net assets calculated as of the last day of each month for each class of Shares. With respect to each class of Shares, the Fund agrees to repay the Adviser any fees waived or expenses assumed under the Expense Limitation Agreement for such class of Shares, provided the repayments do not cause the Fund’s annual operating expenses (excluding Excluded Expenses) for that class of Shares to exceed the expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived and/or the expenses were reimbursed, or the expense limitation in place at |
the time the Fund repays the Adviser, whichever is lower. Any such repayments must be made within thirty-six months after the months in which the Adviser incurred the expense. The Expense Limitation Agreement will have a term ending July 31, 2026, and the Adviser may extend the term for a period of one year on an annual basis. Only the Board may terminate the Expense Limitation Agreement during its term. |
Administrator |
The Fund has retained State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Administrator”) to provide it with certain administrative services, including fund administration and fund accounting. The Fund compensates the Administrator for these services and reimburses the Administrator for certain out-of-pocket |
Transfer Restrictions |
A Shareholder may assign, transfer, sell, encumber, pledge or otherwise dispose of (each, a “transfer”) Shares only (i) by operation of law pursuant to the death, divorce, insolvency, bankruptcy, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder; or (ii) under other limited circumstances, with the consent of the Board (which may be withheld in its sole discretion and is expected to be granted, if at all, only under extenuating circumstances). |
Notice of a proposed transfer of Shares must be accompanied by properly completed transfer information documents in respect of the proposed transferee and must include evidence satisfactory to the Board that the proposed transferee, at the time of the transfer, meets any requirements imposed by the Fund with respect to investor eligibility and suitability. Each transferring Shareholder and transferee may be charged reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Fund in connection with the transfer. |
Unlisted Closed-End Structure; Limited Liquidity |
Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, and it is not anticipated that a secondary market for Shares will develop. In addition, Shares are subject to limitations on transferability and liquidity will be provided only through limited repurchase offers described below. An investment in the Fund is suitable only for Shareholders who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of the Shares and should be viewed as a long-term investment. See “General Risks of Investing in the Fund—Closed-End Fund Structure; Liquidity Limited to Periodic Repurchases of Shares.” |
Taxes; RIC Status |
The Fund intends to elect to be treated as a RIC beginning with its taxable year ending September 30, 2025, and expects to qualify as a RIC for each taxable year. As such, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax, provided that it distributes all of its net taxable income and gains each year. It is anticipated that the Fund will principally recognize capital gains and dividends and therefore dividends paid to Shareholders in respect of such income generally will be taxable to Shareholders at the reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax that are applicable to individuals for “qualified dividends” and long-term capital gains. |
In addition, because the Fund intends to qualify as a RIC, it is expected to have certain attributes that are not generally found in traditional unregistered private asset fund of funds. These include providing simpler tax reports to Shareholders on Form 1099-DIV and the avoidance of unrelated business taxable income for benefit plan investors and other investors that are exempt from payments of U.S. federal income tax. |
For a discussion of certain tax risks and considerations relating to an investment in the Fund, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” |
Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the specific U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences, including applicable tax reporting requirements. |
Tax Reports |
The Fund will furnish to its Shareholders (either directly or through a financial intermediary, as applicable), as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar year, IRS Form 1099-DIV detailing the amounts includible in such Shareholder’s taxable income for such year as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and long-term capital gains. Your financial intermediary will report this information to you. Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to the Fund’s Shareholders even if they are reinvested in additional Shares pursuant to the DRIP. |
Reports to Shareholders |
The Fund will provide Shareholders with an audited annual report and an unaudited semi-annual report within 60 days after the close of the reporting period for which the report is being made, or as otherwise required by 1940 Act. |
Fiscal and Tax Year |
The Fund’s fiscal year is the 12-month period ending on March 31. The Fund’s taxable year is the 12-month period ending on September 30. |
Term |
The Fund’s term is perpetual unless the Fund is otherwise terminated under the terms of the Declaration of Trust. |
Custodian and Transfer Agent |
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Fund’s custodian, and State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. |
ERISA |
Investors subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) or section 4975 of the Code, including employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts, may purchase Shares. Because the Fund is registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, the underlying assets of the Fund will not be considered to be “plan assets” subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction rules of Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. Thus, it is not intended that the Adviser will be a “fiduciary” (within the meaning of ERISA) with respect to the assets of any “benefit plan investor” (within the meaning of ERISA) that becomes a Shareholder, solely as a result of the Shareholder’s investment in the Fund. |
Shareholder Transaction Expenses (fees paid directly from yo ur investment) |
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% |
% |
(1) | No upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S Shares, Class D Shares or Class I Shares; however, if you buy Class S Shares or Class D Shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that selling agents limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class D Shares and Class S Shares. Financial intermediaries will not charge such fees on Class I Shares. Please consult your financial intermediary for additional information. |
(2) |
A 2.00% Early Repurchase Fee payable to the Fund may be charged with respect to the repurchase of Shares at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of a Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares (on a “first in—first out” basis). An Early Repurchase Fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund and in a manner that will not discriminate unfairly against any Shareholder. The Early Repurchase Fee will be retained by the Fund for the benefit of the remaining Shareholders. |
(3) |
(4) |
At the end of each calendar quarter of the Fund (and at certain other times), the Adviser (or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, an affiliate of the Adviser) will be entitled to receive an Incentive Fee equal to 12.5% of the excess, if any, of (i) the Net Profits of the Fund for the relevant period over (ii) the then balance, if any, of the sum of the Hurdle Amount and the Loss Recovery Account. “Net Profits” shall mean the amount by which (i) the sum of (A) the net asset value of the Fund as of the end of such month, (B) the aggregate repurchase price of all shares repurchased by the Fund during such month and (C) the amount of dividends and other distributions paid in respect of the Fund during such month and not reinvested in additional shares through the DRIP exceeds (ii) the sum of (X) the net asset value of the Fund as of the beginning of such month and (Y) the aggregate issue price of shares of the Fund issued during such month (excluding any Shares of such Class issued in connection with the reinvestment through the DRIP of dividends paid, or other distributions made, by the Fund through the DRIP). Incentive Fees are accrued monthly and paid quarterly. For purposes of calculating Incentive Fees, such accruals are not deducted from net asset value. Because the “Incentive Fee” is speculative, and no Incentive Fee was incurred in the Fund’s initial fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, no Incentive Fee is presented for the Fund’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. See “Investment Advisory and Management Agreement—Incentive Fee.” |
(5) |
These expenses represent estimated interest payments the Fund expects to incur in connection with a credit facility for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. |
(6) |
(7) |
(8) |
Pursuant to an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to waive fees that it would otherwise be paid, and/or to assume expenses of the Fund, if required to ensure certain annual operating expenses (excluding the Advisory Fee, Incentive Fee, any Distribution and Servicing Fee, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, borrowing costs, merger or reorganization expenses, shareholder meetings expenses, litigation expenses, expenses associated with the acquisition and disposition of investments (including interest and structuring costs for borrowings and line(s) of credit) and extraordinary expenses, if any; collectively, the “Excluded Expenses”) do not exceed 0.50% per annum (excluding Excluded Expenses) of the Fund’s net assets calculated as of the last day of each month for each class of Shares. With respect to each class of Shares, the Fund agrees to repay the Adviser any fees waived or expenses assumed under the Expense Limitation Agreement for such class of Shares, provided the repayments do not cause the Fund’s annual operating expenses (excluding Excluded Expenses) for that class of Shares to exceed the expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived and/or the expenses were reimbursed, or the expense limitation in place at the time the Fund repays the Adviser, whichever is lower. Any such repayments must be made within 36 months after the month in which the Adviser incurred the expense. The Expense Limitation Agreement will have a term ending July 31, 2026, and the Adviser may extend the term for a period of one year on an annual basis. Only the Board may terminate the Expense Limitation Agreement during its term. |
(9) |
The Fund may invest in one or more money market funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates (affiliated money market funds). Through July 31, 2026, the Adviser has agreed to waive the Advisory Fee on net assets of the Fund that are invested in unaffiliated money market funds and to waive and/or reimburse expenses in an amount sufficient to offset the respective net advisory fees the Adviser collects from affiliated money market funds on the Fund’s investment in such money market funds. Only the Board may terminate the Expense Limitation Agreement during its term. |
1 Year |
3 Years |
5 Years |
10 Years |
|||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $25,000 Class S Shares investment, assuming a 5% annual return: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $25,000 Class D Shares investment, assuming a 5% annual return: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $25,000 Class I Shares investment, assuming a 5% annual return: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
For the Period from December 31, 2024 (Commencement of Operations) to |
||||
Class I |
March 31, 2025 |
|||
Per share operating performance: |
||||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ |
20.00 |
||
Income (loss) from investment operations: |
||||
Net investment income (loss) 1 |
0.01 |
|||
Net realized & unrealized gain (loss) 1 |
1.26 |
|||
Total income (loss) from investment operations |
1.27 |
|||
Net asset value, end of period |
$ |
21.27 |
||
Total return 2 |
6.35 |
% 3 | ||
Ratios and supplemental data: |
||||
Net Assets, End of Period (000’s) |
$ |
159,558 |
||
Ratios to average net assets: 4 |
||||
Total expenses, before waiver |
3.08 |
% 5 | ||
Total expenses, net of waiver |
1.50 |
% 5 | ||
Net investment income (loss), before waiver |
(1.46 |
)% 5 | ||
Net investment income (loss), after waiver |
0.12 |
% 5 | ||
Portfolio turnover rate |
2.00 |
% |
1 |
Calculated using average units outstanding. |
2 |
Total return based on net asset value calculated as the change in Net Asset Value per Share during the period, assuming distributions, if any, are reinvested on the effects of the performance of the Fund during the period. |
3 |
Not annualized. |
4 |
The ratios do not include investment income or expenses of the Portfolio Funds. |
5 |
Annualized with the exception of certain expenses. |
1. |
Opportunity Sourcing |
2. |
Screening and Preliminary Diligence |
3. |
Detailed Diligence and Underwriting |
4. |
Proprietary Execution |
5. |
Investment Monitoring |
• |
A global network of clients and contacts, together with more than 81,000 employees, working in over 40 countries on six continents, to help identify investments in local markets and perform due diligence. |
• | A deeply resourced global research department covering many of the most important equity, fixed income and commodity markets in the world that can provide due diligence support for the Fund. |
• | An extensive infrastructure of investment, legal, compliance, operations, risk management and client services personnel that provides world-class support on behalf of Morgan Stanley products. |
• | Private Asset Risks . Private asset transactions may result in new enterprises that are subject to extreme volatility, require time for maturity and may require additional capital. In addition, they frequently rely on borrowing significant amounts of capital, which can increase profit potential but at the same time increase the risk of loss. Leveraged companies may be subject to restrictive financial and operating covenants. The leverage may impair the ability of these companies to finance their future operations and capital needs. Also, their flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions and to business opportunities may be limited. A leveraged company’s income and net assets will tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than if borrowed money was not used. Although these investments may offer the opportunity for significant gains, such buyout and growth investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses, which risks generally are greater than the risks of investing in public companies that may not be as leveraged. |
• | Venture Capital Risks . Venture capital investments are in private companies that have limited operating history, are attempting to develop or commercialize unproven technologies or to implement novel business plans or are not otherwise developed sufficiently to be self-sustaining financially or to become public. Although these investments may offer the opportunity for significant gains, such investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses, which risks generally are greater than the risks of investing in public or private companies that may be at a later stage of development. |
• | the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV of the Shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage; |
• | the risk that fluctuations in interest rates or dividend rates on any leverage that the Fund must pay will reduce the return to Shareholders; |
• | the effect of leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV of the Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged; and |
• | leverage may increase operating costs, which may reduce total return. |
• | First, if the Net Profits for the applicable period exceeds the sum of the Hurdle Amount for that period and the Loss Recovery Account (any such excess, “Excess Profits”), 100% of such Excess Profits until the total amount allocated to the Adviser equals 12.5% of the sum of (x) the Hurdle Amount for that period and (y) any amount allocated to the Adviser pursuant to this clause (any such amount, the “Catch-Up”); and |
• | Second, to the extent there are remaining Excess Profits, 12.5% of such remaining Excess Profits. |
• | which share classes are available to you; |
• | how much you intend to invest; |
• | how long you expect to own the shares; and |
• | total costs and expenses associated with a particular share class. |
Share Class |
Amount Authorized |
Amount Outstanding |
||||||
• | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
• | a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
• | a trust, if a court within the United States has primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a domestic trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or |
• | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
• |
Have in effect an election to be treated and qualify as a registered management company under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year; |
• | derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale of stock, securities, or non-U.S. currencies (including certain deemed inclusions) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in such stock, securities, non-U.S. currencies or other income, or (b) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (“QPTP”) (collectively, the “90% Gross Income Test”); and |
• | diversify its holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the taxable year: |
• | at least 50% of the value of its assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities that, with respect to any issuer, do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer; and |
• | no more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, of (i) one issuer, (ii) or of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under the Code, by the Fund and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or (iii) securities of one or more QPTPs (collectively, the “Diversification Tests”). |
• | results in a “complete termination” of such U.S. Shareholder’s ownership of Shares in the Fund; |
• | results in a “substantially disproportionate” redemption with respect to such U.S. Shareholder; or |
• | is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Shareholder. |
NORTH HAVEN PRIVATE ASSETS FUND
Class S Shares
Class D Shares
Class I Shares
PROSPECTUS
July 29, 2025
All dealers that effect transactions in these Shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a Prospectus.
