Optimum Fund Trust
09/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/19/2024 13:08
Prospectus by Investment Company - Form 497
OPTIMUM FUND TRUST
Optimum Large Cap Growth Fund
Optimum Large Cap Value Fund
Optimum Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund
Optimum Small-Mid Cap Value Fund
Optimum International Fund
Optimum Fixed Income Fund
(each, a "Fund")
Supplement to the current Statutory Prospectus for each Fund,
dated July 31, 2024
Effective immediately, the following is added to the "Investment manager" section of the Funds' Statutory Prospectus:
On September 19, 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (MIMBT), of which Delaware Management Company (Manager) is a series, had entered into a settlement agreement with the SEC consenting to an order (Settlement Order) relating to a legacy investment strategy, the Absolute Return Mortgage-Backed Securities Strategy (ARMBS Strategy). MIMBT no longer offers the ARMBS Strategy. MIMBT agreed to the Settlement Order without admitting or denying the SEC's findings.
Under the Settlement Order, the SEC found that, between January 2017 and April 2021 (Period): (i) MIMBT valued certain collateralized mortgage-backed obligations (CMOs) at inflated prices; (ii) MIMBT executed dealer-interposed and internal cross trades of those CMOs between registered investment company clients and other clients at prices that deviated from market prices; (iii) certain disclosures of MIMBT relating to performance, valuation, liquidity and cross trading contained false and misleading statements and omissions; and (iv) MIMBT failed to implement policies and procedures relating to valuation, conflicts of interest and cross trades.
As part of the settlement, MIMBT was ordered to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of certain statutory provisions and SEC rules. A copy of the Settlement Order is available on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/admin/2024/ia-6709.pdf.
MIMBT expects to make a payment prior to December 31, 2024 to Optimum Fixed Income Fund in connection with cross trades and valuation of CMOs during the Period.
MIMBT has been ordered to pay a civil penalty to the SEC, as well as disgorgement of management fees in respect of Optimum Fixed Income Fund relating to the Period and interest. The SEC may in its discretion make payments to shareholders of Optimum Fixed Income Fund pursuant to a Fair Fund. If the SEC creates a Fair Fund, information regarding the operation of the Fair Fund will be made available to eligible shareholders.
Because everyone's tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Fund or acting on a distribution check (if applicable).
Delaware Management Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited (MGL). None of the entities noted in this document is an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia) and the obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (Macquarie Bank). Macquarie Bank does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities. In addition, if this document relates to an investment (a) each investor is subject to investment risk including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and principal invested and (b) none of Macquarie Bank or any
other Macquarie Group company guarantees any particular rate of return on or the performance of the investment, nor do they guarantee repayment of capital in respect of the investment.
Please keep this Supplement for future reference.
This Supplement is dated September 19, 2024.