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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2010
Securities Act File No. 333-132380
Investment Company Act File No. 811-21864
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
| THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
x |
| Pre-Effective Amendment No. |
¨ |
| Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 |
x |
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
| THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
x |
| Amendment No. 34 |
x |
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
WISDOMTREE TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
380 Madison Avenue
21st Floor
New York, NY 10017
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code): 1-866-909-9973
JONATHAN STEINBERG
WISDOMTREE TRUST
380 Madison Avenue
21st Floor
New York, NY 10017
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
| Counsel for the Trust: | Richard Morris, Esq. | |
| Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP | WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. | |
| 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW | 380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor | |
| Washington, DC 20004 | New York, NY 10017 | |
| Attention: W. John McGuire, Esq. | ||
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
| x | Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| ¨ | On December 29, 2009 pursuant to paragraph (b) |
| ¨ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| ¨ | On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) |
| ¨ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) |
| ¨ | On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. |
If appropriate, check the following box:
| ¨ | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
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PROSPECTUS
, 2010
Currency Income Funds
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WisdomTree Trust
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund (CCX) | ||
| Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc. | ||
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THIS SECURITY UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THE SECURITY AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITY IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”) HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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WisdomTree Trust
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WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund
NYSE Arca ticker symbol: CCX
Cusip:
WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund
Investment Objective
The WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve total returns reflective of money market rates in selected commodity-producing countries and changes to value of such countries’ currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may also incur customary brokerage commissions when buying or selling Fund shares.
| Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
None | ||
| Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
|||
| Management Fees |
0.55 | % | |
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees |
None | ||
| Other Expenses * |
0.00 | % | |
| Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.55 | % |
| * | The Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus and therefore “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. |
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of the shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| 1 Year | 3 Years | |||
| $56 | $176 |
Investors may pay brokerage commissions on their purchases and sales of Fund shares, which are not reflected in the example.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance.
The Fund’s Investment Strategy
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”).
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The Fund may be appropriate for investors seeking:
| n | Exposure to the money market rates and currencies of selected commodity-producing countries |
| n | Benefits of daily transparency and intra-day tradability provided by the ETF structure. |
The term “commodity currency” generally is used to describe the currency of a country whose economic success is commonly identified with the production and export of commodities (such as precious metals, oil, agricultural products or other raw materials) and whose value is closely linked to the value of such commodities. As the demand for, or price of, such commodities increases money tends to flow into the country. This generally lifts the country’s economic prospects and supports the value of its currency. For example, Canada is commonly recognized as a leading producer and exporter of oil and natural gas. Increases in the price of oil and gas historically have had a positive influence on the value of the Canadian dollar relative to other currencies. Similarly, a significant portion of the economies of Australia and South Africa are tied to mining and production of industrial and precious metals, such as iron ore and gold. Increases in the prices such metals historically have provided support to the value of the Australian dollar and South African rand relative to other currencies. Conversely, declines in the demand for, or value of, such commodities historically have contributed to declines in the relative value of these countries’ currencies.
The Fund is designed to provide exposure to both the currencies and money market rates available to foreign investors in selected commodity-producing countries. The Fund intends to invest in commodity-producing countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Russia and South Africa. In addition to seeking broad exposure across countries and currencies, the Fund intends to seek exposure across currencies correlated to each of the key commodity groups: industrial metals, precious metals, energy, agriculture and livestock. The Fund generally will invest only in currencies that “float” relative to other currencies. The value of a floating currency is largely determined by supply and demand and prevailing market rates. In contrast, the value of a “fixed” currency generally is set by a government or central bank at an official exchange rate. The Fund generally does not intend to invest in the currencies of notable commodity producers, such as China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, since they are fixed or otherwise closely linked to the U.S. dollar. The Fund will only invest in currencies that it deems to be sufficiently liquid and accessible.
The Fund intends to achieve exposure to selected commodity-producing countries available to U.S. investors by investing primarily in short-term U.S. money market securities and forward currency contracts and swaps. The combination of money market securities with forward currency contracts and currency swaps is designed to create a position economically similar to a money market instrument denominated in a non-U.S. currency. A forward currency contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange one currency for another at a future rate.
In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Fund generally expects to maintain an average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less. The “average portfolio maturity” of the Fund is the average of all the current maturities of the individual securities in the Fund’s portfolio. Average portfolio maturity is important to investors as an indication of the Fund’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Funds with longer portfolio maturities generally are subject to greater interest rate risk. All money market securities acquired by the Fund will be rated in the upper two short-term ratings by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality.
As a matter of general policy, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in investments that are tied economically to selected commodity-producing countries available to U.S. investors that make a significant contribution to the global export of commodities. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, the Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy. The Trust will provide shareholders with sixty (60) days prior notice of any change to this policy for the Fund.
Risks of Investing in the Fund
You can lose money on your investment in the Fund. The Fund is subject to the risks described below. Some or all of these risks may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”), trading price, yield, total return and/or its ability to meet its objectives.
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Investment Risk
As with all investments, an investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk. Investors in the Fund could lose money, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount of an investment, over short or even long periods of time. Although the Fund invests in very short-term, investment-grade securities, the Fund is not a “money market fund” and it is not an objective of the fund to maintain a constant share price as would be the case for a typical money market fund.
Interest Rate Risk
The value of money market securities, and therefore the value of an investment in a Fund, may change in response to changes in interest rates. Generally, if U.S. interest rates rise, then the value of a U.S. money market security is expected to decrease. Similarly, if non-U.S. interest rates rise, the value of a money market security denominated in that non-U.S. currency would also be expected to decrease. In general, securities with longer maturities are more vulnerable to interest rate changes. The “average portfolio maturity” of a Fund is the average of all the current maturities of the individual securities in the Fund’s portfolio. Average portfolio maturity is important to investors as an indication of the Fund’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Funds with longer portfolio maturities generally are subject to greater interest rate risk.
Low Interest Rate Risk
Financial crisis, recession, and deflation could contribute to declines in U.S. and international interest rates. Recent events in the financial sector have resulted, and may continue to result, in downward pressure on interest rates and returns on money market instruments and other investments. If this continues to occur, rates may decline to levels where the interest earned by the Fund’s investments limits the Fund’s ability to make distributions or becomes insufficient to cover the expenses of the Fund. In these circumstances, the Fund may need to use available cash or sell securities out of the Fund to compensate for this shortfall. In addition, in order to invest in higher quality, more liquid investments, the Fund may need to accept lower returns on investment. These circumstances could cause a decline in the NAV of the Fund, could have negative tax consequences and could cause investors to lose money.
Market Risk
The price of money market securities, and therefore the value of an investment in the Fund, may fluctuate in response to a variety of general market factors. These factors include economic, market and political developments that affect specific market segments and the market as a whole. The Fund’s NAV and market price, like the price of money market securities generally, may fluctuate within a wide range in response to these factors. As a result, an investor in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
Events in the financial sector and other markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in worldwide financial markets. Both domestic and foreign fixed income and equity markets experienced extreme volatility and turmoil in late 2008 and throughout most of 2009. Well-known financial and other institutions have experienced significant liquidity and other problems and issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. Some of these institutions have declared bankruptcy or defaulted on their debt. It is uncertain whether or for how long these conditions will continue. These events and possible continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on Fund performance.
Credit Risk
The financial condition of an issuer of a money market security may cause it to default or become unable to pay interest or principal due on the security. A Fund cannot collect interest and principal payments on a money market security if the issuer defaults. Recent events in the financial sector have resulted in increased concerns about credit risk and exposure. Well-known financial institutions have experienced significant liquidity and other problems and have defaulted on their debt. The degree of credit risk for a particular money market security may be reflected in its credit rating. A credit rating is a measure of a bond issuer’s ability to make timely payments of interest and principal. Rating agencies (such as Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Corporation, or Fitch) assign letter designations typically ranging from AAA to A- (lower default risk)
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through CCC to C (higher default risk) or D (in default). A credit rating of BBB or higher generally is considered “investment grade.” Credit ratings are subjective, do not remove market risk and represent the opinions of the rating agencies as to the quality of the securities they rate. Credit ratings can change quickly and may not accurately reflect the risk of an issuer. Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as the credit rating of a money market security declines. While each Fund attempts to limit credit exposure in a manner consistent with its respective investment objective, the value of an investment in a Fund may change quickly and without warning in response to issuer defaults and changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio securities.
Derivatives Investment Risk
The Fund may invest in derivatives. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their performance from an underlying asset, index, interest rate or currency exchange rate, such as forward currency contracts, futures contracts and swaps. The Fund may invest in forward currency contracts, futures contracts and currency swaps. A forward currency contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. A non-deliverable forward currency contract is a contract where there is no physical settlement of two currencies at maturity. Rather, based on the movement of the currencies, a net cash settlement will be made by one party to the other. A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement for the future sale by one party and the purchase by another of a specified security or instrument at a specified price and time. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange one currency for another at a future rate. The combination of U.S. money market securities with forward currency contracts, futures contracts and swaps is designed to create a position economically similar to a money market security denominated in a particular non-U.S. currency. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks described elsewhere in this section, such as interest rate risk, market risk, capacity risk, credit risk and management risk. They also involve the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, or that the counterparty to a derivative contract might default on its obligations. Derivatives can be volatile and may be less liquid than other securities.
Foreign Currency Risk
The Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies, or in securities that provide exposure to such currencies, currency exchange rates or interest rates denominated in such currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates and the relative value of non-U.S. currencies will affect the value of the Fund’s investment and the value of your Fund shares. Because the Fund’s NAV is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, the U.S. dollar value of your investment in the Fund may go down if the value of the local currency of the non-U.S. markets in which the Fund invests depreciates against the U.S. dollar. This is true even if the local currency value of securities in the Fund’s holdings goes up. Conversely, the dollar value of your investment in the Fund may go up if the value of the local currency appreciates against the U.S. dollar.
The value of the U.S. dollar measured against other currencies is influenced by a variety of factors. These factors include: interest rates, national debt levels and trade deficits, changes in balances of payments and trade, domestic and foreign interest and inflation rates, global or regional political, economic or financial events, monetary policies of governments, actual or potential government intervention, and global energy prices. Political instability, the possibility of government intervention and restrictive or opaque business and investment policies may also reduce the value of a country’s currency. Government monetary policies and the buying or selling of currency by a country’s government may also influence exchange rates.
Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably. Therefore, the value of an investment in the Fund may also go up or down quickly and unpredictably and investors may lose money.
Foreign Securities Risk
The Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in non-U.S. securities and instruments, or in securities that provide exposure to such securities and instruments. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may be subject to different accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. Investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to withholding or other
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taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. With respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of government intervention and expropriation or nationalization of assets. Because legal systems differ, there is also the possibility that it will be difficult to obtain or enforce legal judgments in certain countries. Since foreign exchanges may be open on days when a Fund does not price its shares, the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell the Fund’s shares. Conversely, Fund shares may trade on days when foreign exchanges are closed. Each of these factors can make investments in the Fund more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.
Emerging Market Risk
Investments in securities and instruments traded in developing or emerging markets, or that provide exposure to such securities or markets, can involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in U.S. securities and instruments. For example, developing and emerging markets may be subject to (i) greater market volatility, (ii) lower trading volume and liquidity, (iii) greater social, political and economic uncertainty, (iv) governmental controls on foreign investments and limitations on repatriation of invested capital, (v) lower disclosure, corporate governance, auditing and financial reporting standards, and (vi) fewer protections of property rights. Issuers in developing markets may present greater credit risks than issuers in more developed markets because of, among other reasons, lower disclosure standards and the potentially greater cost and difficulty of obtaining and enforcing legal judgments.
Shares of the Fund May Trade at Prices Other Than NAV
As with all ETFs, Fund shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of the shares of the Fund will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. Thus, you may pay more than NAV intra-day when you buy shares of the Fund in the secondary market, and you may receive less than NAV when you sell those shares in the secondary market. The market price of Fund shares during the trading day, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid/ask” spread charged by the exchange specialist, market makers or other participants that trade Fund shares. The bid/ask spread on ETF shares is likely to be larger on ETFs that are traded less frequently. In addition, in times of severe market disruption, the bid/ask spread can increase significantly. At those times, Fund shares are most likely to be traded at a discount to NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest when the price of shares is falling fastest, which may be the time that you most want to sell your shares. You may wish to discuss ETF trading strategies, such as the use of limit orders and stop orders, with your broker.
Fund Performance
The Fund has not yet completed a full calendar year of investment operations and therefore does not have any performance history. After the first full calendar year a risk/return chart and table will be provided. Any past performance of the Fund that will be shown will not be an indication of future results.
Portfolio Management
Investment Adviser
WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. (“WisdomTree Asset Management”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
Sub-Adviser
The Dreyfus Corporation (“Dreyfus”) serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund
Portfolio Managers
David C. Kwan, a Managing Director, Fixed Income, has been with Dreyfus since 1996.
Zandra Zelaya, CFA, a Director, Fixed Income, has been with Dreyfus since 1997.
For important information about the purchase and sale of fund shares and tax information, please turn to Additional Summary Information on page 7.
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Additional Summary Information
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund (the “Fund”) issues and redeems shares at NAV only in large blocks of shares (“Creation Units”). As a practical matter, only institutions or large investors purchase or redeem Creation Units. Currently, Creation Units generally consist of 100,000 shares, though this may change from time to time. Creation Units are not expected to consist of less than 50,000 shares. The Fund generally issues and redeems Creation Units in exchange for a portfolio of money market securities closely approximating the holdings of the Fund or a designated basket of non-U.S. currency and/or an amount of U.S. cash.
The Fund is an “exchange traded fund.” This means that shares of the Fund are listed on a national securities exchange, such as NYSE Arca, and trade at market prices. Most investors will buy and sell shares of the Fund through brokers. The Fund has its own CUSIP number and exchange trading symbol. Because Fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).
Tax Information
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.
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Additional Investment Objective Information
General. The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). ETFs are funds whose shares are listed on a stock exchange and traded like equity securities at market prices. ETFs, such as the Fund, allow you to buy or sell shares that represent the collective performance of a selected group of securities. ETFs are designed to add the flexibility, ease and liquidity of stock-trading to the benefits of traditional index-fund investing.
Investment Objective. Since the Fund’s investment objective has been adopted as a non-fundamental investment policy, the Fund’s investment objective may be changed without a vote of shareholders.
The following section provides additional information regarding certain of the principal risks identified under “Risks of Investing in the Fund” in the Fund’s Summaries along with additional risk information.
Lack of Governmental Insurance or Guarantee
An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Management Risk
The Fund is actively managed using proprietary investment strategies, techniques and processes. There can be no guarantee that these strategies, techniques and processes will produce the desired results.
Non-Diversification Risk
Although the Fund intends to invest in a variety of securities and instruments, the Fund will be considered to be non-diversified, which means that it may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it were a diversified fund. As a result, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer or a smaller number of issuers than a fund that invests more widely. This may increase the Fund’s volatility and cause the performance of a relatively smaller number of issuers to have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.
Financial Sector Risk
The Fund generally invests a relatively large percentage of its assets (i.e., “concentrate”) in debt obligations and other securities of issuers in the financial sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund may be impacted by events affecting this sector. This sector can be significantly affected by changes in interest rates, the rate of corporate and consumer debt defaulted, price competition, the availability and cost of capital funds and fallout from the housing and sub-prime mortgage crisis. Recently, this sector has been significantly impacted by bankruptcies and consolidations of major financial firms. These events have had, and may continue to have, a significant negative impact on the valuation and stock price of companies in this sector and have increased the volatility of investments in this sector. Debt obligations and other securities of such companies may be less liquid and more susceptible to credit risk than in the past.
Capacity Risk
The Fund may invest in derivative instruments as a substitute for taking a position in an underlying asset in an attempt to create a position economically similar to a direct investment. As a result, the Fund may experience the risk that the market for derivative instruments used to achieve such exposure has limited liquidity or volume. This may be due to foreign government restrictions or regulations on such use of derivative instruments, or because the Fund may be unable to obtain a sufficient amount of derivative instruments necessary to create the required exposure. This could have a negative effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
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Offshore Investor Risk
The opportunity for offshore investors to access certain non-U.S. markets can be limited due to a variety of factors including government regulations, adverse tax treatment, and currency convertibility issues. These limitations and restrictions may impact the availability, liquidity, and pricing of securities designed to provide offshore investors with exposure to such markets. As a result, returns achieved by offshore investors, such as the Fund, could differ from those available to domestic investors in the selected emerging markets countries.
Cash Redemption Risk
Unlike most ETFs, the Fund generally does not make in-kind redemptions because of the nature of the Fund’s underlying investments. The Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds in U.S. dollars or a non-U.S. currency. This may cause the Fund to recognize a capital gain that it might not have incurred if it had made a redemption in-kind. As a result the Fund may pay out higher annual capital gains distributions than if the in-kind redemption process was used.
Tax Risk
To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, the Fund must, among other things, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources. The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from qualifying income if such gains are not directly related to the Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities. Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of the Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company for all years to which the regulations are applicable. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) for that year would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable to shareholders as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.
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As investment adviser, WisdomTree Asset Management has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of WisdomTree Trust (the “Trust”) and each of its separate investment portfolios called “Funds.” WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (“WisdomTree Investments”) is the parent company of WisdomTree Asset Management. WisdomTree Asset Management provides an investment program for each Fund. WisdomTree Asset Management also arranges for sub-advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration, and all other non-distribution related services necessary for the Funds to operate.
WisdomTree Asset Management expects to receive fees from the Fund, based on a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets, as shown in the following table:
| Name of Fund | Management Fee | ||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund | 0.55 | % |
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, WisdomTree Asset Management agrees to pay all expenses of each Fund, except compensation and expenses of the Independent Trustees, counsel to the Independent Trustees and the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), interest expenses and taxes, brokerage expenses and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, any distribution fees or expenses, legal fees or expenses and extraordinary expenses. Pursuant to a separate contractual arrangement, WisdomTree Asset Management arranges for the provision of CCO services with respect to each Fund, and is liable and responsible for, and administers, payments to the CCO, the Independent Trustees and counsel to the Independent Trustees. WisdomTree Asset Management receives a fee of up to 0.0044% of each Fund’s assets for providing such services and paying such expenses. As of October 1, 2009, WisdomTree Asset Management provides CCO services to the Trust.
The basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement will be available in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ending August 31, 2010.
WisdomTree Asset Management is a registered investment adviser with offices located at 380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017 and is a leader in ETF management.
Dreyfus Corporation (“Dreyfus” or the “Sub-Adviser”) serves as the sub-adviser for the Fund.
The Sub-Adviser chooses the Fund’s portfolio investments and places orders to buy and sell the Fund’s portfolio investments. WisdomTree Asset Management pays the Sub-Adviser to the Fund a fee equal to one-half of the fee paid to WisdomTree Asset Management for providing advisory services to the Fund.
WisdomTree Asset Management, as the investment adviser for the Funds, may hire one or more sub-advisers to oversee the day-to-day activities of the Funds. The sub-advisers are subject to oversight by WisdomTree Asset Management. WisdomTree Asset Management and the Trust are seeking an exemptive order from the SEC that will permit WisdomTree Asset Management, with the approval of the Independent Trustees of the Trust, to retain unaffiliated investment sub-advisers for the Funds without submitting the sub-advisory agreement to a vote of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trust will notify shareholders in the event of any change in the identity of such sub-adviser or sub-advisers. WisdomTree Asset Management has ultimate responsibility for the investment performance of the Funds due to its responsibility to oversee each sub-adviser and recommend their hiring, termination and replacement. If the exemptive relief is obtained, WisdomTree Asset Management will not be required to disclose fees paid to sub-advisers.
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The Sub-Adviser utilizes teams of investment professionals acting together to manage the assets of the Fund. The teams meet regularly to review portfolio holdings and to discuss purchase and sale activity. The teams adjust holdings in the portfolio as they deem appropriate in the pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective. The individual members of the team who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are listed below.