NORTH HAVEN PRIVATE ASSETS FUND
Class S Shares
Class D Shares
Class I Shares
July 29, 2025
North Haven Private Assets Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with limited operating history. This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) relating to the Shares does not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus relating thereto dated July 29, 2025. Additionally, this SAI incorporates by reference the audited financial statements included in the annual Shareholder Report relating to the Fund for the period ended March 31, 2025 (the “Financial Statements”). This SAI, which is not a prospectus, does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Shares, and investors should obtain and read the Prospectus prior to purchasing such Shares. A copy of the Prospectus and the Financial Statements, including the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report, may be obtained without charge by calling (617) 662-7100, by writing to the Fund c/o State Street Transfer Agency 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, MA 02171 Mailstop: JAB0340 or by visiting https://www.morganstanley.com/im/NHPAF. You may also obtain a copy of the Prospectus on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.
References to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or other applicable law, will include any rules promulgated thereunder and any guidance, interpretations or modifications by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, including court interpretations, and exemptive, no-action or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT POLICIES
The investment objective and the principal investment strategies of the Fund, as well as the principal risks associated with such investment strategies, are set forth in the Prospectus. The following disclosure supplements the disclosure set forth under the captions “Investment Objective and Strategy” and “Risks” in the Prospectus and does not, by itself, present a complete or accurate explanation of the matters discussed. Prospective investors also should refer to “Investment Objective and Strategy” and “Risks” in the Prospectus for a complete presentation of the matters disclosed below.
Fundamental Policies
The following restrictions are the Fund’s only fundamental policies—that is, policies that cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (a “1940 Act Vote”). For the purposes of the foregoing, a “majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares. The other policies and investment restrictions are not fundamental polices of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board without shareholder approval and on prior notice to Shareholders. If a percentage restriction set forth below is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation. Under its fundamental restrictions:
1. | Underwriting: The Fund may engage in the business of underwriting the securities of other issuers to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. |
2. | Lending: The Fund may lend money or other assets to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. |
3. | Senior Securities: The Fund may issue senior securities or borrow money to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. |
4. | Real Estate: The Fund may purchase or sell real estate to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. |
5. | Commodities: The Fund may purchase or sell commodities or contracts related to commodities to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. |
6. | Concentration: Except as permitted by exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, the Fund may not make any investment if, as a result, the Fund’s investments will be concentrated in any one industry. |
The following notations are not considered to be part of the Fund’s fundamental restrictions and are subject to change without shareholder approval.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to underwriting set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from engaging in the underwriting business or from underwriting the securities of other issuers. A fund engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act. Under the Securities Act, an underwriter may be liable for material omissions or misstatements in an issuer’s registration statement or prospectus. Securities purchased from an issuer and not registered for sale under the Securities Act are considered restricted securities. There may be a limited market for these securities. If these securities are registered under the Securities Act, they may then be eligible for sale but participating in the sale may subject the seller to underwriter liability. These risks could apply to a fund investing in restricted securities. Although it is not believed that the application of the Securities Act provisions described above would cause the Fund to be engaged in the business of underwriting, the policy above will be interpreted not to prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities, regardless of whether the Fund may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to lending set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from making loans; however, SEC staff interpretations currently prohibit funds from lending more than one-third of their total assets, except through the purchase of debt obligations or the use of repurchase agreements. (A repurchase agreement is an agreement to purchase a security, coupled with an agreement to sell that security back to the original seller on an agreed-upon date at a price that reflects current interest rates. The SEC frequently treats repurchase agreements as loans.) The Fund also will be permitted by this policy to make loans of money, including to other funds. The policy above will be interpreted not to prevent the Fund from purchasing or investing in debt obligations and loans. In addition, collateral arrangements with respect to options, forward currency and futures transactions and other derivative instruments, as well as delays in the settlement of securities transactions, will not be considered loans.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to issuing senior securities set forth above, “senior securities” are defined as any bond, debenture, note, or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness, and any stock of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends. Under the 1940 Act, a “senior security” does not include any promissory note or evidence of indebtedness where such loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to borrowing money set forth above, the 1940 Act requires the Fund to maintain at all times an asset coverage of at least 300% of the amount of its borrowings. For the purpose of borrowing money, “asset coverage” means the ratio that the value of the Fund’s total assets, minus liabilities other than borrowings, bears to the aggregate amount of all borrowings. Certain trading practices and investments may be considered to be borrowings and thus subject to the 1940 Act restrictions. On the other hand, certain practices and investments may involve leverage but are not considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act, such as the purchasing of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, entering into reverse repurchase agreements, credit default swaps or futures contracts, engaging in short sales and writing options on portfolio securities, so long as the Fund complies with an applicable exemption in Rule 18f-4. Borrowing money to increase portfolio holdings is known as “leveraging.” Borrowing, especially when used for leverage, may cause the value of the Fund’s shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not borrow. This is because borrowing tends to magnify the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Borrowed money thus creates an opportunity for greater gains, but also greater losses. To repay borrowings, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time and at a price that is unfavorable to the Fund. There also are costs associated with borrowing money, and these costs would offset and could eliminate the Fund’s net investment income in any given period. The policy above will be interpreted to permit the Fund to engage in trading practices and investments that may be considered to be borrowing to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Short-term credits necessary for the settlement of securities transactions and arrangements with respect to securities lending will not be considered to be borrowings under the policy. Practices and investments that may involve leverage but are not considered to be borrowings are not subject to the policy.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to real estate set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from owning real estate. Investing in real estate may involve risks, including that real estate is generally considered illiquid and may be difficult to value and sell. Owners of real estate may be subject to various liabilities, including environmental liabilities. The policy above will be interpreted not to prevent the Fund from investing in real estate-related companies, companies whose businesses consist in whole or in part of investing in real estate, instruments (like mortgages) that are secured by real estate or interests therein, or real estate investment trust securities.
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to commodities set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from owning commodities, whether physical commodities and contracts related to physical commodities (such as oil or grains and related futures contracts), or financial commodities and contracts related to financial commodities (such as currencies and, possibly, currency futures). If the Fund were to invest in a physical commodity or a physical commodity-related instrument, the Fund would be subject to the additional risks of the particular physical commodity and its related market. The value of commodities and commodity-related instruments may be extremely volatile and may be affected either directly or indirectly by a variety of factors. There also may be storage charges and risks of loss associated with physical commodities. The policy above will be interpreted to permit investments in exchange traded funds that invest in physical and/or financial commodities.
2
With respect to the fundamental policy relating to concentration set forth above, the 1940 Act does not define what constitutes “concentration” in an industry or groups of industries. The SEC staff has taken the position that investment of 25% or more of a fund’s total assets in one or more issuers conducting their principal activities in the same industry or group of industries constitutes concentration. It is possible that interpretations of concentration could change in the future. A fund that invests a significant percentage of its total assets in a single industry may be particularly susceptible to adverse events affecting that industry and may be more risky than a fund that does not concentrate in an industry. The policy above will be interpreted to refer to concentration as that term may be interpreted from time to time. In addition, the term industry will be interpreted to include a related group of industries. The policy also will be interpreted to permit investment without limit in the following: securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities); securities of state, territory, possession or municipal governments and their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; securities of foreign governments; and repurchase agreements collateralized by any such obligations. Accordingly, issuers of the foregoing securities will not be considered to be members of any industry. There also will be no limit on investment in issuers domiciled in a single jurisdiction or country. Finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents. Each foreign government will be considered to be a member of a separate industry. With respect to the Fund’s industry classifications, the Fund currently utilizes any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or rating group indexes, and/or as defined by the Adviser. In the absence of such classification or if the Adviser determines in good faith based on its own information that the economic characteristics affecting a particular issuer make it more appropriate to be considered engaged in a different industry, the Adviser may classify an issuer accordingly. Accordingly, the composition of an industry or group of industries may change from time to time. The policy also will be interpreted to give broad authority to the Fund as to how to classify issuers within or among industries. The investment restrictions and other policies described herein do not apply to Portfolio Funds. The Fund will, however, consider the investments held by Portfolio Funds, to the extent known, in determining whether its investments are concentrated in any particular industry or groups of industries.
The Fund’s fundamental policies are written and will be interpreted broadly. For example, the policies will be interpreted to refer to the 1940 Act and the related rules as they are in effect from time to time, and to interpretations and modifications of or relating to the 1940 Act by the SEC and others as they are given from time to time. When a policy provides that an investment practice may be conducted as permitted by the 1940 Act, the policy will be interpreted to mean either that the 1940 Act expressly permits the practice or that the 1940 Act does not prohibit the practice.
Non-Fundamental Policies
The Fund’s investment objective is non-fundamental and may be changed with the approval of the Fund’s Board with prior notice to Shareholders.
The Fund’s policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in private assets (as defined in the Prospectus) is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Fund’s Board, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to Shareholders. This test is applied at the time of investment; later percentage changes caused by a change in the value of the Fund’s assets, including as a result in the change in the value of the Fund’s investments or due to the issuance or redemption of Shares, will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment.
3
INVESTMENT PRACTICES, TECHNIQUES AND RISKS
The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund’s investment objective, policies, techniques and risks that are described in the Prospectus. The Fund may invest in the following instruments and use the following investment techniques, subject to any limitations set forth in the Prospectus. There is no guarantee the Fund will buy all of the types of securities or use any or all of the investment techniques described herein.
Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Debt Securities. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash equivalents and short-term debt securities. Short-term debt securities are defined to include, without limitation, the following:
• | U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest that are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government securities include securities issued by: (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration and Government National Mortgage Association, the securities of which are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Tennessee Valley Authority, the securities of which are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the Federal National Mortgage Association, the securities of which are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, the securities of which are supported only by its credit. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate. |
• | Certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or a savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return and are normally negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Certificates of deposit purchased by the Fund may not be fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. |
• | Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities. |
• | Commercial paper, which consists of short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for such notes. However, they are redeemable by the Fund at any time. The Adviser will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios) and will continuously monitor the corporation’s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because the Fund’s liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. Investments in commercial paper will be limited to commercial paper rated in the highest categories by a major rating agency and which mature within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest. |
Liquid Assets. To manage the liquidity of its investment portfolio, the Fund also invests a portion of its assets in a portfolio of short-term debt securities, money market securities, cash and/or cash equivalents (“Liquid Assets”). The Fund may invest in other liquid fixed income securities and other credit instruments from time to time.
