The Fund invests in separate underlying
strategies by investing directly in individual securities, in other mutual funds and exchange
traded funds (ETFs) within the same group of investment companies (J.P. Morgan Funds), and for the limited purposes described below, in passive ETFs that are managed by unaffiliated investment advisers (unaffiliated
passive ETFs). The Fund may also invest in unaffiliated closed-end registered investment
companies and other pooled investment vehicles (collectively with J.P. Morgan Funds and unaffiliated ETFs, underlying funds), across asset classes, including: U.S. equity and developed international equity across
market capitalizations, emerging markets equity, domestic and foreign fixed income, high yield
fixed income, emerging markets debt, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). A passive ETF is a
registered investment company that seeks to track the performance of a particular market index.
These indices include not only broad-based market indices but more specific indices as well,
including those relating to particular sectors, markets, factors, regions or industries.
The adviser may periodically increase or decrease the Fund’s actual
asset allocations according to the relative attractiveness of each asset class.
Within its equity allocations, the Fund invests primarily in the common
stock of U.S. and foreign companies, REITs, and underlying funds primarily invest in such securities.
Within its fixed income allocations, the Fund invests primarily in corporate bonds, asset-backed, mortgage- related and mortgage-backed securities, U.S. and foreign government
securities, loan assignments and participations (Loans) and commitments to purchase loan
assignments, emerging market debt and underlying funds that primarily invest in such securities.
The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any credit quality but may only invest up to 25% of its
total assets in certain below investment grade securities (also known as high yield securities or
junk bonds). This limit on below investment grade securities will include all investments held either directly by the Fund or in underlying funds held by the Fund which invest primarily in below investment grade
securities (as disclosed in the underlying fund’s prospectus). In addition, the Fund may
invest in underlying funds that may invest in fixed income securities of various credit qualities, including at times below investment grade securities, in order to expose the Fund to certain asset classes, such as emerging
market debt. The remainder of the fixed income allocation will be invested directly in securities
that, at the time of purchase are rated investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or in securities that are unrated but are deemed by the Fund’s adviser to be of comparable
quality. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any average weighted maturity or
duration.
The Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in
shares of equity or fixed income underlying funds in order to expose the Fund to certain asset
classes. To the extent the Fund invests in underlying funds, the adviser expects to select J.P. Morgan Funds without considering or canvassing the universe of unaffiliated underlying funds available, even though
there may (or may not) be one or more unaffiliated underlying funds that investors might regard
as more attractive for the Fund or that have superior returns. For both actively-managed underlying funds and ETFs, the adviser limits its selection to J.P. Morgan Funds.
For passive ETFs, the adviser expects to invest in affiliated ETFs that are J.P. Morgan Funds (J.P. Morgan ETFs), unless the adviser determines the investment is not available.
To the extent the adviser determines in its sole discretion that an investment in a passive J.P.
Morgan ETF is not available, only then will the adviser consider an unaffiliated passive ETF. In addition, the Fund may seek to gain passive exposure to one or more markets by investing directly in the securities
underlying a particular index.
The Fund may also invest up to 10% of its assets in convertible securities. Additionally, the Fund may also invest up to 10% of its securities in alternative securities. The
Fund's alternative securities investments may include individual securities, investments in
underlying funds, and other pooled investment vehicles, including vehicles that hold or provide exposure to commodities, currencies or commodity futures.
In addition to investments in underlying funds and direct investments in securities, the Fund may use
derivatives, which are instruments that have a value based on another instrument, exchange rate
or index, as substitutes for securities in which the Fund can invest. The Fund may use futures contracts, options, and swaps to more effectively gain targeted equity and fixed income exposure from its cash positions, to hedge
investments, for risk management and to attempt to increase the Fund’s returns. The Fund
may use futures contracts, options (including options on interest rate futures contracts and interest rate swaps), swaps, and credit default swaps to help manage duration, sector and yield curve exposure and credit
and spread volatility. The Fund may utilize exchange traded futures contracts for cash management
and to gain exposure to equities pending investment in individual securities. The Fund may invest
in securities denominated in any currency. The Fund may also utilize foreign currency derivatives
such as forward currency transactions to hedge exposure to non-dollar investments back to the
U.S. dollar, as well as to gain exposure to certain currencies.
Although the Fund will generally maintain its assets within the allocations
above, the Fund may hold cash or cash equivalents for various purposes, including in connection with segregation for derivatives transactions, as collateral for derivatives transactions or for temporary defensive
purposes.
The adviser establishes the strategic and tactical
allocation for the Fund and makes the day-to-day decisions concerning strategies and overall
construction of the Fund. As attractive investments arise across asset classes and strategies, the adviser attempts to capture these opportunities by allocating the Fund’s assets among strategies and asset
classes within pre-defined ranges.
Investment decisions within strategies and asset classes are implemented either by the portfolio managers of
the Fund’s underlying strategies who select individual securities for the Fund or with the
Fund’s purchase of underlying funds.
The frequency with
which the Fund buys and sells underlying investments will vary from year to year, depending on, but not limited to: market conditions, performance of the underlying investments, and changes in the adviser’s
investment views.