David C. Kwan has been a Managing Director of Mellon Capital since 2000. He has also been the Head of the Fixed Income Management Group since 1994 and the Head of the Trading Group since 1996. Mr. Kwan has direct oversight responsibility for the management of the Fund. He received his M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1990. Mr. Kwan has 18 years of investment experience.
Zandra Zelaya has been a Director, Fixed Income at Mellon Capital since November 2009. From November 2007 to November 2009 she was a Vice President, Fixed Income at Mellon Capital. Ms. Zelaya joined Mellon Capital in 1997 as a fixed income associate. Throughout the years she has held various positions in the Fixed Income Management Group including Senior Portfolio Manager from 2002 to 2006 and Assistant Vice President from 2006 to November 2007. Ms. Zelaya has attained the Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”) designation. She graduated with a B.S. from California State University, Hayward. Ms. Zelaya has 14 years of investment experience.
Mr. Kwan and Ms. Zelaya manage the Fund in their capacity as dual employees of Dreyfus and Mellon Capital. Mr. Kwan and Ms. Zelaya have been employees of Dreyfus since 2005. Each Portfolio Manager has managed each Fund since inception.
The Trust’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers, and the Portfolio Managers’ ownership of shares in the Fund.
Portfolio Holdings Information
Information about the Fund’s daily portfolio holdings is available at www.wisdomtree.com. In addition, the Fund discloses its complete portfolio holdings as of the end of its fiscal year (August 31) and its second fiscal quarter (February 28) in its reports to shareholders. The Fund files its complete portfolio holdings as of the end of its first and third fiscal quarters (November 30 and May 31, respectively) with the SEC on Form N-Q no later than 60 days after the relevant fiscal period. You can find the SEC filings on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. A summarized description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Trust’s SAI.
Additional Information on Buying and Selling Shares
Most investors will buy and sell shares of the Fund through brokers. Shares of the Fund trade on national securities exchanges and elsewhere during the trading day and can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other shares of publicly-traded securities. When buying or selling shares through a broker, most investors will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges.
Shares of the Fund trade under the trading symbol listed in the summary section describing the Fund and on the cover of this Prospectus.
As with other types of securities, the trading prices of shares in the secondary market can be affected by market forces such as supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors. The price you pay or receive when you buy or sell your shares in the secondary market may be more or less than the NAV of such shares.
| WisdomTree Trust Prospectus | 11 |
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The approximate value of shares of the Fund is disseminated every fifteen seconds throughout the trading day by the national securities exchange on which the Fund is listed or by other information providers. This approximate value should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the NAV, because the approximate value may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once per day. The approximate value generally is determined by using amortized cost for securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, current market quotations and/or price quotations obtained from broker-dealers that may trade in the portfolio securities held by the Fund. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the approximate value and make no warranty as to its accuracy.
Determination of Net Asset Value
The NAV of the Fund’s shares is calculated each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading as of the close of regular trading, generally 4:00 p.m. New York time. NAV per share is calculated by dividing the Fund’s net assets by the number of Fund shares outstanding.
In calculating the Fund’s NAV, Fund investments generally are valued using market valuations. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less generally are valued on the basis of amortized cost. U.S. fixed income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for such securities on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association announces an early closing time. The value of any assets or liabilities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate deemed appropriate by the Fund.
In certain instances, such as when reliable market valuations are not readily available or are not deemed to reflect current market values, the Fund’s investments will be valued in accordance with the Fund’s pricing policy and procedures. For these purposes, a price based on amortized cost is considered a market valuation. Securities that may be valued using “fair value” pricing may include, but are not limited to, securities for which there are no current market quotations or whose issuer is in default or bankruptcy, securities subject to corporate actions (such as mergers or reorganizations), securities subject to non-U.S. investment limits or currency controls, and securities affected by “significant events.” An example of a significant event is an event occurring after the close of the market in which a security trades but before the Fund’s next NAV calculation time that may materially affect the value of the Fund’s investment (e.g., government action, natural disaster, or significant market fluctuation). When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.
The Fund intends to pay out dividends, if any, at least annually.
The Fund intends to distribute its net realized capital gains, if any, to investors annually. The Fund may occasionally be required to make supplemental distributions at some other time during the year. Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole shares only if the broker through whom you purchased shares makes such option available. Your broker is responsible for distributing the income and capital gain distributions to you.
Shares of the Fund are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding shares of the Fund.
Investors owning shares of the Fund are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all shares of the Fund. Participants include DTC, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any securities that you hold in book entry or “street name” form. Your broker will provide you with account statements, confirmations of your purchases and sales, and tax information.
| 12 | WisdomTree Trust Prospectus |
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Delivery of Shareholder Documents – Householding
Householding is an option available to certain investors of the Fund. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Householding for the Fund is available through certain broker-dealers. If you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, please contact your broker-dealer. If you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status, please contact your broker-dealer.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares
The Fund has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Creation Units of Fund shares. Since the Fund is an ETF, only a few institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) are authorized to purchase and redeem shares directly with the Fund. Because purchase and redemption transactions with Authorized Participants are an essential part of the ETF process and help keep ETF trading prices in line with NAV, the Fund accommodates frequent purchases and redemptions of Creation Units by Authorized Participants. Frequent purchases and redemptions for cash may increase portfolio transaction costs and may lead to realization of capital gains. Frequent in-kind creations and redemptions do not give rise to these concerns. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order at any time. The Fund reserves the right to impose restrictions on disruptive, excessive, or short-term trading and may reject purchase or redemption orders in such instances.
Investments by Registered Investment Companies
Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 restricts investments by registered investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including shares of the Fund. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the WisdomTree Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Fund.
The following discussion is a summary of some important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Fund. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. Please consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of an investment in Fund shares, including the possible application of foreign, state and local tax laws.
The Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in fund-level taxation, and consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.
Unless your investment in shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when:
| n | The Fund makes distributions, |
| n | You sell shares, and |
| n | You purchase or redeem Creation Units (for institutional investors only). |
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains (if any) are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her Fund shares. Distributions of net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for more than one year over net short-term capital losses) that
| WisdomTree Trust Prospectus | 13 |
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are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Long-term capital gain rates have been temporarily reduced – in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets – for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011, distributions of investment income designated by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” are taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and the Fund level. The Fund does not, however, expect a significant portion of its distributions to be derived from qualified dividend income. Distributions are taxable even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before your investment (and thus were included in the price you paid for your shares).
If a shareholder is neither a lawful permanent resident nor a citizen of the United States or if a shareholder is a foreign entity, the Fund’s ordinary income dividends (which include distributions of net short-term capital gains) generally will be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies. However, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010 (or such later date as may be provided in currently proposed legislation if the same in enacted), certain distributions designated by the Fund as either interest-related dividends or short-term gain dividends and paid to a foreign shareholder would be eligible for an exemption from U.S. withholding tax.
The Fund (or a financial intermediary such as a broker through which a shareholder owns Fund shares) generally is required to withhold and to remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and the sale or redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that he, she or it is not subject to such withholding.
Taxes When Fund Shares are Sold
Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares is generally treated as a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares held for one year or less is generally treated as a short-term gain or loss, except that any capital loss on a sale of shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such shares. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited depending on your circumstances.
Taxes on Creation and Redemption of Creation Units
An Authorized Participant having the U.S. dollar as its functional currency for U.S. federal tax purposes that exchanges money market securities or non-U.S. currency for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the money market securities or non-U.S. currency surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. A person who redeems Creation Units for money market securities or non-U.S. currency will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the sum of the aggregate U.S. dollar market value of the securities or non-U.S. currency plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss that is realized by an Authorized Participant upon an exchange of securities or non-U.S. currency for Creation Units cannot be currently deducted under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.
Gain or loss recognized by an Authorized Participant upon an issuance of Creation Units in exchange for non-U.S. currency will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss. Gain or loss recognized by an Authorized Participant upon an issuance of Creation Units in exchange for money market securities, or upon a redemption of Creation Units, may be capital or ordinary gain or loss depending on the circumstances. Any capital gain or loss realized upon an issuance of Creation Units in exchange for money market securities will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the money market securities have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the redemption of a Creation Unit will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund shares comprising the Creation Unit have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, such capital gains or losses are treated as short-term capital gains or losses.
| 14 | WisdomTree Trust Prospectus |
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A person subject to U.S. federal income tax who receives non-U.S. currency upon a redemption of Creation Units and does not immediately convert the non-U.S. currency into U.S. dollars may, upon a later conversion of the non-U.S. currency into U.S. dollars, recognize as ordinary gains or losses any gains or losses resulting from fluctuations in the value of the non-U.S. currency relative to the U.S. dollar since the date of the redemption.
Persons exchanging securities or non-U.S. currency for Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction. If you purchase or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many shares you purchased or redeemed and at what price.
Interest and other income received by the Fund with respect to foreign securities may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If as of the close of a taxable year more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund intends to “pass through” to investors the amount of foreign income and similar taxes (including withholding taxes) paid by the Fund during that taxable year. This means that investors will be considered to have received as additional income their respective shares of such foreign taxes, but may be entitled to either a corresponding tax deduction in calculating taxable income, or, subject to certain limitations, a credit in calculating federal income tax.
ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. The Distributor does not maintain a secondary market in shares of the Fund. The Distributor’s principal address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203. The Distributor has no role in determining the policies of the Fund or the securities that are purchased or sold by the Fund.
Shares of the Trust are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by any listing exchange (the “Exchange”). The Exchange makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the shares of the Fund. The Exchange is not responsible for, nor has it participated in, the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of the shares of the Fund to be issued, nor in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the shares are redeemable. The Exchange has no obligation or liability to owners of the shares of the Fund in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the shares of the Fund. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Exchange have any liability for any lost profits or indirect, punitive, special, or consequential damages even if notified of the possibility thereof.
WisdomTree Investments, WisdomTree Asset Management and the Fund make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of shares of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly. WisdomTree Investments is the licensor of certain trademarks, service marks and trade names of the Fund.
The Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus and therefore does not have information regarding how often shares of the Fund traded on the Exchange at prices above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund during the past calendar year. When available, such information will be provided at www.wisdomtree.com.
The Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus and therefore does not have financial information.
| WisdomTree Trust Prospectus | 15 |
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WisdomTree Trust
380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10017
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The Trust’s current SAI provides additional detailed information about the Fund. The Trust has electronically filed the SAI with the SEC. It is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds’ performance during the last fiscal year the Fund was in operation.
To make shareholder inquiries, for more detailed information on the Fund or to request the SAI, annual or semi-annual shareholder reports free of charge, please:
| Call: | 1-866-909-9473 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Eastern time) |
Write: | WisdomTree Trust c/o ALPS Distributors, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100 Denver, Colorado 80203 | |||
| Visit: | www.wisdomtree.com |
Information about the Fund (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations about the Fund and its shares not contained in this Prospectus and you should not rely on any other information. Read and keep this Prospectus for future reference.
©2009 WisdomTree Trust
WisdomTree Funds are distributed by
ALPS Distributors, Inc.
1290 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, Colorado 80203
“WisdomTree” is a registered mark of WisdomTree Investments, Inc.
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-21864 [WIS-PR- ]
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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED DECEMBER 29, 2009, AS REVISED [ ], 2010
WISDOMTREE® TRUST
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a Prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the current Prospectus (“Prospectus”) for the following separate investment portfolios (each, a “Fund”) of WisdomTree Trust (the “Trust”), as each such Prospectus may be revised from time to time:
WISDOMTREE FIXED INCOME FUNDS
WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund (formerly the WisdomTree U.S. Current Income Fund) Ticker: USY
WISDOMTREE CURRENCY INCOME FUNDS
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund |
Ticker: BZF | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund |
Ticker: CYB | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund |
Ticker: CEW | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund |
Ticker: EU | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund |
Ticker: ICN | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund |
Ticker: JYF | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund |
Ticker: CCX | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund |
Ticker: SZR | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund |
Ticker: CCX |
Principal U.S. Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.
The current Prospectus for each of the Funds is dated December 29, 2009, except for the WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund, which is dated [ ], 2010. Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. The Funds’ audited financial statements for the period ended August 31, 2009 are incorporated in this SAI by reference to the Funds’ most recent Annual Report to Shareholders (File No. 811-21864). You may obtain a copy of the Funds’ Annual Report at no charge by request to the Fund at the address or phone number noted below.
A copy of the Prospectus for each Fund may be obtained, without charge, by calling 1-866-909-9473 or visiting www.wisdomtree.com, or writing to WisdomTree Trust, c/o ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUNDS
The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on December 15, 2005 and is authorized to have multiple series or portfolios. The Trust is an open-end, management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The offering of the Trust’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This SAI relates to the following Funds:
WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund
WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund
WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. (“WisdomTree Asset Management”) is the investment adviser (“Adviser”) to each Fund. Mellon Capital Management Corporation (“Mellon Capital”) is the investment sub-adviser (a “Sub-Adviser”) for the WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund (the “U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund”). The Dreyfus Corporation (“Dreyfus”) is the investment sub-adviser (a “Sub-Adviser”) for each of the WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund, WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund, WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund, WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund, WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund, WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund, WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund and the WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund (together with the WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund, the “International Currency Income Funds”). ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor (the “Distributor”) of the shares of each Fund.
Each Fund issues and redeems shares at net asset value per share (“NAV”) only in large blocks of shares (“Creation Units”). Currently, Creation Units generally consist of 100,000 shares, though this may change from time to time. Creation Units are not expected to consist of less than 50,000 shares. These transactions are usually in exchange for a basket of securities and an amount of cash. As a practical matter, only institutions or large investors purchase or redeem Creation Units. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of each Fund are not redeemable securities.
Shares of each Fund are listed on a national securities exchange, such as NYSE Arca (the “Listing Exchange”), and trade throughout the day on the Listing Exchange and other secondary markets at market prices that may differ from NAV. As in the case of other publicly-traded securities, brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.
The Trust reserves the right to adjust the prices of shares in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the applicable Fund.
“WisdomTree” is a registered mark of WisdomTree Investments and has been licensed for use by the Trust. “Dreyfus” is a registered mark of The Dreyfus Corporation and has been licensed for use by the Trust.
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
The investment objectives and general investment policies of each Fund are described in the Prospectus. Additional information concerning the Funds is set forth below.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund
The U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund seeks to generate current income and total return in a manner that is consistent with low fluctuations in principal value by investing primarily in very short-term government securities. The Fund will focus its portfolio investments on investment grade government securities, including Treasury securities, securities issued by government sponsored enterprises (such as the Federal Home Loan Bank, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac), government-sponsored corporate bonds, and repurchase agreements backed by government securities. The Fund intends to purchase fixed-rate as well as floating- and adjustable-rate obligations. The Fund also may invest in commercial paper, corporate notes, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, money market securities, time deposits and certificates of deposit. Fixed income securities (other than money market securities) held by the Fund will be rated A or higher at the time of purchase by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations
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(“NRSROs”) or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality. All money market securities acquired by the Fund will be rated in the upper two short-term ratings by at least two NRSROs or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality. In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Fund expects to maintain an average portfolio maturity of six months or less, though this may change from time to time. The “average portfolio maturity” of a Fund is the average of all the current maturities of the individual securities in the Fund’s portfolio.
Average portfolio maturity is important to investors as an indication of the Fund’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Funds with longer portfolio maturities generally are subject to greater interest rate risk.
Prior to May 27, 2009, the Fund was named the WisdomTree U.S. Current Income Fund. The Fund’s investment objective and strategy prior to that date, was to earn current income while preserving capital and maintaining liquidity by investing primarily in very short-term, high-quality money market securities.
As a matter of general policy, the Fund has adopted a policy to invest under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in investments that are suggested by its name. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, the Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy. The Trust will provide shareholders with sixty (60) days prior notice of any change to this policy for the Fund.
International Currency Income Funds
Each of the Euro Fund and Japanese Yen Fund (i) seeks to earn current income reflective of money market rates available to foreign investors in the specified country or region, and (ii) seeks to maintain liquidity and preserve capital measured in the currency of the specified country or region. Each of these Funds intends to invest primarily in very short-term, investment grade money market securities denominated in the non-U.S. currency specified in its name. Eligible investments include short-term securities issued by non-U.S. governments, agencies or instrumentalities, bank debt obligations and time deposits, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper, short-term corporate debt obligations, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.
Each of the Brazilian Real Fund, Chinese Yuan Fund, Emerging Currency Fund, Indian Rupee Fund, New Zealand Dollar Fund, South African Rand Fund and Commodity Currency Fund seeks (i) to achieve total returns reflective of money market rates available to foreign investors in the specified countries or regions, and (ii) to provide exposure to changes in the value of a designated non-U.S. currency (or currencies) relative to the U.S. dollar. Because the market for money market securities in these countries generally is less liquid and accessible to foreign investors than corresponding markets in more developed economies, each of these Funds intends to achieve exposure to the non-U.S. market designated by its name by investing primarily in short-term U.S. money market securities and forward currency contracts and swaps. The combination of U.S. money market securities with forward currency contracts and currency swaps is designed to create a position economically similar to a money market instrument denominated in a non-U.S. currency. A forward currency contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange one currency for another at a future rate.
The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund seeks exposure to the money market rates and currencies of selected commodity-producing countries. The term “commodity currency” generally is used to describe the currency of a country whose economic success is commonly identified with the production and export of commodities (such as precious metals, oil, agricultural products or other raw materials) and whose value is closely linked to the value of such commodities. As the demand for, or price of, such commodities increases money tends to flow into the country. This generally lifts the country’s economic prospects and supports the value of its currency. For example, Canada is commonly recognized as a leading producer and exporter of oil and natural gas. Increases in the price of oil and gas historically have had a positive influence on the value of the Canadian dollar relative to other currencies. Similarly, a significant portion of the economies of Australia and South Africa are tied to mining and production of industrial and precious metals, such as iron ore and gold. Increases in the prices such metals historically have provided support to the value of the Australian dollar and South African rand relative to other currencies. Conversely, declines in the demand for, or value of, such commodities historically have contributed to declines in the relative value of these countries’ currencies.
The Fund is designed to provide exposure to both the currencies and money market rates available to foreign investors in selected commodity-producing countries. The Fund intends to invest in commodity-producing countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Russia and South Africa. In addition to seeking broad exposure across countries and currencies, the Fund intends to seek exposure across currencies correlated to each of the key commodity groups: industrial metals, precious metals, energy, agriculture and livestock. The Fund generally will invest only in currencies that “float” relative to other currencies. The value of a floating currency is largely determined by supply and demand and prevailing market rates. In contrast, the value of a “fixed” currency generally is set by a government or central bank at an official exchange rate. The Fund generally does not intend to invest in the currencies of notable commodity producers, such as China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, since they are fixed or otherwise closely linked to the U.S. dollar. The Fund will only invest in currencies that it deems to be sufficiently liquid and accessible.
The Fund intends to achieve exposure to selected commodity-producing countries available to U.S. investors by investing primarily in short-term U.S. money market securities and forward currency contracts and swaps. The combination of money market securities with forward currency contracts and currency swaps is designed to create a position economically similar to a money market instrument denominated in a non-U.S. currency. A forward currency contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange one currency for another at a future rate.
In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Fund generally expects to maintain an average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less. The “average portfolio maturity” of the Fund is the average of all the current maturities of the individual securities in the Fund’s portfolio. Average portfolio maturity is important to investors as an indication of the Fund’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Funds with longer portfolio maturities generally are subject to greater interest rate risk. All money market securities acquired by the Fund will be rated in the upper two short-term ratings by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality.
As a matter of general policy, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in investments that are tied economically to selected commodity-producing countries available to U.S. investors that make a significant contribution to the global export of commodities. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, the Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy. The Trust will provide shareholders with sixty (60) days prior notice of any change to this policy for the Fund.