Yield and Ratings Risk. The yields on debt obligations are dependent on a variety of factors, including general market conditions, conditions in the particular market for the obligation, the financial condition of the issuer, the size of the offering, the maturity of the obligation and the ratings of the issue. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their respective opinions as to the quality of the obligations they undertake to rate. Ratings, however, are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, obligations with the same rating, maturity and interest rate may have different market prices. Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, a rated security may cease to be rated. The Adviser will consider such an event in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the security.
4
U.S. Debt Securities Risk. The Fund may have exposure to debt securities indirectly through investment vehicles. U.S. debt securities generally involve lower levels of credit risk than other types of fixed income securities of similar maturities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. debt securities are generally lower than the yields available from such other securities. Like other fixed income securities, the values of U.S. debt securities change as interest rates fluctuate. Any downgrades by rating agencies could increase volatility in both stock and bond markets, result in higher interest rates and higher Treasury yields and increase borrowing costs generally. These events could have significant adverse effects on the economy generally and could result in significant adverse impacts on securities issuers and the Fund. The Adviser cannot predict the effects of these or similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets or on the Fund’s portfolio.
Senior Loan Risk. The Fund may invest in senior floating rate and fixed rate loans or debt (“Senior Loans”). Senior Loans typically hold the most senior position in the capital structure of the issuing entity, are typically secured with specific collateral and typically have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. The Fund’s investments in Senior Loans are typically below investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuer. The risks associated with Senior Loans are similar to the risks of below investment grade fixed income securities, although Senior Loans are typically senior and secured in contrast to other below investment grade fixed income securities, which are often subordinated and unsecured. Senior Loans’ higher standing has historically resulted in generally higher recoveries in the event of a corporate reorganization. In addition, because their interest payments are typically adjusted for changes in short-term interest rates, investments in Senior Loans generally have less interest rate risk than other below investment grade fixed income securities, which may have fixed interest rates.
There is less readily available, reliable information about most Senior Loans than is the case for many other types of securities. In addition, there is no minimum rating or other independent evaluation of a borrower or its securities limiting the Fund’s investments, and the Adviser relies primarily on its own evaluation of a borrower’s credit quality rather than on any available independent sources. As a result, the Fund is particularly dependent on the analytical ability of the Adviser.
The Fund may invest in Senior Loans rated below investment grade, which are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. Such companies are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Fund, and such defaults could reduce the Fund’s net asset value and income distributions. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate and a Senior Loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a Senior Loan may decline in value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the Senior Loan’s value.
No active trading market may exist for certain Senior Loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a Senior Loan and may make it difficult to value Senior Loans. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded Senior Loans, meaning that the Fund may not be able to sell them quickly at a fair price. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for certain Senior Loans, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. Illiquid investments are also difficult to value.
Although the Senior Loans in which the Fund may invest generally will be secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurances that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the borrower’s obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral securing a Senior Loan. If the terms of a Senior Loan do not require the borrower to pledge additional collateral in the event of a decline in the value of the already pledged collateral, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the value of the collateral will not at all times equal or exceed the amount of the borrower’s obligations under the Senior Loans. To the extent that a Senior Loan is collateralized by stock in the borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower. Uncollateralized Senior Loans involve a greater risk of loss. Some Senior Loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate the Senior Loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to lenders, including the Fund. Such court action could under certain circumstances include invalidation of Senior Loans.
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Senior Loans are subject to legislative risk. If legislation or state or federal regulations impose additional requirements or restrictions on the ability of financial institutions to make loans, the availability of Senior Loans for investment by the Fund may be adversely affected. In addition, such requirements or restrictions could reduce or eliminate sources of financing for certain borrowers. This would increase the risk of default. If legislation or federal or state regulations require financial institutions to increase their capital requirements this may cause financial institutions to dispose of Senior Loans that are considered highly levered transactions. Such sales could result in prices that, in the opinion of the Adviser, do not represent fair value. If the Fund attempts to sell a Senior Loan at a time when a financial institution is engaging in such a sale, the price the Fund could receive for the Senior Loan may be adversely affected.
The Fund may acquire Senior Loan assignments or participations. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the purchaser’s rights can be more restricted than those of the assigning institution, and, in any event, the Fund may not be able to unilaterally enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. A participation typically results in a contractual relationship only with the institution participating out the interest, not with the borrower. In purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement against the borrower and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be exposed to the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation.
The Fund’s investments in Senior Loans may be subject to lender liability risk. Lender liability refers to a variety of legal theories generally founded on the premise that a lender has violated a duty of good faith, commercial reasonableness and fair dealing or a similar duty owed to the borrower, or has assumed an excessive degree of control over the borrower resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other creditors or shareholders. Because of the nature of its investments, the Fund may be subject to allegations of lender liability. In addition, under common law principles that in some cases form the basis for lender liability claims, a court may elect to subordinate the claim of the offending lender or bondholder to the claims of the disadvantaged creditor or creditors.
Corporate Bonds Risk. The Fund may have exposure to corporate bonds indirectly through investment vehicles. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates. The market value of intermediate and longer term corporate bonds is generally more sensitive to changes in interest rates than is the market value of shorter term corporate bonds. The market value of a corporate bond also may be affected by factors directly related to the issuer, such as investors’ perceptions of the creditworthiness of the issuer, the issuer’s financial performance, perceptions of the issuer in the market place, performance of management of the issuer, the issuer’s capital structure and use of financial leverage and demand for the issuer’s goods and services. Certain risks associated with investments in corporate bonds are described elsewhere in the Prospectus in further detail, including under “—Fixed-Income Securities Risks—Credit Risk,” “—Fixed-Income Securities Risks—Interest Rate Risk,” and “—Fixed-Income Securities Risks—Prepayment Risk.” There is a risk that the issuers of corporate bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. Corporate bonds of below investment grade quality are often high risk and have speculative characteristics and may be particularly susceptible to adverse issuer-specific developments. Corporate bonds of below investment grade quality are subject to the risks described herein under “—Below Investment Grade Securities Risk.”
Below Investment Grade Securities Risk. The Fund may have exposure to below investment grade securities indirectly through investment vehicles. The Fund may invest in securities that are rated, at the time of investment, below investment grade quality (rated Ba/BB or below, or judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser), which are commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds and are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due. The value of high yield, lower quality bonds is affected by the creditworthiness of the issuers of the securities and by general economic and specific industry conditions. Issuers of high yield bonds are not perceived to be as strong financially as those with higher credit ratings. These issuers are more vulnerable to financial setbacks and recession than more creditworthy issuers, which may impair their ability to make interest and principal payments. Lower grade securities may be particularly susceptible to economic downturns. It is likely that an economic recession could severely disrupt the market for such securities and may have an adverse impact on the value of such securities. In addition, it is likely that any such economic downturn could adversely affect the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon and increase the incidence of default for such securities.
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Lower grade securities, though often high yielding, are characterized by high risk. They may be subject to certain risks with respect to the issuing entity and to greater market fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher rated securities. The secondary market for lower grade securities may be less liquid than that for higher rated securities. Adverse conditions could make it difficult at times for the Fund to sell certain securities or could result in lower prices than those used in calculating the Fund’s net asset value. Because of the substantial risks associated with investments in lower grade securities, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, both in the short-term and the long-term.
The prices of fixed-income securities generally are inversely related to interest rate changes; however, below investment grade securities historically have been somewhat less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher quality securities of comparable maturity because credit quality is also a significant factor in the valuation of lower grade securities. On the other hand, an increased rate environment results in increased borrowing costs generally, which may impair the credit quality of low-grade issuers and thus have a more significant effect on the value of some lower grade securities. In addition, the current low rate environment has expanded the historic universe of buyers of lower grade securities as traditional investment grade oriented investors have been forced to accept more risk in order to maintain income. As rates rise, these recent entrants to the low-grade securities market may exit the market and reduce demand for lower grade securities, potentially resulting in greater price volatility.
The ratings of Moody’s, S&P, Fitch and other rating agencies represent their opinions as to the quality of the obligations which they undertake to rate. Ratings are relative and subjective and, although ratings may be useful in evaluating the safety of interest and principal payments, they do not evaluate the market value risk of such obligations. Although these ratings may be an initial criterion for selection of portfolio investments, the Adviser also will independently evaluate these securities and the ability of the issuers of such securities to pay interest and principal. To the extent that the Fund invests in lower grade securities that have not been rated by a rating agency, the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective will be more dependent on the Adviser’s credit analysis than would be the case when the Fund invests in rated securities.
The Fund may invest in securities rated in the lower rating categories (rated as low as D, or unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser). For these securities, the risks associated with below investment grade instruments are more pronounced.
Bank Loans Risk. The Fund may have exposure to bank loans indirectly through investment vehicles. The market for bank loans may not be highly liquid and the Fund may have difficulty selling them. These investments are subject to both interest rate risk and credit risk, and the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. These investments expose the Fund to the credit risk of both the financial institution and the underlying borrower.
Derivatives. A derivative is generally a financial contract the value of which depends on, or is derived from, changes in the value of one or more “reference instruments,” such as underlying assets (including securities), reference rates, indices or events. Derivatives may relate to stocks, bonds, credit, interest rates, commodities, currencies or currency exchange rates, or related indices. A derivative may also contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the reference instrument. Derivatives may be traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations, or in private transactions with other parties in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single dealer or a prime broker acting as an intermediary with respect to an executing dealer. Derivatives may be used for hedging purposes and non-hedging (or speculative) purposes. Some derivatives require one or more parties to post “margin,” which means that a party must deposit assets with, or for the benefit of, a third party, such as a futures commission merchant, in order to initiate and maintain the derivatives position.
Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential for unlimited
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losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. Certain aspects of the regulatory and U.S. federal income tax treatment of derivative instruments are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority.
Derivatives involve risks different from the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. There are risks that apply generally to derivatives transactions, including:
• | Correlation risk, which is the risk that changes in the value of a derivative will not match the changes in the value of the portfolio holdings that are being hedged or of the particular market or security to which the Fund seeks exposure. There are a number of factors which may prevent a derivative instrument from achieving the desired correlation (or inverse correlation) with an underlying asset, rate or index, such as the impact of fees, expenses and transaction costs, the timing of pricing, and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for such derivative instrument. |
• | Counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy, or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization will default in the performance of its obligations. |
• | Credit risk, which is the risk that the reference entity in a credit default swap or similar derivative will not be able to honor its financial obligations. |
• | Currency risk, which is the risk that changes in the exchange rate between two currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. dollar terms) of an investment. |
• | Illiquidity risk, which is the risk that certain securities or instruments may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time or at the price desired by the counterparty in connection with payments of margin, collateral, or settlement payments. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to unwind or offset a derivative at its desired price, in a secondary market or otherwise. The absence of liquidity may also make it more difficult for the Fund to ascertain a market value for such instruments. The illiquidity of the derivatives markets may be due to various factors, including congestion, disorderly markets, limitations on deliverable supplies, the participation of speculators, government regulation and intervention, and technical and operational or system failures. In addition, the liquidity of a secondary market in an exchange-traded derivative contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by the exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in an exchange-traded contract price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open positions. Prices have in the past moved beyond the daily limit on a number of consecutive trading days. If it is not possible to close an open derivative position entered into by the Fund, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin in the event of adverse price movements. In such a situation, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. |
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• | Index risk, which is if the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below the price that the Fund paid for such derivative. |
• | Legal risk, which is the risk of insufficient documentation, insufficient capacity or authority of counterparty, or legality or enforceability of a contract. |
• | Leverage risk, which is the risk that the Fund’s derivatives transactions can magnify the Fund’s gains and losses. Relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of a derivatives position and can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested. |
• | Market risk, which is the risk that changes in the value of one or more markets or changes with respect to the value of the underlying asset will adversely affect the value of a derivative. In the event of an adverse movement, the Fund may be required to pay substantial additional margin to maintain its position or the Fund’s returns may be adversely affected. |
• | Operational risk, which is the risk related to potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, systems failures, inadequate controls and human error. |
• | Valuation risk, which is the risk that valuation sources for a derivative will not be readily available in the market. This is possible especially in times of market distress, since many market participants may be reluctant to purchase complex instruments or quote prices for them. |
• | Volatility risk, which is the risk that the value of derivatives will fluctuate significantly within a short time period. |
Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
The Fund relies on certain exemptions in Rule 18f-4 to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Under Rule 18f-4, “derivatives transactions” include the following: (1) any swap, security-based swap, futures contract, forward contract, option (excluding purchased options), any combination of the foregoing, or any similar instrument, under which the Fund is or may be required to make any payment or delivery of cash or other assets during the life of the instrument or at maturity or early termination, whether as margin or settlement payment or otherwise; (2) any short sale borrowing; and (3) if the Fund relies on the exemption in Rule 18f-4(d)(1)(ii), reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions. The Fund will rely on a separate exemption in Rule 18f-4(e) when entering into unfunded commitment agreements (e.g., capital commitments to invest equity in Portfolio Funds that can be drawn at the discretion of the Portfolio Fund’s general partner). To rely on the unfunded commitment agreements exemption, the Fund must reasonably believe, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all of its unfunded commitment agreements, in each case as they come due. The Fund will rely on another exemption in Rule 18f-4(f) when purchasing when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including to-be-announced (“TBA”) commitments, and dollar rolls) and non-standard settlement cycle securities, if certain conditions are met. When the Fund enters into a secondary transaction to purchase interests in underlying Portfolio Funds, the Fund will treat the date of the transfer agreement to purchase the interest in a specific Portfolio Fund as the trade date for determining whether the purchase of the Portfolio Fund qualifies for the exemption for non-standard settlement cycle securities transactions.
The Fund intends to operate as a “limited derivatives user” for purposes of the derivatives transactions exemption in Rule 18f-4. To qualify as a limited derivatives user, the Fund’s “derivatives exposure” is limited to 10% of its net assets subject to exclusions for certain currency or interest rate hedging transactions (as calculated in accordance with Rule 18f-4). If the Fund fails to qualify as a “limited derivatives user” as defined in Rule 18f-4 and seeks to enter into derivatives transactions, the Fund will be required to establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, to appoint a derivatives risk manager and to provide additional disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions.
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Options. The Fund may purchase put and call options on currencies or securities. A put option gives the purchaser the right to compel the writer of the option to purchase from the option holder an underlying currency or security or its equivalent at a specified price at any time during the option period. In contrast, a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the underlying currency or security covered by the option or its equivalent from the writer of the option at the stated exercise price. As a holder of a put option, the Fund will have the right to sell the currencies or securities underlying the option and as the holder of a call option, the Fund will have the right to purchase the currencies or securities underlying the option, in each case at their exercise price at any time prior to the option’s expiration date. The Fund may seek to terminate its option positions prior to their expiration by entering into closing transactions. The ability of the Fund to enter into a closing sale transaction depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market. There can be no assurance that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund so desires.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities on which the option is based. Imperfect correlation between the options and securities markets may detract from the effectiveness of attempted hedging. Options transactions may result in significantly higher transaction costs and portfolio turnover for the Fund.
Some, but not all, of the Fund’s options may be traded and listed on an exchange. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
Futures Contracts. The Fund may enter into securities-related futures contracts, including security futures contracts. The Fund will not enter into futures contracts that are prohibited under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”), and will, to the extent required by regulatory authorities, enter only into futures contracts that are traded on exchanges and are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument. A security futures contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties to purchase or sell in the future a specific quantity of a security or of the component securities of a narrow-based security index, at a certain price. A person who buys a security futures contract enters into a contract to purchase an underlying security and is said to be “long” the contract. A person who sells a security futures contract enters into a contract to sell the underlying security and is said to be “short” the contract. The price at which the contract trades (the “contract price”) is determined by relative buying and selling interest on a regulated exchange.
An open position, either a long or short position, is typically closed or liquidated by entering into an offsetting transaction (i.e., an equal and opposite transaction to the one that opened the position) prior to the contract expiration. Traditionally, most futures contracts are liquidated prior to expiration through an offsetting transaction and, thus, holders do not incur a settlement obligation. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, a gain will be realized; if it is more, a loss will be realized. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, a gain will be realized; if it is less, a loss will be realized. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. However, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract and the Fund may not be able to realize a gain in the value of its future position or prevent losses from mounting. This inability to liquidate could occur, for example, if trading is halted due to unusual trading activity in either the security futures contract or the underlying security; if trading is halted due to recent news events involving the issuer of the underlying security; if systems failures occur on an exchange or at the firm carrying the position; or, if the position is on an illiquid market. Even if the Fund can liquidate its position, it may be forced to do so at a price that involves a large loss. Because of the low margin deposits required, futures contracts trading involves an extremely high degree of leverage. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss or gain to the investor.
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There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures contract position. The Fund would continue to be required to meet margin requirements until the position is closed, possibly resulting in a decline in the Fund’s net asset value. In addition, many of the contracts discussed above are relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.
Security futures contracts that are not liquidated prior to expiration must be settled in accordance with the terms of the contract. Depending on the terms of the contract, some security futures contracts are settled by physical delivery of the underlying security. Settlement with physical delivery may involve additional costs. Depending on the terms of the contract, other security futures contracts are settled through cash settlement. In this case, the underlying security is not delivered. Instead, any positions in such security futures contracts that are open at the end of the last trading day are settled through a final cash payment based on a final settlement price determined by the exchange or clearing organization. Once this payment is made, neither party has any further obligations on the contract.
In addition, the value of a position in security futures contracts could be affected if trading is halted in either the security futures contract or the underlying security. In certain circumstances, regulated exchanges are required by law to halt trading in security futures contracts. The regulated exchanges may also have discretion under their rules to halt trading in other circumstances, such as when the exchange determines that the halt would be advisable in maintaining a fair and orderly market. A trading halt, either by a regulated exchange that trades security futures or an exchange trading the underlying security or instrument, could prevent the Fund from liquidating a position in security futures contracts in a timely manner, which could expose the Fund to a loss.
Each regulated exchange trading a security futures contract may also open and close for trading at different times than other regulated exchanges trading security futures contracts or markets trading the underlying security or securities. Trading in security futures contracts prior to the opening or after the close of the primary market for the underlying security may be less liquid than trading during regular market hours.
Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into swap agreements. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns, differentials in rates of return or some other amount earned or realized on the “notional amount” of predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. Some swaps are structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, commodity prices, non-U.S. currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices, indexes or inflation rates. Swap agreements may be negotiated bilaterally and traded OTC between two parties or, in some instances, must be transacted through a futures commission merchant and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty. Certain risks are reduced (but not eliminated) if a fund invests in cleared swaps. Certain standardized swaps, including certain credit default swaps, are subject to mandatory clearing, and more are expected to be in the future. The counterparty risk for cleared derivatives is generally lower than for uncleared derivatives, but cleared contracts are not risk-free.
Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund’s investments and the price of its Shares. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap agreement would likely decline, potentially resulting in losses.
Generally, swap agreements have fixed maturity dates that are agreed upon by the parties to the swap. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date only under limited circumstances, such as default by or insolvency of one of the parties and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, it is possible that the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract.
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A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. The use of swaps can cause the Fund to be subject to additional regulatory requirements, which may generate additional Fund expenses. The Fund monitors any swaps with a view towards ensuring that the Fund remains in compliance with all applicable regulatory, investment and tax requirements.
General Limitations on Certain Futures, Options and Swap Transactions. The Adviser, with respect to the Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and the National Futures Association (the “NFA”), which regulate trading in the futures markets. Pursuant to CFTC Regulation 4.5, the Adviser and the Fund expect not to be subject to regulation as a commodity pool or commodity pool operator under the CEA. If the Adviser or the Fund becomes subject to these requirements, as well as related NFA rules, the Fund may incur additional compliance and other expenses.
Equity Securities. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities and warrants. This may include the equity securities of private asset sponsors. Common stocks and preferred stocks represent shares of ownership in a corporation. Preferred stocks usually have specific dividends and rank after bonds and before common stock in claims on assets of the corporation should it be dissolved. Increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a corporation’s stock price. Convertible securities are debt or preferred equity securities convertible into common stock. Usually, convertible securities pay dividends or interest at rates higher than common stock, but lower than other securities. Convertible securities usually participate to some extent in the appreciation or depreciation of the underlying stock into which they are convertible.
Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board and after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt securities. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer and may suffer a loss of value if distributions are not paid. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of Trustees to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders no longer have voting rights.
Warrants are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price anytime during the life of the warrants. Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. As a result, warrants and rights may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities. The Fund could lose the value of a warrant or right if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrant’s or right’s expiration date. The market for warrants and rights may be very limited and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for warrants and rights.
Securities of other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest, subject to applicable regulatory limits, in the securities of other investment companies, including open-end management companies, closed-end management companies (including BDCs) and unit investment trusts. The Fund also may invest in ETFs, as described in additional detail under “ETFs and Other Exchange-Traded Investment Vehicles” below. Under the 1940 Act, subject to the Fund’s own more restrictive limitations, if any, the Fund’s investment in securities issued by other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions, currently is limited to: (1) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company; (2) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company; and (3) 10% of the Fund’s total assets in the aggregate (such limits do not apply to investments in money market funds). Exemptions in the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder may allow the Fund to invest in another investment company in excess of these limits. In
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particular, Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act allows the Fund to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act, subject to certain limitations and conditions on the Fund and the Adviser, including limits on control and voting of acquired funds’ shares, evaluations and findings by the Adviser and limits on most three-tier fund structures.
When investing in the securities of other investment companies, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to all the risks of such investment companies’ portfolio securities. In addition, as a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund would indirectly bear its pro rata share of that investment company’s advisory fees and other operating expenses. Fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund as a result of its investment in shares of one or more other investment companies generally are referred to as “acquired fund fees and expenses” and may appear as a separate line item in the Fund’s prospectus fee table. For certain investment companies, such as BDCs, these expenses may be significant. In addition, the shares of closed-end management companies may involve the payment of substantial premiums above, while the sale of such securities may be made at substantial discounts from, the value of such issuer’s portfolio securities. Historically, shares of closed-end funds, including BDCs, have frequently traded at a discount to their net asset value, which discounts have, on occasion, been substantial and lasted for sustained periods of time.
Certain money market funds that operate in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act float their NAV while others seek to reserve the value of investments at a stable NAV (typically $1.00 per share). An investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable NAV per share, is not guaranteed, and it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds. If the liquidity of a money market fund’s portfolio deteriorates below certain levels, the money market fund may suspend redemptions (i.e., impose a redemption gate) and thereby prevent the Fund from selling its investment in the money market fund or impose a fee of up to 2% on amounts the Fund redeems from the money market fund (i.e., impose a liquidity fee).
ETFs and Other Exchange-Traded Investment Vehicles. The Fund may invest, subject to applicable regulatory limits, in the securities of ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles that are traded on an exchange and that hold a portfolio of securities or other financial instruments (collectively, “exchange-traded investment vehicles”). When investing in the securities of exchange-traded investment vehicles, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to all the risks of the portfolio securities or other financial instruments they hold. The performance of an exchange-traded investment vehicle will be reduced by transaction and other expenses, including fees paid by the exchange-traded investment vehicle to service providers. ETFs are investment companies that are registered as open-end management companies or unit investment trusts. The limits that apply to the Fund’s investment in securities of other investment companies generally apply also to the Fund’s investment in securities of ETFs.
Shares of exchange-traded investment vehicles are listed and traded in the secondary market. Many exchange-traded investment vehicles are passively managed and seek to provide returns that track the price and yield performance of a particular index or otherwise provide exposure to an asset class (e.g., currencies or commodities). Although such exchange-traded investment vehicles may invest in other instruments, they largely hold the securities (e.g., common stocks) of the relevant index or financial instruments that provide exposure to the relevant asset class. The share price of an exchange-traded investment vehicle may not track its specified market index, if any, and may trade below its net asset value. An active secondary market in the shares of an exchange-traded investment vehicle may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions, or other reasons. There can be no assurance that the shares of an exchange-traded investment vehicle will continue to be listed on an active exchange.