As a matter of general policy, each International Currency Income Fund will invest under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in investments that are tied economically to the particular country, geographic region or basket of currencies suggested by the Fund’s name. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, the Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy. The Trust will provide shareholders with sixty (60) days prior notice of any change to this policy for the Fund, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in the types of fixed income or money market securities suggested by the Fund’s name. The Funds’ investments in such securities may be represented by forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts, or swap agreements that provide exposure to such fixed income or money market securities.
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All Funds
All U.S. money market securities acquired by the Funds will be rated in the upper two short-term ratings by at least two NRSROs or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality. A First Tier security is (i) a rated security that has received a short-term rating from the NRSROs in the highest short-term rating category for debt obligations (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations indicating relative standing); (ii) an unrated security that is of comparable quality to a security, as determined by the Fund’s board of directors; (iii) a security issued by a registered investment company that is a money market fund; or (iv) a security issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. A Second Tier security is a rated security that has received a short-term rating other than a first tier rating from an NRSRO for debt obligations (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations indicating relative standing) or is an unrated security that is of comparable quality. Each Fund intends to limit its overall exposure to Second Tier money market securities to 5% of total assets. Any security originally issued as a long-term obligation will be rated A or higher at the time of purchase by at least two NRSROs or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality.
The Funds will not concentrate 25% or more of the value of their respective total assets (taken at market value at the time of each investment) in any one industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act (except that this restriction does not apply to obligations issued by the U.S. government, or any non-U.S. government, or their respective agencies and instrumentalities or government-sponsored enterprises), except that each Fund intends to concentrate in the financial sector.
Each of the Funds intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), so that it will not be subject to federal income tax on income and gains that are timely distributed to Fund shareholders. Each Fund will invest its assets, and otherwise conduct its operations, in a manner that is intended to satisfy the qualifying income, diversification and distribution requirements necessary to establish and maintain RIC qualification under Subchapter M.
In addition to satisfying the above referenced RIC diversification requirements, no portfolio security held by a Fund (other than U.S. government securities and non-U.S. government securities) will represent more than 30% of the weight of a Fund and the five highest weighted portfolio securities of a Fund (other than U.S. government securities and/or non-U.S. government securities) will not in the aggregate account for more than 65% of the weight of a Fund. For these purposes, a Fund may treat repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities or non-U.S. government securities as U.S. or non-U.S. government securities, as applicable.
The U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund intends to be “diversified,” as such term is used in the 1940 Act. This means that the Fund will not, with respect to 75% of the Fund’s total assets, purchase the securities of any one issuer (other than cash, other investment companies and securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities or government-sponsored enterprises), if immediately after such purchase (a) more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer or (b) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer. Each of the other Funds is considered “non-diversified,” as such term is used in the 1940 Act.
An investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of an issuer or counterparty, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular security or issuer and changes in general economic or political conditions.
An investor in a Fund could lose money over short or even long periods of time. Although each Fund invests in short-term U.S and/or non-U.S. money market securities, the Funds do not seek to maintain a constant NAV and are not traditional money market funds. The price of the securities held by the Funds, and thus the value of a Fund’s portfolio, is expected to fluctuate in accordance with general economic conditions, interest rates, political events and other factors. An investment in a Fund should also be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in an investment in money market securities. The value of money market securities, and the value of an investment in a Fund, may change in response to changes in interest rates. Generally, if U.S. interest rates rise, then the value of a U.S. money market security is expected to decrease. Similarly, if non-U.S. interest rates rise, the value of a money market security denominated in that non-U.S. currency would also be expected to decrease. In general, securities with longer maturities are more vulnerable to interest rate changes.
Investor perceptions may also impact the value of Fund investments and the value of an investment in Fund shares. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors, including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or regional political, economic or banking crises. Issuer specific conditions may also affect the value of a Fund investment. The financial condition of an issuer of a money market security may cause it to default or become unable to pay interest or principal due on the security. A Fund cannot collect interest and principal payments on a money market security if the issuer defaults. Accordingly, the value of an investment in a Fund may change in response to issuer defaults and changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio securities.
Recent events in the financial sector have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. Both domestic and foreign fixed income and equity markets have been experiencing extreme volatility and turmoil. Issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected and well-known financial institutions have experienced significant liquidity and other problems.
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Some of these institutions have declared bankruptcy or defaulted on their debt. It is uncertain whether or for how long these conditions will continue. These events and possible continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on Fund performance.
Although the Funds attempt to invest in highly liquid securities and instruments, there can be no guarantees that a liquid market for such securities and instruments will be maintained. The price at which securities may be sold and the value of a Fund’s shares will be adversely affected if trading markets for a Fund’s portfolio holdings are limited.
FOREIGN SECURITIES RISK. Each International Currency Income Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in non-U.S. securities and instruments, or in instruments that provide exposure to such securities and instruments. Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in U.S. securities. For example, investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may be subject to different accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers. Investments in non U.S. securities may be subject to withholding or other taxes and may be subject to additional trading, settlement, custodial, and operational risks. With respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of government intervention and expropriation or nationalization of assets. Because legal systems differ, there is also the possibility that it will be difficult to obtain or enforce legal judgments in certain countries. Since foreign exchanges may be open on days when a Fund does not price its shares, the value of the securities in a Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell a Fund’s shares. Conversely, Fund shares may trade on days when foreign exchanges are closed. Each of these factors can make investments in the Fund more volatile and potentially less liquid than other types of investments.
FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK. Investments denominated in non-U.S. currencies and investments in securities that provide exposure to such currencies, currency exchange rates or interest rates are subject to non-U.S. currency risk. Changes in currency exchange rates and the relative value of non-U.S. currencies will affect the value of a Fund’s investment and the value of your Fund shares. Because each International Currency Income Fund’s NAV is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, the U.S. dollar value of your investment in the Fund may go down if the value of the local currency of the non-U.S. markets in which the Fund invests depreciates against the U.S. dollar. This is true even if the local currency value of securities in the Fund’s holdings goes up. Conversely, the dollar value of your investment in the Fund may go up if the value of the local currency appreciates against the U.S. dollar.
The value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies is influenced by a variety of factors. These factors include: national debt levels and trade deficits, changes in balances of payments and trade, domestic and foreign interest and inflation rates, global or regional political, economic or financial events, monetary policies of governments, actual or potential government intervention, and global energy prices. Political instability, the possibility of government intervention and restrictive or opaque business and investment policies may also reduce the value of a country’s currency. Government monetary policies and the buying or selling of currency by a country’s government may also influence exchange rates.
Currencies of developing market countries may be subject to significantly greater risks than currencies of developed countries. Many developing market countries have experienced steady declines or even sudden devaluations of their currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Some non-U.S. market currencies may not be traded internationally, may be subject to strict limitations on foreign investment and may be subject to frequent and unannounced government intervention. Government intervention and currency controls can decrease the value and significantly increase the volatility of an investment in non-U.S. currency. Although the currencies of some developing market countries may be convertible into U.S. dollars, the achievable rates may differ from those experienced by domestic investors because of foreign investment restrictions, withholding taxes, lack of liquidity or other reasons.
LACK OF DIVERSIFICATION. Although each Fund intends to invest in a variety of securities and instruments, only the U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund will be considered “diversified” as such term is used in the 1940 Act. Each International Currency Income Fund is considered to be “non-diversified” and is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. As a result, each of the International Currency Funds may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it were classified as a diversified fund. Therefore, each International Currency Income Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer or a small number of issuers than a fund that invests more widely, which may have a greater impact on the Fund’s volatility and performance.
However, each Fund will maintain the level of diversification necessary to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. The Subchapter M diversification tests generally require that (i) a Fund invest no more than 25% of its total assets in securities (other than securities of the U.S. government or other RICs) of any one issuer or two or more issuers that are controlled by a Fund and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, and (ii) at least 50% of a Fund’s total assets consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with investments in such other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. These tax requirements are generally applied at the end of each quarter of a Fund’s taxable year.
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OFFSHORE INVESTOR RISK. The opportunity for U.S. investors to access non-U.S. markets can be limited due to a variety of factors including foreign government regulations, adverse tax treatment and currency convertibility issues. These limitations or restrictions may impact the pricing of securities providing offshore exposure to locally denominated non-U.S. securities. Therefore, the returns achieved by U.S. investors could differ from those available to domestic investors in non-U.S. markets.
TAX RISK. To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment accorded to RICs, a Fund must, among other things, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources. The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from qualifying income if such gains are not directly related to a fund’s business of investing in stock or securities. Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of a Fund’s foreign currency gains as non-qualifying income, which might jeopardize the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable. If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify as a RIC, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) for that year would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable to shareholders as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.
A discussion of some of the other risks associated with an investment in a Fund is contained in each Fund’s Prospectus.
SPECIFIC INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
A description of certain investment strategies and types of investments used by some or all of the Funds is set forth below.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Each Fund may purchase short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or the agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government. U.S. government securities are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government, its agencies or government-sponsored enterprises. U.S. government securities are subject to market and interest rate risk, and may be subject to varying degrees of credit risk. U.S. government securities include inflation-indexed fixed income securities, such as U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). U.S. government securities include zero coupon securities, which tend to be subject to greater market risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities.
NON-U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES AND SECURITIES OF SUPRANATIONAL ENTITIES. Each Fund may invest in short-term securities issued or guaranteed by non-U.S. governments, agencies and instrumentalities. Non-U.S. government securities include direct obligations, as well as obligations guaranteed by a foreign government. These guarantees do not guarantee the market value of the obligations, which can increase or decrease in value. Securities issued by supranational entities include securities issued by organizations designated or supported by governmental entities to promote economic development and international financial institutions and related government agencies, such as the World Bank. These securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk and interest rate risk.
BANK DEPOSITS AND OBLIGATIONS. The Funds may invest in deposits and other obligations of U.S. and non-U.S. banks and financial institutions. Deposits and obligations of banks and financial institutions include certificates of deposit, time deposits, and bankers’ acceptances. Certificates of deposit and time deposits represent an institution’s obligation to repay funds deposited with it that earn a specified interest rate. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates, while time deposits are non-negotiable deposits. A banker’s acceptance is a time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank that becomes a primary and unconditional liability of the bank upon acceptance. Investments in obligations of non-U.S. banks and financial institutions may involve risks that are different from investments in obligations of U.S. banks. These risks include future unfavorable political and economic developments, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions that might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held in the Fund.
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper is an unsecured short-term promissory note with a fixed maturity of no more than 270 days issued by corporations, generally to finance short-term business needs. The commercial paper purchased by the U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund and the International Currency Income Funds (other than the Emerging Market Funds) generally will be rated in the upper two short-term ratings by at least two NRSROs or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality by the WisdomTree Asset Management or the Sub-Adviser.
If a security satisfies the rating requirement upon initial purchase and is subsequently downgraded, a Fund is not required to dispose of the security. In the event of such an occurrence, WisdomTree Asset Management or the Sub-Adviser will determine what action, including potential sale, is in the best interest of the Fund.
Each Fund may also purchase unrated commercial paper provided that such paper is determined to be of comparable quality by WisdomTree Asset Management or the Sub-Adviser. Commercial paper issues in which each Fund may invest include securities issued by corporations without registration under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption from such registration afforded by
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Section 3(a)(3) thereof, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption from registration, which is afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act (“Section 4(2) paper”). Section 4(2) paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws in that any resale must similarly be made in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper is normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers who make a market in Section 4(2) paper, thus providing liquidity.
CORPORATE DEBT OBLIGATIONS. The Funds also may invest in corporate debt obligations with less than 397 calendar days remaining to maturity. Corporate debt securities are interest-bearing securities in which the corporate issuer has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal periodically or on a specified maturity date. Investments will be limited to securities rated in the top three long-term rating categories by at least one NRSRO, or, if unrated, deemed to be of equivalent quality. If a security satisfies the rating requirement upon initial purchase and is subsequently downgraded, a Fund is not required to dispose of the security. In the event of such an occurrence, WisdomTree Asset Management or the Sub-Adviser will determine what action, including potential sale, is in the best interest of the Fund.
FLOATING AND ADJUSTABLE RATE NOTES. The Funds may purchase floating rate and adjustable rate obligations, such as demand notes, bonds, and commercial paper. These securities may bear interest at a rate that resets based on standard money market indices or are remarketed at current market rates. They may permit the holder to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals not exceeding 397 days. The issuer of such obligations may also have the right to prepay, in its discretion, the principal amount of the obligations plus any accrued interest. The “reset date” of securities held by the Funds may not be longer than 397 days (and therefore would be considered to be within the Funds’ general maturity restriction of 397 days). Given that most floating rate securities reset their interest rates prior to their final maturity date, the Fund uses the period to the next reset date to calculate the securities contribution to the average portfolio maturity of the Funds.
MORTGAGE-BACKED AND ASSET BACKED SECURITIES. Each Fund may invest in mortgage backed and asset-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities are secured (or backed) by pools of commercial or residential mortgages. Asset-backed securities are secured (or backed) by other types of assets, such as automobile loans, installment sale contracts, credit card receivables or other similar assets. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are issued by entities such as Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, commercial banks, trusts, special purpose entities, finance companies, finance subsidiaries of industrial companies, savings and loan associations, mortgage banks and investment banks.
Investing in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities is subject to credit risk and interest rate risk. They are also subject to the risk of prepayment, which can change the nature and extent of the Fund’s interest rate risk. The market for mortgage-backed securities may not be liquid under all interest rate scenarios, which may prevent the Fund from selling such securities held in its portfolio at times or prices that it desires.
DERIVATIVES. Each Fund may use derivative instruments as part of its investment strategies. The Brazilian Real Fund, Chinese Yuan Fund, Emerging Currency Fund, Indian Rupee Fund, New Zealand Dollar Fund, South African Rand Fund and Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund will likely have a greater portion of their assets invested through derivative instruments than the other Funds. The other Funds do not intend to use derivatives to a significant extent, though they reserve the right to do so.
Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to bonds, interest rates, currencies, commodities, and related indexes. Examples of derivative instruments include forward currency contracts, non-deliverable forward currency contracts, currency and interest rate swaps, currency options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and swap agreements. A Fund’s use of derivative instruments will be underpinned by investments in short term, high-quality U.S. money market securities.
With respect to certain kinds of derivative transactions entered into by the Funds that involve obligations to make future payments to third parties, including, but not limited to, futures, forward contracts, swap contracts, the purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, or reverse repurchase agreements, under applicable federal securities laws, rules, and interpretations thereof, the Fund must “set aside” (referred to sometimes as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other measures to “cover” open positions with respect to such transactions. For example, with respect to forward foreign currency exchange contracts and futures contracts that are not contractually required to “cash-settle,” the Fund must cover its open positions by setting aside liquid assets equal to the contracts’ full, notional value, except that deliverable foreign currency exchange contracts for currencies that are liquid will be treated as the equivalent of “cash-settled” contracts. As such, the Fund may set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market (net) obligation (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability if any) rather than the full notional amount under
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such deliverable forward foreign currency exchange contracts. With respect to forward foreign currency exchange contracts and futures contracts that are contractually required to “cash-settle,” the Fund may set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market (net) obligation rather than the notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future.
Foreign Currency Transactions. Each Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions (though the U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund does not intend to do so). Each Fund may invest directly in foreign currencies in the form of bank and financial institution deposits, certificates of deposit, and bankers acceptances denominated in a specified non-U.S. currency.
Each Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange transactions. Each Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or by entering into forward currency contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies or forward currency swaps to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies.
Forward Currency Contracts. A forward currency contract is a privately negotiated contract to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date (usually less than one year) at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts generally are traded directly between currency traders (usually large, commercial banks) and their customers. Each Fund may enter into forward currency contracts in order to “lock in” the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. The settlement of the contracts may occur with the physical delivery of a specified amount of currency equivalent to the market value of the contract. This is sometimes referred to as a “deliverable” forward contract. A non-deliverable forward contract is a forward contract where there is no physical settlement of two currencies at maturity. Non-deliverable forward contracts will usually be done on a net basis, each Fund receiving or paying only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any, of each Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each non-deliverable forward contract is accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or highly liquid securities having an aggregate value at least equal to the accrued excess is maintained in an account at the Trust’s custodian bank. The risk of loss with respect to non-deliverable forward contracts generally is limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make or receive. Each Fund may invest in a combination of forward currency contracts and U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities in an attempt to obtain an investment result that is similar to a direct investment in a foreign currency denominated instrument. This investment technique, if successful, creates a “synthetic” position in the particular foreign currency instrument the Fund is trying to duplicate.
Non-deliverable forward contracts are also subject to the risk that the counterparty will default on its obligations.
Currency And Interest Rate Swaps. Each of the Funds may enter into swap agreements, including interest rate swaps and currency swaps. A typical interest rate swap involves the exchange of a floating interest rate payment for a fixed interest payment. A typical foreign currency swap involves the exchange of cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies (e.g., the U.S. dollar and the Brazilian Real). Swap agreements may be used to achieve exposure to, for example, currencies, interest rates, and money market securities without actually purchasing such currencies or securities. Each International Currency Income Fund will use swap agreements to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of the underlying securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. Swap agreements will tend to shift a Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another or from one payment stream to another. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease a Fund’s exposure to long or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currencies, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors, and may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund’s investments and its share price.
Currency Options. Each Fund may buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies either on exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires.
Futures Contracts And Options On Futures Contracts. The International Currency Income Funds may use futures contracts and related options: (i) to attempt to gain exposure to foreign currencies, and (ii) to attempt to gain exposure to a particular market, instrument or index.
A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement for the future sale by one party and the purchase by another of a specified security or instrument at a specified price and time. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for payment of a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security or instrument at any time during the option period. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security or instrument at any time during the option period.
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Swap Agreements. Swap agreements can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to long or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currencies, commodities, commodity indexes, or inflation rates. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a Fund’s investments and the volatility of a Fund’s share price. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the 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. If a swap counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the risk that such counterparty may not perform may increase, potentially resulting in a loss to the Fund. The Fund may be able to reduce or eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. There is no guarantee these strategies will be successful.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with counterparties that are deemed to present acceptable credit risks. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a Fund purchases securities or other obligations from a bank or securities dealer (or its affiliate) and simultaneously commits to resell them to a counterparty at an agreed-upon date or upon demand and at a price reflecting a market rate of interest unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased obligations. This is designed to result in a fixed rate of return for the Fund insulated from market fluctuations during the holding period. Because they are collateralized by securities, including mortgage-backed securities, repurchase agreements are subject to market and credit risk. As discussed herein, a Fund may not invest more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities. A repurchase agreement maturing in more than seven days may be considered an illiquid security. A Fund maintains custody of the underlying obligations prior to their repurchase, either through its regular custodian or through a special “triparty” custodian or sub-custodian that maintains separate accounts for both the Fund and its counterparty. Thus, the obligation of the counterparty to pay the repurchase price on the date agreed to or upon demand is, in effect, secured by such obligations.
Repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with direct investments in securities, including a possible decline in the market value of the underlying obligations. If their value becomes less than the repurchase price, plus any agreed upon additional amount, the counterparty must provide additional collateral so that at all times the collateral is at least equal to the repurchase price plus any agreed upon additional amount. The difference between the total amount to be received upon repurchase of the obligations and the price that was paid by a Fund upon acquisition is accrued as interest and included in its net investment income. Repurchase agreements involving obligations other than U.S. government securities (such as commercial paper and corporate bonds) may be subject to special risks and may not have the benefit of certain protections in the event of the counterparty’s insolvency. If the seller or guarantor becomes insolvent, the Fund may suffer delays, costs and possible losses in connection with the disposition of collateral.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities held by a Fund subject to its agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed upon date or upon demand and at a price reflecting a market rate of interest. Reverse repurchase agreements are subject to each Fund’s limitation on borrowings and may be entered into only with banks or securities dealers or their affiliates. While a reverse repurchase agreement is outstanding, a Fund will maintain the segregation, either on its records or with the Trust’s custodian, of cash or other liquid securities, marked to market daily, in an amount at least equal to its obligations under the reverse repurchase agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the buyer of the securities sold by a Fund might be unable to deliver them when that Fund seeks to repurchase. If the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the buyer or trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce a 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.