Publicly Traded Equity Securities Risk
Stock markets are volatile, and the prices of equity securities fluctuate based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. Although common stocks have historically generated higher average total returns than fixed-income securities over the long-term, common stocks also have experienced significantly more volatility in those returns and, in certain periods, have significantly underperformed relative to fixed-income securities. Common stocks of companies that operate in certain sectors or industries tend to experience greater volatility than companies that operate in other sectors or industries or the broader equity markets. For example, publicly traded equity securities of private asset funds and private asset firms tend to experience greater volatility than other companies in the financial services industry and the broader equity markets. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular common stock held by the Fund. A common stock
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may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. The value of a particular common stock held by the Fund may decline for a number of other reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, the issuer’s historical and prospective earnings, the value of its assets and reduced demand for its goods and services. Also, the prices of common stocks are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stocks to which the Fund has exposure. Common stock prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Common equity securities in which the Fund may invest are structurally subordinated to preferred stock, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and are therefore inherently more risky than preferred stock or debt instruments of such issuers.
Other Publicly Listed Securities. The Fund may make investments in publicly listed companies whose primary business is managing investments in private assets and in publicly traded vehicles whose primary purpose is to invest in or lend capital to privately held companies.
Publicly traded private assets generally involve publicly listed companies that pursue the business of private assets, including listed private equity and credit companies, listed funds of funds, BDCs, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), alternative asset managers, holding companies, investment trusts, closed-end funds, financial institutions and other vehicles whose primary purpose is to invest in, lend capital to or provide services to privately held companies.
Publicly traded private asset funds are typically regulated vehicles listed on a public stock exchange that invest in private asset transactions or funds. Such vehicles may take the form of corporations, BDCs, unit trusts, publicly traded partnerships, or other structures, and may focus on mezzanine, infrastructure, buyout or venture capital investments.
Publicly traded private asset investments may also include investments in publicly listed companies in connection with a privately negotiated financing or an attempt to exercise significant influence on the subject of the investment. Publicly traded private asset investments usually have an indefinite duration.
Publicly traded private assets occupies a small portion of the private assets universe, including only a few professional investors who focus on and actively trade such investments. As a result, relatively little market research is performed on publicly traded private assets, only limited public data may be available regarding these companies and their underlying investments, and market pricing may significantly deviate from published net asset value. This can result in market inefficiencies and may offer opportunities to specialists that can value the underlying private assets.
Publicly traded private assets are typically liquid and capable of being traded daily, in contrast to direct investments and private asset funds, in which capital is subject to lengthy holding periods. Accordingly, publicly traded private asset transactions are significantly easier to execute than other types of private assets, giving investors an opportunity to adjust the investment level of their portfolios more efficiently.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a contractual agreement whereby the seller of securities agrees to repurchase the same security at a specified price on a future date agreed upon by the parties. The agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during the Fund’s holding period. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that, in the opinion of the Adviser, present minimal credit risk. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying collateral at the time the transaction is entered into always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral declines there is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the collateral may be sold but the Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. The Adviser will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the repurchase agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price. In the event the value of the collateral declines below the repurchase price, the Adviser will demand additional collateral from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including interest.
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Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to its portfolio investments subject to its investment restrictions. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the securities at an agreed upon price, date and interest payment. If the Fund enters in reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions in reliance on the exemption in Rule 18f-4(d), the Fund may either (i) maintain asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to such transactions and any other borrowings in the aggregate, or (ii) treat such transactions as “derivatives transactions” and comply with Rule 18f-4 with respect to such transactions. The use by the Fund of reverse repurchase agreements involves many of the same risks of leverage since the proceeds derived from such reverse repurchase agreements may be invested in additional securities. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities acquired in connection with the reverse repurchase agreement may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase. Also, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities retained in lieu of sale by the Fund in connection with the reverse repurchase agreement may decline in price.
If the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities, and the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision. Also, the Fund would bear the risk of loss to the extent that the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement are less than the value of the securities subject to such agreement.
Restricted Securities and Rule 144A Securities. The Fund may have exposure to “restricted securities,” which generally are securities that may be resold to the public only pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration. Regulation S under the Securities Act is an exemption from registration that permits, under certain circumstances, the resale of restricted securities in offshore transactions, subject to certain conditions, and Rule 144A under the Securities Act is an exemption that permits the resale of certain restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers. Since its adoption by the SEC in 1990, Rule 144A has facilitated trading of restricted securities among qualified institutional investors. To the extent restricted securities held by the Fund qualify under Rule 144A and an institutional market develops for those securities, the Fund expects that it will be able to dispose of the securities without registering the resale of such securities under the Securities Act. However, to the extent that a robust market for such 144A securities does not develop, or a market develops but experiences periods of illiquidity, investments in Rule 144A securities could increase the level of the Fund’s illiquidity.
Where an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is unavailable, or where an institutional market is limited, the Fund may, in certain circumstances, be permitted to require the issuer of restricted securities held by the Fund to file a registration statement to register the resale of such securities under the Securities Act. In such case, the Fund will typically be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses, and a considerable period may elapse between the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to resell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, or the value of the security were to decline, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities for which no market exists are priced by a method that the Portfolio Fund Managers believe accurately reflects fair value.
Private Investments in Public Equity. The Fund may invest in securities issued in private investments in public equity transactions, commonly referred to as “PIPEs.” A PIPE investment involves the sale of equity securities, or securities convertible into equity securities, in a private placement transaction by an issuer that already has outstanding, publicly traded equity securities of the same class.
Shares acquired in PIPEs are commonly sold at a discount to the current market value per share of the issuer’s publicly traded securities. Securities acquired in PIPEs generally are not registered with the SEC until after a certain period of time from the date the private sale is completed, which may be months and perhaps longer. PIPEs may contain provisions that require the issuer to pay penalties to the holder if the securities are not registered within a specified period. Until the public registration process is completed, securities acquired in PIPEs are restricted and, like investments in other types of restricted securities, may be illiquid. Any number of factors may prevent or delay a
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proposed registration. Prior to or in the absence of registration, it may be possible for securities acquired in PIPEs to be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act. There is no guarantee, however, that an active trading market for such securities will exist at the time of disposition, and the lack of such a market could hurt the market value of the Fund’s investments. Even if the securities acquired in PIPEs become registered, or the Fund is able to sell the securities through an exempt transaction, the Fund may not be able to sell all the securities it holds on short notice and the sale could impact the market price of the securities.
Structured Solutions. The Fund also may gain exposure to Portfolio Funds involving Secondary Interests structured as a preferred equity investment (“Structured Solutions”). Structured Solutions, which are self-originated transactions between the Fund and a Portfolio Fund’s general partner, in which Fund will invest cash into an existing Portfolio Fund in exchange for newly-issued interests in the Portfolio Fund (i.e., the “preferred equity”). Structured Solutions are intended to provide for strong risk-adjusted return with meaningful downside protection.
Emerging Markets Investments Risk. The Fund may invest in non-U.S. securities of issuers in so-called “emerging markets” (or lesser developed countries, including countries that may be considered “frontier” markets). Such investments are particularly speculative and entail all of the risks of investing in Non-U.S. Securities but to a heightened degree. “Emerging market” countries generally include every nation in the world except developed countries, that is, the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. Investments in the securities of issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets involve certain additional risks that do not generally apply to investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or non-existent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable issuers in more developed capital markets; (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments; (iii) possible fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. Governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments; (iv) national policies that may limit the Fund’s investment opportunities such as restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; and (v) the lack or relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property.
Foreign investment in certain emerging market countries may be restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain emerging market issuers and increase the costs and expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging market countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit the investment by foreign persons only to a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by domiciliaries of the countries and/or impose additional taxes on foreign investors.
Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets. Since these markets are often small, they may be more likely to suffer sharp and frequent price changes or long-term price depression because of adverse publicity, investor perceptions or the actions of a few large investors. In addition, traditional measures of investment value used in the United States, such as price to earnings ratios, may not apply to certain small markets. Also, there may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. In certain countries with emerging capital markets, reporting standards vary widely.
Many emerging markets have histories of political instability and abrupt changes in policies and these countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. As a result, their governments are more likely to take actions that are hostile or detrimental to private enterprise or foreign investment than those of more developed countries, including expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments. In the past, governments of such nations have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and most claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such an event, it is possible that the Fund could lose the entire value of its investments in the affected market. Some countries have pervasiveness of corruption and crime that may
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hinder investments. Certain emerging markets may also face other significant internal or external risks, including the risk of war, and ethnic, religious and racial conflicts. In addition, governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets, which may impair investment and economic growth. National policies that may limit the Fund’s investment opportunities include restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests. In such a dynamic environment, there can be no assurances that any or all of these capital markets will continue to present viable investment opportunities for the Fund.
Emerging markets may also have differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. Governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments. Sometimes, they may lack or be in the relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property. In addition to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose differential capital gains taxes on foreign investors.
Practices in relation to settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because the Fund will need to use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by the issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets, and, along with other factors, could result in ownership registration being completely lost.
The Fund would absorb any loss resulting from such registration problems and may have no successful claim for compensation. In addition, communications between the United States and emerging market countries may be unreliable, increasing the risk of delayed settlements or losses of security certificates.
ESG Integration. While the Team began building ESG capabilities and establishing policies over five years ago, the Team has continued to refine its approach and today ESG assessments are embedded within the investment process, proactively looking to identify ESG opportunities and risks across the Adviser’s entire program and with all potential investments. The Team’s efforts have been enhanced by strong support from Morgan Stanley, including the firm’s Institute For Sustainable Investing, which among a number of activities, looks to drive positive ESG outcomes across the firm.
Discontinuance of LIBOR.
The London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) has publicly announced that certain tenors and currencies of LIBOR will cease to be published or representative of the underlying market and economic reality they are intended to measure on certain future dates.
There is no assurance that the dates announced by the FCA will not change or that the administrator of LIBOR and/or regulators will not take further action that could impact the availability, composition or characteristics of LIBOR or the currencies and/or tenors for which LIBOR is published,. Public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to implement new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of LIBOR. In addition, certain regulated entities ceased entering into most new LIBOR contracts in connection with regulatory guidance or prohibitions.
There is no assurance that any such alternative reference rate will be similar to or produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that it will have the same volume or liquidity as did LIBOR prior to its discontinuance, unavailability or replacement, all of which may affect the value, volatility, liquidity or return on certain loans, notes, derivatives and other instruments or investments comprising some or all of the Fund’s or a Portfolio Fund’s holdings and result in costs incurred in connection with changing reference rates used for positions, closing out positions and entering into new trades. Certain of the Fund’s or a Portfolio Fund’s investments may transition from LIBOR prior to the dates announced by the FCA. The transition from LIBOR to alternative reference rates may result in operational issues for the Fund or a Portfolio Fund or some of their investments. No assurances can be given as to the impact of the LIBOR transition (and the timing of any such impact) on the Fund or a Portfolio Fund or their investments. These risks may also apply with respect to changes in connection with other interbank offering rates (e.g., Euribor) and a wide range of other index levels, rates and values that are treated as “benchmarks” and are the subject of recent regulatory reform.
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Board of Trustees
The Role of the Board
The Board is responsible for the overall management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser. As is the case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers to the Fund, primarily the Adviser, have responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of the Fund. The Board does not have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Fund’s investments or activities. The Board has appointed various employees of the Adviser as officers of the Fund with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Fund’s operations. In conducting its oversight, the Board receives regular reports from these officers and from other senior officers of the Adviser regarding the Fund’s operations.
Board Structure and Committees
As required by the 1940 Act, a majority of the Fund’s Trustees are Independent Trustees and are not affiliated with the Adviser. The Board has established two standing committees: an Audit Committee and a Nominating and Governance Committee.