INVESTMENT COMPANY SECURITIES. Each Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies (including money market funds and Underlying ETFs). The 1940 Act generally prohibits a fund from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting shares of an investment company and limits such investments to no more than 5% of the fund’s total assets in any single investment company and no more than 10% in any combination of two or more investment companies. Each Fund may purchase or otherwise invest in shares of affiliated exchange-traded funds. Each Fund may invest in affiliated money market funds and Underlying ETFs.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES. Each Fund may invest up to an aggregate amount of 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or other restrictions on resale and other instruments that lack readily available markets. The inability of a Fund to dispose of illiquid or not readily marketable investments readily or at a reasonable price could impair a Fund’s ability to raise cash for redemptions or other purposes. The liquidity of securities purchased by a Fund which are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A will be monitored by each Fund on an ongoing basis. In the event that such a security is
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deemed to be no longer liquid, a Fund’s holdings will be reviewed to determine what action, if any, is required to ensure that the retention of such security does not result in a Fund having more than 10% of its assets invested in illiquid or not readily marketable securities.
FINANCIAL SECTOR INVESTMENTS. The Funds may invest in companies that are considered to be in the financial sector, including commercial banks, brokerage firms, diversified financial services, a variety of firms in all segments of the insurance industry (such as multi-line, property and casualty, and life insurance) and real estate related companies. There can be no guarantee that these strategies may be successful. A Fund may lose money as a result of defaults or downgrades within the financial sector.
Events in the financial sector have resulted in increased concerns about credit risk and exposure. Well-known financial institutions have experienced significant liquidity and other problems and have defaulted on their debt obligations. Issuers that have exposure to real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. It is uncertain whether or how long these conditions will continue. These events and possible continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on Fund performance.
Rule 12d3-1 under the 1940 Act limits the extent to which a fund may invest in the securities of any one company that derives more than 15% of its revenues from brokerage, underwriting or investment management activities. A fund may purchase securities of an issuer that derived more than 15% of its gross revenues in its most recent fiscal year from securities-related activities, subject to the following conditions: (1) the purchase cannot cause more than 5% of the fund’s total assets to be invested in securities of that issuer; (2) for any equity security, the purchase cannot result in the fund owning more than 5% of the issuer’s outstanding securities in that class; and (3) for a debt security, the purchase cannot result in the fund owning more than 10% of the outstanding principal amount of the issuer’s debt securities.
In applying the gross revenue test, an issuer’s own securities-related activities must be combined with its ratable share of securities-related revenues from enterprises in which it owns a 20% or greater voting or equity interest. All of the above percentage limitations, as well as the issuer’s gross revenue test, are applicable at the time of purchase. With respect to warrants, rights, and convertible securities, a determination of compliance with the above limitations shall be made as though such warrant, right, or conversion privilege had been exercised. The Funds will not be required to divest their holdings of a particular issuer when circumstances subsequent to the purchase cause one of the above conditions to not be met. The purchase of a general partnership interest in a securities-related business is prohibited.
NON-U.S. SECURITIES. The Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in non-U.S. securities (though the U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund does not intend to do so). Investments in non-U.S. securities involve certain risks that may not be present in investments in U.S. securities. For example, non-U.S. securities may be subject to currency risks or to foreign government taxes. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and a foreign issuer may or may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the U.S. Other risks of investing in such securities include political or economic instability in the country involved, the difficulty of predicting international trade patterns and the possibility of imposition of exchange controls. The prices of such securities may be more volatile than those of domestic securities. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of expropriation of assets or nationalization, imposition of withholding taxes on dividend or interest payments, difficulty in obtaining and enforcing judgments against foreign entities or diplomatic developments which could affect investment in these countries. Losses and other expenses may be incurred in converting between various currencies in connection with purchases and sales of foreign securities.
Set forth below for certain markets in which the Funds may invest are brief descriptions of some of the conditions and risks in each such market.
Investments In Australia. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may invest in very short-term money market securities denominated in Australian dollars and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Australian dollars and money market rates. The economy of Australia is heavily dependent on the demand for natural resources and agricultural products. Conditions that weaken demand for such products worldwide could have a negative impact on the Australian economy as a whole. These and other factors could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance.
Investments In Brazil. The Brazilian Real Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in very short-term money market securities denominated in Brazilian Real and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Brazilian currency and money market rates. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may also pursue this investment objective to a lesser extent as part of their overall investment strategies. Investing in Brazil involves certain considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. companies or the U.S. government, including: (i) investment and repatriation controls, which could affect a Fund’s ability to operate, and to qualify for the favorable tax treatment afforded to regulated investment
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companies for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the Brazilian Real and the U.S. dollar, (iii) the generally greater price volatility and lesser liquidity that characterize Brazilian securities markets, as compared with U.S. markets, (iv) the effect that a trade deficit could have on economic stability and the Brazilian government’s economic policy, (v) high rates of inflation, (vi) governmental involvement in and influence on the private sector, (vii) Brazilian accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements, which differ from those in the United States, and (viii) political and other considerations, including changes in applicable Brazilian tax laws. These and other factors could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance and increase the volatility of an investment in the Fund.
Investments In Canada. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may invest in very short-term money market securities denominated in Canadian dollars and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Canadian dollars and money market rates. The U.S. is Canada’s largest trading partner and foreign investor. As a result, changes to the U.S. economy may significantly affect the Canadian economy. The economy of Canada is also heavily dependent on the demand for natural resources and agricultural products. Conditions that weaken demand for such products worldwide could have a negative impact on the Canadian economy as a whole. These and other factors could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance.
Investments In Chile. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may invest in very short-term money market securities denominated in Chilean pesos and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Chilean pesos and money market rates. Investing in Chile involves certain considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. companies or the U.S. government. The Chilean economy is subject to risks of social unrest, high unemployment, governmental control and heavy regulation of the labor industry. Historically, Chile has experienced periods of political instability and certain sectors and regions of Chile have experienced high unemployment. Any recurrence of these events may cause downturns in the Chilean market and adversely impact investments in the Fund. Heavy regulation of labor and product markets is pervasive in Chile and may stifle Chilean economic growth or contribute to prolonged periods of recession. Chile is located in a part of the world that has historically been prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes and is economically sensitive to environmental events. Any such event could result in a significant adverse impact on the Chilean economy. The Chilean economy is affected by the economies of other Central and South American countries, some of which have experienced high interest rates, economic volatility, inflation, currency devaluations and high unemployment rates. Any adverse economic event in one country can have a significant effect on other countries of this region. In addition, commodities (such as oil, gas and minerals) represent a significant percentage of the region’s exports and many economies in this region, including Chile’s, are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices.
Investments In China. The Chinese Yuan Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in very short-term money market securities denominated in Chinese Yuan and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Chinese currency and money market rates. In addition to the aforementioned risks of investing in non-U.S. securities, investing in securities listed and traded in China involves special considerations not typically associated with investing in countries with more democratic governments or more established economies or currency markets. Such risks may include: (i) the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation, (ii) greater social, economic and political uncertainty (including the risk of war); (iii) dependency on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade; (iv) the increasing competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economies; (v) currency exchange rate fluctuations and the lack of available currency hedging instruments; (vi) higher rates of inflation; (vii) controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on the Fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (viii) greater governmental involvement in and control over the economy; (ix) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support the economic reform programs implemented since 1978 and could return to the prior, completely centrally planned, economy; (x) the fact that Chinese companies, particularly those located in China, may be smaller, less seasoned and newly-organized; (xi) the differences in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers, particularly in China; (xii) the fact that statistical information regarding the economy of China may be inaccurate or not comparable to statistical information regarding the U.S. or other economies; (xiii) the less extensive, and still developing, regulation of the securities markets, business entities and commercial transactions; (xiv) the fact that the settlement period of securities transactions in foreign markets may be longer; (xv) the willingness and ability of the Chinese government to support the Chinese economy and markets is uncertain; (xvi) the risk that it may be more difficult, or impossible, to obtain and/or enforce a judgment than in other countries; (xvii) the rapidity and erratic nature of growth, particularly in China, resulting in inefficiencies and dislocations; and (xviii) the risk that certain companies in which the Fund may invest may have dealings with
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countries subject to sanctions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. government or identified as state sponsors of terrorism. The government of China maintains strict currency controls in support of economic, trade and political objectives and regularly intervenes in the currency market. The government’s actions in this respect may not be transparent or predictable. As a result, the value of the Yuan, and the value of securities designed to provide exposure to the Yuan, can change quickly and arbitrarily. Furthermore, it is difficult for foreign investors to directly access money market securities in China because of investment and trading restrictions. These and other factors may decrease the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, and therefore the value and liquidity of an investment in the Fund.
Investments In Emerging Markets. The Brazilian Real Fund, the Chinese Yuan Fund, the Emerging Currency Fund, the Indian Rupee Fund and the South African Rand Fund each invests substantially all of its assets in a market or markets considered to be “emerging” or “developing” or in securities that provide exposure to such market(s). The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may also pursue this investment objective to a lesser extent as part of their overall investment strategies. These Funds are sometimes referred to herein as “Emerging Market Funds.” Investing in developing markets may be subject to additional risks not associated with more developed economies. Such risks may include: (i) the risk that government and quasi-government entities may not honor their obligations, (ii) greater market volatility, (iii) lower trading volume and liquidity, (iv) greater social, political and economic uncertainty, (v) governmental controls on foreign investments and limitations on repatriation of invested capital, (vi) the risk that governments and companies may be held to lower disclosure, corporate governance, auditing and financial reporting standards than companies in more developed markets, and (vii) the risk that there may be less protection of property rights than in other countries. Some emerging markets have experienced and may continue to experience high inflation rates, currency devaluations and economic recessions. Unanticipated political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses, and may affect the ability of governments and government agencies in these markets to meet their debt obligations. Emerging markets are generally less liquid and less efficient than developed securities markets. These and other factors could have a negative impact on the Funds’ performance and increase the volatility of an investment in the Fund.
Investments In India. The Indian Rupee Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in very short-term money market securities denominated in Indian Rupee and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Indian currency and money market rates. Investments in India involve special considerations not typically associated with investing in countries with more established economies or currency markets. Political and economic conditions and changes in regulatory, tax, or economic policy in India could significantly affect the market in that country and in surrounding or related countries and have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. Economic and political structures in India may lack the stability of those of more developed nations. Unanticipated political or social developments in India and surrounding regions may affect the value of the Fund’s investments and the value of Fund shares. Monsoons and other natural disasters in India and surrounding regions also can affect the value of Fund investments. The Indian government has exercised and continues to exercise significant influence over many aspects of the economy, and the number of public sector enterprises in India is substantial. Although the government has recently begun to institute economic reform policies, there can be no assurance that it will continue to pursue such policies, or, if it does, that such policies will succeed. While the government of India is moving to a more liberal approach, it still places restrictions on the capability and capacity of foreign investors to access and trade Rupee directly. Foreign investors in India still face burdensome taxes on investments in income producing securities. The laws relating to limited liability of corporate shareholders, fiduciary duties of officers and directors, and the bankruptcy of state enterprises are generally less well developed than or different from laws in the U.S. It may be more difficult to obtain a judgment in Indian courts than it is in the U.S. These and other factors may decrease the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, and therefore the value and liquidity of an investment in the Fund.
Investments In Indonesia. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may invest in very short-term money market securities denominated in Indonesian rupiah and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Indonesian rupiah and money market rates. Southeast Asia is heavily dependent on exports and is thus particularly vulnerable to any weakening in global demand for these products. As the current global economic crisis intensifies, the economies of Southeast Asian countries could be severely impacted once the effects of this crisis fully unfold. Indonesia has restored financial stability and pursued sober fiscal policies since the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, but many economic development problems remain, including high unemployment, a fragile banking sector, endemic corruption, inadequate infrastructure, a poor investment climate, and unequal resource distribution among regions. These problems may limit the country’s ability to contain the increasingly severe and negative impact of the current global economic crisis on its economy. In addition, Indonesia continues to be at risk of ethnic, sectarian, and separatist violence. Keys to future growth remain internal reform, peaceful resolution of internal conflicts, building up the confidence of international and domestic investors, and strong global economic growth. In late December 2004, a major tsunami
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took nearly 127,000 lives, left more than 93,000 people missing and nearly 441,000 people displaced, and destroyed $4.5 to $5.0 billion worth of property. The negative effects of the tsunami are still felt today, and similar natural disasters could happen again. Economic growth of Indonesia has slowed as a result of the current global economic crisis and could be more severely impacted once the full effects of the crisis fully unfold.
Investments In Japan. The Japanese Yen Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in very short-term money market securities denominated in Japanese Yen and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Japanese currency and money market rates. The Japanese economy is characterized by government intervention and protectionism, an unstable financial services sector, and relatively high unemployment. Economic growth is heavily dependent on international trade, government support and consistent government policy. Slowdowns in the economies of key trading partners such as the United States, China and countries in Southeast Asia could have a negative impact on the Japanese economy as a whole. These and other factors could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance.
Investments In Mexico. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may invest in very short-term money market securities denominated in Mexican pesos and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Mexican pesos and money market rates. Investing in Mexico involves certain considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. companies or the U.S. government. The Mexican economy may be significantly affected by the economies of other Central and South American countries. High interest, inflation, and unemployment rates characterize the economies in some Central and South American countries. Currency devaluations in any Central and South American country can have a significant effect on the entire region. Because commodities such as oil and gas, minerals, and metals represent a significant percentage of the region’s exports, the economies of Central and South American countries are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. As a result, the economies in many Central and South American countries can experience significant volatility. The United States is Mexico’s largest trade and investment partner and the Mexican economy is significantly affected by developments in the U.S. economy. Since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) in 1994 among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, total two-way merchandise trade between the United States and Mexico has increased. To further this relationship, the three NAFTA countries entered into The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America in March 2005, which may further affect Mexico’s dependency on the U.S. economy. Any downturn in U.S. or Canadian economic activity is likely to have an adverse impact on the Mexican economy. Mexico has begun a process of privatization of certain entities and industries. Historically, investors in some newly privatized entities have suffered losses due to the inability of the newly privatized company to adjust quickly to a competitive environment or to changing regulatory and legal standards. There is no assurance that such losses will not recur. Mexico has historically experienced acts of terrorism, significant criminal activity and strained international relations related to border disputes, historical animosities, the drug trade and other defense concerns. These situations may cause uncertainty in the Mexican market and adversely affect the performance of the Mexican economy. Certain political and currency instability risks have contributed to a high level of price volatility in the Mexican equity and currency markets and could adversely affect investments in the Funds. Mexico has been destabilized by local insurrections and social upheavals in certain regions, particularly the State of Chiapas. Recurrence of these conditions may adversely impact the Mexican economy. In addition, Mexico has had one political party dominating government until the elections of 2000. Recently, Mexican elections have been contentious and have been very closely decided. Changes in political parties or other Mexican political events may affect the economy and cause instability. Mexico has, in recent history, experienced substantial economic instability resulting from, among other things, periods of very high inflation and significant devaluations of the Mexican currency, the peso.
Investments In New Zealand. The New Zealand Dollar Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in very short-term money market securities denominated in New Zealand Dollars and/or investments designed to provide exposure to New Zealand currency and money market rates. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may also pursue this investment objective to a lesser extent as part of their overall investment strategies. Investing in New Zealand involves certain considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. companies or the U.S. government. New Zealand is generally considered to be a developed market, and investments in New Zealand generally do not have risks associated with them that are present with investments in developing or “emerging” markets. The health of the economy is strongly tied to commodity exports and has historically been vulnerable to global slowdowns.
Investments In Norway. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may invest in very short-term money market securities denominated in Norwegian kroner and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Norwegian kroner and money market rates. The Norwegian economy is dependent on the economies of Europe as key trading partners.
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The Economic and Monetary Union (“EMU”) of the European Union (“EU”) requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates, debt levels and fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro and recessions in EU economies may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU members and their trading partners. The Norwegian economy is dependent on the export of natural resources and natural resource products and any negative changes in these sectors could have an adverse impact on the Norwegian economy. Norway has an extensive social welfare system and a highly unionized workforce. These conditions may result in increased production costs and higher governmental spending and may stifle Norwegian economic growth or cause prolonged periods of recession.
Investments In Russia. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may invest in very short-term money market securities denominated in Russian roubles and/or investments designed to provide exposure to Russian roubles and money market rates. Investments in Russia involve special considerations not typically associated with investing in countries with more established economies or currency markets. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia’s government has been faced with the daunting task of stabilizing its domestic economy, while transforming it into a modern and efficient structure able to compete in international markets and respond to the needs of its citizens. However, to date, many of the country’s economic reform initiatives have floundered as the proceeds of IMF and other economic assistance have been squandered or stolen. Instability, geopolitical tensions, poor accounting standards, inept management, pervasive corruption, insider trading and crime, and inadequate regulatory protection for the rights of investors all pose a significant risk, particularly to foreign investors. Compared to most national stock markets, the Russian securities market suffers from a variety of problems not encountered in more developed markets, which, among other things, may make obtaining accurate prices on portfolio securities more difficult than in more developed markets. Because of the recent formation of the Russian securities market as well as the underdeveloped state of the banking and telecommunications systems, settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to significant risks. The Russian economy is heavily dependent upon the export of a range of commodities including most industrial metals, forestry products, oil, and gas. Accordingly, it is strongly affected by international commodity prices and is particularly vulnerable to any weakening in global demand for these products. As the current global economic crisis causes the commodity prices, especially the price of oil, to tumble, many sectors in the Russian economy have fallen into turmoil, threatening to push the whole economy into significant slowdown and even recession. Turmoil in the stock markets are forcing the Russian authority to frequently suspend trading on the Russian Trading System, which causes certain concerns about the liquidity of the Russian stock markets. Foreign investors also face a high degree of currency risk when investing in Russian securities and a lack of available currency hedging instruments. In a surprise move in August 1998, Russia devalued the ruble, defaulted on short-term domestic bonds, and imposed a moratorium on the repayment of its international debt and the restructuring of the repayment terms. These actions have negatively affected Russian borrowers’ ability to access international capital markets and have had a damaging impact on the Russian economy. In light of these and other government actions, foreign investors could face the possibility of further devaluations. In addition, there is the risk the government may impose capital controls on foreign portfolio investments in the event of extreme financial or political crisis. Such capital controls would prevent the sale of a portfolio of foreign assets and the repatriation of investment income and capital. Such risks have led to heightened scrutiny of Russian liquidity conditions, which in turn creates a heightened risk of the repatriation of ruble assets by nervous foreign investors. The current economic turmoil in Russia and the effects on the current global economic crisis on the Russian economy can cause flight from the Russian ruble into United States dollars and other currencies and can force the Russian central bank to spend reserves to maintain the value of the ruble. If the Russian central bank falters in its defense of the ruble, there could be additional pressure on Russia’s banks and its currency.
Investments In South Africa. The South African Rand Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in very short-term money market securities denominated in South African Rand and/or investments designed to provide exposure to South African currency and money market rates. The Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund may also pursue this investment objective to a lesser extent as part of their overall investment strategies. Investing in South Africa involves special considerations not typically associated with investing in countries with more established economies or currency markets. Although South Africa is a developing country with a solid economic infrastructure (in some regards rivaling other developed countries), certain issues, such as unemployment, access to health care, limited economic opportunity, and other financial constraints, continue to present obstacles to full economic development. South Africa’s currency has recently fluctuated significantly and may be vulnerable to significant devaluation. There can be no assurance that initiatives by the government to address these issues will achieve the desired results. These and other factors could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance and increase the volatility of an investment in the Fund.