The Board has formed an Audit Committee composed of all of the Independent Trustees, the function of which is to: (1) handle the appointment, retention, compensation, and oversight of the Fund’s independent registered accounting firm (the “independent accountants”); (2) oversee the performance of the Fund’s audit, accounting and financial reporting policies, practices and internal controls; (3) review and approve non-audit services, as required by the statutes and regulations administered by the Commission, including the 1940 Act and Sarbanes-Oxley; (4) assist the Board in oversight of the valuation process in accordance with policies adopted by the Board; and (5) conduct such other business and/or attention to such other matters as the Board or Nominating and Governance Committee may specifically assign to the Audit Committee from time to time. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Audit Committee met two times.
The Board has formed a Nominating and Governance Committee composed of all of the Independent Trustees, which is responsible for, among other things, oversight of matters relating to the Fund’s governance obligations, selecting and nominating persons to serve as Trustees, Fund service providers and litigation. Arthur Lev serves as Chairperson of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Fund does not hold annual shareholder meetings. As such, the Nominating and Governance Committee will not typically consider nominees recommended by security holders. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, the Nominating and Governance Committee met one time.
Neha Markle, who serves as Chairperson of the Board, is an Interested Trustee. The Board does not have a lead Independent Trustee. The Board, taking into consideration its oversight responsibility of the Fund, believes that its leadership structure and composition is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed judgment over matters under its purview and encourages effective oversight. In addition, the Board’s use of Committees (each of which is comprised of Independent Trustees with substantial industry experience) and Ms. Markle’s role as Managing Director and Head of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions, serve to enhance the Board’s understanding of the operations of the Fund and the Adviser. The Board also believes that its size and structure create an efficient governance structure that facilitates opportunities for direct communication between the Adviser and the Board. The leadership structure of the Board may be changed at any time and in the discretion of the Board, including in response to changes in circumstances or the Fund’s characteristics.
Board Oversight of Risk Management
As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various reports relating to risk management. Because risk management is a broad concept comprised of many different elements (including, among other things, investment risk, valuation risk, credit risk, compliance and regulatory risk, business continuity risk and operational risk), Board oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways. For example, the full Board could receive and review
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reports from senior personnel of the Adviser (including senior compliance, financial reporting and investment personnel) or their affiliates regarding various types of risks, such as operational, compliance and investment risk, and how they are being managed. The Audit Committee may participate in the oversight of risk management in certain areas, including meeting with the Fund’s financial officers and with the Fund’s independent accountants to discuss, among other things, annual audits of the Fund’s financial statements and the auditor’s report thereon and the independent accountant’s annual report on internal control.
Further Information Regarding Management of the Fund
Information regarding the Trustees and Officers of the Fund, including brief biographical information, is set forth below.
The Trustees of the Fund, their years of birth, addresses, positions held, lengths of time served, their principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex overseen by each Trustee and other Trusteeships, if any, held by the Trustees, are shown below. The Trustees have been divided into two groups—Interested Trustees and Independent Trustees. As set forth in the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, each Trustee’s term of office shall continue until his or her death, resignation or removal. The address of each Trustee is care of the Secretary of the Fund at 100 Front Street, Suite 700, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428.
Name, Position(s) |
Length of |
Principal |
Number |
Other Directorships | ||||
Independent Trustees |
||||||||
Arthur Lev (1961) | Since inception | Independent Board Member and Adviser, (2016–Present). | 1 | Director, Morgan Stanley Liquidity Funds (Luxembourg) (July 2021–Present); Director, Morgan Stanley Investment Funds (Luxembourg) (May 2021–Present); Director, Techstars Holdings LLC (2016-2019, 2024–Present); Director, Emerald Acquisition Limited, Russell Investments Group, Ltd, Russell Investments Cayman Midco, Ltd, Russell Investments UK Midco Limited, Russell Investments US Institutional Holdco, Inc and Russell Investments US Retail Holdco, Inc. (2016–Present); Director, NextCapital Group, Inc. (August 2020–August 2022). | ||||
Maureen O’Toole (1957) | Since inception | Retired (May 2023–Present); Managing Director and Head of Americas Sales, Actis (April 2019–May 2023). | 1 | Director, SEG Partners Long/Short Equity Fund (January 2025–Present); Director, Bridge Investment Group Industrial Real Estate Income Trust (December 2023–Present); Director, AOG Institutional Fund (March 2023–Present); ALTI Private Equity Access & Commitments Fund (June 2022–Present). | ||||
Interested Trustee*** |
||||||||
Neha Markle (1977) |
Since inception | Managing Director and Head of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions, Morgan Stanley (2006–Present). | 1 | None. |
* | Each of the Independent Trustees serves on the Board’s Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees. |
** | “Fund Complex” comprises registered investment companies for which the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser serves as investment adviser. |
*** | “Interested person,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund. Neha Markle is an interested person of the Fund due to her affiliation with the Adviser. |
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Officers
Certain biographical and other information relating to the officers of the Fund who are not Trustees, is set forth below, including their years of birth, addresses, positions held, lengths of time served and their principal business occupations during the past five years.
Name, Position(s) Held with |
Length of |
Principal Occupation | ||
Neha Markle Chief Executive Officer & President (1977) |
Since inception | Managing Director and Head of Private Equity Solutions, MSIM (August 2006–Present). | ||
Anmol Darooka Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer (1979) |
Since inception | Executive Director, Private Equity Solutions, MSIM (2007–Present). | ||
Kara Fricke Chief Legal Officer (1974) |
Since inception | Managing Director, Co-Head of Legal, Private Investing, MSIM (2015–Present). | ||
Christopher Wasilewski Chief Operating Officer (1983) |
Since inception | Executive Director, Private Equity Solutions, MSIM (2011–Present). | ||
Christopher P. Smock Chief Compliance Officer (1976) |
Since inception | Executive Director and Head of Investment Management Alternatives Compliance, MSIM (June 2022–Present); Director and Head of Market and Trading Compliance Americas, UBS (a financial services firm) (2010–June 2022). | ||
Patrick Quinn Secretary (1988) |
Since inception | Vice President, Private Equity Solutions, MSIM (September 2022–Present); Vice President, Client Solutions, Hamilton Lane Advisors, L.L.C. (November 2016–August 2022). |
* | The address of each officer is care of the Secretary of the Fund at 100 Front Street, Suite 700, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428. |
Biographical Information and Discussion of Experience and Qualifications of Trustees
The following is a summary of the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each Trustee that support the conclusion, as of the date of this SAI, that each Trustee should serve as a Trustee of the Fund.
Independent Trustees
Arthur Lev – Mr. Lev is currently a board member of Morgan Stanley Liquidity Funds (Luxembourg) and Morgan Stanley Investment Funds (Luxembourg), and an independent board member of Russell Investments, a global money manager based in Seattle, WA, and Techstars Holdings LLC, a global startup accelerator platform based in Boulder, CO. Mr. Lev also previously acted as the Chairman of MSIM, where he spent nearly twenty years in a variety of business, risk, and legal roles, including but not limited to managing MSIM’s Long Only and Alternatives businesses. He also spent four years at FrontPoint Partners, a hedge fund firm that was acquired by Morgan Stanley. Mr. Lev was previously an independent director of NextCapital Group, a digital investment adviser and financial technology firm based in Chicago, IL. Mr. Lev received a A.B. in Political Science from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Maureen O’Toole – Ms. O’Toole currently serves as a board member on the following registered investment companies: AOG Institutional Fund, ALTI Private Equity Access & Commitments Fund and SEG Partners Long/Short Equity Fund. She is also on the board of Bridge Investment Group Industrial Real Estate Income Trust. Prior to Ms. O’Toole’s retirement in 2023, she was Managing Director and Head of Americas Sales at Actis, a London based global infrastructure firm. She joined Actis from Morgan Stanley where she was a Managing Director and held a number of roles in the investment management division, including in client engagement and sales team management and as manager of the managed futures business within MSIM. Ms. O’Toole worked as a Managing Director at K2 Advisors in product development and client relations immediately prior to Morgan Stanley. Prior to that, Ms. O’Toole was a Managing Director with Citigroup Alternative Investments, heading a global team of 35 investor development professionals working with hedge funds, private equity and private real estate funds. Ms. O’Toole started her career
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as a research analyst at Drexel Burnham Lambert, creating hedging strategies as well as trading strategies using futures and futures options. She received her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology, with a second emphasis in Economics at California State University at Chico. She obtained her Masters in Finance at Northwestern University in Chicago. Ms. O’Toole holds a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation.
Interested Trustee
Neha Markle – Ms. Markle is a Managing Director and the Head of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Markle served on the investment teams at Apax Partners and Pomona Capital. She also served on the management team for Springboard Enterprises, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on improving female entrepreneurs’ access to venture capital. Ms. Markle started her career as part of the financial analyst program at Morgan Stanley. Ms. Markle received a B.S. magna cum laude in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Trustee Share Ownership
For each Trustee, the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustee in the Fund and in the Family of Investment Companies Overseen by the Trustee as of December 31, 2024, is set forth in the table below.
Name, Position(s) Held with |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity | ||
Independent Trustees: |
||||
Arthur Lev |
None | None | ||
Maureen O’Toole |
None | None | ||
Interested Trustee |
||||
Neha Markle |
None* | None* |
* | Neha Markle made an investment on July 1, 2025 in the range of $50,001–$100,000 in the Fund. |
As of July 1, 2025, the Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, owned beneficially or of record less than 1% of the outstanding Class I Shares of the Fund.
To the Fund’s knowledge, other than as disclosed in the following table, as to each Independent Trustee and his or her immediate family members, no person owned beneficially or of record securities of an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund, or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund.
Name of Trustee* |
Name of Owners and Relationships to Trustee |
Company |
Title of Class |
Value of Securities |
Percent of Class | |||||
Arthur Lev(1) |
None | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||
Maureen O’Toole(2) |
None | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
(1) | Mr. Lev owns less than a 1% limited partnership interest in each of Ashbridge Transformational Secondaries Fund I, LP, Global Secondary Opportunities Fund II LP, GTB Capital Partners II LP, Private Equity Co-Investment Opportunities Fund I LP, Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia Employee Investors III, LP, and North Haven Private Equity Co-Investment Opportunities Fund III, LP, each a Morgan Stanley-sponsored private investment vehicle. |
(2) | Ms. O’Toole owns less than a 1% interest in each of Riverview Omni Fund, Ceres Orion Fund, and Ceres Tactical Commodity Fund, each a Morgan Stanley-sponsored private investment vehicle. |
21
Trustee Compensation
The Fund’s Trustees who do not also serve in an executive officer capacity for the Fund or the Adviser are entitled to receive annual cash retainer fees and annual fees for serving as a committee chairperson, each paid quarterly, and may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with service as a Trustee. The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Fund’s Independent Trustees for the Fund’s fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. The Fund will not pay compensation to Trustees who also serve in an executive officer capacity for the Fund or the Adviser.
Name of Person, Position |
Aggregate Compensation from the Fund |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses |
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Total Compensation from Fund Complex |
||||||||||||
Independent Trustees: |
||||||||||||||||
Arthur Lev |
$ | 75,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 75,000 | ||||||||
Maureen O’Toole |
$ | 75,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 75,000 |
22
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Compensation of the Portfolio Managers
The Adviser’s compensation programs are designed to align the behavior of employees with the achievement of its short- and long-term strategic goals, which revolve around client investment objectives. This is accomplished in part, through a balanced performance assessment process and total compensation program, as well as a clearly defined culture that rigorously and consistently promotes adherence to the highest ethical standards.
The Adviser’s disciplined pay-for-performance framework focuses on total compensation – base salary and incentive pay - so that pay is commensurate with the overall performance of the Adviser, respective businesses and individual performance. This includes a discretionary approach to assess the employee’s performance throughout the year against four broad dimensions - business results, client/customer/stakeholder, teamwork and leadership, and risk, controls and conduct. These performance dimensions consider short, medium and long-term priorities that drive sustained shareholder value, while accounting for risk, controls, and conduct objectives. To seek to promote a proper pay-for-performance alignment, the Adviser does not assign relative weightings to these dimensions and also considers other relevant factors, including market practices. When conducting this assessment of performance, for select portfolio managers, regard is given to the performance of relevant funds/ strategies managed by the portfolio manager.