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FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. The Board may, in the future, authorize each Fund to invest in securities contracts and investments other than those listed in this SAI and in the Funds’ Prospectus, provided they are consistent with each Fund’s investment objective and do not violate any fundamental investment restrictions or policies.
The Trust has adopted as its proxy voting policies for each Fund the proxy voting guidelines of Mellon Capital and Dreyfus. The Trust has delegated to Mellon Capital the authority and responsibility for voting proxies on the portfolio securities held by each Fund. The remainder of this section discusses each Fund’s proxy voting guidelines and the respective roles of Mellon Capital in implementing such guidelines.
Mellon Capital and Dreyfus, through their participation on The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”) Corporation’s Proxy Policy Committee (“PPC”), have each adopted a Proxy Voting Policy, related procedures, and voting guidelines which are applied to those client accounts over which it has been delegated the authority to vote proxies. In voting proxies, Mellon Capital seeks to act solely in the best financial and economic interest of the applicable client. Mellon Capital will carefully review proposals that would limit shareholder control or could affect the value of a client’s investment. It will generally oppose proposals designed to insulate an issuer’s management unnecessarily from the wishes of a majority of shareholders. It will generally support proposals designed to provide management with short-term insulation from outside influences so as to enable management to negotiate effectively and otherwise achieve long-term goals. On questions of social responsibility where economic performance does not appear to be an issue, Mellon Capital will attempt to ensure that management reasonably responds to the social issues. Responsiveness will be measured by management’s efforts to address the proposal including, where appropriate, assessment of the implications of the proposal to the ongoing operations of the company. The PPC will pay particular attention to repeat issues where management has failed in its commitment in the intervening period to take actions on issues. Mellon Capital recognizes its duty to vote proxies in the best interests of its clients. Mellon Capital seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest through its participation in the PPC, which applies detailed, pre-determined proxy voting guidelines (the “Voting Guidelines”) in an objective and consistent manner across client accounts, based on internal and external research and recommendations provided by a third party vendor, and without consideration of any client relationship factors. Further, Mellon Capital and its affiliates engage a third party to vote all proxies for BNY Mellon securities and affiliated mutual fund securities.
Proxy voting proposals are reviewed, categorized, analyzed and voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. These guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect new issues and any changes in our policies on specific issues. Items that can be categorized under the Voting Guidelines will be voted in accordance with any applicable guidelines or referred to the PPC, if the applicable guidelines so require. Proposals that cannot be categorized under the Voting Guidelines will be referred to the PPC for discussion and vote. Additionally, the PPC may review any proposal where it has identified a particular company, industry or issue for special scrutiny. With regard to voting proxies of foreign companies, Mellon Capital and Dreyfus may weigh the cost of voting, and potential inability to sell the securities (which may occur during the voting process) against the benefit of voting the proxies to determine whether or not to vote.
In evaluating proposals regarding incentive plans and restricted stock plans, the PPC typically employs a shareholder value transfer model. This model seeks to assess the amount of shareholder equity flowing out of the company to executives as options are exercised. After determining the cost of the plan, the PPC evaluates whether the cost is reasonable based on a number of factors, including industry classification and historical performance information. The PPC generally votes against proposals that permit the repricing or replacement of stock options without shareholder approval.
A complete copy of the Proxy Voting Policy may be obtained by calling 1-866-909-9473; or writing to: WisdomTree Trust, c/o ALPS Distributors, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.
The Trust is required to disclose annually the Funds’ complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX covering the period from July 1 of one year through June 30 of the next and to file Form N-PX with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) no later than August 31 of each year. The current Form N-PX for the Funds is available at no charge upon request by calling 1-866-909-9473 or through the Trust’s website at www.wisdomtree.com. The Funds’ Form N-PX is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
PORTFOLIO HOLDING DISCLOSURE POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The Trust has adopted a Portfolio Holdings Policy (the “Policy”) designed to govern the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings and the use of material non-public information about Fund holdings. The Policy applies to all officers, employees, and agents of the Funds, including WisdomTree Asset Management and any Sub-Adviser (together, the “Advisers”). The Policy is designed to ensure that the disclosure of information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings is consistent with applicable legal requirements and otherwise in the best interest of each Fund.
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The Funds are considered to be “actively managed” exchange traded funds. As such, each Fund is required by the SEC to disclose on the Funds’ website at the start of each Business Day (defined below) the identities and quantities of the securities and other assets held by each Fund that will form the basis of the Fund’s calculation of its NAV on that Business Day. The portfolio holdings so disclosed will be based on information as of the close of business on the prior Business Day and/or trades that have been completed prior to the opening of business on that Business Day and that are expected to settle on that Business Day.
A “Business Day” with respect to each Fund is any day on which the national securities exchange on which the Fund is listed for trading (each a “Listing Exchange”) is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, each Listing Exchange observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
As exchange traded funds, information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings is made available on each Business Day in accordance with the provisions of any Order of the SEC applicable to the Funds, regulations of the Funds’ Listing Exchange and other applicable SEC regulations, orders and no-action relief. Such information typically reflects all or a portion of a Fund’s anticipated portfolio holdings as of the next Business Day. This information is used in connection with the Creation and Redemption process and is disseminated on a daily basis through the facilities of the Listing Exchange, the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) and/or third party service providers.
Daily access to each Fund’s portfolio holdings is permitted to personnel of the Advisers, the Funds’ Distributor and the Funds’ administrator, custodian and accountant and other agents or service providers of the Trust who have need of such information in connection with the ordinary course of their respective duties to the Funds. The Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings.
Each Fund may disclose its complete portfolio holdings or a portion of its portfolio holdings online at www.wisdomtree.com. Online disclosure of such holdings is publicly available at no charge.
Each Fund will disclose its complete portfolio holdings schedule in public filings with the SEC on a quarterly basis, based on the Fund’s fiscal year, within sixty (60) days of the end of the quarter, and will provide that information to shareholders, as required by federal securities laws and regulations thereunder.
No person is authorized to disclose a Fund’s portfolio holdings or other investment positions except in accordance with the Policy. The Trust’s Board reviews the implementation of the Policy on a periodic basis.
The following fundamental investment policies and limitations supplement those set forth in each Fund’s Prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, whenever a fundamental investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of a Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund’s acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, other than with respect to a Fund’s limitations on borrowings, any subsequent change in values, net assets, or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment complies with the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.
Each Fund’s fundamental investment policies cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of that Fund’s outstanding voting securities as defined under the 1940 Act. Each Fund, however, may change the non-fundamental investment policies described below and its investment objective without a shareholder vote provided that it obtains Board approval and notifies its shareholders with at least sixty (60) days prior written notice of any such change.
Fundamental Policies. The following investment policies and limitations are fundamental and may NOT be changed without shareholder approval.
Each Fund, as a fundamental investment policy, may not:
Senior Securities
Issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.
Borrowing
Borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.
Underwriting
Act as an underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that each Fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act in the disposition of portfolio securities.
Concentration
Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, or any non-U.S. government, or their respective agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of companies whose principal business activities are in the same industry, except that each Fund will concentrate in the financial sector.
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Real Estate
Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate, real estate investment trusts or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business).
Commodities
Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent each Fund from purchasing or selling options and futures contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).
Loans
Lend any security or make any other loan except as permitted under the 1940 Act. This means that no more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties. This limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities or to repurchase agreements, or to acquisitions of loans, loan participations or other forms of debt instruments, permissible under each Fund’s investment policies.
Non-Fundamental Policies. The following investment policy is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
Each Fund has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy in accordance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in investments that are tied economically to the particular country or geographic region suggested by the Fund’s name. If, subsequent to an investment, the 80% requirement is no longer met, a Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund into compliance with this policy.
The method by which Creation Unit Aggregations of shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Unit Aggregations of shares are issued and sold by the Funds on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the Securities Act.
For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Unit Aggregations after placing an order with the Funds’ Distributor, breaks them down into constituent shares, and sells such shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to categorization as an underwriter.
Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, generally are required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Funds are reminded that, pursuant to Rule 153 under the Securities Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with the sale on the Listing Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at the Listing Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.
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Board Responsibilities. The Board of Trustees is responsible for overseeing the management and affairs of the Funds and the Trust. The Board has considered and approved contracts, as described herein, under which certain companies provide essential management and administrative services to the Trust. Like most exchange-traded funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the day-to-day management of risk, is performed by third-party service providers, such as the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, Distributor and Administrator. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, has oversight responsibility with respect to the risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and eliminate or mitigate the potential effects of risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Trust or funds. Under the overall supervision of the Board and the Audit Committee (discussed in more detail below), the service providers to the Fund employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify risks relevant to the operations of the Trust and the Fund to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that activity.
The Board’s role in risk management oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time the fund’s Adviser presents the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund. Additionally, the fund’s Adviser and Sub-Adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board oversees the risk management of the fund’s operations, in part, by requesting periodic reports from and otherwise communicating with various personnel of the fund and its service providers, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and the fund’s independent accountants. The Board and, with respect to identified risks that relate to its scope of expertise, the Audit Committee, oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the fund may be exposed.
The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on at least an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew any Advisory Agreements and Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, respectively, the Board meets with the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s adherence to each Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about each Fund’s performance and investments.
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The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer meets regularly with the Board to review and discuss compliance and other issues. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and material compliance matters since the date of the last report.
The Board receives reports from the Trust’s service providers regarding operational risks, portfolio valuation and other matters. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the Trust’s financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Trust and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Trust’s internal controls.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, despite the periodic reports the Board receives and the Board’s discussions with the service providers to the Fund, it may not be made aware of all of the relevant information of a particular risk. Most of the Trust’s investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Funds’ Adviser, Sub-Adviser and other service providers each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Trust’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.
Members of the Board and Officers of the Trust. Set forth below are the names, ages, position with the Trust, term of office, and the principal occupations and other directorships for a minimum of the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as members of the Board and as Executive Officers of the Trust. Also included below is the term of office for each of the Executive Officers of the Trust. The members of the Board serve as Trustees for the life of the Trust or until retirement, removal, or their office is terminated pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Victor Ugolyn, is not an interested person of the Funds as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Board of Trustees is comprised of a super-majority (75 percent) of trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds (i.e., “independent trustees”). There is an Audit Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board, each of which is chaired by an independent trustee and comprised solely of independent trustees. The Committee chair for each is responsible for running the Committee meeting, formulating agendas for those meetings, and coordinating with management to serve as a liaison between the independent trustees and management on matters within the scope of the responsibilities of the Committee as set forth in its Board-approved charter. The Funds have determined that this leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Funds. The Funds made this determination in
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consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent trustees of the Funds constitute a super-majority of the Board, the assets under management of the Funds, the number of Funds overseen by the Board, the total number of trustees on the Board, and the fact that an independent trustee serves as Chair of the Board.
| Name, Address and Date of Birth of |
Position(s) Held the Trust, Term |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number of by Trustee/ Officer+ |
Other | ||||
| Trustees Who Are Interested Persons of the Trust | ||||||||
| Jonathan Steinberg (1964) |
Trustee, 2005-present; President, 2005-present | President, WisdomTree Trust since 2005; Chief Executive Officer of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and Director of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. since 1989. | 52 | None | ||||
| Trustees Who Are Not Interested Persons of the Trust | ||||||||
| Gregory Barton (1961)* | Trustee, 2006-present | Executive Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs and General Counsel and Secretary of TheStreet.com, 2009 to present; General Counsel of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. from 2007 to 2008; Executive Vice President of Licensing and Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary of Ziff Davis Media Inc. from 2003 to 2007; Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary of Ziff Davis Media Inc. from 2002 to 2003; President (2001 to 2002), Chief Financial Officer (2000 to 2002), Vice President of Business Development (1999 to 2001) and General Counsel and Secretary (1998 to 2002) of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (formerly, Index Development Partners, Inc.). | 52 | None | ||||
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| Name, Address and Date of Birth of |
Position(s) Held the Trust, Term |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number of by Trustee/ Officer+ |
Other Directorships Held | ||||
| Toni Massaro (1955)** | Trustee, 2006-present | Dean Emerita at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law (“Rogers College of Law”) since July 2009; Dean at the Rogers College of Law from 1999 to 2009; Regents’ Professor since 2006; Milton O. Riepe Chair in Constitutional Law since 1997; Professor at the Rogers College of Law since 1990. | 52 | None | ||||
| Victor Ugolyn (1947) | Trustee, 2006-present; Chairman of the Board of Trustees – 2006-present | Private Investor – 2005 to present; President and Chief Executive Officer of William D. Witter, Inc. from 2005 to 2006; Consultant to AXA Enterprise in 2004; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Capital Management (subsidiary of The MONY Group, Inc.) and Enterprise Group of Funds, Chairman of MONY Securities Corporation, and Chairman of the Fund Board of Enterprise Group of Funds from 1991 to 2004. | 52 | Trustee on Board of Trustees of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Member of the Board of Overseers of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. | ||||
| Officers of the Trust | ||||||||
| Jonathan Steinberg (1964) |
Trustee, 2005-present; President, 2005-present | President, WisdomTree Trust since 2005; Chief Executive Officer of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and Director of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. since 1989. | 52 | None | ||||
| Amit Muni*** (1969) | Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, 2008-present | Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. since March 2008; International Securities Exchange Holdings, Inc. (ISE), Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from 2003 to 2008; Instinet Group Inc., Vice President Finance from 2000 to 2003. | 52 | None | ||||
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| Name, Address and Date of Birth of |
Position(s) Held with the Trust, Term of |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number by Officer+ |
Other | ||||
| Richard Morris*** (1967) | Secretary, Chief Legal Officer, 2006-present | General Counsel of WisdomTree Asset Management since 2009; Deputy Counsel of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. since 2005; Senior Counsel at Barclays Global Investors, N.A. from 2002 to 2005; Counsel at Barclays Global Investors, N.A. from 2000 to 2001. | 52 | None |
| * | Chair of the Audit Committee. |
| ** | Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee. |
| **** | Elected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board. |
| + | As of December 31, 2009. |
Audit Committee. Each Independent Trustee is a member of the Trust’s Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”). The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee are the appointment, compensation and oversight of the Trust’s independent auditors, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Trust management and such independent auditors. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, without limitation, to (I) oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Trust and its internal control over financial reporting and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal control over financial reporting of certain third-party service providers; (ii) oversee the quality and integrity of the Funds’ financial statements and the independent audits thereof; (iii) oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits; (iv) approve prior to appointment the engagement of the Trust’s independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Trust’s independent auditors; and (v) act as a liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board. The Board of the Trust has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. The Independent Trustees’ independent legal counsel assists the Audit Committee in connection with these duties. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, the Audit Committee held six meetings.
Governance and Nominating Committee. Each Independent Trustee is also a member of the Trust’s Governance and Nominating Committee. The principal responsibilities of the Governance and Nominating Committee are to (i) oversee Fund governance matters and (ii) identify individuals qualified to serve as Independent Trustees of the Trust and to recommend its nominees for consideration by the full Board. While the Governance and Nominating Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Trust’s Independent Trustees, the Nominating Committee may consider nominations for the office of Trustee made by Trust stockholders as it deems appropriate. The Governance and Nominating Committee considers nominees recommended by shareholders if such nominees are submitted in accordance with Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), in conjunction with a shareholder meeting to consider the election of Trustees. Trust stockholders who wish to recommend a nominee
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should send nominations to the Secretary of the Trust that include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, the Nominating Committee held one meeting.
Individual Trustee Qualifications
The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Trust and the Fund provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Fund, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Steinberg should serve as trustee of the Funds because of the experience he has gained as president and chief executive officer of WisdomTree Investments and Director of WisdomTree Investments, Inc., his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Funds since 2005.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Barton should serve as trustee of the Funds because of the experience he gained working as both a practicing attorney and in a business capacity for several public companies, and the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Funds since 2006.
The Trust has concluded that Ms. Massaro should serve as trustee of the Funds because of the experience she has gained as a law professor, dean and advisor at various universities, and the experience she has gained serving as trustee of the Funds since 2006.
The Trust has concluded that Mr. Ugolyn should serve as trustee of the Funds because of the experience he gained as chief executive officer of a firm specializing in financial services, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, his service as chairman for another mutual fund family, and the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Funds since 2006.
Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Because the Fund is new, as of the date of this SAI, none of the Trustees beneficially own shares of the Fund. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Exchange Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.
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| Name of Trustee |
Name of Fund |
Dollar Range of Equity |
Aggregate Dollar Range of | |||
| Interested Trustee |
||||||
| Jonathan L. Steinberg | Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund |
$10,000 – $50,000 | Over $100,000 | |||
| DEFA Equity Income Fund | $10,000 – $50,000 | |||||
| SmallCap Earnings Fund | $10,000 – $50,000 | |||||
| Independent Trustees |
||||||
| Gregory E. Barton | Total Dividend Fund | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 | |||
| DEFA Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| Toni M. Massaro | Equity Income Fund | $1 – $10,000 | $10,000 – $50,000 | |||
| DEFA Equity Income Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| Dividend Ex-Financials Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| International Dividend Ex-Financials Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| Japan SmallCap Dividend Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| LargeCap Dividend Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| Emerging SmallCap Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| LargeCap Dividend Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| International LargeCap Dividend Fund | $1 – $10,000 | |||||
| Victor Ugolyn | LargeCap Dividend Fund | $10,000 – $50,000 | $50,000 – $100,000 | |||
| International LargeCap Dividend Fund | $10,000 – $50,000 | |||||
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Remuneration of Trustees. Pursuant to its Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, WisdomTree Asset Management pays all compensation of officers and employees of the Trust as well as the fees of all Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated persons of WisdomTree Investments or its subsidiaries.
Each Independent Trustee receives annual compensation of $100,000. The Audit Committee Chairman will be paid an additional 10% of this amount and the Independent Chairman of the Board will be paid an additional 50% of this amount. The Trust also reimburses each Trustee for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him or her in connection with attending such meetings.
The following table sets forth the fees paid to each Trustee for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009.
| Name of Interested Trustee |
Aggregate Compensation from the Funds |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Company Expenses |
Estimated Annual Benefits upon Retirement |
Total Compensation From the Funds and Fund Complex | ||||
| Jonathan Steinberg |
None | None | None | None |
| Name of Independent Trustee |
Aggregate Compensation from the Funds |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Company Expenses |
Estimated Annual Benefits upon Retirement |
Total Compensation From the Funds and Fund Complex | ||||||
| Gregory Barton |
$ | 27,435 | None | None | $ | 114,400 | ||||
| Toni Massaro |
$ | 25,340 | None | None | $ | 105,622 | ||||
| Victor Ugolyn |
$ | 38,029 | None | None | $ | 156,331 | ||||
The amount shown as “Aggregate Compensation from the Funds” is the amount from September 1, 2008 through the Fund’s fiscal year end on August 31, 2009. The amount shown as “Total Compensation from the Funds and Fund Complex” is the amount for the Trust, including the Funds, from September 1, 2008, through August 31, 2009. Trustees and Officers of the Trust collectively owned less than 1% of each of the Trust’s outstanding shares as of November 30, 2009.
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.
Although the Trust does not have information concerning the beneficial ownership of shares held in the names of Depository Trust Company participants (“DTC Participants”), as of November 30, 2009, the name and percentage ownership of each DTC Participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund is set forth in the table below:
| Name |
DTC Participant Name |
Percentage of Ownership |
|||
| WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund | MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
39.0 | % | ||
| RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORP. ATTN: PROXY DEPT. M10 510 MARQUETTE AVE. S. MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402 |
12.9 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
8.8 | % | |||
| GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. ATTN: PROXY DEPT., 30 HUDSON STREET, 16TH FLOOR, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302-4699 |
6.5 | % | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund | MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
31.4 | % | ||
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| Name |
DTC Participant Name |
Percentage of Ownership |
|||
| GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. ATTN: PROXY DEPT., 30 HUDSON STREET, 16TH FLOOR, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302-4699 |
20.4 | % | |||
| NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
11.2 | % | |||
| CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. ATTN: PROXY PO BOX 64930 PHOENIX, AZ 85082-4930 |
7.8 | % | |||
| BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO. ATTN: PROXY SERVICES 140 BROADWAY LEVEL A NEW YORK, NY 10005 |
5.0 | % | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund | NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
33.5 | % | ||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
30.3 | % | |||
| GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. ATTN: PROXY DEPT., 30 HUDSON STREET, 16TH FLOOR, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302-4699 |
17.9 | % | |||
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| Name |
DTC Participant Name |
Percentage of Ownership |
|||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian | NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
12.5 | % | ||
| PERSHING LLC 1 PERSHING PLAZA, 7TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399 |
12.1 | % | |||
| CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. ATTN: PROXY PO BOX 64930 PHOENIX, AZ 85082-4930 |
9.8 | % | |||
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS ATTN: PATRICIA HALLER PO BOX 540 NEW YORK, NY 10013 |
8.5 | % | |||
| FIRST CLEARING, LLC 2801 MARKET STREET, 9F MAIL CODE MO3540 ST. LOUIS, MO 63103 |
5.2 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
5.1 | % | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund | NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
17.6 | % | ||
| CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. ATTN: PROXY PO BOX 64930 PHOENIX, AZ 85082-4930 |
12.5 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
11.8 | % | |||
| J.P. MORGAN CHASE 1 CHASESIDE PROXY VOTING 1ST FL. DOREST BUILDING BOURNMOUTH, ENGLAND BN7 7DD |
5.7 | % | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund | NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
17.3 | % | ||
| FIRST CLEARING, LLC 2801 MARKET STREET, 9F MAIL CODE MO3540 ST. LOUIS, MO 63103 |
14.0 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
13.7 | % | |||
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS ATTN: PATRICIA HALLER PO BOX 540 NEW YORK, NY 10013 |
10.0 | % | |||
| CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. ATTN: PROXY PO BOX 64930 PHOENIX, AZ 85082-4930 |
6.4 | % | |||
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| Name |
DTC Participant Name |
Percentage of Ownership |
|||
| TD AMERITRADE 100 N. AMERITRADE PLACE BELLEVUE, NE 68005 |
5.9 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
5.2 | % | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. ATTN: PROXY PO BOX 64930 PHOENIX, AZ 85082-4930 |
13.6 | % | ||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
13.2 | % | |||
| FIRST CLEARING, LLC 2801 MARKET STREET, 9F MAIL CODE MO3540 ST. LOUIS, MO 63103 |
9.9 | % | |||
| NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
9.8 | % | |||
| MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER JERSEY CITY, NJ 07311 |
9.6 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
6.9 | % | |||
| PERSHING LLC 1 PERSHING PLAZA, 7TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399 |
6.6 | % | |||
| UBS FINANCIAL 1000 HARBOR BLVD., 8TH FL. ATTN: JANE FLOOD WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07086 |
6.1 | % | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund | J.P. MORGAN CHASE 1 CHASESIDE PROXY VOTING 1ST FL. DOREST BUILDING BOURNMOUTH, ENGLAND BN7 7DD |
22.9 | % | ||
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS ATTN: PATRICIA HALLER PO BOX 540 NEW YORK, NY 10013 |
10.5 | % | |||
| NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
10.5 | % | |||
| CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. ATTN: PROXY PO BOX 64930 PHOENIX, AZ 85082-4930 |
10.2 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
8.0 | % | |||
| FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA TRUST PROXY DESK 1620 DODGE ST., STOP 1060 OMAHA, NE 68197-1060 |
7.4 | % | |||
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| Name |
DTC Participant Name |
Percentage of Ownership |
|||
| FIRST CLEARING, LLC 2801 MARKET STREET, 9F MAIL CODE MO3540 ST. LOUIS, MO 63103 |
5.1 | % | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund |
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. ATTN: PROXY PO BOX 64930 PHOENIX, AZ 85082-4930 |
14.8 | % | ||
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS ATTN: PATRICIA HALLER PO BOX 540 NEW YORK, NY 10013 |
10.5 | % | |||
| NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC ATTN: LEW TREZZA 200 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK, NY 10281 |
9.0 | % | |||
| MERRILL LYNCH 101 HUDSON STREET 9TH FLOOR JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 |
8.5 | % | |||
| FIRST CLEARING, LLC 2801 MARKET STREET, 9F MAIL CODE MO3540 ST. LOUIS, MO 63103 |
7.6 | % | |||
| UBS FINANCIAL 1000 HARBOR BLVD., 8TH FL. ATTN: JANE FLOOD WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07086 |
7.5 | % | |||
| TD AMERITRADE 100 N. AMERITRADE PLACE BELLEVUE, NE 68005 |
7.1 | % | |||
| MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER JERSEY CITY, NJ 07311 |
5.6 | % | |||
Investment Adviser. WisdomTree Asset Management serves as investment adviser to each Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and WisdomTree Asset Management. WisdomTree Asset Management is a Delaware corporation registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and has offices located at 380 Madison Avenue 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017.
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, WisdomTree Asset Management has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Trust. WisdomTree Asset Management provides an investment program for each Fund. WisdomTree Asset Management also arranges for sub-advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration and all other non-distribution related services necessary for the Funds to operate.
Each Fund pays WisdomTree Asset Management the Management Fee indicated below.
| Name of Fund |
Management Fee | ||
| WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund |
0.25 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund |
0.45 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund |
0.45 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund |
0.55 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund |
0.35 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund |
0.45 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund |
0.35 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund |
0.45 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund |
0.45 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund |
0.55 | % |
With respect to each Fund, WisdomTree Asset Management agrees to pay all expenses of the Trust, except for: (i) brokerage expenses and other expenses (such as stamp taxes) connected with the execution of portfolio transactions or in connection with creation and redemption transactions; (ii) legal fees or expenses in connection with any arbitration, litigation or pending or threatened arbitration or litigation, including any settlements in connection therewith; (iii) compensation and expenses of the Trustees of the Trust who are not officers, directors/trustees, partners or employees of the Adviser or its affiliates (the “Independent Trustees”); (iv) compensation and expenses of counsel to the Independent Trustees; (v) compensation and expenses of the Trust’s chief compliance officer; (vi) extraordinary expenses; (vii) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and (viii) the advisory fee payable to the Adviser hereunder. Each Sub-Adviser
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has agreed to pay the fees owed to BNY Mellon for providing custody, administration and transfer agency services. Pursuant to a separate contractual arrangement with respect to each Fund through August 31, 2010, WisdomTree Asset Management arranges for the provision of chief compliance officer (“CCO”) services and is liable and responsible for, and administers, payments to the CCO, the Independent Trustees and counsel to the Independent Trustees, in exchange for a fee paid by each Fund of up to 0.0044% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
For the following period(s), the Adviser received the following fees.
| Name |
Commencement of Operations |
Advisory Fee Period Ended August 31, 2008 |
Advisory Fee Period Ended August 31, 2009 | |||||
| WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund |
5/20/08 | $ | 14,642 | $ | 43,104 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund |
5/14/08 | 125,311 | 347,559 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund |
5/14/08 | 253,975 | 608,096 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund |
5/06/09 | N/A | 45,718 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund |
5/14/08 | 21,862 | 44,344 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund |
5/14/08 | 14,342 | 43,686 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund |
5/21/08 | 19,961 | 54,787 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund |
6/25/08 | 2,043 | 24,060 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund |
6/25/08 | 2,209 | 12,639 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund* |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||
| * | The WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund had not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. |
The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund continues in effect for two years from its effective date, and thereafter is subject to annual approval by (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, provided that in either event such continuance is also approved by a vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If the shareholders of any Fund fail to approve the Investment Advisory Agreement, WisdomTree Asset Management may continue to serve in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder.
The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to any Fund is terminable without any penalty, by vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of that Fund, or by WisdomTree Asset Management, in each case on not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior written notice to the other party; provided, that a shorter notice period shall be permitted for a Fund in the event its shares are no longer listed on a national securities exchange. The Investment Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Sub-Adviser. Mellon Capital Management Corporation serves as the Sub-Adviser for the U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund. Mellon Capital is a leading innovator in the investment industry and manages global quantitative-based investment strategies for institutional and private investors with its principal office located at 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94105. As of September 30, 2009, Mellon Capital had assets under management totaling approximately $170 billion. Mellon Capital is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of BNY Mellon, a publicly traded financial holding company.
The Sub-Adviser for the International Currency Income Funds is The Dreyfus Corporation located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166. As of September 30, 2009, Dreyfus has assets under management totaling approximately $446 billion. Dreyfus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon.
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With respect to each Fund, WisdomTree Asset Management pays the sub-adviser to such Fund a fee equal to one-half of the fee paid to WisdomTree Asset Management for providing sub-advisory services to such Fund as described below.
For the following period(s), Mellon Capital received the following fees:
| Name |
Commencement of Operations |
Sub-Advisory Fee Period Ended August 31, 2008 |
Sub-Advisory Fee Period Ended August 31, 2009 | |||||
| WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government |
5/20/08 | $ | 7,321 | $ | 21,607 | |||
For the following period(s), Dreyfus received the following fees:
| Name |
Commencement of Operations |
Sub-Advisory Fee Period Ended August 31, 2008 |
Sub-Advisory Fee Period Ended August 31, 2009 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund |
5/14/08 | $ | 62,656 | $ | 174,006 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund |
5/14/08 | 126,988 | 304,200 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund |
5/06/09 | N/A | 22,981 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund |
5/14/08 | 10,931 | 22,178 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund |
5/14/08 | 7,171 | 21,863 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund |
5/21/08 | 9,981 | 27,408 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund |
6/25/08 | 1,022 | 12,073 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund |
6/25/08 | 1,105 | 6,336 | |||||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund* |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||
| * | The WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund had not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. |
Mellon Capital and Dreyfus believe that they may perform sub-advisory and related services for the Trust without violating applicable banking laws or regulations. However, the legal requirements and interpretations about the permissible activities of banks and their affiliates may change in the future. These changes could prevent Mellon Capital or Dreyfus from continuing to perform services for the Trust. If this happens, the Board would consider selecting other qualified firms.
Portfolio Managers. Mellon Capital and Dreyfus each utilize teams of investment professionals acting together to manage the assets of the Funds. The teams meet regularly to review portfolio holdings and to discuss purchase and sale activity. The teams adjust holdings in the portfolio as they deem appropriate in the pursuit of each Fund’s investment objectives. The individual members of the team who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund’s portfolio are listed below.
David C. Kwan has been a Managing Director of Mellon Capital since 2000. He has also been the Head of Fixed Income Management Group since 1994 and the Head of the Trading Group since 1996. Mr. Kwan has direct oversight responsibility for the management of the Funds. He received his M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1990. Mr. Kwan has 18 years of investment experience.
Zandra Zelaya has been a Director, Fixed Income at Mellon Capital since November 2009. Ms. Zelaya joined Mellon Capital in 1997 as a fixed income associate. Throughout the years, she has held various positions in the Fixed Income Management group including Senior Portfolio Manager from 2002 to 2006, Assistant Vice President from 2006 to 2007 and Vice President from 2007 to her recent promotion as Director. Ms. Zelaya has attained the Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”) designation. She graduated with a B.S. from California State University, Hayward. Ms. Zelaya has 14 years of investment experience.
Mr. Kwan and Ms. Zelaya manage the International Currency Income Funds in their capacity as dual employees of The Dreyfus Corporation. Mr. Kwan and Ms. Zelaya have been employees of Dreyfus since 2005.
Each portfolio manager is responsible for various functions related to portfolio management, including, but not limited to, investing cash inflows, implementing investment strategy, researching and reviewing investment strategy, and overseeing members of his or her portfolio management team with more limited responsibilities. Each portfolio manager is authorized to make investment decisions for all portfolios managed by the team. Each portfolio manager has appropriate limitations on his or her authority for risk management and compliance purposes. No member of the portfolio team manages assets outside of the team. Each portfolio manager has managed each Fund since its inception.
As of September 30, 2009, the team managed eight other registered investment companies with approximately $1.79 billion in assets; 22 pooled investment vehicles with approximately $10.23 billion in assets and 25 other accounts with approximately $4.52 billion in assets.
Portfolio Manager Fund Ownership. As of the date hereof, none of the portfolio managers owned shares of the Funds.
Portfolio Manager Compensation. The portfolio managers are dual employees of Mellon Capital and Dreyfus. Mellon Capital’s and Dreyfus’ portfolio managers responsible for managing funds are generally eligible for compensation consisting of base salary, bonus, and payments under Mellon Capital’s long-term incentive compensation program. All compensation is paid by Mellon Capital or Dreyfus and not by the Funds.
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As of the date hereof, the portfolio managers’ cash compensation is comprised primarily of a market-based base salary and (variable) incentives (annual and long term). A portfolio manager’s base salary is determined by the employees’ experience and performance in the role, taking into account the ongoing compensation benchmark analyses. A portfolio manager’s base salary is generally a fixed amount that may change as a result of an annual review, upon assumption of new duties, or when a market adjustment of the position occurs. Funding for the Mellon Capital Annual Incentive Plan and Long Term Incentive Plan is through a pre-determined fixed percentage of overall Mellon Capital profitability. Therefore, all bonus awards are based initially on Dreyfus’ and Mellon Capital’s financial performance. The employees are eligible to receive annual cash bonus awards from the Annual Incentive Plan. Annual incentive opportunities are pre-established for each individual, expressed as a percentage of base salary (“target awards”). These targets are derived based on a review of competitive market data for each position annually. Annual awards are determined by applying multiples to this target award. Awards are 100% discretionary. Factors considered in awards include individual performance, team performance, investment performance of the associated portfolio(s) and qualitative behavioral factors. Other factors considered in determining the award are the asset size and revenue growth/retention of the products managed. Awards are paid in cash on an annual basis.
All key staff of Dreyfus and Mellon Capital are also eligible to participate in the Mellon Capital Long Term Incentive Plan. These positions have a high level of accountability and a large impact on the success of the business due to the position’s scope and overall responsibility. In addition, the participants have demonstrated a long-term performance track record and have the potential for a continued leadership role. This plan provides for an annual award, payable in cash after a three-year cliff vesting period. The value of the award increases during the vesting period based upon the growth in Dreyfus’ and Mellon Capital’s net income.
The portfolio managers are also eligible for the standard retirement benefits and health and welfare benefits available to all Mellon Capital employees. Certain portfolio managers may be eligible for additional retirement benefits under several supplemental retirement plans that Mellon Capital provides to restore dollar-for-dollar the benefits of management employees that had been cut back solely as a result of certain limits due to the tax laws. These plans are structured to provide the same retirement benefits as the standard retirement benefits. In addition, portfolio managers whose compensation exceeds certain limits may elect to defer a portion of their salary and/or bonus under The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees.
Description of Material Conflicts of Interest. Because the portfolio managers manage multiple portfolios for multiple clients, the potential for conflicts of interest exists. Each portfolio manager generally manages portfolios having substantially the same investment style as the Funds. However, the portfolios managed by a portfolio manager may not have portfolio compositions identical to those of the Funds managed by the portfolio manager due, for example, to specific investment limitations or guidelines present in some portfolios or accounts but not others. The portfolio managers may purchase securities for one portfolio and not another portfolio, and the performance of securities purchased for one portfolio may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other portfolios. A portfolio manager may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of a Fund, or make investment decisions that are similar to those made for a Fund, both of which have the potential to adversely impact a Fund depending on market conditions. For example, a portfolio manager may purchase a security in one portfolio while appropriately selling that same security in another portfolio. In addition, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by a Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between a Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio manager’s bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed. In addition, current trading practices do not allow Mellon Capital or Dreyfus to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed or as trade orders are received. Portfolio rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market close.
Code of Ethics. The Trust, WisdomTree Asset Management, each Sub-Adviser and the Funds’ distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. The Codes of Ethics permit personnel subject to the Code of Ethics to invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, subject to certain limitations, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds. The Codes of Ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.
Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. BNY Mellon serves as administrator, custodian and transfer agent for the Trust. BNY Mellon’s principal address is One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286. Under the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement with the Trust, BNY Mellon provides necessary administrative, legal, tax, accounting services, and financial reporting for the maintenance and operations of the Trust and each Fund. In addition, BNY Mellon makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. Under the custody agreement with the Trust, BNY Mellon maintains in separate accounts cash, securities and other assets of the Trust and each Fund, keeps all necessary accounts and records, and provides
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other services. BNY Mellon is required, upon the order of the Trust, to deliver securities held by BNY Mellon and to make payments for securities purchased by the Trust for each Fund. Also, under a Delegation Agreement, BNY Mellon is authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the United States. Pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement with the Trust, BNY Mellon acts as transfer agent for each Fund’s authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest, and as dividend disbursing agent of the Trust. As compensation for the foregoing services, BNY Mellon receives certain out of pocket costs, transaction fees and asset-based fees, which are accrued daily and paid monthly by the Trust from the Trust’s custody account with BNY Mellon.
The Sub-Advisers pay the Administrator for providing services to the Funds. The Funds are not responsible for, and have not paid such fees.
Distributor. ALPS Distributors, Inc. serves as Distributor for the Trust. The principal address of the Distributor is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203. The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes shares of each Fund. The Distribution Agreement will continue for two years from its effective date and is renewable annually. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Funds through the Distributor only in Creation Unit Aggregations, as described in the applicable Prospectus and below in the Creation and Redemption of Creation Units Aggregations section. Shares in less than Creation Unit Aggregations are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the applicable Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Unit Aggregations and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The Distributor is not affiliated with WisdomTree Investments, WisdomTree Asset Management, nor any stock exchange.
The Distribution Agreement for each Fund will provide that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least sixty (60) days prior written notice to the other party (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the relevant Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit Aggregations of shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Authorized Participants (as defined below) or DTC Participants (as defined below).
WisdomTree Asset Management may, from time to time and from its own resources, pay, defray or absorb costs relating to distribution, including payments out of its own resources to the Distributor, or to otherwise promote the sale of shares.
Each Sub-Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of each Fund for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. In selecting the brokers or dealers for any transaction in portfolio securities, the Sub-Adviser’s policy is to make such selection based on factors deemed relevant, including, but not limited to, the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the reasonableness of the commission or mark-up or mark-down, if any, execution capability, settlement capability, back office efficiency and the financial condition of the broker or dealer, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid is evaluated by each Sub-Adviser based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services. Brokers may also be selected because of their ability to handle special or difficult executions, such as may be involved in large block trades, less liquid securities, broad distributions, or other circumstances. Each Sub-Adviser does not consider the provision or value of research, products or services a broker or dealer may provide, if any, as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer or the determination of the reasonableness of commissions paid in connection with portfolio transactions. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of a Fund’s shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or a dealer to execute its portfolio transactions. The Funds did not pay brokerage commissions for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009.
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Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover rates are likely to result in comparatively greater brokerage expenses. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions is evaluated by the Adviser based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by the other institutional investors for comparable services. The table below sets forth the portfolio turnover rates of each Fund for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009:
| Name |
Portfolio Turnover Rate For Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2009 |
||
| WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund |
100 | %1 | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund |
0 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund |
0 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund |
0 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund |
N/A | 2 | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund |
0 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund |
N/A | 2 | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund |
0 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund |
0 | % | |
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund (3) |
N/A |
Funds with 0% portfolio turnover held securities with long-term (greater than 365 days) and short-term maturities. Turnover for securities with long-term maturities was less than 1%.
| 1. | The Fund changed its investment objective and strategy on May 27, 2009. This led to higher than normal portfolio turnover for the period. |
| 2. | The Funds invest in short-term securities with maturities less than or equal to 365 days. SEC rules exclude such securities from portfolio turnover calculations. |
| 3. | The WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund had not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUST
Shares. The Trust was established as a Delaware statutory trust on December 15, 2005 and consists of multiple series of Funds. Each Fund issues shares of beneficial interest, with $0.001 par value. The Board may designate additional Funds. The Trust is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company.