An individual performance assessment, in addition to the overall performance of the relevant business unit and investment team, is integrated into the final assessment of incentive compensation for an individual portfolio manager as part of the assessment of business results.
Feedback from the Adviser’s risk and control professions is considered in assessing performance.
The Adviser seeks to maintain a balanced total compensation program comprised of a mix of fixed compensation (including a competitive base salary and, for certain employees, a fixed cash allowance), and variable compensation in the form of cash incentives, and long-term incentives in the form of equity based and/or fund-tracking incentives that vest over time.
Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers
The following table lists the number and types of accounts, other than the Fund, managed by the Fund’s primary portfolio managers and assets under management in those accounts, as of March 31, 2025.
Type of Account |
Number of Accounts Managed |
Total Assets Managed |
Number of Accounts Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based |
Assets Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance- Based |
||||||||||||
Neha Champaneria Markle |
||||||||||||||||
Registered Investment Companies |
0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
0 | $ | 0 | 13 | $ | 8,094,397,841 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts |
6 | $ | 1,147,418,479 | 11 | $ | 5,306,607,207 | ||||||||||
Michael Carroll |
||||||||||||||||
Registered Investment Companies |
0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
0 | $ | 0 | 13 | $ | 8,094,397,841 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts |
6 | $ | 1,147,418,479 | 11 | $ | 5,306,607,207 | ||||||||||
Onyekwere Randy Ojukwu |
||||||||||||||||
Registered Investment Companies |
0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
0 | $ | 0 | 13 | $ | 8,094,397,841 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts |
6 | $ | 1,147,418,479 | 11 | $ | 5,306,607,207 |
23
Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Securities
The following table indicates the dollar range of securities beneficially owned by each primary portfolio manager, as of March 31, 2025. Aggregate Dollar Range, if applicable, includes each primary portfolio manager’s deferred compensation balance attributable to the Fund through participation in the Adviser’s deferred compensation plan. If applicable, this reflects an obligation of the Adviser to pay deferred compensation to the primary portfolio manager at a future date in an amount based on the performance of the Fund and accordingly, is the economic equivalent of an investment in Fund shares.
Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities in the Fund | ||||||||||||
None |
$1 - $10,000 |
$10,001- $50,000 |
$50,001- $100,000 |
$100,001- $500,000 |
Over $1,000,000 | |||||||
Neha Champaneria Markle* | X | |||||||||||
Michael Carroll | X | |||||||||||
Onyekwere Randy Ojukwu | X |
* | Neha Markle made an investment on July 1, 2025 in the range of $50,001–$100,000 in the Fund. |
Codes of Ethics
The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor, have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that establishes procedures for personal investments and restrict certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to these codes may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, so long as such investments are made in accordance with the applicable code’s requirements. The codes of ethics are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Statement of Additional Information forms a part. In addition, the codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Shareholders may also obtain copies of each code of ethics, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Proxy Voting Policies
The Fund’s investments in Portfolio Funds do not typically convey traditional voting rights, and the occurrence of corporate governance or other consent or voting matters for this type of investment is substantially less than that encountered in connection with registered equity securities. On occasion, however, the Fund may receive notices or proposals from the Portfolio Funds seeking the consent of or voting by holders, and may also vote on matters relating to the other investments held by the Fund, including registered equity securities that have been distributed in kind to the Fund by a Portfolio Fund. The Board of Trustees has delegated to the Adviser proxy voting authority with respect to the Fund’s portfolio securities.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s (“MSIM”) policy and procedures for voting proxies, the Equity Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the “Policy”) that incorporate guidelines for voting proxies on specific types of issues with respect to securities by the Fund. This policy also applies to the Adviser. This Policy is reviewed and updated as necessary to address new and evolving proxy voting issues and standards. The Adviser will use its best efforts to vote proxies as part of its authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets. The Adviser will vote proxies under this Policy pursuant to authority granted under its applicable investment advisory agreement or, in the absence of such authority, as authorized by the Board.
The Adviser will not vote proxies unless the investment management agreement, investment advisory agreement or other authority explicitly authorizes the Adviser to vote proxies.
The Adviser will vote proxies in a prudent and diligent manner and in the best interests of the Fund, consistent with the objective of maximizing long-term investment returns (“Client Proxy Standard”) and this Policy. In addition to voting proxies of portfolio companies, MSIM routinely engages with or, in some cases, may engage a third party to engage with, the management or board of companies in which the Fund invests on a range of environmental, social
24
and governance issues. Governance is a window into or proxy for management and board quality. MSIM engages with companies where the Fund has larger positions, voting issues are material or where the Adviser believes the Adviser can make a positive impact on the governance structure. MSIM’s engagement process, through private communication with companies, allows us to understand the governance structures at investment companies and better inform the Adviser’s voting decisions.
Retention and Oversight of Proxy Advisory Firms
ISS and Glass Lewis (together with other proxy research providers as we may retain from time to time, the “Research Providers”) are independent advisers that specialize in providing a variety of fiduciary-level proxy-related services to institutional investment managers, plan sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other institutional investors. The services provided include in-depth research, global issuer analysis, and voting recommendations.
To facilitate proxy voting, MSIM has retained Research Providers to provide company level reports that summarize key data elements contained within an issuer’s proxy statement. Although the Adviser is aware of the voting recommendations included in the Research Providers’ company level reports, these recommendations are not an input into the Adviser’s vote nor is any potential vote pre-populated based on a Research Provider’s research. MSIM votes all proxies based on its own proxy voting policies in the best interests of each client. In addition to research, MSIM retains ISS to provide vote execution, reporting, and record keeping services.
As part of MSIM’s ongoing oversight of the Research Providers, MSIM performs periodic due diligence on the Research Providers. Topics of the reviews include, but are not limited to, conflicts of interest, methodologies for developing their policies and vote recommendations, and resources.
Voting Proxies for Certain Non-U.S. Companies
Voting proxies of companies located in some jurisdictions may involve several problems that can restrict or prevent the ability to vote such proxies or entail significant costs. These problems include, but are not limited to: (i) proxy statements and ballots being written in a language other than English; (ii) untimely and/or inadequate notice of shareholder meetings; (iii) restrictions on the ability of holders outside the issuer’s jurisdiction of organization to exercise votes; (iv) requirements to vote proxies in person; (v) the imposition of restrictions on the sale of the securities for a period of time in proximity to the shareholder meeting; and (vi) requirements to provide local agents with power of attorney to facilitate our voting instructions. As a result, the Adviser votes clients’ non-U.S. proxies on a best efforts basis only, after weighing the costs and benefits of voting such proxies, consistent with the Client Proxy Standard. ISS has been retained to provide assistance in connection with voting non-U.S. proxies.
Information regarding how the Adviser voted proxies related to the Fund’s portfolio holdings during the 12-month period ending June 30 will be available, without charge, upon request by calling collect (617) 662-7100, and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
25
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Investment Decisions and Portfolio Transactions
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser determines, subject to the general supervision of the Board and in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and restrictions, which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which brokers are to be eligible to execute its portfolio transactions. The Adviser operates independently in providing services to its clients. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved. Thus, for example, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. In some instances, one client may sell a particular security to another client. It also happens that two or more clients may simultaneously buy or sell the same security, in which event each day’s transactions in such security are, insofar as possible, averaged as to price and allocated between such clients in a manner which in the opinion of the Adviser is equitable to each and in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold by each. There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more clients will have an adverse effect on other clients.
On behalf of the Fund, the Adviser places orders for all purchases and sales of portfolio securities, enters into repurchase agreements, and may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and execute loans of portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund unless otherwise prohibited. See “Investment Strategies and Policies.” In most instances, the Fund will purchase interests in a Portfolio Fund directly from the Portfolio Fund (or indirectly through a blocker that holds interests in the Portfolio Fund), and such purchases by the Fund may be, but are generally not, subject to transaction expenses. Nevertheless, the Fund anticipates that some of its portfolio transactions (including investments in Portfolio Funds by the Fund) may be subject to expenses.
On those occasions when the Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund as well as other customers, including other funds, the Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but is not obligated to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other customers in order to obtain best execution, including lower brokerage commissions if appropriate. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold as well as any expenses incurred in the transaction will be made by the Adviser in the manner it considers to be most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to its customers, including the Fund. In some instances, the allocation procedure might not permit the Fund to participate in the benefits of the aggregated trade.
During the period ended March 31, 2025, the Fund paid $0 in brokerage commissions. No brokerage commissions were paid to a broker that is an affiliate person of the Fund, is an affiliated person of an affiliated person of the Fund, or has an affiliated person that is an affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor.
The Fund is required to identify the securities of its regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parent companies held by the Fund as of the close of its most recent fiscal year and state the value of such holdings. As of March 31, 2025, the Fund did not hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers or their parent companies.
Best Execution; Soft Dollars
In choosing brokers and dealers, the Adviser will not be required to consider any particular criteria. For the most part, the Adviser will seek the best combination of brokerage cost and execution quality. However, the Adviser will not be required to select the broker or dealer that charges the lowest transaction cost, even if that broker provides execution quality comparable to other brokers or dealers. the Adviser may consider the value of various services or products, beyond execution, that a broker-dealer provides to the Fund and/or the Adviser. Selecting a broker-dealer in recognition of such other services or products is known as paying for those services or products with “soft dollars.” Because many of those services could benefit the Adviser, the Adviser has a conflict of interest in allocating the Fund’s brokerage business.
26
The Adviser intends to comply with Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, except with respect to securities transactions for which Section 28(e) is unavailable. Under Section 28(e), the Adviser’s use of the Fund’s commission dollars to acquire research products and services is not a breach of its fiduciary duty to the Fund —even if the brokerage commissions paid are higher than the lowest available—so long as (among certain other requirements) the Adviser determines that the commissions are reasonable compensation for both the brokerage services and the research acquired. For these purposes, “research” means services or products used to provide lawful and appropriate assistance to the Adviser in making investment decisions for its clients. The types of research the Adviser may acquire include: reports or other information about particular companies or industries; economic surveys and analyses; recommendations as to specific securities; financial publications; portfolio evaluation services; financial database software and services; computerized news, pricing and order-entry services; and other products or services that may enhance the Adviser’s investment decision-making. The “safe harbor” under Section 28(e) applies to the use of the Fund’s “soft dollars” even when the research acquired is used in making investment decisions for clients other than the Fund. Therefore, under Section 28(e), research obtained with soft dollars generated by the Fund could be used by the Adviser or its affiliates to benefit accounts other than the Fund. Conversely, the research information provided to the Adviser by brokers through which other clients of the Adviser or its affiliates effect securities transactions could be used by the Adviser or its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. Additionally, when the Adviser uses client brokerage commissions to obtain research or other services, the Adviser receives a benefit because it does not have to produce or pay for the research, products or services itself. As a result, the Adviser has an incentive to select a particular broker-dealer in order to obtain the research, products or other services from that broker-dealer, rather than to obtain the lowest price for execution. The safe harbor is not available where transactions are effected on a principal basis with a mark-up or mark-down paid to the broker-dealer and is not available for services or products that do not constitute research.
27
CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an employee benefit plan or other arrangements or entities subject to Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (an “ERISA Plan”), and persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an “individual retirement account” (an “IRA”), Keogh Plan or another arrangement or entity which is not subject to ERISA but is subject to the prohibited transaction rules of Section 4975 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (together with ERISA Plans, “Benefit Plans”) should consider, among other things, the matters described below before determining whether to invest in the Fund.
The following discussion of certain ERISA considerations is based on statutory authority and judicial and administrative interpretations as of the date of this SAI and is designed only to provide a general understanding of certain basic issues. Accordingly, this discussion should not be considered legal advice and the trustees and other fiduciaries of each Benefit Plan are encouraged to consult their own legal advisors on these matters.