Each share issued by a Fund has a pro rata interest in the assets of that Fund. Shares have no preemptive, exchange, subscription or conversion rights and are freely transferable. Each share is entitled to participate equally in dividends and distributions declared by the Board of Trustees with respect to the relevant Fund, and in the net distributable assets of such Fund on liquidation.
Each share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all Funds vote together as a single class except that, if the matter being voted on affects only a particular Fund, and, if a matter affects a particular Fund differently from other Funds, that Fund will vote separately on such matter.
Under Delaware law, the Trust is not required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. The policy of the Trust is not to hold an annual meeting of shareholders unless required to do so under the 1940 Act. All shares (regardless of the Fund) have noncumulative voting rights for the Board. Under Delaware law, Trustees of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders.
Following the creation of the initial Creation Unit Aggregation(s) of shares of a Fund and immediately prior to the commencement of trading in such Fund’s shares, a holder of shares may be a “control person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. A Fund cannot predict the length of time for which one or more shareholders may remain a control person of the Fund.
Shareholders may make inquiries by writing to the Trust, c/o ALPS Distributors, Inc. at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.
Absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC or its staff, beneficial owners of more than 5% of the shares of a Fund may be subject to the reporting provisions of Section 13 of the 1934 Act and the SEC’s rules promulgated thereunder. In addition, absent an applicable exemption or other relief from the SEC staff, officers and Trustees of a Fund and beneficial owners of 10% of the shares of a Fund (“Insiders”) may be subject to the insider reporting, short-swing profit and short sale provisions of Section 16 of the 1934 Act and the SEC’s rules promulgated thereunder. Beneficial owners and Insiders should consult with their own legal counsel concerning their obligations under Sections 13 and 16 of the 1934 Act.
Termination of the Trust or a Fund. The Trust or a Fund may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees or the affirmative vote of a super majority of the holders of the Trust or such Fund entitled to vote on termination. Although the shares are not automatically redeemable upon the occurrence of any specific event, the Trust’s organizational documents provide that the Board will have the unrestricted power to alter the number of shares in a Creation Unit Aggregation. In the event of a termination of the Trust or a Fund, the Board, in its sole discretion, could determine to permit the shares to be redeemable in aggregations smaller than Creation Unit Aggregations or to be individually redeemable. In such circumstance, the Trust may make redemptions in-kind, for cash, or for a combination of cash or securities.
Role of DTC. DTC acts as Securities Depository for the Shares of the Trust. Shares of each Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.
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DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants (“DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities’ certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by NYSE ARCA and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”).
Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares. No Beneficial Owner shall have the right to receive a certificate representing such shares.
Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the shares of each Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares of the Trust. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of each Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.
The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants. DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares of the Trust at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.
CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNIT AGGREGATIONS
Creation. The Trust issues and sells shares of each Fund only in Creation Unit Aggregations on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day, of an order in proper form.
Fund Deposit. The consideration for purchase of Creation Unit Aggregations of a Fund may consist of (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of money market instruments closely approximating the holdings of the Fund, (ii) U.S. cash and/or non-U.S. currency (the “Deposit Securities”) and an amount of cash denominated in U.S. dollars (the “Cash Component”) computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit Aggregation of any Fund.
Each Fund may accept a basket of money market instruments, non-U.S. currency or cash denominated in U.S. dollars that differs from the composition of the published basket. Each Fund may permit or require the consideration for Creation Unit Aggregations to consist solely of cash or non-U.S. currency. Each Fund may permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash denominated in U.S. dollars (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. For example, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require a “cash in lieu” amount where the delivery of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant (as described below) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of the Deposit Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws, or in certain other situations. Each International Currency Income Fund may also accept non-U.S. currency as a substitute for any Deposit Security.
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The Cash Component is sometimes also referred to as the “Balancing Amount.” The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation and the value of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation exceeds the value of the Deposit Securities), the creator will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit Aggregation is less than the value of the Deposit Securities), the creator will receive the Cash Component. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty tax or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant.
Each Fund, through the NSCC or otherwise, makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the applicable Listing Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. New York time), the current Fund Deposit for each Fund. Such Deposit Securities are applicable, subject to any adjustments, in order to effect creations of Creation Unit Aggregations of a given Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities is made available.
Procedures for Creation of Creation Unit Aggregations. To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor and to create a Creation Unit Aggregation of a Fund, an entity must be a DTC Participant and must have executed an agreement with the Distributor with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Unit Aggregations (“Participant Agreement”). A DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement is referred to as an “Authorized Participant.” Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants that have signed a Participant Agreement. All shares of a Fund, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.
All orders to create shares must be placed for one or more Creation Unit Aggregations. Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. The date on which an order to create Creation Unit Aggregations (or an order to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations, as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, as described below. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure, may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.
On days when a Listing Exchange or U.S. or non-U.S. bond markets close earlier than normal, the Funds may require purchase orders to be placed earlier in the day. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding.
If BNY Mellon does not receive both the required Deposit Securities and the Cash Component by the specified time on the Settlement Date, the Trust may cancel or revoke acceptance of such order. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled or revoked order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the Fund. The delivery of Creation Unit Aggregations so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.
Creation Unit Aggregations may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to available Deposit Securities, U.S. cash (or an equivalent amount of non-U.S. currency) must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) at least 102%, which the Trust may change from time to time, of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”) with the Fund pending delivery of any missing Deposit Securities. The Authorized Participant must deposit with BNY the appropriate amount of federal funds by 2:00 p.m. Eastern time (or such other time as specified by the Trust) on the Settlement Date. If BNY Mellon does not receive the Additional Cash Deposit in the appropriate amount by such time, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of U.S. cash (or an equivalent amount of non-U.S. currency) shall be required to be deposited with BNY Mellon, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to 102%, which the Trust may change from time to time, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. To the extent that missing Deposit Securities are not received by the specified time on the Settlement Date, or in the event a marked-to-market payment is not made within one Business Day following notification by the Distributor that such a payment is required, the Trust may use the cash on deposit to purchase the missing Deposit Securities. The Authorized Participant will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the transmittal date plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by BNY Mellon or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee, as listed below, will be charged in all cases.
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Placement of Creation Orders for International Currency Income Funds. For each International Currency Income Fund, BNY Mellon shall cause the sub-custodian of the Funds to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, the Fund Deposit, with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Trust. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local sub-custodian(s). When a non-U.S. market is closed due to local market holidays, the settlement process for Fund Securities in that market will not commence until the end of the local holiday period.
Acceptance of Orders for Creation Unit Aggregations. The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject or revoke acceptance of a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of any Fund. For example, the Trust may reject or revoke acceptance of an order, if (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of any Fund; (iii) the Deposit Securities delivered are not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by the Fund as described above; (iv) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or WisdomTree Asset Management, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; or (vii) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, BNY Mellon, the Distributor or WisdomTree Asset Management make it for all practical purposes impossible to process creation orders. Examples of such circumstances include natural disaster, war, revolution; public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, WisdomTree Asset Management, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, BNY Mellon or sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process, and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit Aggregation of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, BNY Mellon, a sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.
Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee. Each Fund imposes a “Transaction Fee” on investors purchasing or redeeming Creation Units. The Transaction Fee will be limited to amounts that have been determined by WisdomTree Asset Management to be appropriate. The purpose of the Transaction Fee is to protect the existing shareholders of the Funds from the dilutive costs associated with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units. Where a Fund permits cash creations (or redemptions) or cash in lieu of depositing one or more Deposit Securities, the purchaser (or redeemer) may be assessed a higher Transaction Fee to offset the transaction cost to the Fund of buying (or selling) those particular Deposit Securities. Transaction Fees will differ for each Fund, depending on the transaction expenses related to each Fund’s portfolio securities. Every purchaser of a Creation Unit will receive a Prospectus that contains disclosure about the Transaction Fee, including the maximum amount of the Transaction Fee charged by the Fund.
The following table sets forth the standard and maximum creation transaction fee for each of the Funds.
| Name of Fund |
Approximate Value of One Creation Unit |
Standard Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee |
Maximum Creation/Redemption Transaction Fee | ||||||
| WisdomTree U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund |
$ | 2,500,000 | $ | 250 | $ | 1,000 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Brazilian Real Fund |
$ | 5,000,000 | $ | 300 | $ | 1,200 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund |
$ | 5,000,000 | $ | 300 | $ | 1,200 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund |
$ | 2,000,000 | $ | 300 | $ | 1,200 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Euro Fund |
$ | 5,000,000 | $ | 800 | $ | 3,200 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Indian Rupee Fund |
$ | 2,500,000 | $ | 300 | $ | 1,200 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Japanese Yen Fund |
$ | 5,000,000 | $ | 500 | $ | 1,500 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus New Zealand Dollar Fund |
$ | 2,500,000 | $ | 300 | $ | 1,200 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus South African Rand Fund |
$ | 2,500,000 | $ | 300 | $ | 1,200 | |||
| WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund |
$ | 2,500,000 | $ | 500 | $ | 2,000 | |||
Placement of Redemption Orders. The process to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations works much like the process to purchase Creation Unit Aggregations, but in reverse. Orders to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations of the Funds must be delivered through an Authorized Participant. Investors other than Authorized Participants are responsible for making arrangements for a redemption request to be made through an Authorized Participant. Orders must be accompanied or followed by the requisite number of shares of the Fund specified in such order, which delivery must be made to BNY Mellon no later than 10:00 a.m. New York time on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date. All other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement must be properly followed. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, the delivery of redemption proceeds for certain International Currency Income Funds may take longer than three Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. In such cases, the local market settlement procedures will not commence until the end of the local holiday periods.
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To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant’s agreement, in the event the Authorized Participant has submitted a redemption request in proper form but is unable to transfer all or part of the Creation Unit Aggregation to be redeemed to the Funds’ transfer agent, the transfer agent will nonetheless accept the redemption request in reliance on the undertaking by the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing shares as soon as possible. Such undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant’s delivery and maintenance of collateral consisting of cash having a value (marked to market daily) at least equal to 105%, which WisdomTree Asset Management may change from time to time, of the value of the missing shares. The current procedures for collateralization of missing shares require, among other things, that any cash collateral shall be in the form of U.S. dollars (or at the discretion of the Trust non-U.S. currency in an equivalent amount) in immediately-available funds and shall be held by BNY and marked to market daily. The fees of BNY and any sub-custodians in respect of the delivery, maintenance and redelivery of the cash collateral shall be payable by the Authorized Participant. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Fund, is permitted to purchase the missing shares or acquire the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component underlying such shares at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such shares, Deposit Securities or Cash Component and the value of the collateral.
If the requisite number of shares of the relevant Fund are not delivered on the Transmittal Date as described above, a Fund may reject or revoke acceptance of the redemption request. If it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such shares in U.S. cash (or in the case of the International Currency Income Funds, an equivalent amount of non-U.S. currency), and the redeeming Authorized Participant will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash (or in the case of the International Currency Income Funds, an equivalent amount of non-U.S. currency). In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). A Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities but does not differ in NAV.
Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and each Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Unit Aggregations for cash (or non-U.S. currency in the case of the International Currency Income Funds) to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws.
The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind creations and redemptions is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the order to the date of delivery of the securities, there are no days that are holidays in the applicable foreign market. For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable foreign market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle may be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within the normal settlement period. The Funds will not suspend or postpone redemption beyond seven days, except as permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Section 22(e) provides that the right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to any Fund (1) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the NYSE is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the shares of the Fund’s portfolio securities or determination of its net asset value is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.
The following discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authority, all as in effect as of the date of the filing of this SAI. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Funds. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their particular situation and the possible application of foreign, state, and local tax laws.
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Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. Each Fund intends to elect to be treated and qualify each year as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things:
| (a) | derive at least 90% of its gross income each year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (ii) net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined below); |
| (b) | diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets consists of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with investments in such other securities limited with respect to any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in (1) the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other RICs) of any one issuer or two or more issuers that are controlled by the Fund and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or (2) the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. |
| (c) | distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid – generally taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income. |
In general, for purposes of the 90% of gross income requirement described in (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by a Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (generally, a partnership (1) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, (2) that derives at least 90% of its income from the passive income sources specified in Code Section 7704(d), and (3) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in (a)(i) of the prior paragraph) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.
The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the 90% test described in (a) above if such gains are not directly related to a fund’s business of investing in stock or securities. Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of a Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing an International Currency Income Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.
Taxation of the Funds. If a Fund qualifies as a RIC, that Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income and gains that are distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends.
If a Fund fails to qualify for any taxable year as a RIC, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gains) will be subject to tax at corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net long-term capital gains and net tax-exempt income, would be taxable to shareholders as dividend income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Investment company taxable income that is retained by a Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates. If a Fund retains any net capital gain, that gain will be subject to tax at corporate rates, but the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on a properly-filed U.S. tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.
Each Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98% of its capital gain net income for the twelve months ending on October 31 of such year plus any undistributed amount from the prior year. For these purposes, a Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar
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year. A dividend paid to shareholders in January of a year generally is deemed to have been paid by the Fund on December 31 of the preceding year if the dividend was declared and payable to shareholders of record on a date in October, November, or December of that preceding year. Each Fund intends to declare and pay dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.
Fund Distributions. Distributions by each Fund of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a Fund owned the investments that generated those gains, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions of net capital gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryovers. Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced – in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets – for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income.
If a Fund makes distributions to a shareholder in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of that shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of its shares.
Distributions are taxable regardless of whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest the distributions in additional shares.
Sale or Exchange of Shares. A sale or exchange of shares in the Funds may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of the Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Backup Withholding. The Funds (or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which a shareholder holds Fund shares) generally are required to withhold and to remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and sale or redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that he, she or it is not subject to such withholding.
Federal Tax Treatment of Certain Fund Investments. Transactions of the Funds in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, swap agreements, straddles and foreign currencies may be subject to various special and complex tax rules, including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules. These rules could affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund and/or defer a Fund’s ability to recognize losses. These rules may in turn affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to shareholders by the Fund.
Each Fund is required, for federal income tax purposes, to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses as of the end of such year on certain regulated futures contracts, foreign currency contracts and options that qualify as Section 1256 Contracts in addition to the gains and losses actually realized with respect to such contracts during the year. Except as described below under “Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues,” gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts that are required to be marked-to-market annually will generally be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders.
Some debt obligations that are acquired by a Fund may be treated as having original issue discount (“OID”). Generally, a Fund will be required to include OID in taxable income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of the OID is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. If a Fund holds such debt instruments, it may be required to pay out as distributions each year an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary. A Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event a Fund realizes net gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive larger distributions than they would have in the absence of such transactions.
Some of the Funds may invest in inflation-linked debt securities. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked debt security will be OID, which is taxable as ordinary income and is required to be distributed, even though the Fund will not receive the principal, including any increase thereto, until maturity. A Fund investing in such securities may be required to liquidate other investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements and to eliminate any possible taxation at the Fund level.
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Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. Each of the Euro Fund and the Japanese Yen Fund intends to adopt and use as its functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes its designated currency rather than the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, if these International Currency Income Funds meet certain requirements relating to conducting business in their respective foreign currencies, they generally are not expected to recognize gains or losses on their foreign currency denominated debt securities due to fluctuations in the value of those currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.
For the other International Currency Funds, which will have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, gain or loss on foreign currency denominated debt securities and on certain other financial instruments, such as forward currency contracts and currency swaps, that is attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates occurring between the date of acquisition and the date of settlement or disposition of such securities or instruments generally will be treated under Section 988 of the Code as ordinary income or loss. A Fund may elect out of the application of Section 988 of the Code with respect to the tax treatment of each of its foreign currency forward contracts to the extent that (i) such contract is a capital asset in the hands of the Fund and is not part of a straddle transaction and (ii) the Fund makes an election by the close of the day the contract is entered into to treat the gain or loss attributable to such contract as capital gain or loss.
The International Currency Income Funds’ forward contracts may qualify as Section 1256 Contracts if the underlying currencies are currencies for which there are futures contracts that are traded on and subject to the rules of a qualified board or exchange. However, a forward currency contract that is a Section 1256 Contract would, absent an election out of Section 988 of the Code as described in the preceding paragraph, be subject to Section 988. Accordingly, although such a forward currency contract would be marked-to-market annually like other Section 1256 Contracts, the resulting gain or loss would be ordinary. If a Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to forward currency contracts that qualify as Section 1256 Contracts, the tax treatment generally applicable to Section 1256 Contracts would apply to those forward currency contracts: that is, the contracts would be marked-to-market annually and gains and losses with respect to the contracts would be treated as long-term capital gains or losses to the extent of 60% thereof and short-term capital gains or losses to the extent of 40% thereof. If a Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to any of its forward currency contracts that do not qualify as Section 1256 Contracts, such contracts will not be marked to market annually and the Fund will recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on the Fund’s holding period therein. An International Currency Income Fund may elect out of Section 988 with respect to some, all or none of its forward currency contracts.
Finally, regulated futures contracts and nonequity options that qualify as Section 1256 Contracts and are entered into by a Fund with respect to foreign currencies or foreign currency denominated debt instruments will be subject to the tax treatment generally applicable to Section 1256 Contracts unless the Fund elects to have Section 988 apply to determine the character of gains and losses from all such regulated futures contracts and nonequity options held or later acquired by the Fund.
Funds Holding Foreign Investments. Income received by the Funds from sources within foreign countries (including, for example, interest on securities of non-U.S. issuers) may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties between such countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If as of the end of a Fund’s taxable year more than 50% of the Fund’s assets consist of foreign securities, that Fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portions of qualified taxes paid by that Fund during that taxable year to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities that the Fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes. A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by a Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in the shareholder not getting a full credit or deduction for the amount of such taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit, but not a deduction, for such foreign taxes.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Under current law, income of a RIC that would be treated as unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not be attributed as UBTI to a tax-exempt entity that is a shareholder in the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b).
Non-U.S. Shareholders. In general, dividends other than Capital Gain Dividends paid by a Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding.
Effective for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2010 (or such later date as may be provided in currently proposed legislation if the same in enacted), and assuming certain certification requirements were complied with, a RIC generally was not required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions attributable to U.S. source interest income that would be treated as “portfolio
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interest” and accordingly would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, and (ii) with respect to distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, in each case to the extent such distributions were properly designated by the RIC. Depending on the circumstances, the Funds may make such designations with respect to all, some or none of their potentially eligible dividends or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. Moreover, in the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if a Fund makes a designation with respect to a payment.
A beneficial holder of shares who is a non-U.S. person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a U.S. income tax deduction for losses) realized on a sale of shares of a Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States or (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or the receipt of the Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met.
In order for a non-U.S. person to qualify for an exemption from backup withholding, the foreign investor must comply with special certification and filing requirements. Foreign investors in the Funds should consult their tax advisors in this regard. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
A beneficial holder of shares who is a non-U.S. person may be subject to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the federal income tax consequences referred to above. If a shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the shareholder in the United States.
Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations. An Authorized Participant having the U.S. dollar as its functional currency for U.S. federal tax purposes that exchanges money market securities or non-U.S. currency for Creation Unit Aggregations generally will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Unit Aggregations at the time of the exchange and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the money market securities or non-U.S. currency surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Unit Aggregations. A person who redeems Creation Unit Aggregations for money market securities or non-U.S. currency will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Unit Aggregations and the sum of the aggregate U.S. dollar market value of the securities or non-U.S. currency plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Unit Aggregations. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss that is realized by an Authorized Participant upon an exchange of securities or non-U.S. currency for Creation Unit Aggregations cannot be currently deducted under the rules governing “wash sales.” Gain or loss recognized by an Authorized Participant upon an issuance of Creation Unit Aggregations in exchange for non-U.S. currency will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss. Gain or loss recognized by an Authorized Participant upon an issuance of Creation Unit Aggregations in exchange for money market securities, or upon a redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations, may be capital or ordinary gain or loss depending on the circumstances. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the issuance of Creation Unit Aggregations in exchange for money market securities will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the money market securities have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund shares comprising the Creation Unit Aggregations have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, such gains or losses are treated as short-term capital gains or losses.