ERISA imposes certain general and specific responsibilities on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an ERISA Plan, including prudence, diversification, an obligation not to engage in a prohibited transaction and other standards. In determining whether a particular investment is appropriate for an ERISA Plan, U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) regulations provide that a fiduciary of an ERISA Plan must give appropriate consideration to, among other things, the role that the investment plays in the ERISA Plan’s portfolio, taking into consideration whether the investment is designed reasonably to further the ERISA Plan’s purposes, an examination of the risk and return factors, the portfolio’s composition with regard to diversification, the liquidity and current return of the total portfolio relative to the anticipated cash flow needs of the ERISA Plan, the income tax consequences of the investment and the projected return of the total portfolio relative to the ERISA Plan’s funding objectives. Before investing the assets of an ERISA Plan in the Fund, a fiduciary should determine whether such an investment is consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities and the foregoing regulations. For example, a fiduciary should consider whether an investment in the Fund may be too illiquid or too speculative for a particular ERISA Plan, and whether the assets of the ERISA Plan would be sufficiently diversified. Fiduciaries of such plans or arrangements also should confirm that investment in the Fund is consistent, and complies, with the governing provisions of the plan or arrangement, including any eligibility and nondiscrimination requirements that may be applicable under law with respect to any “benefit, right or feature” affecting the qualified status of the plan or arrangement, which may be of particular importance for participant-directed plans given that the Fund sells Shares only to Eligible Investors, as described herein. If a fiduciary with respect to any such ERISA Plan breaches its responsibilities with regard to selecting an investment or an investment course of action for such ERISA Plan, the fiduciary itself may be held liable for losses incurred by the ERISA Plan as a result of such breach. Fiduciaries of Benefit Plans that are not subject to Title I of ERISA but that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code (such as IRAs and Keogh Plans) should consider carefully these same factors.
ERISA and the DOL regulations, promulgated thereunder, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA (collectively, the “Plan Assets Rules”), treat the assets of certain pooled investment vehicles as “plan assets” for purposes of, and subject to, the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code (“Plan Assets”). The Plan Assets Rules provide, however, that, in general, funds registered as investment companies under the 1940 Act are not deemed to be subject to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code merely because of investments made in the fund by Benefit Plans. Accordingly, the underlying assets of the Fund should not be considered to be the Plan Assets of the Benefit Plans investing in the Fund for purposes of ERISA’s (or the Code’s) fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction rules. Thus, the Adviser should not be considered a fiduciary within the meaning of ERISA or the Code by reason of its authority with respect to the Fund.
The Fund will require a Benefit Plan (and each person causing such Benefit Plan to invest in the Fund) to represent that it, and any such fiduciaries responsible for such Benefit Plan’s investments (including in its individual or corporate capacity, as may be applicable), are aware of and understand the Fund’s investment objective, policies and strategies, that the decision to invest Plan Assets in the Fund was made with appropriate consideration of relevant investment factors with regard to the Benefit Plan and is consistent with the duties and responsibilities imposed upon fiduciaries with regard to their investment decisions under ERISA and/or the Code.
28
Benefit Plans may be required to report certain compensation paid by the Fund (or by third parties) to the Fund’s service providers as “reportable indirect compensation” on Schedule C to IRS Form 5500 (“Form 5500”). To the extent that any compensation arrangements described herein constitute reportable indirect compensation, any such descriptions are intended to satisfy the disclosure requirements for the alternative reporting option for “eligible indirect compensation,” as defined for purposes of Schedule C to Form 5500.
The provisions of ERISA and the Code are subject to extensive and continuing administrative and judicial interpretation and review. The discussion of ERISA and the Code contained in this SAI is general, does not purport to be a thorough analysis of ERISA or the Code, may be affected by future publication of regulations and rulings and should not be considered legal advice. Potential investors that are Benefit Plans and their fiduciaries should consult their legal advisers regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Code of the acquisition and ownership of Shares. Employee benefit plans that are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (such as governmental plans, non-U.S. plans and certain church plans) may be subject to similar rules under other applicable laws or documents, and also should consult their own advisers as to the propriety of an investment in the Fund.
By acquiring Shares of the Fund, a Shareholder acknowledges and agrees that: (i) any information provided by the Fund, the Adviser or any of their respective affiliates (including information set forth in the Prospectus and this SAI) is not a recommendation to invest in the Fund and that none of the Fund, the Adviser or any of their respective affiliates is undertaking to provide any investment advice to the Shareholder (impartial or otherwise), or to give advice to the Shareholder in a fiduciary capacity in connection with an investment in the Fund and, accordingly, no part of any compensation received by the Adviser or any of its affiliates is for the provision of investment advice to the Shareholder; and (ii) the Adviser and its affiliates have a financial interest in the Shareholder’s investment in the Fund on account of the fees and other compensation they expects to receive from the Fund as disclosed in this SAI, the Prospectus, the Declaration of Trust and the other documents governing the Fund.
29
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth, as of June 30, 2025, information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Shares by each person known to the Fund to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding Shares. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as otherwise noted below, each shareholder named in the following table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all Shares that it beneficially owns. Each of the record holders of 5% or more of Shares may be deemed not to beneficially own (or may be deemed to have disclaimed beneficial ownership of) some or all of its Shares to the extent it does not have voting and/or dispositive power over such Shares.
Shareholders who beneficially own more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund may be deemed to be a “control person” of the Fund for purposes of the 1940 Act. To the Fund’s knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of the Fund’s outstanding equity securities are set forth below.
Class |
Name & Address |
Percentage of Class |
||||
Class I |
Morgan Stanley AIP Funding Inc. 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036(1) |
100 | % |
(1) | Based upon information obtained from Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on May 15, 2025. |
30
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Financial Statements of the Fund included in the Annual Report to the Fund’s shareholders for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2025 are incorporated by reference into this SAI. The Financial Statements for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2025, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund, as indicated in its report with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance on the report of said firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. A copy of the Financial Statements, including the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report, may be obtained without charge by calling (617) 662-7100, by writing to the Fund c/o State Street Transfer Agency 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, MA 02171 Mailstop: JAB0340 or by visiting https://www.morganstanley.com/im/NHPAF. You may also obtain a copy of the Financial Statements, including the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Report, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
31
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(1) | Financial Statements: |
Part A: The Registrant’s audited consolidated financial highlights for the operating performance of the Registrant from the commencement of the Registrant’s investment operations on December 31, 2024 through March 31, 2025 are included in Part A of this Registration Statement in the section entitled “Financial Highlights.”
Part B: The Registrant’s consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the report of Ernst & Young LLP thereon, as included in the Registrant’s annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) via EDGAR on June 6, 2025, are incorporated by reference into Part B of this Registration Statement in the section entitled “Financial Statements.”
(2) | Exhibits: |
(a) | (1) Certificate of Trust(1) |
(2) |
(b) | Bylaws(2) |
(c) | Not applicable. |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) | Not applicable. |
(g) |
(h) | (1) Distribution Agreement(4) |
(2) | Form of Selected Intermediary Agreement(6) |
(3) |
(i) | Not applicable. |
(j) |
(k) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(l) |
(m) | Not applicable. |
(n) |
(o) | Not applicable. |
(p) |
(2) |
(q) | Not applicable. |
(r) |
(2) |
(s) |
(t) |
1
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document. | |
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | |
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | |
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | |
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. | |
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
(1) | Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, filed on July 22, 2024. |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, filed on January 27, 2025. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, filed on February 19, 2025. |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, filed on February 28, 2025. |
(5) | Filed herewith. |
(6) | To be filed by amendment. |
(7) | Previously filed. |
Item 26. Marketing Arrangements
See the Distribution Agreement and Selected Intermediary Agreement, forms of which are or will be filed as Exhibits (h)(1) and (h)(2), respectively, to this Registration Statement.
Item 27. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
Not applicable.
Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant
Controlling Person |
Person Controlled |
Nature of Control | ||
North Haven Private Assets Fund | NHPAF GP LLC(a)(b) | 100% ownership | ||
North Haven Private Assets Fund | NHPAF Holdco LLC(a)(b) | 100% ownership, managing member interest held by NHPAF GP LLC. | ||
North Haven Private Assets Fund | NHPAF Blocker LLC(a)(b) | 100% ownership by NHPAF Holdco LLC. managing member interest held by NHPAF GP LLC. | ||
North Haven Private Assets Fund | NHPAF Aggregator LP(a)(b) | 100% ownership by NHPAF Holdco LLC and NHPAF Blocker LLC. General partner interest held by NHPAF GP LLC. |
(a) | Organized under the laws of Delaware. |
(b) | Included or to be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Fund. |
Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities
As of June 30, 2025:
Title of Class |
Number of Record Holders | |
Shares of Beneficial Ownership for Class S | 0 | |
Shares of Beneficial Ownership for Class D | 0 | |
Shares of Beneficial Ownership for Class I | 1 |
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Item 30. Indemnification
Reference is made to Article V, Section 5.3 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust. The Registrant, its Trustees and officers are insured against certain expenses in connection with the defense of claims, demands, actions, suits, or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), may be permitted to directors, trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant and the principal underwriter pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, trustee, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant and the principal underwriter in connection with the successful defense of any action, suite or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such director, trustee, officer or controlling person or principal underwriter in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Investment Advisory and Management Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties to the Registrant, the Adviser, its directors, officers or employees and its affiliates, successors or other legal representatives will not be liable to the Registrant for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by such person or any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of services to the Fund. The Investment Advisory and Management Agreement also provides that the Registrant will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Adviser and its directors, officers or employees and their respective affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which such person may be liable which arise in connection with the performance of services to the Registrant, provided that the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties to the Registrant.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
See “Management of the Fund” in Part B. The business or other connections of each director and officer of Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP is currently listed in the investment adviser registration on Form ADV for Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (File No. 801-60699) and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books, records and documents required pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained at the offices of:
Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP, the Registrant’s investment adviser, at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 (records relating to its functions as investment adviser).
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., the Registrant’s distributor, at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 (records relating to its functions as distributor).
State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Registrant’s custodian, at 1 Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 (records relating to its functions as custodian).
State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Registrant’s administrator, at 1 Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 (relating to its functions as administrator).
State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Registrant’s transfer agent, at 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, MA 02171, Mailstop: JAB0340 (relating to its functions as transfer agent).
Item 33. Management Services
Not applicable.
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Item 34. Undertakings
1. | Not applicable. |
2. | Not applicable. |
3. | The Registrant undertakes: |
(a) | to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement: |
(1) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
(2) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
(3) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
Provided, however, that paragraphs a(1), a(2), and a(3) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is filed pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement
(b) | that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; |
(c) | to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; |
(d) | that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: |
(1) | if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B: |
(A) | each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
(B) | each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or |
(2) | if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
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(e) | that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities: |
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:
(1) | any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; |
(2) | free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant; |
(3) | the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and |
(4) | any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. |
4. | The Registrant undertakes: |
(a) | for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and |
(b) | for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
5. | Not applicable. |
6. | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
7. | The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all requirements for the effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 486(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in in the Borough of West Conshohocken and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 29th day of July, 2025.
NORTH HAVEN PRIVATE ASSETS FUND | ||
By: | /s/ Neha Markle* | |
Name: | Neha Markle | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer, President and Trustee |
Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the 29th day of July, 2025.
By: | /s/ Neha Markle* | |
Name: | Neha Markle | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer, President and Trustee (Principal Executive Officer) | |
By: | /s/ Anmol Darooka* | |
Name: | Anmol Darooka | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) | |
By: | /s/ Arthur Lev* | |
Name: | Arthur Lev | |
Title: | Trustee | |
By: | /s/ Maureen O’Toole* | |
Name: | Maureen O’Toole | |
Title: | Trustee | |
*By: | /s/ Anmol Darooka | |
Name: | Anmol Darooka | |
Title: | As Agent or Attorney-in-Fact |
July 29, 2025
The original powers of attorney authorizing Neha Markle, Anmol Darooka, Christopher Wasilewski and Patrick Quinn to execute the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, for the trustees and officers of the Registrant on whose behalf this registration statement is filed, have been executed and are incorporated by reference herein to Item 25, Exhibit (t).
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Schedule of Exhibits to Form N-2
Exhibit No. |
Exhibit | |
(k)(3) | Expense Limitation Agreement | |
(n) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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