A person subject to U.S. federal income tax who receives non-U.S. currency upon a redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations and does not immediately convert the non-U.S. currency into U.S. dollars may, upon a later conversion of the non-U.S. currency into U.S. dollars, or upon the use of the non-U.S. currency pay expenses or acquire assets, recognize as ordinary gains or losses any gains or losses resulting from fluctuations in the value of the non-U.S. currency relative to the U.S. dollar since the date of the redemption.
Persons exchanging securities or non-U.S. currency for Creation Unit Aggregations should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction. If you purchase or redeem Creation Unit Aggregations, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many shares you purchased or redeemed and at what price.
Section 351. The Trust on behalf of each Fund has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of the Trust if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of a given Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, that Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting
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requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
General Considerations. The federal income tax discussion set forth above is for general information only. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the specific federal income tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of shares of the Funds, as well as the effect of state, local and foreign tax law and any proposed tax law changes.
The NAV of each Fund’s shares is calculated each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading as of the close of regular trading, generally 4:00 p.m. New York time. NAV per share is calculated by dividing a Fund’s net assets by the number of Fund shares outstanding. The prices at which creations and redemptions occur are based on the next calculation of NAV after an order is received in proper form as described in the Participant Agreement.
In calculating a Fund’s NAV, Fund investments generally are valued using market valuations. Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less generally are valued on the basis of amortized cost, which approximates fair value. U.S. fixed income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for such securities on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association announces an early closing time. The values of any assets or liabilities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate deemed appropriate by the Fund.
In certain instances, such as when reliable market valuations are not readily available or are not deemed to reflect current market values, a Fund’s affected investments will be valued in accordance with the Fund’s pricing policy and procedures. For these purposes, a price based on amortized cost is considered a market valuation. Securities that may be valued using fair value pricing may include, but are not limited to, instruments for which there are no current market quotations or whose issuer is in default or bankruptcy, securities subject to corporate actions (such as mergers or reorganizations), securities subject to non-U.S. investment limits or currency controls, and securities affected by “significant events.” An example of a significant event is an event occurring after the close of the market in which a security trades but before a Fund’s next NAV calculation time that may materially affect the value of a Fund’s investment (e.g., government action, or natural disaster). When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.
Fund shares are purchased or sold on a national securities exchange at market prices, which may be higher or lower than NAV. No secondary sales will be made to brokers or dealers at a concession by the Distributor or by a Fund. Purchases and sales of shares in the secondary market, which will not involve a Fund, will be subject to the customary brokerage commissions and charges. Transactions in Fund shares will be priced at NAV only if you purchase or redeem shares directly from a Fund in Creation Units.
The U.S. Short-Term Government Income Fund intends to pay out dividends, if any, at least monthly. Each of the Euro Fund and the Japanese Yen Fund intend to pay out dividends, if any, at least quarterly. Each of the Brazilian Real Fund, Chinese Yuan Fund, Emerging Currency Fund, Indian Rupee Fund, New Zealand Dollar Fund, South African Rand Fund, Rising Dollar Fund and Commodity Currency Fund intend to pay out dividends, if any, at least annually.
Each Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, to investors annually. The Funds may occasionally be required to make supplemental distributions at some other time during the year. Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole shares only if the broker through whom you purchased shares makes such option available. Your broker is responsible for distributing the income and capital gain distributions to you.
The Trust reserves the right to declare special distributions if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the status of each Fund as a RIC or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.
The audited financial statements, including the financial highlights appearing in the Trust’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009 and filed electronically with the SEC, are incorporated by reference and made part of this SAI. You may request a copy of the Trust’s Annual Report at no charge by calling 1-866-909-9473 or through the Trust’s website at www.wisdomtree.com.
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Counsel. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 is counsel to the Trust.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Ernst & Young LLP, with offices located at 5 Times Square, New York, New York 10036, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust.
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Part C: Other Information
Item 28. Exhibits
| Exhibit |
Description | |
| (a)(1) | Trust Instrument of the Registrant dated December 15, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a) of Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March 13, 2006. | |
| (a)(2) | Certificate of Trust as filed with the State of Delaware on December 15, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(2) of Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March 13, 2006. | |
| (a)(3) | Schedule A to the Trust Instrument is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(3) of the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 filed on April 30, 2008. | |
| (b) | By-Laws of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (b) of Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March 13, 2006. | |
| (c) | Portions of the Trust Instrument and By-Laws of the Registrant defining the rights of holders of shares of the Registrant (Reference is made to Article II Sections 2, 3 and 8, and Articles III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X of the Registrant’s Trust Instrument, filed as Exhibit (a)(1) to Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March 13, 2006; and to Articles I, V, and VI of the Registrant’s By-Laws, filed as Exhibit (b) to Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March 13, 2006). | |
| (d)(1) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. dated March 21, 2006 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (d)(2) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant (on behalf of the WisdomTree India Earnings Fund) and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. dated December 3, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(5) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 filed on January 2, 2008. | |
| (d)(3) | Investment Advisory Agreement between WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. and WisdomTree India Investment Portfolio, Inc. dated February 14, 2008 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(7) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 filed on April 4, 2008. | |
| (d)(4) | Investment Advisory Agreement Schedule dated June 25, 2008 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (d)(5) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant (on behalf of the WisdomTree Middle East Dividend Fund) and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. dated June 25, 2008 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3) of Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (d)(6) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant (on behalf of the WisdomTree International Hedged Equity Fund and the Emerging Markets Currency Hedged Fund) and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. dated as of September 15, 2008 to be filed by amendment. | |
| (d)(7) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant (on behalf of the WisdomTree Emerging Market Local Debt Fund) and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. to be filed by amendment. | |
| (d)(8) | Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. as of March 19, 2010, is filed herewith. | |
| (d)(9) | Amended and Restated Sub-Advisory Agreement between WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. and BNY Investment Advisors (on behalf of all series except the WisdomTree Currency Funds) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 filed on January 2, 2008. | |
| (d)(10) | Sub-Advisory Agreement Appendix A dated June 10, 2008 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(7) of Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (d)(11) | Sub-Advisory Agreement among WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. and Mellon Capital Management Corporation and The Dreyfus Corporation on behalf of the WisdomTree Currency Funds dated March 25, 2008 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(6) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 filed on April 4, 2008. | |
| (d)(12) | Sub-Advisory Agreement between WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. and BNY Investment Advisors on behalf WisdomTree India Investment Portfolio, Inc. dated February 19, 2008 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(8) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 filed on April 4, 2008. | |
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| (d)(13) | Sub-Advisory Agreement Amended and Restated Appendix A and Appendix B-1 dated December 21, 2009 between WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. and Mellon Capital Management Corporation on behalf of the WisdomTree International Hedged Equity Fund is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(11) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 filed on December 22, 2009. | |
| (d)(14) | Sub-Advisory Agreement between WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. (on behalf of the WisdomTree Emerging Market Local Debt Fund) and [Sub-Adviser] to be filed by amendment. | |
| (d)(15) | Sub-Advisory Agreement between WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. (on behalf of the WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund) and Dreyfus Corporation to be filed by amendment. | |
| (e)(1) | Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Distributors, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(1) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (e)(2) | Distribution Agreement Schedule dated January 5, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(2) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed on March 16, 2009. | |
| (e)(3) | Form of Authorized Participant Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(2) of Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March 13, 2006. | |
| (f) | Not applicable. | |
| (g)(1) | Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(1) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (g)(2) | Custody Agreement Schedule is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(2) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (g)(3) | Foreign Custody Manager Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(2) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (g)(4) | Foreign Custody Manager Agreement Schedule is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(4) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (g)(5) | Custody Agreement between WisdomTree India Investment Portfolio, Inc. and the Bank of New York is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(5) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 filed on April 4, 2008. | |
| (h)(1) | Administration and Accounting Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(1) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (h)(2) | Administration and Accounting Agreement Schedule is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (h)(3) | Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (h)(4) | Transfer Agency and Service Agreement Schedule is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(4) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (h)(5) | License Agreement between the Registrant and WisdomTree Investments, Inc is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(3) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (h)(6) | License Agreement Schedule is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(6) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
| (h)(7) | Form of Securities Loan Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(8) of Registrant’s Post-effective Amendment No. 20 filed on December 24, 2008. | |
| (h)(8) | Chief Compliance Officer Services Agreement between the Registrant and ALPS Funds Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(6) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (h)(9) | Chief Compliance Officer Services Agreement Schedule dated January 5, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(9) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed on March 16, 2009. | |
| (h)(10) | Chief Compliance Officer Services Agreement between the Registrant and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. dated October 1, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(10) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 filed on October 15, 2009. | |
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| (h)(11) | Amended and Restated Services Agreement between the Registrant and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. dated September 17, 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(14) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 filed on July 29, 2008. | |
| (h)(12) | Index Methodology (Dividend Funds) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(8) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on September 29, 2006. | |
| (h)(13) | Index Methodology (Earnings Funds) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(12) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 filed on February 15, 2007. | |
| (h)(14) | Index Methodology (Growth Funds) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(14) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 filed on December 24, 2008. | |
| (h)(15) | Index Methodology (DEFA Hedged Funds) to be filed by amendment. | |
| (i) | Legal Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel to the Registrant, is filed herewith. | |
| (j) | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Registrant, is filed herewith. | |
| (k) | Not applicable. | |
| (l) | Form of Letter of Representations between the Registrant and The Depository Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (l) of Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 filed on June 9, 2006. | |
| (m) | None. | |
| (n) | Not applicable. | |
| (p)(1) | Code of Ethics of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(1) of Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 filed on October 15, 2009. | |
| (p)(2) | Code of Ethics of BNY Mellon is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(2) of Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 14 filed on April 4, 2008. | |
| (p)(3) | Code of Ethics of [Sub-Adviser] (for the WisdomTree Emerging Market Local Debt Fund) to be filed by amendment. | |
| (p)(4) | Code of Ethics of Dreyfus Corporation to be filed by amendment. | |
| (q)(1) | Power of Attorney for Gregory Barton, Toni Massaro, Jonathan Steinberg and Victor Ugolyn is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (q) of Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 7 filed on October 19, 2007. | |
| (q)(2) | Power of Attorney for Amit Muni is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (q)(2) of Registrant’s Post Effective Amendment No. 16 filed on June 27, 2008. | |
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant
The Fund wholly owns and controls the WisdomTree Real Return Investment Portfolio, Inc. (the “Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Subsidiary’s financial statements are consolidated into the Fund’s financial statements included in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
Item 30. Indemnification
Reference is made to Article IX of the Registrant’s Trust Instrument included as Exhibit (a)(1) to this Registration Statement with respect to the indemnification of the Registrant’s trustees and officers, which is set forth below:
Section 1. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
All Persons contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular Series shall look only to the assets of the Trust or Assets belonging to such Series, respectively, for payment under such contract or claim; and neither the Trustees nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees, or agents, whether past, present, or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Every written instrument or obligation on behalf of the Trust or any Series shall contain a statement to the foregoing effect, but the absence of such statement shall not operate to make any Trustee or officer of the Trust liable thereunder. Provided they have exercised reasonable care and have acted
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under the reasonable belief that their actions are in the best interest of the Trust, the Trustees and officers of the Trust shall not be responsible or liable for any act or omission or for neglect or wrongdoing of them or any officer, agent, employee, Investment Adviser, or independent contractor of the Trust, but nothing contained in this Trust Instrument or in the Delaware Act shall protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust against liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Section 2. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in subsection (b) below:
| (i) | every Person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer, employee, or agent of the Trust (“Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust or the appropriate Series (out of Assets belonging to that Series) to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; provided that the transfer agent of the Trust or any Series shall not be considered an agent for these purposes unless expressly deemed to be such by the Trustees in a resolution referring to this Article. |
| (ii) | as used herein, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include attorneys fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties, and other liabilities. |
(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
| (i) | who has been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or |
| (ii) | in the event of a settlement, unless there has been a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office (A) by the court or other body approving the settlement, (B) by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), or (C) by written opinion of independent legal counsel based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry). |
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of a Covered Person.
(d) To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses in connection with the preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding of the character described in subsection (a) of this Section shall be paid by the Trust or applicable Series from time to time prior to final disposition thereof on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or applicable Series if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section, provided that either (i) such Covered Person has provided appropriate security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising out of any such advance payments, or (iii) either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, has determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will not be disqualified from indemnification under this Section.
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| (e) | Any repeal or modification of this Article IX by the Shareholders, or adoption or modification of any other provision of this Trust Instrument or the By-laws inconsistent with this Article, shall be prospective only, to the extent that such repeal, modification, or adoption would, if applied retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any Covered Person or indemnification available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to such repeal, modification, or adoption. |
Reference is made to Article VI of the Registrant’s By-Laws included as Exhibit (b) to this Registration Statement with respect to the indemnification of the Registrant’s trustees and officers, which is set forth below:
Section 6.2. Limitation of Liability.
The Declaration refers to the Trustees as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise in connection with the affairs of the Trust; provided, that nothing contained in the Declaration or the By-Laws shall protect any Trustee or officer of the Trust from any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be provided to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Trust, pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Trust has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Trust of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Trust in connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding or payment pursuant to any insurance policy) is asserted against the Trust by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Trust 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.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. (“WTAM”), 380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017, a wholly-owned subsidiary of WisdomTree Investments, Inc., is a registered investment adviser and serves as manager for all funds of the Registrant. The description of WTAM under the caption of “Management-Investment Adviser” in the Prospectus and under the caption “Management of the Trust” in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Parts A and B, respectively, of this Registration Statement are incorporated herein by reference.
Each of the directors and officers of WTAM will also have substantial responsibilities as directors and/or officers of WisdomTree Investments, Inc., 380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017. To the knowledge of the Registrant, except as set forth below, none of the directors or executive officers of WTAM is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
| Name |
Position with WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. |
Principal Business(es) During the Last Two Fiscal Years | ||
| Jonathan Steinberg |
President, (Principal Executive Officer) and Trustee |
Chief Executive Officer of WisdomTree Investments (formerly, Index Development Partners, Inc.); Director of WisdomTree Investments, Inc.; President of the WisdomTree Funds since 2005 | ||
| Amit Muni |
Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer), Assistant Secretary |
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (formerly, Index Development Partners, Inc.) since March 2008; International Securities Exchange Holdings, Inc. (ISE), Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, 2003 to 2008; Instinet Group, Inc., Vice President Finance, 2000 to 2003. | ||
| Richard Morris |
General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer |
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of the WisdomTree Funds since 2005; General Counsel of WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. since 2009; Deputy General Counsel of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (formerly, Index Development Partners, Inc.) since 2005; Senior Counsel at Barclays Global Investors, N.A. from 2002 to 2005; Counsel at Barclays Global Investors, N.A. from 2000 to 2001. | ||
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WTAM, with the approval of the Registrant’s board of trustees, selects the sub-adviser for the funds of the Registrant. Mellon Capital Management Corporation serves as sub-adviser for the funds.
| Name |
Position with Sub Advisers |
Principal Business(es) During the last Two Fiscal Years | ||
| David C. Kwan |
Managing Director, Fixed Income | Head of Fixed Income | ||
| Zandra Zelaya |
Director, Fixed Income | Portfolio Management | ||
| Karen Q. Wong |
Managing Director, Equity Index Strategies, West Coast | Head of Passive Equity Fund Management | ||
| Richard A. Brown |
Director, Equity Portfolio Management | Head of Passive Equity Fund Management | ||
| Thomas J. Durante |
Director, Senior Portfolio Manager | Head of Index Portfolio Management | ||
Item 32. Principal Underwriters
(a) ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the distributor for the Registrant and the following investment companies: AARP Funds, ALPS ETF Trust, ALPS Variable Insurance Trust, Ameristock Mutual Fund, Inc., AQR Funds, BLDRS Index Fund Trust, Caldwell & Orkin Funds, Inc. Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, Cook & Bynum Funds Trust, CornerCap Group of Funds, Cullen Funds, DIAMONDS Trust, EGA Global Shares Trust , Financial Investors Trust, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust, Firsthand Funds, Forward Funds, Grail Advisors ETF Trust, Heartland Group, Inc., Henssler Funds, Inc., Holland Balanced Fund, IndexIQ Trust, Index IQ ETF Trust, Laudus Trust, Milestone Funds, MTB Group of Funds, OOK, Inc., Pax World Funds, PowerShares QQQ 100 Trust Series 1, SPDR Trust, MidCap SPDR Trust, Select Sector SPDR Trust, Stonebridge Funds, Inc., Stone Harbor Investment Funds, TDX Independence Funds, Inc., TXF Funds, Inc., W. P. Stewart Funds, Wasatch Funds, WesMark Funds, Westcore Trust, Williams Capital Liquid Assets Fund, and WisdomTree Trust.
(b) To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of the Distributor are as follows:
| Name |
Position(s) and Office(s) with the Distributor | |
| Edmund J. Burke | Director | |
| Spencer Hoffman | Director | |
| Thomas A. Carter | President, Director | |
| Jeremy O. May | Executive Vice President, Director | |
| John C. Donaldson | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | |
| Richard Hetzer | Executive Vice President | |
| Diana M. Adams | Senior Vice President, Controller, Treasurer | |
| Kevin J. Ireland | Senior Vice President, Director of Institutional Sales | |
| Mark R. Kiniry | Senior Vice President, National Sales Director-Investments | |
| Bradley J. Swenson | Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer | |
| Robert J. Szydlowski | Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer | |
| Tané T. Tyler | Senior Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel | |
| Erin Douglas | Vice President, Senior Associate Counsel | |
| JoEllen Legg | Vice President, Associate Counsel | |
| Steven Price | Vice President, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer | |
| James Stegall | Vice President, Institutional Sales Manager | |
The business address of each of the Distributor’s directors or officers is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.
(c) Not applicable.
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Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
(a) The Registrant maintains accounts, books and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder (collectively, “Records”) at its offices at 380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017.
(b) WisdomTree Asset Management Inc. maintains all Records relating to its services as investment adviser to the Registrant at 380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017.
(c) The Sub-Advisor maintains all Records relating to its services as sub-adviser to the Registrant at One Mellon Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15258 and 50 Fremont St., Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94105.
(d) ALPS Distributors, Inc. maintains all Records relating to its services as Distributor of the Registrant at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.
(e) The Bank of New York Mellon maintains all Records relating to its services as administrator, transfer agent and custodian of the Registrant at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
The Registrant undertakes to file an amendment to this registration statement with certified financial statements showing the initial capital received before accepting subscriptions from more than 25 persons.
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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 of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(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 the City of New York, State of New York, on the 19th day of March 2010.
| WISDOMTREE TRUST (Registrant) | ||
| By: | /s/ Jonathan Steinberg | |
| Jonathan Steinberg President (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signatures |
Title(s) |
Date | ||
| /s/ Jonathan Steinberg Jonathan Steinberg |
President (Principal Executive Officer) and Trustee |
March 19, 2010 | ||
| /s/ Amit Muni* Amit Muni |
Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) and Assistant Secretary |
March 19, 2010 | ||
| /s/ Gregory Barton* Gregory Barton |
Trustee | March 19, 2010 | ||
| /s/ Toni Massaro* Toni Massaro |
Trustee | March 19, 2010 | ||
| /s/ Victor Ugolyn* Victor Ugolyn |
Trustee | March 19, 2010 | ||
| * By: | /s/ Jonathan Steinberg | |
| Jonathan Steinberg | ||
| (Attorney-in-Fact) |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit |
Number | |
| Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and |
(d)(8) | |
| Legal Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP |
(i) | |
| Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, |
(j) | |